THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

695-Suede-Saturday Night.

1997-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 2.46. The way you could spend your Saturday night pre Covid.

Suede were formed in London, England in 1989, and were active until 2003, they reformed in 2010. The original lineup consisted of Brett Anderson (vocals,) Mat Osman (bass,) and Justine Frischmann (guitar, 1989-1991) (see also best songs 1018.) They were joined soon after by Bernard Butler (guitar, 1989-1994,) Simon Gilbert (drums) joined in 1994, Richard Oakes (guitar) joined in 1994, Neil Codling (keyboards) joined in 1996, and Alex Lee (keyboards,) was an official member between 2001-2003.

The music press called Suede (see also best songs 244) ‘The original Britpop band,’ a term lead singer and songwriter Brett Anderson hated.In 1992 Suede were dubbed by ‘Melody Maker’ as the best new band in Britain. The following year their debut Album ‘Suede’ topped the UK Album chart, becoming the fastest selling debut Album in almost 10 years, it won the Mercury Music Prize, and helped foster ‘Britpop’ as a musical genre.

‘Saturday Night’ is taken from the bands third studio Album ‘Coming Up’ from 1996, and was co-written by Brett Anderson, and Richard Oakes. Of the song Anderson has said,’The sentiment of ‘Saturday Night’ was something I’d never tried to do before, which was to find beauty in something ordinary and average, before it was sort of casting myself as the kind of tortured Byronic hero.’

‘We’ll go to freak shows, and peepshows, we’ll go to disco’s, casinos, we’ll go where people go and let go.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER

696-Bob & Earl-Harlem Shuffle.

1963-It did not chart until reissued in 1969, when reaching Number 7.

Best Bit-At 0.01 ‘JUMP!’

There have been two incarnations of the duo known as Bob & Earl. The original duo who were active between 1957-1962 were Bobby Byrd (1930-1990,) and Earl Nelson (1928-2008) who had both been members of the successful ‘Doo-Wop’ group ‘The Hollywood Flames. Bobby Byrd also had a solo career, which ran parallel with the duo, scoring a Billboard Number 2 single in 1958 with ‘Rockin’ Robin,’ using the stage name Bobby Day. In 1962 Earl Nelson teamed up with a second Bob, this one was Bob Relf (1937-2007,) and it was this duo who recorded the original version of ‘Harlem Shuffle.’ The Harlem Shuffle is a dance that originated in the Harlem section of New York City in the 1950’s. Bob Relf is a very well known name in ‘Northern Soul’ circles, having recorded the popular ‘Blowing My Mind To Pieces.’Earl Nelson recorded under many different names including ‘Jackie Lee,’ under which he scored a Billboard Number 14 single in 1965 with ‘The Duck.’

In 1986 The Rolling Stones covered ‘Harlem Shuffle’ with Bobby Womack on backing vocals for their 18th British studio Album ‘Dirty Work.’ The song had always been a particular favourite of Keith Richards, and suited the vocal style of Mick Jagger perfectly, the Stones version peaked at Number 5 on Billboard. George Harrison has stated that the Bob & Earl version, was his favourite song of all time.

‘You scratch just like a monkey, yeah ya do, real cool. You slide it to the limbo yeah,how low can you go?’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

697-Sutherland Brothers and Quiver-Arms of Mary.

1976-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 0.37.Mary sounds like she was an excellent teacher. I wonder if she made a career out of it.

The brothers Gavin, and Iain Sutherland were active between 1968-1979, originally calling themselves ‘A New Generation.’Gavin was born on October 6th, 1951, in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and Iain was born on November 17th, 1948, in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, he died November 25th, 2019.’Arms of Mary’ was written by Iain, but their best known song ‘Sailing’ (see also best songs 179.) was written by Gavin.

In 1973 the brothers joined forces with the English Progressive Rock/Soft Rock band ‘Quiver,’ and became known as ‘Sutherland Brothers & Quiver. Together they released six studio Albums between 1973-1977, and nine singles.’Arms of Mary’ failed to chart in America, and because of this, in the States they are primarily remembered for their 1973 Number 48 single ‘( I Don’t Won’t To Love You But) You Got Me Anyway.’

After Quiver split in 1978 Tim Renwick, and Willie Wilson toured with Pink Floyd during the 1980’s, and 1990’s,Bruce Thomas became the bass player with the Attractions, and Peter Wood who died in 1993, who also toured with Pink Floyd, was also the co-writer of ‘Year of the Cat’ (see also best songs 130.)

‘Arms of Mary’ is the tale of a boys first sexual encounter, as the narrator fondly reminisces.

‘Mary was the girl who taught me all I had to know, she put me right on my first mistake.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

698-Sak Noel-Loca People.

2011-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.43.’Livin’ la Vida Loca’ for the younger generation.

The true meaning of a ‘One Hit Wonder’ is an artist or group who achieve a Number 1 single, but never chart in the top 75 again in that country. For a list of all the ‘One Hit Wonders’ in this countdown (see best songs 990-496-467-177-116 and 101.))

Sak Noel is the stage name of Isaac Mahmood Noell, who was born April 12th, 1983 in La Cellera de Ter, Girona, Spain. He is a music producer, music video director, and songwriter, he is the only Catalonian to have had a UK Number 1 single.’Loca People’ topped the charts in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Holland and the United Kingdom in 2011, making him a ‘One Hit Wonder’ in all those countries, with the exception of Holland, where in 2016 his song ‘Trumpets’ featuring Salve, and Sean Paul reached Number 12.

The video for the song was directed by Sak Noel, and filmed in Barcelona, Spain, Sak Noel appears in the video, along with the songs unaccredited vocalist, the Dutch singer Esthera Sarita. The songs lyrics have met with ridicule in many quarters, but basically a young girl making her first visit to Girona is amazed at how people party, having never seen anything like that before.

‘I couldn’t believe what I was living, so I called my friend Johnny, and I said to him ‘La gente esta muy loca.”

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

699-Barbra Streisand-Memory.

1982-Number 34 single.

Best Bit-At 2.54.The saddest part of life is when the person that gave you the best memory, becomes a memory.

‘Memory’ was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, who was born on March 22nd, 1948, in Kensington, London. England, with lyrics by Sir Trevor Nunn, who was born on January 14th, 1940, in Ipswich, Suffolk, England.

‘Memory’ was written for the 1981 musical ‘Cats,’ which is based on the 1939 poetry collection ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,’ by the poet T.S.Eliot (1888-1965.) Nunn’s lyrics were adapted from Eliot’s poem ‘Rhapsody on a Windy Night,.’ while Andrew Lloyd Webber had originally composed the music for a proposed ‘Giacomo Puccini project that never came to fruition. Although the tune was intentionally written in the style of Puccini, Lloyd Webber was worried the he had subconsciously copied Puccini’s work. He asked his father William Lloyd Webber (1914-1982) an expert on Puccini, for his opinion on whether it sounded like one of the composers works, according to Lloyd Webber, his father responded,’It sounds like a million dollars.

‘Elaine Paige who originated the role of ‘Grizabella’ in the West End production of Cats, released the highest charting version of the song in the UK, peaking at Number 6 in 1981. In America, on the Billboard chart, the most successful recording is by Barry Manilow, whose version reached Number 39 in 1983.

Barbra Streisand (see also best songs 145) recorded ‘Memory,’ backed with ‘Evergreen,’ which was released as a double ‘A’ sided single.to promote her 1981, mainly compilation Album ‘Memories,’ which was produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

‘Midnight, not a sound from the pavement, has the moon lost her memory, she is smiling alone. In the lamplight, the withered leaves collect at my feet, and the wind begins to moan.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER

700-Erasure-Stop.

1988-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 0.08.The best way to start the top 700, is with stop.

‘Stop’ was released initially on a four track ‘EP’ our track ‘EP’ in November 1988, when the format was still eligible for the UK singles chart. It was released between the Albums ‘The Innocents,’ (1988) and ‘Wild!’ (1989,) in order to cash in on the Christmas market. It was called the ‘Crackers International’ EP, although all four tracks had nothing to do with the festive season, due to it’s success ‘Mute Records’ released a limited edition ‘Crackers International’ Part 2, which included Erasure’s take on the traditional Christmas carol ‘God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen. ‘Stop,’ and the other three tracks ‘The Hardest Part,’ ‘Knocking on Your Door,’ and ‘She Won’t Be Home,’ were all co-written, and produced by Clarke, and Bell.

Erasure were formed in London, England in 1985, and remain active, having released 18 studio Albums, and achieving 33 top 40 UK hit singles to date.

The duo are Vince Clarke, who was born Vincent John Martin in South Woodford, England on July 3rd, 1960, and Andrew Ivan Bell, who was born in Dogsthorpe, Peterborough, England on April 25th, 1964.Prior to the forming of Erasure, Clarke had great success with Depeche Mode, The Assembly, and Yazoo. In early 1985 he placed an advert in ‘Melody Maker’ music magazine for a singer, the winning applicant was Andy Bell, who has said that at the time of applying that Clarke was his ‘hero.’

‘We’ll be together again, I’ve been waiting for a long time. We’re gonna be, we’re gonna be together again, I’ve been connected to the right line.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

701-Iggy Pop-Lust for Life.

1977-It did not chart in the UK until re-released in 1996, when it peaked at Number 22.

Best Bit-At 1.12.The song reached Number 3 in Holland in 1977 in part due to Iggy Pop’s performance on the Dutch television programme ‘Top-Pop.’A bare chested Iggy Pop wrecked part of the stage set, which consisted of a couple of potted plants, and some cardboard scenery.That’s Rock ‘N Roll.

‘Lust for Life’ was co-written by Iggy Pop (see also best songs 219,) who provided the lyrics, and David Bowie (see also best songs 807-440-334-302-209-186-118-47-31 and 5,) who wrote the melody, and also produced the song, and it’s parent Album of the same name.Initially Bowie composed the music on a ukulele, after being inspired by the opening to the American Forces Network News, which Bowie and Iggy Pop would both watch during their stay in Berlin. Iggy Pop explained,”AFN’ would broadcast an ‘ID’ when they came on air, a representation of a radio tower, and it made a signal sound,’beep-beep-beep-beep,beep-ba-beep,’and we went,’Aha we’ll take that!’David grabbed his ukulele, worked out the chords, and away we went.’

The song was written at a time when both Bowie, and Iggy Pop were both trying to wean themselves off drugs. In a 1995 interview Ray Manzarek of the Doors, and their manager Danny Sugerman stated that the opening lyrics,’Here comes Johnny Yen again,’were about their deceased heroin dealer, nicknamed ‘Gypsy Johnny.”The song finally became a hit in the UK in 1996, when featuring on the soundtrack for the British film ‘Trainspotting,’ whose central theme was drug abuse (see also best songs 989.)

‘I’m worth a million in prizes, yeah, I’m through with sleeping on the sidewalk, no more beating my brains with liquor and drugs.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

702-The Ink Spots and Ella Fitzgerald-Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall.

1944-Has never charted in the UK, there was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 1.11.There is an old Arabic proverb,’Sunshine is pleasant, but sunshine everyday only makes a desert.’

The Ink Spots were formed in New York City, New York, United States in 1934, by the quartet of Jerry Daniels (1915-1995,) Deek Watson (1909-1969,) Charlie Fuqua (1910-1971,) and Hoppy Jones (1905-1994,) Bill Kenny (1914-1978) joined in 1936 (see also best songs 266,) they were active until 1954, with various lineup changes.Between 1939-1952 they achieved 48 hit singles on the American chart, including 15 Number 1 records. Ella Fitzgerald (see also best songs 944-286-231 and 100) who guested on this song also featured for The Ink Spots on ‘Cow Cow Boogie’ from 1944, and ‘I’m Beginning to See the Light,’ from 1945.

The title ‘Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall’ originates from a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, called ‘Rainy Day, and was written by Doris Fisher (1915-2003,) (melody,) and Allan Roberts (1905-1966,) (lyrics.) Doris Fisher was the daughter of the German born Fred Fisher, together they collaborated on ‘Whispering Grass,’ which would become a UK Number 1 single in 1975 for Windsor Davis and Don Estelle. Other notable Doris Fisher and Allan Roberts compositions include ‘That Ole Devil Called Love,’ and ‘You Always Hurt the One You Love.'(see also best songs 535.)

‘Some folks can lose the Blues in their heart, but when I think of you pretty baby, that’s when another shower starts.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

703-Quincy Jones featuring Chaka Khan and Ashford & Simpson-Stuff Like That.

1978-Number 32 single.

Best Bit-At 4.21.Quincy Jones has certainly crammed a whole lot of ‘STUFF’ into his 88 years.

‘Stuff Like That’ has a star studded cast, the song is taken from Quincy Jones’ 1978 Album ‘Sounds…and Stuff Like That,’ released at the height of the ‘Disco’ era. The song was originally an instrumental track, which was worked on by the top session musicians Steve Gadd (percussionist,) Ralph MacDonald (music arranger) (1944-2011,) Richard Tee (pianist) (1943-1993,) Eric Gale (guitarist) (1938-1994,) Ashford & Simpson (see also best songs 28,) Chaka Khan (see also best songs 85 and 228) and Quincy Jones, who all share writing credits, Ashford and Simpson, and Chaka Khan also provide the vocals.

Quincy Delight Jones Jr.(see also best songs 1022-889-812-703-511-357 and 191) was born March 14th, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois, United States, he is a record producer, multi instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film, and television producer.Among his career highlights which are too long to list here, include, producing the three Michael Jackson Albums, ‘Off The Wall’ (1979,) ‘Thriller’ (1982,) and ‘Bad’ (1987,) (see also best songs 889-812 and 703) he also produced the 1985 charity single ‘We Are the World.’In 1964 he arranged and conducted Frank Sinatra’s second Album with Count Basie,’It Might As Well Be Swing,and during the early to mid 1960’s he produced all four of the million selling singles by Lesley Gore, including ‘It’s My Party,’ and ‘You Don’t Own Me.’ That is just some of the ‘STUFF’ he has done.

As for the song ‘Stuff Like That,’ it’s subject is probably ‘love at first sight,’ or maybe even ‘lust at first sight.

‘Walked in the joint, they were lined up back to back, anything you can name, no shame, stuff like that.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

704-Whitney Houston-I Will Always Love You.

1992-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 3.09.Dolly Parton has said that she wrote ‘I Will Always Love You’ on the same day that she wrote ‘Jolene.’ A fairly productive, and profitable day then.

Dolly Rebecca Parton was born January 19th, 1946, in Pittnan Center,Tennessee, United States. She wrote ‘I Will Always Love You’ in the Country Music genre in 1973 as a thank you to Porter Wagonor (1927-2007) whom she had worked with on ‘The Porter Wagonor Show’ for the past seven years, as she was now leaving.Her version reached Number 1 on the Billboard Country Music chart in 1974, and when re-recorded for the movie ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ in 1982.it once again topped that chart, becoming the first song ever to achieve that fete.

Whitney Elizabeth Houston was born August 9th, 1963 in Newark, New Jersey, United States, she died February 11th, 2012. Whitney was starring in the 1992 film ‘The Bodyguard,’ and the makers needed a big song. The original suggestion was ‘What Becomes of the Broken Hearted,’ but coincidentally it had just been recorded by Paul Young for the 1991 comedy film ‘Fried Green Tomatoes.’ It was Houston’s co-star Kevin Costner who suggested ‘I Will Always Love You’ after hearing Linda Ronstadt’s 1975 version, producer David Foster, and Houston re-arranged the song as a Soul ballad.

‘I Will Always Love You’ spent 14 weeks at Number 1 on Billboard during 1992-1993, which was a new record at that time. The song has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, making it the best selling single by a female artist of all time.

‘If I should stay, I would only be in your way, and so I’ll go, but I know I’ll think of you each step of the way.’