THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

229-Noel Harrison-The Windmills of Your Mind.

1969-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 1.08. Don’t worry if you can’t make head or tail of these beautiful lyrics, they are meant to be just a series of random thoughts.

‘The Windmills of Your Mind’ was written for the 1968 American heist film ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ starring Steve McQueen, (1930-1980) and Faye Dunaway. In the film the song is heard, sung by Noel Harrison during the opening credits, and also during the film, in a scene where the character Thomas Crown flies his glider over New Hampshire, England. The songs lyrics are meant to be the thoughts of Thomas Crown, played by Steve McQueen, who while flying his glider, is planning the perfect crime.
The films producer/director Norman Jewison had originally contemplated using the Beatles ‘Strawberry Fields Forever,’ (see also best songs 51) but instead decided on commissioning a brand new song. Jewison approached the French composer Michel Legrand (1932-2019) (see also best songs 942) who then approached the husband and wife writing team of Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman, (1928-2022) (see also best songs 214 and 145) who came up with these dreamy lyrics.

‘The Windmills of Your Mind’ was first offered to Andy Williams (1927-2012) (see also best songs 914 and 112) who turned it down, so it was then offered to Noel Harrison. Noel John Christoper Harrison was born on January 29th, 1934, in Exeter, Devon, England, he died on October 19th, 2013 after suffering a heart attack, at the age of 79, he was the son of the actor Rex Harrison (1908-1990.) Noel Harrison had a varied career having been a member of the British Olympic skiing team in the 1950’s. Harrison was also an actor, and spent many years touring in America, performing in productions, he also appeared as an actor in eight films between 1961-1999, and there are 13 official Albums of his music currently available, recorded between 1960-2010. In America Harrison is best remembered for co-starring in the 1960’s television spy series ‘The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.’ alongside Stephanie Powers.

‘The Windmills of Your Mind’ went on to win the Oscar for ‘Best Song From a Film’ in 1969, which proved to be a complete surprise to Noel Harrison who once said,’It didn’t seem like a big deal at the time. I went to the studio one afternoon, sang it and pretty much forgot about it. I didn’t realise until later what a timeless, beautiful piece Michel Legrand and the Bergman’s had written. It turned out to be my most notable piece of work.’

In 1999 in the remake of ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ the song was re-recorded, and performed by Sting (see also best song 1020 and 727.) Another notable version is by Dusty Springfield, (1939-1999) (see also best songs 882 and 171) who recorded the song for her debut ‘Atlantic Records’ Album ‘Dusty in Memphis,’ which when released as a single made Number 31 on Billboard, becoming the most successful version of the song in America, as the Noel Harrison recording had failed to chart there.

‘Like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel within a wheel, never ending or beginning on an ever spinning reel, as the images unwind, like the circles that you find in the windmills of your mind.’