THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

429-Edwin Starr-Contact.

1979-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 4.04. ‘Oi! Mush, what’d yu’ think yur lookin’ at!’

Edwin Starr was born Charles Edwin Hatcher on January 21st, 1942 in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, he died of a heart attack at the age of 61, in Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, England. Edwin Starr’s professional music career began in Detroit, Michigan, in 1957 when he formed a Doo-Wop group called the ‘Future Tones,’ As a solo artist in the early 1960’s he signed with the small independent record label ‘Ric-Tic’ records. The owner of ‘Motown’ records Berry Gordy, who didn’t want competition bought ‘Ric-Tic’ records, and took the labels artists, one of whom was Starr, to record for him, on Motown, and it’s subsidiary’s. Edwin Starr’s biggest success while at Motown was with the Norman Whitfield (see also best songs 911-777-569-533-480-346 and 233) produced anti war song ‘War,’ which spent three weeks at Number 1 on Billboard in 1970.

By 1978 ‘Disco Music’ was at it’s peak and it appeared that everyone was jumping on the bandwagon. Edwin Starr was now signed with ’20th Century’ records, and recorded the Album ‘Clean’ which contains other Disco influenced songs as well as ‘Contact,’ but also sees Starr perform ‘R&B,’ and ballads. ‘Contact’ was co-written by Starr, along with Robert Dickerson, and Arthur Pullam, and was produced by Starr. Although the 12 inch single had already been around for a number of years by 1979, it was still unusual for them to sell in any great number, and ‘Contact’ was one of the first big sellers (many on coloured vinyl) to sell in excess of 100,000 copies in the UK.

Edwin Starr uprooted and came to live in England in 1983, and would stay until his death. In total he recorded 14 studio Albums between 1968-1991. Four of his singles made the Billboard singles chart in America, and eight have charted in the UK top 40. Starr was a very popular performer in the UK, especially on the Northern Soul circuit, where many of his early recordings on ‘Ric-Tic’ records, and Motown, have become sought-after Northern Soul classics.

‘Across the crowded disco room, through a maze of dancing people, she sits so quiet and all alone wanting to get the disco fever.’