Barry Philips Discos

Published by Barry Philips · January 21 at 1:00 PM · 

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
64-George McCrae-Rock Your Baby.
1974-Number 1 single.
Best Bit-At 3.36.If they have Disco’s in heaven,then surely this is the song they play.
‘Rock Your Baby’ is a groundbreaking song and one of the first ‘Disco’ hits,it is currently the 27th biggest selling single of all time with sales in-excess of 11 million.
The song was co-written by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch(see also best songs 893 and 375) who would go on to write a further five Billboard Number 1’s for their group KC and the Sunshine Band.The track was first offered to George McCraes’ wife Gwen but after hearing George’s falsetto it was a done deal.
The guitar which was added to the song was played by KC and the Sunshine Band member Jerome Smith(1953-2000,) his style and sound would become an influence for future dance hits and artists including Nile Rogers of Chic.Other artists who have admitted they were influenced by the song include John Lennon who based his track ‘Whatever Gets You Through The Night’ on this and Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA have cited the song as an inspiration for the backing track of ‘Dancing Queen.’
In 1992 the song returned to the UK top 40 when the British Dance act KWS took their version to Number 8,it was released as the follow up to their UK Number 1 of the same year,’Please Don’t Go’ which was also written by Casey and Finch.
‘There’s nothing to it,just say you want to do it,open up your heart and let your loving start.’
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The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm.YOUTUBE.COMGeorge McCrae Rock Your Baby Extended Version Remastered (1974)

Barry Philips Discos

Published by Barry Philips · 2 hrs · 

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
65-Stevie Wonder-Living for the City.
1973-Number 15 single.
Best Bit-At 5.18.Because Stevie Wonder was already a superstar in the 1960’s it is easy to forget that he was still only 23 when he wrote this.
Stevie Wonder(see also best songs 920-843-834-682-570-503-366-205 and 152) was signed to Tamla Motown records at the age of eleven and had his first Billboard Number 1 with ‘Fingertips’ in 1963 making him the youngest ever artist at the age of 13 to top the American singles chart,but for all his success in the 60’s it is his 1970’s output that he will be best remembered for.Between 1972-1974 his four Album releases,’Music of My Mind,”Talking Book,”Innervisions’ and ‘Fullfillingness’ First Finale’ are his most critically acclaimed.
‘Living for the City’ from ‘Innervisions’ is about a young black man born in to a poor but respectable family in Mississippi.He can’t get a job because of discrimination so goes to New York in search of a better life.The man reaches New York and naively gets caught up in crime,he is arrested,convicted and sentenced to ten years in jail. Stevie Wonder said,’I think the deepest I really got into how I feel about the way things are was in ‘Living for the City,’ I was able to show the hurt and the anger.’
Stevie Wonder performed the whole song himself,he wrote it,produced it,sang lead and backing vocals as well as playing all the instruments.
‘To find a job is like a haystack needle,because where he lives they don’t use coloured people.’
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This is the highest placed Stevie Wonder song on this countdown.YOUTUBE.COMStevie Wonder – Living for the City1973 – Innervisions

Barry Philips Discos

Published by Barry Philips · Yesterday at 1:00 PM · 

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
66-Led Zeppelin-Stairway to Heaven.
1971-It was never released as a single until the bands back catalogue was made available in 2007 for download,then the song peaked at Number 37 in the UK.
Best Bit-At 6.45.Led Zeppelin played the song for the first time in Belfast in 1971.The bands bass player John Paul Jones recalled that the crowd was unimpressed,’they were all bored to tears waiting to hear something they knew.’
Led Zeppelin(see also best songs 135) never released singles so if you wanted their music you had to buy the Albums.Two cover versions of this song have been hits in the UK,the British band Far Corporation took their recording to Number 8 in 1985 and disgraced Australian singer Rolf Harris reached Number 7 in 1993.
Stairway to Heaven was composed by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant,the guitar solo from Page is considered by music critics to be one of the greatest ever.
The songs lyrics are open to interpretation,Robert Plant who wrote them at the age of 23 has said,’depending on what day it is,I still interpret the song in a different way,and I wrote the lyrics.’
Anyone can interpret the lyrics anyway they want,but it appears there are two paths you can follow.One is by learning to respect yourself,respect others and respect your surroundings which is the ‘Stairway to Heaven,’ or you can choose the other path,’The Highway To Hell.’
‘There’s a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure ’cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.’
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This is the highest placed Led Zeppelin song on this countdown.YOUTUBE.COMLed Zeppelin – Stairway To Heaven (Lyrics)Led Zeppelin – Stairway To Heaven with lyrics There’s a lady who’s sure All that glitters is gold And she’s buying a stairway to heaven When…

Barry Philips Discos

Published by Barry Philips · January 18 at 1:00 PM · 

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
67-T.Rex-20th Century Boy.
1973-Number 3 single.When re-released in 1991 it reached Number 13.
Best Bit-At 1.37.If you think this song is so last century,let me tell you something,it’s still ahead of it’s time,even now!
Marc Bolan(1947-1977) split with Steve Peregrin Took(1949-1980) who had been his partner in Tyrannosaurus Rex in 1969 to form a new incarnation of the band,leading them in a different musical direction.Shortening the bands name to T.Rex ,Bolan was joined by the new line up of Mickey Finn(1947-2003,) Steve Currie(1947-1981,) and the bands only still living member Bill Legend(see also best songs 790 and 386.)
20th Century Boy was recorded on December 3,1972 in the Toshiba Recording Studios in Tokyo,Japan,backing vocals,hand claps,acoustic guitar and saxophones were recorded in England when the band returned after their tour.
The song was produced by Tony Visconti who worked on eight T.Rex studio Albums between 1968-1974. Visconti has produced well over 100 Albums since 1968 including fourteen for David Bowie(see also best songs 302-209 and 118.)
People have argued for a long time as to what Bolan is singing in the songs first line,’Friends say it’s fine,friends say it’s good,everybody says it’s just like Robin Hood,’some people hear the incorrect,’It’s just like Rock ‘N’ Roll.’
‘I move like a cat,charge like a ram,sting like a bee,babe I want to be your man.’
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This is the highest placed Marc Bolan song on this countdown.YOUTUBE.COM20th Century Boy (2012 Remaster)Provided to YouTube by Believe SAS 20th Century Boy (2012 Remaster) · T.Rex Tanx (The Visconti Master – 2012 Remaster) ℗ Demon Music Group…

Barry Philips Discos

Published by Barry Philips · January 17 at 1:00 PM · 

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
68-Judy Garland-Over the Rainbow.
1939-Has never charted in the UK.There was no UK chart until 1952.
Best Bit-At 1.12.The American Film Institute have named this song the best movie song ever.
‘Over the Rainbow’ was composed by Harold Arlen(see also best songs 934-634 and 281) with lyrics by Yip Harburg for the movie ‘The Wizard of OZ.’The lyrics had a political significance,Harburg was expressing hope for America under President Franklin Roosevelt’s ‘New Deal’ programme which was designed to get America out of the Great Depression which had been ongoing since the early 1930’s(see also best songs 259.)
The song was sung by Judy Garland in the starring role of Dorothy Gale.Dorothy sings the song after failing to get Aunt Em,Uncle Henry and the farm hands to listen to her story of an unpleasant incident involving her dog,Toto,and the town spinster.
Judy Garland was born,Frances Ethel Gumm,June 10.1922 in Grand Rapids,Minnesota,U.S.,she died on June 22,1969 after accidentally overdosing on barbiturates.She recorded the film version of the song on October 7,1938 and the studio version in September 1939.The film version was not released for the public to buy until the films soundtrack was made available in 1956.She had three children,two of which followed her in to acting,Lorna Luft and Liza Minnelli(see also best songs 182.)
‘Someday I’ll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me.’
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This is the 2nd highest placed pre Rock ‘N’ Roll era (before 1955) song on this countdown.YOUTUBE.COMSomewhere Over the Rainbow – The Wizard of Oz (1/8) Movie CLIP (1939) HDThe Wizard of Oz movie clips: http://j.mp/1L5gtKP BUY THE MOVIE: http://bit.ly/2cmiEyC Don’t miss the HOTTEST NEW TRAILERS:…

Barry Philips Discos

Published by Barry Philips · 2 hrs · 

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
69-Madness-Night Boat to Cairo.
1980-Number 6 single.
Best Bit-0.30.According to the songs co-writer Mike Barson,’It was supposed to be an instrumental and then Suggs bloody got hold of it and wrote all those dodgy lyrics.’
There had already been three hit singles released off the debut Album,’One Step Beyond’ and Madness were keen to release new material,but the record company insisted a further song off the Album should be a single.The compromise was the release of Night Boat to Cairo along with three new songs on an ‘EP,’ to be called the ‘Work Rest and Play EP.’
The song has become a fan favourite and is often played as the encore of the bands live concerts(see also best songs 801.)
Night Boat to Cairo and it’s parent Album One Step Beyond were produced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley who were very influential in 1980’s and 1990’s music production.Some of the artists and Albums they produced include Dexys Midnight Runners(Too Rye-Ay,) Elvis Costello(Punch the Clock,) and Morrissey(Kill Unkle.)
It’s just gone noon,half-past monsoon on the banks of the river Nile.’
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This is the highest placed Ska song on this countdown.YOUTUBE.COMMadness – Night Boat to Cairo (Official Video)Click here for more Madness: https://madnessband.lnk.to/Youtube Madness have never been shy about dressing up and the video for…

Barry Philips Discos

Published by Barry Philips · Yesterday at 1:00 PM · 

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
70-Faces-Stay with Me.
1972-Number 6 single.
Best Bit-At 3.19 and again at 3.41 and again at 3.52 and again at 4.02 and again at 4.13.
‘Stay with Me’ was co-written by Rod Stewart(see also best songs 965-565-206 and 179) and guitarist Ronnie Wood.The song tells of a one night stand where Stewart tells us how to pick up a groupie,he makes it very clear that she must be gone in the morning ,although he does offer to pay her cab fare home.He notes her ‘red lips,hair and fingernails’ and repeats the rumour that she’s a ‘mean old Jezebel.’Stewart had just had a Number 1 song with ‘Maggie May’ which was based on a true story,where he had been the subject of a sexual conquest by an older woman.A psychiatrist could write a whole thesis on this.
The Faces were formed in 1969 by Ian McLagan(1945-2014) Ronnie Lane(1946-1997,) and Kenney Jones,who had all been members of the very successful Rock group the Small Faces(see also best songs 872.)They were joined by Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood who had just left the Jeff Beck Group.Together they released four studio Albums between 1970-1973,before they split in 1975.
‘In the morning don’t say you love me,’cause I’ll only kick you out of the door.’
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This is the 2nd highest placed Rod Stewart song on this countdown.YOUTUBE.COMFaces – Stay With Me 45rpmChart info: Debuted 1/1/1972 and topped out at #17 on the pop chart. What a way to start off that year! Interesting sleeve…didn’t know…

Barry Philips Discos

Published by Barry Philips · January 14 at 4:00 PM · 

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

COMING NEXT THE BEST 70.

I am a DJ,I am what I play
Can’t turn around no,can’t turn around,no
I am a DJ,I am what I play
I got believers
Believing me,oh.

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The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm.

Barry Philips Discos

Published by Barry Philips · January 14 at 1:00 PM · 

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
71-Simon & Garfunkel-Bridge over Troubled Water.
1970-Number 1 single.
Best Bit-At 4.02.The final verse was inspired by Paul Simon’s future wife Peggy Harper finding out she had a few grey hairs beginning to appear,which was upsetting her.
The line ‘Sail on silver girl’ was once reputed by ‘conspiracy theorists’ to refer to a needle,meaning the song is about Heroin,but Paul Simon has said the lyric was meant as a joke as he used to call Harper ‘Silver Girl.’
The songs title was inspired by Claude Jeter’s line,’I’ll be your bridge over deep water if you trust in me,’ from the 1958 Christian Music song ‘Mary Don’t You Weep’ by Jeter’s group the Swan Silvertones. Simon(see also best songs 529-200 and 96) recognised the inspiration by offering Jeter a cheque for royalties. Jeter also sang on Simon’s 1973 song ‘Take Me To The Mardi Gras.’
The songs production was modelled on Phil Spector’s ‘Old Man River’ by the Righteous Brothers.As stated on many previous occasions in this countdown Spector is famous for his ‘Wall Of Sound’ production technique and when he did Old Man River he kept it mainly piano through most of the song,but had it end with a flourish of instruments.
There are many cover versions,of which three I recommend highly.In 1970 Elvis Presley recorded the song for his Album ‘That’s the Way It Is,’Simon has said he was honoured that Presley sang one of his songs.Perhaps Aretha Franklin’s Gospel inspired version is the one that is truest to how Simon originally envisaged it sounding,Franklin’s version peaked at Number 6 on Billboard in 1971.I would also recommend the 10 minute Disco version from Linda Clifford,a UK Number 28 hit single in 1979.
The song became a UK Number 1 again in 2017.To raise money for the families of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire a charity single was released featuring many of the then current crop of Pop Stars.
‘When you’re weary,feeling small,when tears are in your eyes,I’ll dry them all.’
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This is the highest placed Simon & Garfunkel song on this countdown.YOUTUBE.COMSimon and Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled WaterStudio Version Lyrics: When you’re weary Feeling small When tears are in your eyes I will dry them all I’m on your side When times get rough And…

Barry Philips Discos

Published by Barry Philips · January 13 at 1:00 PM · 

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
72-Morrissey-First of the Gang to Die.
2004-Number 6 single.
Best Bit-At 2.29.As you probably know by now I am a great believer in the theory that all the best songs are written by people under the age of 30,that is to say that an artist has produced their best material by that age,but of course there is always an exception to every rule and here it is.
These wonderful lyrics were written by Morrissey(see also best songs 940-673-222 and 167) at the age of 45,while the music was the work of Alain Whyte who was already 37. Whyte first joined forces with Morrissey in 1991 and through till 2009 appeared on all eight Morrissey studio Albums,he has a total of eighty known songwriting credits with Morrissey. After the parting of the ways Whyte has gone on to work with the some of the worlds leading R&B artists including Rihanna and Chris Brown.
What is the song actually about? This is one of the most difficult in this countdown to decipher,on the face of it Morrissey appears to be singing about gang violence in Los Angeles,but of course there will be a much deeper meaning.I think Morrissey is telling us that you can only understand what love really is after suffering being rejected by somebody,you have to go through the emotional pain to really understand.
‘And he stole from the rich and the poor and not very rich and the very poor and he stole our hearts away.’
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This is the 2nd highest placed Morrissey song on this countdown.YOUTUBE.COMMorrissey – First of the gang to die