THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

60-Gerry and the Pacemakers-You’ll Never Walk Alone.

1963-Number 1 single. It also re-entered the chart in 2012 when reaching Number 12.

Best Bit-At 1.55. According to former Liverpool Football Club player Tommy Smith, (1945-2019) Gerry Marsden gave the Liverpool manager Bill Shankly (1913-1981) a recording of this song which was to be their next single. Shankly was very impressed, he said,’Gerry my son, I have given you a football team, and you have given us a song.’

‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ started out life as a show tune, from the 1945 Richard Rodgers, (1902-1979) and Oscar Hammerstein (1895-1960) (see also best songs 842 and 82) musical ‘Carousel,’ which was also made into a 1956 film, both the musical and the film were based on the 1909 play ‘Lillom,’ written by the Austrian/Hungarian novelist Ferenc Molnar (1878-1952.) In the musical it was first sung by Christine Johnson, (1911-2010) in the role of Nettie Fowler, while later in the show it was reprised by Jan Clayton, (1917-1983) in the role of Julie Jordan.

In 1963 at Anfield, the home of Liverpool Football Club, the Disc Jockey would play the current top 10 Pop chart singles before every home game. After a while some of the crowd would start to sing-a-long to ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone.’ As the weeks went by more and more would begin to join in, and even after the record dropped out of the top 10 it would still be requested. The song has since become ingrained as part of the pre match ritual at Anfield, and is probably the most famous sporting anthem worldwide. The Liverpool Football Club’s official emblem has the words ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ inscribed in white, on a green background, and those words are also above the ‘Shankly Gates,’ which are on the Anfield Road side of the ground.

‘Gerry and the Pacemakers’ were formed in Liverpool, England in 1956 by Gerry Marsden, (1942-2021) his brother Freddie Marsden, (1940-2006) and Arthur ‘Mack’ McMahon, who stayed with the group until departing in 1961. They originally started out life as ‘Gerry Marsden and the Mars Bars,’ but had to change when the ‘Mars Company’ who made the chocolate ‘Mars Bar’ complained. In total there have been eight different members over the years, with the group being active from 1956-1966, and then in 1972 Gerry Marden reactivated the band using differing members, and they remained active until 2018. The discography of Gerry and the Pacemakers includes nine studio Albums released between 1963-1983, and 26 singles issued between 1963-2012. In the UK they have achieved 10 top 40 hits, and were the first artists to get to Number 1 with their first three singles,’How Do You Do It,’ ‘I Like It,’ and ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone,’ all in 1963. In America seven of their singles have charted on the Billboard Hot 100 top 40, with ‘Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying’ charting the highest at Number 4 in 1964.

At the time Gerry and the Pacemakers released ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ they were working with some of the same people as the Beatles, as both groups shared the same manager Brian Epstein, (1934-1967) and both bands also shared the same producer George Martin (1926-2016.) ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ has also reached Number 1 on two other occasions in the UK, in 1985 following the Bradford City Football Club stadium fire in which 56 people died, Gerry Marsden sang lead vocals on a re-make of the song with all profits going to the families of the bereaved. Marsden was joined by many musicians and celebrities of the day, playing as ‘The Crowd.’ In April 2020, to mark 99-year old Captain Tom Moore (1920-2021) completing the first phase of his fundraising walk during the COVID-19 pandemic, English actor, singer and broadcaster, Michael Ball sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone” for him live on BBC Television Breakfast. Within 24 hours their rendition was released as a download and went straight to Number 1 in the UK. Captain Tom Moore who turned 100 years old six days later became the oldest living person to achieve a UK Number 1 single, beating the previous record-holder Tom Jones, (see also best songs 964 and 129) who was 68 years old when a Comic Relief rendition of ‘Islands in the Stream’ reached Number 1 in 2009.

In May 1989 Gerry Marsden sang lead vocal on a charity version of his own composition ‘Ferry Cross the Mersey,’ which had originally reached Number 8 in 1964, and was made for those affected by the ‘Hillsborough disaster’, which had claimed the lives of 95 Liverpool fans (which has since risen to 97.) Marsden was joined on the recording by other Liverpool artists, Paul McCartney, The Christians, and Holly Johnson, with production provided by Stock Aitken and Waterman.

‘When you walk through a storm hold your head up high, and don’t be afraid of the dark. At the end of a storm there’s a golden sky, and the sweet silver song of a lark.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

61-Gerry Rafferty-Baker Street.

1978-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 5.13. Some people think this song is better than sax.

Gerald Rafferty was born on April 16th, 1947, in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, he died of liver failure on January 4th, 2011, at the age of 63. Gerry Rafferty’s early musical influences were both Irish and Scottish Folk songs, and then after hearing the Beatles, and Bob Dylan, he started to write his own material. In the early 1960’s Rafferty played in a local band called the ‘Maverix,’ with a school friend of his, Joe Egan, the pair would later move to London where both became members of the band ‘Fifth Column,’ and recorded the commercially unsuccessful single ‘Benjamin Day’/’There’s Nobody Here,’ in 1966. In 1969 Rafferty became the third member of a folk-pop group, the ‘Humblebums’, along with the future Scottish comedian Billy Connolly, and Tam Harvey (who died in 2021.) After Harvey left in 1969, Rafferty and Connolly continued as a duo, releasing two Albums together in 1969, and 1970. Then after the ‘Humblebums’ parted ways in 1971, Rafferty recorded his first solo Album ‘Can I Have My Money Back?’ in 1971, before joining forces again with Joe Egan to form ‘Stealers Wheel in 1972 (see also best songs 524.) The solo discography of Gerry Rafferty includes 11 studio Albums released between 1971-2021, and 20 singles issued in the same time period. In the UK three of his singles have made the top 40, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100, five of his singles have reached the top 40, with this song peaking at Number 2 for six weeks behind ‘Shadow Dancing,’ by Andy Gibb.

‘Baker Street’ was the second of six singles released from Gerry Rafferty’s second solo studio Album ‘City to City,’ from 1978, the song was written by Gerry Rafferty, and co-produced by Rafferty and Hugh Murphy (1946-1998.) Due to legal problems with Stealers Wheel, Rafferty was unable to release any new music between 1975-1978, it was during that period that he wrote ‘Baker Street.’ He would regularly travel between his family home in Paisley, Scotland, to stay at a friends flat on Baker Street in London. Rafferty has said,’Everybody was suing each other, so I spent a lot of the time on the overnight train from Glasgow to London for meetings with lawyers. I knew a guy who lived in a little flat on Baker Street, we’d sit and chat or play guitar there through the night’. Rafferty would also spend a lot of the time there drinking, which he acknowledges in the songs lyrics. Rafferty’s daughter Martha has said that her father was inspired to write this song and many of his others after reading the 1956 book ‘The Outsider,’ written by Colin Wilson (1931-2013.) The book explores the psyche of the ‘Outsider,’ his effect on society, and society’s effect on him. Rafferty had a very troubled life, he hated being a ‘Pop Star,’ shunned publicity, suffered from long periods of depression, and was an alcoholic, which ultimately led to his death. ‘Baker Street’ is a song about someone trying to make a better life for themselves, but he cannot achieve his goals as he is a drunk. He drinks to forget what he doesn’t have, and knows he is wasting his life.

‘Baker Street’ can probably boast the most famous saxophone riff in Pop Music, which was played by the session musician Raphael Ravenscroft (1954-2014.) Ravenscroft who was only paid the statuary £27 has said about his performance on ‘Baker Street’,’I’m irritated because it’s out of tune, yeah it’s flat by enough of a degree, that it irritates me at best.’ Ravenscroft also claimed to have written the saxophone part, but when a demo came to light in 2011 it clearly showed Rafferty playing the part on an electric guitar. However Rafferty may not be able to take full credit, as a very similar sax line can be heard being played by the American Jazz saxophonist Steve Marcus, (1939-2005) on the track ‘Half a Heart,’ from his 1968 Album ‘Tomorrow Never Knows.’

‘He’s got this dream about buyin’ some land, he’s gonna give up the booze and the one night stands, and then he’ll settle down, it’s a quiet little town, and forget about everything.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

62-Elton John-Your Song.

1971-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 1.54. There is a rumour that Bernie Taupin wrote the lyrics while sat on a roof, he didn’t, in fact he wrote them in Elton John’s mother’s kitchen.

Sir Elton Hercules John (see also best songs 946-481 and 237) was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight, on March 25th, 1947, in Pinner, Middlesex, England. In 1962, Dwight with others formed a band called ‘Bluesology,’ who by the mid 1960’s were backing touring American Soul and R&B groups such as the Isley Brothers, and Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. In 1967 Dwight answered an advertisement in the British magazine ‘New Musical Express,’ which would lead to his first meeting with his future songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. As well as initially writing for other artists, the duo also began to shape Dwight’s solo career. The first song they wrote together was called ‘Scarecrow,’ and then some six months later Dwight began going by the name ‘Elton John,’ in homage to two members of ‘Bluesology,’ the saxophonist Elton Dean, (1945-2006) and vocalist Long John Baldry, (1941-2005) Dwight legally changed his name to Elton Hercules John on 7 January 1972.

The extensive discography of Elton John includes 31 studio Albums released between 1969-2021, and 140 singles issued between 1968-2022 as the main artist, he has also appeared as a featured artist on a further 22 singles. As a solo artist Elton finally made it to Number 1 in the UK at the 86th attempt in 1990, when the double ‘A’ side of ‘Sacrifice,’ and ‘Healing Hands’ gave him his first chart topper, he had been to Number 1 previously in 1976 when dueting with Kiki Dee on ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ (see also best songs 481.) In the UK, Elton has appeared on 70 top 40 singles, of which 10 have made Number 1, Elton is the only artist to have achieved top 40 hits in six separate decades. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 top singles chart, Elton has had 59 hits, of which nine have made the Number 1 spot.

‘Your Song’ was co-written by Elton John, (music) and Bernie Taupin, (lyrics) and was the second single released from Elton John’s self titled second studio Album from 1970. According to Bernie Taupin,’I scribbled the lyric down on a lined notepad at the kitchen table of Elton’s mother’s apartment in the London suburb of Northwood Hills, breakfast time sometime in 1969.’ Taupin was only 17 years old, and has admitted to a very limited knowledge of romance,’Hence the extraordinary virginal sentiments,’ he said. Elton claims that he doesn’t ask Taupin what his lyrics are about, he has said,’I always thought ‘Your Song’ was written about one of his girlfriends, and then when I asked him that he just said,’No it wasn’t,’ he gets fairly defensive.’

‘Your Song’ was the breakthrough hit for Elton John and Bernie Taupin who had initially given it to the American Rock band ‘Three Dog Night’ to record for their 1970 Album ‘It Ain’t Easy,’ but instead of that band releasing it as a single, they suggested that Elton should have a go with it, which saw it peak at Number 8 on Billboard, and Number 7 in the UK. In 2002 Elton re-recorded ‘Your Song’ as a duet with the Italian Operatic tenor Alessandro Safina for the ‘Sports Relief Charity,’ and this new version reached Number 4 in the UK. In 2010 the English singer Ellie Goulding (see also best songs 304) recorded the song, which was later chosen as the Christmas advert for the department store ‘John Lewis,’ for that year, and helped her recording reach Number 2 in the UK. I would also highly recommend the 1972 recording of ‘Your Song’ by the American Sou;l singer Billy Paul, (1934-2016) which was first issued as the ‘B’ side of ‘Me and Mrs Jones,’ (see also best songs 896) and later as an ‘A’ side, which reached Number 37 in 1977 in the UK.

‘I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss. Well a few, of the verses, well they’ve got me quite cross, but the sun’s been quite kind while I wrote this song. It’s for people like you that oh keep it turned on.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

63-LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and GoonRock-Party Rock Anthem.

2011-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.17. They think they’re sexy, and they think they know it.

LMFAO which is an initialism for ‘Laughing My F..king Ass Off’ are the duo of Skyler Austen Gordy, who was born on August 23rd, 1986, and goes by the stage name of ‘Sky Blu,’ and Stefan Kendal Gordy, who was born on September 3rd, 1975, and uses the stage name ‘Redfoo.’ Skyler Gordy is the grandson of ‘Motown’ records founder Berry Gordy, and Stefan Kendal is the youngest son of Gordy, and therefore that makes them uncle and nephew to each other.

‘Sky Blu’ and ‘Redfoo’ grew up in Pacific Palisades. Los Angeles, California, United States, and formed ‘LMFAO’ in 2006, their first major taste of success came in 2010 when they co-wrote, (with others) and also performed on the UK Number 1 single ‘Gettin’ Over You,’ with David Guetta (see also best songs 909.) The duo remained active until 2012, and have been officially on hiatus since, with both pursuing different solo musical projects since. The discography of LMFAO includes two studio Albums released in 2009, and 2011, and 16 singles issued between 2008-2012. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, three of their singles have made the top 40, with this song, and ‘Sexy and I Know It,’ both reaching Number 1, while in the UK they have achieved six top 40 hits, with this track, and ‘Gettin’ Over You,’ both topping the chart.

‘Party Rock Anthem’ was the first of four singles released from ‘Sorry for Party Rocking,’ which was the second studio Album released by LMFAO, in June 2011. The song was co-written by Sky Blu, and Redfoo, along with David Listenbee, (GoonRock) who also performs on the track, and Peter Schroeder, it was produced by GoonRock and Redfoo. Also performing on the song is Lauren Bennett, who provides the female vocals, she would later go on to find success with the girl group ‘G.R.L.,’ who reached Number 11 in the UK in 2014 with ‘Ugly Heart.’ ‘Party Rock Anthem’ is one of the best selling songs of all time, with sales in excess of 14 million copies worldwide. In Australia it is their best ever selling single, and in the United States it is currently the sixth best seller on Billboard of all time, with sales in excess of 10 million units.

‘Party Rock Anthem’ is accompanied by a very memorable video which on ‘YouTube’ has currently been viewed over 2 billion times, and has no doubt helped enormously with the songs popularity. The video which features choreography by the American Hip-Hop dance act’Quest Crew,’ was produced by Sky Blu and Redfoo, with the assistance of Shinzu Ai. The video is a take on the 2002 British zombie movie ’28 Days,’ in which Sky Blu and Redfoo awake from a ‘party induced coma’ to find the world has been possessed to dance to this song. The video’s director Mickey Finnegan explained,’There’s been a epidemic, the world has gone crazy, as soon as the song came out everyone got possessed, and all they want to do is shuffle.’

The ‘shuffle’ in question is the ‘Melbourne Shuffle’ that is a ‘Rave Dance,’ that developed in Melbourne, Australia, in the 1980’s, and is typically performed to ‘Electronic Music.’ The dance moves include a fast heel-and-toe movement, combined with a variation of the ‘running man,’ coupled with a matching arm action. The dance is improvised and involves repeatedly shuffling your feet inwards, then outwards, while thrusting your arms up and down, or side to side, in time with the beat.

Redfoo has stated that he was not surprised by the songs success,’We made a decision for that to be the first single from the Album for the very reason that we thought it could be a Number 1 song. It’s a song that is quite unique as it’s a party track that actually talks about how to party. It’s like an instruction to dance. We were excited about it when we first finished it, especially as it took over year to make.’

‘Yo, I’m running through these hoes like Drano. I got that devilish flow, Rock and Roll, no halo, we party rock. Yeah, that’s the crew that I’m reppin,’ On the rise to the top, no Led in our Zeppelin.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

64-George McCrae-Rock Your Baby,

1974-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.09. Do you ever think to yourself, I’m going to give myself a treat, and choose a song to listen to. Those are the songs which are for you ‘the best songs in the world ever.’ In my opinion if they have Disco’s in heaven, then surely this is the song they play.

‘Rock Your Baby’ which is also the title of George McCrae’s debut Album from 1974, was written by Harry Wayne Casey, and Richard Finch, (see also best songs 893 and 375) and was also produced by them as well. The song is considered to be groundbreaking as it is one of the first ‘Disco’ hits, and with worldwide sales in excess of 11 million copies it is the 27th best selling single of all time. The story goes that Casey and Finch were to audition McCrae’s wife Gwen for the song, but after she arrived late to the studio, they listened to George, and after hearing his impressive falsetto it was a done deal.

At that time Casey and Finch were just setting out together as a song writing team, working together as ‘KC and the Sunshine Band,’ for which they would go on to write a further five Billboard Number 1 singles. One of the session musicians on ‘Rock Your Baby’ was Jerome Smith, (1953-2000) who also worked on many of the KC and the Sunshine Band’s hits. He provided the guitar playing on the track for which he received $15, it is said that his style and sound was an inspiration for Nile Rogers of Chic (see also best songs 175-87 and 17.) The song was also an inspiration for Benny Andersson, and Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA, who have said that the backing track of ‘Dancing Queen,’ (see also best songs 44) was based on this song.

‘Rock Your Baby’ was also one of the first hit singles to use a drum machine, in this case it was the one which belonged to Timmy Thomas, (1944-2022) (see also best songs 498) Richard Finch has said,’His organ was left up in the studio, and ‘Rock Your Baby’ became born unto this crazy drum machine that was inside of this Lowry organ that he left there. I used to use that as a tempo map, and I would play along with the drum machine. In the beginning it would hide my errors, but it would also teach me to be a better drummer, because I was paying attention to it that closely. Then we would build on that. We had a 1-inch 8-track machine and I had a cheap Japanese bass. We were just recording and recording and recording, and one night, this one track came out like better than anything else. It was like God was in the building or something, we had been blessed. It was like the hunger and desire was so incredibly overwhelming that some magical moment happened in there. We knew to build on that track.

In 1992 ‘Rock Your Baby’ returned to the UK top 40 when the British ‘Dance’ act ‘KWS’ took their version to Number 8, it was released as the follow up to their UK Number 1 of the same year,’Please Don’t Go,’ which had also been written by Casey and Finch.

George Warren McCrae Jr. was born on October 19th, 1944, in West Palm Beach, Florida, United States, one of his his first ventures in to music was as a teenager when forming his own singing group the ‘Jivin’ Jets,’ before joining the United States Navy in 1963. Also in 1963 McCrae married Gwen (nee Mosley) and after leaving the navy in 1967 reformed the ‘Jivin’ Jets’ with Gwen. They soon decided to work as a duo, and when Gwen won her first solo contract, George became her manager. The discography of George McCrae includes 17 Albums released between 1974-2016, and 34 singles issued between 1974-2009. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart two of those songs have reached the top 40, with ‘Rock Your Baby’ making Number 1, while in the UK, he has achieved seven top 40 singles, with this song also being his only chart topper.

‘Woman, take me in your arms Rock your baby. Woman, take me in your arms Rock your baby. There’s nothing to it, just say you wanna do it. Open up your heart, and let the loving start.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

65-Stevie Wonder-Living for the City.

1973-Number 15 single.

Best Bit-At 5.18. Because Stevie Wonder was already a superstar by the age of 13, it is easy to forget that he was still only 23 when he wrote this.

Stevie Wonder (see also best songs 920-843-834-682-570-503-366-205 and 152) was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins, on May 13th, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan, United States, he was considered a child prodigy, and when signing with ‘Motown’s’ ‘Tamla’ label at the age of 11, he was given the stage name of ‘Little Stevie Wonder’ by his mentor and producer at Tamla, Clarence Paul (1928-1995.) At the age of 13 as ‘Little Stevie Wonder’ he achieved his first American Billboard Number 1 single, with the Clarence Paul co-written ‘Fingertips,’ making Wonder the youngest ever artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

The discography of Stevie Wonder includes 23 studio Albums released between 1962-2005, and 91 singles issued between 1962-2020, of which 46 have made the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 singles chart, with eight of those reaching Number 1. While in the UK, 37 of his singles have made the top 40, with his only solo Number 1 being ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You,’ which topped the chart in 1984. He also had previously reached Number 1 in the UK in 1982 as the featured artist on the Paul McCartney song ‘Ebony and Ivory.’

Although Stevie Wonder achieved 17 hit singles on Billboard in the 1960’s it is his early to mid 1970’s output for which he is even more critically acclaimed, particularly his Albums ‘Music of my Mind,’ (1972) ‘Talking Book,’ (1972) ‘Innervisions,’ (1973) ‘Fulfillingness’ First Finale,’ (1974) and ‘Songs in the Key of Life’ (1976.) After Stevie Wonder allowed his contract with ‘Motown’ to run out in 1971, he renegotiated getting himself improved royalties, and complete control over his studio output. He brought in Robert Margouleff, and Malcolm Cecil (1937-2021) to work with him as engineers, and associate producers, and they would work with Wonder on four of those classic 1970’s Albums.

‘Living for the City’ was the second of four singles released from Stevie Wonder’s 16th studio Album ‘Innervisions’ from 1973. As well as writing the song, Wonder also played all of the instruments, and sung lead and backing vocals, the synthesizer, and handclaps were provided by Margouleff and Cecil. ‘Living for the City’ is considered groundbreaking for it’s social commentary, and use of sampling, such as the sounds of voices, buses and traffic which were recorded in the streets, and mixed with the music in the studio.

‘Living for the City’ tells the story of a young black man born in to a poor but respectable family in Mississippi. He can’t get a job because of discrimination, so he goes to New York, and naively get’s caught up in crime, he is arrested, convicted, and sentenced to 10 years in jail. Stevie Wonder has said,’I really got into how I feel about the way things are was in ‘Living For The City.’ I was able to show the hurt and the anger. You still have that same mother that scrubs the floors for many, she’s still doing it. Now what is that about? And that father who works some days for 14 hours. That’s still happening.’

‘His sister’s black but she is sho ’nuff pretty, her skirt is short but Lord her legs are sturdy. To walk to school she’s got to get up early, her clothes are old but never are they dirty,living just enough, just enough for the city.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

66-Led Zeppelin-Stairway to Heaven.

1971-It was never released as a single until the bands back catalogue was made available in 2007 for download, then the song peaked at Number 37 in the UK.

Best Bit-At 6.44. Led Zeppelin played the song for the first time in Belfast in 1971. The bands bass player John Paul Jones recalled that the crowd was unimpressed,’They were all bored to tears waiting to hear something they knew.’

Led Zeppelin (see also best songs 135) were formed in London, England, in 1968 by Jimmy Page, (guitarist) (see also best songs 361-135 and 67) Robert Plant, (vocalist) John Bonham, (1948-1980) (drums) and John Paul Jones, (bass, and keyboards) the group remained active until the death of Bonham in 1980. The four group members first played together as the ‘New Yardbirds’ in August 1968, on a tour of Scandanavia. Due to a legal objection by Chris Dreja of the original ‘Yardbirds’ (see also best songs 361) the quartet had to find themselves a new name. One account of how the new band’s name was chosen tells that Keith Moon (1946-1978) and John Entwistle (1944-2002) of the group ‘The Who’ (see also best songs 926-306 and 265) had suggested that a super-group with them and Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck (see also best songs 361 and 205) would go down like a “lead balloon”, which is an idiom for disastrous results. The group dropped the ‘a’ in lead at the suggestion of their manager, Peter Grant, (1935-1995) so that those unfamiliar with the term would not pronounce it “leed”. The word “balloon” was replaced by “zeppelin”, a word which, according to music journalist Keith Shadwick, (1951-2008) brought ‘The perfect combination of heavy and light, combustibility and grace to Page’s mind.’

With record sales estimated at anywhere between two to three million copies, Led Zeppelin are one of the worlds very best selling artists. Their discography includes eight studio Albums released between 1969-1979, seven of which reached Number 1 in the UK, and six which topped the Billboard chart in America. In the UK, Led Zeppelin didn’t issue singles, so if you wanted to buy their music you would have to purchase their Albums, but in America where they were legally obliged, 16 of their songs were issued as singles, with five of those making the Billboard Hot 100 top 40, with ‘Whole Lotta’ Love’ charting the highest (Number 4, 1969.)

‘Stairway to Heaven’ was co-written by Jimmy Page, who wrote the music, and Robert Plant, who provided the lyrics, Page was also the songs producer. ‘Stairway to Heaven’ is track 4 on side 1 of Led Zeppelins fourth studio Album ‘Led Zeppelin 1V’ from 1971, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest Rock songs of all time. The song has three sections, each one progressively increasing in tempo and volume. ‘Stairway to Heaven’ begins in a slow tempo with acoustic instruments (guitar and recorders,) before introducing electric instruments. The final section is an uptempo hard rock arrangement highlighted by Jimmy Page’s guitar solo, which is considered by many to be one of the greatest ever.

Like many great songs in this countdown, the songs lyrics are open to interpretation. Robert Plant who wrote the lyrics at the age of 23 has said,’Depending on what day it is, I still interpret the song in a different way, and I wrote the lyrics.’ Many who have studied the song agree that the first verse is about a woman who has the means to get whatever she wants, at any cost. This can be interpreted as selling her soul, for instant satisfaction, and that over the course of time it will leave her feeling hollow. It appears that there are one of two paths you can take in life. One is by learning to respect yourself, respect others, and respect your surroundings, which is the ‘Stairway to Heaven,’ or you can choose the other route, which is the ‘Highway to Hell.’

‘There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold, and she’s buying a stairway to Heaven. When she gets there she knows if the stores are all closed with a word she can get what she came for.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

67-T. Rex-20th Century Boy.

1973-Number 3 single. When it was re-issued in 1991 it made Number 13.

Best Bit-At 1.37. If you think that this song is so last century, then let me tell you something, it’s still ahead of it’s time, even now!!

Marc Bolan (see also best songs 790 and 386) was born Mark Feld on September 30th, 1947, in Hackney, London, England, he died on September 16th, 1977, when a car he was a passenger in struck a fence post, and then a tree. Bolan was killed instantly, while the cars driver Gloria Jones (see also best songs 848) suffered a broken arm and broken jaw, Bolan was 29 years old.

Marc Bolan recorded one of his first songs in 1964, which was called ‘All at Once,’ the track remained unreleased until 2008 when a very limited edition seven-inch vinyl of the original tape recording was issued. Soon after he began using the stage name ‘Toby Tyler,’ but no recordings have been issued under that name. On signing with Decca Records in 1965 he changed his stage name to Marc Bolan, as a tribute to Bob Dylan, (see also best songs 792-358-103-36 and 7) choosing the first two letters of ‘Bob,’ and the last three letters of ‘Dylan.’ Using his new name he released his first single ‘The Wizard’ on November 19th, 1965, with Jimmy Page, (see also best songs 361-135 and 66) and Big Jim Sullivan (1941-2012) among the musicians providing the backing track. In 1967, and now under the management of Simon Napier-Bell, Bolan became a member of the ‘Mod/Rock’ band ‘Johns Children,’ where he became their main songwriter. His tenure with ‘Johns Children’ was brief, and he would quickly create his own band ‘Tyrannosaurus Rex,’ playing an experimental mixture of ‘Psychedelic Folk’ music on the first three Album releases, and then a fourth and final Album of more mellow ‘Psychedelic Rock.’ By 1970 Bolan began to change the band’s style towards ‘Electric Rock’, and shortened their name to T. Rex.

The discography of Tyrannosaurus Rex includes four studio Albums released between 1968-1970, and then eight studio Albums issued between 1970-1977 as T. Rex. As Tyrannosaurus Rex there were six singles released, of which three made the UK top 40, and it was the 1972 re-issue of ‘Debora.’ and ‘One Inch Rock’ as a double ‘A’ side which charted the highest when making Number 7 in 1972. As T. Rex they released 22 singles, of which 17 made the UK top 40, with four of those reaching Number 1. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart their only top 40 hit was ‘Bang a Gong (Get It On,’) which reached Number 10 in 1971.

’20th Century Boy’ was issued as a stand alone single on March 2nd, 1973, two weeks before the release of the bands eighth studio Album ‘Tanx,’ it was written by Marc Bolan, and produced by the legendary Toni Visconti (see also best songs 790-386-302-209 and 118.) ’20th Century Boy’ was recorded on December 3rd, 1972, in the Toshiba Recording studios in Tokyo, Japan, the backing vocals, hand claps, acoustic guitar, and saxophones were recorded in England when the band returned after their tour. According to Marc Bolan, some of the lyrics are based on quotes taken from notable celebrities, such as Muhammad Ali, (1942-2016) who is famously remembered for saying ‘Sting like a bee.’ People have argued for a long time as to what Bolan is actually singing in the songs first line. The correct lyrics are,’Friends say it’s fine, friends say it’s good, everybody says it’s just like Robin Hood,’ while some people incorrectly hear, ‘Friends say it’s fine, friends say it’s good, everybody says it’s just like Rock ‘N’ Roll.’

‘I move like a cat, charge like a ram, sting like a bee, babe, I wanna be your man, hey! Well, it’s plain to see you were meant for me, yeah, I’m your boy, your 20th century toy yeah!’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

68-Judy Garland-Over the Rainbow.

1939-It has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 0.31. Among the many honours bestowed on this song, the American Film Institute have named it, the best movie song ever.

‘Over the Rainbow’ was composed by Harold Arlen, (1905-1986) (see also best songs 934-634 and 281) who wrote the music, and Yip Harburg, (1896-1981) (see also best songs 259) who was responsible the lyrics, the pair had been commissioned to write songs for the 1939 film ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ Other enduring songs that they wrote for the movie include,’Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead,’ ‘If I Only Had a Brain,’ and ‘We’re Off to See the Wizard.’ Although it had nothing to do with the films story, it is said that Yip Harburg took his inspiration for ‘Over the Rainbow’s’ lyrics from what was going on politically at that time. Harburg was expressing hope for America under President Franklin Roosevelt’s ‘New Deal’ programme, which was designed to get America out of ‘The Great Depression,’ which had been ongoing since the early 1930’s (see also best songs 259.)

‘The Wizard of Oz’ is a 1939 American musical fantasy film, that had been adapted from the 1900 children’s fantasy novel ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ which was written by L. Frank Baum (1856-1919.) The film starred the 16 year old Judy Garland, whose role in the film as ‘Dorothy Gale’ shot her to international stardom as an actress, it is the role she is best remembered for. Garland performs ‘Over the Rainbow’ early on the film, and the song is now recognised as her signature song.

Judy Garland was born Frances Ethel Gumm on June 10th, 1922, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, United States, she died on June 22nd, 1969, after accidentally overdosing on barbiturates at the age of 47. At the inquest the Coroner stated that the overdose had been unintentional and no evidence suggested that she had committed suicide.Like many child stars Garland had found the pressures of fame too much at times, and throughout her adulthood she was plagued by alcohol and substance abuse, as well as financial instability, often owing hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes. Judy Garland had three children, two of which followed her in to acting, Lorna Luft, and Liza Minnelli (see also best songs 427 and 182.) As well as appearing in 34 feature films Judy Garland also has had seven studio Albums, six live Albums, and 14 soundtrack Albums issued between 1940-2012. She has also released 67 singles between 1936-1967, of which 17 have charted in the top 40 in America, while in the UK, her only charting single remains ‘The Man That Got Away’ (1955, Number 18.)

In ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ Judy Garland sings ‘Over the Rainbow’ as Dorothy Gale, at around five minutes in to the film. She sings the song after failing to get ‘Aunt Em,’ ‘Uncle Henry,’ and the farm hands to listen to her story of an unpleasant incident involving her dog, ‘Toto,’ and the town spinster. Garland recorded the film version of the song on October 7th, 1938, and the studio version in September 1939. The film version was not released for the public to purchase until the films soundtrack was first made available in 1956.

‘Someday I’ll wish upon a star, and wake up where the clouds are far behind me. Where troubles melt like lemon drops, away above the chimney tops that’s where you’ll find me.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

69-Madness-Night Boat to Cairo.

1980-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 2.37. According to the songs co-writer Mike Barson,’It was supposed to be an instrumental, and then Suggs bloody got hold of it and wrote all those dodgy lyrics.’

Madness (see also best songs 801) were formed in Camden Town, London, England, in 1976, and remained active until 1986. They reformed in 1992, and are still performing at the time of writing. In total there have been 12 official members come and go, with only Chas Smith, who left in 2014 not being a current member of seven that are considered to be the classic line up. The other members of the classic line up are Chris Foreman, (guitar) Mike Barson, (keyboards) Lee Thompson, (saxophone, and percussion) Graham ‘Suggs’ McPherson, (vocals) Dan Woodgate, (drums) and Mark Bedford (bass.)

Along with ‘The Specials,’ (see also best songs 924 and 372) Madness were one of the most prominent bands of the late 1970’s, and early 1980’s ‘Two Tone Ska Revival’, with both bands being heavily influenced by the Ska music of the 1960’s that had come out of Jamaica. For Madness a particular influence was Prince Buster, (1938-2016) (see also best songs 734 and 139) as Madness took their name from the Prince Buster 1964 song ‘Madness,’ and their first hit ‘The Prince’ (UK, 1979, Number 16) was a song written as a tribute to him. Over the course of time, in the groups early years, their sound moved away from all out ‘Ska,’ and by the time of their third Album ‘7,’ released in 1981, the band were showing a more ‘Pop’ orientated sound, which has become known as ‘Ska/Pop.’ The discography of Madness includes 12 studio Albums released between 1979-2016, and 43 singles issued between 1979-2019. In the UK, 31 of those singles have reached the top 40, with ‘House of Fun’ making Number 1 in 1982, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, two of their songs have reached the top 40, with ‘Our House’ from 1982 being the most successful, when making Number 7.

‘Night Boat to Cairo’ was co-written by Mike Barson, (music) and Graham ‘Suggs’ McPherson, (lyrics) and was produced by Clive Langer, and Alan Winstanley (see also best songs 903.) There had already been three hit singles released from their debut Album ‘One Step Beyond,’ and Madness were keen to release new material, but their record label were insisting that a further track off the Album should be a single. The compromise was the the release of ‘Night Boat to Cairo,’ along with three new songs on an ‘EP’ (extended play) which would be called the ‘Work Rest and Play EP.’ ‘Night Boat to Cairo’ soon became a fans favourite and is still often played as the encore at the bands live concerts. The song has an unusual structure, with a single verse, followed by an even longer instrumental section. Suggs has described the song as,’Miles of introduction, a couple of verses, then miles of instrumental, no chorus, and the title isn’t even mentioned apart from me shouting it at the beginning. It’s an atmosphere with great music and words. Of course it it a song, but not a traditional one.’ The songs video features the band dressed as soldiers in British colonial attire, where during the long instrumental part they are seen marching and performing their signature ‘Nutty Train’ dance.

‘It’s just gone noon, half-past monsoon on the banks of the river Nile. Here comes the boat only half-afloat, Oarsman grins a toothless smile. Only just one more to this desolate shore, last boat along the river Nile.’