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Post by Whitneyfan on Aug 24, 2011 16:17:38 GMT 1
As voted for by me! There's no real need for an introduction so I'll just start. 100. Lovesong - The Cure Written by Robert Smith and Simon Gallup, this haunting ballad was taken from the Cure's 1989 album 'Disintegration' and reached a shockingly low #18 on the charts. This is Robert at his most heartfelt and breathtaking and is one for people who have loved ones living far away. Adele does a good cover of this on her '21' album which everybody in the country must own by now, but I have to add that the song has always been a favourite of mine and her version in no way contributed to its position here. |
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Post by Whitneyfan on Aug 24, 2011 16:25:45 GMT 1
99. One of us - Joan Osborne I feel quite bad that I know absolutely nothing else from this lady, but this alternate take on the existance of God is an underrated gem indeed. It's written by Eric Bazilian of the Hooters (who some people may remember had a hit with the rather brilliant 'Satellite' in 1987). Taken from her album 'Relish' this was a hit in 1996, the same year that Take That split up, The Prodigy were taking over the dance scene with the extreme 'Firestarter' and 'Breathe', Oasis were leading the Britpop pack and some group called the Spice Girls reached #1 with their first three singles. This track has really stood the test of time for me though.... and the Glee version ain't half bad either.
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Post by Whitneyfan on Aug 24, 2011 16:41:31 GMT 1
98. You're so vain - Carly Simon We go back a lot further for this one - 1972 to be precise. This track about a mystery fella was self-composed by Carly and reached #3 in the charts the following year. It was taken from the album 'No secrets' which was by far her most successful, and I have to say that it is shocking that she has only had four top ten hits in a career spanning forty years. I urge people to buy her 1999 compilation, 'Nobody does it better', as there are some real diamonds on there that aren't all well-known. I'm not sure if it's worth mentioning or not that this was sampled on Janet Jackson's song 'Son of a gun', but there I have anyway.
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Post by Whitneyfan on Aug 24, 2011 16:47:27 GMT 1
97. For all we know - The Carpenters Written by Fred Karlin, Jimmy Griffin and Robb Royer, this gorgeous ballad was a #18 hit for Karen and Richard Carpenter in 1971 and is taken from their self-titled third album. It was originally performed by Larry Meredith on the 1970 film, Lovers and other strangers, and was a bigger hit for Shirley Bassey (also in 1971), reaching #6, but you'll have to go a long way to improve on a Carpenters song - I even prefer their version of 'Ticket to ride' to the Beatles.
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Post by Whitneyfan on Aug 24, 2011 16:53:43 GMT 1
96. Something's gotten hold of my heart - Marc Almond & Gene Pitney Taken from 'The stars we are' album of Marc's, this was a #1 for four whole weeks early in 1989. Gene Pitney actually sung a solo version in 1967, but could only manage #5 by himself. Before that though, David and Jonathan recorded the song that was written by Roger Greenaway and Roger Cook (not of 'the Cook report' fame). Almond's powerful vocals comined with Pitney's unique style of voice, and add to that an orchestral production, bring the song to a whole new level and it's easy to see why this version is the more popular.
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Ramz
Member
Posts: 22,961 
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Post by Ramz on Aug 24, 2011 16:59:01 GMT 1
I love One Of Us! It's such a good song, even though it means naff all to me. So glad Glee got me back into it  And chance of us seeing your personal weekly charts again?  |
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Post by o on Aug 24, 2011 19:38:37 GMT 1
Love song by the Cure is gorgeous, on my ipod as well, so I'm with you there...
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Post by Whitneyfan on Aug 25, 2011 19:36:49 GMT 1
95. Sad songs (say so much) - Elton John Not one of Elton's most heard hits nowadays, but it was one of his biggest hits during the eighties, reaching #7 in 1984. The track is an Elton John/Bernie Taupin composition like most of his recordings, and is taken from 'Breaking hearts', an album which also spawned the hit single 'Passengers'. It's quite a bluesy pop ballad that always makes me go all tingly inside.
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Post by Whitneyfan on Aug 25, 2011 19:47:33 GMT 1
94. Push it - Salt'n'Pepa Oh whatever happened to these? First released in 1987, and eventually a #2 hit in 1988, this infectious rap anthem was written by Hurzy Azor and Raymond Douglas Davies. It was one of the first rap/club crossover records and has remained popular to this day in clubs everywhere, never sounding dated. I would also highly recommend checking out some of their other hits, such as 'Twist and shout', 'Shake your thang', 'Let's talk about sex' and 'Do you want me'.
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Post by Whitneyfan on Aug 25, 2011 19:54:41 GMT 1
93. Just like Jesse James - Cher This was Cher during my very favourite era of hers - her rock chick late eighties and early nineties era. It is taken from the 1989 'Heart of stone' album, which is still one of my favourite albums ever, and was a #11 hit early in 1990. It was written by Desmond Child and Diane Warren, who has written many a power ballad masterpiece.
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Post by Whitneyfan on Aug 26, 2011 15:04:25 GMT 1
92. Fast car - Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman is one of those singer-songwriters whose name has survived the test of time despite only ever having one hit single, the self-composed Fast car which originally reached #5 in 1988 but achieved one place better earlier this year after a Britain's got talent contestant performed a competent version of the song. Her soulful bluesy self-titled debut album that this track comes from is still widely regarded as a masterpiece and makes regular appearances to the charts to this day.
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Post by Whitneyfan on Aug 26, 2011 15:15:13 GMT 1
91. On the inside - Lynne Hamilton Yes, this is indeed the closing theme to the best show ever to come out of Australia - Prisoner: Cell block H. Written by Allan Caswell, this is a real emotional tearjerker and stands up as more than just the song that was played over the credits of an ancient Ozzie soap. It reached #3 in the UK in 1989 but was originally recorded in 1978.
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Post by Jordan on Aug 26, 2011 15:23:14 GMT 1
Fast Car is the only one that I love so far, but I've got a bit of a soft spot for One Of Us and You're So Vain too.
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Post by Whitneyfan on Aug 26, 2011 15:24:26 GMT 1
90. Luka - Suzanne Vega This song gets me every time. Luka is Suzanne's character in the song who is a victim of domestic abuse and she plays it so well that you forget she isn't a real person. Taken from the album 'Solitude standing', this was written by Suzanne herself and reached a shockingly low #23 in 1987, despite being quite a novel topic for a song at the time.
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Post by Whitneyfan on Aug 26, 2011 18:41:03 GMT 1
89. Woman in love - Barbra Streisand In 1980 Barbra released the album 'Guilty', an album written by members of the Bee Gees. This track was written by Barry and Robin Gibb and went to #1 the same year, becoming her biggest ever UK hit in a career that now spans fifty years. 'Guilty' is easily one of my all-time favourite albums, with every song having an instant memorable hook and sung to perfection. Liz McLarnon had a hit with this also, but that is probably better best forgotten.
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Post by Whitneyfan on Aug 26, 2011 18:47:57 GMT 1
88. How will I know - Whitney Houston Well she was obviously going to put in an appearance at some point. This was her second hit in the UK, following the #1 smash 'Saving all my love for you', this climbed to #5 in early 1986 and was taken from her brilliant self-titled debut album. George Merrill, Shannon Rubicam and Narada Michael Walden wrote this upbeat dance track which still manages to show off her incredible fresh vocals as they were in the eighties.
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Post by Whitneyfan on Aug 26, 2011 18:54:47 GMT 1
87. The Living years - Mike & the mechanics From the album of the same name, Mike Rutherford and B.A. Robertson wrote this heartfelt rock ballad of somebody having lost their father without saying the things they wanted to say. It was by far the band's biggest hit, peaking at #2 in 1989 (only being kept off the top spot by the #96 song on this rundown).
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Post by Whitneyfan on Aug 27, 2011 8:04:10 GMT 1
86. Tusk - Fleetwood Mac My favourite band ever, by a long shot. 'Tusk' was the first single from the double album of the same name and it reached #6 in 1979 becoming their second biggest hit of the decade - only a re-issued release of 'Albatross' that reached #2 did better. Composed by Lindsey Buckingham, the drumming sounds and unique vocals on this make for a song that is very different to anything the band has ever done, and is one of the most unique sounding rock songs of all-time. Incidentally, Tusk is the name that some of the male members of the band used for their manhood.
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Post by evansabove on Aug 27, 2011 8:07:11 GMT 1
can't argue with many of these.
One Of Us,Push It & The Living Years are particular favourites. I think Cher has done much better then Jesse James though
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Post by Whitneyfan on Aug 27, 2011 8:18:57 GMT 1
85. Don't go - Yazoo The intro to this dancefloor anthem from 1982 is one of the most infectious and recognisable ever. In a time when synths were all the rage this is a totally feel-good song, which is ironic when you actually listen to the lyrics, although I've never been able to work out if it's about drugs or domestic abuse. Alison Moyet's fierce vocals work well on this, and she and Vince Clarke wrote the song that reached #3 in the charts and was taken from their debut album 'Upstairs at Eric's'.
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