THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

715-Steve Miler Band-The Joker.

1973-It did not chart in the UK until reissued in 1990, when it reached Number 1.

Best Bit-At 0.17.It’s the best wolf whistle you’ll get all day.

Steve Miller was born October 5th, 1943 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. He certainly had a headstart musically as a child, as Les Paul, and Mary Ford, were good friends with his parents, Les P was Miller’s Godfather.At the age of nine he was taught to play guitar by T-Bone Walker, and other visitors to the house included Charles Mingus, and Tal Farlow. Miller formed the Steve Miller Blues Band in 1965, and recruited childhood friend Boz Scaggs (see also best songs 656,) who stayed until launching his solo career in 1967.As the name suggests the band played Blues Rock in the early days, but took a more commercial approach during their most successful period in the 1970’s, and 1980’s.

‘The Joker’ was an American Billboard Number 1 single in 1973, but failed to chart in the UK until being used in a ‘Levi’s Jeans’ television advert in 1990, thus making the song at just short of 17 years, the longest gap between transatlantic chart-toppers (see also best songs 850.)The songs melody borrows heavily from the 1972 song ‘Soul Sister’ by Allen Toussaint, although he receives no writing credits.The line,’You’re the cutest thing that I ever did see,’ is lifted from the 1954 song by The Clovers called ‘Lovey Dovey’, because of this, that songs writers Eddie Curtis, and Ahmet Ertegun do receive writing credits. Also of note is the made up word ‘Pompatus,’which has become very famous in pop culture down the years.Miller had heard the song ‘The Letter’ by The Medallions from 1954, written by Vernon Green, who made up the word ‘Puppetutes,’ meaning a paper-doll erotic fantasy figure, which Miller misheard as ‘Pompatus.’

‘Some people call me the space cowboy yeah, some call me the gangster of love. Some people call me Maurice, ’cause I speak of the pompatus of love.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

716-Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force-Planet Rock.

1982-Number 53 single.

Best Bit-At 0.31.In 1982 Rap was still in it’s infancy, note the song is called ‘Planet Rock,’ rather than ‘Planet Rap.’

‘Planet Rock’ wasn’t the first Rap song to be a hit, but unlike those that came before, this one included synthesizers, and sampling.It was Tom Silverman the owner of ‘Tommy Boy’ records who brought Afrika Bambaataa, and Arthur Baker (see also best songs 825) together, the other two involved with the making of this groundbreaking track were co-writer John Robie, who played synthesizers, and Emcee G.L.O.B.E., who wrote the lyrics about having fun, and getting the most out of life.

The song is heavily influenced by artists such as Kraftwerk (see also best songs 41,) The Yellow Magic Orchestra, and Gary Numan (see also best songs 177-232 and 772,) and would go a long way to creating a whole new genre of music that was to become known as ‘Electro,’ ‘Planet Rock’ is based on two songs by the German band Kraftwerk,’Trans-Europe Express,’ and ‘Numbers,’ but wasn’t sampled directly, it was reproduced by John Robie on a synthesizer.Although Kraftwerk didn’t receive writing credits, they did come to an agreement over royalties. Another track which was sampled was the synthesizer arrangement from the 1972 cover of ‘Theme From For a Few Dollars More,’ by the group Babe Ruth.’

The DJ plays your favourite blasts, takes you back to the past.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

717-Oceanic-Insanity.

1991-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 1.56.Many dance tracks, especially the popular ones, are given several remixes. The mix I used to play was on the 7inch vinyl, for me the defining version, unfortunately my copy has long gone, and when I come to think of it, so have my turntables.

Oceanic were formed in the late 1980’s by music producers David Harry, Frank Crofts, and vocalist Jorinde Williams, they originated from the Wirral, England.Between 1991-1992 they achieved three top 40 singles, with ‘Insanity’ also reaching Number 31 in Australia. Their other two UK hits were ‘Wicked Love,'(Number 25,) and ‘Controlling Me’ (Number 14,) that song also gave them their only other chart hit in another country, when peaking at Number 19 in Ireland.They also released an Album in 1992 featuring all three singles, called ‘That Compact Disc By Oceanic.’The Album was also released on cassette, and called ‘That Cassette By Oceanic, it was also released on LP, I bet you can guess what it was called.

A forth and final single was released from the Album, called ‘Ignorance,’ featuring the vocals of Siobhan Maher, but that failed to chart.

‘Dream tripper teach me how to fly. oooh come on baby, take me so high. Imagination, emotions running wild, give me innocence, but don’t treat me like a child.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

718-Prefab Sprout-Cars and Girls.

1988-Number 44 single.

Best Bit-At 0.49.The only sprout I ever enjoyed.

Prefab Sprout were formed in 1978 by the brothers Paddy, and Martin McAloon, in Wiion Gilbert, County Durham, England, they were joined by vocalist Wendy Smith in 1982. Since 2003 Paddy McAloon remains the only member, releasing solo material, still using the Prefab Sprout name.The band, and particularly Paddy, probably haven’t received the success that his talent deserves, although he is critically acclaimed by many music critics.

Paddy McAloon used to get bored with people asking him where the band’s name came from, making up different tall tales, including that he had misheard lyrics from the song ‘Jackson’,(see also best songs 124) (‘We got married in a fever, hotter than a prefab sprout,’) McAloon has confirmed he came up with the name when he was 13,’I thought of two odd words, put them together, and kept it.’

‘Cars and Girls’ is taken from Prefab Sprout’s second studio Album ‘From Langley Park to Memphis,’ from 1988.Such was the confidence that it would be a hit single, it was released ahead of ‘The King of Rock ,’n’ Roll'(UK Number 7,) but to McAloon’s surprise it failed to chart.The song is a dig at Bruce Springsteen’s perceived limited subject matter. Songwriter Paddy McAloon suggests that Springsteen’s worldview is too restricted, because ‘Somethings hurt more than cars and girls.’

‘Brucie dreams life’s a highway, too many roads bypass my way, or they never begin.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

719-Curtis Mayfield-Move On Up.

1971-Number 12 single.

Best Bit-At 3.58.’Master’ Henry Gibson (1942-2002) played those bongos, like they owed him money.

Curtis Lee Mayfield was born June 3rd, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois, United States, he died December 26th, 1999, from complications brought on by Type 2 Diabetes, he had to have his right leg amputated in 1998, due to diabetes.On August 13th, 1990 Mayfield became paralysed from the neck down, after stage lighting equipment fell on him at an outdoor concert at Wingate Field, New York.

Curtis Mayfield spent the majority of his music career highlighting the ‘civil rights movement,’of the late 1950’s, and 1960’s, and the plight of the under privileged. He had been a member of the American R&B/Soul/Gospel/Doo-Wop group The Impressions from 1958, until going solo in 1970. The civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr (1929-1968) named the Curtis Mayfield written ‘People Get Ready,’ recorded by The Impressions, as the unofficial anthem of the civil rights movement in America (see also best songs 195.)

‘Move On Up’ was taken from Mayfield’s first solo Album ‘Curtis,’ recorded in 1970. The songs message encourages listeners to strive for better, to get the most out of life, regardless of the obstacles in the way.

‘Bite your lip, and take a trip, though there maybe wet road ahead, and you cannot slip.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

720-Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark-Enola Gay.

1980-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 2.20.When the song was first released it was misperceived by some as a homosexual love song.As such, the track was banned from being played on the BBC children’s programme ‘Swap Shop.’

‘OMD’ were formed in 1978 in Meois, Wirral, Merseyside, England, by Andy McCluskey, and Paul Humphreys, they had first met at primary school in the early 1960’s.As teenagers they were both involved in different local bands, but eventually they both decided that the music they wanted to make would be ‘Electronic,’ as both were influenced by artists such as Kraftwerk, and Brian Eno. Working with others they were active until 1989, when Humphrey’s split with McCluskey, leaving to form a new band called the ‘Listening Pool.’McCluskey kept the band name’Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’ going until 1996, but the pair reformed again in 2006.

‘Enola Gay’ is an anti war song, addressing the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on 6th August, 1945, it was written by Andy McCluskey. The song is named after the Enola Gay, which was the ‘USAAF B-29 Superfortress bomber aeroplane that carried ‘Little Boy,’the name given to the first atomic bomb to be used in an act of war.The name of the aeroplane was chosen by the pilot, Colonel Paul Tibbets (1915-2007,) who named it after his mother, Enola Gay Tibbets (1893-1963.)’It’s 8.15, that’s the time it’s always been,’ refers to all the clocks and watches in Hiroshima being frozen by the electromagnetic pulse created by the atomic detonation.

‘Enola Gay, you should have stayed at home yesterday, ah-ha, words can’t describe the feeling, and the way you lied.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

721-Bryan Ferry-Let’s Stick Together.

1976-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 2.01.Jerry Hall obviously.

The songs video is one of Pop music’s most iconic, featuring the appearance of Jerry Hall, who was at the time in a relationship with Bryan Ferry,she had previously appeared on the cover of Roxy Music’s 1975 Album ‘Siren.’In the video Hall mimes the yelps, which were performed on the song by an unnamed performer.

The original version of ‘Let’s Stick Together’ was written and recorded by the Blues singer Wilbert Harrison (1929-1994,) in 1962, Harrison is best remembered for his 1959 Billboard Number 1 single ‘Kansas City,’written by Jerry Leiber, and Mike Stoller. Harrison’s version of ‘Let’s Stick Together’ failed to chart, and in 1969 he reworked the song, using different lyrics, calling the new version’Let’s Work Together,’and this time it charted at Number 32 on Billboard.In 1970 the American Blues Rock band Canned Heat (see also best songs 1037) released their version of ‘Let’s Work Together,’which reached Number 26 on Billboard, and Number 2 in the UK.

In 1976 Bryan Ferry(see also best songs 57 and 316) released his version of ‘Let’s Stick Together’ from his third solo studio Album of the same name, recorded when Roxy Music were on hiatus.This track was one of six cover versions, the rest of the Album was made up reworkings of old Roxy Music songs.

The lyrics to ‘Let’s Stick Together’ are about someone wanting to continue a relationship, whereas the lyrics to ‘Let’s Work Together’ are a call for unity.

‘But now you never miss your water till your well runs dry, come on now baby give our love a try.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

722-Green Day-21 Guns.

2009-Number 36 single.

Best Bit-At 1.06.’For those about to rock, we salute you.’

Green Day were formed in East Bay, California, United States in 1987, by Billie Joe Armstrong, and Mike Dirnt, they were joined shortly after by drummer John Kiffmeyer, who was replaced by the current drummer Tre Cool in 1990. When originally forming the band at the age of 15, they called themselves ‘Sweet Children,’ but in order to avoid confusion with another local band called ‘Sweet Baby’ they changed to Green Day, due to the band members fondness for cannabis. In 2001 Billie Armstrong said that he considered it to be the worst band name in the world.

’21 Guns’ is taken from Green Day’s eighth studio Album ’21st Century Breakdown,’ and is their last charting top 40 single on Billboard, and in the UK to date. The song addresses the subject of patriotism.Lead singer, and the songs co-writer Billie Armstrong said,’It brings up ’21st Century Breakdown’ in a lot of ways, and the 21 gun salute for someone that’s fallen, but done in an arena Rock ‘N Roll sort of way.’

‘Do you know what’s worth fighting for, when it’s not worth dying for. Does it take your breath away, and you feel yourself suffocating.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

723-Marvin Gaye-Got to Give It Up.

1977-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 1.39.The song was subject to a landmark court case in 2013 against the writers of ‘Blurred Lines,’ a song which had given Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell Williams a Billboard, and UK Number 1 single. Gaye’s family argued that it sounded too similar to ‘Got to Give It Up,’ and the judgement awarded $7.3 million to the Gaye family, nice work if you can get it.

In the mid 1970’s Tamla Motown were feeling under pressure to keep up with the latest music trends, namely ‘Disco,’ so Marvin Gaye came up with this gem (see also best songs 183 and 114.)

Gaye was suffering financial problems in 1976, and in order to relieve the debt, he took on a lengthy tour of Europe, which included a performance at the London Paladium, on October 3rd, 1976, which was recorded, and released as a double album in 1977, the only studio recording was this track, which had been originally recorded at Gaye’s own studio called ‘Marvin’s Room,’ in Los Angeles, in December 1976.’Got to Give It Up’ was written by Marvin Gaye, and produced by Art Stewart, who on the back of that success, went on to produce albums by Rick James, and Teena Marie. Others to appear on the track were Gaye’s brother Frankie (1941-2001,) providing backing vocals, with Frankie Beverley also contributing to the track, along with Jack Ashford of the Funk Brothers. The song was a big influence on Michael Jackson, who based his debut hit ‘Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough’ on this, heavily influenced by Gaye’s percussion, and vocal delivery (see also best songs 812.)

‘I used to go out to parties, and stand around, ’cause I was too nervous to really get down.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

724-Primal Scream-Loaded.

1990-Number 16 single.

Best Bit-At 3.28.When asked by the NME how all the samples for the song were cleared, Bobby Gillespie said,’I don’t know what you’re talking about’. (with a grin on his face) ‘Imagine if we hadn’t got the Fonda one though, we wouldn’t be sat here now. I don’t know where we’d be, but we would not be sat here talking to you. The Gods were smiling on us that day.’

Primal Scream were formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 1982 by Bobby Gillespie, and Jim Beattie, and of the 22 band members who have come and gone, Gillespie has remained the one constant. The band were originally an ‘Indie Rock’ group, before moving in to ‘Psychedelic Rock.’ and ‘Garage Rock, but it was when they incorporated ‘Dance Music’ to their sound, they finally achieved mainstream success.’Loaded’ was released 18 months before it’s parent Album ‘Screamadelica,’ which would go on to become the first ‘Mercury Music Prize’ winner in 1992.’Loaded’ came about after Primal Scream had got in touch with the producer/remixer/songwriter/DJ Andy Weatherall, (1963-2020) asking him to remix an earlier song of there’s called ‘I’m Losing More Than I Ever Had.’Weatherall incorporated many samples including the spoken word intro by actor Peter Fonda (1940-2019) from the 1966 film ‘Wild Angels.’There is also a vocal sample taken from The Emotions 1976 song ‘I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love,’ plus Bobby Gillespie singing a line from Robert Johnson’s 1936 Blues song ‘Terraplane Blues, and a drum loop from an Italian bootleg remix of Edie Brickell’s 1988 track ‘What I Am.’

‘Just what is it that you want to do? Well. we wanna be free, we wanna be free to do what we wanna do.’