THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

397-Andy Kim-Rock Me Gently.

1974-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 2.22. Nowadays nearly every new song has a remix, but back in 1974 if you got the instrumental on the ‘B’ side, then it was a real treat.

Andy Kim was born Andrew Youakim on December 5th, 1946, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, both of his parents were Lebanese immigrants. He chose to record using the different surname in order to obscure his Lebanese ethnicity. Kim has released 10 solo studio Albums between 1968-2015, two of those Albums, one from 1980, and another from 1984, were released with Kim using the stage name of Baron Longfellow. Kim has also released 28 singles between 1963-2015, with this song remaining his only hit in the UK. In America he has had six top 40 hits on Billboard, with this song reaching Number 1. In his home country of Canada he has charted on eight occasions, with this song, and ‘Baby I Love You’ from 1969, both making Number 1.

As a teenager Kim moved to New York to pursue a career in music at the world famous ‘Brill Building,’ which was where he first met the legendary song writer Jeff Barry (see also best songs 820-331-262-192 and 127.) Together they wrote ‘Sugar Sugar’ in 1967 which when recorded by the fictional cartoon band ‘The Archies’ became the best selling single worldwide in 1969, spending four weeks at Number 1 on Billboard, and eight weeks at Number 1 in the UK, Kim also sang backing vocals on the track.

By 1974 the hits had dried up, and Kim was also without a recording contract, so in an attempt to resurrect his career he formed his own label ‘Ice Records,’ and personally financed the recording of ‘Rock Me Gently.’ After sending promos of the track to various labels, it was ‘Capital Records’ who signed him up. He recorded his self titled Album ‘Andy Kim.’ for Capital, and there were also four singles released, before Kim reverted back to his own label ‘Ice Records’ for his next release.

‘Ain’t it good, ain’t it right, that you are with me here tonight. The music playing, our bodies swayin’ in time.’