THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

409-Clifford T. Ward-Gaye.

1973-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 1.13. Before the hits Ward was a school teacher, his pupils included the actress and future wife of Sting, Trudie Styler, and the co-founding member of Underworld, Karl Hyde (see also best songs 989.)

Clifford Thomas Ward was born on February 10th, 1944, in Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestshire, England. In 1987 Ward was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and in November 2001 he contracted pneumonia, and died in Tenbury Community Hospital on December 18th, 2001, at the age of 57. Ward’s first venture in to music was when forming a ‘Beat Band,’ called Cliff Ward and the Cruisers, which won the 1963 Midland Band of the year contest in Birmingham. The group would go through many name changes including ‘Martin Raynor and The Secrets,’ and ‘Simon’s Secrets,’ touring around Britain, and France, and releasing six singles, with little impact, the majority, including the ‘B’ sides being written by Ward.

Because of the failure to get a hit single, Gaye enrolled at teacher training college, and subsequently became a high school teacher. He continued to write, and after coming to the attention of the legendary Disc Jockey John Peel (1939-2004) (see also best songs 435) he signed with Peel’s record label ‘Dandelion Records,’ and released his first solo Album ‘Singer Songwriter,’ in 1972. Shortly after the Album’s release Dandelion Records went in to liquidation, but with Ward’s profile now higher, he was snapped up by ‘Charisma Records,’ where he recorded his second solo studio Album ‘Home Thoughts’ in 1973, from where ‘Gaye’ was released as a single. In total Ward released 15 Albums between 1972-2000, there have been a further 10 posthumous Album releases to date.

‘Gaye’ was the breakthrough hit for Clifford T. Ward, reaching Number 8 in the UK top 40 in 1973, his only other charting single was in January 1974 when ‘Scullery’ from his third Album ‘Mantle Pieces’ made Number 37. Ward was a family man, who preferred to be at home with his wife and children rather than spend weeks away on tour promoting his music, he was also a shy and private person, with a reluctance to perform live. Clive Selwood who was Ward’s manager in the early 1970’s said,’Clifford should have been a major star, he had hits, but he simply wouldn’t perform publicly.’

‘You’re the tray of nice things I upset yesterday. The display of bright rings I let slip away.’