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Post by Whitneyfan on Mar 6, 2005 18:26:51 GMT 1
56. DOLLY PARTON Essential Listening: "A life in music: the ultimate collection" (1997)It's weird that some of her best loved songs - '9 to 5', 'I will always love you', 'Here you come again' and 'Love is like a butterfly' to name but a few, failed to make the top 40 in the UK. In fact, she's only ever achieved that feat twice ('Jolene' and 'Islands in the stream' if anyone cares!) which I find quite amazing seeing as she is probably the first artist anyone thinks of when you mention country music. She's never got higher than #17 on the album front either, so the question has to be asked - Why are her songs so recognizable and popular? Whitney may have helped with one of them, but you have to hand it to Dolly for writing such an amazing tune - and Dolly's version is so tender and different that I don't even think of it as the same song. TOP 5 TUNES1. Jolene 2. I will always love you 3. 9 to 5 4. If 5. Salt in my tears
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Post by Whitneyfan on Mar 6, 2005 18:40:05 GMT 1
55. CHAKA KHAN Essential Listening: "I feel for you" (1984)Like Sinead O'Connor, Chaka took a little -known Prince song and turned it into an absolute classic. 'I feel for you' is that song, and one of the best dance records of the eighties. Before that she released 2 of the best records of the disco era - 'Ain't nobody' and 'I'm every woman', the latter of which was recorded by Whitney Houston on The Bodyguard album. It's one of the few songs that sounds equally fantastic in both of its versions, and any one of the 3 songs I've mentioned is still guaranteed to fill any dancefloor today! TOP 5 TUNES1. Ain't nobody 2. I'm every woman 3. I feel for you 4. This is my night 5. Through the fire
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Post by Whitneyfan on Mar 6, 2005 18:50:35 GMT 1
54. SALT 'N PEPA Essential Listening: "A salt with a deadly pepa" (1988)I can't stick all this heavy gangsta rap nonsense that's around today - give me these ladies any day of the week! Salt 'N Pepa are quite simply the best rap act ever. *Awaits the wrath of Eminem fans*. 'Push it' still sounds as fresh and perfect today as it did back in 1988, and is probably one of the most requested songs at discos. TOP 5 TUNES1. Push it 2. Twist and shout 3. Shake your thang 4. Do you want me 5. Let's talk about sex
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Post by Whitneyfan on Mar 6, 2005 19:01:56 GMT 1
53. ETERNAL Essential Listening: "Always & Forever" (1993)3 years before the Spice Girls, Eternal stormed onto the scene with an amazing debut album - and proceeded to have no less than 6 top 20 hits off it, with potential hits to spare on the album! Lousie left to have a successful solo career, which left 3! The second album 'Power of a woman' was another great album and spawned another 4 top ten hits - If they'd released 'It will never end' it would have been 5 for sure! 'What'cha gonna do' aside, their songs all sound as great today as they did back in the day. TOP 5 TUNES1. I am blessed 2. Just a step from heaven 3. Save our love 4. I wanna be the only one 5. Oh baby I...
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Post by Whitneyfan on Mar 6, 2005 19:10:12 GMT 1
52. ENYA Essential Listening: "Paint the sky with stars: The best of Enya" (1997)The best way to describe Enya is new-age I think. From the moment she stormed onto the chart with 'Orinoco flow' in 1988 I knew she was something special. 'Paint the sky with stars' has everything you could wish for really, if you want a listen that is both relaxing and enjoyable that is! TOP 5 TUNES1. Orinoco flow 2. Anywhere is 3. Book of days 4. The Celts 5. Only if...
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Post by Whitneyfan on Mar 6, 2005 19:18:20 GMT 1
51. THE BANGLES Essential Listening: "Different light" (1986)The bangles were big back in the day when girl-bands had style, individuality and great tunes! The Bangles released classic after classic during the second half of the eighties, including the outstanding 'Eternal flame' which was one of the songs massacred by Atomic kitten when they were successful. TOP 5 TUNES1. Eternal flame 2. Hazy shade of winter 3. Manic monday 4. Be with you 5. If she knew what she wants
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Post by Whitneyfan on Mar 6, 2005 19:19:46 GMT 1
At that half-way mark I think I'll leave it there for now. Can anybody guess who's going to be in the top ten?
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Post by dandyhighwayman on Mar 7, 2005 21:50:52 GMT 1
Whitney Houston by any chance?
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Post by Whitneyfan on Mar 9, 2005 0:43:36 GMT 1
50. GLADYS KNIGHT Essential Listening: "The greatest hits" (1998)Mega Soul Diva who started in the sixties on the Motown label, with her band, The Pips, who recorded the original version of the Marvin Gaye classic 'I heard it through the grapevine'. She changed labels in the seventies but it didn't stop her releasing some of her greatest moments, like 'Midnight train to Georgia' which is one of the finest soul records of all-time. In 1989 she had a solo hit with the Bond theme 'Licence to kill'. TOP 5 TUNES1. Midnight train to Georgia 2. Best thing that ever happened to me 3. Help me make it through the night 4. Try to remember/the way we were 5. Baby don't change your mind
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Post by Whitneyfan on Mar 9, 2005 0:51:18 GMT 1
49. CHRISSIE HYNDE Essential Listening: "The Pretenders - Greatest hits" (2000)Chrissie Hynde is the distinctive voice of the Pretenders, who are probably best known for the hits 'Brass in pocket', 'Don't get me wrong' and the fantastic 'I'll stand by you', which Girls Aloud absolutely murdered last year. Chrissie also duetted with UB40 on the 1985 #1 hit 'I got you babe', a cover of the Sonny & Cher classic. My favourite Chrissie moment however is the gorgeous ballad from 1986, 'Hymn to her', which still sounds as divine today as it did back then. TOP 5 TUNES1. Hymn to her 2. I'll stand by you 3. Don't get me wrong 4. I got you babe 5. Brass in pocket
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Post by Whitneyfan on Mar 9, 2005 0:58:55 GMT 1
48. OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN Essential Listening: "The Definitive collection" (2004)Probably best known for appearing on one of the best films ever 'Grease', and also one of the best soundtracks - 3 of the songs off it are in my all-time top 100! Olivia has done so much more though, from the classic country sound of 'Banks of the Ohio' and 'Take me home country roads', to the pure disco of 'Xanadu' and 'Physical'. She also sung one of the best Eurovision songs ever, 'Long live love'. One things for sure though, they are all classics! TOP 5 TUNES1. Hopelessly devoted to you 2. Summer nights 3. You're the one that I want 4. Banks of the Ohio 5. Make a move on me
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Post by Whitneyfan on Mar 9, 2005 1:08:05 GMT 1
47. NATALIE COLE Essential Listening: "Everlasting" (1988)It's hard to imagine that Natalie has been around for 30 years, as her first big hit was with 'Pink cadillac' in 1988. In fact her last was only 3 years later but she has been recording all the time, and her last album was an album of jazz classics in 2002 called 'Ask a woman who knows'. Her biggest hit was in 1989 with the simply stunning 'Miss you like crazy', which reached #2 and remains a firm favourite of mine. TOP 5 TUNES1. Miss you like crazy 2. I live for your love 3. Pink cadillac 4. Everlasting 5. Wild women do
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Post by Whitneyfan on Mar 9, 2005 12:37:01 GMT 1
46. ALANIS MORISSETTE Essential Listening: "Jagged little pill" (1995)Alanis's debut album, 'Jagged little pill', was an absolute masterpiece. With it's unique blend of rock, indie and angry lyrics that distinquished her immediately from any other female artist - ever! She followed it up with the way too long 'Supposed former infatuation junkie', which had one or two gems on it (including the wonderful 'Thank U'), but was nowhere near the standard of the debut. The 2 albums she's done since have both been improvements, but with so many Alanis-wannabes around now I doubt whether she'll ever repeat the unique magic that was her debut. TOP 5 TUNES1. You oughta know 2. Ironic 3. Thank U 4. You learn 5. Mary Jane
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Post by Whitneyfan on Mar 9, 2005 12:48:49 GMT 1
45. JACQUELINE ABBOTT / BRIANA CORRIGAN Essential Listening: "The Beautiful South - Solid bronze: Great hits" (2001)I couldn't really separate these 2 as they are both equally great singers, and both gave equally as much to the band. Briana Corrigan was the original female voice in the Beautiful South when they began in 1989, she left the band in 1993 and Jacqueline Abbott took over the female role. I wanted to pick an album which featured them both, which is why I picked the greatest hits. I think 'Blue is the colour' is probably my favourite album of theirs. TOP 5 TUNES1. Everybody's talkin' 2. Rotterdam 3. You keep it all in 4. Don't marry her 5. A little time
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Post by Whitneyfan on Mar 9, 2005 12:55:06 GMT 1
44. KYLIE MINOGUE Essential Listening: "Ultimate Kylie" (2004)I'm sure many of you will be quite shocked that she's this low, but much as I like her music I think there are many more female artists who are better. Having said that, you can't take away the fact that she's come back again and again when many people said she was over. I've been a fan since the debut in 1988, and while that sounds cheesy now, it is still great pop music. In 2001 she came back with 'Can't get you out of my head', which is surely one of the best pop records of the last decade. TOP 5 TUNES1. Can't get you out of my head 2. On a night like this 3. Tears on my pillow 4. The Locomotion 5. Especially for you
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Post by Whitneyfan on Mar 10, 2005 11:55:02 GMT 1
43. HEATHER SMALL Essential Listening "M People - Elegant slummimg" (1993)Heather Small was the powerful voice behind the brilliant M People, who were probably the best dance band of the nineties. Their debut album 'Northern soul' was absolutely superb, and the follow-up 'Elegant slumming' even better. Then came 'Bizarre fruit' and it looked like they could do no wrong. Unfortunately they split after the next album and Heather went solo, with little success. I have to admit I'm not particularly a fan of 'Proud' so I don't see why she keeps bringing it out when she can do so much better! TOP 5 TUNES1. One night in heaven 2. How can I love you more 3. Don't look any further 4. Moving on up 5. Search for the hero
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Post by Whitneyfan on Mar 10, 2005 12:04:33 GMT 1
42. ANDREA, CAROLINE & SHARON CORR Essential Listening: "The Corrs - Talk on corners" (1997)The Corrs are responsible for bringing Irish music back to the charts in the late nineties. Their first 2 albums were pure Irish heaven, and I even liked their version of 'Dreams' which I swore nobody could ever do anywhere near as well as Fleetwood Mac! They went a bit too poppy on the third album, although I did love 'Breathless', but the latest album goes back to their roots a bit more, and I love 'Angel' and 'Long night', although the public seems to have lost interest a bit. TOP 5 TUNES1. Runaway 2. Dreams 3. This is the right time 4. I never loved you anyway 5. Angel
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Post by Whitneyfan on Mar 10, 2005 12:13:14 GMT 1
41. ARETHA FRANKLIN Essential Listening: "Respect: The very best of Aretha Franklin" (2002)Oh dear, this does seem a bit low for the queen of soul doesn't it! Sorry Aretha but I do love you really. Aretha has sung some of the absolute best soul classics ever, like 'I say a little prayer' and 'respect' and has even duetted with Whitney, Elton, George and the Eurythmics. She is now a legend for what she did in the sixties, but her latest releases haven't done too well. TOP 5 TUNES1. I say a little prayer 2. Sisters are doin' it for themselves 3. I knew you were waiting for me 4. Respect 5. Think
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Post by Laurence on Mar 10, 2005 12:35:14 GMT 1
90. TORI AMOS Essential Listening: "Little Earthquakes" (1992)This is probably far too low for a lot of people, but I must admit I'm only a casual listener of Ms. Amos. Well 89 places to low for me but I understand she's not very well known now and not eveyrone's cup of tea. Try 'From the Choirgirl Hotel' as your next album. Very poppy but very intense.
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Post by Laurence on Mar 10, 2005 12:37:11 GMT 1
She is my favourite artist ever! Close with David Bowie though. Way too low down. I didn't know you were THAT much of a Tori fan.
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