THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

253-The Stone Roses-Fools Gold.

1989-Number 8 single. It re-entered the chart in 1995, reaching Number 25, and after being remixed in 1999, it once again charted at Number 25.

Best Bit-At 4.03. I can’t help feeling that if Ian Brown had stood closer to the microphone we would have heard him a little clearer.

The Stone Roses were formed in Manchester, England, in 1983, and remained active until 1996, they re-united in 2011, and parted ways again in 2017. In total there have been 11 official members of the group, with the classic line up consisting of Ian Brown, (lead vocals) John Squire, (guitar) Gary Mounfield, (bass) and Alan Wren (drums.) The Stone Roses (see also best songs 979) have released just two studio Albums, ‘The Stone Roses’ in 1989, and ‘Second Coming’ in 1994, They have also issued 15 singles between 1985-2016, with only their debut release ‘So Young’ failing to make the UK top 40.

The Stone Roses are one of Pop Music’s most critically acclaimed acts although they only released two studio Albums. Their mix of Rock, Funk, and Psychedelic Rock was the inspiration for many bands of the early 1990’s including fellow Manchester band Oasis (see also best songs 1006-758 and 15.) Noel Gallagher has said,’When I heard ‘Sally Cinnamon’ for the first time, I knew what my destiny was,” while his brother Liam has stated that they were the first band he saw live, and that seeing them perform influenced him to become a singer.

‘Fools Gold’ was taken from The Stone Roses critically acclaimed self titled debut studio Album released in May 1989. ‘Fools Gold’ was co-written by Ian Brown, and John Squire, and produced by John Leckie who also produced the Album. The song was initially planned as the ‘B’ side to ‘What the World Is Waiting For,’ but after their record label ‘Silvertone’ suggested ‘Fools Gold’ for the ‘A’side, the band and the record label compromised, and both tracks were issued as a double ‘A’ sided single.

‘Fools Gold’ is built around a loop from the 1970 song ‘Funky Drummer’ by James Brown (1933-2006) (see also best songs 880-349-270 and 88) ‘Funky Drummer’ is a song John Squire had first heard on a compilation Album he had picked up in a Manchester record store.’Funky Drummer’ is also one of the most sampled songs in the history of Pop Music, especially in the ‘Hip-Hop’ community. ‘Fools Gold’ also samples the bassline from a 1988 song called ‘Know How,’ by the English Rapper ‘Young MC.’

‘Fools Gold’ is a song about greed, with the lyrics written by Ian Brown who had got inspiration having seen the 1948 Humphrey Bogart film ‘The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.’ In the film friends go up a mountain in search of gold, and after being successful their greed gets the better of them, and they turn on each other, Brown has said,’That’s how it felt once the Roses started getting successful. Suddenly everyone was after their piece of gold.”

‘These boots were made for walking,The Marquis de Sade don’t wear no boots like these. Gold’s just around the corner, breakdown’s coming up ’round the bend.