THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

310-Al Jolson-After You’ve Gone.

1949-Has never charted in the UK, there was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 2.05. Before Elvis, and before the Rock N’ Roll era, this man was known as ‘The World’s Greatest Entertainer.’

Al Jolsen was born Asa Yoelson on May 26th, 1886, in Seredzus, Kovno Governorate, Russian Empire, he died of a massive heart attack on October 23rd, 1950, at the age of 64, his last words were ‘Oh…oh, I’m going.’ Al Jolson was the highest paid artist of the 1920’s, with more recent critics referring to him as ‘The King of Blackface.’ Blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used by performers of non-African descent to portray a caricature of a dark skinned person of African descent. In America the practice gained popularity during the 19th Century, and contributed to the spread of racial stereotypes. By the middle of the 19th Century ‘blackface minstrel shows’ had become very popular, and by the early part of the 20th Century this had spread to the stage all over America, becoming part of everyday entertainment. In the 1940’s it’s popularity began to decline, and by the time of the ‘Civil Rights Movement’ in the 1950’s and 1960’s, it was considered highly offensive, and disrespectful, and by the 21st Century it is considered racist as well.

As well as being a recording artist, and a performer in the theatre, Al Jolson was also an actor and singer in the movies. His second film appearance was in 1927 in the groundbreaking ‘The Jazz Singer,’ the first feature length motion picture with both a synchronised recorded music score, as well as lip-synchronous singing and speech. The release of ‘The Jazz Singer’ marked the end of the silent movie era, and the ascendance of ‘sound films.’ Al Jolson certainly left his mark on future generations of performers, with many as diverse as Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond, David Lee Roth, Bing Crosby, and Jerry Lee Lewis having all been quoted praising his talents, and significant influence.

‘After You’ve Gone’ was co-written in 1918 by Turner Leyton (1894-1978) who wrote the music, and Henry Creamer (1879-1930) who provided the lyrics. Of the other songs that they collaborated on, perhaps the best remembered is ‘Way Down Yonder in New Orleans,’ a song they wrote in 1922, which would become a million seller in the Rock N’ Roll era when recorded by Freddie Cannon in 1959. ‘After You’ve Gone’ was first recorded by Marion Harris (1896-1944) in 1918, Harris is best remembered as the first widely known white singer to sing Jazz, and Blues songs. In the following decades the song has been recorded dozens of times, by many of the worlds top artists.

‘After You’ve Gone’ is a warning from a lover spurned. He tells her that if she goes he will be heartbroken, and although she doesn’t realise it yet, in time her heart will also be broken because of what she is doing, the way his is now.

‘There’ll come a time, now don’t forget it, they’ll come a time, when you’ll regret it. But baby think what your doin,’ I’m gonna haunt you so, I’m gonna taunt you so, it’s gonna drive you to ruin.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

311-Sean Paul-Get Busy.

2003-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 0.01. This guy has more words than the Oxford Dictionary of English.

Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques was born on January 9th, 1973, in Kingston, Jamaica, he is Jamaica’s most successful musical export of the 21st Century, and this was recognised in 2019 when he received the Jamaican ‘Order of Distinction’, Commander class, for his contribution to the global popularity and promotion of Reggae music. Sean Paul had been recommended to the manager and music producer Jeremy Harding after being seen singing at an open mic night in Kingston. Harding took Paul under his wing, which led to an association between the two of them from 1997-2011.

Sean Paul has to date released seven studio Albums between 2000-2021, and 53 singles as the lead artist. He has also appeared on a further 37 singles as a featured artist, and appeared on 51 tracks as a guest artist on several different artists Albums. He has appeared on 19 UK top singles, four of which have reached Number 1. In America on Billboard he has appeared on 13 top 40 hits, with four of them making the top spot.

‘Get Busy’ was co-written by Sean Paul, and Steven ‘Lenky’ Marsden who was also the songs producer. The song was taken from Paul’s second studio Album ‘Dutty Rock’ from 2002, which also included Paul’s duet with Beyonce ‘Baby Boy,’ both that song and ‘Get Busy’ reached the Number 1 spot on Billboard. The music, or ‘riddim’ as it is called in Jamaica was written by Marsden who produced an Album with 17 various artists in 2002 using the same riddim, with the songs appearing on the ‘Greensleeves Rhythm Album #27.’ Other well known songs that have used the same riddim include ‘Pon de Replay,’ by Rihanna, and ‘No Letting Go,’ from Wayne Wonder.

‘Get Busy’ became the first song of the ‘Dancehall’ genre to become a Billboard Number 1 single. Dancehall takes it’s name from the Jamaican dance halls which first became popular in the 1940’s, they were places where people would go to listen to music on sound systems. ‘Dancehall’ is a sub genre of Reggae, incorporating new digital instrumentation and electronic instruments developed in the 1980’s. The lyrics are often spoken in ‘Jamaican Patois,’ which is spoken by the majority of Jamaican’s as a native language.

The lyrics to ‘Get Busy’ don’t appear to break any new ground. Basically Sean Paul get the ladies excited with his riddim, and the ladies get Sean Paul excited with their dance moves.

‘Yo sexy ladies want par wid us inna di car wid us. Inna di club dem wah flex wid us, to get next to us.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

312-Cameo-Word Up!

1986-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 1.14. When Larry Blackmon sang about ‘Sucker DJ’s’ he was actually referring to the ‘Old School Rappers’ of the early 1980’s who would Rap about the negative rather than the positive, thankfully he wasn’t singing about you (if you’re a DJ) or me.

Cameo were formed in New York City, United States, in 1974 by Larry Blackmon, the original line up consisted of 14 members. Initially they were called ‘The New York City Players’ but in order to avoid any confusion with the ‘Ohio Players’ (see also best songs 506) they changed the bands name to Cameo. They were active until 2001, but reformed as a four piece in 2016, and remain active at the time of writing, in total there have been 32 different members come and go. Cameo have released 17 studio Albums between 1977-2000, and 44 singles between 1975-2019. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, three of their singles have reached the top 40, while in the UK eight of their singles have charted.

Larry Blackmon was born on May 24th, 1956, in New York City, United States. He started his music career as a session drummer, he played on some of the tracks recorded by the American R&B group ‘Black Ivory’ whose songs have been extensively sampled by the Hip-Hop community. Prior to forming Cameo, Blackmon was a member of a band called ‘East Coast’ which included six future members of Cameo, as well as the singer Gwen Guthrie (1950-1999) who would go on to have four UK top 40 singles in the 1980’s, including the 1986 Number 5 single ‘Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ on But the Rent,’ as East Coast’ the septet released one self titled Album in 1973. Larry Blackmon is known for his unique vocal style, including his signature ‘Ow!’ which has been used in many Cameo songs. He is also known for his elaborate ‘Hi-top fade’ haircut, and a daring ‘Codpiece’ over his trousers, which was made famous in this songs official video.

‘Word Up!’ was taken from Cameo’s 12th studio Album of the same name, and was released in 1986, it represented the group’s most successful period, as the Album also contained the bands other best known song ‘Candy.’ Both of those songs were co-written by Larry Blackmon, and fellow band member Tomi Jenkins, the songs were produced by Blackmon. ‘Word Up’ was a slang term used in 1980’s New York, and other U.S. areas, it was a cooler way of saying ‘I agree,’ or ‘You bet.’ Larry Blackmon developed a character around the saying and wrote lyrics about what he would say. Blackmon called the character ‘Vicious’ and had him tell all the ‘negative’, Rappers that they should be creating music you can dance to.

‘Word Up’ has charted on three other occasions in the UK. In 1994 the Scottish Rock group ‘Gun’ took their version to Number 8, while in 1999 ex Spice Girl Mel B took her recording to Number 13, and in 2014 the girl group ‘Little Mix’ recorded the song for ‘Sport Relief,’ and their version made Number 6.

‘Now all you sucker DJ’s who think you’re fly, there’s got to be a reason and we know the reason why, and act real cool, but you got to realise that your acting like fools.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

313-The Moody Blues-Nights in White Satin.

1967-Number 19 single. The song was re-issued in 1972, this time peaking at Number 9. The song was re-released for a third time in 1979, and this time reached Number 14.

Best Bit-At 5.51. Like many a great song the lyrics are vague and open to interpretation, but it is probably not about a very comfortable pair of pyjamas.

The Moody Blues were formed in Erdington, Birmingham, England, in 1964, the original line up were Graeme Edge (1941-2021) (drums) Denny Laine, (guitar) Mike Pinder, (keyboards) Ray Thomas, (1941-2018) (flute and harmonica) and Clint Warwick, (1940-2004) (bass) all five members also provided vocals. The Moody Blues first found success with the release of their second single ‘Go Now’ in 1964, it was a cover of an R&B track first recorded by the American artist Bessie Banks earlier in the same year. The lead vocals were provided by Denny Laine (see also best songs 646 and 107) who would stay wit the band until 1966, that year also saw the departure of Clint Warwick, and the arrival of their replacements Justin Hayward, and John Lodge. It was Mike Pinder who chose the bands name, as they played a mixture of R&B and the ‘Blues,’ Pinder has said he was interested in how music changes people’s moods. The Moody Blues were active until going on hiatus in 1974, but they reformed in 1977, until the band were retired in 2018, in total their have been nine members, with Graeme Edge being the bands one constant. They released 16 studio Albums between 1965-2003, and 36 singles, of which 10 reached the UK top 40, and 13 made the Billboard top 40, with this song being their most successful making Number 2.

‘Nights in White Satin’ was written by Justin Hayward, and first appeared on The Moody Blues second studio Album ‘Days of Future Passed’ from 1967. In it’s original form it was the middle segment of three pieces of music, part one is ‘The Night’ written by Hayward and Pete Knight, (1917-1985) and part three ‘Late Lament/Resolvement’ was written by Edge and Knight. The arrival of Justin Hayward and John Lodge marked a significant shift in the type of music The Moody Blues recorded. The original line up had started out playing mainly covers of R&B songs, but Hayward in particular changed their sound by introducing Art/Progressive/Psychedelic, and Symphonic Rock. ‘Days of Future Passed’ is considered to be a ground breaking recording, and one of the first examples of what would become known as Progressive Rock.

Justin David Hayward was born on October 14th, 1946, in Swindon, Wiltshire, England, he was 19 years old when he wrote ‘Nights in White Satin.’ Hayward has said,’It was a series of random thoughts and was quite autobiographical. It was a very emotional time as I was at the end of one big love affair, and the start of another, a lot of that came out in the song.’

‘Nights in white satin never reaching the end, letters I’ve written never meaning to send. Beauty I’d always missed with these eyes before, just what the truth is I can’t say anymore.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

314-Shania Twain-When.

1998-Number 18 single.

Best Bit-At 0.50. Stand by for some surprises. With sales of over 100 million records Shania Twain is the best selling female Country Music artist of all time. Her Album ‘Come On Over’ which has sold 40 million copies worldwide isn’t just the best selling Country Music Album ever, it is also the best selling Album ever by a Canadian artist, and to top it all off the Album is also the best selling solo studio Album ever by a female artist, that’s why she’s called the ‘Queen of Country Pop.’

Shania Twain was born Eilleen Regina Edwards on August 28th, 1965, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Her parents divorced when she was two years old, and when her mother married again she legally took her step fathers surname. Twain’s step father was ‘Ojibwe’ who are one of the largest tribal populations among Native American peoples, and in the ‘Ojibwe’ language the word ‘Shania’ roughly translates to ‘she’s on the way.’

The family were poor and in order to earn some money Twain began singing in bars at the age of eight, sometimes working until 1.0.am, she has said,’I hated going in to bars and being with drunks.’ In 1993 Twain sent demo tapes to a few record labels, and was signed by ‘Mercury Nashville Records’, which was when she changed her name to Shania. Although her self titled debut Album was not a commercial success, it was critically praised, and came to the attention of the music producer Robert ‘Mutt’ Lange who offered to produce and write songs with her. After many telephone conversations they finally met in Nashville where they became close, and were married six months later in December 1993.

Robert John Lange was born on November 11th, 1948, in Mufulira, Northern Rhodesia, Africa, he acquired the nickname ‘Mutt’ at an early age. Lange (see also best songs 632 and 479) began as a producer in 1976, with early success coming when in 1978 he wrote and produced the Ipswich Town Football Club’s FA Cup final single ‘Ipswich Get That Goal.’ Lange has written and produced for dozens of artists, with highlights including producing AC/DC’s 1980 Album ‘Back in Black’ which is the second best selling Album worldwide of all time, and co-writing and producing ‘(Everything I Do) I Do It For You’ for Bryan Adams, which holds the record for the longest number of consecutive weeks at Number 1 in the UK, which is 16. Lange and Shania Twain were divorced in 2010, they have one son who was born in 2001.

‘When’ was the fifth single released in the summer of 1998 from Shania Twain’s third studio Album ‘Come On Over’ from 1997, it was never released as a single in America. In total 12 of the 16 tracks were released as singles, with ‘That Don’t Impress Me Much’ and ‘Man I Feel Like A Woman’ both reaching Number 3 in the UK, and ‘That Don’t Impress Me Much’ being the most successful on Billboard when making Number 7.

‘When’ is a song about a break up. The narrator regrets the parting, and in a humorous manner states things that are impossible to happen as having the same chance as her getting back with her lover.

‘I’d love to wake up smiling full of the joys of spring, and hear on CNN that Elvis lives again, and that John’s back with the Beatles and they’re going out on tour.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

315-Dinah Washington-What a Diff’rence a Day Makes,

1959-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 0.15. The legendary Quincy Jones (see also best songs 1022-889-812-703-511-357 and 191) said of Dinah Washington,’She had a voice that was like the pipes of life. She could take the melody in her hand, hold it like an egg, crack it open, fry it, put the egg back in the box and back in the refrigerator and you would’ve still understood every single syllable of every single word she sang.’

Dinah Washington was born Ruth Lee Jones on August 29th, 1929, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States, she is remembered as the most popular black female singer of the 1950’s, and helps to link the bridge between Bessie Smith (see also best songs 345) Billie Holiday (see also best songs 624) and Aretha Franklin (see also best songs 644 and 366.) Washington’s breakthrough came in 1942 when she was spotted by the Jazz artist manager Joe Glazer (1896-1969) performing at the ‘Garrick Bar’ in Chicago, on Glazer’s recommendation she joined Lionel Hampton’s (1908-2002) band. It was either Glazer or Joe Sherman, who owned the Garrick Bar, who gave Jones her stage name, no one is quite sure.

During her short but full life Dinah Washington released 30 Albums between 1947-1963, a further five official compilations have been issued since her death. She released 68 singles between 1944-1964, with 47 of them reaching the United States R&B chart, and 11 of them also charting on the Billboard top 40 singles chart. In the UK her only charting single was ‘September in the Rain’ which made Number 36 in 1961. Dinah Washington was married at least six times, and had suffered insomnia, and weight problems for much of her life. She died on December 14th, 1963, at the age of 39 from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs for insomnia, and her diet, which had caused a fatal heart attack.

‘What a Diff’rence a Day Makes’ was originally written in Spanish by Maria Grever in 1934. The song was called ‘Cuando vyelva a tu lado’ (‘When I Return to Your Side.’) The English lyrics were written by the American songwriter Stanley Adams, (1907-1994) with the first English version recorded by the ‘Dorsey Brothers’ in 1934. Maria Grever was born on September 14th, 1885, in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico, she died after a prolonged illness in New York City, at the age of 66. Grever was the first female Mexican composer to achieve international acclaim, writing over 1000 songs.

‘What a Diff’rence a Day Makes’ gave Dinah Washington her first top 10 hit on Billboard when reaching Number 8 in 1959. The song has been covered on countless occasions by many of the worlds top artists, with the most successful in the UK being a ‘Disco’ version recorded by Esther Phillips (1935-1984) in 1975, reaching Number 6, her version also peaked at Number 20 on the Billboard singles chart.

‘There’s a rainbow before me, skies above can’t be stormy since that moment of bliss, that thrilling kiss. It’s heaven when you find romance on your menu, what a difference a day made, and the difference is you.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

316-Roxy Music-Street Life.

1973-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 0.24. The bands name was partly an homage to the titles of old cinemas, and dance halls, and partly a pun on the word rock. Bryan Ferry had named the band ‘Roxy’ originally, but after learning of an American group with the same name he changed it to Roxy Music (see also best songs 721 and 57.)

Bryan Ferry CBE was born on September 26th, 1945, in Washington, County Durham, England, like his contemporary David Bowie he influenced a generation with both his music, and his appearance. In November 1970 Ferry formed Roxy Music along with the bass player Graham Simpson, (1943-2012) whom he knew from Newcastle Art College. Ferry then advertised for other potential band members, leading to Andy Mackay, (saxophone) and on Mackay’s recommendation, Brian Eno, (synthesizer) joining the group. The classic line up was completed by Paul Thompson (drums) in 1971, and Phil Manzanera (lead guitar) in 1972, Brian Eno left the group in 1973, and was replaced by Eddie Jobson (keyboards, synthesizers, and electric violin.) Roxy Music were active until 1976 when they went on hiatus, they reformed in 1978, and stayed together until 1983. The band reformed without Brian Eno to tour on and off between 2000-2011, their final appearance together was on March 29th, 2019, when they performed six songs at their induction to the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’ at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

‘Street Life’ was the opening track, and the only single released from Roxy Music’s third studio Album ‘Stranded’ from 1973, it was the bands first Album without Brian Eno, and their first with new member Eddie Jobson, the song was written by Bryan Ferry, and produced by Chris Thomas who also played bass on the track. Thomas who was born on January 13th, 1947, in Perivale, Middlesex, United Kingdom, is one of Pop Music’s most influential producers. Prior to working with Roxy Music he had produced (without credit) the Beatles songs ‘Happiness Is a Warm Gun,’ and ‘Birthday,’ he also produced Bryan Ferry’s ‘Let’s Stick Together’ (see also best songs 721.) The other songs he produced that appear in this countdown are by the Sex Pistols, (see also best songs 576-92 and 27) and Pulp (see also best songs 285.)

By 1973 Bryan Ferry had become a prolific songwriter, ‘Stranded’ was Roxy Music’s third studio Album in 18 months, and on top of that Ferry had also just released his first solo Album ‘These Foolish Things.’ ‘Street Life’ is about the pressures success can bring, it is about being hounded by ‘fans’ and the gutter press.

‘Wish everybody would leave me alone, yeah, they’re always calling on my telephone. When I pick it up there’s no one there, so I walk outside just to take the air.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

317-Justin Timberlake-Can’t Stop the Feeling!

2016-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 0.59. You may not be familiar with this songs co-writer Max Martin, but after Lennon and McCartney he has written the most Billboard Number 1 singles.

‘Can’t Stop the Feeling!’ was co-written by Max Martin, Shellback, and this songs vocalist Justin Timberlake especially for the DreamWorks Animation film ‘Trolls,’ for which Timberlake was the executive producer of the soundtrack, and also voiced the character ‘Branch’.

Justin Randall Timberlake was born on January 31st, 1981, in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, he is one of the worlds best selling artists, with sales in excess of 88 million. As a child he was a regular in the American television show ‘The All-New Micky Mouse Club,’ before going on to be one of the two lead singers, and youngest member in the 1990’s boy band ‘NSYNC,’ where he first worked with this songs co-writer Max Martin. Timberlake started his solo career in 2002, and has to date released five studio Albums between 2002-2018, and 40 singles, of which 27 have made the Billboard top 40, and five have reached Number 1. In the UK, 25 of his singles have reached the top 40, with four making the Number 1 spot. Justin Timberlake is also an actor, and has to date appeared in 22 films since his debut in ‘Model Behavior’ in 2000.

Max Martin was born Karl Martin Sandberg on February 26th, 1971, in Stockholm, Sweden, unsurprisingly he credits fellow Stockholm band ‘ABBA’ as a major influence (see also best songs 44.) After failing as a singer to make the big breakthrough in the 1980’s, he was employed as a songwriter, and music producer by Denniz PoP (1963-1998) for his record label ‘Cheiron Records,’ it was PoP who gave Max Martin his working name. Max Martin has written, or co-written 25 Billboard Number 1 songs between 1998-2021, with the first being Britney Spears breakthrough hit ‘Baby One More Time,’ (see also best songs 870 and 824.)

The songs other co-writer is Karl Johan Schuster who was born on February 1st, 1985, in Karishamn, Sweden, he is better known by his working name ‘Shellback.’ Having first being introduced to Max Martin at the age of 16, he has become his regular collaborator. Initially ‘Shellback’ had no interest in ‘Pop Music,’ preferring ‘Death Metal,’ the Swedish music magazine ‘Stim-magasinet’ described Shellback’s taste in music as ‘Too cool for school,’ but Martin saw potential in him. Shellback has either written or produced 10 Billboard Number 1 singles to date including ‘Moves Like Jagger’ the 2011 song from Maroon 5, which is currently the best selling song ever in the UK to have not reached Number 1 (see also best songs 373.)

‘Can’t Stop the Feeling!’ was written as a modern day ‘Disco’ song. The narrator tells of the enjoyment he gets while dancing with his partner, whom he obviously finds very attractive. The song was the best selling song of 2016, and has to date sold around 3.5 million copies in America. In the UK, although the song only peaked at Number 2, with sales in excess of one million, it is Justin Timberlake’s best selling song.

‘I got this feelin’ inside my bones, it goes electric wavy when I turn it on. All through my city, all through my home, we’re flyin’ up, no ceilin,’ when we in our zone.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

318-Bronski Beat-Smalltown Boy.

1984-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 0.28. In these slightly more enlightened times this songs message thankfully doesn’t quite resonate the way it did back in 1984, when it was genuinely ground breaking and very brave.

Bronski Beat were formed in London, England, in 1983 by Jimmy Somerville, (vocals) Steve Bronski, (1960-2021) (keyboards and percussion) and Larry Steinbachek (1961-2017) (keyboards and percussion.) All three were openly gay, and used their music to promote gay issues, in an era where other Pop Stars were trying to keeping their homosexuality out of the public domain.

It was Larry Steinbachek who was born in Southend, Essex, England, who was an associate of Steve Bronski, whose real name was Steven Forrest, who after hearing Jimmy Somerville singing during the making of the 1983 documentary film ‘Framed Youth: The Revenge of the Teenage Perverts,’ alerted Bronski about Somerville’s vocal talents, leading to the three of them joining forces, and signing a recording contract with ‘London Records’ after just nine live gigs. Jimmy Somerville who was born on June 22nd, 1961, in Glasgow, Scotland, would stay a member of Bronski Beat until 1985, before leaving to form The Communards, and gaining his greatest success with the song ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way,’ which spent four weeks at Number 1 in the UK in 1986, and was also that years best selling single (see also best songs 725.) After The Communards Somerville also had a very successful solo career, releasing six studio Albums between 1989-2014, and achieving seven top 40 singles. After Somerville left the Bronski Beat, John Foster was recruited as the new lead singer, in total there were seven band members between 1983 until the split in 1995, Steve Bronski resurrected the band again with two others in 2016, and they were active until 2018. The Bronski Beat recorded three studio Albums between 1984-1995, and 15 singles of which eight reached the UK top 40.

‘Smalltown Boy’ was the debut single released by the Bronski Beat, with Bronski, Somerville, and Steinbachek all receiving the songwriting credits, the song was later added to their debut Album ‘The Age of Consent.’ By 1984 many European countries had reduced the age of consent for homosexual acts to 16, but it remained 21 in the UK, the inner sleeve of the Album contained the different international ages of consent for males to engage in gay sex. ‘Smalltown Boy’ addresses what it was like to be gay in the early 1980’s, telling of homophobia, loneliness, and family misunderstanding. In the song the narrator feels he has to leave his family home as his parents, and the people where he lives will never accept or understand the person he is. He has to move a long way away in order to start a new life.

‘You leave in the morning with everything you own in a little black case, alone on a platform, the wind and the rain on a sad and lonely face.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

319-Beatles-Yesterday.

1965-The song was not released as a single in the UK until 1976 when it reached Number 8.

Best Bit-At 0.59. The Beatles appeared several times on the Ed Sullivan Show, but this time Paul McCartney had to perform ‘Yesterday’ solo. Just before the curtain opened a stagehand asked him, ‘Are you nervous? ‘No,’ Paul lied, to which the stagehand replied,’You should be, there’s 73 million watching.’

According to legend Paul McCartney composed the entire melody of ‘Yesterday’ in a dream one night while staying at the family home of his then girlfriend Jane Asher. Upon waking he rushed to a piano and played the tune to avoid forgetting it. Initially McCartney was concerned that he had subconsciously plagiarised someone else’s work, McCartney has said,’For about a month I went round to people in the music business and asked them whether they had ever heard it before. Eventually it became like handing something in to the police. I thought if no one claimed it after a few weeks then I could have it.’Although McCartney had the melody, he hadn’t yet written any lyrics, so from the onset he chose the working title ‘Scrambled Eggs.’ He first began to compose the songs lyrics during a five hour car trip from Lisbon to Albufeira in southern Portugal in May 1965, when on holiday with Jane Asher. The villa where McCartney and Asher were staying was owned by The Shadows guitarist Bruce Welch, McCartney asked Welch if he could borrow his guitar, and then proceeded to play ‘Yesterday’ for the very first time.

‘Yesterday’ was a watershed moment for the Beatles (see also best songs 599-238-218-157-141-80-51-10 and 6) with this being the first time that a song was made in the Beatles name, but only had any real input from one band member. Following this many Beatles classics would be significantly written by just John Lennon (see also best songs 927-473-456-168 and 20) or Paul McCartney, (see also best songs 646 and 147) but because of contractual reasons the songs would always be credited to Lennon/McCartney. In future years having Lennon’s name appear before his in the writing credits would anger McCartney, who felt his name should often be first, especially on songs such as ‘Yesterday’ where he was the sole writer.

As ‘Yesterday’ was so different to anything else released under the Beatles name at that time, the band decided not to release it as a single in the UK, but in America they were signed to ‘Capitol’ records, where they didn’t have the same influence, and they were overruled by the label who chose to release the song as a double ‘A’ sided single with ‘Act Naturally,’ the single went on to spend four weeks at Number 1 on Billboard in September and October 1965. In the UK the song was first issued in August 1965 on the ‘Help’ Album, and then in March 1966 on the ‘EP Yesterday,’ but it was finally released as a stand alone single 10 years later. In 1976 when the Beatles contract with ‘EMI’ records expired the ‘Parlophone’ label reissued all 22 original UK Beatles singles plus ‘Yesterday’ for the first time, with ‘I Should Have Known Better’ on the ‘B’ side, with the single reaching Number 8 in the UK chart.

‘Yesterday’ was recorded by Paul McCartney playing an acoustic guitar, and being backed by a string quartet which included the British violinist Sidney Sax, (1913-2005) Sax also played on ‘Eleanor Rigby’ (see also best songs 599) and ‘All You Need Is Love’ (see also best songs 141) According to the Guinness World Records ‘Yesterday’ is the most covered song of all time with over 3000 different recordings, it is also the second most played song on radio of all time behind ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin” by The Righteous Brothers (see also best songs 782.)

‘Why she had to go I don’t know she wouldn’t say. I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday.’