THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

558-Nazareth-This Flight Tonight.

1973-Number 11 single.

Best Bit-At 2.16. Joni Mitchell was so impressed with Nazareth’s version of her song, that when she was playing a gig in London she told the audience, I’d like to open with a Nazareth song.’

Nazareth were formed in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, in 1968 by Dan McCafferty (vocals,) Pete Agnew (bass,) and Darrell Sweet (1947-1999,) (drummer,) the three of them had all been previously members of the semi-professional local group ‘The Shadettes’. They were joined by the other founding member Manny Charlton (guitar,) who had played in the bands ‘Mark V,’ and ‘The Red Hawks.’ Nazareth still tour as a quartet, with only Agnew remaining from the original lineup. The band took their name from the opening line from the song ‘The Weight,’ by The Band (see also best songs 629.)

Nazareth have released 24 studio Albums between 1971-2018, and released 29 singles between 1972-1994. In the UK they have achieved six top 40 singles, with ‘Broken Down Angel,'(Number 9) being their highest charting, while in America they are remembered as ‘one hit wonders,’ with their cover of the Everly Brothers ‘Love Hurts,’ reaching Number 8 on Billboard in 1975. They also achieved great success in Europe where this song went to Number 1 in Germany.

‘This Flight Tonight’ was written by Joni Mitchell (see also best songs 637 and 299,) and first appeared on her 1971 Album ‘Blue,’ it was later released as the ‘B’ side to her 1971 single ‘Carey.’ Nazareth had been big fans of the Album ‘Blue,’ and thought that ‘This Flight Tonight’ would make a good ‘Rock’ cover. The song appears on Nazareth’s fourth studio Album ‘Loud ‘n’ Proud,’ from 1973, and was produced by Deep Purple, and Rainbow bass player Roger Glover (see also best songs 976-550 and 89.)

‘This Flight Tonight’ was written by Joni Mitchell about her relationship with the American singer/songwriter James Taylor. As she is on the Aeroplane she contemplates the relationship, and decides that she wants to return to him. Other songs on the ‘Blue’ Album also refer to their romance.

‘I’m drinking sweet champagne, got the headphones up high, can’t numb you out, can’t drum you out of my mind. They’re playing,’Goodbye baby, baby goodbye,’ ooh, ooh, love is blind.’