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Posted by: In: Other 20 Jul 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


151-Prodigy-Firestarter.


1996-Number 1 single.


Best Bit-At 0.24. By a happy coincidence Flint is a material used to start fires.


The Prodigy were formed in 1990, in Braintree, Essex, England, (see also best songs 925) and remain active with Liam Howlett being the bands one constant. The discography of the Prodigy consists of seven studio Albums issued between 1992-2018, and 30 singles released between 1991-2018. In the UK, their debut Album ‘Experience’ made Number 12, but all of their other Albums have reached Number 1, while 18 of their singles have made the top 40, with two of them reaching Number 1. In America on Billboard ‘The Fat of the Land’ is their only charting Album, selling in excess of 2.6 million copies, and reaching Number 1 in 1996, with this song being their only chart hit single, making Number 30. In total the Prodigy have sold in excess of 25 million records worldwide to date.


‘Firestarter’ was the first single released from the Prodigy’s third studio Album ‘The Fat of the Land,’ ‘Firestarter’ was released 15 months before the Albums release in June 1997, the single and the Album were produced by Liam Howlett. ‘Firestarter’ started out life as an instrumental written by Howlett. It boasts many samples, the guitar riff was taken from ‘The Breeders’ song ‘S.O.S.’ from 1993, the ‘Hey, Hey, Hey,’ refrain was borrowed from ‘The Art of Noise’ ‘Close (to the Edit’) from 1984, and the drums are sampled from the song ‘Devotion’ by ‘Ten City’ from 1987, hence there being eight names appearing in the songwriting credits. The ‘Empirion Mix’ of ‘Firestarter’ features none of the samples, and is therefore just credited to Howlett, and Kieth Flint.


Keith Charles Flint was born on September 17th, 1969, in Redbridge, London, England, he died on March 4th, 2019, as a result of hanging, although there was insufficient evidence to conclude a suicide verdict, he was 49 years old. Flint had been a founding member of the Prodigy, and up until ‘The Fat of the Land’ his input had mainly been as a dancer for the group. ‘Firestarter’ was the first time Flint had provided lyrics for a Prodigy song, and also sung the lead vocals. Flint has said,’It was so ridiculous because my English isn’t my strong point, by any stretch of the imagination, so I end up singing in this weird accent (puts on a daft yokel voice), ‘Oi’m a muckspreaderrrrr, twisted muckspreaderrrr,’ but it ended up sounding quite… menacing.’ Flint has also said that the song was nothing to do with starting a fire, he has said that he wrote the lyrics about himself performing on stage and stirring up the crowd, ‘This is what I am, some of it is a bit deeper than it seems.’


Liam Paul Paris Howlett was born on August 21st, 1971, in Braintree, England, he is the Prodigy’s main musical contributor, as well as playing synthesizers, keyboards, and drums. He has also produced for others, including the Australian ‘Drum and Bass’ band ‘Pendulum. In 1999 he released the Album ‘Prodigy Present: The Dirtchamber Sessions Volume One,’ which was a mix of 48 songs from many artists cut together, and is solely the work of Howlett, and I strongly recommend that you take a listen.


I’m the trouble starter, punkin’ instigator. I’m the fear addicted, a danger illustrated. I’m a firestarter, twisted firestarter, you’re a firestarter, twisted firestarter.’

Posted by: In: Other 19 Jul 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


152-Stevie Wonder-I Wish.


1976-Number 5 single.


Best Bit-At 3.01.The voice that says ‘You nasty boy’ is Stevie Wonder’s sister Renee Hardaway.


Although Stevie Wonder (see also best songs 920-843-834-682-570-503-366-205 and 65) was a superstar in the 1960’s with many critically acclaimed songs in his portfolio, it is for his work in the 1970’s that he is held in the highest regard, with many music critics citing his five studio Albums issued between ‘Music of My Mind’ from 1972, through to ‘Songs in the Key of Life’ in 1976, as his crowning achievements.


‘I Wish’ was one of two singles released from Stevie Wonder’s 18th studio Album ‘Songs in the Key of Life’ from 1976 that reached Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, the other was this songs follow up ‘Sir Duke.’ By the end of 1975 Stevie Wonder was seriously considering quitting the music industry and emigrating to Ghana to work with disabled children. Motown records talked him out of it by offering him a $37 million deal, (approximately $200 million in 2022) and full artistic control over his next seven Albums, which at that time was the biggest recording contract in history. The first release under the new deal was the double Album ‘Songs in the Key of Life,’ which came with a bonus four-song EP, which Wonder obsessed over, becoming a perfectionist, revisiting each track until he was satisfied, and taking around two years to record. The Album would go on to be Stevie Wonder’s best seller with sales in excess of 5 million copies.


‘I Wish’ is the first track on side 2 of ‘Songs in the Key of Life,’ and was written and produced by Stevie Wonder. In the song Stevie reminisces about his childhood growing up in the 1950’s, and early 1960’s. Despite living in poverty, he looks fondly back on those days, and wishes that they would come back once more. It was a time when his only worry was, ‘For Christmas what would be my toy.’ Because Stevie Wonder has been a recording artist since the age of 11, it is easy to be fooled in to thinking that he is a lot older than he actually is, he had his first Billboard Number 1 with ‘Fingertips-Part 1’ in 1963 at the age of 13.


Stevie Wonder has recollected on how the music for ‘I Wish’ came to him,’The day I wrote it was a Saturday, the day of a Motown picnic in the summer of ’76. God, I remember that because I was having this really bad toothache. It was ridiculous…I had such a good time at the picnic that I went to Crystal Recording Studio right afterwards and the vibe came right to my mind, running at the picnic, the contests, we all participated. It was a lot of fun, and from that came the ‘I Wish’ vibe.’ Stevie Wonder has said that lyrically he originally wanted to address broader topics by incorporating ‘A lot of cosmic type stuff, spiritual stuff, but I couldn’t do that ’cause the music was too much fun. The words didn’t have the fun of the track, and I couldn’t come up with anything stronger than the chorus, ‘I wish those days [claps] would [claps] come back once more.’ Thank goodness we didn’t change that.’


‘Brother says he’s tellin’ ’bout you playin’ doctor with that girl. Just don’t tell, I’ll give you anything you want in this whole wide world. Mama gives you money for Sunday school, you trade yours for candy after church is through. Smokin’ cigarettes and writing something nasty on the wall (you nasty boy.’)

Posted by: In: Other 18 Jul 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


153-Barry White-You’re the First, the Last, My Everything.


1974-Number 1 single.


Best Bit-At 0.50. It is claimed the millions of people have made love to Barry White….no wonder he died so young.


Barry White (see also best songs 560 and 476) was born Barry Eugene Carter on September 12th, 1944, in Galveston, Texas, United States. White was overweight for most of his adult life, and suffered from related health problems. While undergoing dialysis, and awaiting a kidney transplant in May 2003 he suffered a severe stroke. He died on July 4th, 2003, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, at the age of 58. His parents who never married were his father Melvin White, and his mother Sadie Carter, and it wasn’t until he started recording that he took his fathers surname. In an obituary affectionately referring to Barry White by his familiar nickname,’The Walrus of Love,’ a BBC television documentary said,’If chocolate fudge cake could sing, it would sound like Barry White.


‘You’re the First, the Last, My Everything’ was the second single released from Barry White’s third studio Album ‘Can’t Get Enough’ from August 1974, and when issued as a single in October 1974 it gave White his only UK Number 1 single, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100 it peaked at Number 2. The song was co-written by White, Peter Sterling Radcliffe, (1930-2007) and Tony Sepe, who was a frequent collaborator with White, the track was also produced by Barry White.


‘You’re the First, the Last, My Everything’ had originally started out life as a ‘Country Music’ song written around 1953 by Peter Sterling Radcliffe, which he had called ‘You’re the First, the Last, My In-Between.’ Radcliffe who had become a personal friend of Barry White had never got around to recording the song, but on hearing it White felt that with a few radical changes he could make it in to a ‘Disco’ hit. It is said that when Tone Sepe first heard the Country song with the ‘clip-clop’ of horses hooves keeping the rhythm he was shocked by White’s positive reaction. Barry White has said,’ I said Sterling, that song is a smash. Tony’s face actually changed. I said Sterling I want you to stay out of my face for the next two or three weeks, when you come back, you’re going to be part of a smash.’


Barry White changed the songs genre from ‘Country’ to ‘Disco,’ he kept the chord changes and part of Radcliffe’s melody, but he also added his own melody, and nearly all new lyrics. White has said,’I went in to the studio and made up my own melody all the way through. Half of the words in it I changed right in front of the microphone.’ It is said that when Radcliffe first heard the final result, he cried.


‘In you, I’ve found so many things, a love so new only you could bring. Can’t you see if you, you make me feel this way, you’re like a first morning dew on a brand new day.’

Posted by: In: Other 17 Jul 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


154-10cc-I’m Not in Love.


1975-Number 1 single.


Best Bit-At 5.17. Band member Kevin Godley said,’Forget instruments, forget guitars, forget drums. Just voices, like a heavenly choir, like a tsunami of voices.’


10cc (see also best songs 663) were formed in Stockport, England, in 1972 by Graham Gouldman, (lead vocals, and bass) Eric Stuart, (lead vocals, and guitars) Lol Creme, (keyboards) and Kevin Godley, (drums) this classic line up remained in place until 1975 when Godley and Creme left, stating musical differences as the cause for the split. As boys Godley and Creme had grown up together in the Manchester area, and Godley later attended secondary school with Gouldman. The three first met Eric Stewart when Graham Gouldman invested money into a recording studio that Stewart already partly owned and recorded at, this studio in Stockport would become known as ‘Strawberry Studios,’ taking it’s name from the Beatles song ‘Strawberry Fields Forever.’


‘I’m Not in Love’ was the second single released from 10cc’s third studio Album ‘The Original Soundtrack’ from March 1975. The song was co-written by Eric Stuart and Graham Gouldman, with all four band members receiving the production credits. The song originally started out life as a ‘Bossa Nova’ melody played on guitars, but after Godley and Creme both hated it, the song was discarded until the band members heard some of the studio staff humming the melody, and they then realised they could be on to a winner if the song was radically altered.


It was Kevin Godley who suggested the unique idea of recording the song with a large wordless choir, which in fact are the voices of all four band members. In the recording studio the song was painstakingly built up from chord loops, and multi tracks, some 256 vocal dubs were required to complete the lush harmonies behind Eric Stewart’s lead vocals.


Eric Stuart got the idea for the song after his wife of then eight years said to him,’You don’t say I love you much anymore,’ to which Stewart replied,’If I said it all the time it would sound glib.’ Stewart then wondered how he could say ‘I love you’ without actually using those words, so ‘I’m Not in Love’ became a rhetorical conversation with himself, and then a song. Graham Gouldman has added,’Eric and I had always avoided a love song, but I was always convinced we could do a great one, and once again Eric came up with the title of that song, and it was the perfect title of an anti-love song. But of course, is it an anti-love song? Is it I’m not in love, or is it, I am in love?’


The whispered female vocals ‘Be quiet, big boys don’t cry’ were provided by the studio secretary Kathy Redfern. The band had been looking for a certain sound when Redfern entered the studio to quietly tell Stuart that he had a phone call. When he heard her voice he knew that it was right for the song. Those whispered lyrics became the inspiration for the English Pop band ‘Boys Don’t Cry,’ who reached Number 12 on Billboard, and Number 4 in Australia in 1985 with their only hit single ‘I Wanna Be a Cowboy.’


‘I keep your picture upon the wall, it hides a nasty stain that’s lying there. So don’t you ask me to give it back, I know you know it doesn’t mean that much to me.’

Posted by: In: Other 16 Jul 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


155-MC5-Kick Out the Jams.


1969-It has never charted in the UK.


Best Bit-At 0.18. What they are actually saying is, if a song is perfect at 2 minutes, then don’t ruin it by playing it for 10.


MC5 were formed in Lincoln Park, Detroit, Michigan, United States, in 1963, in total there have been 25 members come and go, with the band being currently still active. The classic line up comprised Wayne Kramer, (guitars and vocals) Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith, (1948-1994) (bass and vocals) Rob Tyner, (1944-1991) (bass) Michael Davis, (1943-2012) (bass) and Dennis Thompson (drums.) The ‘MC’ stands for motor city, and there were five original members. The MC5 have issued two studio Albums, in 1970, and 1971, and there have been six live Albums issued between 1969-2006, and 11 official compilations, they have also released seven singles between 1966-1970. Although never achieving chart success, both of the bands two studio Albums, and their first live recording ‘Kick Out the Jams’ are all considered important in the development of Rock Music. The MC5 were considered to be part of the American ‘counterculture Movement’ of the 1960’s, and together with their anti-establishment lyrics, and the music they were making from their mix of ‘Hard Rock,’ Garage Rock,’ and ‘Blues Rock,’ made them forerunners and innovators of ‘Punk Rock,’ which was still many yeas away in 1969.


The songwriting credits for ‘Kick Out the Jams’ are given to all five band members at that time, but most of the work on this song was done by lead singer Rob Tyner. ‘Kick Out the Jams’ appears as track 2 on MC5’s debut Album of the same name, and was recorded live on October 30th, and October 31st, in Detroit, at the ‘Grande Ballroom,’ although having achieved little commercial success, the band at that time had built up a large cult following.


Because of the groups political views many thought that ‘Kick Out the Jams’ was a slogan for 1960’s revolution and liberation, but in 1970 guitarist Wayne Kramer explained the real meaning.’We first used the phrase when we were the house band at a ballroom in Detroit, and we played there every week with another band from the area. We got in the habit, being the sort of punks we are, of screaming at them to get off the stage, to kick out the jams, meaning stop jamming. We were saying it all the time and it became a sort of esoteric phrase. Now, I think people can get what they like out of it; that’s one of the good things about rock and roll.’


Nowadays it seems that every other song you hear has swear words in it, but back in 1969 the line ‘Kick out the Jams motherf..fers’ was shocking to many, and led to some record shops, and other outlets refusing to sell the Album. This led to a standoff between the bands record label ‘Elektra,’ and the retailers, with the MC5 eventually being dropped by the label after the retailers threatened to not sell any of the labels other artists, which included The Doors, and Judy Collins. The MC5 refused to back down, and made matters worse by taking out a full page advertisement ridiculing ‘Hudson’s’ department store for refusing to sell the Album. MC5 were dropped by Elecktra and went on to sign with Atlantic Records where they released their two studio Albums. An uncensored version of Kick Out the Jams was issued with Rob Tyner now singing ‘Kick out the jams, brothers and sisters.’


‘The wailin’ guitars girl, the crash of the drums, make you want to keep-a-rockin’, till the morning comes. Let me be who I am, and let me kick out the jams, yes, kick out the jams, I done kicked em out.’

Posted by: In: Other 15 Jul 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


156-Sam Cooke-A Change Is Gonna Come.


1964-It has never charted in the UK.


Best Bit-At 2.29. The inspiration for this song my friend,’ is Blowin’ in the Wind.’


Samuel Cook was born on January 22nd, 1931, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, United States, he died from a shotgun wound that pieced his heart on December 11th, 1964, at the age of 33. Prior to starting his solo career in 1957, Cook had been a member of the Gospel group the ‘Soul Stirrers,’ which also included other future secular singers such as Johnnie Taylor, (1934-2000) and Lou Rawls (1933-2006) (see also best songs 322.) It was on pursuing a solo career that Cook added an ‘e’ to the end of his surname in order to signify a new start in his life. Such was the high esteem Cooke was held in during his short solo career for his distinctive vocals, that he was given the honorific nickname ‘King of Soul.’ Cooke was married twice, and had three children with his second wife Barbara Campbell, (1935-2021) one of which was Linda (see also best songs 494) Cooke also fathered at least three other children out of wedlock.


The discography of Sam Cooke consists of 14 studio Albums issued between 1958-1965, and 49 singles released between 1957-1986. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, 27 of his singles have reached the top 40, with his debut single ‘You Send Me’ making Number 1 in 1957. While in the UK, 10 of his songs have reached the top 40, with the 1986 re-issue of the double ‘A’ sided ‘Wonderful World,’ and ‘Chain Gang,’ peaking at Number 2.


On December 11th, 1964 Sam Cooke took a woman by the name of Elisa Boyer to the Hacienda Motel, in South Central Los Angeles. Later in court Boyer accused Cooke of trying to rape her, but associates of Cooke strongly denied that, saying that Boyer was actually trying to steal a large amount of money Cooke was carrying on him. As Boyer fled the hotel an inebriated, and almost naked Cooke (as Boyer had taken his clothes in her panic to escape) broke in to the office of Bertha Franklin the manager of the motel in an attempt to find Bower. Franklin said she shot Cooke in self defence after Cooke had grappled with her, with the two falling to the floor. The coroner’s jury ultimately accepted Franklin’s explanation and returned a verdict of justifiable homicide, with that verdict, authorities officially closed the case on Cooke’s death.


Sam Cooke wrote ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ as a protest song to support the ‘Civil Rights Movement.’ Up until that point Cooke’s songs were mainly middle of the road lighthearted uptempo tunes, or romantic ballads, but it was after hearing Bob Dylan’s ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ (see also best songs 792-358-103-36 and 7) that he became inspired, as he couldn’t believe it wasn’t written by a black man. Some of ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’s’ lyrics were derived from an incident at a motel in Shreveport, Louisiana, where Cooke and some of his friends had been turned away for being black. Cooke felt it was time that he wrote a protest song, as he felt ashamed that he hadn’t done so already.


‘I was born by the river in a little tent, oh and just like the river I’ve been running ev’r since. It’s been a long time, a long time coming, but I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will.’

Posted by: In: Other 14 Jul 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


157-Beatles-Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.


1967-It has never been released as a single in the UK.
Best Bit-At 1.49. ‘A great philosopher once wrote, naughty naughty very naughty.’


I have always been totally convinced that this song was about drugs, but the more I have read about it the more I am beginning to think it might not be, but then again I am a very gullible person.


‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ first appeared as track 3 on side 1 on the Beatles (see also best songs 599-319-238-218-141-80-51-10 and 5) eighth studio Album ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ released in May 1967, the Album is the best selling British studio Album worldwide of all time with sales in excess of 32 million copies. ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ songwriting was as always credited to Lennon/McCartney regardless of whom had the major input, with this one being mainly John Lennon (1940-1980) (see also best songs 927-473-473-456-168 and 20.) Paul McCartney (see also best songs 646 and 107) has claimed that he contributed the ‘newspaper taxis,’ and ‘cellophane flowers’ lyrics, to which Lennon in a 1968 interview confirmed.


John Lennon has said on many occasions that his inspiration for ‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ came about when his three year old son Julian showed him a nursery school drawing that he called ‘Lucy-in the sky with diamonds,’ depicting his classmate Lucy O’Donnell. Julian later recalled.’I don’t know why I called it that, or why it stood out from all my other drawings, but I obviously had an affection for Lucy at that age.’ Lucy O’Donnell who married and became Lucy Vodden died in 2009, Julian Lennon had been informed she was ill, and renewed their friendship before her death of complications of lupus.


John Lennon has said that the songs lyrics were largely derived from the literary style of Lewis Carroll’s (1832-1898) novel ‘Alice in Wonderland’ (1865) (see also best songs 512.) Rumours of the connection between the songs title and the initialism for the drug ‘LSD’ (Lysergig acid diethylamide) began circulating shortly after the release of the ‘Sgt. Pepper’s’ Album. Lennon has always maintained that the song wasn’t about drugs, and that the ‘LSD’ connection is a complete coincidence, he has said,’I didn’t even see it on the label. I didn’t look at the initials. I don’t look, I mean I never play things backwards. I listened to it as I made it. It’s like there will be things on this one, if you fiddle about with it. I don’t know what they are. Every time after that though I would look at the titles to see what it said, and usually they never said anything.’ In 1971 Lennon was interviewed on the American television programme ‘The Dick Cavett Show,’ where he said, ‘My son came home with a drawing of a strange looking woman flying around. He said, ‘It’s Lucy in the sky with diamonds.’ I thought, ‘That’s beautiful.’ I immediately wrote the song about it.’


‘Picture yourself in a boat on a river with tangerine trees and marmalade skies. Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly a girl with kaleidoscope eyes.’

Posted by: In: Other 13 Jul 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


158-Santana-She’s Not There


1977-Number 11 single.


Best Bit-At 2.39. I am a believer in that the first version you hear of a song will very likely turn out to be your preferred version. Had I heard the original version by the Zombies first, would that have been my preferred version? I honestly am not sure.


‘She’s Not There’ was written by Rod Argent of the British Rock group the Zombies, (see also best songs 407) and released as their debut single in 1964, reaching Number 12 in the UK, and Number 2 on Billboard in America. Argent had taken a liking to the song title ‘No One Told Me,’ which was a 1964 song recorded by John Lee Hooker, and he decided to write lyrics incorporating those words, although it must be pointed out that nothing else from the Hooker song is part of ‘She’s Not There.’


The Rock band Santana were formed by by Carlos Santana, in San Francisco, California, United States, in 1966, they remain active with a total of 73 different members coming and going over the years, with only Carlos Santana being the groups one constant. Carlos Santana was born Carlos Augusto Santana Alves on July 20th, 1947, in Autlan, Jalisca, Mexico, he is considered to be one of the greatest guitarists of all time, regularly appearing in best of lists. Over the course of Santana’s 26 studio Albums released between 1969-2021 they have recorded in many different genres including ‘Latin Rock,’ Psychedelic Rock,’ and ‘Jazz Fusion.’ They have also issued 61 singles in the same time period, with 15 of those tracks making the Billboard Hot 100 top 40, including two of those songs reaching Number 1. While in the UK they have charted on five occasions, with ‘Smooth’ from 1999 charting the highest at Number 3. Santana have currently sold in excess of 100 million records world wide.


Santana recorded ‘She’s Not There’ for their ninth Album ‘Moonflower’ released in October 1977, it is a double Album with studio recordings, and live recordings interspersed throughout. ‘She’s Not There’ is the opening track on side 3 of the Album, and features the vocals of Greg Walker, who was a member of Santana sporadically between 1975-1985. The other artists to appear on the track were Carlos Santana, (guitar) Tom Coster, (keyboards) David Margen, (bass) Graham Lear, (drums) and Pete Escovedo, (percussion) incidentally Escovedo is the father of the drummer and singer Sheila E.


‘Well, no one told me about her, the way she lied. Well, no one told me about her, how many people cried, but it’s too late to say you’re sorry, how would I know, why should I care? Please don’t bother tryin’ to find her, she’s not there.’

Posted by: In: Other 12 Jul 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


159-Pete Seeger-Where Have All the Flowers Gone.


1955-It has never charted in the UK.


Best Bit-At 1.42. The lyrics tell of the cycle of war. The girls pick the flowers, the men pick the girls, the men go off to war and fill graves with their dead, to which the girls then cover with flowers.


Peter Seeger was born on May 3rd, 1919, in New York City, United States, he died on January 27th, 2014, also in New York City, at the age of 94. In 1941 at the age of 21 Seeger performed as a member of ‘The Almanac Singers,’ who were an American Folk Music group, that also included Millard Lampell, (1919-1997) Lee Hays, (1914-1981) Woody Guthrie (1912-1967.) The group specialised in topical songs, mostly songs advocating an anti-war, anti-racism, and pro-union philosophy, The Almanac Singers remained active until 1943.
In 1948 Seeger and Hays formed the Folk group ‘The Weavers’ with Ronnie Gilbert, (1926-2015) and Fred Hellerman, (1927-2016) they had great success selling millions of records, including their cover of the Lead Belly (see also best songs 431) composition ‘Goodnight Irene,’ which spent 13 weeks at Number 1 on Billboard in America in 1950.


‘Where Have All the Flowers Gone’ is perhaps the song that Seeger is best remembered for, but two of his other co-writes, ‘If I Had a Hammer,’ made Number 3 for Trini Lopez on Billboard in 1963. and Turn! Turn! Turn!’ reached Number 1 on Billboard in 1965, when recorded by ‘The Byrds.’ Pete Seeger wrote ‘Where Have All the Flowers Gone’ as a call for peace, his initial inspiration for the song came while reading the 1934 novel ‘And Quiet Flows the Don,’ written by Mikhail Sholokhov (1905-1984) in which lyrics from the traditional Cossack folk song ‘Koloda-Duda’ are referenced,’Where are the flowers, the girls have plucked them. Where are the girls, they’ve all taken husbands. Where are the men, they’re all in the army.’ Seeger has said that he borrowed the melody for the song from an Irish lumberjack song with the words ‘Johnson says he’ll load more hay.’ He simply slowed the tune, and incorporated the lines into it.


Seeger completed the song in 1955, but it was Joe Hickerson, who was born on October 20th, 1935, in Lake Forest, Illinois, United States, who after hearing Seeger perform the song decided to add a further two verses,’Where have all the soldiers gone, gone to graveyards everyone. Where have all the graveyards gone, covered with flowers everyone.’ Hickerson’s name was added to the songs writing credits, with Seeger saying that he gives him 20% royalties.


‘Where Have All the Flowers Gone’ has been recorded by hundreds of artists in many differing styles. The Folk group ‘The Kingston Trio’ were the first to have a hit with it, when making Number 21 on Billboard in 1961. The actress Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992) recorded the song in English, French and German, while the American R&B group Earth Wind & Fire gave the song a complete musical overall on their 1972 Album ‘Last Days and Time.’


‘Where have all the graveyards gone, long time passing, gone to flowers everyone. Oh, when will they ever learn, oh, when will they ever learn.’

Posted by: In: Other 11 Jul 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.


160-Rolling Stones-Miss You.


1978-Number 3 single.


Best Bit-At 2.20. The Rolling Stones once sang ‘It’s Only Rock ‘N’ Roll But I Like It,’ but this isn’t just Rock ‘N’ Roll, it’s ‘Disco’ as well.


By 1978 the Rolling Stones had already been superstars for at least 15 years, and had been at the top of the tree for longer than 99% of other artists could ever dream about. Their last truly critically acclaimed Album had been 1972’s ‘Exile on Main Street,’ and although the three studio Albums since then still showed them performing at a high level, the onset of ‘Punk’,and ‘Disco’, and also lots of new kids on the block, were all adding up to a steady decline in the bands popularity.
Like Lennon and McCartney, the songwriting team of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards also legally shared song writing credits regardless of whom had the most input. In 1977 Keith Richards was in trouble over his highly publicised heroin possession bust in Canada, and was waiting to find out if he might be sent to jail. This gave Jagger the freedom to expand his own musical barriers and experiment with modern ‘R&B’ and Disco Music.


‘Miss You’ started out life in March 1977 when Jagger was jamming with keyboardist Billy Preston, (1946-2006) (see also best songs 737) the pair came up with the basic track, but Bill Wyman (the Rolling Stones bassist) claims that it was he who wrote the ‘Bass Riff,’ which he also performed on the track.’When I did the riff for ‘Miss You,’ which made the song, and every band in the world copied it for the next year, Rod Stewart, all of them, it still said Jagger/Richards. When I wrote the riff for ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’, it became Jagger/Richards and that’s the way it was. It just became part and parcel of the way the band functioned.’


‘Miss You’ was the first of four singles released from the Rolling Stones (see also best songs 933-662-452 and 77) 14th UK, and 16th U.S. studio release ‘Some Girls,’ the Album has gone on to be the groups best ever selling studio Album with sales in excess of six million copies worldwide.’Miss You’ was the first Rolling Stones song to receive a remix, taking the original 4.48 Album version up to 8.38 for the ‘Special Disco Version,’ which was first issued on Pink 12 inch vinyl. The bands drummer Charlie Watts (1941-2021) has said,’A lot of those songs like ‘Miss You’ were heavily influenced by going to the discos. You can hear it in a lot of those four on the floor rhythms, and the Philadelphia style drumming. Mick and I used to go to discos a lot… It was a great period. I remember being in Munich and coming back from a club with Mick singing one of the Village People songs – ‘Y.M.C.A.’, I think it was – and Keith went mad, but it sounded great on the dance floor.’


‘Hey, what’s the matter man? We’re gonna come around at twelve with some Puerto Rican girls that are just dyin’ to meet you. We’re gonna bring a case of wine, hey, let’s go mess and fool around you know, like we used to.’