Barry Philips Discos

Published by Barry Philips · 7 mins · 

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
1-Isaac Hayes-By the Time I Get to Phoenix.
1969-Has never charted in the UK.
Best Bit-At-15.28.
2nd Best Bit-At 8.39.
3rd Best Bit-At 0.22.I will always remember when I first heard this song, it was back in the very early 1980’s. I was on a short drive maybe only ten minutes and I was flicking through the radio stations, and this song was playing on Radio 1.Almost instantly I was memorised, this voice was talking with such emotion that I had never heard before in a song. My journey came to it’s end but I could not leave the car until the song finished. I just sat and listened as on eight and a half minutes the person talking suddenly started singing, taking the song to an even greater level. For the next eleven minutes the music and vocals built to a emotional crescendo that I have never heard before or since. I knew at that moment I had just heard ‘THE BEST SONG IN THE WORLD EVER,’
Please go somewhere you wont be interrupted and take a listen, it’s worth it.
‘By the Time I Get to Phoenix’ was written in 1965 by Jimmy Webb (see also best songs 846 and 119,) the first of countless versions of the song was recorded by American Rock ‘N’ Roll singer Johnny Rivers.The song first came to the attention of the general public when Country singer Glen Campbell made it a hit in 1967.In a survey by the ‘BMI’ it was found to be the third most recorded song between the years of 1940-1990. Frank Sinatra called it ‘the greatest torch song ever written,’ but I don’t know if he ever even heard Isaac Hayes’ version.
Even without this song or it’s parent Album ‘Hot Buttered Soul,’ Isaac Hayes’ (see also best songs 530 and 398) place as a Pop Music legend was already assured.He was one of the main driving forces behind the ‘Stax Records’ label in the 1960’s, working as a producer and prolific songwriter for artist such as Sam and Dave and Johnny Taylor. In fact it was Hayes who coined the phrase ‘Soul Music’ (see best songs 530.)
In the original lyrics written by Jimmy Webb the narrator thinks of what his girl will be doing by the time he reaches Phoenix, and Albuquerque,and by the time he finally makes Oklahoma she will finally realise for the very first time, that this time he is not coming back. In the opening eight and a half minutes of Hayes’ version he adds his own background story.
‘He could hardly see the road for tears in his eyes, that’s right he was crying, they were meeting on his chin.’
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Please join me at 1.0.pm tomorrow for some more musical gems.YOUTUBE.COMIsaac Hayes – By The Time I Get To Phoenix (Full Length 19:00 /HQ Audio)All 19:00 of The Black Moses’ grooved-out cover of the Jimmy Webb classic. From the quietly chilling 9-minute long backstory all the way…

Barry Philips Discos

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

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
2-Cockney Rebel-Death Trip.
1973-Has never been released as a single in the UK.
Best Bit-At 3.18.Your probably wondering how a song that less than 1% of the Human Race has even heard of can possibly be better than ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,”American Pie,’ or ‘Life on Mars.’ Well it is up to us the lucky 1% who are fortunate to know about this masterpiece to spread the word. I sincerely hope that after listening you too will see what I mean.
Steve Harley(see also best songs 410) was born Stephen Nice, 27 February 1951, in Deptford, London, England, he formed the first incarnation of the band ‘Cockney Rebel’ in 1972. Harley was signed to ‘EMI’ records and was given a three Album deal, ‘Death Trip’ is the closing track on his debut LP ‘The Human Menagerie.’
The record label showed great faith in Harley’s songs by spending big money on a fifty piece orchestra and bringing in legendary engineer Geoff Emerick who had worked on some of the Beatles classic Albums of the 1960’s,and Andrew Powell (see also best songs 866-130 and 81) to do the string arrangements, something almost unheard of for a debut Album.
When ‘The Human Menagerie’ was reissued in 2013 Harley recalled,’Those first two Albums were heavily orchestrated. I was 22 years old at Abbey Road with a full orchestra and a choir for songs like ‘Sebastian.’ I’d busked with those songs for a year before Cockney Rebel signed to EMI, so to get all that was just, oh it was magnificent for a young man.’
‘Death Trip’ was inspired by the death of a close friend of Harley’s from Heroin, the preceding track on the Album ‘Chameleon’ is about the same person, the song only runs for 49 seconds and goes straight in to Death Trip.
‘Can you hear the walrus offering a sad solution? He’s calling out for teenage revolution.’
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The countdown concludes tomorrow at 1.0.pm.YOUTUBE.COMSTEVE HARLEY & Cockney Rebel – DEATH TRIP – Video Version 2010 – A movie by Falke58.wmvWhat Can I Say. This is maybe the best thing someone ever written. Is it Rock. Is it Opera. Is it Classic Music. Is it Choir Music. Can´t say what…

Barry Philips Discos

Published by Barry Philips · 39 mins · 

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
3-Queen-Bohemian Rhapsody.
1975-Number 1 single. When reissued in 1991 it again reached Number 1.
Best Bit-At 3.03.Can you imagine being born gay into a family and religion that consider it a sin, with the punishment being that you will go to hell.That is what at least in part this song is about.
Freddie Mercury (see also best songs 918-615-208-126 and 47) was born Farrokh Bulsara, 5 September,1946 in Stone Town, Sultanate of Zanzibar, he died 24 November,1991.Both his parents were deeply involved in Zoroastrianism, which is an ancient Persian religion believed to have originated about 4000 years ago.
According to Lesley-Ann Jones author of the biography ‘Mercury,’ she thinks the song is about Freddie Mercury coming out as gay. After his death she spoke with Mercury’s partner Jim Hutton who told her that the song was in fact Mercury’s confession that he was gay. Mercury’s good friend Tim Rice backs this up and also offered some lyrical analysis. He said, ‘the line, ‘Mama I just killed a man’-‘he’s killed the old Freddie he was trying to be,’ and the line, ‘Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger now he’s dead,’-‘He’s dead, the straight person he was originally, he’s destroyed the man he was trying to be, and now this is him, trying to live with the new Freddie.’
Many of the songs lyrics appear in the Quran, ‘Bismillah’ is one of these and it literally means, In the name of Allah, the word ‘Scaramouch’ relates to a cowardly boastful character from traditional Italian comedy, and ‘Beelzebub’ is one of many names given to the Devil.
On a lighter note Bohemian Rhapsody has spent a total of fourteen weeks at Number 1 in the UK, nine weeks in 1975, and a further five in 1991, in both years it was the Christmas Number 1, it is also the third best selling single ever in the UK behind the charity songs ‘Candle in the Wind’ and ‘Do They Know it’s Christmas.’
‘I don’t want to die, I sometimes wish I’d never been born at all.’
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The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm.
This is the highest placed Queen song on this countdown.YOUTUBE.COMBOHEMIAN RHAPSODY Queen – LEGENDADO – PORTUGUÊS – INGLÊS

Barry Philips Discos

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

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
4-Don McLean-American Pie.
1971-Number 2 single. When reissued in 1991 it reached Number 12.
Best Bit-At 4.02. When asked for the 1000th time what does American Pie really mean? McLean replied, ‘It means I don’t have to work anymore.’
In 2000 Madonna committed one of Pop Music’s greatest crimes when she murdered the song with a sub standard karaoke version that was rightly slammed by many music critics. Surprisingly Mclean gave her version his blessing, what he was thinking I do not know, but i can refer you to that earlier quote of his.
Don McLean was fourteen years old and working as a paper boy when he read the newspaper headline of February 3,1959 that three of the era’s most prominent Rock ‘N’ Roll stars, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper had been killed in a plane crash after a concert. This event left a lasting impression on the young McLean who approximately eleven years later put pen to paper and wrote about musical and political events in America during the 1960’s decade.
‘The day the music died’ is a reference to the plane crash, it signifies the end of music’s innocence and the start of a more politically influenced musical culture.
McLean has always been reluctant to explain his song, preferring others to reach their own conclusions. Many of the 1960’s biggest Pop Stars are referred to, ‘The Jester’ is Bob Dylan, ‘The King’ is Elvis Presley, ‘Eight Miles High and Falling Fast’ is a reference to The Byrds, and ‘Sergeants played a marching tune’ refers to the Beatles Album ‘Sgt.Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.’
Several significant events of the 1960’s are also mentioned including the stabbing at the Altamont Speedway Concert in 1969 where The Rolling Stones were playing, and the 1964 murders of the Civil Rights workers Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner.
‘A long long time ago I can still remember how that music used to make me smile.’
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The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm.YOUTUBE.COMDon McLean – The meaning of American Pie (UPDATE)This is a revision to previously posted videos. I was fortunate enough to go to the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake IA and speak firsthand with many who…

Barry Philips Discos

Published by Barry Philips · March 20 at 1:00 PM · 

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
5-David Bowie-Life on Mars.
1971-It wasn’t released as a single until 1973 when reaching Number 3.
Best Bit-At 3.28. Bowie had struggled for many years to make that big breakthrough, but success finally occurred in 1969 with ‘Space Oddity,’ so it is no big surprise that other of his songs have celestial themed titles such as ‘Starman’ and ‘Life on Mars.’ this song is well named because it is truly ‘out of this world.’
Bowie (see also best songs 807-440-334-302-209-186-118-47 and 31) has stated that he found writing this song easy, ‘Being young was easy, a really beautiful day in the park. I took a walk to Beckenham High Street to catch a bus but couldn’t get the riff out of my head, I started working it out on the piano and had the whole lyric and melody finished by late afternoon. Rick Wakeman came over a couple of weeks later and embellished the piano part and Mick Ronson created one of his first, and best string parts .’
The songs mysterious lyrics will always be open to interpretation.The opening verse probably tells of a young girl wanting to escape her everyday mundane existence, so for escapism she visits the cinema, but soon realises she has done this before and the film is only reflecting what she already knows about her own reality.The second verse expands the situation,dealing with people as a whole and how we can get sucked in by commercialism, and into thinking the grass is always greener on the other side. When Bowie sings ‘Is there life on Mars,’ he is saying, is there a better life I can make for myself.
‘It’s on America’s tortured brow that Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow.’
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The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm.
This is the highest placed David Bowie song on this countdown.YOUTUBE.COMDavid Bowie – Life On Mars? (Official Video)Official video for Life On Mars? by David Bowie. Stream David Bowie’s greatest hits here � https://RhinoUK.lnk.to/ThisIsDavidBowieAY…

Barry Philips Discos

Published by Barry Philips · 7 hrs · 

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
6-Beatles-Hey Jude.
1968-Number 1 single.
Best Bit-At 3.09.The ‘outro’ that stays longer than the mother-in-law.
By 1968 tensions were rising high in the Beatles camp, with all four band members in confrontation with each other.To add to the tension John Lennon had just split from his wife Cynthia who was also a close friend of McCartney’s, and Lennon’s new partner Yoko Ono appeared in the eyes of McCartney to be taking his place in the creative department.
McCartney (see also best songs 646-599-456-319-238-218-141-107-80-51 and 10) didn’t think it was right to cut ties with Cynthia, and decided to visit her and her five year old son Julian at their family home. Cynthia recalled McCartney’s surprise visit, ‘I was touched by his obvious concern for our welfare, on the journey down he composed ‘Hey Jude’ in the car.’
The songs original title was ‘Hey Jules’ and it was intended to comfort Julian from the stress of his parents separation, McCartney changed the title to ‘Hey Jude’ as it fit the song better.
Reading through the lyrics it appears that the song is not just about a five year old boy, it appears to encompass all the turbulent relationships surrounding McCartney at that time including his own failing relationship with Jane Asher, and his recent meeting with Linda Eastman in June 1968.
Two other UK Number 1 singles with long ‘outro’s’ were inspired by this song,’Heart of Glass’ by Blondie and ‘Hot Love’ by T.Rex.
‘For well you know that it’s a fool who plays it cool by making his world a little colder.’
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The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm.
This is the highest placed Beatles song on this countdown.YOUTUBE.COMHey Jude (Remastered 2009)Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group Hey Jude (Remastered 2009) · The Beatles The Beatles 1967 – 1970 ℗ 2009 Calderstone…

Barry Philips Discos

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

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
7-Bob Dylan-Like a Rolling Stone.
1965-Number 4 single.
Best Bit-At 4.26. For radio DJ’s on a long shift this song was a God send. It was unheard of for a track of more than three minutes to be played on air until this came along. It meant that presenters had time to go and powder their nose without having to rush back.
The lyrics to ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ were not originally written as a song but as a approximately ten page short story which Dylan would eventually edit when the idea for a song came to mind.
Dylan (see also best songs 792-358-103 and 36) was already a world renowned ‘Folk’, Pop star, but was not satisfied with the path his career was taking, and if it wasn’t for this song, and the adding of Electric Guitar to his sound he may well have retired from making music.
There are many rumours about whom the song is written about, but in all probability it was written about quite a few characters and acquaintances Dylan knew and knew of.
The songs title is taken from the proverb, ‘A rolling stone gathers no moss,’ Dylan got the idea from the 1949 Hank Williams song ‘Lost Highway’ which contains the line ‘I’m a rolling stone, all alone and lost.’
Paul McCartney remembered going around to John Lennon’s house to hear the song, he has said, ‘It seemed to go on and on forever. It was just beautiful, he showed all of us that it was possible to go a little further.’
‘You’ve gone to the finest schools, alright Miss Lonely, but you know you only used to get juiced in it.’
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The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm.
This is the highest placed Bob Dylan song on this countdown.YOUTUBE.COMBob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone (Audio)Music video by Bob Dylan performing Like a Rolling Stone (Audio). (C) 2017 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment…

Barry Philips Discos

Published by Barry Philips · 1 hr · 

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
8-Guns N’ Roses-Paradise City.
1987-It was not released as a single until 1989 when reaching Number 6.
Best Bit-At 4.49.’Take me down to the paradise city where the grass is green and the girls are pretty.’ Most heterosexual males couldn’t care less if the grass was purple with pink polka dots, as long as the girls are pretty.
Guns N’ Roses (see also best songs 463) were formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985 by Axl Rose (vocalist,) Slash (lead guitar,) Izzy Stradlin (rhythm guitar,) Duff McKagan (bass,) and Steven Adler (drums.) Their debut Album ‘Appetite for Destruction’ from where this song was taken is the biggest selling debut Album in the States ever with sales of over 18 million.
Slash has stated that the song was written in the back of a rental van as the band were travelling back from a gig in San Francisco. He also has stated it is his favourite Guns N’ Roses song. Axl Rose who wrote many of the songs lyrics has always cited the Finnish band ‘Hanoi Rocks’ as his major influence, their song ‘Lost in the City’ is a possible inspiration for some of this songs lyrics, although the song is about Rose’s life when he lived on the streets as a teenager. ‘Paradise City’ is anywhere in the world where a better life can be found.
As I have stated many times before in this countdown nothing in Pop Music is totally original, so if you want to know where this songs ‘guitar riff’ came from take a listen to ‘Zero the Hero’ by Black Sabbath.
‘Just a urchin livin’ under the street, I’m a hard case that’s tough to beat.’
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The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm.
This is the highest placed Heavy Metal song on this countdown.YOUTUBE.COMGuns N’ Roses – Paradise City#AppetiteForDestruction: The Debut Album, Remastered and Expanded. Available now as Box Set, Super Deluxe, Double LP, and Double CD…

Barry Philips Discos

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

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
9-Nirvana-Smells Like Teen Spirit.
1991-Number 7 single.
Best Bit-At 0.07.It may look like teenage revolution, it may sound like teenage revolution, it may smell like teenage revolution, but it’s not.
It is said that Kurt Cobain (1967-1994) grew to hate this song and did not wish to play it live. ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ is seen as a teenage song of rebellion, but Cobain always stated that he was no voice of the people.
Kathleen Hanna, the lead singer of a band called ‘Bikini Kill’ spray painted ‘Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit’ on Cobain’s bedroom wall after they had both been out drinking. ‘Teen Spirit’ was a deodorant often worn by Cobain’s then girlfriend Tobi Vail. Cobain thought those words would make a great song title.
The songs lyrics were not printed when first released on the bands second studio Album ‘Nevermind’ (see also best songs 788,) and because of the difficulty of trying to hear what Cobain was singing, this only added to the speculation of what the song is really about.
Even with the lyrics in front of you, ten different people could come up with ten different meanings. I personally think the core element of the song is about Cobain’s Heroin addiction, he knows he is harming himself, and his band but he can’t help himself.
‘With the lights out it’s less dangerous, here we are now entertain us.’
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The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm.
This is the highest placed song on this countdown from the 1990’s.YOUTUBE.COMNirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit (Official Music Video)REMASTERED IN HD! Read the story behind ‘Nevermind’ here:…

Barry Philips Discos

Published by Barry Philips · 1 hr · 

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
10-Beatles-A Day in the Life.
1967-Has never been released as a single in the UK.
Best Bit-At 2.16. As I have stated previously, regardless of whether a song was written by either Lennon (Strawberry Fields Forever,) or McCartney (Yesterday,) they would both share writing credits, but on this song they both really did have input.
The initial inspiration for the song came after John Lennon (see also best songs 927-473-456-168 and 20) had been reading two separate articles in the ‘Daily Mail’ newspaper.’ Guinness’ heir Tara Brown an acquaintance of the Beatles (see also best songs 599-456-319-238-218-141-80 and 51) had just died after recklessly driving his Lotus car into a parked van, this is the subject of the first verse.The final verse also written by Lennon told of how the ‘Blackburn Roads Surveyor’ had counted 4000 holes in the roads of Blackburn, Lancashire,Lennon sarcastically tells us they now know how many holes it takes to fill the ‘Albert Hall,’ both these stories appeared in the January 17th,1967 edition of the newspaper.
Lennon also wrote the second verse, ‘I saw a film today, ‘this is about the movie ‘How I Won the War’ that Lennon had been filming for in September and October 1966.
The songs other verse was written by Paul McCartney (see also best songs 646 and 107,) Lennon had nothing for the middle part of the song, and McCartney had lyrics written (‘Woke up, fell out of bed,’) but no complete song to put them to.
The idea of using a 41 piece orchestra was the idea of McCartney.The musicians were told to attend the session dressed formally, when they got there they were presented with party novelties such as false noses and party hats, which explains their odd look in the video which you can view here.
‘I read the news today,oh boy, about a lucky man who made the grade.’
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The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm.
This is the 2nd highest placed Beatles song on this countdown.YOUTUBE.COMThe Beatles – A Day In The LifeSgt. Peppers 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe boxset, Vinyl & merch available now: https://thebeatles.lnk.to/sgtpepperanniversary Sgt.…