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Posted by: In: Other 11 Dec 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

470-Bread-Lost Without Your Love.

1976-Number 27 single.

Best Bit-At 1.00 As I work my way through this countdown I am beginning to see the recurring theme of ‘lovers spurned.’ The good news is that there are many more classic heart-breakers to come.

‘Bread’ were formed in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1968 by David Gates, (vocals, and guitar) Jimmy Griffin, (vocals, and guitar) (1943-2005) and Robb Royer, (bass guitar) the classic line up was completed by Mike Botts, (1944-2005) (drums) who joined in 1969, and Larry Knechtel, (keyboards) (1940-2009.) Gates explained how the groups name came about,’A bread truck came along right at the time we were trying to think of a name.’How about bush, telephone pole? Ah, bread truck.” It began with a ‘B,’ like the Beatles, and The Bee Gees. Bread also has a kind of universal appeal.It could be taken a number of ways. Of course, for the entire first year people called us the Breads.’

Bread were active between 1968-1973, with one of the main reasons for the parting of the ways being that Jimmy Griffin who wrote many of the bands songs,was having his compositions continuously overlooked for single release by the bands record label ‘Electra,’ in favour of those written by David Gates. In fact all of the bands 12 Billboard hits had been written by Gates. The group did reform in 1976 for the release of their final studio Album, and it’s accompanying tour, but once again old tensions arose. In 1996 having settled their differences the band reunited for a world tour, which extended in to 1997, the last time they would ever play together.In total Bread released six studio Albums between 1969-1977, with 12 compilations released between 1973-2017. Bread had 12 top 40 hit singles on Billboard between 1970-1976, including their 1970 Number 1 song ‘Make It With You.’

‘Lost Without Your Love’ was written and produced by David Gates, and was the title track from Bread’s sixth and final studio Album released in 1977. Although David Gates and Bread never had a UK Number 1 song, Gates has written ‘If,’ which when recorded by Telly Savalas topped the chart in 1975.In 1974 the Reggae singer Ken Boothe covered ‘Everything I Own,’ which made Number 1, and that fete was repeated by Boy George who took his version of ‘Everything I Own to the top in 1987.

‘I’m as helpless as a ship without a wind. a touch without a feel, I can’t believe it’s real, and someday soon I’ll wake and find my heart won’t have to break.’

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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

471-Paul Hardcastle-19.

1985-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.26. Paul Hardcastle’s follow up single release to ’19’ was ‘Just For Money,’ which coincidentally reached Number n-n-n-nineteen.

Paul Louis Hardcastle was born on December 10th, 1957, in Kensington, London, England. His first professional venture in the music business was as part of the duo ‘First Light,’ with the vocalist Derek Green. Playing Jazz Funk, and Electro Music they released two studio Albums in 1983 and 1984, before the duo parted ways. In 1989 Hardcastle resumed working as ‘First Light,’ this time with Kevin Henry, the results of which became the 1989 Album ‘You Had It All.’As a solo artist Hardcastle has released 16 studio Albums between 1984-2014, he has also recorded several Jazz Albums. In the UK he has achieved four top 40 singles, his 1986 Number 15 hit ‘The Wizard’ was the theme tune for the BBC music programme ‘Top of the Pops,’ between April 1986, until September 1991.

’19’ was the first single released from Paul Hardcastle’s self titled fourth studio Album from 1985. Musically the song is Electro-Pop, and was inspired by the work of the American producer Afrika Bambaataa (see also best songs 716.) Hardcastle had watched a documentary on television called ‘Vietnam Requiem’ directed by Bill Couturie, and Jonas McCord that told about post-traumatic stress disorder suffered by Vietnam veterans.The documentary said that the average age of the soldiers was nineteen, and this struck a chord with Hardcastle who immediately thought of his carefree lifestyle in comparison at that age. ’19’ samples dialogue, and sound effects from ‘Vietnam Requiem,’ and therefore Couturie, and McCord receive songwriting credits alongside Paul Hardcastle. The narration sampled from ‘Vietnam Requiem’ was voiced by the American narrator Peter Thomas (1924-2016) who received royalties from the songs release.

’19’ went on to top the charts in 13 countries, but only made Number 15 in America. In the States a song was placed on the chart not only by how many it sold, but also by how many radio stations played the track. In America many of the radio stations banned the song, claiming it sent out an anti American message, so even so it was the best selling song for three consecutive weeks, it never received it’s full recognition.

‘In 1965 Vietnam seemed like just another foreign war, but it wasn’t. It was different in many ways, as so were those who did the fighting. In World War 2 the average age of the combat soldier was 26, in Vietnam he was 19.’

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

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

472-The Libertines-Can’t Stand Me Now.

2004-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 1.43. The bands two main protagonists Carl Barat, and Pete Doherty had a turbulent relationship, they rarely saw eye to eye, and were often at loggerheads,… and they weren’t even married.

The Libertines were formed in London, England in 1997 by Carl Barat, and Pete Doherty, they are both guitarists in the band, and also share the vocals, as well as being a songwriting partnership. They remained active until 2004, before reforming in 2014, in 2010 for a brief period they reformed to play the Reading and Leeds Festivals. To date they have released three studio Albums ‘Up the Bracket’ (2002) ‘The Libertines’ (2004) and ‘Anthems for Doomed Youth (2015.) In 1998 Barat, and Doherty were joined by Johnny Borrell (bass) who was a member until 1999, and Paul Dufour was the bands drummer during 2000. The current line up consists of Barat, Doherty, Johny Hassall (bass) who joined in 1999, and Gary Powell (drums) who joined in 2001.

‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ was the first single released from The Libertines self titled second studio Album from 2004, and was co-written by Barat, Doherty, and Mark Keds, (1970-2021) this single and the parent Album were produced by Mick Jones, formally of The Clash, and Big Audio Dynamite (see also best songs 867-638 and 294,) Jones had also produced The Libertines debut Album ‘Up the Bracket.’

On ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ both Barat and Doherty share the lead vocals, taking turns singing to each other about how much they are drifting apart, even so they both still care very much for each other they know the parting of the ways is imminent. For many years, including at the time of the recording of this song Doherty had a highly publicised, and long lasting drug addiction, which was a major problem in the relationship between the pair.

The Libertines breakthrough in 2002 occurred at the same time as ‘Garage Rock’ was making a revival through the success of bands such as ‘The Strokes,’ (see also best songs 450,) and the ‘White Stripes’ (see also best songs 324.) Of The Libertines sound Pete Doherty has said,’Oasis is the sound of a council estate singing it’s heart out, and The Libertines is the sound of someone just put in the rubbish chute at the back of the estate, trying to work out what day it was.’

‘An ending fitting for the start, you twist and tore our love apart. Your light fingers threw the dark, shattered the lamp, and into darkness it cast us.’

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

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

473-John Lennon-Working Class Hero.

1970-It has never been released as a single in the UK.

Best Bit-At 0.55. Why did Lennon choose this song to use the ‘F’ word on. In 1998 Yoko Ono explained,’He told me, that’s part of being working class.It won’t be working class if what you say is all very clean and proper.’

‘Working Class Hero’ is track 4 on side 1 on ‘John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band,’ which was John Lennon’s first Album since the break up of the Beatles, (see also best songs 599-141-80-10 and 6) released on December 11th, 1970. Lennon’s detractors pointed out that he was actually raised in a upper-middle-class home by his aunt, and therefore had little understanding as to what it is to be raised working class. Lennon responded by saying,’The thing about Working Class Hero that nobody ever got right was that it was supposed to be sardonic. It had nothing to do with socialism, it had to do with, if you won’t to go through that trip, you’ll get to where I am, and this is where you’ll be.’ Lennon has also been quoted as saying,’I think it’s concept is revolutionary, and I hope it’s what ‘Give Peace A Chance’ was about, but I don’t know. On the other hand, it might just be ignored. I think it’s for the people like me who are working class, who are supposed to be processed into the middle classes. It’s a revolutionary song, not the song itself, but that it’s a song for the revolution.’

‘Working Class Hero’ was written by John Lennon (see also best songs 927-473-456-168 and 20) and solely performed by him with just his vocals, and acoustic guitar, he was also the songs co-producer along with Phil Spector, and Yoko Ono. His musical influence came from hearing the similar ‘Masters of War,’ and ‘North Country Blues,’ songs by Bob Dylan, who in turn had been influenced by the American Folk singer Jean Ritchie’s (1922-2015) arrangement of the traditional English Folk song ‘Nottamun Town.’

It has been said that Lennon obsessed about the recording of the song for many days, singing an endless amount of takes, somewhere between 100-130, getting very frustrated that it didn’t sound like what he wanted. The finished take on the Album is actually a composite of two different takes performed in two different studios, and knitted together.

‘Working Class Hero’ is a call to the everyday man to not conform to what the more privileged, and powerful tell them to do. Lennon sets himself up as an example of what can be achieved through thinking for yourself, and being a revolutionary. The line ‘If you won’t to be like the folks on the hill,’ is a reference to the Beatles ‘The Fool On the Hill.’

‘As soon as you’re born they make you feel small, by giving you no time instead of it all.’Til the pain is so big you feel nothing at all.’

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

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

474-Harry Chapin-W.O.L.D.

1973-Number 34 single.

Best Bit-At 1.21.’Oh, if a man tried to take his time on earth, and prove before he died what one man’s life could be worth, I wonder what would happen to this world.’ These are the words inscribed on Harry Chapin’s gravestone, the epitaph is taken from his 1978 song ‘I Wonder What Would Happen to This World.’

Harold Forster Chapin (see also best songs 995) was born on December 7th, 1942, in New York City, United States, he died on July 16th, 1981 en route to perform a free benefit concert at Eisenhower Park, New York, when he was fatally injured in a traffic collision with a semi-trailer truck. Chapin’s widow Sandy won a $12 million decision in a negligence lawsuit against ‘Supermarkets General,’ the owners of the truck involved. Chapin was a dedicated humanitarian who fought to end world hunger, and would regularly perform for free to raise funds, and awareness.

Harry Chapin was one of the greatest storytellers through his music, releasing 11 studio Albums between 1972-1980, there have also been a further 17 posthumous compilations released between 1985-2019. In 1972 he signed a multi million dollar recording contract when ‘Electra’ records outbid ‘Columbia’ records for his signature, a wise move as Chapin has gone on to sell in excess of 16 million records worldwide.’W.O.L.D.’ was written by Harry Chapin and was released on his third studio Album ‘Short Stories’ from 1973. The lyrics tell the story of an ageing Disc Jockey who gave up his family life to travel around America working at several different radio stations following his passion, which he believed would bring him happiness, only to discover that his life, looks, and voice have all passed him by, as hinted in ‘O.L.D.’ in the songs title.

Chapin had been doing a promotion at a radio station, when he heard a telephone conversation between one of the station’s Disc Jockeys Jim Connors (1940-1987) who was speaking with his wife. This led to Chapin and Connors having a deep discussion on and off air about all the troubles associated with being part of the music business, inspiring Chapin to write this song.

‘Sometimes I get this crazy dream that I just take off in my car, but you can travel ten thousand miles and still stay where you are.’

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

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

475-Ray Charles-What’d I Say.

1959-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 3.45.Ray Charles said ‘I’m not one to interpret my own songs,but if you can’t figure out ‘What I Say,’ then somethings wrong.Either that or you’re not accustomed to the sweet sounds of love.’

Ray Charles Robinson was born on September 23rd, 1930, in Albany, Georgia, United States, he died on June 10th, 2004, at the age of 73 from liver failure. His first record label ‘Atlantic’ released 11 Albums of his material between 1957-1961, after leaving ‘Atlantic’ and signing with ‘ABC’ records there were a further 24 Albums issued from 1960-1973. Another 23 Albums were released on various labels from 1973 to 2004, following his death a further four posthumous releases have been issued. On the Billboard singles chart he has achieved 34 top 40 entries, including three of his songs reaching Number 1, between 1957-1990.

‘What’d I Say’ is considered to be a landmark song, and key in the development of what was to become known as ‘Soul’ music. Charles mixed Gospel, and R&B, and Rock N’ Roll to create the song, he was playing live, and the band had played all of their material, but there was still 12 minutes to fill. Charles told the band to improvise, and over the course of many concerts, and due to audience appreciation, the song developed, and then it was finally recorded, it would become the song with which Charles would finish every concert for the rest of his career.

The female backing vocals on the track were provided by ‘The Raelettes’ who were an American girl group formed in 1958 to provide backing vocals for Ray Charles, they had originally been called ‘The Cookies’ when first getting together in 1954.

Ray Charles (see also best songs 185) scored his first top 10 single on Billboard with ‘What’d I Say,’ when it peaked at Number 6 in 1959. The song has reached the top 40 on three further occasions, in 1961 Jerry Lee Lewis made Number 30 with his version, in 1962 Bobby Darin took the song to Number 24, and in 1964 Elvis Presley made Number 21.

‘Hey mama don’t you treat me wrong, come and love your daddy all night long. See the girl with the diamond ring, she knows how to shake that thing.’

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

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

476-Barry White-Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up.

1974-Number 10 single.

Best Bit-At 0.45. In a recent survey it was revealed that many of the babies born between 1973-1983 were conceived while their parents were listening to Barry White songs. Even so I made that up, it could still be true.

Barry White was born Barry Eugene Carter on September 12th, 1944, in Galverston, Texas, United States,he was obese for the majority of his adult life, and suffered from related health problems.While undergoing dialysis, and awaiting a kidney transplant in 2003, he suffered a severe stroke, he died on July 4th, 2003, at the age of 58. Between 1973-1999 White released 20 studio Albums, with his third release ‘Can’t Get Enough’ reaching Number 1 on Billboard in 1974. Also in America he achieved 12 top 40 singles, with ‘Can’t Get Enough of Your Love Babe’ making Number 1 on Billboard in 1974, while in the UK he had 17 top 40 hits, with ‘You’re the First, the Last, My Everything’ achieving Number 1 status (see also best songs 560 and 153.)

‘Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up’ was taken from Barry White’s second studio Album ‘Stone Gon” from 1973, and was written, produced and performed by White, with the songs arrangement being by White, and Gene Page (1939-1998.) In 1997 British singer Lisa Stansfield covered the song, taking her version to Number 25 in the UK. In 1992 Barry White had teamed up with Stansfield to record a duet version of her most successful song ‘All Around the World,’ for the ‘B’ side of her single ‘Time To Make You Mine,’ with all of the artists royalties being donated to the charity ‘Trading Places,’ the song reached Number 14 in the UK. They teamed up again in 1999 to record ‘The Longer We Make Love,’ for White’s Album ‘Staying Power.’

‘Cause I found what the world is searching for.Here, right here, my dear, I don’t have to look no more.’

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

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

477-Jay-Z and Kanye West-N….s in Paris.

2012-Number 10 single.

Best Bit-At 2.43. The song received it’s title, as it was recorded at ‘Le Meurice,’ which is a hotel in Paris. If you want to stay for a night, that will set you back $3,200.

Jay-Z (see also best songs 636 and 23) and Kanye West (see also best songs 1049-849-636 and 267) had already collaborated on many occasions prior to 2011, and the idea was to record enough material for a five track EP, but things went so well that it ended up as a 12 track Album called ‘Watch the Throne,’ with seven of the songs, all with video’s being released as singles.

‘N….s in Paris’ is credited to five writers, including Jay-Z, Kanye West, and also the songs co-producer ‘Hit-Boy,’ whose real name is Chauncey Hollis, who provided the songs beat. Kanye West has said that he was inspired to write the song after a previous visit to Paris.’ I am where art meets commercial, the sweet spot between the hood and Hollywood. When we’re in Paris dressing all crazy at fashion shows, we listening to Jay-Z in Paris, that’s what it is.’

The song makes use of musical, and vocal samples, including ‘Dirty Bangaz’ by ‘Big Fish Audio’. also sampled is the 1959 ‘Baptizing Scene’ by Reverend W.A. Donaldson, and Jay-Z raps the line ‘Jackson, Tyson, Jordan,’ which is lifted from the 1998 song ‘Victory,’ performed by Puff Daddy, The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes. At the start of the song you hear the line ‘We’re gonna skate to one song, and one song only,’ this is the voice of the actor Will Ferrell, sampled from the 2007 film ‘Blades of Glory.’Ferrell has said,’I was completely flattered when they asked if they could sample me into the song, and when I heard it for the first time, I just started to laugh because it felt so surreal, but I really did like the song.

‘On the surface ‘N….s in Paris’ appears to contain the usual amount of bragging that can be heard on many a Rap record, but if you dig a little deeper, you realise that all the bravado is just a safety mechanism, as the two rappers try to come to terms with dealing with all of the trappings of fame, and wealth. The Album’s title ‘Watch the Throne’ could be their way of telling us that while they are at the top of the Rap game, the next generation are waiting in the wings, just waiting for the chance to take their crown.

‘Doctor’s say I’m the illest,’cause I’m suffering from realness. Got my N….s in Paris, and they going gorillas.I don’t know what that means (no one knows what it means, but it’s provocative.’)

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

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

478-Symarip-Skinhead Moonstomp.

1969-It didn’t chart in the UK until it was reissued in 1980, when reaching Number 54.

Best Bit-At 1.58. Light years before the far more difficult to perform the ‘Moonwalk,’ came the ‘Moonstomp.

‘Symarip were formed in the late 1960’s by Frank Pitter (drums,) and Michael Thomas (bass guitar,) originally calling themselves ‘The Bees.’ Throughout their career they used other stage names including ‘Seven Letters,’ ‘Zubaba,’ and ‘The Pyramids,’ but eventually settled on ‘Symarip,’ which is an approximate reversal of the word pyramids. The other three band members were Josh Roberts (guitar) Roy Ellis (vocals, and trombone) and Monty Neysmith (keyboards,) the band were active between 1969-1985, with Thomas, and Neysmith, plus other new members reforming in 2008 to tour.The original line up of Symarip were of West Indian decent, and were heavily influenced by the ‘Ska,’ ‘Reggae,’ and ‘Rock Steady’ music coming out of Jamaica in the mid to late 1960’s.

In 1969 the Jamaican Reggae artist Derrick Morgan wrote, and recorded ‘Moon Hop,’ which reached Number 49 in the UK. The song was written to commemorate the July 20th, 1969 moon landings, Symarip’s very similar sounding ‘Skinhead Moonstomp’ soon followed. Symarip denied accusations of plagiarism, saying there was no relation between the two songs, but Derrick Morgan disagreed, calling them ‘Copy cats.’At the start of ‘Skinhead Moonstomp’ you hear the lyrics ‘I want all you skinheads to get up on your feet, put your braces together, and your boots on your feet, this introduction was heavily influenced by the ‘Sam & Dave’ song, ‘I Thank You,’ from 1968.

In 1980 in the wake of the ‘Second coming of Ska,’ and the forming of ‘2 Tone Records,’ Skinhead Moonstomp was reissued, and charted for the first time in the UK, when reaching Number 54. Other notable versions recorded include The Specials from their 1980 ‘The Special A.K.A. Live! EP, which also included their UK Number 1 song ‘Too Much Too Young,’ (see also best songs 924) and also a version by the late great Judge Dread.

‘Now I want all you fellas to gather around me, and we’re gonna start stomping. Ready? Here we go, one time.’

Posted by: In: Other 02 Dec 2021 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

479-Def Leppard-Animal.

1987-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 3.54. The band play a very well deserved encore.

Def Leppard were formed in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, in 1977, originally calling themselves ‘Atomic Mass’, they remain active, with the founding members Rick Savage, and Joe Elliott being the bands two constants.It was the groups lead singer Joe Elliott who suggested the bands name ‘Deaf Leopard,’ which was modified to ‘Def Leppard’ by Tony Kenning, who was a band member in the original line up, and stayed with the group until 1978.The other founding member was Peter Willis, who remained with the band until 1982, and was then replaced by Phil Collen. Rick Allen joined as the drummer in 1978, the same year as Steve Clark (1960-1991) joined as a guitarist, after Clark’s death, Vivian Campell became his replacement. Def Leppard are one of the worlds best selling artists, with sales in excess of 100 million records. Two of their studio Albums ‘Pyromania’ from 1983, and ‘Hysteria’ from 1987, have sold over 10 million copies each in America.In total Def Leppard have recorded 11 studio Albums to date between 1980-2015. In the UK they have achieved 19 top 40 singles, while in America on Billboard, they have had 14, with ‘Love Bites’ reaching Number 1 in 1988.

‘Animal’ was the second single released from Def Leppard’s fourth studio Album ‘Hysteria’ from 1987, and has song writing credits attributed to Elliott, Collen, Clark, and Savage, along with the songs producer Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange. Prior to the release of ‘Hysteria,’ Def Leppard had become superstars in America, due to the success of their previous Album ‘Pyromania,’ although they had a following in the UK, it wasn’t until ‘Animal’ and the more commercial ‘Pop/Rock’ production on Hysteria’ which brought them success in Europe. Paul Collen the bands guitarist had written the original demo for ‘Animal,’ and he has credited Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange (see also best songs 632-314 and 170) for the songs success, saying it was Lange’s painstaking work on the songs production that took it to the next level.

‘Animal’ is a song about lusting after another,the narrator compares himself to an animal who is stalking his prey.The line,’Like the restless rust, I never sleep,’ is a reference to Neil Young’s 1979 live Album ‘Rust Never Sleeps’ (see also best songs 602.)

‘A wild ride over stony ground, such a lust for life, the circus comes to town.We are the hungry ones, on a lightning raid, just like a river runs, like a fire needs a flame, I burn for you.’