THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

240-Wild Cherry-Play That Funky Music.

1976-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 0-01. Wild Cherry’s founding member and lead singer Rob Parissi chose the bands name from a box of cough drops he saw when he was in hospital, how un-Rock ‘N Roll is that?

Rob Parissi was born on December 29th, 1950, in Mungo Juntion, Ohio, United States, in 1970 he formed the band Wild Cherry, with five others. Over the course of the next few years there would be two members leave, and two new members would replace them. Parissi broke up the band around 1974, but reformed with more changes made in 1975, which began the groups successful period through until the final parting of the ways in 1979. In total Wild Cherry released four studio Albums between 1976-1979, and 15 singles between 1970-1979. ‘Play That Funky Music’ was the bands only top 40 single on both sides of the Atlantic, and with it reaching Number 1 in America, it makes them ‘One Hit Wonders’ in every sense of the meaning.

Wild Cherry started out life as a ‘Rock’ band, who as well as playing original material, would also do covers, and they played several times a week in club residences, but this was at the time of the onset of ‘Disco,’ and if the group were to survive they would have to change their musical style. The story goes that while the band were playing at the ‘2001 Club,’ in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to a predominantly black audience, a patron said to the drummer Ronald Beitle (1954-2017) during a break,’Are you going to play some funky music, white boys?’ On hearing this Rob Parissi wrote down the phrase immediately and then wrote the lyrics about a band who changed their style from ‘Rock’ music to ‘Disco’ music. Some of the band and their record label were reluctant to release a song with lyrics that included ‘white boy,’ but Parissi was insistent saying it just wouldn’t be the same song without that phrase. He of course was proven correct as the song has now sold in excess of 2.5 million copies in the United States alone, and is one of the top 100 best selling songs of all time on Billboard.

‘Play That Funky Music’ was written and produced by Rob Parissi, and appeared on Wild Cherry’s self titled debut Album from 1976. Parissi has stated that got he the idea for the songs bassline, and his own vocal delivery, after listening to The Ohio Players 1974 Billboard Number 1 single ‘Fire’ (see also best songs 506.) In 1990 the American Rapper Vanilla Ice released a cover version of ‘Play that Funky Music’ which reached Number 4 in America, and Number 10 in the UK. Unfortunately for Vanilla Ice he failed to have Parissi credited, and in a lawsuit brought by Parissi, Vanilla Ice was forced to pay $500,000 to Parissi for copyright infringement.

‘Hey, once I was a boogie singer, playin’ in a Rock and Roll band. I never had no problems burnin’ down the one night stands. And everything around me got to start to feelin’ so low, and I decided quickly yes I did, to Disco down and check out the show.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

241-Humanoid-Stakker Humanoid.

1988-Number 17 single.

Best Bit-At 1.14. Back in 1988 radio disc jockeys were still allowed to choose some of the music for their radio shows. It was BBC Radio 1 DJ Bruno Brookes who by making this song his record of the week, introduced ‘Acid House’ music to the UK top 40 singles chart.

Acid House music is a sub-genre of ‘House Music’ which was developed around the mid 1980’s by DJ’s from Chicago. The sounds are primarily produced on the ‘Roland TB-303’ electronic bass synthesizer-sequencer, an innovation attributed to the Chicago music producers ‘DJ Pierre,’ (Nathaniel Pierre Jones) and ‘Sleezy D,’ (Derrick Harris) who died in 2019. Acid House music became popular in the UK in 1988, but because of it being associated with the drug ‘Ecstasy’ many of the radio stations refused to play the songs associated with the genre.

‘Stakker Humanoid’ was written by Brian Dougans who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1968, along with his musical collaborator Garry Cobain, he was the first artist to have his music downloaded from the internet, on June 22nd, 1994, an achievement acknowledged by the ‘Guinness World Records.’ As ‘Humanoid’ Dougans released a further five singles all in 1989, which all failed to chart. A compilation Album called ‘Global’ was released in 1989, and a further three compilations, and remix Albums of his work from around that time were made available in the noughties. Dougans and Cobain also enjoyed great success together as the ‘Electronic’ music act ‘The Future Sound of London,’ who have been described as ‘boundary-pushing.’ ‘FSOL’ have issued 27 Albums between 1991-2019, there are also another 17 releases using the names ‘Humanoid,’ ‘Metal Cube,’ and ‘Amorphous Androgynous,’ between 1988-2018. The pair have also released music, including several EP’s, under a variety of other stage names. As ‘FSOL’ they also achieved seven UK top 40 singles, with ‘We Have Explosive’ from 1997 charting the highest at Number 12.

As well as receiving promotion from Radio 1, the song was also a favourite of the music producer Pete Waterman (see also best songs 627) who promoted the track on his new television dance music programme ‘The Hitman and Her.’ Surprisingly since ‘Acid House’ music was under a ban from many media outlets, Brian Dougans was invited to perform the song on the BBC ‘Top of the Pops’ music programme. Dougans has said,’It was a bit of a crazy day out, the producers insisted that if there were any vocals on a track, somebody had to sing them. I was like, ‘It’s a f…..g computer, man’,” (referring to Humanoid’s spoken refrain, which was sampled from the arcade game Berzerk) but somebody had to be singing the words, hence why I had a little microphone. If you actually look closely, you see me mouthing the words. They made me do it. The b……s!”

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

242-Shel Silverstein-25 Minutes to Go.

1962-Has never been released as a single in the UK.

Best Bit-At 0.20. If your looking for a happy ending I’m afraid you’ve come to the wrong song.

Sheldon Allan Silverstein was born on September 25th, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, United States, he died on May 10th, 1999, of a heart attack at the age of 68. Silverstein had many strings to his bow, including being a celebrated songwriter, author, cartoonist, poet, and playwright. Possibly because of his success in other fields, his songwriting talent may have gone under the radar. He has had 18 official Albums released between 1959-2010, and many of his songs have appeared in films and television programmes. He also wrote all of the songs for the first two studio Albums recorded by Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show in 1971 and 1972, which include the major hits ‘Sylvia’s Mother’ (UK Number 2) and ‘The Cover of the Rolling Stone,’ (Billboard Number 6) he also wrote many more songs for that band through the course of their career. Silverstein though will always (musically) be best remembered for writing ‘A Boy Named Sue,’ which would become a major hit for Johnny Cash (see also best songs 857-428 and 199) when reaching Number 4 in the UK, and Number 2 on Billboard in America in 1969.

’25 Minutes to Go’ should be filed under the genre of Country Music, it was written by Shel Silverstein for his second studio Album ‘Inside Folk Songs’ released in 1962. The song is about a prisoner awaiting execution by hanging. Each verse consists of two lines of which the first is humorous or poignant, and the second line is a minute by minute countdown to his death, you could say it is ‘Gallows Humour’ in it’s purest form. ’25 Minutes to Go’ was notably covered by Johnny Cash (1932-2003) on his 1965 Album ‘Sings the Ballads of the True West,’ and also on his 1968 live Album,’At Folsom Prison,’ which I would imagine sent a shiver up and down the spine of one or two of the inmates. Other notable artists to record the song include a 2011 live version by Lou Reed (1942-2013) (see also best songs 401-165-131 and 58) with the Canadian singer Emily Haines, for a concert to celebrate the life and music of Shel Silverstein called ‘Shelebration!’ The American Grunge/Rock band Pearl Jam (see also best songs 458) also recorded a live version in 2004 which appears on their Album ‘Live at Benaroya Hall.’

‘With my feet on the trap, and my head on the noose, 5 more minutes to go. Won’t somebody come and cut me loose, 7 more minutes to go. I can see the mountains, I can see the skies,with 3 more minutes to go, and it’s too dern pretty for a man that don’t want to die, with 2 more minutes to go. I can see the buzzards, I can hear the crows, 1 more minute to go, and now I’m swinging, and here I go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

243-Dobie Gray-The ‘In’ Crowd.

1965-Number 25 single.

Best Bit-At 0.56. I normally find that those who do the most bragging tend to have the least to brag about, but with two songs in the best 1000 songs list, Dobie Gray does have a lot to shout about.

Dobie Gray was born Lawence Darrow Brown on July 26th, 1940, in Simonton, Texas, United States, he died of complications from cancer surgery on December 6th, 2011, at the age of 71. During his 55 years as a performer Gray worked under different stage names including Larry Brown, and Leonard Ainsworth, but it was when signing with ‘Stripe Records’ in 1963 that they suggested that he should record as Dobie Gray, an allusion to the then popular American sitcom ‘The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.’

Dobie Gray recorded in differing genres including Soul, R&B, Pop, and Country Music releasing at least 24 Albums between 1963-2005. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, four of his songs have reached the top 40, with his 1973 cover of the Country Music song ‘Drift Away’ peaking the highest at Number 5, and selling over one million copies. In the UK this song remains as his only chart entry, but Gray is also responsible for the Northern Soul favourite ‘Out on the Floor (Number 42 in 1975) (see also best songs 845.)

‘The ‘In’ Crowd’ was written by the late Billy Page, and arranged by his brother Gene Page, (1939-1998) and produced by the late Fred Darian. Gene Page arranged songs for many of the worlds top artists including Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin and Barry White, and Page arranged ‘The In’ Crowd’ to sound very much like a ‘Motown’ song. Dobie Gray was the first to record the track, taking it to Number 13 on Billboard in February 1965, this was followed within a few months by a live recording from the Ramsey Lewis Trio, (see also best songs 525) which did even better on the chart by reaching Number 5. In the UK in 1974 Bryan Ferry (see also best songs 721-316 and 57) recorded the song for his second solo Album ‘Another Time, Another Place,’ and when it was released as a single it made Number 13.

In ‘The ‘In’ Crowd’ Dobie Gray sings about the advantages of being a member of a popular clique in the ‘Swinging Sixties.’ He boasts that he knows all of the latest dances, and the best places to hang out. He speaks a cool language that only the elite will understand, and he gets respect wherever he goes. He is also using his status to try to attract girls to go out with him.

‘At a spot where the beats really hot, oh, if it’s square. we ain’t there. We make every minute count, our share is always the biggest amount. Other guys imitate us, but the original’s still the greatest.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

244-Suede-Trash.

1996-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 0.46. Trash talking, from a class act.

‘Trash’ was probably the make or break song for Suede, (see also best songs 695) or as they are known in America, ‘The London Suede,’ so as to not get them confused with another artist using the same name. Bernard Butler the bands guitarist, and co-songwriter with Brett Anderson of Suede’s first two critically acclaimed Albums had left the group in 1994, and ‘Trash’ was the first new music written without him. Anderson now had a new songwriting partner, the 17 year old Richard Oakes, who had applied to be Butler’s replacement through the bands official fan club. The response on hearing ‘Trash’ and it’s parent Album ‘Coming Up’ was received positively by music critics, with some even saying it was their best work to date. Oakes and Anderson would continue as the bands main songwriting team for all of their next six studio Albums. In total Suede have released eight studio Albums between 1993-2018, and 31 singles between 1992-2018. In the UK, 19 of their singles have reached the top 40, with this song and ‘Stay Together’ from 1994 both peaking at Number 3, although ‘Trash’ is their best selling single. Perhaps Suede are a little too ‘English’ for the American market as they still await their first hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

‘Trash’ was the first of six singles released from Suede’s third studio Album ‘Coming Up’ from 1996, the song was produced by Ed Buller, who was also responsible for the bands first two Albums, he would also return for Suede in 2013, and 2016, to produce ‘Bloodsports,’ and ‘Night Thoughts.’ the bands sixth and seventh releases. Brett Anderson wanted ‘Coming Up’ to be an easier listen than the two previous Suede Albums, he was looking for a more commercial sound, with straightforward choruses. He has said that prior to writing the Album he was listening to the two Marc Bolan (see also best songs 790-386 and 67) Albums,’The Slider’ (1972) and it’s follow up ‘Tanx’ (1973.) Ed Buller has explained how the recording process worked,’Basically, what we did, is that every track started with acoustic guitar, bongos, tambourine and Brett, so it all started life pretty much the same way that Marc Bolan recorded all of his stuff originally.

‘Trash’ is a celebration about being different, knowing you don’t conform, and being proud of that. Brett Anderson has said,’It’s a song that’s kind of about being in the band and, by extension, it’s a song about the fans, and the whole kind of ethos of being a Suede… person. I actually wrote it about the band Suede. It’s a celebration of the band, but by extension, it’s a celebration of the fans as well, and it was a kind of a song written about us, as a gang, it was written about the values we stood for. And even though it sounds like a love song, it was actually about the idea of the identity of the band, and what they stood for.’

‘Oh maybe, maybe it’s the clothes we wear, the tasteless bracelets and the dye in our hair, maybe it’s our kookiness. Or maybe, maybe it’s our nowhere towns, our nothing places and our cellophane sounds, maybe it’s our looseness.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

245-AC/DC-Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation.

1978-Number 24 single.

Best Bit-At 0.15. Malcolm Young (1953-2017) and Angus Young (see also best songs 797 and 170) developed the idea for the band’s name after their sister, Margaret Young, saw the initials “AC/DC” on a sewing machine. “AC/DC” is an abbreviation meaning “alternating current/direct current” electricity. The brothers felt that this name symbolised the band’s raw energy, power-driven performances of their music. AC/DC” is pronounced one letter at a time, though the band are colloquially known as “Acca Dacca” in Australia.

‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation’ was taken from AC/DC’s fifth studio Album ‘Powerage’ from 1978, it was co-written by Malcolm and Angus Young, and the bands lead singer Bon Scott, (1946-1980) and was produced by Harry Vanda, along with Malcolm and Angus’ older brother George Young. (1946-2017) (see also best songs 939 and 447) This would be the last AC/DC Album produced by the duo, who had also been responsible for the bands first four studio Albums.

AC/DC’s record label had released the Album, but then realised that if they were to break into the lucrative American market they would need a commercially sounding track that the radio would play. ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation’ features hand claps and maracas, and unusually for an AC/DC song does not have a guitar solo. Once the track had been recorded it was added to future pressings of ‘Powerage’ appearing as the opening song, replacing ‘Gimme a Bullet’. Some Albums replaced the track ‘Cold Hearted Man’ with ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation,’ but there are also pressings which include both tracks.

‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation’ was a breakthrough hit for AC/DC in Europe. Up until this song they had achieved six top 40 hits in Australia, but they only had a cult following elsewhere. This song would chart in the UK at Number 24, and also in The Netherlands, where it peaked at Number 18, it would be another year until they would break into the American Billboard singles chart with ‘Highway to Hell'(see also best songs 170.) ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation’ could be considered to be loosely based on AC/DC themselves, as the lyrics tell us that it is a tough road to the top if you want to be a Rock ‘N’ Roll’ star.

During the course of AC/DC’s lifespan, since their formation in 1973, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, there have been 16 different band members come and go. The line up who played on this song, and it’s parent Album ‘Powerage’ were, Bon Scott, (vocals) Angus Young, (lead guitar) Malcolm Young, (rhythm guitar) Cliff Williams, (bass) and Phil Rudd (drums.)

‘They say that you play too loud, well baby that’s tough. They say that you got too much, can’t get enough. They tell you that you look a fool, and baby I’m a fool for you.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

246-De La Soul-Say No Go.

1989-Number 18 single.

Best Bit-At 0.06. How do you explain De La Soul to someone who doesn’t know of them?

De La Soul (see also best songs 444) have been described as the ‘Hip-Hop Beatles,’ and also as the ‘Hip-Hop Hippies.’ Their debut Album ‘3 Feet High and Rising’ from 1989 was released at around the same time as when ‘Gangsta Rap’ was booming, performed by acts such as Public Enemy (see also best songs 578 and 37) and N.W.A. (see also best songs 664 and 128) The respected American writer Robert Christgau in his revue of the ‘3 Feet High and Rising’ Album in the ‘Village Voice’ in 1989 wrote,’An inevitable development in the class history of Rap, De La Soul is new wave, to Public Enemy’s Punk’,

De La Soul have issued nine studio Albums between 1989-2016, and 26 singles between 1988-2019, they have also appeared as the featured artist on a further seven singles between 1990-2019. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, they have reached the top 40 twice, with their 2005 collaboration with the ‘Gorillaz’ on ‘Feel Good Inc’ charting the highest at Number 14, while in the UK, 11 of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘Feel Good Inc’ being the most successful, when reaching Number 2.

‘Say No Go’ was the third of six singles released from De La Soul’s debut studio Album ‘3 Feet High and Rising’ from 1989, the Album’s title comes from the 1959 song ‘Five Feet High and Rising’ from Johnny Cash. (1932-2003) The Album has been critically acclaimed as not only one of the greatest Rap Albums, but is recognised as one of the most important Albums of all time, appearing in many ‘best of’ lists. The Album is acclaimed for it’s lyrical content, and clever use of it’s numerous samples, it is also credited with introducing the Hip-Hop skit, a style of comedic sketch used both to introduce rap albums, and as interludes between songs.

‘Say No Go’ has song writing credits given to all three band members, along with the songs producer Prince Paul, although the track contains at least five prominent samples, only they are credited. The songs samples include ‘I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do’) from Daryl Hall & John Oates, (see also best songs 881) ‘That’s The Joint’ from The Funky Four Plus One More, and ‘Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms’) by The Detroit Emeralds. The songs message is about the evils of drugs, in particular ‘Base,’ which is Crack Cocaine, the songs title is a reference to Nancy Reagan’s 1980’s anti-drug campaign ‘Just Say No.’

David Jude of De La Soul who goes by the stage name ‘Trugoy the Dove’ has said,’Crack. We grew up around neighbourhoods where there was an epidemic. We knew drug dealers and some of us actually stood on the corner ourselves. We didn’t know about songs where people were boasting about being drug dealers at that time, so for us, speaking about social issues and things that were going on in our neighbourhood worked. Those three words, ‘say no go,’ kinda caught our ear, and we thought we could make that about not doing drugs.’

‘Now let’s get right on down to the skit, a baby is brought into a world of pits, and if it could’ve talked that soon in the delivery room, It would’ve asked the nurse for a hit.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

247-Mama Cass Elliott-Make Your Own Kind of Music.

1969-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 0.28. In 2005 the American television series ‘Lost’ used this song for the opening scene of series 2, episode 1, called ‘Man of Science,’ ‘Man of Faith,’ which is considered by ‘Spin Magazine’ to be one of the ‘Best Musical Moments From TV’s Latest Golden Age.’ As the man said,’I’ll see you in another life brother.’

‘Cass Elliot was born Ellen Naomi Cohen on September 19th, 1941, in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, she died in her sleep due to heart failure on July 29th, 1974, at the age of 32. Ellen chose the name ‘Cass’ in high school, probably due to her admiration for the American actress ‘Peggy Cass,’ (1924-1999) as Ellen was interested herself in becoming an actress. It was quite a while after that, that she took the name ‘Elliot,’ in memory of a friend who had died.

Prior to pursuing a solo career after the split of ‘The Mamas & the Papas’ in 1971 (see also best songs 660) Mama Cass Elliot had started out as part of the American Folk music trio the ‘Big 3,’ with whom she recorded two Albums with in 1963, and 1964. After the demise of the ‘Big 3’ which splintered into the Folk/Rock band the ‘Mugwumps’ she recorded one studio Album in 1965 called ‘The Mugwumps,’ as part of that quartet. That group stayed together for eight months, with Elliot then having a brief spell as a solo act, before being asked to join ‘The Mamas & the Papas,’ with whom she recorded six Albums between 1966-1971. As a solo artist Elliot released eight solo Albums between 1968-1973, with the five being released while she was still a member of The Mamas & the Papas,’ she also issued 16 singles in the same time period, with three of those tracks reaching the Billboard top 40 in America, and two charting on the UK top 40.

Mama Cass Elliot’s weight fluctuated, and she weighed over 300lb at times. She became a drug user and had admitted to having a shot of Heroin before going on stage, she also used Cocaine, the embarrassment of this led to Elliot plunging into a deep depression. It was while staying in an apartment in Mayfair, London, owned by the singer Harry Nilsson (1941-1994) (see also best songs 388 and 39) on July 29th, 1974, that she died in her sleep from heart failure, the forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsy found there to be no drugs in her system. Elliot died in Flat 12, 9 Curzon Place, where four years later on September 7th, 1978, ‘The Who’s’ drummer Keith Moon also died in the same room, also aged 32.

‘Make Tour Own Kind of Music’ was added to Mama Cass’ second solo studio Album ‘Bubblegum, Lemonade, and…Something for Mama’ from December 1969, after the moderate success of the single (Billboard Number 36) the Album was re-packaged, and re-named ‘Make Your Own Kind of Music/It’s Getting Better,’ increasing the track listing from 11 to 12 tracks. ‘Make Your Own Kind of Music was co-written by the husband and wife songwriting team of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil (see also best songs 782) and produced by Steve Barri (see also best songs 527.)

Mann and Weil who had also been responsible for Elliot’s previous hit ‘It’s Getting Better,’ first had the song recorded by the American Folk/Rock group the ‘Will-O-Bees in 1968, who would record a lot of their material. The song finally became a hit in the UK in 2018 when the English singer Paloma Faith released a very similar sounding version to that of Mamma Cass for a television commercial promoting ‘Skoda Cars, Faith’s version peaked at Number 28 in the UK.

‘Nobody can tell ya there’s only one song worth singing. They may try and sell ya,’ ’cause it hangs them up to see someone like you.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

248-Manic Street Preachers-Motorcycle Emptiness.

1992-Number 17 single.

Best Bit-At 5.20.It might not be totally true, but lead singer James Dean Bradfield relates that while out busking one day in Cardiff he got into an altercation with someone (sometimes said to be a homeless man) who asked him, ‘What are you, boyo, some kind of manic street preacher.’

The Manic Street Preachers, also now often called ‘The Manics’ were formed in 1986 at Oakdale Comprehensive School, Blackwood, South Wales, where all the band members attended. The first line up consisted of James Dean Bradfield, (lead vocals, and guitar) his cousin Sean Moore, (drums) Nicky Wire, (bass and piano) and Miles ‘Flicker’ Woodward, (bass) Woodward left in 1988 claiming he was unhappy that the band were moving away from their ‘Punk’ roots. Woodward was replaced by Richey Edwards (guitar) in 1989 after the release of the bands first single ‘Suicide Alley.’

The Manic Street Preachers sound has altered over the years from ‘Glam Metal,’ and ‘Punk Rock, to ‘Alternative Rock,’ from around the release of their fourth studio Album ‘Everything Must Go’ in 1996, and the disappearance of Richey Edwards in February 1995 (see also best songs 901.) In total The Manic Street Preachers have released 14 studio Albums to date between 1992-2021, and 57 singles between 1988-2021. In the UK 33 of those singles have made the top 40, with two reaching the Number 1 spot.

‘Motorcycle Emptiness’ was the fifth and final single released from The Manic Street Preachers debut Album ‘Generation Terrorists’ from February 1992. The lyrics were written by Richey Edwards and Nicky Wire, with the music by James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore. The track has been interpreted by the band as an attack on the hollowness of the consumer lifestyle offered by capitalism, describing how society expects young people to conform. The lyrics were inspired by S.E. Hinton’s 1975 novel ‘Rumble Fish, which is about biker gang culture. The song was derived from two previous ‘Manics’ tracks,’Go, Buzz Baby, Go,’ which shares the same chord structure, and the phrase ‘motorcycle emptiness,’ and also ‘Behave Yourself Baby,’ that has the lines ‘All we want from you is the skin you live within”, similar to “All we want from you are the kicks you’ve given us” in this song. Some of the other lyrics are taken from the poem ‘Neon Loneliness,’ by the Welsh poet Patrick Jones, who is the brother of Nicky Wire.

Nicky Wire has spoken about his pride in the song,’It’s probably the four of us at our peaks, four people coming together to create that landscape of existential despair, because the production is almost cosmetic, it’s actually pretty timeless, it doesn’t sound like the 90’s. There’s just something about it, for such a complicated lyric, wherever you go, people sing along, that’s a pretty amazing trick.”

‘Culture sucks down words, itemise loathing and feed yourself smiles. Organise your safe tribal war, hurt, maim, kill and enslave the ghetto. Each day living out a lie, Life sold cheaply forever, ever, ever.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

249-The Jacksons-Blame It on the Boogie.

1978-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 2.42. This is confusing because Mick Jackson wrote the song, and Michael Jackson sang it. It was a complete coincidence….so don’t blame it on, anything.

By 1976 The Jackson 5’s (see also best songs 137) record sales were in decline, and they were also in a legal battle with Motown supremo Berry Gordy over royalty payments. This led to the brothers mutually agreeing with Gordy that they should leave Motown, with the exception of Jermaine Jackson (see also best songs 570) who was married to Gordy’s daughter, and he therefore stayed with the label to pursue a solo career. The remaining four brothers Jackie, Tito, Marlon, and Michael, (see also best songs 812-511 and 191) were joined by their youngest brother Randy, and signed a new contract with ‘Epic Records’ in 1976.

Due to Motown owning the brand ‘The Jackson 5,’ the brothers changed their name to ‘The Jacksons’, and recorded six studio Albums between 1976-1989. They also issued 17 singles in the same time period, of which seven made the top 40 in America on the Billboard chart, with ‘State of Shock’ charting the highest at Number 3 in 1984. While in the UK, 11 of their singles made the top 40, with ‘Show You the Way to Go’ reaching Number 1 in 1977. For the discography of ‘The Jackson 5’ (see best songs 137.) ‘The Jacksons’ officially split in 1989, but re-grouped to tour in 2001, with Jemaine joining them, and although they have released no new music, they have played together again since 2012, to the present.

‘Blame It on the Boogie’ was written by a different ‘Jackson’ called Michael George Jackson, who was born in Germany, on November 2nd, 1947, but was raised in England. He and his brother, and others played in a band that went by the name of ‘Mick Jackson,’ ‘Blame It on the Boogie’ was written in collaboration by Mick, and his brother Dave, and Elmar Krohn, with the intention of hopefully getting it recorded by an artist of the stature of Stevie Wonder. The song was circulated, and first off the mark was Bobby Colomby, a music producer who brought the song to the attention of The Jacksons.

In the UK, both The Jacksons version and the original recording by Mick Jackson were both released within a few days of each other in September 1978. The UK music press had a field day declaring it ‘A Battle of the Boogie.’ Mick Jackson got to do ‘Top of the Pops’ first, with The Jacksons appearing the next week. Radio 1 championed The Jacksons version, while ‘Capitol’ radio played the Mick Jackson recording, and even the music press chose sides with ‘Melody Maker’ on side of The Jacksons, and the ‘NME’ siding with Mick Jackson. In the end The Jacksons version peaked at Number 8, and Mick Jackson made Number 15, but of course the real winner was Mick Jackson, has he received the songs royalties as the writer. In 2003 Mick Jackson was quoted as saying,’The Jacksons’ version of “Blame It on the Boogie”: “[the original] version had 100% of our heart and soul in it, but the Jacksons’ version had the magic extra 2% that made it incredible.’

In total Mick Jackson released three studio Albums between 1978-1982, and was saved from being known as a ‘one hit wonder’ when this songs follow up,’Weekend’ reached Number 38, a cover version of ‘Weekend’ by ‘Wet Willie’ reached Number 29 in America in 1979. ‘Blame It on the Boogie’ has also charted twice since in the UK. In 1989 the Stock, Aitken and Waterman produced version of the song by the English Boy Band ‘Big Fun’ reached Number 4, and in 1998 the Dance Music act ‘Clock’ took their version to Number 16.

‘That nasty boogie bugs me, but somehow it has drugged me, spellbound rhythm gets me on my feet. I’ve changed my life completely, I’ve seen the lightning leave me, my baby just can’t take her eyes off me.’