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Posted by: In: Other 12 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER

624-Billie Holiday-Strange Fruit.

1939-Has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 1.06.’ The Lady Sings the Blues.

‘Billie Holiday was born Eleanora Fagan on April 7th, 1915, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, she died in 1959 at the age of 44, after a long battle with drugs, and alcohol. Billie Holiday had a turbulent upbringing, at the age of 11 she found a job running errands in a brothel, and at the age of 13 she became a victim of sexual trafficking.Holiday’s father Clarence (1898-1937) became her father at the age of 16, but didn’t stick around, and moved to Baltimore, to pursue a career in music. He became a well known musician, and when choosing her stage name, she kept his surname ‘Holiday.’ She chose the name ‘Billie’ in tribute to the actress Billie Dove (1903-1997.)

‘Strange Fruit’ was originally written as a poem in 1937 by a white, Jewish songwriter,school teacher, and union activist called Abel Meeropol (1903-1986.) Meeropol had been outraged after seeing a photograph of a horrific lynching in a civil rights magazine. The photo was a shot of two black men hanging from a tree, after they had been lynched in Marion, Indiana, United States, the two men are the ‘Strange Fruit.’

In 1939 while a performer at the first integrated venue in New York, the ‘Cafe Society Nightclub,’the song was brought to the attention of Billie Holiday.It was a very brave decision to record and perform the song, as it would be bound to cause controversy, putting Holiday’s own personal safety at risk, as well as potentially damaging her career as a black performer.

‘Strange Fruit’ became Holiday’s signature tune, and was the song she would always finish on for the rest of her career. In 1999 ‘Time’ magazine voted it the ‘Song of the Century,’ When the song had first come out in 1939, the same magazine had denounced it as ‘A piece of musical propaganda.’

There are some notable cover versions of ‘Strange Fruit,’ notably from Nina Simone, and the Reggae band UB40, who recorded the song as a bonus track for their debut Album ‘Signing Off,’ in 1980. Diana Ross also recorded the song for her performance in the film about Billie Holiday,’Lady Sings the Blues,’ from 1972.

‘Southern trees bear a strange fruit, blood on the leaves, and blood at the root. Black bodies swingin’ in the Southern breeze, strange fruit hangin’ from the poplar trees.’

Posted by: In: Other 09 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

625-Raspberries-Overnight Sensation (Hit Record.)

1974-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 4.18. It’s ironic that the main reason the song never became a hit was because radio stations didn’t like to play records which were more than three minutes long.

The Raspberries were formed in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, in 1970, from two local bands,’The Choir,’ and ‘Cyrus Erie.’ The classic lineup was Eric Carmen (vocal, guitar, bass, and piano,) Jim Bonfanti (drums,) Dave Smalley (bass,) and Wally Bryson (guitar.) They were active between 1970-1975, in 1999 Bryson reformed the band without Carmen, but with Smalley, and Michael McBride, they remained together until 2009.

The Raspberries recorded four studio Albums between 1972-1974, with most of the songwriting by Eric Carmen, it was resentment to the amount of input Carmen had, which led to the band splitting initially. Carmen went onto have a very successful solo career, achieving 11 top 40 hit singles on Billboard, including ‘Hungry Eyes,’ which was chosen for the soundtrack Album for the film ‘Dirty Dancing.’

The Raspberries were particularly influenced by the British Rock group The Who, with Carmen saying,’Pete Townshend (see also best songs 926-306 and 265) coined the phrase ‘Power Pop’ to define what The Who did. For some reason it didn’t stick to The Who, but it did stick to these groups that came out in the 70’s, that played that kind of melodic songs with crunchy guitars, and some wild drumming.”Overnight Sensation (Hit Record) was taken from the bands fourth studio Album ‘Starting Over’ from 1974. John Lennon (1940-1980) was a fan of the band, and was present at the recording of the Album, and although not credited is rumoured to have been involved in the mixing of ‘Overnight Sensation (Hit Record.’) Interestingly Lennon called a track on his final Album ‘Double Fantasy’ from 1980, (‘Just Like) Starting Over.’

‘I just want a hit record, yeah, wanna hear it on the radio.Want a big hit record,yeah, one that everybody’s got to know.’

Posted by: In: Other 09 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

626-Hamilton Bohannon-South African Man.

1974-Number 22 single.

Best Bit-At 4.31. If an alien came down to earth, and asked me what ‘FUNK’ is, I would tell them,’THIS IS.’

Hamilton Bohannon was born on March 7th, 1942, in Newnan, Georgia, United States, he died on April 24th, 2020, at the age of 78. Bohannon’s musical career began in 1964 when he was hired as a drummer in 13 year old Stevie Wonder’s touring band.In 1967 he moved to Detroit where he was employed by Motown as the leader, and arranger of ‘Bohannon & The Motown Sound,’ who were the touring backing band for Tamla Motown’s biggest names, including Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, and The Temptations. When Motown moved from Detroit to Los Angeles in the early 1970’s Bohannon didn’t go with them, and embarked on a solo career, which started with the release of his first studio Album in 1973,’Stop & Go,’ in total between 1973-1989 Bohannon released 19 studio Albums. Unfortunately his music rarely crossed over in to the mainstream charts, and he never achieved a top 40 single on Billboard, although in the UK he did achieve three hits, with 1975’s ‘Disco Stomp’ the most successful, when peaking at Number 6.

Bohannon (see also best songs 48) was a devout Christian, and retired from the music business in 1989, but he did make a comeback, when touring, and making an appearance behind the drum kit in 2014, at the age of 72.’South African Man’ is taken from Bohannon’s second studio Album ‘Keep On Dancin’ from 1974, and is a call for peace, and the ending of apartheid.

‘South African man help me if you can.South African man, make it a better land.’

Posted by: In: Other 07 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

627-Rick Astley-Never Gonna Give You Up.

1987-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.16. The jewel in the Stock, Aitken, and Waterman crown.

‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ was the best selling single in the UK in 1987, spending five weeks at Number 1, and has recently surpassed the one million sales mark in the UK. The song also topped the chart on Billboard in 1988, and has also been Number 1 in 23 other countries around the world.

‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ was co-written, and co-produced by Mike Scott, Matt Aitken, and Peter Waterman. Stock has admitted that the bassline from the song ‘Trapped’ by Colonel Abrams was a big influence on this track (see also best songs 935.) From the mid 1980’s, through until the early 1990’s ‘SAW’ scored over 100 top 40 singles in the UK, including 13 Number 1 songs. They sold in excess of 40 million records, and earnings are an estimated £60 million. There are 96 different acts listed for whom ‘SAW’ have either written of produced for, including Donna Summer, Cliff Richard, and Kylie Minogue. Their first UK Number 1 was with the song ‘You Spin Me Round (Like a Record’,) with Dead or Alive, in 1985, and the last one was ‘Tears on My Pillow’ in 1990, with Kylie Minogue.

Richard Paul Astley was born on February 6th, 1966, in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire, England. Astley began his music career performing with a Soul band by the name of ‘FBI,’ this was where he was noticed by Pete Waterman, who persuaded him to go to London, and be schooled for a career with ‘SAW.’ In total between 1987-2018, Astley has recorded eight studio Albums, and has had nine UK top 40 hits on the singles chart. On Billboard he has made the top 40 on seven occasions, and twice reached Number 1, his other chart topper being ‘Together Forever,’ in 1988. In 1994 Astley retired from the music business,to concentrate on bringing up his family, but he returned in 2000, and is still active now, recording and touring.

‘We’re no strangers to love, you know the rules and so do I. A full commitment’s what I’m thinking of, you wouldn’t get this from any other guy.’

Posted by: In: Other 07 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

628-Bill Haley & His Comets-Rock Around the Clock.

1955-Number 1 single. When reissued in 1968 it reached Number 20, and when reissued again in 1974 it made Number 12.

Best Bit-At 1.31. It was the end of the world as we know it. The onset of teenage anarchy, individuals gyrating in an unspeakable fashion, yes Rock N’ Roll had been invented.

It may all appear very tame by today’s standards but back in 1955, this was Punk Rock, Thrash Metal, and Happy Hardcore, all rolled in to one.’Rock Around the Clock’ was originally written in 1952 by Max C. Freedman (1893-1963,) and James E. Myers (1919-2001,) using the pseudonym Jimmy De Knight, although there are disputes surrounding the songs authorship, with some suggesting that Freedman had written the song on his own.’Rock Around the Clock’ was written with Bill Haley in mind to record it, but due to contractual problems with his record label at the time he was unable to. The first version of the song to be recorded was by the American vocal and instrumental group ‘Sonny Dae and His Knights,’ in a completely different style, and released in March 1954, but failed to chart.When Haley was free to record, the song climbed to Number 13 on Billboard after it’s release in May 1954.It wasn’t until the song was chosen for the Hollywood movie ‘Blackboard Jungle’ later on in that year, that it took off on theatres.The film attracted large teenage audiences, and their response sometimes overflowed into violence, and vandalism at screenings.The film has been seen as marking the start of a period of visible teenage rebellion in the later half of the 20th Century.

‘Rock Around the Clock’ would go on to become the best selling single of the 1950’s,with sales now in excess of 25 million copies, it is also the first recognised Rock N’ Roll Number 1 single, Bill Haley was born William John Clifton Haley on July 6th, 1925, in Highland Park,Michigan, United States, he died February 9th, 1981.Haley had originally been a Country Music performer, but changed musical direction to a new sound which came to be called Rock N’ Roll, a genre of music that originated from musical styles including Jazz, R&B, and Country music. Before the name change to the ‘Comets’ in 1952, Haley and his backing band were called the ‘Saddlemen,’ having formed in 1949. One of the ‘Saddlemen,’ and ‘Comet’s,’ was the bassist Marshall Lytle (1933-2013,) who along with Haley co-wrote the bands first national hit ‘Crazy Man Crazy’ in 1953, some see this song as the first ever Rock N’ Roll record, where as some say it was the first ever Rock N’ Roll record to be a hit on Billboard.

‘We’re gonna rock,rock,rock,’til broad daylight, we’re gonna rock,gonna rock, around the clock tonight.’IF YOU LIKE THIS PLEASE SHARE.The countdown continues tomorrow at 1.0.pm.For a list of all the best 1000 songs click on the blog at www.barryphilipsdiscos.

Posted by: In: Other 05 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

629-The Band-The Weight.

1968-Number 21 single.

Best Bit-At 0.10. Here’s another one for the pub quiz. The Scottish Rock band Nazareth took their name from the opening line of this song.

The Band were officially formed in Toronto, Canada, in 1967, and were active until 1977. Some of the original band reformed with new members in 1983, and remained active until 1999. The five members who formed ‘The Band’ were Rick Danko (1943-1999,) (bass,) Garth Hudson (keyboards,) Richard Manuel (1943-1986,) (drums, and keyboards,) Robbie Robertson (guitar,) and Levon Helm (1940-2012,) (drums, and vocals.) The members of the band had gradually come together in the early 1960’s, when backing the Canadian Rock N’ Roll musician Ronnie Dawkins. In 1964 they split from Hawkins, and released a few singles using the names ‘Levon and the Hawks,’ and then the ‘Canadian Squires.’ In 1965 Bob Dylan (see also best songs 792-358-103-36 and 7) was looking for a backing band for his first ‘Electric’ tour, and on recommendation they toured as ‘Bob Dylan and The Band.’With Dylan they also recorded three Albums, including 1975’s ‘The Basement Tapes.’Along with those three Albums The Band also recorded a further 11 studio Albums between 1968-1998.

‘The Weight’ is taken from The Band’s debut Album ‘Music from Big Pink,’ and was written by Robbie Robertson, although other band members have said that they also contributed to the writing of the song.’The Weight’ tells the story of a man who visits Nazareth, Pennsylvania, United States,having been asked by a friend of his called Annie, to check on some people she knows, to make sure they are well. ‘The Weight’ is the responsibility the man has been given to check on all of these strangers. The characters in the song were based on real people who the band knew, for example ‘Crazy Chester’ was an eccentric character who used to go and watch the band perform.Robbie Robertson has said that he was influenced to write the song by the work of the Spanish film director Luis Bunuel, who made some of the first movies dealing with surrealism. Robertson was intrigued by the characters in his films, who were often good people who did bad things.Many music critics and Rock fans have deliberated over the true meaning of the song, some suggesting that it’s meaning is biblical, but Robertson has always said that it is not.

‘I pulled in to Nazareth, was feeling ’bout half past dead, I just needed some place where I can lay my head.’

Posted by: In: Other 05 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

630-Patrick Juvet-I Love America.

1978-Number 12 single.

Best Bit-At 1.20. It’s a good job the song has a strong chorus, because he repeats it 12 times.

Patrick Juvet was born on 21st August, 1950, in Montreux, Switzerland. One of his earliest jobs was becoming a model in Dusseldorf,Germany in 1968, before going to Paris in 1970 to pursue his real love of music. He recorded his first single in 1971, around the same time as writing ‘Le Lundi au soleil,’ for Claude Francois (1939-1978.) Juvet then began collaborating with the French composer, and producer Jean-Michel Jarre, and the recordings they made can be heard on Juvet’s second studio Album ‘Love,’ from 1973. Also in that year Juvet represented Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest, finishing in 12th place.Between 1973-2006 Juvet released 15 Albums, and had two UK top 40 singles, the other being ‘Got a Feeling,’ which reached Number 34.

In 1978 Juvet turned his attentions to ‘Disco,’ working with Jacques Morali (1947-1991,) Henri Belolo (1936-2019,) and Victor Willis.’I Love America’ was co-written by Juvet, Morali, and Willis, it was produced by Morali, and weighs in at a whopping 13.55 seconds. Morali was very influential in the genre of ‘Disco’ music, with his two biggest creations being The Ritchie Family, and the Village People (see also best songs 105.) The lyrics to ‘I Love America’ were written by Victor Willis, who also wrote the lyrics of many of the Village People’s biggest hits.Willis was also co-founder of the Village People, and the lead singer, who would perform in costume either as a policeman or naval officer.

In 1996 the British ‘House’ music producers Jon Pearn, and Michael Gray, working as ‘Full Intention’ sampled ‘I Love America, and took their version ‘America (I Love America,’) to Number 32 in the UK.

‘When I first heard funky music it just blew my mind, the funky music was so good,I’d play it all the time.

Posted by: In: Other 03 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

631-The Bucketheads-The Bomb (These Sounds Fall into My Mind.)

1995-Number 5 single

Best Bit-At 4.41. Did you know that a mishearing or misinterpretation of a phrase is called a ‘Mondegreen.’ When listening to ‘Street Player’ by Chicago, this songs creator Kenny ‘Dope’ Gonzalez misheard ‘Street sounds swirling through my mind,’ as ‘These sounds fall in to my mind.’ For Pop music’s most famous, and successful mondegreen see best songs 501.

‘The Bomb (These Sounds Fall into My Mind’) samples the song ‘Street Player,’ taken from the American Rock band Chicago’s Album ‘Chicago 13,’ from 1979 (see also best songs 328.) The song was co-written by the Chicago co-founder, and drummer Danny Seraphine, and David Wolinski who was the keyboard player, and songwriter for the American Funk band Rufus. The version by Rufus appears on their 1978 Album called ‘Street Player’, both Seraphine, and Wolinski receive writing credits on ‘The Bomb.’

‘The Bomb’ and it’s parent Album ‘All in the Mind’ were the brainchild of Kenny ‘Dope’ Gonzalez who was born on July 5th, 1970, in Brooklyn, New York, United States. He is best known for being one half of the House music production team ‘Masters at Work,’ with Little Louie Vega, who since 1990 have produced music, and remixed songs for many of the worlds top artists, they are probably best known for their ‘Nuyorican Soul’ project in 1996.

The spoken intro to ‘The Bomb’ is a sample taken from the 1993 song by ‘Green Velvet,’ called ‘Preacher Man.’ In 2008 the American Rapper Pitbull (see also best songs 876 and 531) sampled The Bucketheads interpretation of ‘Street Player’ for his song ‘I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho,’) which peaked at Number 4 in the UK in 2009.

‘These sounds fall in to my mind.’

Posted by: In: Other 03 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

632-The Boomtown Rats-Rat Trap.

1978-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 4.08. Many artists found that performing on Top of the Pops was a necessary evil, as the producers of the show would insist that they mime. Like many others, Bob Geldof knew if he wanted to get the best exposure for his song he would have to perform, but he got his own back on the show by miming the saxophone part on the candelabra.

The Boomtown Rats were formed in Dublin, Ireland, in 1975 by Bob Geldof (vocals,) Garry Roberts (lead guitar,) Johnnie Fingers (keyboards,) Pete Briquette (bass,) Gerry Cott (rhythm guitar,) and Simon Crowe (drums.) They were active until 1986, but reformed in 2013 without Fingers, or Cott. They have released seven studio Albums, the latest being ‘Citizens of Boomtown’ in 2020. They have also achieved 11 top 40 singles in the UK, including two Number 1’s (see also best songs 455.) The band took their name from the gang of children who are referred to in Woody Guthrie’s autobiography ‘Bound for Glory,’ which Geldof had read.

Bob Geldof had written the lyrics to ‘Rat Trap’ as far back as 1973, while working in an abattoir. The song tells the tale of young Billy who knows that he is already trapped by his surroundings, and if he is to have a better life, then he must move away from the town he lives in.In 1996 Geldof recorded a self mocking cover version of the song with the ‘RTE’ television puppet character ‘Dustin the Turkey,’ the song became the Christmas Number 1 in Ireland that year.

‘Billy don’t like it living here in this town, he says the traps have been sprung long before he was born. He says,’hope bites the dust behind all the closed doors,”and puss and grime ooze from it’s scab crusted sores.’

Posted by: In: Other 01 Jul 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

633-The B-52’s-Love Shack.

1989-Number 2 Single.

Best Bit-At 3.48 Fred Schneider exclaims ‘You’re what!,’ to which Cindy Wilson replies.’Tin roof rusted.’ This is Southern American slang, meaning she’s pregnant.

The B-52’s were formed in Athens, Georgia, United States, in 1976 by Fred Schneider (vocals,) Kate Pierson (vocals, and keyboards,) Keith Strickland (drums,) Cindy Wilson (vocals,) and her brother Ricky Wilson (1953-1985,) (lead guitar.) They took their name from a particular hairdo, resembling the nose cone of the Boeing B-52 aircraft, which Kate Pierson, and Cindy Wilson wore in performances during the bands first decade. To date they have released seven studio Albums, the first in 1979, and the latest in 2008.

In 1985 one of the bands founding members Ricky Wilson died of Aids at the age of 32, which affected all the other members, who went on hiatus until reforming 1988, and continuing as a four piece. It was the release of their fifth studio Album ‘Cosmic Thing’ in 1989 which took them from a cult following, to mainstream success, particularly with the release of the second single off the Album,’Love Shack.’ The songs inspiration came from a real club outside of Athens, Georgia, called the ‘Hawaiian Ha-Le,’ where the band would meet up, Cindy Wilson has said,’I personally was thinking about this bar that was out in the country, it was a really cool place, a run-down love shack kind of thing, but it was a disco. It was a really interesting place.’ For Kate Pierson, the actual love shack for her was where she lived in the 1970’s, in a five room cabin where the band would sometimes work on songs such as ‘Rock Lobster,’ and ‘Planet Claire.’ Pierson has said,’ It really was set back in the middle of a field, with no plumbing, or running water, but it did have a tin roof.’ Unfortunately the building isn’t there anymore, as it burned down in 2004, the reason being arson.

‘Hop in my Chrysler, it’s as big as a whale, and it’s about to set sail. I got me a car, it seats about twenty, so come on and bring your jukebox money.’