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.’