THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
970-Electric Light Orchestra-Ma-Ma-Ma-Belle.
1974-Number 22 single.
Best Bit-At 2.27.In the UK they are affectionately known as the ‘ELO,’ in the States they are called ‘The English guys with the big fiddles.’
Roy Wood of The Move (see also best songs 575) wanted to create a band incorporating violins, cellos. string basses, horns and woodwind to give his music a ‘classical sound,’ taking Rock music in the direction to ‘Pick up where the Beatles left off.’ Together with Bev Bevan, and Jeff Lynne who was now a member of The Move they created the Electric Light Orchestra. In 1972 after the release of their self titled debut Album Wood left the group to form Wizzard (see also best songs 821 and 239.) Since then Jeff Lynne has been the driving force behind the ELO, writing and producing nearly all of their output (see also best songs 25.)
‘Ma-Ma-Ma- Belle’s’ lyrics are not easy to decipher, but it is probably just a simple love song, with the narrator stating he will do anything to make her his. The song is noteworthy for Marc Bolan playing guitar on the track.
‘There’s one thing that’s on my mind, and that’s getting hold of you before I serve my time.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
971-Echo & the Bunnymen-Bring on the Dancing Horse.
1985-Number 21 single.
Best Bit-At 3.36.They had a mate who kept suggesting names, they could have been ‘The Daz Men,’ or ‘Glisseroi and the Fan Extractors,’ but they saw sense, and chose the much more sensible ‘Echo & the Bunnymen.’
Echo & the Bunnymen were formed in Liverpool, England in 1978 by Ian McCulloch, Will Sergeant, and Les Pattinson, their drummer Pete de Fretas (1961-1989) joined in 1979, replacing a drum machine, affectionately known as ‘Echo,’ they were active until 1993. They reformed in 1996, the groups only ever present is Will Sergeant.
Ian McCulloch, one of the songs writers explained it’s meaning.’The dancing horses are statues, It’s about the way people would sooner look at statues than themselves. We revere things that tell us about ourselves. It’s that thing of how we think art is very important. A life without art, who knows what that would be like? We think the Mona Lisa is this thing that’s valuable, when something else isn’t.’
Reading between the lines I personally think the narrator is telling us to make up our own minds, and don’t just take for granted the things you have been told.
‘First I’m gonna make it, then I’m gonna break it, till it falls apart.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
972-Fountains of Wayne-Stacy’s Mom.
2003-Number 11 single.
Best Bit-At 1.41.Have you noticed, Stacy’s Mom is the spitting image of Rod Stewart’s ex missus.
The Fountains of Wayne were formed in 1995 in New York City, U.S., by Chris Collingwood, and Adam Schlesinger, they were soon joined by Jody Porter, and Brian Young, they were active until 2013, recording five studio Albums. The band took their name from a lawn ornament store in Wayne, New Jersey, that is no longer in business.
Stacy’s Mom tells the tale of an adolescent boy who has developed a huge crush on his friend’s very attractive mother. One of the songs co-writers Adam Schlesinger has said that he was inspired to write the song after a friend of his was curiously attracted to his grandmother,’ Well one of my best friends told me my grandmother was really hot. That’s a true story, and my grandmother was pretty hot.’
The song is also a tribute to the American Rock group ‘The Cars,’ with the songs intro being almost note for note identical to The Cars song ‘Just What I Needed.’ The Cars frontman Ric Ocasek (1944-2019) thought that the intro had been taken directly from that track, but Schlesinger says they performed it in the studio, and just, ‘Got it right.’
‘I know it might be wrong, but I’m in love with Stacey’s mom.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
973-Danny & the Juniors-Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay.
1958-Has never charted in the U.K.
Best Bit-At 0.20. They must have been psychic.
In 1958 the ‘new fad’ of Rock and Roll was already in danger of disappearing just as quickly as it had arrived. Elvis Presley was in the army, and Little Richard, and Chuck Berry were causing plenty of controversy. This song was a rallying cry that Rock and Roll was now a part of everyday life.
Danny & the Juniors started out life as a ‘Doo-Wop’ group, formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.,in 1955, their frontman Danny Rapp committed suicide at the age of 41, in 1983. Group member David White (1939-2019) had already co-written the bands breakthrough million selling hit ‘At The Hop,’ and this was the follow up, White along with his long term writing partner John Madara, who had discovered Danny & the Juniors, were also responsible for the ‘Feminist Anthem,’ ‘You Don’t Own Me,’ a hit for Lesley Gore, and also Len Barry’s 1965 U.K. Number 1 single ‘1-2-3.’
‘Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay’ is one of the songs featured in the movie ‘Grease’ from 1978, where it was performed by the American group Sha Na Na. The song is also alluded to by Neil Young in his 1979 song ‘My My, Hey Hey,(Out of the Blue,’) where he sings ‘Rock and Roll is here to stay’ in a mocking manner, as he expresses his disillusionment with fame.
‘If you don’t like Rock ‘N’ Roll, think what you’ve been missing.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
974-Luther Vandross-Never Too Much.
1983- Number 44 single. When remixed, and re-released in 1989, it peaked at Number 13.
Best Bit-At 0.01.’A thousand kisses from you,’ is just not realistic, as you will surely end up with chapped lips.
Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. was born in New York City,U.S. on April 20th, 1951, he died of a heart attack on July 1st, 2005. Vandross was interested in music from the age of three, having been given a phonograph, he taught himself to play the piano by ear. While at high school he founded the first Patti LaBelle Fan Club, of which he was president, in later years he would know her personally.
In the 1970’s Vandross made his living as a backing vocalist, and occasional songwriter, he also wrote, and sang commercial jingles for companies, including, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Burger King. The list of artists Vandross sang backing for is far too substantial to write about here, but significant ones include Roberta Flack, and Donny Hathaway (see also best songs 541,) and David Bowie on his Young Americans Album (see also best songs 209.)
His career breakthrough occurred when singing lead vocal on ‘The Glow of Love,’ and ‘Searching,’ for the studio band ‘Change.’ This led to Epic Records offering him a recording contract, and the release of his debut solo Album ‘Never Too Much,’ on which he wrote six of the seven tracks, arranging and producing it as well.
‘A million days in your arms, is never too much.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
975-Brian Protheroe-Pinball.
1974-Number 22 single.
Best Bit-At 2.23. How about this for recognition. It is said that Morrissey had told Noel Gallagher in a Los Angeles bar, about this song. Gallagher then went and wrote the song ‘Riverman,’ having been inspired by hearing ‘Pinball.’
Brian Protheroe was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England on June 16, 1944, he probably would have been a very well known musician, but his first love was being an actor. His first job was with his local repertory theatre in Salisbury in 1966. In 1968 he met Martin Duncan who was also a actor, and musician, over the next few years they collaborated on various musical, and artistic projects. In 1973 Protheroe was playing the part of a pop singer in a play called ‘Death on Demand,’ when a representative from Chrysalis Records heard a song he had written for the show, this led to a three Album contract, and the release of ‘Pinball’ as his debut single.
‘Pinball’ is autobiographical, Protheroe has explained.’I was out of work, and living in a flea ridden room in Covent Garden. The song came out of the mundane things I saw over the course of the weekend, but it was also a plaintive, sad cry for the Beatles splitting a few years before.’
‘Got fleas in the bedroom, got flies in the bathroom, and the cat just finished off the bread.’ (miaow.)
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For a list of all the best 1000 songs click on the blog at www.barryphilipsdiscos.Pinball by Brian Protheroe reached #22 on the UK Charts in 1974.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
976-Rainbow-All Night Long.
1980-Number 5 single.
Best Bit-At 1.51.This song is responsible for the worst chat up line in the world ever, ‘Don’t know about your brain, but you look alright.’
Rainbow were formed by the bands one constant, Ritchie Blackmore in 1975. Blackmore had been a member of Deep Purple (see also best songs 550 and 89) up until 1973, but was growing tired of the musical direction in which they were heading, so he joined forces with Ronnie James Dio (1942-2010,) incidentally Dio was the person responsible for inventing the ‘Heavy Metal’ sign,’ Sign of the Horns.’ Over the course of the next four years, there were many personnel changes, with Blackmore steering the band towards a more commercial sound for there 1979 Album ‘Down to Earth,’ from where this song was taken.The band were now made up of Blackmore (guitar,) Cozy Powell (drums,) Graham Bonnet (vocals,) Don Airy (keyboards,) and Roger Glover (bass.)
The song received a lot of criticism due to it’s perceived sexist lyrics, Blackmore said,’Everybody knows it’s tongue in cheek, and anybody who doesn’t know that isn’t worth being talked about anyway.’
‘I saw you standing down by the stage, your black stockings, and your see through dress.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
977-Red Hot Chilli Peppers-Dani California.
2006-Number 2 single.
Best Bit-At 4.26.The more you read about Pop Music, the more you learn that nothing is totally original.
This song is heavily influenced by two other songs, one of which is the Psychedelic Rock track ‘Purple Haze’ by Jimi Hendrix, the other, and more controversially is the song ‘Mary Jane’s Last Dance,’ from Tom Petty. When asked about the similarity, Petty said, ‘A lot of Rock ‘N’ Roll songs sound alike, ask Chuck Berry. It doesn’t bother me, if someone took my song note for note, and stole it maliciously, then maybe, but I don’t believe in lawsuits much. I think there are enough frivolous lawsuits in this country, without people fighting over pop songs.’
The ‘Dani’ in this song is a recurring character in Red Hot Chilli Peppers songs, she first appeared as the ‘Teenage bride with the baby inside’ on their 1999 song ‘Californication,’ and she was again name checked in 2002 as ‘Dani the girl’ in their song ‘By the Way.’ Lead singer and lyricist Anthony Kiedis has stated that ‘Dani’ is a composite of all the women with whom he has had a relationship. This song tells the story of much of Dani’s life, starting with her birth in Mississippi, and apparently culminating with her death at the hands of the law, while on the run.
‘California rest in peace, simultaneous release. California show your teeth, she’s my priestess, I’m your priest.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
978-Nancy Sinatra-These Boots are Made for Walkin.’
1966-Number 1 single.
Best Bit-At 2.20.For those with a boot fetish this is the anthem, especially if there ‘Kinky.’
‘These Boots are Made for Walkin’ was written, and produced by Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007.) Hazelwood (see also best songs 367-124 and 1010) had originally made a name for himself in the 1950’s working with guitar legend Duane Eddy on a string of pioneering instrumentals, including ‘Peter Gunn,’ and ‘Rebel Rouser.’ In the 1960’s he wrote, and performed on many hits with Nancy Sinatra, of which this song was the most successful, topping the charts on Billboard, as well as in the U.K. Nancy Sinatra has said that Hazlewood was going to record the song himself, but she talked him out of it, she told him,’When a guy sings it, the song sounds harsh and abusive, but it’s perfect for a little girl.’
The song is about a relationship which has come to an end because he has cheated on her, but rather than cry, and feel sorry for herself, she warns him to watch his back, because she could take revenge at anytime.
‘You keep playing where you shouldn’t be playing, and you keep thinking that you’ll never get burnt.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
979-The Stone Roses-She Bangs the Drum.
1989-Number 34 single, when re-released in 1990, it peaked at Number 32.
Best Bit-At 1.07.When she bangs the drum, it’s the fantasy of every red blooded male.
‘She Bangs the Drum’ is a love song, probably about falling in love for the first time. It’s about being totally infatuated by another person, the drum could well be his heartbeat. The songs verses were written by the bands lead singer Ian Brown, with the chorus written by the groups guitarist John Squire.
The Stone Roses (see also best songs 253) were formed in Manchester, England in 1983, their classic line-up was Squire, Brown, Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield (bass,) and Alan ‘Reni’ Wren (drums.) They were active until 1996, but reformed in 2011, then split again in 2017.
This song is taken from their 1989 self titled debut Album, which has over the years become one of Pop music’s most critically acclaimed works, always ranking highly in music publications poll lists. In 2000 the ‘NME’ awarded it ‘The Greatest Album Ever,’ and in 2006, the same magazine had readers vote, and once again it topped their ‘100 Greatest Album’s Ever.’
‘Have you seen her, have you heard, the way she plays, there are no words.’
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