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Posted by: In: Other 17 Jun 2020 Comments: 0

THE BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

To compliment my recently completed ‘1000 BEST SONGS LIST,’ here is another that just missed the cut.

1045-Sheila E-The Belle of St. Mark.
1985-Number 16 single.
Best Bit-At 0.24. A genuine sex cymbal.
Sheila Escovedo was born into a musical family on December 12th,1957, in Oakland,California,U.S.,her father Pete Escovedo is an accomplished percussionist.Five of her Uncle’s are also musicians,as is her brother Peter.
Sheila E has released eight studio Albums to date, but is best known for being the worlds most famous female drummer,she is commonly referred to as ‘The Queen of Percussion.’
‘The Belle of St.Mark’ was written by Prince, who she first met at a concert when performing with her father in 1978.She first worked with Prince on the ‘Purple Rain’ recording sessions, providing vocals on ‘Erotic City.’Prince co-wrote, and co-produced with Sheila E, this songs parent Album ‘The Glamorous Life’ in 1984.They also performed together during the ‘Purple Rain,’and ‘Lovesexy’ tours.
The songs subject is of the male gender, but is referred to throughout as the feminine ‘Belle.’He lives in Paris, but ‘St. Mark’ is a famous location in Venice,Italy.It has also been suggested that it may be a reference to ‘St.Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery,’ namesake of St. Mark’s Place, in the East Village,Manhattan U.S.
Just another of the wonderful mysteries left to us by the legend that was Prince(see also best songs 884-487-85 and 54.)
‘The Belle of St. Mark wore clothes that belonged to his father,even though he was only seventeen.’
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Posted by: In: Other 17 Jun 2020 Comments: 0

THE BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

To compliment my recently completed ‘1000 BEST SONGS LIST,’ here is another that just missed the cut.

1044-Wanda Jackson-Let’s Have a Party.
1960-Number 32 single.
Best Bit-At 0.05.Great advice,have a party,keep me in work.
Wanda Jackson was born on October 20.1937, in Maud,Oklahoma,U.S.,she is known as the ‘Queen of Rockabilly,’ or the ‘First lady of Rockabilly.’
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of Rock ‘N’ Roll music,it’s genre blends the sound of Country music, with that of Rhythm and Blues.Wanda Jackson was one of the first females to lead the way in performing Rock ‘N’ Roll, and Rockabilly.
‘Let’s Have a Party’ was written by Jessie Mae Robinson(1918-1966,) she was one of the few black songwriters to break the colour barrier,and the first female African-American member of ‘ASCAP,’ two of her other successful compositions are ‘Black Night,’ a Blues hit in 1951, and ‘I Went To Your Wedding,’ made famous by Patti Page in 1952.
The first recording of ‘Let’s Have a Party’ was by Elvis Presley which featured in his second movie ‘Loving You,’ from 1957.Wanda Jackson first recorded her version in 1958, for her self titled debut Album,it was not released as a single until 1960.The song was brought to the attention of a whole new generation when her version was featured in the 1989 critically acclaimed film, ‘Dead Poets Society.’
‘I’ve never kissed a bear,I’ve never kissed a goon,but I can shake a chicken in the middle of the room.’
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For a list of all the best 1000 songs click on the blog at www.barryphilipsdiscos.

Posted by: In: Other 17 Jun 2020 Comments: 0

THE BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

To compliment my recently complete ‘1000 BEST SONGS LIST,’ here is another that just missed the cut.

1043-Future featuring Drake-Life is Good.
2020-Number 3 single.
Best Bit-At 1.43.It sounds like two completely different songs.
I am sat here trying to think of any other song that is so blatantly two different songs released as one track.For the first ninety seconds or so Drake does his thing,and then for the remainder of the song Future takes over with a completely different backing track.Both parts would easily make quality stand alone hits,I personally just prefer Future’s part.
Drake tells us that although he has more money than even he knows about,being in the public eye constantly is not easy.Future is also not averse to letting us know that money isn’t a problem,but he isn’t complaining.
This is not the first time the two rappers have collaborated,in 2015 they released the Album ‘What a Time to Be Alive,’ which peaked at Number 6 in the UK.
This song became a landmark for Drake(see also best songs 921 and 858,) providing him with his 207th entry on the Billboard Hot 100, as an artist on a song, in some capacity,equalling what ‘Glee Cast’ had previously achieved.The song also marked Drake’s 100th top 40 entry,a feat no other artist has achieved.
‘Say my days are numbered,but I keep wakin’ up.’
PLEASE SHARE TO REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE.
For a list of all the best 1000 songs click on the blog at www.barryphilipsdiscos.

Posted by: In: Other 17 Jun 2020 Comments: 0

THE BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

To compliment my recently completed ‘1000 BEST SONGS LIST,’ here is another that just missed the cut.

1042-The Toy’s-A Lover’s Concerto.
1965-Number 5 single.
Best Bit-At 0.08.Classical music never sounded so good.
‘A Lover’s Concerto’ was co-written by the prolific songwriters Denny Randell, and Sandy Linzer,the melody was adapted from the Classical piece ‘Minuet In G,’written by the German composer Christian Petzold (1677-1733) around 1725, Petzold does receive co-writing credit,but I am not sure if his descendants received any royalties.
Randell has explained how the song came about,’I started listening to Minuet In G at an early age,I must have been about five, or six.I always had it on my mind that it would make a wonderful grounds for a pop song, if done in the right way.It’s in a different groove, and it’s a different time signature, than the original piece.’
The lucky recipients of the song were the girl group ‘The Toys,’they formed in 1961 hailing from Jamaica, a middle class neighbourhood in the New York borough of Queens.The trio were Barbara Harris, who sang lead vocal,Barbara Parritt, and June Montiero. They split in 1968 having released one Album, and six singles,their only other top 40 single was ‘Attack’ in 1966, reaching Number 18 in America, and Number 36 in the UK.
‘How gentle is the rain, that falls gently on the meadow.’
PLEASE SHARE TO REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE.
For a list of all the best 1000 songs click on the blog at www.barryphilipsdiscos.

Posted by: In: Other 17 Jun 2020 Comments: 0

THE BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

To compliment my recently completed ‘1000 BEST SONGS LIST,’ here is another that just missed the cut.

1041-Instant Funk-I Got My Mind Made Up(You Can Get It Girl.)
1979-Number 46 single.
Best Bit-At 4.28.While we were all tuning into Tony Blackburn, and Dave Lee Travis playing the top 20,this was what the cool kids were listening to.
Instant Funk were a Soul/Funk/Disco group formed in 1975 in Trenton,New Jersey,U.S.,the original line up consisted of Raymond Earl, and the brothers Kim, and Scotty Miller(1951-2017,) a further six members would join them shortly.They were active for 10 years, releasing seven studio Albums,and 14 singles.They also were employed as an ‘In House’ band at ‘Salsoul,’ and ‘Philadelphia’ record labels, playing for artists such as The O’Jays.The Three Degrees, and Loleatta Holloway.Two of the most famous songs they can be heard on, are ‘Shame’ by Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King, and ‘The Soul City Walk,’ from Archie Bell and The Drells.
‘I Got My Mind Made Up’ is their best known song reaching Number 1 on the Billboard Disco, and R&B chart,it also reached Number 20 on Billboards Hot 100 singles chart in 1979.In 1991 the American Hip-Hop group De La Soul sampled the song for their UK hit ‘A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays'(see also best songs 444.)
‘I got my mind made up,come on you can get it,get it girl anytime.’
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Posted by: In: Other 11 Jun 2020 Comments: 0

THE BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

To compliment my recently completed ‘1000 BEST SONGS LIST,’ here is another that just missed the cut.

1040-Bruce Springsteen-I’m on Fire.
1985-Number 5 single.
Best Bit-At 1.08.Some discerning voices have complained that the song is far too short,my advice to them is play it twice.
‘I’m on Fire’ is one of the 12 songs on Bruce Springsteen’s best selling Album ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ released in 1984,it is one of the best selling Albums of all time, with sales in excess of 30 million copies.In the UK ‘i’m on Fire’ was released as a double ‘A’ sided 7 inch single, backed with ‘Born in the U.S.A.'(see also best songs 549.)
‘I’m on Fire’ is musically influenced by the style of Johnny Cash,Springsteen wrote the song back in 1982, for his ‘Nebraska’ Album, but it was held back until 1984,in 2001 Cash recorded his version.The song is about the sexual attraction between two people who live in different worlds,he is a blue collar worker, and she married into money,he wants her so badly it keeps him awake at night,and she knows that giving in to her feelings will mean losing everything she has.
‘At night I wake up with the sheets soaking wet, and a freight train running through the middle of my head.’

Posted by: In: Other 11 Jun 2020 Comments: 0

THE BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

To compliment my recently completed ‘1000 BEST SONGS LIST,’ here is another that just missed the cut.

1039-Duke Ellington-Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.
1961-Has never been released as a single in the UK.
Best Bit-At 3.12.’For there’s Basie,Miller,Satchmo’ and the king of all,Sir Duke.’
Edward Kennedy Ellington (1899-1974) was a gifted pianist, who over more than six decades led his Jazz Orchestra, and wrote well over 1000 songs.As a child his parents sent him for piano lessons, as well as teaching him etiquette, and dressing him in a dapper manner,this led to his nickname ‘Sir Duke.’His funeral was attended by over 12,000 people,among the many tributes was one from Ella Fitzgerald who said,’It’s a very sad day,a genius has passed.’
‘Don’t Get Around Mush Anymore’ was originally going to be called ‘Never No Lament,’ and was first recorded by Ellington in 1940.Two years later the lyricist Bob Russell wrote lyrics to the song,and in 1943, The Ink Spots had a major R&B Billboard hit, alongside the Duke Ellington original, and a version by Glen Gray.
In 1961 Ellington, and Louis Armstrong (see also best songs 767-286-231 and 100) shared a recording studio for the one and only time in their careers,they recorded 17 songs together, of which this song was one.
‘Missed the Saturday dance,heard they crowded the floor,couldn’t bear it without you,don’t get around much anymore.’

Posted by: In: Other 11 Jun 2020 Comments: 0

THE BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

To compliment my recently completed ‘1000 BEST SONGS LIST,’ here is another that just missed the cut.

1038-Tyga featuring Offset-Taste.
2018-Number 5 single.
Best Bit-At 1.58.The video must have been filmed on a very sunny day, as all the young ladies are wearing bikinis.
Tyga is an American Rapper, and Hip-Hop artist,he was born Michael Stevenson on November 19th,1989, in Compton,California,U.S,his stage name Tyga stands for ‘Thank You God Always.’
‘Taste’ is taken from his seventh studio Album ‘Legendary,’ and is seen somewhat as a come back song.After disagreements with his record label ‘Young Money’ he released his fourth Album, ‘The Gold Album,’ independently, which saw poor sales, and negative reviews.In 2018 the record producer D.A.Doman sent Tyga a ‘Beat’ which Tyga sped up, and freestyled over. Doman was impressed, and recommended the Rapper ‘Offset,’ of the Hip-Hop group Migos, to provide a verse.
The subject of the song is fairly stereotypical of the genre,but the beat is undeniably memorable.In 2019 the British Rapper Aitch had a Number 2 UK hit with a song called ‘Taste(Make It Shake,) which is definitely influenced by this song.
‘Taste,taste,do you love a taste.Taste ,taste,worldwide they gon’ get a taste.

Posted by: In: Other 11 Jun 2020 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD.

To compliment my recently completed ‘1000 BEST SONGS LIST,’ here is another that just missed the cut.

1037-Canned Heat-On the Road Again.
1968-Number 8 single.
Best Bit-At 0.20.If we were all like this lot, there would be no need for Barber’s shops.
Canned Heat were formed in Los Angeles,California.U.S. in 1965, by Alan Wilson (1943-1970,) and Bob Hite (1943-1981,) they were a Rock band heavily influenced by the Blues.They still tour to this very day,but after the death of Larry Taylor in 2019, there are now no original members still alive.
Canned Heats roots were heavily influenced by the Blues artists of the 1920’s, through to the 1950’s,they took their name from the 1928 American Delta Blues musician Tommy Johnson’s song, ‘Canned Heat Blues.’
‘On the Road Again’ is adapted from the 1953 song of the same name, by Chicago Blues artist Floyd Jones (1917-1989,) who in turn had adapted his song from Tommy Johnson’s 1928 song ‘Big Road Blues.’Jones is given a writing credit alongside Alan Wilson, who added new lyrics, and sang lead vocals.
Alan ‘Blind Owl’ Wilson is also remembered as a member of the ’27 Club,’ having died fifteen days previous to Jimi Hendrix, and a month previous to Janis Joplin.
‘Well I’m so tired of crying,but I’m on the road again,I’m on the road again.’

Posted by: In: Other 11 Jun 2020 Comments: 0

THE BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

To compliment my recently completed ‘1000 BEST SONGS LIST, here is another which just missed the cut.

1036-Hi-Tension-British Hustle.
1978-Number 8 single.
Best Bit-At 0.12.Performing ‘The Hustle’ dance is similar to Line Dancing,but done by cool people.(Only joking.)
The dance ‘The Hustle’ was very popular in the night clubs of America in the 1970’s,two songs that pay homage are ‘The Hustle’ by Van McCoy(see also best songs 690) and ‘Spanish Hustle’ by the Fatback Band.
It is fitting that the North London based band Hi-Tension should record a ‘British Hustle,’ as they were pioneers of the musical genre ‘Brit Funk.’They originally formed in the early 1970’s, calling themselves ‘Hott Waxx,’ that first line up included future ‘Kandidate,’ and ‘Galaxy’ star Phil Fearon.
‘Brit Funk’ is a musical style that mixes elements from Jazz,Funk,Soul,Urban Dance rhythms,and Pop hooks,it was Britain’s answer to American Funk bands of that era,a comparison would be the recent mainstream emergence of British Rap artists.Other bands under the ‘Brit Funk’ banner included Level 42, Light of the World, and Freeez,these, and many others would go on to influence 1980’s Pop groups such as Wham, and Spandau Ballet.
Hi-Tension were active between 1978-1981,releasing one studio Album named ‘Hi-Tension,’and having two top twenty singles,the other being the self titled ‘Hi-Tension’ single which reached Number 13, in 1978.
‘The Hustle baby will drive you crazy,so everybody come on get on down.