Sam Smith Sleeps Well Atop the BR250 for September & Viola it’s Yola!

Sam Smith moves into the top spot, up from #7, eclipsing the Kygo, Whitney Houston cover of “Higher Love” that clocks in at #2. Post Malone blasts into the BR250 at #3 with “Circles” while also pushing into the top 25 at #22 with “Goodbyes”.

Taylor Swift places 2 in the top 10 as ‘Calm Down’ drops to #9 and “Lover” moves up to #7. Besides “Lover” and “Circles” other notable big moves in the BR250 include “Dance Monkey” by Tones And I (#10) and #’s 14-17 which belong to Pet Shop Boys(with Years & Years), Ava Max, Normani and Bombay Bicycle Club.

Check out the entire BR250 and more at the link to the left.And the following Spotify playlist features all the songs that have reached the BR250. in 2019

Today’s recommendation is a from a relative newcomer, Yola. This Brit began her career in the band Phantom Limb in 2010. She released a solo EP in 2016 and her 1st full length album, “Walk Through Fire” came out earlier this year and was produced by Black Keys member Dan Auerbach. Her brand of country-tinged retro-soul brings back a sound that many of my age would remember from our childhood. “Faraway Look” was featured in the final scene of the Hulu reboot of “Veronica Mars”. On ” Keep Me Here” she is accompanied by country great Vince Gill, his lilting tenor a perfect combo with her rich voice. Both of these songs bring me back to the late 60’s.

“Ride Out In The Country” is a more straightforward country ballad. One reviewer equated “Lonely The Night” to the grand orchestration of Dusty Springfield’s work. Phantom Limb is a band I did not remember but after listening to “The Pines” I may dig deeper into their 2 albums. She is a bit grittier on this tune.