THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
96-Simon & Garfunkel-The Sound of Silence.
1965-Has never charted in the UK.
Best Bit-At 2.21.In 2015 the Heavy Metal band Disturbed released their version.Paul Simon verbally endorsed the cover,in an e-mail to David Draiman the bands lead singer he also wrote,’A really powerful performance.’Draiman responded,’Mr Simon,I am honoured beyond words,we only hoped to pay homage and honour to the brilliance of one of the greatest songwriters of all time.’
‘The Sound of Silence’ was written over several months during 1963 and 1964 by the then unknown artist Paul Simon(see also best songs 529 and 200.) He has said he would go and write and play his guitar in the bathroom because it gave an echo chamber effect.
When the song was first released it met with public indifference,until radio stations finally started playing it.The songs success eventually occurred when the legendary music producer Tom Wilson(1931-1978) added bass and drums to the track,Paul Simon was unaware of this and was initially horrified,the song would eventually go on to become a Billboard Number 1 single.
As for the songs meaning,Art Garfunkel has given his interpretation,’It is about a world not willing to love each other,they no longer even know how and the lack of communication on an emotional level.Yes we speak,but we say nothing of value,nothing worth sharing.He wrote it when he was 21,so it is also a song of youthful angst and want for meaning and communication between all.’
‘People talking without speaking,people hearing without listening.’
PLEASE SHARE TO REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE.
The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
97-Frank Wilson-Do I Love You(Indeed I Do.)
1965-Has never charted in the UK.
Best Bit-At 0.15.The song became popular after repeated plays at the Wigan Casino allnighters,therefore it is fitting it was also the last song ever played there before the venue closed in 1981.
Approximately 250 demo 7 inch singles were pressed ahead of the songs scheduled release,but at the last minute Motown owner Berry Gordy and the songs writer and vocalist Frank Wilson mutually agreed to pull the song and destroy all the demo copy’s.It is known that at least two survived,one of which changed hands in 2009 for £25,742 a world record for a Soul song.Berry Gordy felt that Wilson was two important to him as a songwriter and therefore wouldn’t achieve the same level if becoming a Pop star,Wilson agreed,saying he had no desire to be a performer.
Frank Wilson(December 5,1940-September 27,2012) was one of Motown’s most influential songwriters and producers,working alongside many of the labels top stars,his very best known songs with which he had input in include the Supremes hits ‘I’m Gonna Make You Love Me,’Stoned Love,”Love Child,’ and I’m Living In Shame.(see also best songs 411)’ he also co-wrote and produced Eddie Kendricks 1973 Billboard Number 1,’Keep On Truckin”(see also best songs 491.)
In many lists of the best Northern Soul songs and with fans of the genre this song is generally regarded as the Number 1.
PLEASE SHARE IT IS MUCH APPRECIATED.
For a list of all the best 1000 songs so far click on the blog at www.barryphilipsdiscos.
On this countdown this song is the highest placed Northern Soul song.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
98-Marlena Shaw-Yu Ma/Go Away Little Boy.
1977-Has never charted in the UK.
Best Bit-At 2.48.The heart 1-The head 0.
The original version of this song was written in 1962 by the legendary songwriting team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King who were husband and wife at that time.The first recording was by Bobby Vee,but it was the second recording by Steve Laurence which topped the Billboard chart in 1963.In 1971 Donny Osmond also reached Number 1 with his version,making ‘Go Away Little Girl’ the first song to be Number 1 in America by two different artists.In the UK the only hit version was by Mark Wynter who reached Number 6 in 1962.
Marlena Shaw was born Marlina Burgess,September 22,1942 in New Rochelle,New York.She recorded ‘Yu Ma/Go Away Little Boy for her 1977 Album ‘Sweet Beginnings.’Although Goffin and King received the writing credits,Marlena Shaw’s rendition is poles apart and is given a complete overhaul.Her Soulful performance starts off with a monologue,she tells her man he had better shape up or get out,by the time the song reaches it’s climax she is ready to forgive his misdemeanours,even promising to try harder herself to make the relationship work.
‘Don’t kiss my eyelids like that,and please don’t suck my ear lobes like that.’
PLEASE SHARE TO REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE.
The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
99-Jerry Lee Lewis-Great Balls of Fire.
1958-Number 1 single.
Best Bit-At 0.01.They say if he hadn’t married his 13 year old first cousin once removed,he would have been as big as Elvis.
While touring Britain in 1958 the news of what Jerry Lee Lewis had done broke worldwide,this led to tour cancellations,record contracts being torn up and radio stations refusing to play his songs.It was another ten years before he managed to re-establish himself again,this time as a Country Music star.
‘Great Balls of Fire’ was first heard in the 1957 black and white film ‘Disc Jockey Jamboree.’The film is famous for showcasing many of the days top acts including Fats Domino,Carl Perkins and Frankie Avalon lip-syncing their performances.
The song was co-written by Otis Blackwell(1931-2002) and Jack Hammer(1925-2016.) Blackwell is remembered as one of the greatest R&B songwriters of all time,some of his other classic compositions include,’All Shook Up,”Don’t Be Cruel,’ and ‘Return To Sender,’ all made famous by Elvis Presley,he also wrote ‘Fever,'(see also best songs 468.)
Lewis(see also best songs 678 and 362) recorded ‘Great Balls of Fire’ on October 8,1957 at the legendary ‘Sun Studio’ in Memphis,Tennessee.The bass player was Sidney Stokes and the drummer was session musician Larry Linn,Lewis has said of them,’I don’t know what happened to them people.That’s the last time I ever seen ’em.That’s strange isn’t it?’
‘You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain,too much love drives a man insane.’
IF YOU LIKE THIS PLEASE SHARE.
The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
100-Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong-Cheek to Cheek.
1956-Has never been released as a single in the UK.
Best Bit-At 2.28.In a land of 1000 dances,dancing cheek to cheek is the most intimate and sensual.Irving Berlin,you old romantic.
‘Cheek to Cheek’ was written by Irving Berlin for the 1935 musical comedy ‘Top Hat,’in the film Fred Astaire sings the song to Ginger Rogers as they dance.There was no American Billboard chart until 1936,but the Fred Astaire version spent five weeks at Number 1 on ‘Your Hit Parade,’ a precursor to a Billboard chart.
In 1956 Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong(see also best songs 944-767-702-286 and 231) recorded the song as one of the eleven tracks for their duets Album ‘Ella and Louis,accompanied by the Oscar Peterson Quartet on the Verve record label.The Album was critically acclaimed leading to two further releases,’Ella and Louis Again(1957) and ‘Porgy and Bess'(1958.)
Irving Berlin(see also best songs 731-457 and 385) was born Israel Beilin in Russia in 1888 and died in New York City at the age of 101 in 1989,his music forms a great part of the ‘Great American Songbook.’
Ella Jane Fitzgerald(1917-1996) is in my opinion the greatest female vocalist of all time,she is fondly referred to as ‘The First Lady of Song,”Queen of Jazz’ and ‘Lady Ella.’
Louis Daniel Armstrong(1901-1971) is regarded as a major influence on the development of popular music,he had a distinctive gravely voice which blends beautifully with the vocals of Ella Fitzgerald.He was also a renowned trumpeter,his nicknames were ‘Satchmo,’Satch’ and ‘Pops.’
‘Heaven,I’m in heaven and my heartbeats so that I can hardly speak.’
IF YOU LIKE THIS PLEASE SHARE.
The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
101-Althea & Donna-Uptown Top Ranking.
1978-Number 1 single.
Best Bit At 0.25.Even the world’s most influential DJ John Peel made the odd mistake.I have heard he occasionally played a 45 rpm at 33 rpm and sometimes visa versa.It appears he played this song by accident resulting in numerous requests from listeners to hear it again,
‘Uptown Top Ranking’ has a long history,so if your sitting comfortably we’ll begin.The ‘riddim'(Jamaican for rhythm) was first recorded in 1967 by Alton Ellis and called ‘I’m Still in Love,’ in 1970 Marcia Aitken covered the song calling it ‘I’m Still in Love With You Boy.’In 1976 the Jamaican toaster(rapper) Trinity did a version of which the Althea & Donna recording is an answer song.The lyrics were written by Althea & Donna and Errol Thompson(1948-2004) who was one of Reggae’s most influential names as is Joe Gibbs(1942-2008,) who produced the song.
Like Desmond Dekker’s 1969 UK Number 1 ‘Israelites'(see also best songs 122) the general public had trouble understanding the Jamaican patois(English based creole language with West African influences.) Basically the girls are saying,look how great we dress,when you see us coming you will stop and stare,watch us dance to Reggae because were too cool for Pop Music.
Althea Forrest was 17 and Donna Reid was 18 when this song topped the UK chart in February 1978,they remain to this day proper ‘one hit wonders.’
‘Nah pop no style.a strictly roots.’
IF YOU LIKE THIS PLEASE SHARE.
The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
102-Ramones-Sheena Is a Punk Rocker.
1977-Number 22 single.
Best Bit-At 0.10.’1,2,3,4!’ The Sheena referred to in the title is in fact the comic book character ‘Sheena,Queen of the Jungle,’ a fictional American comic book jungle girl heroine which was first published in 1937.Sheena also has another claim to fame,Ike Turner credited Sheena as one of his inspirations for creating Tina Turner’s stage persona.He chose the name Tina because it rhymed with Sheena.
Lead singer and also this songs writer,Joey Ramone(born Jeffrey Hyman,May 19,1951-April 15,2001) said of his song,’To me ‘Sheena’ was the first surf/punk rock/teenage rebellion song.I combined Sheena,Queen of the Jungle with the primalness of Punk Rock.Then Sheena is brought in to the modern day.’
All four of the bands original line up have now died,along with Joey Ramone,bass player Dee Dee Ramone(born Douglas Colvin,September 18,1951-June 5,2002,) guitarist Johnny Ramone(born John Cummings,October 8,1948-September 15,2004) and drummer Tommy Ramone(born Thomas Erdelyi,January 29,1949-July 11,2014.)
All band members and there have been eight down the years would use the surname Ramone. Colvin was the first to adopt the name,he was inspired by Paul McCartney’s use of the pseudonym Paul Ramon during his ‘Silver Beetles’ days in 1960. Colvin convinced the other members of the band to take on the name and came up with the idea of calling the band the Ramones(see also best songs 707.)
‘Well the kids are all hopped up and ready to go,they got their surfboards and they’re going to the discotheque A-Go-Go.’
IF YOU LIKE THIS PLEASE SHARE.
The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
103-Bob Dylan-Blowin’ in the Wind.
1963-Has never charted in the UK,
Best Bit-At 2.21.This was the first song to make Bob Dylan financially secure.He had released the song as a single himself but without any success,but after letting the Folk trio Peter,Paul and Mary record a version which reached Number 2 on Billboard,things were to change forever.Peter Yarrow recalled that when he told Dylan he would make more than $5000(equivalent to $41,000 in 2019) from the publishing rights,Dylan was speechless!
‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ was written and performed by Bob Dylan(see also best songs 792 and 358) in 1962 and appeared on his second studio Album,’The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.’The inspiration for the song may have come from Dylan’s idol,the Folk singer Woodie Guthrie whose autobiography,’Bound for Glory’ includes Guthrie comparing his political sensibility to newspapers blowing in the winds of New York City’s streets and alleys.The melody of Blowin’ in the Wind is not totally a Dylan original,he has stated it was adapted from an old African/American slave song,’No More Auction Block/We Shall Overcome.’
‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ is a protest song,it tells us peace and freedom are achievable as is the ending of war,the answer to all these questions are right in front of us,yet we do not see it.
‘How many deaths will it take till he knows that too many people have died.’
PLEASE SHARE TO REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE.
The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.
This is the 3rd highest placed Bob Dylan song on this countdown.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
104-Dexys Midnight Runners-Geno.
1980-Number 1 single.
Best Bit-At 2.39.Iv’e never been the greatest fan of Brass Band music but if it all sounded like this,convert me quick.
Dexys Midnight Runners(see also best songs 913) were formed in Birmingham in 1978,they have been through several personal changes with Kevin Rowland being the only constant,they split in 1986 but reformed in 2003.The bands name was derived from Dexedrine which was commonly used as a recreational drug among Northern Soul fans to give them energy to dance all night.
‘Geno’ was co-written by band members Kevin Rowland,supplying the lyrics and Kevin Archer,music,I would urge you to listen to a song called ‘One and Only Man’ by Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band,you will see were Archer got the idea for the melody.
The song is a tribute to Soul singer Geno Washington.In 1968 at the age of fifteen Rowland skipped school to be the youngest member of his crowd at a Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band concert.The gig left a lasting impression on him and when this song became a hit in 1980 it made Geno Washington far more famous than he was in his heyday in the 1960’s.
‘Academic inspiration you gave me none,but you were Michael the lover the fighter that won.’
IF YOU LIKE THIS PLEASE SHARE.
The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm.