THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

365-Diana Ross-I’m Still Waiting.

1971-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.45. I suppose the moral of the story is, if you’re a five year old girl, don’t fall in love with a 10 year old boy, because it will mess the rest of your life up.

‘I’m Still Waiting’ was released as the first single from Diana Ross’ second solo studio Album ‘Everything Is Everything’ from November 1970. The Album was rush released in order to keep up the momentum of promoting Diana Ross as a solo artist after the success of her debut release ‘Diana Ross’ less than five months earlier (see also best songs 900-519-183 and 28.)

‘I’m Still Waiting’ was initially not intended for single release, but after the British DJ Tony Blackburn promised ‘EMI’ (the label distributor of all Motown songs at that time) that he would play the track every morning on his BBC Radio 1 radio programme, they were persuaded. Blackburn was proved right as ‘I’m Still Waiting’ went on to spend four weeks at Number 1, becoming the best selling Motown song in the UK up to that time. In 1978 The Commodores with the Lionel Richie penned ‘Three Times a Lady’ which spent five weeks at Number 1, surpassed ‘I’m Still Waiting’ for sales, becoming Motown’s best selling single in the UK. ‘I’m Still Waiting’ didn’t meet with the same success in the States, where it stalled a Number 63 on Billboard.

‘I’m Still Waiting’ was written and produced by Deke Richards, who was born Dennis Lussier on April 8th, 1944, in Los Angeles, California, United States, he died of esophageal cancer on March 24th, 2013, at the age of 68. When the star Motown writing team of ‘Holland Dozier Holland left the label in 1967 Richards was one of the songwriters brought in by Berry Gordy to replace them, initially working with Frank Wilson, (1940-2012) R Dean Taylor, and Pam Sawyer as ‘The Clan,’ they worked together until 1969. In that time they were responsible for the two Diana Ross and the Supremes Billboard Number 1 singles ‘Love Child,’ and ‘I’m Living in Shame,’ (see also best songs 1001-411-212 and 148.)

After ‘The Clan’ disbanded Richards stayed on at Motown, charged with writing and producing for the labels next big stars,’The Jackson 5.’ The new team of songwriters which Richards joined were known as ‘The Corporation’ which also included Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren (1943-2004) and Alphonso Mizell (1943-2011.) They guided The Jackson 5′ to early success with the songs ‘I Want You Back,’ ‘ABC,’ and ‘The Love You Save,’ (see also best songs 249 and 137) ‘The Corporation’ disbanded in 1972.

In 1990 ‘I’m Still Waiting was remixed by ‘DJ Phil Chill’ as an uptempo ‘Dance’ track, and released as a single, reaching Number 21 in the UK chart.

‘Love has never shown his face since the day you walked out that door. You filled my life with empty space, come back can’t you see it’s you I’m waiting for.’