THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
960-The Mills Brothers-Paper Doll.
1943-Has never charted. There was no UK chart until 1952.
Best Bit at 1.04.If you want to keep your paper doll satisfied, learn Origami.
‘Paper Doll’ is one of the oldest songs on this countdown, having been written in 1915 by Johnny S.Black, although it wasn’t published until 1930. Black’s other great success was with the song ‘Dardanella,’ which sold 5,000,000 copies when recorded by band leader Ben Selvin, in 1920. Unfortunately for Black he didn’t live to see his greatest success ‘Paper Doll,’ as he died six years before The Mills Brothers recorded it.
The song is one of fewer than 40 all time singles to have sold in excess of 10 million physical copies world wide, holding the Number 1 spot on Billboard for 12 consecutive weeks during 1943-1944.
The Mills Brothers (see also best songs 535) were a Jazz, and Pop vocal quartet from Piqua,Ohio,United States.They were four brothers, Donald (lead tenor,1915-1999,) Herbert (tenor,1912-1989,) Harry (baritone, 1913-1982,) and John Jr.,(guitar,double bass, and vocals.) During a career spanning 54 years from 1928-1982 they made more than 2,000 recordings, selling over 50 million records worldwide.
‘I just quarrelled with Sue, that’s why I’m blue, she’s gone away, and left me, just like all dolls do.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
961-Eddie Holman-Hey There Lonely Girl.
1974-Number 4 single.
Best Bit-At 0.17.If the work ever drys up, he could form a Bee Gees tribute act.
‘Hey There Lonely Boy’ was originally recorded in 1963 by the American R&B group Ruby & the Romantics, their version would go on to peak at Number 27 on Billboard. The song was co-written by Leon Carr (1910-1976) and Earl Shuman. Carr will be best remembered for writing famous jingles used in advertising in America for products such as ‘Mounds Candy,’ and ‘Chevrolet’ automobiles.
Eddie Holman was born June 3rd, 1946 in Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.,he released his first song in 1962, but his big breakthrough occurred in 1969 when he took his version of this song to Number 2 on Billboard. Holman has a striking falsetto voice, he is an ordained Baptist minister who believes that his talent is a gift from God, and therefore must be used to glorify his Maker.
The song was brought to the attention of a whole new generation when in 2008 it was used in the second series of the British Television series ‘Benidorm,’ in which Mel portrayed by Geoffrey Hutchings tries to sing in the style of Eddie Holman to his fiancee Madge Harvey.
‘You think that only his two lips can kiss your lips, and make your heart stand still.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
962-Big Country-Fields of Fire
1983-Number 10 single.
Best Bit-At 2.00.But I would commute 400 miles, and I would commute 400 more. It appears that some Scottish bands do enjoy travelling.
Big Country were formed in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, in 1981, by Stuart Adamson (1958-2001,) (vocals,) Bruce Watson (guitar,) Tony Butler (bass,) and Mark Brzezicki (drums,) all four receive writing credits on this track.The songs producer Steve Lillywhite has many of his song productions listed throughout this countdown.
‘Fields of Fire’ was originally titled ‘400 Miles’ as it was written when Adamson, and Watson were taking regular trips from Edinburgh to London, the distance between both cities is approximately 400 miles. Adamson has said that the song wasn’t to tell a coherent story,’It’s a selection of images, thoughts on a train journey.’
Before forming Big Country, Adamson had already achieved great success with the Punk Rock band the Skids, but left due to musical differences.During his lifetime he suffered from Alcohol dependency, and depression, he took his own life on the 16th December, 2001.He was once described by the influential DJ John Peel as ‘The new Jimi Hendrix,’ and U2’s The Edge stated that Adamson, with Big Country had written the songs that he wished U2 could write.
‘Between a father and a son, between the city and the one.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
963-Cyprus Hill-Insane in the Brain.
1993-Number 23 single.
Best Bit-At 0.05.They say there is a fine line between genius and insanity, this song walks that very thin tightrope between the two.
Cyprus Hill are an American Hip-Hop group from South Gate, California, they have worked on and off together since forming in 1991. They took their name from a street in South Gate, and they have always campaigned for the legalising of Cannabis for medical, and recreational use in the United States.
In 1992 band member, and producer Laurence Muggerud better known by his stage name DJ Muggs, had written a beat which other band members rejected, so he shopped it around. Eventually it was accepted by the ‘House of Pain,’ and ‘Jump Around’ was born (see best songs 75.) To my ears ‘Insane in the Brain’ sounds like a slowed down ‘Jump Around,’ both songs also contain many samples, although on this track only Jerry Corbitt (1943-2014) is given songwriting credit, for the use of the lyrics ‘I think I’m going crazy,’ from the Youngbloods song ‘All Over the World.’ Other samples used include the sound of a horse from the Mel and Tim song ‘Good Guys Only Win in the Movies,’ and James Brown’s opening grunt from ‘Say it Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud.’
‘Cop’s come and try to snatch my crops, these pigs wanna blow my house down.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
964-Tom Jones-Green Green Grass of Home.
1965-Number 1 single.
Best Bit-At 2.34.Like many others, I spent several years not knowing this songs true meaning, I used to think it was just another soppy love song. When I did find out it’s true meaning, I became an instant fan.
‘Green Green Grass of Home’ was written in 1964 by Curly Putman Jr. (1930-2016,) with the original version being performed by Johnny Darrell (1940-1997.) Putman’s other best known composition is ‘D-I-V-O-R-C-E-‘ a 1975 Number 12 UK hit for Tammy Wynette. Putman has stated that he took his inspiration for the song from the 1950 film ‘The Asphalt Jungle’ (see also best songs 646.)
Tom Jones (see also best songs 129) had always been a massive fan of Jerry Lee Lewis, and after listening to Lewis’ version on his newly released 1965 Album ‘Country Songs For City Folks,’ he decided to record the song himself. When Lewis visited Britain, Jones played him the song,’Lewis said,’It sounds like a Number 1 to me,’ to which Jones replied,’ I hope your right.’
Discussing the song Jones said,’The guy in the song is really in a jail cell, but you don’t know that until the end.That got to me, good God, it paints a picture, and yet a lot of people who love Green Green Grass of Home don’t even realise that.’
‘Then I awake and look around me, at four grey walls that surround me.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
965-Rod Stewart-Farewell.
1974-Number 7 single.
Best Bit-At 3.42.The Album ‘Smiler’ from where this song is taken was Rod Stewart’s fifth solo, and the first to be critically panned. If those same critics had to endure all five volumes of ‘The Great American Songbook,’ they would have been calling ‘Smiler’ a classic.
‘Farewell’ was co-written by Stewart (see also best songs 565-206-179-70 and 34) and Martin Quittenton (1945-2015.) Quittenton also co-wrote ‘Maggie May,’ and ‘You Wear It Well,’ Stewart had invited Quittenton to join The Faces, but declined stating that he didn’t like their wild off stage antics. He left the music business in the mid 1970’s, suffering from mental health problems.
The distinctive Mandolin was played by Ray Jackson who also played on ‘Maggie May,’ he was a member of the Folk/Rock group Lindisfarne at that time. Rick Grech (1946-1990) who played the violin on the track was another notable name, he is best remembered as the bass player in ‘Bind Faith,’ and ‘Traffic.’
The song is about someone feeling they have to move away from home to search for the fame and fortune they think they can achieve.He tells his family, and girlfriend to try not to worry, but he also tells them that things might not work out as he hopes.
‘If you don’t get no mail, you know I’m in jail.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
966-Panjabi MC.-Mundian To Bach Ke.
1997-This original version has never charted in the UK. The 2003 remix featuring Jay-Z, reached Number 5.
Best Bit-At 0.36.It conjures up thoughts of the exotic, tinged in mystery, until you find out the producer is from Coventry, and the song was recorded in Birmingham.
The Panjabi MC is the working name of music producer Rajinder Singh Rai, who was born in Coventry, England, in 1973. He adopted his stage name from the Punjabi language, one of the key things he does is fuse Bhangra music with Hip-Hop music, with this song, his most successful to date, being a prime example.
‘Mundian To Bach Ke’ was originally written and performed by the Indian Bhangra vocalist Labh Janjua (1957-2015,) the Panjabi MC kept the original vocals, but added a sample of the bassline from Busta Rhymes 1998 song ‘Turn it Up (remix) Fire it Up’ (see also best songs 675,) which in turn had sampled the theme music to the 1980’s TV series ‘Knight Rider,’ which is acknowledged, by that songs writer Stu Philips being given a song writing credit, alongside the Panjabi MC. and Labh Janjua.
The song warns a very attractive young girl to not have her head turned by all the boys who will chase after her, she is reminded that she has only one life, so don’t mess things up.
In 2002 the song was re released as ‘Beware of the Boys (Mundian To Bach Ke,’) with this time American Rapper Jay-Z providing the vocals (see also best songs 636-477 and 23,) it went on to great success worldwide, also becoming the first Bhangra song ever to break in to the top 10 singles chart, in the UK.
‘Nimya tu kuch der pa ke rakh le, pale vitch mukhra luiska ke rai.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
967-Public Image Ltd-Rise.
1986-Number 11 single.
Best Bit-At 5.27.’May the road rise with you,’ is a traditional Irish blessing, both of John Lydon’s parents were Irish.
When Lydon (see also best songs 576-323-92 and 27) left the Sex Pistols in January 1978, he formed the experimental rock group Public Image Ltd, with Keith Levine (guitar,) Jah Wobble (bass,) and Jim Walker (drums.) By 1984, and after the release of three studio Albums Lydon was the only surviving member.
For the release of Public Image Ltd’s fifth studio Album,(called ‘Album’) Lydon brought together an impressive collection of musicians, including Steve Vai (guitar,) Tony Williams (1945-1997,drums,) Bill Laswell (bass,) and L.Shanker,(violin.)
Before it’s release ‘Rise’ was titled ‘South African Song,’ it was written by Lydon about the oppression of blacks in South Africa during the apartheid era. Lydon has said,’I read this manual on South African interrogation techniques, and ‘Rise’ is quotes from some of the victims.I related it to my own background, I’ve got Protestant, and Catholic relatives in the North of Ireland, why were they killing each other.’
‘Anger is an energy, anger is an energy, anger is an energy.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
968-Depeche Mode-Useless.
1997-Number 28 single.
Best Bit-At 2.46. I do not condone the use of recreational drugs at all, but there is no doubt that all the way throughout Pop Music history the use of drugs has aided some of the greatest songs to be written. This song is called ‘Useless,’ but it could so easily have been called ‘Use Less.’
‘Useless’ is a song of self loathing, with both the songs writer, Martin Gore, and singer David Gahan, both having suffered personal addictions, throughout most of their adult lives.
Depeche Mode were formed in Basildon, Essex. England in 1980. Vince Clarke (see also best songs 700 and 451) who went on to great success with Yazoo, and Erasure was an original member, leaving after their debut Album,’ Speak & Spell.’ He was replaced by Alan Wilder in 1982, Wilder stayed with the band until 1995. The bands other mainstay is Andy Fletcher, who has always been a part of the band since it’s incarnation.
Depeche Mode’s (see also best songs 261 and 134) longevity is very unusual in the ever changing fads of Pop Music, to survive this long you obviously need natural talent, but you also have to have the ability to not be a one trick pony, The Depeche Mode of 1980 sounds very different to the sound of Depeche Mode in 2017, when we last heard from them.
‘All your stupid ideals, got your head in the clouds, you should see how it feels, with your feet on the ground.’
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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
969-R. Dean Taylor-There’s a Ghost in My House.
1967- Did not chart in the UK until 1974, when reaching Number 3.
Best Bit-At 1.30.The term ‘Northern Soul’ was invented by the record store owner, and musical journalist Dave Godin (1936-2004,) who had noticed Northern football fans who were in London to follow their team, coming into his store to buy records, but they weren’t interested in the latest Soul music, it was the obscure Soul of the mid 1960’s they were after. Godin said,’I devised the name as a shorthand term,it was just to say,if you’ve got customers from the North, don’t waste time playing them records currently in the U.S. black chart, just play them what they like,-‘Northern Soul.”
Richard Dean Taylor was born on May 11th, 1939, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, he is one of a select few White artists to have had a hit single on Tamla Motown records. Taylor was originally hired by Motown records subsidiary label ‘V.I.P.’ in 1964 as a songwriter, alongside this song, his other biggest successes for the label were co-writing ‘Love Child,’ and I’m Living in Shame’ (see also best songs 411,) both top 10 hits on Billboard for Diana Ross & the Supremes.
‘There’s a Ghost in My House’ was co-written by Taylor, with the legendary Motown writing team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland (see also best songs 823-650-553-411-212 and 148.) In 1987 a cover version by the Alternative Rock band The Fall, gave them their highest UK chart placing when reaching Number 30.
‘Lookin’ down in my coffee cup, I think I see your face lookin’ up.’
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