THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

600-Jim Capaldi-It’s All Up to You.

1974-Number 27 single.

Best Bit-At 0.21. Just man up, and tell her what’s she’s missing, for goodness sake.

Nicola James Capaldi was born on August 2nd, 1944, in Evesham, Worcestershire, he died on January 28th, 2005, from stomach cancer. His father’s first name was also Nicola, and had been born to Italian parents in 1913, also in Evesham.

Capaldi’s first major breakthrough occurred in 1967 when forming the Psychedelic Rock band Traffic with Steve Winwood, Chris Wood (1944-1983,) and Dave Mason, in Birmingham, England. Capaldi, and Mason had both previously played together in the bands the ‘Hellions,’ and ‘Deep Feeling’, while Winwood had been the lead singer of The Spencer Davis Group from the age of 14.The other founding member Chris Wood had been a member of a Birmingham band called ‘Locomotive. Traffic were active on and off between 1969-2004, recording eight studio Albums, with alternating group members.The majority of Traffic’s material was written by all of the band members, with Capaldi co-writing two of their top 10 UK singles,’Paper Sun,’ and ‘Here We Go Round the Mullberry Bush,’ both in 1967. Capaldi was the drummer in Traffic, and it was also him who named the band, coming up with the name while the four of them were waiting to cross the street in Dorchester.

While still a member of Traffic, Capaldi launched his solo career in 1972, releasing his debut Album ‘Oh How We Danced, in total he released 13 solo studio Albums between 1972-2004. ‘It’s All Up to You’ was from Capaldi’s third studio Album ‘Short Cut Draw Blood,’ from 1975, which also featured his biggest solo hit single ‘Love Hurts,’ a cover of a song first recorded by The Everly Brothers in 1960, and reaching Number 4 in the UK in 1975.

Following Capaldi’s death a tribute concert took place in January 2007, with the proceeds going to the ‘Jubilee Action Street Children’s Appeal.’ Artists who took part included Pete Townshend, Paul Weller, Steve Winwood, and Gary Moore.

‘Everyday I watched you walkin,’ walkin’ by my window pane. From the first time that I saw you baby, I knew I’d never be the same.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

601-Kid Cudi vs Crookers-Day ‘N’ Nite.

2009-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 1.14. This is one of a handful of songs in this countdown that have been chosen because of it’s remix.

Kid Cudi was born Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi on January 30th, 1984, in Cleveland, Ohio, United States., he is a Rapper, singer, songwriter,record producer,poet, record executive, and actor. He has released seven solo studio Albums to date between 2009-2020, and two collaborative Albums, one with Dot da Genius, the producer of this song, as WZRD, in 2012, and one with Kanye West, as Kids See Ghosts,’ in 2018.

‘Day ‘N’ Nite’ was the breakthrough hit for Kid Cudi, appearing on his debut Album ‘Man on the Moon,’ released in 2009. The song had originally been recorded in 2007, and first made available on Kid Cudi’s debut ‘mixtape,’ ‘A Kid Named Cudi,’ from 2008. On hearing the mixtape, Kanye West signed Cudi to his ‘Good Music’ record label (see also best songs 1049-849-636-477 and 267)

In the summer of 2008 Francesco ‘Phra’ Barbaglia, and Andrea ‘Bot’ Fratangelo who were two Italian music producers known as the ‘Crookers,’remixed ‘Day ‘N’ Nite’ which was a Hip-Hop track, and turned it in to an ‘Electro House’ track, which achieved great success in Europe. Initially Kid Cudi had reservations about the remix, saying,’Ah it’s Techno, so it’s going to be cheesy, but it came out really ill.’Kid Cudi had been living with his uncle, Kalil Madi, until he kicked him out. His uncle passed away in 2006, and Cudi wrote the song inspired by his feelings of regret at not patching up their differences before his death,’I never apologised for it, and that kills me,’Cudi said.

‘Day ‘n’ night, I toss and turn, I keep stressin’ my mind. I look for peace, but see I don’t attain.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

602-Neil Young and Crazy Horse-My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue.)

1979-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 1.54. A line from this song,’It’s better to burn out than to fade away,’ was the final line written by Kurt Cobain in his suicide note.

Neil Percival Young was born on November 12th, 1945, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, since 1963 he has accumulated an extensive discography. To date he has recorded 40 studio Albums as a solo artist, or with his band Crazy Horse. There have also been eight live Albums, and three compilations. As a member of Buffalo Springfield (see also best songs 559) he appeared on all three of their Albums, between 1966-1968, and has also appeared on three Albums with Crosby, Stills, and Nash (see also best songs 417.) There is also an Album attributed to ‘The Stills-Young Band.

‘My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) is the opening song on Neil Young and Crazy Horse’s 1979 Album ‘Rust Never Sleeps. The whole of ‘Side 1’ is acoustic, and the whole of ‘Side 2’ is electric. The Album was recorded live at different concert venues in America between 1976-1978, and overdubbed in the studio in order to remove as much crowd noise as possible. The final track on the Album on ‘Side 2’ is an electric version of this song called ‘Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black,’) Neil Young’s often distorted electric guitar playing, of which the electric version is a fine example, earned him the nickname ‘Godfather of Grunge,’ and he became a major influence on bands such as Nirvana (see also best songs 788 and 9,) and Pearl Jam (see also best songs 458.)

Neil Young wrote ‘My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue’) at a time when he thought his music might not be relevant anymore. His idol Elvis Presley had recently died, and ‘Punk Music’ was the new ‘Rock N’ Roll.’ The song deals with the fleeting nature of fame, and how hard it is to stay relevant as an artist.

‘The king is gone, but he’s not forgotten, this is the story of Johnny Rotten.It’s better to burn out than it is to rust, the king is gone but he’s not forgotten.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

603-XTC-Making Plans for Nigel.

1979-Number 17 single.

Best Bit-At 1.44. British Steel had to take drastic measures, they were worried that this song would put potential future employees off wanting to work for them.

XTC were formed in Swindon, Wiltshire, England in 1972 by Andy Partridge (guitar, and vocals,) and Colin Moulding (bass, and vocals,) they would both become the bands main songwriters. The duo were also joined in 1972 by Terry Chambers (drums,) and David Gregory (guitar,) who was the other band member to play on this song, joined in 1979. XTC were active until 2006, with there being 10 group members come and go.Between 1972-1974 they were known as ‘Star Park,’ before becoming ‘The Helium Kidz,’ from 1974-1975, before deciding on ‘XTC,’ which came about after Andy Partridge had heard the American comedian Jimmy Durante exclaim, ‘That’s it! I’m In ecstasy! while performing one of his routines. XTC released 12 studio Albums between 1978-2000, and achieved six UK top 40 singles.

‘Making Plans for Nigel’ was taken from the bands third studio Album ‘Drums and Wires’ from 1979, and was written by Colin Moulding. The song is about overpowering parents who think they know best for their child.The lyrics are told from the point of view of parents who are certain that their son Nigel is ‘happy in his work,’ affirming that his future in British Steel ‘is as good as sealed.’ As a response to the song, British Steel gathered four employees named Nigel to talk about job satisfaction, for the company’s trade publication ‘Steel News.’

‘Nigel is not outspoken, but he likes to speak, and loves to be spoken to.’

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.’

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.’

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.’

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.’

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.’

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.’