THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

81-John Miles-Music.

1976-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 2.58. Some songs have vague lyrics, some are practically impossible to decipher, others can appear to have more than one meaning, and some you can study for hours and hours and still get nowhere, but even my small brain had this one sussed in under five seconds.

John Miles was born John Errington on April 23rd, 1949, in Jarrow, County Durham, England, he died after a short illness on December 5th, 2021, at the age of 72. Miles became part of a local band in 1969 called ‘The Influence,’ which included Paul Thompson, who joined Roxy Music in 1971, (see also best songs 316 and 57) and Vic Malcolm who co-founded ‘Geordie’ (see also best songs 128) in 1971. In 1971 John Miles pursued a solo career, and although none of his songs from that period were commercially successful, his recording of the George Young (1946-2017) and Harry Vanda (see also best songs 939 and 447) song ‘One Minute Every Hour’ has become a ‘Northern Soul’ favourite.

In 1975 John Miles signed with ‘Decca Records’ which led to him working with Alan Parsons, (see also best songs 130) and Andrew Powell, (see also best songs 866-130-81 and 2) Parsons was this songs producer, and Powell did the orchestral arrangements. In total John Miles released 10 studio Albums between 1976-1999, and 18 singles between 1975-1994, of which four made the UK top 40, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100, his only top 40 hit was ‘Slow Down,’ which made Number 34 in 1976. From 1985 John Miles participated almost every year in the ‘Night of the Proms,’ which is a series of concerts held yearly in several European countries, and the United States. Miles’ song ‘Music’ became an anthem for these shows, and in 2009 he released a live Album,’The Best of John Miles at the Night of the Proms.’

‘Music’ was the second single released from John Miles’ first solo Album ‘Rebel’ from March 1976, on the Album’s cover Miles is posed with a big gun on his shoulders, reminiscent of James Dean, (1931-1955) who is considered a rebel. John Miles claims to have written ‘Music’ in around 30 minutes while performing in Leeds, England, at the ‘Cinderalla Rockerfellas’ nightclub, which was part of a chain of nightclubs owned by Peter Stringfellow (1940-2018.) In the UK ‘Music’ was released in it’s full entirety of 5.52 seconds, but in America it was heavily edited down to just over 3 minutes, which probably explains why it stalled at Number 88 on Billboard. In 2009 Miles collaborated with his son John Miles Jr. who is a member of the Belgium Dance act ‘Sylver,’ on a re-make of ‘Music,’ which saw this new version chart at Number 11 in Belgium.

Alan Parsons who produced ‘Music,’ and the rest of ‘Rebel’ as well has said,’Music’ is a milestone in the history of popular music, and John Miles is one of my favourite singers, and I am honoured that I have been able to put my mark onto his great music.’ Carl Huybrechts, who was one of the the joint creators of ‘Night of the Proms’ said,’I’ve heard him play ‘Music’ a thousand times. It always gave me goosebumps. With that huge orchestra there, it will always stay with me.’

‘Music was my first love, and it will be my last. Music of the future and music of the past.To live without my music would be impossible to do. In this world of troubles, my music pulls me through.’