Providing Disco & Karaoke Since 19770113 266 8963 0113 266 8963

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

Posted by: In: Other 22 Apr 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

338-Little Anthony & The Imperials-Better Use Your Head.

1966-It didn’t chart in the UK until it was re-released in 1976, when reaching Number 42.

Best Bit-At 0.38. How about this for an accolade. The legendary songwriter, and producer Kenny Gamble (see also best songs 1001-896-725-648-604-571 and 322) has stated that Little Anthony & The Imperials and their music, were a major influence in the development of ‘Philadelphia Soul,’ and on artists such as the Stylistics, the Delfonics, and the Chi-Lites.

When it comes to longevity Little Anthony & The Imperials must be closing in on number one. The Imperials were officially formed in 1958 in Brooklyn, New York City, United States by Clarence Collins, Tracey Lord, Nathanial Rodgers, Ernest Wright, and Anthony Gourdine. They had previously recorded for ‘Apollo’ records as a ‘Doo-Wop’ group in 1957, with a slightly different line up. known as ‘The Chesters.’ As The Imperials success was instant, as their first single ‘Tears on My Pillow’ reached Number 4 on Billboard in America, selling over one million copies. It was the legendary DJ Alan Freed (1921-1965) who first started calling them ‘Little Anthony & The Imperials’ when playing ‘Tears on My Pillow,’ having been impressed with the falsetto vocals of lead singer Anthony Gourdine. In 1990 a cover version by Kylie Minogue in a similar style became a UK Number 1 single. Like many acts of longevity, band members have come and gone over the years, and their have been a total of 12 official group members in that time, in the current line up are the original forming members Anthony ‘Little Anthony’ Gourdine, and Ernest West. Little Anthony & The Imperials have released 12 official Albums between 1959-1975, of which two are greatest hits compilations. They have also released 48 singles between 1958-1978, with seven of them reaching the Billboard top 40, while in the UK their only charting single was their final release ‘Who’s Gonna Love Me,’ which made Number 17 in 1978.

After the success of ‘Tears on My Pillow’ the band struggled for further success, and members came and went, but by 1963 the four members which are now recognised as the classic line up were Gourdine, Wright, Collins, and Samuel Strain, who would go on to become a member of The O’Jays between 1975-1992. This was when they began working with the songwriter/producer Teddy Randazzo (1935-2003) who wrote this song. Randazzo had great success as a songwriter, writing many other songs for Little Anthony & The Imperials, including the much covered ‘Goin’ Out of My Head.’ Randazzo’s two most successful songs are ‘Yesterday Has Gone,’ a UK Number 4 hit for Cupid’s Inspiration in 1968, and ‘It’s Gonna Take a Miracle’ which when covered by Deniece Williams in 1982 reached Number 10 on Billboard, in America.

In the early 1970’s the song began to gain popularity within the Northern Soul scene,(see also best songs 969) with the track becoming a favourite in the clubs. This led to the song being reissued, and reaching Number 42 in the UK in 1976.

‘Better Use Your Head’ is the tale of a couple whose relationship is threatened when one of them is attracted to another, and may take up with that other person. The other partner is willing to give their relationship a second chance, but warns that if they stray there will be no going back.

‘You better stop and think what you’re sayin’, you’d better hold on make sure you’re sold on letting me go. Make sure you know what you wanna surpass.’