THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

650-Four Tops-Reach Out I’ll Be There.

1966-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.37. The ad lib, ‘Just look over your shoulder.’ Levi Stubbs was a passionate singer, and when he improvised that line, Holland-Dozier-Holland liked it so much, they left it in.

The Four Tops certainly had longevity, having formed in 1953, in Detroit, Michigan, United States, by Levi Stubbs (1936-2008,) Renaldo ‘Obie’ Benson (1936-2005,) Laurence Payton (1938-1997,) and Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir. The Four Tops still tour to this day, with the only living original member Abdul Fakir, being joined by three others, including Laurence Payton Jr, and the Tamla Motown veteran Ronnie McNeir.

The Four Tops were originally called ‘Four Aims,’ but decided to change their name, to avoid confusion with the American vocal group the ‘Ames Brothers.’For the first seven years of the bands existence, they recorded for four different record labels, releasing four singles, without success, before signing with Motown records, initially recording Jazz standards for one of Tamla Motown’s subsidiary labels, and also singing backing vocals on some Motown songs. Their big break came in 1964 when Motown’s main songwriting, and production team, Holland-Dozier-Holland selected them to record ‘Baby I Need Your Loving,’ which gave them their first hit on Billboard, peaking at Number 11. They would go on to become Motown’s most successful male group, with 17 Billboard top 40 singles, and a further five after leaving the label.

‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’ was co-written by the legendary songwriting, and production team of Holland-Dozier-Holland (see also best songs 969-823-553-411-212 and 148.) The song has become the Four Tops signature track, and like many of the labels songs it features Motown’s in house band ‘The Funk Brothers,’ and the female backing vocals of ‘The Andantes,’ who appear unaccredited.

‘Now if you feel that you can’t go on, because all of your hope is gone, and your life is filled with much confusion, until happiness is just an illusion.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

651-Dooley Wilson-As Time Goes By.

1942-It didn’t chart in the UK until 1977, when reaching Number 15.

Best Bit-At 1.30. Don’t forget, in the film nobody ever said,’Play it again Sam.’

‘As Time Goes By’ was written by Herman Hupfeld (1894-1951) for the 1931 Broadway Musical ‘Everybody’s Welcome,’ in the original show it was sung by Frances Williams, and first recorded by Rudy Vallee (1901-1986,) becoming a minor hit. After the success of the 1942 film ‘Casablanca,’ Brunswick records re-released the song, and it went to Number 1 on Billboard, in the same year. Hupfeld wrote well over 100 songs in his career, with this one being by far his most successful, in 2004 the American Film Institute unveiled it’s list of the top 100 songs from the cinema, from the 20th Century, and this was at Number 2, behind ‘Over the Rainbow,’ sung by Judy Garland (see also best songs 68.)

Arthur ‘Dooley’ Wilson was born on April 3rd, 1886, in Tyler, Texas, United States, he earned his nickname ‘Dooley’ for his ‘whiteface’ impersonation of an Irishman singing a song called ‘Mr Dooley’, he died on May 30th, 1953. Wilson was a drummer, and singer who took up acting in the 1930’s, eventually signing a contract with Paramount Pictures, which led to him being cast in the role of ‘Sam’ for the 1942 film Casablanca. In the film Wilson is seen sat at a piano performing the song at the request of Ingrid Bergman. Wilson couldn’t play the piano to the standard required, so in the film it was overdubbed by the studio pianist Jean Vincent Plummer. Such has been the impact of the film, and Wilson’s rendition of the song, that in 2014 the piano he played was put up for auction at Bonhams in New York, and sold for $3.4 million.

Because of contractual stipulations, meaning Wilson couldn’t release ‘As Time Goes By’ in the aftermath of the films success, two other versions, both recorded in 1931, from Rudy Vallee, and Jacques Renard, were both re-released, reaching Number 1, and Number 3 on Billboard. Wilson’s version finally charted in the UK, reaching Number 15, in 1977.

‘You must remember this, a kiss is just a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh, the fundamental things apply, as time goes by.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER

652-Dizzee Rascal featuring Chrome-Holiday.

2009-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 3.08. One of those wonderful hands in the air moments, where you can dance yourself Dizzee.

Dizzee Rascal was born Dylan Kwabena Mills on September 18th, 1984, in London, England, he was an important player in the development of the musical genre ‘Grime’ in the early 2000’s. His debut Album ‘Boy in da Corner’ was the winner of the 2003 ‘Mercury Prize, he has released seven studio Albums to date, and achieved 20 top 40 singles as the main artist, and a further three as a featured artist. He has had four UK Number 1’s, and another two which were charity singles, also topped the chart.

‘Holiday’ is taken from Dizzee Rascal’s fourth studio Album ‘Tongue n’ Cheek,’ which was a further departure from his ‘Grime’ roots, as he moved towards a more ‘commercial’ sound, alienating some of his fan base. Dizzee Rascal (see also best songs 138) has said,’I live in a country house in Kent now, big pond, big fish, big whatever, and when I first moved in, I had a little pool party kind of thing. Where I lived before I didn’t really invite anyone around, but this time there were about 20 people there, and I suddenly realised that what I needed to do was make an Album you could play all the way through without spoiling the party.’

The songs music was written by Calvin Harris (see also best songs 760-652 and 566,) with the intention of giving it to the girl group The Saturdays, but their management rejected the song. Harris and Dizzee Rascal had teamed up previously for the UK Number 1 single ‘Dance Wit Me’ in 2008, and were joined again by the British singer ‘Chrome’ who also performed on that song, and sang the chorus on this, the lyrics were written by Dizzee Rascal.

‘And when we get there, it’s strictly VIP, no need for ID, security know me.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

653-ZZ Top-Legs,

1984-Number 16 single.

Best Bit-At 0.19. ZZ Top are Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard, and Dusty Hill, can you guess which one doesn’t sport a beard?

The classic line up of ZZ Top were formed in 1969, in Houston, Texas, by Billy Gibbons, born December 16th, 1949, in Houston, Texas, he is the bands lead singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter. Joseph ‘Dusty’ Hill, who was born May 19th, 1949, in Dallas, Texas, who plays bass, and Frank Beard, who was born June 11th, 1949, in Frankston, Texas, and is the bands drummer. It was Gibbons who chose the bands name, he had noticed that many acts such as ‘BB King,’ and ‘ZZ Hill’ used initials, and thought of combining the two into ‘ZZ King,’ but considered it too similar to the Blues legends name, so as he had always thought of King as a top performer, he came up with ZZ Top. To date the band have released 15 studio Albums, and sold in excess of 50 million records.

‘Legs’ is taken from the bands eighth studio Album ‘Eliminator,’ from 1983, which continued a shift towards a more radio friendly commercial sound, which wouldn’t have please some of their long term fans, who grew up listening to the more rawer Blues Rock the band had played in the 1970’s. ‘Eliminator’ was heavily influenced by the ‘new’ Electronic synthesizers used by bands such as Depeche Mode, and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.

Billy Gibbons has explained how ‘Legs’ came about.’I was driving in Los Angeles, and there was this unusual downpour, and there was a real pretty girl on the side of the road. I passed her, and then I thought,well I’d better pull over, or at least turn around and offer her a ride, and by the time I got back she was gone. Her legs were the first thing I noticed. Then I noticed she had a Brooke Shields hairdo that was in danger of falling. She was not going to get wet. She had legs and she knew how to use them.’

‘She’s got legs, she knows how to use them, she never begs, she knows how to choose them.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

654-The Fratellis-Chelsea Dagger.

2006-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 0.33.’Do-do-do-do-do-do.’ The songs writer, John Lawler has said,’It came to me really quickly. I was going,’Do-do-do-do-do-do,’ and it was so easy to write, that I couldn’t believe nobody had ever used the melody before.’

The Fratellis were formed in Glasgow, Scotland in 2005, after John Lawler responded to an advert placed in a music shop by the bands future drummer Gordon McRory, the were joined soon after by the bass player Barry Wallace. They took the bands name from the criminal family in the 1985 American comedy film ‘The Goonies.’To date they have released five studio Albums, and have achieved five UK top singles. They were active between 2005-2009, and after a three year break, they reformed. In September 2006 they released their critically acclaimed debut Album ‘Costello Music,’ the success of the Album led to them winning the ‘Brit Award for the best Breakthrough Act’ in 2007.

‘Chelsea Dagger’ is taken from the bands debut Album’Costello Music.’ John Lawler wrote the song for his wife Heather, who worked as a burlesque dancer with the stage name ‘Chelsea Dagger,’ her stage name is a play on the name ‘Britney Spears.’ Heather performed at the ‘Club Noir’ in Glasgow, which was the biggest burlesque venue in the world, until it closed in 2017.

The song has become an anthem for sports teams all over the world, the first team to adopt it were Celtic football club, it is often played at Chelsea football club as well. The song has also been used in the North American National Hockey League, Australian Rugby League, by the Professional Darts Corporation, and many more sporting events, and teams, play the song.

‘Someone said you were asking after me, but I know you best as a blagger. I said tell me your name, is it sweet? She said, my boy it’s Dagger.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

655-Gary Shearston-I Get a Kick out of You.

1974-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 3.10. It is not uncommon for comedians to perform in a ‘deadpan’ manner, but there are also singers who do as well. What probably makes this even more striking, is the added ‘monotone’ delivery.

Gary Ghett Shearston was born on January 9th, 1939, in Inverell, New South Wales, Australia, he died on July 1st, 2013, after suffering a stroke. Shearston was at one time the best selling Folk singer in Australia, first charting in his home country in 1965, with the Number 33 single ‘Sydney Town.’ This led to him being given his own national television show called ‘Just Folk’. It was his 1974 Album ‘Dingo’ which brought him his greatest musical success, which included this song, giving him his only international hit, peaking at Number 7 in the UK, and Number 19 in Australia.After several years of touring Shearston returned to Australia in 1989, and became a priest in 1992.

‘I Get a Kick out of You’ was written by Cole Porter (1891-1964) (see also best songs 944-295 and 73) for the 1931 musical ‘Star Dust,’ but it wasn’t used, it was first introduced in the musical ‘Anything Goes,’ and sung by Ethel Merman (1908-1984) in the 1936 film version.Cole Porter’s lyrics have caused controversy over the years, the line ‘Some get a kick from cocaine,’ had to be re-written by Porter as ‘Some like the perfume in Spain,’ as the reference to drugs was not allowed by the Hollywood Films Production Code of 1934. The original lyrics also included the line ‘That’s the fair, Mrs Lindbergh goes through,’ this was changed to ‘Flying too high with some guy in the sky.’ The change was made due to the tragic kidnapping. and murder of Anne Linsbergh’s infant child in 1932.

‘I get a kick every time I see you standing there before me, I get a kick though it’s clear to see, you obviously do not adore me.’

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.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

657-Roy Orbison and the Candy Men-Oh, Pretty Woman.

1964-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.34.’MERCY!’

Roy Kelton Orbison was born on April 23rd, 1936, in Vernon, Texas, United States, he died of a heart attack on December 6th, 1988. Music critics described his music as operatic, earning him the nicknames ‘The Caruso of Rock,’ after the Italian Operatic tenor, and also ‘The Big O.’ During his career he suffered badly from stage fright, which is why he took to wearing dark sunglasses when performing, leading many initially in to thinking he was actually blind.

Orbison was first signed to the legendary ‘Sun’ record label between 1956-1959, along with other artists such as Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash, but didn’t find chart success until signing with the ‘Monument’ record label in 1960. Between 1960-1965 he achieved 18 top 40 singles on Billboard, two of which made Number 1, including this song. With musical tastes changing, his hits dried up, and it wasn’t until becoming a member of the Traveling Wilburys in 1988, that he was back in the charts again, although artists such as Don McLean (Crying,) and Linda Ronstsadt (Blue Bayou,) had hits with cover versions of his songs.

‘Oh, Pretty Woman’ was co-written by Orbison, and his long term writing partner Bill Dees (1939-2012.) It has sold in excess of 7 million copies worldwide,and after being chosen as a piece of music for the film, the producers named the 1990 movie ‘Oh Pretty Woman.’ after the song. The songs title was inspired by Orbison’s wife, Claudette, interrupting a conversation to announce she was going out. When Orbison asked if she had enough cash, Bill Dees interjected,’A pretty woman never needs any money.’ Bill Dees said,’Mercy’ was mine, I used to say that all the time, when I saw a pretty woman, or had some good food.’

‘Pretty woman I don’t believe you, you’re not the truth, no one could look as good as you. mercy.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

658-Katrina and the Waves-Walking on Sunshine.

1985-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 0.08. How would you like to own the rights to a song that earns approximately $1 million per year.

According to a former employee of ‘EMI’ records, Walking on Sunshine’ is the crown in ‘EMI”s catalogue. Between 2000-2010, it became one of the most sought after songs with advertisers willing to pay up to $250,000 a time for the privilege.

Katrina and the Waves classic line up were formed in Cambridge, England in 1982 by Katrina Leskanich (vocals,) Kimberley Rew (songwriter, and guitarist,) Vince de la Cruz (bass,) and Alex Cooper (drums.) They were active until 1999, releasing 10 studio Albums, and achieving three top 40 singles in the UK, including the 1997 Number 3 single ‘Love Shine a Light,’ which was also the Eurovision Song Contest winner for the UK in that year.

The original version of ‘Walking on Sunshine’ was one of 10 songs recorded in 1983 by the band at their own expense, to sell for promotional purposes at gigs. When they finally landed a recording contract, this song, and the other tracks were re-recorded for their first major label release, titled ‘Katrina and the Waves.’

The bands main songwriter was Kimberley Rew who was born in Bristol, England, on December 3rd, 1951. Before co-founding Katrina and the Waves he had been a member of the Rock band The Soft Boys, joining in 1979, until their break up in 1981. As well as writing this song, his other two most famous compositions are ‘Love Shine a Light,’ and ‘Going Down to Liverpool,’ which when covered by the Bangles reached Number 21 in Ireland in 1986.

Katrina Leskanich was born on April 10th, 1960, in Topeka, Kansas, United States, but moved with her family to the UK in 1976. She first started performing professionally with a pop covers band called ‘Mama’s Cookin” in 1978, with her then boyfriend Vince de la Cruz, they were joined by Kimberley Rew in 1981. Katrina has also tasted further chart success when singing backing vocals on Natalie Imbruglia’s 1997 UK Number 2 song ‘Torn,’ (see also best songs 938.)

‘I used to think maybe you loved me, now I know that it’s true, and I don’t want to spend my whole life just a-waiting for you.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

659-Laurie Anderson-O Superman.

1981-Number 2 single.Best Bit-At 2.40.If you know of a more unlikely song ever to make the UK top 40, then please let me know.

Laurie Phillips Anderson was born on June 5th, 1947, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, United States, you could call her a ‘jack of all trades,’ but you would have to add, ‘master of many.’ During her career she has always tried to push back the boundaries, in the fields of pop music, performance art, and her multimedia projects. She is also noted for inventing several devices that she has used in her recordings, in the genre of Electronic Music, including the ‘Tape-bow violin,’ the ‘Talking Stick,’ and ‘Voice Filters.’ She has released seven studio Albums between 1982-2010, and two spoken word Albums, in 1995 and 2015.She was married to the singer/songwriter Lou Reed (1942-2013) (see also best songs 58-131-165 and 401) from 2008, until his death.

‘O Superman’ remains one of the most unlikely songs to have become a hit single in the UK. It was the legendary BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel (1939-2004) who championed the song, getting it on the the Radio 1 playlist, and therefore giving the general public a chance to hear something they otherwise probably wouldn’t have.

Laurie Anderson has explained the songs meaning.’In 1979, Iranian students stormed the US Embassy in Tehran. America went blazing in with helicopters to get hostages out, but it backfired. A helicopter and a plane crashed in the desert, we were left with dead bodies, and a pile of burning debris, so I thought I’d write a song about all that, and the failings of technology.’

‘Here come the planes, they’re American planes, made in America.’