THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

655-Gary Shearston-I Get a Kick out of You.

1974-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 3.10. It is not uncommon for comedians to perform in a ‘deadpan’ manner, but there are also singers who do as well. What probably makes this even more striking, is the added ‘monotone’ delivery.

Gary Ghett Shearston was born on January 9th, 1939, in Inverell, New South Wales, Australia, he died on July 1st, 2013, after suffering a stroke. Shearston was at one time the best selling Folk singer in Australia, first charting in his home country in 1965, with the Number 33 single ‘Sydney Town.’ This led to him being given his own national television show called ‘Just Folk’. It was his 1974 Album ‘Dingo’ which brought him his greatest musical success, which included this song, giving him his only international hit, peaking at Number 7 in the UK, and Number 19 in Australia.After several years of touring Shearston returned to Australia in 1989, and became a priest in 1992.

‘I Get a Kick out of You’ was written by Cole Porter (1891-1964) (see also best songs 944-295 and 73) for the 1931 musical ‘Star Dust,’ but it wasn’t used, it was first introduced in the musical ‘Anything Goes,’ and sung by Ethel Merman (1908-1984) in the 1936 film version.Cole Porter’s lyrics have caused controversy over the years, the line ‘Some get a kick from cocaine,’ had to be re-written by Porter as ‘Some like the perfume in Spain,’ as the reference to drugs was not allowed by the Hollywood Films Production Code of 1934. The original lyrics also included the line ‘That’s the fair, Mrs Lindbergh goes through,’ this was changed to ‘Flying too high with some guy in the sky.’ The change was made due to the tragic kidnapping. and murder of Anne Linsbergh’s infant child in 1932.

‘I get a kick every time I see you standing there before me, I get a kick though it’s clear to see, you obviously do not adore me.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

656-Boz Scaggs-Lowdown.

1976-Number 28 single.

Best Bit-At 3.19. The makers of the film ‘Saturday Night Fever’ approached the management of Boz Scaggs, asking if they could use this song for the soundtrack of their new film. Scaggs’ management said no, instead taking up the offer of another film called ‘Looking for Mr. Goodbar’, released around the same time. The ‘Saturday Night Fever’ soundtrack to date has sold in-excess of 23 million copies worldwide.

Boz Scaggs was born William Royce Scaggs on June 8th, 1944, in Canton, Ohio, United States, he acquired the nickname ‘Bosley’ while at school, which was later shortened to ‘Boz.’ At the age of 15 he attended the same school as Steve Miller (see also best songs 715,) the pair were also later at the same University, Skaggs appeared on both of Miller’s first two studio Albums, ‘Children of the Future,’ and ‘Sailor,’ from 1968. Between 1965-1974 Scaggs released six studio Albums, which all met with poor sales, it wasn’t until the release of his seventh Album ‘Silk Degrees’ in 1976 that things changed. The Album has sold over 5 million copies in America, and includes his best selling singles ‘Lowdown,’ ‘Lido Shuffle,’ and ‘We’re All Alone,’ a hit when covered by Rita Coolidge in 1977.

‘Lowdown’ was co-written by Scaggs, and David Paich, who would go on to co-found the Rock band ‘Toto’ in 1977. Paich wrote, or co-wrote much of Toto’s original material, including their best known songs, ‘Hold the Line,’ ‘Africa,’ and ‘Rosanna.’ He has also written for many other artists, including co-writing the ‘Disco’ hit ‘Got to Be Real,’ which peaked at Number 12 on Billboard in 1979 for Cheryl Lynn. The session musicians who played on ‘Lowdown’ included David Hungate (bass,) and Jeff Porcaro (1954-1992) (drums,) who would also join Paich in the formation of Toto.

As for the songs meaning,the word ‘Lowdown’ is a popular slang word meaning, a summary of what’s going on for real. The song is about a girl who doesn’t appreciate what her man gives her, The dirty lowdown, is the honest truth.

‘Hey son better get on back to town, face the sad old truth, the dirty lowdown.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

657-Roy Orbison and the Candy Men-Oh, Pretty Woman.

1964-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.34.’MERCY!’

Roy Kelton Orbison was born on April 23rd, 1936, in Vernon, Texas, United States, he died of a heart attack on December 6th, 1988. Music critics described his music as operatic, earning him the nicknames ‘The Caruso of Rock,’ after the Italian Operatic tenor, and also ‘The Big O.’ During his career he suffered badly from stage fright, which is why he took to wearing dark sunglasses when performing, leading many initially in to thinking he was actually blind.

Orbison was first signed to the legendary ‘Sun’ record label between 1956-1959, along with other artists such as Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash, but didn’t find chart success until signing with the ‘Monument’ record label in 1960. Between 1960-1965 he achieved 18 top 40 singles on Billboard, two of which made Number 1, including this song. With musical tastes changing, his hits dried up, and it wasn’t until becoming a member of the Traveling Wilburys in 1988, that he was back in the charts again, although artists such as Don McLean (Crying,) and Linda Ronstsadt (Blue Bayou,) had hits with cover versions of his songs.

‘Oh, Pretty Woman’ was co-written by Orbison, and his long term writing partner Bill Dees (1939-2012.) It has sold in excess of 7 million copies worldwide,and after being chosen as a piece of music for the film, the producers named the 1990 movie ‘Oh Pretty Woman.’ after the song. The songs title was inspired by Orbison’s wife, Claudette, interrupting a conversation to announce she was going out. When Orbison asked if she had enough cash, Bill Dees interjected,’A pretty woman never needs any money.’ Bill Dees said,’Mercy’ was mine, I used to say that all the time, when I saw a pretty woman, or had some good food.’

‘Pretty woman I don’t believe you, you’re not the truth, no one could look as good as you. mercy.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

658-Katrina and the Waves-Walking on Sunshine.

1985-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 0.08. How would you like to own the rights to a song that earns approximately $1 million per year.

According to a former employee of ‘EMI’ records, Walking on Sunshine’ is the crown in ‘EMI”s catalogue. Between 2000-2010, it became one of the most sought after songs with advertisers willing to pay up to $250,000 a time for the privilege.

Katrina and the Waves classic line up were formed in Cambridge, England in 1982 by Katrina Leskanich (vocals,) Kimberley Rew (songwriter, and guitarist,) Vince de la Cruz (bass,) and Alex Cooper (drums.) They were active until 1999, releasing 10 studio Albums, and achieving three top 40 singles in the UK, including the 1997 Number 3 single ‘Love Shine a Light,’ which was also the Eurovision Song Contest winner for the UK in that year.

The original version of ‘Walking on Sunshine’ was one of 10 songs recorded in 1983 by the band at their own expense, to sell for promotional purposes at gigs. When they finally landed a recording contract, this song, and the other tracks were re-recorded for their first major label release, titled ‘Katrina and the Waves.’

The bands main songwriter was Kimberley Rew who was born in Bristol, England, on December 3rd, 1951. Before co-founding Katrina and the Waves he had been a member of the Rock band The Soft Boys, joining in 1979, until their break up in 1981. As well as writing this song, his other two most famous compositions are ‘Love Shine a Light,’ and ‘Going Down to Liverpool,’ which when covered by the Bangles reached Number 21 in Ireland in 1986.

Katrina Leskanich was born on April 10th, 1960, in Topeka, Kansas, United States, but moved with her family to the UK in 1976. She first started performing professionally with a pop covers band called ‘Mama’s Cookin” in 1978, with her then boyfriend Vince de la Cruz, they were joined by Kimberley Rew in 1981. Katrina has also tasted further chart success when singing backing vocals on Natalie Imbruglia’s 1997 UK Number 2 song ‘Torn,’ (see also best songs 938.)

‘I used to think maybe you loved me, now I know that it’s true, and I don’t want to spend my whole life just a-waiting for you.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

659-Laurie Anderson-O Superman.

1981-Number 2 single.Best Bit-At 2.40.If you know of a more unlikely song ever to make the UK top 40, then please let me know.

Laurie Phillips Anderson was born on June 5th, 1947, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, United States, you could call her a ‘jack of all trades,’ but you would have to add, ‘master of many.’ During her career she has always tried to push back the boundaries, in the fields of pop music, performance art, and her multimedia projects. She is also noted for inventing several devices that she has used in her recordings, in the genre of Electronic Music, including the ‘Tape-bow violin,’ the ‘Talking Stick,’ and ‘Voice Filters.’ She has released seven studio Albums between 1982-2010, and two spoken word Albums, in 1995 and 2015.She was married to the singer/songwriter Lou Reed (1942-2013) (see also best songs 58-131-165 and 401) from 2008, until his death.

‘O Superman’ remains one of the most unlikely songs to have become a hit single in the UK. It was the legendary BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel (1939-2004) who championed the song, getting it on the the Radio 1 playlist, and therefore giving the general public a chance to hear something they otherwise probably wouldn’t have.

Laurie Anderson has explained the songs meaning.’In 1979, Iranian students stormed the US Embassy in Tehran. America went blazing in with helicopters to get hostages out, but it backfired. A helicopter and a plane crashed in the desert, we were left with dead bodies, and a pile of burning debris, so I thought I’d write a song about all that, and the failings of technology.’

‘Here come the planes, they’re American planes, made in America.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

660-The Mamas and the Papas-California Dreamin’

1966-Number 23 single.

When re-issued in 1997, it peaked at Number 9.

Best Bit-At 0.07.The Mamas and the Papas took their name from ‘The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club,’whose female associates are known as ‘Mamas.’

The Mamas and the Papas were formed in Los Angeles, California. United States in 1965 by the husband and wife, John Phillips (1935-2001) and Michelle Phillips, who had previously both been members of the Folk music group ‘The New Journeymen.’ The other founding member was Denny Doherty (1940-2007,) who had previously been a member of the Folk Rock band ‘The Mugwumps.’The groups fourth member Cass Elliot (1941-1974) (see also best songs 247,) was also a past member of ‘The Mugwumps,’ and was taken on soon after the bands formation, on the recommendation of Doherty.

‘California Dreamin’ was co-written by John, and Michelle Phillips, and first recorded by Barry McGuire (see also best songs 527,) with The Mamas and the Papas providing backing vocals. It was going to be released as the follow up to McGuire’s Billboard Number 1,’Eve of Destruction,’ but after hearing ‘The Mamas’ sing it, the music producer Lou Adler persuaded them to release it themselves.

The guitar intro was played by P.F.Sloan (1945-2015,) the writer of ‘Eve of Destruction,’ and the unusual instrumental break in the middle was provided by Bud Shank (1926-2009,) playing an alto flute, as Phillips wanted something different, rather than a guitar break.

‘California’ Dreamin was written by the then newlywed Phillips’ back in 1963, who were at the time living in New York City, during a very cold winter. It is a song about longing to go back to the warmth of California, inspired by Michele’s homesickness.

The song was re-released in the UK in 1997, after being used in an advertising campaign by ‘Carling Premier Beer,’ and peaked at Number 9. In 1990 a cover version of the song, by the Folk/Rock band River City People, reached Number 13 in the UK.

‘All the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey, I’ve been for a walk on a winter’s day.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

661-Ian Hunter-Once Bitten, Twice Shy.

1975-Number 14 single.

Best Bit-At 0.08. The warmest of welcomes.

Ian Hunter was born Ian Hunter Patterson on June 3rd, 1939, in Oswestry, Shropshire, England, due to the onset of World War 2, his family moved to Hamilton, in Scotland, where he was brought up until the age of six, Hunter has always considered himself to be a Scot. Success for him came a little later than your average Pop star, as it wasn’t until 1972, at the age of 33, that as lead singer of Mott The Hoople, he achieved his first hit single with the David Bowie written, and produced ‘All the Young Dudes'(see also best songs 334.) Mott The Hoople would achieve a further five UK top 40 singles, all written by Hunter. In 1974 Hunter left the band to pursue a solo career, and has released 22 solo Albums to date, the latest being 2016’s ‘Fingers Crossed.’

‘Once Bitten, Twice Shy’ was taken from Hunter’s self titled debut Album from 1975, and was co-produced with Mick Ronson (1946-1993) who also played lead guitar on the track. Hunter and Ronson had first met when both were playing with different bands in London in 1966. They got together after Ronson (see also best songs 440-405-186-131-58-31 and 5) had finished working on some of David Bowie’s most iconic work, and they would collaborate together on many projects, through until Ronson’s death.

In 1989 the American Rock group ‘Great White’ brought the song to the attention of a whole new generation, when they took their cover version to Number 6 on Billboard.

‘Ah, woman you’re a mess, gonna die in your sleep. There’s blood on my amp, and my Les Paul’s beat.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

662-Rolling Stones-Jumpin’ Jack Flash.

1968-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.16.The most famous song in the world inspired by a gardener.

The Rolling Stones (see also best songs 933-452-160 and 77) were formed in London, England, in 1962, the classic line up (had they all been together at the same time) would have been Brian Jones (1942-1969) Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, Mick Taylor and Ronnie Wood. Jones died a month after leaving the band, after being replaced by Mick Taylor. When Taylor departed in 1974, he was replaced by Ronnie Wood. Bill Wyman left to further his solo career in 1993, and his place was taken by Darryl Jones. Between 1962-1963 there were seven other official members, but Jagger and Richards took control of the band after Andrew Loog Oldham was appointed the groups manager in 1963.

‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’ gave the Rolling Stones their seventh UK Number 1 single, in total they have achieved eight, all of which were in the 1960’s.Keith Richards has stated that he and Mick wrote the lyrics while staying at Richards’ country house, where they were awoken one morning by the sound of the gardener Jack Dyer walking past the window. When Jagger asked what the noise was, Richards responded,’Oh that’s Jack, that’s jumpin’ Jack.’As for the rest of the lyrics Jagger said,’It’s about having a hard time, and getting out. Just a metaphor for getting out of all the acid things.’

In his autobiography Bill Wyman has claimed it was he who came up with the songs distinctive main guitar riff on a piano, without receiving credit, he also claimed he wrote the bass line for ‘Miss You,’ (see also best songs 160) also receiving no recognition. Keith Richards has said, that of all the guitar riffs he has written, this is his favourite.

‘I was born in a cross-fire hurricane, and I howled at the morning driving rain.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

663-10cc-I’m Mandy Fly Me.

1976-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 2.42.Please forgive me for ‘two much information,’ but there is no other way to let you know. ’10cc’ is a scientific term that represents a volume of semen that is more than the average amount ejaculated, therefore emphasising the bands potency, and prowess.

10cc (see also best songs 154) were officially formed in 1972 by their classic lineup of Graham Gouldman, Eric Stuart, Kevin Godley, and Lol Creme, all four had already worked in the music business, achieving success to different degrees, in the mid to late 1960’s. and early 1970’s. Godley and Creme left to form as a duo in 1976, with Gouldman and Stuart continuing to record as 10cc until 1983. In 1992 all four reunited to record the Album ‘Meanwhile’, and the final release from just Gouldman and Stewart was the Album ‘Mirror Mirror’ in 1995.’To this day Graham Gouldman still uses the bands name when going on tour with his band. 10cc have recorded 11 studio Albums, and achieved 13 UK top 40 singles, including three Number 1’s.

I’m Mandy Fly Me’ is taken from 10cc’s fourth studio Album ‘How Dare You!’ from 1976. The idea for the song came from Eric Stuart seeing a billboard poster for the ‘American National Airlines’ advertising their services, with a sexy stewardess called Cheryl on the poster, with the headline above her saying,’ I’m Cheryl. Fly me.’Eric Stuart explained,’ I remember seeing a tramp looking up at this beautiful poster and thinking, the only way he’s gonna get on a plane is in his dreams.’ The song is about the tramps fantasy dream of flying on the plane, which crashes. He is saved by the beautiful stewardess (now named Mandy,)but then she is nowhere to be found, was it all a dream?

‘I found me on a street, and starin’ at a wall, if it hadn’t have been for Mandy, her promise up above me, well I wouldn’t be here at all.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

664-Elvis Presley-Blue Suede Shoes.

1956-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 1.12.Carl Perkins was the first to admit there was no way he could compete with Elvis,’He had everything, he had the looks, the moves, the manager, and the talent, and he didn’t look like Mr Ed, like a lot of us did.’

It was fellow ‘Sun Records’ artist Johnny Cash (1932-2003) (see also best songs 857 and 428) who gave Carl Perkins the idea for the song. Cash told Perkins of an airman he had met when serving in the military in Germany, who had referred to his regulation shoes as ‘Blue suede shoes.’Perkins thought no more of it until one night while on stage he noticed a couple dancing. Between songs he heard a stern voice say ‘Uh-uh, don’t step on my suede’s.’ Perkins noted that the boy was more interested in his shoes than the ‘pretty little thing’ he was dancing with.

Carl Lee Perkins was born on April 9th, 1932 in Tiptonville, Tennessee, United States, he died from throat cancer on January 19th, 1998. He grew up listening to the ‘Grand Ole Opry’ on his fathers radio, which was a major influence on him becoming one of the leading lights in the development of the musical genre ‘Rockabilly,’ and gaining the nickname ‘The King Of Rockabilly’. Paul McCartney probably paid him his highest compliment, saying,’If there was no Carl Perkins, there would be no Beatles,’

‘Blue Suede Shoes’ has been recorded numerous times over the years, with the best known version being this one by Elvis Presley (see also best songs 954-442 and 194.).It was first track on Presley’s self titled debut Album, released in 1956. The original version by Perkins peaked at Number 2 on Billboard in 1956, with Presley and his management agreeing not to release his version until Perkins song had run its course, and therefore not affecting sales.

‘Well you can knock me down, step in my face, slander my name all over the place. Do anything that you want to do, but uh-uh-, honey lay of of them shoes.’