THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

104-Dexys Midnight Runners-Geno.

1980-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.39. I’ve never been the greatest fan of Brass Band music, but if it all sounded like this, then convert me quick.

Dexys Midnight Runners were formed in Birmingham, England, in 1978 by Kevin Rowland, and Kevin ‘Al’ Archer, who had both previously been members of the Punk Rock group ‘The Killjoys,’ who released two singles in 1977. Dexys Midnight Runners remained active until 1986, but reformed again in 2003, and at the time of writing they are still performing. The bands name was derived from ‘Dexedrine,’ which was commonly used as a recreational drug among ‘Northern Soul’ fans, in order to give them energy to dance all night. In total there have been 53 different members of Dexys Midnight Runners come and go, with Kevin Rowland being the bands one constant. They have released five studio Albums between 1980-2016, and 25 singles, of which nine have made the UK top 40, and two have made Number 1 (see also best songs 913.) In America the band are a ‘one hit wonder,’ because ‘Come On Eileen’ is their only charting single, which reached Number 1 on Billboard in 1982.

‘Geno’ was the second single released by Dexys Midnight Runners, and the first of two from their debut studio Album ‘Searching for the Young Soul Rebels’ from July 1980. ‘Geno’ was co-written by Kevin Archer, (music) and Kevin Rowland (lyrics) and was produced by Pete Wingfield, who is probably best remembered for his 1975 hit ‘Eighteen with a Bullet,’ which reached Number 7 in the UK, and Number 15 in America.

‘Geno’ is a tribute song to the American Soul singer Geno Washington, who was born William Francis Washington, in December 1943, in Evansville, Indiana. As ‘Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band,’ they were active between 1965-1968 having no success in America, but in the UK they achieved two top 40 singles, with ‘Walter,’ and ‘Michael (the Lover’) both reaching Number 39 in 1966. In fact after ‘Geno’ was a hit, Geno Washington became far more famous than he had been in his heyday in the 1960’s. Kevin Rowland who wrote the lyrics to ‘Geno’ has said,’I saw Geno Washington in 68 at the Railway Hotel in Harrow. I was 15 years old and out with all the older kids, you had to be 18 to get in, short haired, cool-looking mods, turning into skinhead types. Looking back, it’s probably not the best gig I’ve ever been to, but I didn’t have anything to compare it to.’

‘Geno’ was very much written in the style of the type of music that Geno Washington & the Ram Jam Band would perform live, the ‘Geno,’ Geno,’ Geno,’ chant at the beginning and end of the song is reminiscent of Washington’s 1960’s live performances, where the shows compare would excite the audience before Washington took to the stage. The ‘Geno’ chant was actually sampled from the crowd noise on Van Morrison’s (see also best songs 762) 1974 live Album ‘It’s too Late to Stop Now.’ I would also urge you to take a listen to the 1964 song ‘One and Only Man,’ by the British R&B group ‘Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band,’ and you will hear where Kevin Archer got his ideas for ‘Geno’s’ melody from.

‘Back in ’68 in a sweaty club, before Jimmy’s Machine and The Rocksteady Rub. On a night when flowers didn’t suit my shoes, after a week of flunkin’ and bunkin’ school. The lowest head in the crowd that night, just practicin’ steps and keepin’ outta the fights.’