THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

981-Housemaster Boyz and the Rude Boys of House-House Nation.

1987-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 6.13. Oh dear, I’ve forgotten, what’s this one called again.

The brains behind ‘House Nation’ is Farley Keith Williams who was born on January 25th, 1962, in Chicago, Illinois, United States, he was one of the leading players in the development of the genre that became ‘Chicago House’ music. Williams has recorded under various aliases including ‘Farley ‘Jackmaster’ Funk,’ ‘Farley Funkin’ Keith,’ and the ‘Housemaster Boyz.’ His discography includes one studio Album ‘No Vocals Necessary,’ (1988) and 20 singles that have been released between 1985-2004. He has never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, but in the UK, he has charted twice, with this song, and also with ‘Love Can’t Turn Around,’ as ‘Farley ‘Jackmaster’ Funk,’ also in 1986. There are also two official compilations available, ‘Real House: Hot Mix,’ which was first issued in 1996, and ‘Trax Classix,’ from 2005.

Farley Williams started out in the music industry in 1981 as one of the five original members of the ‘Hot Mix 5,’ who were a team of DJ’s selected to work at ‘WBMX-FM 102.7 FM, Oak Park, Illinois,Chicago,’ where they would play the latest music coming out of Chicago. In 1985, Williams along with Irwin Larry Eberhart, who is better known by his stage name ‘Chip E.’ set up the record label ‘House Records,’ and over the course of the next year they issued a series of influential ‘House’ and ‘Acid House’ records, which were released on ‘Trax Records,’ which was also based in Chicago.

Controversy occurred in 1986 between Farley Williams and his fellow DJ/Music Producer Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley, (see also best songs 935) over a track Hurley had produced called ‘I Can’t Turn Around,’ which was a ‘House Music’ cover of the 1975 Isaac Hayes (1942-2008) (see also best songs 530-398 and 1) song of the same name from his ‘Chocolate Chip’ Album. After hearing Hurley’s recording, Williams set about putting his own version together, keeping much of Hurley’s instrumental arrangement, but changing the title to ‘Love Can’t Turn Around.’ Williams recruited the American Gospel singer Darryl Pandy (1962-2011) to provide the vocals, and the American music producer Vince Lauwence to write new lyrics, the song charted in the UK in 1986, reaching Number 10, and becoming the very first ‘House Music’ song to chart in that country. The other big charting hit for Williams came in 1989 when the Belgium Electronic Dance act ‘Technotronic’ (see also best songs 424) sampled Williams instrumental track ‘The Acid Life,’ from his 1988 Album ‘No Vocals Necessary,’ for their single ‘Pump Up the Jam,’ which went on to peak at Number 2 in both the United States, and the UK, as well as topping the charts in seven other countries, and selling in excess of 1.8 million copies worldwide.

As the title suggests ‘Chicago House’ evolved in Chicago, in the early 1980’s. By the end of the 1970’s, ‘Disco Music’ had reached the end of it’s lifespan, and the next generation needed their own new music. ‘House Music’ built on ‘Disco Music’ in a more technical manner, whereas ‘Disco Music’ was often played by orchestras, ‘House Music’ was performed with synthesizers and studio technology. On speaking about the history of ‘Chicago House,’ Farley Williams has given credit to his fellow DJ/Music Producer, and fellow Chicago born Jesse Saunders, when saying,’He was first, he put out records before anyone conceived of doing it, got all the girls, and all the fame. Jesse wanted to be the next Motown.’ While ‘Screamin” Rachael Cain who was also born in Chicago, and was the co-founder of ‘Trax Records’ has said,’What ‘Trax’ did was really a combination of ‘Punk’ and ‘Industrial,’ with a really great ‘4×4’ dance beat. Today they want to call it ‘EDM,’ but ‘Chicago House’ is the mother of them all. A lot of people don’t want to recognise, I think people in the UK do, but others don’t. Part of it is that Chicago was never an industry town, and New York always likes to claim they did it first.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

982-Usher featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris-Yeah!

2004-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.01. Here’s the dilemma, Usher is so irresistible to women, so much so that they are throwing themselves at him. The poor chap has to decide whether to cheat on his girlfriend, or walk away.

In the wonderful world of ‘Pop Music’ there are countless different genres of music, with the official genre name for this song being ‘Crunk&B,’ ‘Crunk’ is a sub genre of ‘Hip-Hop’ music that is used to describe ‘Hip-Hop’ music that comes out of the South coast of America, especially in Atlanta, New Orleans, and Miami. It’s main components are keyboard synths, drum machine, heavy bass-lines, and shouted vocals, in a call and response manner. The genre emerged in the early 1990’s, and gained mainstream success in the early 2000’s, thanks in main to one of this songs co-writers Lil Jon, (see also best songs 943) who coined the phrase ‘Crunk&B,’ as this song mixes ‘Crunk’ with ‘R&B,’ the genre that Usher is most associated with.

Usher Raymond 1V was born on October 14th, 1978, in Dallas, Texas, United States, with sales in excess of 75 million records he is one of the best selling ‘R&B’ artists of all time. The discography of Usher includes eight studio Albums released between 1994-2016, and 79 singles issued between 1993-2022. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, he has appeared on 35 top 40 hits as either the lead artist or the featured artist, with all nine of his Billboard Number 1’s being as the lead artist. In the UK he has scored 22 top 40 singles as the lead artist, and a further five as the featured artist, and has achieved four UK Number 1 hits, all as the lead artist. In 2004 Usher spent 20 consecutive weeks at Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 when ‘Yeah!’ topped the chart for 12 weeks, only to be dislodged by his follow up single ‘Burn,’ which spent a further eight weeks atop the chart.

‘Yeah!’ was the first of five singles released from Usher’s fourth studio Album ‘Confessions’ from March 2004, it was produced by Lil Jon, (Jonathan Smith) who is also one of the songs six co-writers, along with Ludacris, (Christopher Bridges) who provides the ‘Rap’ on the track, LRoc, (James Phillips) LaMarquis Jefferson, J. Que, (Patrick Smith) and Sean Garrett. (Garrett Hamler) All six of the songwriters had worked previously, and would do so again many times, with several other artists in the R&B genre.

Although all were happy with the quality of the ‘Confessions’ Album, the record company felt that it still needed a ‘big’ single to get it launched, Sean Garrett has said,’I knew that Usher was almost finished with his album. LA Reid called me and said, ‘We need a first single.’ We spoke a little bit about it, and I went to the studio. Since all the other songs on the album were very hot and ‘R&B’-ish, I wanted to give him something out of the box that was more creative and dynamic. So we went in and cut a demo and took it to LA, and we sat and talked about it for quite a while. He thought it was very interesting, but he asked me a lot of questions in reference to how it worked for Usher, and said he wanted a change or two. So I went in, and the rest is history, and the beginning of this beautiful run.’

‘Yeah!’ and it’s parent Album ‘Confessions’ represent the peak of Usher’s career, with ‘Yeah!’ selling over four million copies in America, and topping the charts in 12 different countries during 2004. The Album ‘Confessions’can boast an even greater achievement in that it has sold in excess of 15 million copies worldwide, and with sales at 10.3 million in the States, it is the second-best selling album of the 2000’s decade in America, behind the ‘NSYNC’ Album ‘No Strings Attached,’ from 2000. And finally for those who always wondered what the opening shout of ‘Peace up, A-town down’ means. Well according to the urban dictionary, it means to flash the hand signal for peace, which is the two fingers raised up, but instead you point them down giving the shape of ‘A.’

‘Up in the club with my homies, trying to get a lil’ V-I, keep it down on the low-key, you should know how it feels. I saw this shorty, she was checking up on me, from the game she was spitting in my ear. You would think that she know me.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

983-Jimi Hendrix Experience-Crosstown Traffic.

1968-Number 37 single.

Best Bit-At 1.14. The guitar part just before the chorus impressed a young David Bowie so much, that he pinched it for ‘Starman.’

Jimi Hendrix (see also best songs 492) was born Johnny Allen Hendrix on November 27th, 1942, in Seattle, Washington, United States, he died on September 18th, 1970, from asphyxia, while intoxicated with barbiturates, at the age of 27. In 1946 his parents changed his name to James Marshall Hendrix, after his father James, and his father’s late brother Leon Marshall. Hendrix is held in the highest regard by both music journalists, and fellow artists alike, with many publications citing him as the greatest guitarist of all time. It was probably his experimentation with ‘amplifier feedback,’ making the guitar sound like it had never sounded before, that sets him apart. His influence has led the way in the development of ‘Hard Rock,’ Heavy Metal,’ and ‘Grunge’ music.

Jimi Hendrix had been fascinated with the guitar from an early age, and this developed further during his time in the Army between 1961-1962, where he, and fellow recruit Billy Cox, who played bass guitar, would regularly jam together. Hendrix first appeared on record in March 1964, playing the guitar parts on ‘The Isley Brothers’ (see also best songs 823-508-382 and 176) single ‘Testify,’ which failed to chart, the American music critic Richie Unterberger described the song as ‘One of the best examples of his (Hendrix) pre-‘Experience’ recordings.’

It was Chas Chandler, (1938-1996) (see also best songs 851-649 and 492) the former bass player in ‘The Animals,’ and future manager of ‘Slade,’ who took Hendrix under his wing in 1966, when forming the band the ‘Jimi Hendrix Experience,’ with two other musicians that Chandler had also hand picked to work alongside him, the English guitarist Noel Redding, (1945-2003) and the English drummer Mitch Mitchell (1946-2008.) Together they would record and release three studio Albums between 1967-1968 as the ‘Jimi Hendrix Experience,’ for a fuller discography of Jimi Hendrix, see best songs 492.

‘Crosstown Traffic’ was written and produced by Jimi Hendrix, and was the second of the two singles released from the double Album ‘Electric Ladyland,’ from October 1968, which was the third and final Album issued by the ‘Jimi Hendrix Experience.’ The first single which was a cover of the Bob Dylan song ‘All Along the Watchtower’ had made Number 20 on Billboard in America, and Number 5 in the UK, while ‘Crosstown Traffic’ would only reach Number 52 in the States, and Number 37 in the UK. Chas Chandler had been the producer of both the first two ‘Jimi Hendrix Experience’ studio Albums, and he had also produced the original demo of ‘Crosstown Traffic,’ but he was finding it increasingly more and more difficult to work with Hendrix, due to Hendrix being a perfectionist, who insisted on several takes of each track, which eventually forced Chandler to leave during the recording of ‘Electric Ladyland.’ The musicians who played on ‘Crosstown Traffic’ were Hendrix, Redding, and Mitchell, with Dave Mason, who was a member of the English Rock band ‘Traffic,’ guesting on the twelve-string guitar, and also providing backing vocals alongside Hendrix.

‘Crosstown Traffic’ is the perfect example of the way Jimi Hendrix experimented with the electric guitar, mixing ‘Blues’ music with ‘Psychedelic Rock.’ The songs lyrics are similar to many ‘Blues’ songs in that they are filled with sexual innuendo,’Crosstown Traffic’ is about a girl who is hard to get rid of. The narrator has spent time with her, but now he wants to move on. Getting his intentions through to her that she is not wanted anymore, is as difficult as getting through crosstown traffic.

‘I’m not the only soul who’s accused of hit and run, tyre tracks all across your back, I can, I can see you had your fun. But, darlin’ can’t you see my signals turn from green to red, and with you I can see a traffic jam straight up ahead.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

984-The Mission-Amelia.

1990-It has never been released as a single in the UK.

Best Bit-At 0.35. The songs subject is about one of the worst things that one human being can do to another.

The Mission (see also best songs 1051) are a Gothic/Rock, and Alternative/Rock band who were formed in Leeds, England, in 1986, by Wayne Hussey, (vocals, guitar, and keyboards) Craig Adams, (bass) Simon Hinkler, (guitars) and Mick Brown, (drums) they were active until 1996, and then again from 1999-2008, and then again from 2011 until the present. Both Hussey, and Adams had previously been members of the Gothic/Rock band ‘The Sisters of Mercy,’ (see also best songs 593) but due to ‘musical differences’ with Andrew Eldritch of that band they went their separate ways. Simon Hinkler had previously been a member of the Post/Punk outfit ‘Artery,’ and also of the pre-fame ‘Pulp,’ (see also best songs 605 and 285) while Mick Brown had previously been the drummer for the Leeds Rock band ‘Red Lorry Yellow Lorry.’

The Mission have released 11 studio Albums between 1986-2016, and 30 singles have been issued in the same time period, they have also released 11 official live Albums, and 13 compilation Albums. In the UK, 12 of their singles have made the top 40 chart, with ‘Wasteland’ from 1987 peaking the highest at Number 11, while in America they have never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, but have had success on the ‘Alternative Airplay,’ and ‘Mainstream Rock’ charts. In America they are known as ‘The Mission UK,’ in order to avoid confusion with a Philadelphia R&B group who had already claimed that name. There are two differing stories as to how the band arrived at the name ‘The Mission.’ It is said that ‘The Mission’ was chosen, referring to the ‘proselytising mission’ that was part of Wayne Hussey’s Mormon upbringing, but Mick Brown has a different account, saying the name came from his favourite brand of speakers, ‘Mission.’

Jerry Wayne Hussey was born on May 26th, 1958, in Bristol, England, and is the one constant member of ‘The Mission.’ He was brought up by his parents in the ‘Mormon’ religion, but rebelled against their wishes for him to serve as a ‘missionary,’ so he moved away to Liverpool, England, in the late 1970’s. Hussey first recorded with the English Pop band ‘Dead or Alive’ in 1982, before joining ‘The Sisters of Mercy’ in 1984, he has also released two solo studio Albums in 2009, and 2014, and recorded sporadically with others as well. With ‘The Mission’ Hussey has also recorded many cover versions of 1970’s ‘Pop,’ and ‘Glam Rock’ songs, using the name the ‘Metal Gurus,’ in tribute to his boyhood idol Marc Bolan (1947-1977) (see also best songs 790-386 and 67.)

‘Amelia’ is the opening track on ‘The Mission’s’ third studio Album ‘Carved in Sand,’ from February 1990, with Wayne Hussey writing the lyrics, and the other three band members at that time also receiving the song writing credits as well. The track, and it’s parent Album were produced by Tim Palmer, who was a long term collaborator with ‘The Mission.’ Other notable works from Palmer include producing both of the ‘Tin Machine’ Albums in 1989, and 1991, and mixing Pearl Jam’s debut studio Album ‘Ten,’ (1991) amongst his four decades in the music business to date.

‘Amelia’ is a song about child sexual abuse, which at the time of writing remains a taboo subject, although there are other ‘Pop’ songs written on the subject (see also best songs 458.) Lead singer Wayne Hussey makes his point without having to go into graphic detail. His vocal delivery is full of panic, and horror, and there can’t be many other songs that are so shocking to the listener. It is rumoured that Hussey wrote the song after receiving a letter from a fan, who disclosed details of abuse she had suffered at the hands of her father. Some years later the same woman got back in touch to let him know how much she appreciated the song, and that she was doing well.

‘Daddy says ‘Don’t tell Mama what I do to you.’Daddy says ‘If you do, I’ll beat you black and blue.’ ‘Cause Amelia, you make Daddy feel like a man, Amelia, Daddy loves you more than Mummy can.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

985-Average White Band-Pick Up the Pieces.

1975-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 2.13. When is an instrumental not an instrumental? Because this song has a few chants of ‘Pick Up the Pieces,’ does that mean it’s not actually an instrumental?

If you thought that after listening to ‘Pick Up the Pieces’ that the Average White Band were a black American ‘Funk’ band, you probably wouldn’t be on your own, but nothing could be further from the truth, because they are white, and hail from Dundee, in Scotland. The Average White Band were formed in London, England, in 1972, by Alan Gorrie, (lead vocals) and Malcolm ‘Molly’ Duncan, (saxophone) (1945-2019) they were soon joined by Hamish Stuart, (lead guitar, and vocals) Roger Ball, (keyboards, and saxophone) Onnie McIntyre, (guitar) and Robbie McIntosh, (1950-1974) (drums) who all played on this song. The Average White Band were active until 1983, but reformed in 1989, and at the time of writing they remain active. In total there have been 23 different members come and go, with Gorrie, and McIntyre still part of the current line up. The band took their name after a friend had heard them jamming and remarked,’This is too much for the average white man,’ which they then adapted as the bands name.

The discography of the Average White Band includes 13 studio Albums released between 1973-2018, and 33 singles issued between 1973-1988, of which four have reached the UK top 40. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, they have charted within the top 40 on five occasions, with ‘Pick Up the Pieces’ making Number 1. The Average White Band have also released nine official compilation Albums, and seven live Albums, on which ‘Pick Up the Pieces’ appears on many times in extended form, including on the live ‘Person To Person’ Album from 1976, where the song stretches out for 18 minutes and six seconds.

‘Pick Up the Pieces’ was co-written by all six band members at that time, and was released a month before the Average White Band issued their second studio Album ‘AWB.’ in August 1974. The Album was produced by the legendary music producer and arranger Arif Mardin, who would go on to also produce the bands next four studio Albums as well. Arif Mardin (see also best songs 882-881-554-541-228 and 85) was born in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 15th, 1932, he died on June 25th, 2006, following a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer, at the age of 74. Over the course of his career he worked with hundreds of artists in several different genres including ‘Jazz,’ ‘Soul,’ ‘Rock,’ and ‘Country’ music. He worked at ‘Atlantic Records’ for over 30 years, eventually working his way up to vice president, before moving on to ‘EMI’ records, where he worked in a similar role.

Just prior to the Average White Band making their big breakthrough with ‘Pick Up the Pieces,’ tragedy struck when band member Robbie McIntosh (1950-1974) died of an accidental heroin overdose at a party at the ‘Troubadour’ nightclub in Los Angeles in September 1974. McIntosh and his fellow band member Alan Gorrie took what they thought was cocaine, but in fact it was heroin. It is said that Gorrie was saved by the intervention of fellow party-goer, the American singer Cher, (see also best songs 672) who kept him conscious long enough to recover.

It was at the insistence of ‘Atlantic Records’ that ‘Pick Up the Pieces’ was released as a single, as according to Malcolm ‘Molly’ Duncan, he freely admits that he disagreed with releasing the song, ‘Because the song is a funk instrumental played by Scotsmen with no lyrics other than a shout.’ Duncan has also explained about the meaning of the song with it’s shouts of ‘Pick Up the Pieces,”It’s about picking yourself up when things aren’t going well. We’d spent a lot of time making no money whatsoever, so it felt very relevant.’

‘Pick up the pieces, uh, huh. Pick up the pieces, alright. Pick up the pieces, uh, huh. Pick up the pieces, whoo.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

986-The Human League-The Sound of the Crowd.

1981-Number 12 single.

Best Bit-At 0.13. There are certain songs that don’t have any choreographed moves, or actions relating to the song, but when you’re dancing, because you’ve seen the video, you find yourself subconsciously imitating the girls in The Human League.

The Human League (see also best songs 1009) were formed in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, in 1977, when Martyn Ware, and Ian Craig Marsh, needed a vocalist, and recruited Phil Oakey. At that time they were called ‘The Future,’ but it was Ware who suggested the name change to ‘The Human League,’ after a group in the science-fiction board game ‘StarForce Alpha Centauri.’ After two studio Albums, and six single releases without the breakthrough the band were hoping for, Oakey split with Ware and Marsh, who went on to form ‘Heaven 17.’ Ware and Marsh wanted to stay true to their musical roots, but Oakey thought that if ‘The Human League’ had a future, then they must become more ‘Pop’ orientated. Oakey also realised that if the new ‘Human League’ were going to be successful then they would also need to improve their live shows visually, which led to the recruitment of Joanne Catherall, and Susan Sulley, who were both 17 at the time. The six artists who performed on this song, and it’s parent Album ‘Dare,’ were completed by Ian Burden, who was a member between 1981-1987, Jo Callis, who joined in 1980, and left in 1985, and Philip Adrien Wright, who played keyboards with the band between 1980-1985. In total there have been nine different members of ‘The Human League,’ and at the time of writing they remain active, with Oakey, Catherall, and Sulley, being the groups three members.

The discography of ‘The Human League’ includes nine studio Albums released between 1979-2011, and 29 singles issued between 1978-2011. In the UK, they have achieved 17 top 40 singles, with ‘Don’t You Want Me,’ which reached Number 1 in 1981, currently standing at Number 27 in the list of the best selling singles in the UK of all time. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 top 40, they have charted on six occasions, with both ‘Don’t You Want Me,’ (1981) and ‘Human,’ (1986) both topping the chart.

‘The Sound of the Crowd’ was the first of four singles released from ‘The Human League’s’ third studio Album ‘Dare,’ from October 1981. It was released almost six months prior to the Album, and became the groups breakthrough hit. ‘The Sound of the Crowd’ was co-written by Phil Oakey, and fellow band member Ian Burden, with the production by Martin Rushent (1948-2011) (see also best songs 1009.) ‘Dare’ is a critically acclaimed Album, and genre-defining in the field of ‘Synth-Pop.’ ‘Synth-Pop’ features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument, with groups such as ‘Kraftwerk,’ (see also best songs 41) and the German ‘Krautrock’ movement of the late 1960’s, and the 1970’s, seen as ‘Synth-Pop’s’ predecessor, and biggest influences. Phil Oakey has explained the story behind the ‘Albums’ title ‘Dare,’ I like it because the Mekons used to have a song called ‘Dan Dare’. In fact, it was ripped off from a cover of ‘Vogue’ about two and a half years ago. They had a whole series of covers which featured just one word like ‘Success’, ‘Red,’ and ‘Dare’. I shouldn’t say that, should I?’

‘The Sound of the Crowd’ contains some very obscure lyrics, such as ,’Make a shroud pulling combs through a backwash frame,’ and ‘Stroke a pocket with a print of a laughing sound,’ Ian Burden has explained,’On The Sound of the Crowd I scribbled down some stream-of-consciousness words so that I could demonstrate the vocal parts to him (Oakey) without having to do the naff la-la-la-hum-hum-hum type of explanation. He went off and wrote a new chorus vocal, but surprisingly kept my verse lyrics!’

So it appears that we can completely discard the songs two verses when it comes to trying to dissect the meaning behind ‘The Sound of the Crowd,’ that just leaves us with the chorus, which seems fairly explanatory. I think Phil Oakey is telling us to mix with ‘the in crowd,’ as they have the right idea when it comes to lifestyle, fashion, and music.

‘The shades from a pencil peer pass around. A fold in an eyelid brushed with fear. The lines on a compact guide pass around. A hat with alignment worn inside.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

987-Fedde le Grand-Put Your Hands Up for Detroit.

2006-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.45. The city of Detroit, in Michigan, United States, will always be synonymous with the Soul music of ‘Tamla Motown,’ but this song pays homage to the genre of ‘Detroit Techno,’ music which developed in Detroit, in the early 1980’s.

Fedde le Grand was born on September 7th, 1977, in Utrecht, Netherlands, he is a music producer of Dance Music, including in the genres of ‘Electro House,’ and ‘Progressive House.’ The discography of Fedde le Grande includes two studio Albums released in 2009, and 2016, and 21 singles issued between 2004-2022. In the Netherlands he has achieved five top 40 singles, with ‘Put Your Hands Up 4 Detroit,’ charting the highest at Number 5, while in the UK, he has charted within the top 40 on three occasions. His other two hits in the UK were collaborations with Camile Jones, on ‘The Creeps,’ (2007 Number 7) and with Ida Corr, on ‘Let Me Think About It,’ (2007 Number 2.) Fedde le Grand is also high on the list of go to producers when it comes to remixing tracks for other artists. His 39 official remixes released between 2004-2021 include remixes for Madonna, (‘Give It 2 Me’ -2008) Coldplay, (‘Paradise’ -2011) and Michael Jackson, (Love Never Felt So Good’ -2014.)

‘Put Your Hands Up for Detroit’ was first issued in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg (Benelux Union) in June 2006, as ‘Put Your Hands Up 4 Detroit,’ when it was released to the rest of Europe later in that year it was officially called ‘Put Your Hands Up for Detroit.’ As with many successful ‘Dance’ tracks, the song can boast many remixes, and this song has at least 14 different official versions, which were made available over the 12 inch vinyl. and CD formats.

‘Put Your Hands Up for Detroit’ samples the lyrics of the 1999 Electronic Dance Music song ‘Hands Up for Detroit,’ by Matthew Dear, and David Shayman (1980-2007.) The songs lyrics are often misheard, with most hearing,’I love this city,’ but Fedde le Grand has confirmed that the actual lyrics are, ‘Put your hands up for Detroit,’Our lovely city.’ The lyrics are actually re-recorded, rather than lifted from the Matthew Dear and David Shayman track, in order to avoid possible lengthy law suits. The song went on to top the chart in four European countries, including the UK, where it has sold over 400,000 copies, and was that countries 20th best selling single of 2006. Outside of Europe, the song made Number 8 on the Australian (ARIA) chart.

Fedde le Grand has spoken about ‘Put Your Hands Up for Detroit,’ and in particular why he chose to sample the American Dance Music producer Matthew Dear’s 1999 track ‘Hands Up for Detroit.’It was a reference to the days of Detroit Techno, the producers and the sound that came out at that time were a big influence to me, and it’s great to hear that sound coming out again lately. I never knew the track would be so big. I think you always know when you’ve got a hit of sorts on your hands just from playing it out in clubs, and the reactions of people around you. But I never expected in my wildest dreams that the track would go to the number 1 spot in so many charts around the world. That was a very big point in my career for one, but one that I think I’ve now built on from.’

‘Put Your Hands Up for Detroit has a rather ‘raunchy’ video. It is set in 2027, in Detroit, Michigan, and features a Stanley Kubrick (1928-1999) type of science laboratory, where female robot technicians help to create multiple male androids. In order to test the sexual reactions of the male androids, the female robots strip to their underwear. Fedde le Grand who says he had no say in the making of the video, does make a short cameo appearance.

‘Put your hands up, put your hands up. Put your hands up for Detroit, our lovely city.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

988-Nat King Cole-Walkin’ My Baby Back Home.’

1952-It has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 1.27. It’s the perfect tale of gentlemanly romance, until the fifth verse when things get confusing, and possibly even a little creepy.

Nat King Cole (see also best songs 327-226 and 161) was born Nathaniel Adams Coles on March 17th, 1919, in Montgomery, Alabama, United States, he died of lung cancer on February 15th, 1965, at the age of 45. Amazingly for one of the greatest vocalists of all time, he didn’t actually start singing professionally until he was 21, in 1940, as prior till then he was a Jazz pianist with the ‘King Cole Trio,’ along with Wesley Prince, (1907-1980) (bass) and Oscar Moore, (1916-1981) (guitar) taking their stage name from the nursery rhyme ‘Old King Cole was a merry old soul.’

In September 1964 Nat King Cole who had been a heavy cigarette smoker was diagnosed with lung cancer, and was given only months to live, which was not disclosed at the time to the general public. Against his doctors wishes, Cole decided to carry on working, and he made his final recordings between December 1st, to December 3rd, in San Francisco. The music was released on his 28th and final studio Album ‘L-O-V-E,’ in January 1965, shortly before his death. One of his daughters later said that he went in to the studio to record that final Album to assure that the wealth of his family would be secure.

‘Walkin’ My Baby Back Home’ was written in 1930 by Roy Turk, (1892-1934) who provided the lyrics, and Fred Ahlert, (1892-1953) who wrote the music. Roy Turk’s most famous lyrics are to ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight,’ a song he co-wrote in 1927 with Lou Handman, (1894-1956) (music.) ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’ is best remembered for the 1960 recording by Elvis Presley, (1935-1977) which reached Number 1 both in America, and the UK. Aside from co-writing ‘Walkin’ My Baby Back Home,’ Fred Ahlert is probably best remembered for his co-write with Joe Young, (1889-1939) (lyrics) on the song ‘I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter,’ which was first recorded by ‘Fats Waller & His Rhythm’ in 1935, and has been recorded on dozens of occasions since down the years by many other artists.

‘Walkin’ My Baby Back Home’ was an instant success, first charting in America in 1931, with no less that four competing versions by Nick Lucas, (1897-1982) (Number 8) Ted Weems, (1901-1963) (Number 8), The Charleston Chasers, (Number 15) and Lee Morse (1897-1954) (Number 18). In the UK the most successful version of the song is the 1952 recording by Johnnie Ray, (1927-1990) which reached Number 12, Johnnie Ray’s version was also issued in America shortly after it had been a hit for Nat King Cole, and on the American chart it peaked at Number 4, beating Cole’s recording, which had made Number 8 earlier on in that year.

‘Walkin’ My Baby Back Home’ was also featured in the 1953 American musical comedy ‘Walking My Baby Back Home,’ where it was performed by the actor/singer Donald O’Connor (1925-2003.) In 1962 the Swedish actress Monica Zetterlund (1937-2005) recorded the song with Swedish lyrics by Beppe Wolgers, (1928-1986) entitled ‘ Sakta vi gå genom stan’ (‘Slowly we walk through the city.’) It is a tribute to Stockholm, and has been voted the most popular song about the Swedish capital.

‘Walkin’ My Baby Back Home’ tells the story of a couple dating, and all appears quite normal until verse five, when the narrator gives us cause for concern. Should we inform the authorities?

‘She’s afraid of the dark, so I have to park outside of her door till it’s light. She says if I try to kiss her she’ll cry, I dry her tears all through the night.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

989-Underworld-Born Slippy NUXX.

1996-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 4.58. If you’re planning on dancing all the way through, then make sure you pace yourself, because it’s only just getting started.

Underworld were formed in Cardiff, Wales, in 1987 by Karl Hyde, (vocals. and guitars) Rick Smith, (keyboards) Bryn Burrows, (drums) Alfie Thomas, (guitars and keyboards) and Baz Allen, (bass) they had previously worked with others using different band names, but eventually chose ‘Underworld,’ after the 1985 horror film that Hyde and Smith, and other members of a band named ‘Freur,’ that they had been in, wrote the musical score to. For ‘Underworld’s’ first two studio Albums they were very much making music in the ‘Synth Pop’ genre, which was very popular at that time, and it wasn’t until the arrival of the 19 year old Darren Emerson in 1993 that their music drastically changed into ‘Progressive House,’ and ‘Techno’ music, this new line up would become known as ‘Underworld MK2.’ In total there have been seven different members of ‘Underworld’ come and go with Hyde and Smith being the only two constants.

The discography of Underworld includes nine studio Albums released between 1988-2019, and 46 singles issued between 1988-2018, they have also remixed many songs for several different artists since 1990. In the UK, ten of their singles have made the top 40, including the 2003 remix of ‘Born Slippy NUXX 2003,’ which reached Number 27. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles top 40 they have never charted, but eight of their singles have charted on the ‘US Dance’ chart.

‘Born Slippy NUXX,’ which was co-written, and co-produced by Rick Smith, Karl Hyde, and Darren Emerson, was first released in 1995 as the ‘B’ side of another song which was completely different, but also called ‘Born Slippy,’ this 1995 release reached Number 52 on the UK top 40. It wasn’t until ‘Born Slippy NUXX’ was chosen for the film ‘Trainspotting,’ that the song took off, reaching Number 2 in the UK during the summer of ‘Euro 96,’ the football tournament that was played in England that year. ‘Born Slippy NUXX’ was one of 14 tracks that made up the soundtrack Album to the film ‘Trainspotting,’ and was the only song on the Album to be issued as a single (see also best songs 701 and 131.)

The song lyrics to ‘Born Slippy NUXX’ were written by Karl Hyde during his time as an alcoholic, incidentally ‘Born Slippy’ was the name of a greyhound that the band had won some money on, so both ‘Born Slippy’ songs are named in it’s honour. Karl Hyde has said,’We used to go out drinking in Soho, and I ended up in the Ship on Wardour Street. All the lyrics were written on that night. A drunk sees the world in fragments and I wanted to recreate that. I was inspired by Lou Reed’s New York album, and Sam Shepard’s Motel Chronicles. I was into flash photography as well, so I was walking around Soho with a notebook and camera, just observing things. In those days I’d open the book whenever a musical idea inspired me. Rick came up with a rhythm and I started singing over it. The vocals were done in one take. When I lost my place, I’d repeat the same line; that’s why it goes, ‘lager, lager, lager, lager.’ The first time we played it live, people raised their lager cans and I was horrified because I was still deep into alcoholism. It was never meant to be a drinking anthem, it was a cry for help. Now I don’t mind.’

It was the director of the film ‘Trainspotting’ Danny Boyle who pushed for the inclusion of ‘Born Slippy NUXX’ in the film. Initially Karl Hyde was reluctant as he didn’t want his song associated with the theme of the films story of drug abuse, but after Boyle arranged for Hyde to see how the song would fit into the films scene he changed his mind. In 2012 Hyde and Rick Smith, and Danny Boyle once again joined forces, this time for the ‘Summer Olympics’ opening ceremony, which was held in the UK. The opening ceremony was directed by Boyle, with Hyde and Smith working as musical directors, and contributing to the musical score.

‘Drive boy dog boy,dirty numb angel boy. In the doorway boy she was a-lipstick boy. She was a-beautiful boy, and tears boy, and all in your inner space boy.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

990-Lee Marvin-Wand’rin’ Star.

1970-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.14. Each to their own. You couldn’t imagine Lee Marvin singing something like ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry,’ (see also best songs 284) but at the same time you couldn’t imagine Franki Valli singing this.

‘Wand’rin’ Star’ was one of the 22 songs written by Alan J. Lerner, (lyrics) and Frederic Loewe, (music) for the 1951 Broadway Musical comedy ‘Paint Your Wagon.’ The story centres on a miner and his daughter, and follows the lives and loves of the people in a mining camp in Gold Rush-era California, in 1853. In 1969 the film version which was also titled ‘Paint Your Wagon’ was released, it had a vastly different plot, which was also written by Lerner, with this time the American playwright Paddy Chayefsky assisting (1923-1981.) Lerner also produced the film, and Loewe provided the majority of the music, along with Andre Previn (1929-2019.)The soundtrack was then issued as an Album consisting of 14 songs. The film version of ‘Paint Your Wagon’ starred Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood, and Jean Seberg, (1938-1979) and although neither Marvin or Eastwood could be called a natural singer, they chose to sing their own numbers in the film, rejecting the idea of miming over another singers voice. Jean Seberg described Lee Marvin’s voice as ‘Like rain gurgling down a rusty pipe,’ While Lee Marvin himself said that the song was a hit in Australia, and someone there described it as ‘The first 33⅓ recorded at 45.’

Lee Marvin was born Lamont Waltman Marvin Jr. on February 19th, 1924, in New York City, United States, he had been a heavy drinker and smoker for much of his life, and he died of a heart attack on August 29th, 1987, at the age of 63. Prior to taking up an acting career Marvin had served with the United States Marine Corps during World War 2, for which he was highly decorated. Among the six significant medals and ribbons he received were the ‘Purple Heart, and the ‘Combat Action Ribbon.’ Lee Marvin appeared in 56 films between 1951-1986, including ‘The Killers’ (1964) and ‘The Dirty Dozen’ (1967.) In ‘Paint Your Wagon’ Marvin performs two songs, the other being ‘The First Thing You Know,’ after that film he didn’t pursue a singing career.

‘Wand’rin’ Star’ was co-written by Alan J. Lerner, and Frederick Loewe. Lerner was born on August 31st, 1918, in New York City, United States, he died of lung cancer on June 14th, 1986, at the age of 67. Along with Loewe, and later in his career with Burton Lane, (1912-1997) he created some of the most memorable musical theatre of the 20th Century, including ‘My Fair Lady,’ (1956) and ‘An American in Paris’ (1951.) Frederic Loewe was born on June 10th, 1901, in Berlin, Germany, he died of cardiac arrest on February 14th, 1988, at the age 86. He collaborated with Lerner on ‘My Fair Lady,’ and ‘An American in Paris,’ as well as several other well known projects.

The film ‘Paint Your Wagon’ was a box office flop, but the soundtrack Album proved to be a great success, with the aid of Nelson Riddle (1921-1985) (see also best songs 877-286 and 73) orchestrating and arranging it. ‘Wand’rin’ Star’ spent three weeks at Number 1 in the UK in March 1970, keeping the Beatles ‘Let it Be’ from reaching the top spot, the song was also a hit in Australia where it made Number 10. Lee Marvin is a ‘one hit-wonder’ in the UK. The definition of a ‘one hit-wonder’ is an act that has had a Number 1 hit, but has never charted again, (I consider that to be a top 40 hit) other acts in this ‘1000 best songs list’ are (see also best songs 698-496-467-116 and 101.)

‘Wand’rin’ Star’ includes some wonderful and insightful lyrics including,’Snow can burn your eyes, but only people make you cry,’ and ‘Do I know where hell is? Hell is in hello.’