THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

667-Gladys Knight & the Pips-Midnight Train to Georgia.

1973-It was not a hit in the UK, until reissued in 1976, when reaching Number 10.

Best Bit-At 1.27.Back in 1952 when they first formed the band, Gladys Knight was also just a ‘Pip.’

Gladys Knight was born on May 28th, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.Along with her brother Merald, sister Brenda, and cousins William Guest (1941-2015) and Eleanor, they formed the first incarnation of the ‘Pips,’ their stage name being inspired by another cousin’s nickname James ‘Pip; Woods. It wasn’t until 1959 that they officially became known as Gladys Knight & the Pips, and were active with personnel changes until 1989, when Gladys Knight pursued a solo career.

‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ was written by Jim Weatherly, who was born on March 17th, 1943, in Pontotoc, Mississippi, United States, he is a Country/Pop singer, as well as a songwriter.Before finding success in music he was a successful American footballer, playing quarterback at the University of Mississippi. Weatherly wrote, and recorded the original version of the song in the Country Music genre, calling it ‘Midnight Plane to Houston.’ Some months later the management of Cissy Houston (Whitney’s mother) got in touch, asking if they could record the song, and change the songs title, as they didn’t want the word ‘Houston’ appearing in both the artists, and song title’s name.Her version appeared on her 1970 Album ‘Presenting Cissy Houston.

‘Gladys Knight & the Pips (see also best songs 214) had already had success with a Jim Weatherly song,, having taken ‘Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye,’) to Number 2 on Billboard in 1972, which was their last single release on Motown records, before joining the Buddah label. ‘Midnight Train to Georgia’ gave them their first Billboard Number 1 single, and has become Gladys Knight’s signature tune, a lovely coincidence as she hails from Georgia.

‘I’d rather live in his world, than live without him in mine.