Our Top 10 José Feliciano songs list looks back at the career of one of the most distinctive voices and musicians in classic rock history. José Feliciano broke big time in the 196os with his beautiful versions of classic rock songs like The Doors “Light My Fire” and The Mama’s and the Papas “California Dreaming,” With a Latin rhythmic style unique in classic rock and pop but paying heavy tribute to his roots, José Feliciano presented fans with an alternate way of enjoying rock classics making them sound fresh while opening up new audiences to music they may never have given a chance, and quite the reverse too. His pitch-perfect vocals and captivating guitar playing brought him to the top of the charts with his Feliciano! album released in 1968.
José Feliciano is one of those rare artists who has released almost as many albums as he has singles, making him a true album-oriented artist. Since his debut album in 1965 entitled The Voice and Guitar of José Feliciano, the Puerto Rico born José Feliciano has released fifty six studio albums and fifty eight singles. Our top 10 José Feliciano songs list presents ten of our favorite José Feliciano songs in order to turn you on to one of classic rock’s greatest musical treasures.
# 10 – Marley Purt Drive
We begin our top 10 José Feliciano songs list with the fabulous song “Marley Purt Drive.” Many people may not realize that José Feliciano covered many Bee Gees songs during his recording career. We are not talking about the Bee Gees of the 1970s disco era. No, these were the great 1960s Bee Gees songs. José Feliciano’s arrangement on this song is reminiscent of The Band. It’s a soulful recording with a little bit of Americana tossed in.
# 9 – Twilight Time
Continuing with our top 10 José Feliciano songs list, we listen to the great song entitled “Twilight Time.” José Feliciano changes things up a bit as he tackles the legendary Three Suns and Platters song while dipping his musical talents into the sound of doo-wop. What we love so much about this one is the vocals that José Feliciano lays out. It lets us hear his talent from a different angle, which is just so fascinating to hear. José Feliciano had a minor hit with the song in 1975 as it broke into the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Charts, peaking in the mid-forties.
# 8 – Nena Na Na
In the number eight spot on our top 10 José Feliciano songs list we present the song entitled “Nena Na Na.” The song was released on the legendary José Feliciano album entitled Feliciano! The album was issued in 1968. “Nena Na Na” opened up side two on the album. It’s the only Spanish song on the record. But there’s a reason why they placed this song as the first song on side two. It’s just so good. This style of music was huge in the 1960s with the success of Jobim. “Nena Na Na” was composed by the first-class songwriter Jorge Ben, who was a legend himself.
# 7 – Che Sara
While we are trying to stick with the English language songs on our José Feliciano songs list we just could not ignore this breathtaking recording entitled “Che Sara.” The song which means “What Will It Be,” is an Italian song written by Jimmy Fontana. José Feliciano recorded the song in 1971. The single release was a huge international hit for José Feliciano. The gorgeous song “Che Sara” hit number one in Austria, Spain, and Sweden. It did not chart in the United States.
# 6 – Destiny
Landing in the number six spot on our top 10 José Feliciano songs list we present the charming song entitled “Destiny.” The song was released in 1970. This one is more of a straight-ahead rocker with a great horn section driving the song’s central groove. The strings balance it out as they wrap around the magical vocals of José Feliciano. The untamed song “Destiny” hit the US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Charts, peaking at number fifteen. It also broke into the US Billboard Hot 100, settling in at number eighty-three.
# 5 – Chico And The Man
At the halfway point on our top 10 José Feliciano songs list is the exquisite song “Chico And The Man.” The song served as the theme song to the much loved television series Chico and The Man. The song has such a great rhythmic groove and a little bit of a Paul Simon feel to it which is probably just symbolic of the time period it was written in. The great tv series featured Jack Albertson and Freddie Prinze. The series ran on NBC for four years between 1974 and 1978. This one will bring you back,
# 4 – Hi-Heel Sneakers
Put on your groove shoes, oh and yeah dont forget to put on your red dress or red tie before you check out this great song. At the number four spot on our top 10 José Feliciano songs list we present the song “Hi-Heel Sneakers.” Filled with jazz and a whole lot of soul, José Feliciano list it all up on this mesmerizing track. The song was released on the album entitled Souled. The album was released in 1968. It was the first single released from the album. The song “Hi-Heel Sneakers” was a hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number twenty five. “Hi-Heel Sneakers” also was a hit on the US Billboard R&B Charts reaching all the way up to number forty four. The superb song was written by Tommy Tucker in 1963.
# 3 – Feliz Navidad
It’s rare that a Christmas song would rank this high on a top 10 list, but this is no ordinary Christmas song. We wonder if José Feliciano realized what a huge hit he had written when he composed this song back in 1970. Yet it was more than just a hit, it has become a Christmas classic and one of the last great Christmas standards ever written. It stands as one of the biggest selling Christmas songs of all time. It’s crossover appeal between the Latin and English communities is unmatched in popular music history.
# 2 – California Dreaming
Sometimes, b-sides become big hits, too, and this was one of those times. José Feliciano’s stunning cover of the Mama’s and the Papa’s sensational song “California Dreaming” was released as the b-side to his massive top 10 hits “Light My Fire.” His recording of the song would help increase the sales of his massive hit album Feliciano! The song would also become one of his signature songs in concert. A song that was already filled with emotion was taken to new emotional heights with José Feliciano’s stirring rendition of the song. This one is simply breathtaking.
# 1 – Light My Fire
We close out our top 10 José Feliciano songs list with the singer’s biggest hit of his career. José Feliciano’s phenomenal remake of The Doors “Light My Fire,” turned heads instantly as it captivated music fans with the radical arrangement he brought to the song. Hands down, it’s one of the most soulful performances on vinyl ever recorded.
The song was released on the album entitled Feliciano! The album was released in 1968. José Feliciano released the song a year after The Doors had a number one hit with their single. José Feliciano’s version did not hit number one, but it came close as it reached the number three spot on the US Billboard Hot 100. However, on the Canadian Music Sales Charts, the song hit number one. One of the all-time great singles from the 1960s.
Featured Photo: Rob Mieremet / Anefo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
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