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Posted by: In: Other 30 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

604-People’s Choice-Do It Any Way You Wanna.

1975-Number 36 single.

Best Bit-At 0.40.It may not have taken a genius to write the lyrics, but it did take a genius to write the music.

People’s Choice were formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States in 1971 by Frank Brunson, and David Thompson, Brunson died in 2007, at the age of 78. They were active until 1985, working with nine other group members over the 14 years, and releasing six studio Albums.

Their debut single ‘I Likes To Do It’ was released on the ‘Phil-L.A. of Soul’ record label, and reached Number 38 on Billboard in 1971. After seeing the band in concert, the legendary music producers Kenny Gamble, and Leon Huff told Brunson that they wished that the group had recorded ‘I Likes To Do It’ for their ‘Philadelphia International Records,’ following this, the band signed with them in 1974.

‘Do It Any Way You Wanna’ was written by Leon Huff, and produced by Kenny Gamble, and Huff (see also best songs 1001-896-725-648-571 and 322,) and was taken from the bands debut Album ‘Boogie Down U.S.A’. from 1975. The 10 tracks on the Album were written by the ‘Philadelphia Records International’ ‘A team’ of songwriters, which included Cary Gilbert (1942-1993,) and the in house studio band ‘MFSB,’ a pool of more than 30 musicians.

In 1976 the Jamaican Reggae singer Dillinger sampled ‘Do It Any Way You Wanna’ for his single ‘Cocaine in My Brain,’ the song went to Number 1 in Holland, and Number 2 in Belgium (see also best songs 817.)

‘Do it any way you wanna do it, do it any way you wanna.’

Posted by: In: Other 30 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

605-Pulp-Do You Remember the First Time?

1994-Number 34 single.

Best Bit-At 1.08. A Gentlemen never tells.

Pulp were formed at the City School in Sheffield, England, in 1978 by Jarvis Cocker,who was 15 years old, and Peter Dalton who was 14. They were originally called ‘Arabicas,’ named after the coffee bean, then ‘Arabicas Pulp,’ ‘Pulp’ being the name of the 1972 film starring Michael Cain, before finally settling on ‘Pulp.’

Jarvis Cocker was born in Sheffield, England, on September 19th, 1963, he is the bands one constant, in total there have been 24 former members of Pulp, from 1978, through until the split in 2002, and then the reunion from 2011-2013. They have released seven studio Albums, including the ‘Mercury Music Prize’ winning ‘Different Class,’ from 1995. They have also achieved 12 UK top 40 singles, with ‘Common People,'(see also best songs 285) and ‘Sorted for E’s & Wiizz/’Mis Shapes,’ both reaching Number 2 in 1995.Success was not achieved overnight, as the band experimented with many different musical genres over the first 16 years, before finally finding the right formula with this song.

‘Do You Remember the First Time’ was taken from Pulp’s fourth, and breakthrough Album ‘His ‘n’ Hers’ from 1994. The song is about a man telling his ex girlfriend that although she has found a new partner, she would be better off with him still being her lover, as her new partner isn’t as good in bed as he is.

To promote the song Jarvis Cocker made a short film, putting together a collection of interviews with celebrities recounting their ‘first time.’The 25 minute film features the likes of John Peel, Jo Brand, and Vic Reeves. Terry Hall of The Specials has perhaps the best line,’She was into The Bay City Rollers, which put me off a bit, but not enough.’

‘You say you’ve got to go home,’cause he’s sitting on his own again this evening. I know you’re gonna let him bore your pants off again. Oh God, it’s half past eight, you’ll be late.’

Posted by: In: Other 28 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONS IN THE WORLD EVER.

606-Arthur ”Big Boy” Crudup-That’s All Right.

1946-Has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 1.04. Elvis Presley acknowledged Crudup’s importance to Rock N’ Roll when he said,’If I had any ambition, it was to be as good as Arthur Crudup.

Arthur William ”Big Boy” Crudup was born on August 24th, 1905, in Forest, Mississippi, United States, he died from complications of heart disease, and diabetes, probably on March 28th, 1974, at the age of 68. Crudup who would become known as ‘The Father of Rock N’ Roll’ started out on his musical career by playing ‘Blues’ music, and got his break when signing with ‘RCA’ records in the mid 1940’s. Although songs that Crudup had written had been recorded by other artists, including Elvis Presley, Crudup stopped recording in the early 1950’s over disputes about royalties,he said,’I realised I was making everybody rich, and here I am, poor.’ He returned to touring in 1965, but never received the royalties that were due.

‘That’s All Right’ was originally recorded by Arthur Crudup in Chicago, United States on September 6th, 1946, and is one of the contenders for the never ending discussion about who actually recorded the first ever ‘Rock N’ Roll’ song.The Rock historian Joseph Burns of Southeastern Louisiana University has said,’This song could contain the first ever guitar solo break.’ Some of the songs lyrics were very similar to the 1926 Blues recording ‘That Black Snake Moan,’ by Blind Lemon Jefferson (1893-1929.)

At the age of 19 Elvis Presley (see also best songs 954-664-442 and 194) recorded ‘That’s Alright Mama’ for his very first single, on ‘Sun Records.’ The song failed to chart on either side of the Atlantic, but when it was reissued for it’s 50th anniversary in 2004, it reached Number 3 in the UK. In 1956 Presley recorded ‘My Baby Left Me,’ another Crudup song, for the ‘B’ side of his single ‘I Want You, I Need You, I Love You.’ Presley also said of Crudup,’Down in Tupelo, Mississippi, I used to hear old Arthur Crudup bang his box the way I do now, and I said, if I ever got to the place I could feel all old Arthur felt, I’d be a music man like nobody ever saw.

‘I’m leaving town baby, I’m leaving town for sure.Well then you won’t be bothered, with me hanging ’round your door.’

Posted by: In: Other 28 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

607-The Stranglers-Duchess.

1979-Number 14 single.

Best Bit-At 1.33. Don’t take offence if your name is Rodney,

The Stranglers, who were originally known as the ‘Giuldford Stranglers’ were formed in Guildford, Surrey, England in 1974 by Jet Black (real name Brian Duffy,) (drums,) Hugh Cornwell (vocals, and guitar,) Jean-Jacques Burnel (bass,) and Hans Warmling (1943-1995,) (keyboards.) Warmling left the band to return to his home country of Sweden within a year, and was replaced by Dave Greenfield (1949-2020,) (keyboards.) Cornwell left the band to pursue a solo career in 1990, and was replaced by Paul Roberts (vocals,) and John Ellis (guitar.) The band are still active as a trio of Black, Burnel, and lead vocalist Baz Warne, who joined in 2006, replacing Roberts.

The Stranglers have released 17 studio Albums to date, the first in 1977, and the latest in 2012. They have also achieved 23 UK top 40 singles, with ‘Golden Brown’ being the most successful when reaching Number 2 in 1982. They are cited as one of the instigators of the early UK Punk scene, but unlike many of their contemporaries they were still having hits in to the early 21st Century, due to changing their musical style to fit with the times.

‘Duchess’ is taken from The Stranglers fourth studio Album ‘The Raven,’ from 1979, and the songwriting credits are attributed to all of the bands members. The song is about a girl who claims to be an heiress, but who has hit on hard times. She knows all of her family history, saying she descends from King Henry V111. When she was well to do, men from the lower classes would attempt to raise their profile by trying to court her, these chancers are known as ‘Rodney’s,’ of whom her parents would strongly disapprove.

‘And the Rodney’s are queuing up, God forbid, and they all want to win the cup, God forbid.’

Posted by: In: Other 26 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

608-Arctic Monkeys-Fluoresent Adolescent.

2007-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 0.09. Some good old plain, straight to the point talk, from Yorkshire folk.

The Arctic Monkeys were formed in Sheffield, England, in 2002, by Alex Turner (lead vocals, guitar, and keyboards,) Jamie Cook (guitar, and keyboards,) Andy Nicholson (bass, and backing vocals,) and Matt Helders (drums.) Nicholson left the group in 2006, and was replaced by Nick O’Malley (bass guitar.) They have released six studio Albums, all of which have reached Number 1 in the UK. They have also achieved 14 top 40 UK singles, two of which have reached Number 1. Their 2006 Album ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not,’ became the fastest selling debut Album in UK chart history, selling 363,735 copies in it’s first week of release, it went on to win the 2006 ‘Mercury Music Prize’, and has since gone 6x Platinum.

‘Fluorescent Adolescent’ is taken from the Arctic Monkeys second studio Album’Favourite Worst Nightmare’ from 2007.The song was co-written by the bands principle song writer Alex Turner, and his then girlfriend Johanna Bennett, who went on to marry Matthew Followill of the Kings of Leon in 2009. Alex Turner was born on January 6th, 1986, in Sheffield, England, he has been named by some music critics as the best lyricist of the 21st Century. Turner cites the poetry of John Cooper Clark (see also best songs 816) and the lyrics of Roots Manuva, and Method Man (see also best songs 369 and 166) as inspiration.Johanna Bennett has spoken about the song, saying that she and Turner were on a Mediterranean holiday, and were reminiscing about characters they knew at school. The song is about ageing, and nostalgia for youth. It describes a woman who dreams of her youth, while her current life is unsatisfying, and boring.

‘You used to get it in your fishnets, now you only get it in your nightdress.’

Posted by: In: Other 26 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

609-The Seekers-Georgy Girl.

1966-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 1.08. With sales in excess of 50 million records worldwide, they are Australia’s best ever selling artists before 1980.

The Seekers are an Easy Listening, Pop, and Folk act formed in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in 1962, they were active until 1968, but members reformed again in 1975, through until 1988, and then again in 1992, to the present day.Their best known line up was Judith Durham (vocals, and piano,) Athol Guy (double bass,) Keith Potger (twelve string guitar, and banjo,) and Bruce Woodley (vocals, guitar, mandolin, and banjo.) The Seekers have released 13 studio Albums to date, between 1963-2019, and had 11 top 40 singles in the UK, including two Number 1’s, the other being ‘The Carnival Is Over,’ in 1965. When the Seekers split for the first time in 1968, Keith Potger moved to the UK, to concentrate on songwriting, and record production. In 1969 he formed ‘The New Seekers,’ who are also still currently active, during the 1970’s they achieved 12 top 40 singles, of which two of those reached Number 1 in the UK.

‘Georgy Girl’ was co-written by Tom Springfield (music,) and Jim Dale (lyrics,) and was used as the title song for the 1966 film of the same name. The song is heard at the start, and ending of the film, with altered lyrics in order to fit in with the movies storyline. Tom Springfield had started his music career as a member of the Folk trio ‘The Springfields with Tim Feild (1934-2016,) and his sister Dusty Springfield (1939-1999,) (see also best songs 882 and 171,) in 1960. After The Springfields split in 1963, Tom became a record producer, and songwriter, he wrote many of The Seekers hits including ‘A World of Our Own,’ and the million seller,’The Carnival Is Over.’

Jim Dale is best known in the UK for his appearances in many of the ‘Carry On’ films, while in America he is best known for narrating all seven of the ‘Harry Potter’ audio books. Dale also became a Pop star at the age of 22, when becoming the first Pop singer to be produced by George Martin (1926-2016,) Dale’s hit singles include ‘Be My Girl,’ which reached Number 2 in 1957.

‘You’re always window shopping, but never stopping to buy, so shed those dowdy feathers and fly, a little bit.’

Posted by: In: Other 24 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

610-Beastie Boys-(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party.)

1987-Number 11 single.

Best Bit-At 0.07.Back of the net!!

The classic line up of the Beastie Boys was Michael ‘Mike D’ Diamond (vocals and drums,) Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch (1964-2012) (vocals and bass,) and Adam ‘Ad Rock’ Horovitz (vocals and guitar.)Diamond had been part of an experimental Hardcore Punk band called the ‘Young Aborigines’ from 1978, and when one of the members dropped out, they were replaced by Adam Yauch in 1981, which was when the band changed their name to ‘Beastie Boys,’ chosen by the then guitarist John Berry (1963-2016.) Shortly after Berry would leave the band and be replaced by Adam Horovitz.This was the time that the Beastie Boys transitioned from ‘Punk’ to Rap/Rock, releasing their first ‘Hip-Hop’ single ‘Cooky Puss’ in March 1983.It was also the final recording to feature their long term drummer Kate Schellenbach, as the band moved in a different direction. The Beastie Boys have sold in excess of 20 million records in America, making them the best selling Rap group since Billboard began recording sales in 1991.

(‘You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party’) is taken from the Beastie Boys debut studio Album ‘Licenced to Ill,’ from 1986, and became the first ever Rap Album to top the Billboard ‘Top 200 Album’ chart.The song was co-written by the Beastie Boys, and long term collaborator with the band, Tom Cushman, the songs producer Rick Rubin also receives songwriting credit. Rubin was a big influence on the song, interjecting a ‘Rock’ sound in to it, Rubin had previously brought together the ‘Hip-Hop’ group Run DMC, and the ‘Rock’ group Aerosmith to achieve the first Rap/Rock hit ‘Walk This Way,’ in 1986 (see also best songs 305.)

(‘You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party,’) lyrically, actually started out life as a joke, a ‘mickey’ take on what Adam Yauch called ‘dumb rock songs.’ It is ironic that the song which made the Beastie Boys superstars, was thanks to the new ‘fanbase’ they had set out to parody.

‘Your pop caught you smoking, and he said ‘no way.’ That hypocrite smokes two packs a day.’

Posted by: In: Other 24 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

611-David Essex-Hold Me Close.

1975-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 3.10. David Essex wasn’t just a pretty face, as far as teen idols go, he was probably the most talented.

David Essex was born David Albert Cook on July 23rd, 1947, in Plaistow, Essex, England, which probably provides the clue as to where he took his stage name from. Success didn’t come instantly, as prior to his first self penned hit ‘Rock On,’ in 1973, he had released 11 none charting hits between 1965-1971.Before becoming a Pop star Essex became a film star, starring in the movie ‘That’ll Be the Day,’ alongside Ringo Starr, and Keith Moon, and others.He would also achieve even greater success in 1974 with that films sequel ‘Stardust.’

David Essex has released 28 studio Albums to date, between 1973-2013, and achieved 19 UK top 40 singles, two of which got to Number 1,’Hold Me Close,’ and ‘Gonna Make You A Star,’ both of which he wrote. In America, his only hit was ‘Rock On,’ which reached Number 5 on Billboard in 1973, but a 1989 cover version by Michael Damian reached Number 1 on Billboard.

‘Hold Me Close’ was taken from his third Album,’All the Fun of the Fair,’ and like many of his early successes it was produced by Jeff Wayne, who in 1978 released ‘Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds,’ his musical adaption of the H. G. Wells science fiction novel ‘The War of the Worlds’. The Album has gone on to sell in excess of 15 million copies worldwide, making it one of the top 50 best ever selling Albums. David Essex appears on the Album, providing spoken passages.

‘With your love light shining, every clouds got a silver lining, so hold me close, don’t let me go.’

Posted by: In: Other 22 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

612-Parliament-Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker.)

1976-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 3.57. If you ever attend a George Clinton concert, you will always hear the phrase ‘Give Up the Funk’ chanted, sometimes hundreds of times, starting with the audience imploring the band to take to the stage.

George Edward Clinton was born on July 22nd, 1941, in Kannapolis, North Carolina, United States, alongside James Brown, and Sly Stone, he is cited as one of the foremost innovators of ‘Funk’ music. Clinton’s first foray in to music was when forming a ‘Doo-Wop’ group in 1955 called ‘The Parliaments,’ inspired by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers. The Parliaments are best remembered for their 1967 Billboard Number 20 hit (‘I Wanna) Testify,’ co-written by Clinton.

In order to capitalise on the success of (‘I Wanna) Testify,’ Clinton put together a group of touring musicians, but due to a contractual dispute he lost the rights to the name ‘The Parliaments,’ so reformed, using the name ‘Funkadelic'(see also best songs 340 and 26.) As the amount of newly recruited musicians grew, Clinton decided to form a second group to run concurrently alongside ‘Funkadelic,’ and this was the formation of ‘Parliament'(see also best songs 143.)

‘Tear the Roof off the Sucker’ is taken from Parliament’s fourth studio Album ‘Mothership Connection’ from 1975, and was co-written by Clinton, his long time associate Jerome Brailey, and Bootsy Collins (see also best songs 850 and 88,) who had recently joined the band, after a stint playing with James Brown. ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine called the Album,’A parody of modern funk, unlike the Ohio Players, or Commodores, the group refuse to play it straight, instead Clinton spews his jive, conceived from some cosmic funk vision.’ George Clinton has said,’I was a big fan of ‘Star Trek,’so we did a thing with a pimp sitting in a spaceship shaped like a Cadillac, and we did all these James Brown type grooves, but with street talk, and ghetto slang.’

‘You’ve got a real type of thing going down, gettin’ down, there’s a whole lot of rhythm going round.’

Posted by: In: Other 21 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

613-Basshunter and DJ Mental Theo’s Bazzheadz-Now You’re Gone.

2008-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.12. In 2010 Basshunter was a contestant in the seventh series of Celebrity Big Brother.One of the tasks he had to undertake was being locked in a room, and as a form of torture, he had to listen to this song all night, being played on a loop.

Basshunter is the stage name of Jonas Erik Altberg, who was born December 22nd, 1984, in Halmstad, Sweden, he is a singer/songwriter, music producer, and DJ. To date he has released six studio Albums, the first in 2004, and the latest in 2013. In the UK he has achieved seven top 40 singles, while in his home country of Sweden, he has had eight. He took his stage name in tribute to the type of music he records.

In 2006 Basshunter recorded the song ‘Boten Anna’ for his second studio Album ‘LOL.’ the Swedish lyrics tell the story of a female ‘Internet Relay Chat’ user, who the vocalist believes is a ‘bot,’ and later finds out she is a beautiful woman, although she will always remain a bot in his eyes. The song met with great success reaching Number 1 in Sweden, and also becoming the first Swedish language song to top the chart in Holland. In 2007 the Dutch Disc Jockey, DJ Mental Theo re-wrote the lyrics in English, completely changing the songs subject, to a story about a young couple breaking up. In the music video it is suggested that the couple reconcile, but there is no mention of this in the songs lyrics. On the original version ‘Boten Anna,’ the vocals are provided by Basshunter, but on ‘Now You’re Gone,’ the vocals are those of Sebastian Westwood, who is unaccredited on this track.

‘There’s an empty place in my heart, without my Anna it will break apart. It won’t heal,it never fades away, I’ll be thinking ’bout you everyday.’