THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

280-Pink Floyd-Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2.)

1979-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.17. And they say that school days are meant to be the best days of your life.

‘Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2’) was the first single released by Pink Floyd in 11 years. The band felt that the single format didn’t suit their music, as all their songs were parts of concept Albums. It was the groups producer Bob Ezrin who talked the band around to the idea of a single release, even coming up with the idea of giving the song a ‘Disco’ beat, which to a Progressive Rock group would have probably seemed abhorrent at the time. ‘Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2’) went on to top the chart in both America and the UK, and has sold in excess of four million copies. In the UK it was the Xmas Number 1 of 1979, and also the last Number 1 single of the 1970’s.

‘Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2’) was taken from Pink Floyd’s 11th studio Album ‘The Wall’ from 1979, and like the majority of the Albums other tracks was written by band member Roger Waters. ‘The Wall’ is a concept Album, and loosely deals with Waters life as an adolescent growing up after World War 2. In 1982 ‘The Wall’ was made into a musical psychological drama film called ‘Pink Floyd – The Wall,’ the screenplay was written by Roger Waters, with Bob Geldof (see also best songs 632 and 455) starring as the Rock Star character ‘Pink.’ The character ‘Pink’ was based on Waters himself, and also his ex-Pink Floyd bandmate Syd Barrett (1946-2006.)

‘Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2′) is a protest song, with Waters relaying the torrid time he had as child at school, where not only was he bullied by other children, but also by his school teachers. Waters has explained,’ You couldn’t find anybody in the world more pro-education than me, but the education I went through in a boys’ grammar school in the 50’s was very controlling and demanded rebellion. The song is meant to be a rebellion against people who have power over you, who are wrong.’ The lyrics attracted controversy, with the ‘Inner London Education Authority’ describing the song as ‘Scandalous,’ and it was also rumoured that Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher ‘hated it.’

‘The Wall’ is one of the best selling Albums of all time, with sales in excess of 30 million copies. The Album is Pink Floyd’s second biggest seller behind their 1973 eighth studio Album ‘The Dark Side of the Moon,’ which has estimated sales of 45 million. ‘Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2’) appears on ‘The Wall’ Album in a slightly different format to the songs single release. On ‘The Wall’ it follows on continuously from ‘Another Brick in the Wall Part 1, and ‘The Happiest Days of Our Lives,’ both of those songs were also written by Waters.

Roger Waters was born George Roger Waters on September 6th, 1943, in Great Bookham, England, and was the co-founder of Pink Floyd, following the departure of Syd Barrett in 1968, he took over as the bands main lyricist. Pink Floyd (see also best songs 992) were formed in London, England in 1964, and are one of the worlds best ever selling artists, with sales in excess of 250 million Albums. It was Syd Barrett who chose the bands name, using the names of his favourite Blues artists Pink Anderson, (1900-1974) and Floyd Council (1911-1976.) Waters left Pink Floyd in 1984, and has since released five solo studio Albums between 1984-2018)

‘Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2’) is about Waters schooldays, but the Album ‘The Wall’ explores his life growing up, including his Rock Star career, and the death of his father. Each event, and the problems that occur in his life, are ‘another brick in the wall.’

‘We don’t need no education, we don’t need no thought control. No dark sarcasm in the classroom, teachers leave those kids alone.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

281-Anne Shelton-Blues in the Night.

1942-Has never charted, there was no UK chart until 1952.
Best Bit-At 0.11. Another of the classic songs from the ‘Great American Songbook.’

The ‘Great American Songbook’ is an imaginary list of songs written and recorded between 1920-1960, often referred to as the ‘Golden Age’ of American music. The genre is created from songs that were popular in Hollywood Musical film, musical theatre, and Broadway theatre. To read about the other 30 songs from the ‘Great American Songbook’ in this countdown see the list at the end of this article.

‘Blues in the Night’ was co-written by the legendary song writing team of Harold Arden, (1905-1986) (see also best songs 934-634 and 68) who wrote the music, and Johnny Mercer, (1909-1976) (see also best songs 45) who wrote the lyrics. Arden and Mercer had been commissioned to write the entire score for the 1941 American Musical film provisionally called ‘Hot Nocturne,’ based on a play of the same name, but after the success of the song ‘Blues in the Night,’ the film was renamed after the song. Arden and Mercer had been told that the main requirement was to write a ‘Blues’ song which was to be sung in a jail cell, as usual with the way Johnny Mercer worked, he would have the music presented to him, and from there he would write the lyrics. In the film the song is performed by the African/American baritone William Gillespie, (1908-1968) whose appearance at that time was not credited, he later went on to serve in the army in World War 2.

‘Blues in the Night’ has been recorded on numerous occasions down the years, and was a hit on ‘Billboard Magazine’ five times in 1942, for Woody Herman, (Number 1) Dinah Shore, (Number 4) Jimmy Lunceford, (Number 4) Cab Calloway, (Number 8 and Artie Shaw (Number 10.) The other hit version was in 1952 for Rosemary Clooney which reached Number 29, the song has never charted in the UK.

The version of the song I have chosen is the 1942 recording by Anne Shelton OBE. She was born Patricia Jacqueline Sibley on November 10th, 1923, in Dulwich, London, England, she died of a heart attack on July 31st, 1994, at the age of 70. Shelton is remembered for providing inspirational songs for soldiers, in radio broadcasts, and also for making personal appearances at British military bases during the Second World War. In 1990 she was awarded the OBE for her work with the ‘Not Forgotten Association,’ a charitable organisation for disabled former service personnel from all wars. Two of her singles charted on Billboard in 1949, while in the UK she achieved five hits, with ‘Lay Down Your Arms’ making Number 1 in 1956.

‘My mama done told me, when I was in pigtails. My mama done told me, uuhm. A man’s gonna sweet talk and give you the big eye, but when the sweet talkin”s done, a man is a two face, a worrisome thing, who’ll leave you to sing the blues in the night.’
Here is the list of all 31 songs from the ‘Great American Songbook’ in this countdown. (see also best songs 944-934-887-842-808-775-706-687-651-634-567-457-396-385-370-343-321-295-286-277-259-252-231-226-185-100-82-68-73-68 and 45.)

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

282-Mary Mary-Shackles (Praise You.)

2000-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 2.34. So good they named them twice.

‘Mary Mary’ are the female American duo composed of the sisters Erica Campbell, who was born Erica Monique Atkins, on April 29th, 1972, in Inglewood, California, United States, and Tina Campbell, who was born Trecina Evette Atkins, on May 1st, 1974, also in Inglewood, California, They both married men called Campbell, (who are unrelated) which is why they both have the same surname. The Atkin sisters grew up in a family of eight children, and were brought up by very religious parents, their mother, Thomasina is an Evangelist, and choir director, and their father, Eddie, who died in 2013, was a member of the ‘Church of God in Christ’. On signing their contract to ‘Columbia Records’ in 1999, the sisters decided to perform as ‘Mary Mary,’ taking their name from two famous Mary’s from the Bible, ‘Mary mother of Jesus,’ and ‘Mary Magdalene,’ a follower of Jesus.

As ‘Mary Mary’ the sisters have released six studio Albums to date, between 2000-2011, and 19 singles, between 2000-2016, they also appeared on the charity single ‘We Are the World 25 for Haiti,’ released in 2010, which made Number 2 on Billboard on the American singles chart. In both America, and the UK, ‘Shackles (Praise You’) remains their only top 40 song, peaking at Number 28 in the States, and Number 5 in the UK in 2000. Both sisters have also had solo careers, with Erica issuing two solo Albums, and eight singles, and Tina also releasing two Albums, and six singles, including ‘Love Love Love’ from 2015, which featured Stevie Wonder.
‘Shackles (Praise You’) was the debut single released by Mary Mary, from their debut studio Album ‘Thankful’ from 2000, and was co-written by the sisters, and the songs producer Warryn Campbell, who married Erica in 2001. The song samples the much sampled 1984 track ‘Don’t Look Any Further,’ by Dennis Edwards featuring Siedah Garrett, and therefore that songs writers Dennis Lambert, (see also best songs 197) Franne Golde, and Duane Hitchings also receive writing credits.

‘Shackles (Praise You’) can be considered a ‘boundary breaking’ song. It’s message is from the ‘Gospel’ genre, but it became a crossover hit because of it’s R&B melody, this genre of music is known as ‘Urban Gospel.’ The song is one of only a few that has received extensive exposure on ‘MTV,’ and significant airplay on many ‘Contemporary Christian Music’ radio stations across America. As with many other contemporary Gospel songs ‘Shackles (Praise You’) received a lot of criticism, with many citing the song as too modern, and not staying true to it’s Gospel roots. ‘Mary Mary’ have hit back by saying,’It’s music that everybody in any style of music can relate to. It’s universal, but the lyrics are undeniably Gospel.’

‘Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance, I just want to praise you. You broke the chains now I can lift my hands, and I’m gonna praise you, I’m gonna praise you.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

283-The Dubliners with The Pogues-The Irish Rover.

1987-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 3.20. The songs narrator appears to embellish the facts, perhaps he has had one or two many Guinness’.
The Dubliners were an Irish Folk band formed in 1962, in Dublin, Ireland, they were initially called ‘The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group,’ and remained active until 2012. The group were founded by Ronnie Drew, (1934-2008) Luke Kelly, (1940-1984) Barney McKenna, (1939-2012) and Ciaran Bourke (1935-1988) as ‘The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group,’ but shortly after being joined by John Sheahan they became ‘The Dubliners.’ In total there have been 12 different members come and go during the bands 50 year career. They recorded 17 studio Albums between 1967-1996, and 23 singles between 1964-2013. In Ireland 17 of their singles reached the top 40, with four of those making Number 1, while in the UK, three singles have reached the top 40, including ‘Seven Drunken Nights,’ (1967 Number 7 ) and ‘Black Velvet Band’ (1967 Number 15.) The Dubliners were by far the leading force in popularising Irish Folk music in Europe, influencing generations of Irish bands such as The Pogues, (see also best songs 35) and the Dropkick Murphys. They are held in the highest regard in Ireland, where their covers of traditional Irish ballads are regarded as the definitive versions,

This version of ‘The Irish Rover’ first appeared on The Dubliners 1987 double Album ’25 Years Celebration,’ which has 30 tracks, of which two are collaborations with The Pogues, the other track they recorded together is the traditional Irish Folk song ‘Mountain Dew.’ ‘The Irish Rover’ is also a traditional Irish Folk song, dating back to around the early 1800’s, the authorship is uncertain, but it has been attributed to J.M. Crofts. Others have come to the conclusion that it was probably written by a sailor, as there are nautical references.

The lyrics describe an unrealistically large 27 masted ship carrying a very colourful crew, and various types of cargo in impossible enormous amounts. The probability is that the amount of cargo carried has been exaggerated more and more down the years, for example ‘The Irish Rover’ carries ‘one million bags of the best Sligo rags,’ and travels with ‘five million hogs,’ and six million dogs,’ -which I think even ‘Noah’s Ark’ would have been jealous of. After seven years the voyage ends disastrously, when the crew contract measles, the ship loses it’s way in the fog, strikes a rock, and leaves the songs narrator as the only survivor, so there is no one else alive to contradict his tale.

‘On the fourth of July eighteen hundred and six we set sail from the sweet cove of Cork. We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks for the Grand City Hall in New York.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

284-The Four Seasons-Big Girls Don’t Cry.

1962-Number 13 single.

Best Bit-At 2.04. In the interest of gender equality 10CC whispered loudly that ‘Big boys also don’t cry’ (see also best songs 154.)

The Four Seasons were formed as ‘The Four Lovers’ in Newark, New Jersey, United States, in 1956, they would retain that stage name until settling on ‘The Four Seasons’ in 1960, with the recognised 1960’s classic line up of Franki Valli, (vocals) Bob Gaudio, (vocals, keyboards, and guitar) Tommy DeVito, (1928-2020) (vocals, and guitar) and Nick Massi (1927-2000) (vocals, and bass.) These were the four musicians who played on this song, and also The Four Seasons debut studio Album ‘Sherry & 11 Others,’ from 1962.

The Four Seasons are one of Pop musics longest active acts, and continue to tour to this day, with only Frankie Valli (see also best songs 83) from the original line up still performing. In total there are 12 members in the touring band of 2022, but since the bands inception a further 33 artists have been official group members at some point. They have also released music under 17 different names including ‘The Wonder Who?,’ ‘The Variatones,’ and ‘The Village Voices.’ The Four Seasons have recorded 21 studio Albums between 1962-1992, and approximately 100 singles under a variety of different names. In America on Billboard five of their singles have reached Number 1, while in the UK there only chart topper remains ‘December, 1963 (Oh What a Night’) from 1975 (see also best songs 739.)

‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’ was co-written by the legendary songwriting team of Bob Crewe, (1930-2014) (see also best songs 914-863-739-499-393-164-112 and 83) and Bob Gaudio,(see also best songs 1007-914-863-739-499-393-164 and 112) who was also a member of The Four Seasons at that time. The song was released as the follow up to their Billboard Number 1 single ‘Sherry,’ which had spent five weeks at Number 1, and repeated the fete by also spending five weeks at the top, making The Four Seasons the first group in the Rock N’ Roll era to achieve back to back Number 1’s with their first two hits.

There are contrasting stories as to who came up with the song title ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry.’ According to Bob Gaudio he was falling asleep while watching a movie called ‘Tennessee’s Partner,’ when he was jolted awake by the on-screen noise of John Payne slapping Rhonda Flemming, whose character replied, ‘Big girls don’t cry.’ Gaudio claims he immediately wrote down the iconic line on a scrap of paper, before falling asleep again. When he woke the next morning he started writing the song. The problem with that story is that the line big girls don’t cry is never uttered in that film.

According to the other songs writer Bob Crewe, he was also dozing off when he awoke to see Payne attacking Fleming, although he claims he had also been watching the movie ‘Slightly Scarlet,’ in which the line does actually appear. Frankie Valli tells a different tale.’It was taken from a Clark Gable movie, then he tells a girl he’s leaving, and says that big girls don’t cry.’

‘Told my girl we had to break up, hoped that she would call my bluff. Then she said to my surprise,Big girls don’t cry.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

285-Pulp-Common People.

1995-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 4.38. A lyrical fanfare for the common man.

When Jarvis Cocker first played the melody to the rest of the band, bass player Steve Mackey burst out laughing, saying, ‘It sounds like Emerson Lake and Palmer’s ‘Fanfare for the Common Man (1977, UK Number 2 )

Jarvis Cocker has explained in detail over the years how ‘Common People’ came to fruition. ‘It all started with me getting rid of a lot of Albums at the ‘Record and Tape Exchange’ in Notting Hill. With the credit I went into the second hand bit and bought this Casio keyboard. When you buy an instrument, you run home and want to write a song straight away. So I went back to my flat and wrote the chord sequence for ‘Common People,’ which isn’t such a great achievement because it’s only got three chords, I thought it might come in handy for our next rehearsal.’

Anyone who has read about a number of the songs in this countdown will know that I am a great believer that nothing in Pop Music is totally original. I urge you to take a listen to the 1988 song by the Spanish Pop band Mecano, called ‘Los amantes,’ it’s similarity to ‘Common People’ will raise your eyebrows high.

On writing the songs lyrics, Cocker has said,’I always thought the word ‘common’ was an interesting thing. It would be used in ‘Fanfare for the Common Man’ as this idea of the noble savage, whereas it was a real insult in Sheffield (Cocker’s hometown) to call someone common. That set off memories of this girl that I met at college. She wanted to go and live in Hackney and be with the common people. She was from a well-to-do background, and there was me explaining that that would never work. I hated all that cobblers you got in films and magazines in which posh people would ‘slum it’ for a while. Once I got that narrative in my head it was easy to write, lyrically.’

Cocker had met the girl who had given him the idea for the songs lyrics at St Martin’s College, London, when they were both on a sculpture course around 1988. Cocker has said that he was having a conversation with the girl at the bar at college because he was attracted to her, although he found some aspects of her personality unpleasant. He remembered that at one point she had told him she ‘Wanted to move to Hackney and live like common people.’ In 2012 the ‘BBC’ set about locating the woman who had inspired the song, but they couldn’t find her. In 2015 the Greek newspaper ‘Athens Voice’ suggested that the woman who inspired the song is Danae Stratou, the wife of a former Greek Finance minister, Stratou had studied at St Martins between 1983-1988, and is the eldest daughter of a wealthy Greek businessman. Stratou has said,’I think the only person who knows for whom the song was written is Jarvis himself.’

Pulp were not an overnight success, (see also best songs 605) ‘Common People’ was their 15th single release, and their first to break in to the UK top 10. It was already a big hit before the other 11 tracks from their fifth studio Album ‘Different Class’ had been written, but the success of ‘Common People’ would inspire the band, and give them confidence. The songwriting for ‘Common People’ is credited to all five members of Pulp at that time, and the song, and it’s parent Album, was produced by the legendary music producer Chris Thomas (see also best songs 721-576-316-92 and 27.)

‘She came from Greece she had a thirst for knowledge. She studied sculpture at St Martins College, that’s where I caught her eye.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

286-Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong-They Can’t Take That Away from Me.

1956-It has never been released as a single in the UK.

Best Bit-At 1.32. When you have the music of George Gershwin, the lyrics of Ira Gershwin, and the mesmerising vocals of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, the hard part isn’t trying to find a 1000 songs to fill this list, it’s having to choose which ones to leave out!

‘They Can’t Take That Away from Me’ was one of the songs written by George Gershwin (music) and his brother Ira Gershwin (lyrics) for the 1937 Musical Comedy ‘Shall We Dance,’ starring Fred Astaire, (see also best songs 385) and Ginger Rodgers. In the film the song is sung by Astaire to Rodgers, who remains silent throughout the performance, there is also no dance sequence performed. Astaire and Rodgers did perform a dance routine to the song when appearing in their 10th and final movie together in 1949, in ‘Barkleys of Broadway.’ This was also the only song that Astaire performed more than once in any of his movies.

George Gershwin (see also best songs 231) was born Jacob Gershwine on September 26th, 1898, in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, he died from a malignant brain tumor on July 11th, 1937, at the age of 38. Gershin was a prolific writer of music, composing several orchestral pieces including ‘Rhapsody in Blue.’ (1924) His Opera’s include ‘Porgy and Bess,’ (1935) and he also composed the music for 19 Broadway, and London Musicals, as well as the original scores for five films.

Ira Gershwin was born Israel Gershowitz on December 6th, 1896, in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, he died on August 17th, 1983, of heart disease at the age of 86. With his brother George he wrote many of the most memorable songs from the Broadway Musicals of the 1920’s, and 1930’s, including ‘I Got Rhythm,’ Embraceable You,’ and ‘Someone to Watch Over Me.’ After the death of his brother, Ira continued to write with others, including Kurt Weill, Jerome Kern, and Harry Warren.

Ella Fitzgerald (see also best songs 944-231 and 100) and Louis Armstrong (see also best songs 1039-767-231 and 100) had recorded together in the 1940’s for the Decca Records label. In 1956 they recorded the first of a further three Albums together, this time for the ‘Verve’ label. Their version of ‘They Can’t Take That Away from Me’ is featured on ‘Ella and Louis,’ which was the first of those three Albums, released in October 1956. The musicians who played on this song, and it’s parent Album were the ‘Oscar Peterson Quartet.’ In 1959 Ella Fitzgerald recorded the song again, this time as a solo artist, for her acclaimed Album ‘Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book.’

‘The way your smile just beams, the way you sing off key. The way you haunt my dreams, no, no, they can’t take that away from me.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

287-Gary’s Gang-Keep on Dancin.’

1979-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 3.42. This Gary will not want to be confused with the other Gary, who was the leader of a completely different, and infamous gang.

‘Gary’s Gang’ were formed in 1977, in Queens, New York, United States, by Eric Matthew, (vocals and guitar) Gary Turnier, (percussion) Al Lauricella, (keyboards) Rino Minetti, (keyboards) Bob Forman, (saxophone and flute) Jay Leon, (trombone) and Bill Catalano, (percussion) Catalano is not the same William Catalano (1934-2005) who was a renowned Jazz trumpet player. ‘Gary’s Gang released two studio Albums, both were issued in 1979, the first was called ‘Keep on Dancin” and the other was called ‘Gangbusters.’ They also released nine singles, and although never achieving an American Billboard top 100 single, two of the songs,’Keep on Dancin” and ‘Let’s Lovedance Tonight,’ both made Number 1 on the U.S. Dance chart. In the UK ‘Keep on Dancin” is their only top 40 hit, although two of their other tracks ‘Let’s Lovedance Tonight,’ (Number 49) and ‘Knock Me Out,’ (Number 45) just missed out on being hits.

‘Keep on Dancin” was co-written by band members Eric Matthew, and Gary Turnier. Matthew was born Joseph William Tucci, in 1953, in Queens. New York, after the success of this song Matthew set up his own record label ‘Radar Records,’ and produced artists signed to the label. On a personal note I would highly recommend the 1982 song ‘Beat the Street’ by Sharon Redd,’ which Matthew co-wrote, and co-produced with Darryl Payne.

‘Keep on Dancin’ is one of the classic dance songs of the 1970’s Disco era. You wouldn’t be too far wide of the mark if you described the song as ‘cheesy-ish,’ but it is for all that, still definitely cool to like. The lyrics tell us that the narrator is really enjoying dancing to the music, but things would be even better if his love interest would join him on the dance floor.

‘Touch my body, make it Funky, got a feeling like I wanna fly, will you love me tonight. Dancin’ baby, don’t say maybe, don’t you really wanna fly with me, will you get high with me tonight.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

288-Lew Stone And His Band (Vocal Chorus by Sam Browne)-I Get Along Without Very Well (Except Sometimes.’)

1939-Has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 0.09. The lyrics were written 15 years before the music was added, and the lyricist died before hearing or seeing the songs success.

‘I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes’) was co-written by Hoagy Carmichael, (music) and Jane Brown Thompson, (lyrics) Carmichael based the main melodic theme on the ‘Fantaisie-Impromptu’ in C sharp minor, by Frederick Chopin (1810-1849.) In 1924 a friend of Carmichael’s showed him a magazine clipping of a poem he thought he might like, Carmichael did, and scribbled it down on the back of an envelope. 15 years later while having a clear out he came across the envelope and this time decided to write music to the words, but he couldn’t release it until tracking down the poems author.

Carmichael asked his friend, the radio presenter Walter Winchell (1897-1972) to broadcast on air a plea to find whoever had written the songs lyrics. Winchell said on air, ‘Attention, poets and songwriters! Hoagy Carmichael, whose songs you love has a new positive hit, but he cannot have it published. Not until the person who inspired the words communicates with him and agrees to become his collaborator. I hope that person is a listener now,’ Winchell then went on to quote some of the lines from the original 1923 poem. Around a month later two former employees of the now disbanded ‘Life’ magazine where the poem had first appeared came forward, and the author who was now a 71 year old widow living in a nursing home was found. Her name was Jane Brown-Thompson (1868-1939) who signed a contract where she would receive 3 cents per copy sold. The sad post-script to the story is that the song made it’s debut on the Dick Powell (1904-1963) radio show on January 19th, 1939, but unfortunately Mrs Thompson died the day before on January 18th, so never knew of her songs great success.
Hoagy Carmichael was born Hoagland Howard Carmichael on November 22nd, 1899, in Bloomington, Indiana, United States, he died of a heart attack on December 27th, 1981, at the age of 82. Carmichael who wrote several hundred songs, is remembered as one of the most gifted songwriters of the 20th Century. Two of his best known compositions are ‘Stardust,’ written in 1927, which is now considered as a standard, and part of the ‘Great American Songbook,’ and ‘Georgia on My Mind,’ (see also best songs 185) a song he wrote the music for in 1930.

‘I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes’) has been covered numerous times over the years, with the best selling recording being by ‘Red Norvo (1908-1999) and his Orchestra, with vocals by Terry Allen (1916-1981) from 1939. The version I have chosen is the 1939 recording by Lew Stone, who was born Louis Stone on June 28th, 1898, in London, England, he died on February 13th, 1969, at the age of 70, Stone is best remembered as one of the most innovative, and imaginative musical arrangers of his era. The vocals on the track were provided by Sam Browne (1898-1972) who recorded over 2000 songs in his career. Browne was a go to vocalist for several of the top bands of the 1930’s, and early 1940’s, including ‘Alfredo, and his Orchestra,’ and ‘Ambrose and his Orchestra.’

The following lyrics are from the original poem written by Jane Brown Thompson in 1923.’
‘I get along without you very well, of course I do
Except sometimes when soft rain falls
And dripping off the trees recalls
How you and I stood deep in mist
One day far in the wood, and kissed
But now I get along without you-well, of course I do’.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

289-Elbow-One Day Like This.

2008-Number 35 single. It later peaked at Number 4 in 2012.
Best Bit-At 3.29- ‘Cause Holy cow I love your eyes,’ is possibly not the greatest of chat up lines.

‘Elbow’ were formed in Bury, Greater Manchester, England in 1997, but the original five band members had already been playing together for many years prior to that. In 1990 Guy Garvey (lead vocals) who was then 16 years old met Mark Potter, (guitar) at ‘Bury College’ where Potter invited Garvey to join his student band which also included Richard Jupp, (drums) and Pete Turner, (bass) they were soon joined by Potter’s brother Craig, (keyboards) and played their first gig in 1990 as ‘Mr Soft,’ which was later shortened to ‘Soft.’ In 2016 Jupp left the band, and Alex Reeves took over the drumming and percussion duties.

In 1997 the band changed their name to ‘Elbow,’ The name was inspired by a line from the 1986 BBC television drama ‘The Singing Detective’ in which the character Philip Marlow describes the word elbow as the loveliest word in the English language. Elbow have released nine studio Albums between 2001-2021, with their debut Album ‘Asleep in the Back’ receiving a ‘Mercury Music Prize’ nomination, and their fourth Album ‘The Seldom Seen Kid,’ winning the ‘Mercury Music Prize’ in 2008. They have also issued 35 singles between 2001-2021, with eight of those reaching the UK top 40.

‘One Day Like This’ was the second single released from Elbow’s fourth studio Album ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’ from 2008. On it’s release the song reached Number 35 in the UK, but after Elbow performed it at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics in 2012, the song saw a resurgence in sales, and this time reached a new peak of Number 4.

‘One Day Like This’ was written by Guy Garvey, and produced by Craig Potter. Garvey has said that the line ‘One day like this a year would see me right,’ had been a lyric he had thought of as a teenager, and written in his diary, with the intention of using it sometime when the right song came along. Garvie has also stated that he wrote the song the day he woke up to a beautiful morning,’After being with someone and waking up with them for the first time.’ When the band first recorded the song, and added the strings, they thought it sounded like ‘Hey Jude,’ by the Beatles, (see also best songs 6) they also thought the song was similar to ‘Loaded,’ by Primal Scream. (see also best songs 724) Garvie said that he felt it was the ‘generous’ thing to do, to give those associations to the listener.

‘What made me behave that way? Using words I never say. I can only think it must be love, oh, anyway, it’s looking like a beautiful day.’