THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

913-Dexys Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express-Come On Eileen.

1982-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 3.04. You must have to have a lot of patience, if you are a lady called Eileen, because every time that some joker thinks that they are the first to shout at you,’Come on Eileen,’ you have either got to smile, laugh, of give in to temptation, and punch them in the face.

Dexys Midnight Runners (see also best songs 104) who at the time of writing are officially called by their former nickname ‘Dexys,’ were formed in 1978, in Birmingham, England, by Kevin Rowland, who at that time was using the pseudonym ‘Carlo Rolan,’ and Kevin ‘Al’ Archer. Both had previously been members of the short lived ‘Punk’ band the ‘Killjoys.’ Archer who stayed with Dexys Midnight Runners until after the recording of the debut Album ‘ Searching for the Young Soul Rebels,’ an Album he wrote some of the songs for, said that he used the name ‘Al,’ because Kevin Rowland decided that the group was not big enough to accommodate two ‘Kevins.’

Kevin Rowland was born on August 17th, 1953, in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton, England, he has been the one constant member of Dexys Midnight Runners. Rowland was born to Irish parents, and many of ‘Dexys’ songs have been inspired by his Irish ancestry. Rowland has said that he felt it was important to achieve a recognisable vocal style, putting a ‘crying voice on,’ which he has said was partly inspired by General Johnson, (1941-2010) of the American/Canadian Soul group the ‘Chairmen of the Board.’ Away from ‘Dexys,’ Rowland has released two solo studio Albums, in 1988, and 1999, and four singles, none of which found any real chart success.

‘Come On Eileen’ was the second of four singles released from ‘Too-Rye-Ay,’ the second studio Album from Dexys Midnight Runners, from July 1982. ‘Come On Eileen’ was officially written by Kevin Rowland, with Jim Paterson, and Billy Adams, who were all band members at that time, although Rowland later stated that the essence of the tune should be attributed to Kevin ‘Al’ Archer, who was not a band member at the time, Rowland and Archer agreed on royalties, so a court case was never brought. In America on Billboard,’Come On Eileen’ remains the only hit single for ‘Dexys,’ and for that, in America, they are recognised as ‘one hit wonders,’ whereas in the UK,’Come On Eileen’ was their second chart topper after ‘Geno’ in 1980, and in total ‘Dexys’ have made the UK top 40 singles chart on nine occasions, for a fuller discography of ‘Dexys’ see best songs 104. The production of ‘Come On Eileen,’ and it’s parent Album ‘Too-Rye-Ay,’ is credited to Clive Langer, and Alan Winstanley, who are both veteran producers, who worked together from 1979 through until 2009 (see also best songs 69.)

The rumour is that ‘Come On Eileen’ is based on Kevin Rowland’s first sexual encounter with a childhood friend called Eileen, but there was probably no Eileen. In fact the probability is that Eileen is a metaphor about Rowland’s Catholic upbringing, and the religion’s views on sexual relationships. The songs opening line ‘Poor old Johnny Ray,’ is probably a way of Rowland telling us that he won’t be repressed, as the previous generation were. Johnny Ray (1927-1990) was an American singer, who was a very big star for a short while in the early 1950’s, before suffering from alcoholism.

Some versions of ‘Come On Eileen’ open with a ‘Celtic’ fiddle solo, this is based on the Irish writer and poet Thomas Moore’s (1779-1852) Irish Folk song ‘Believe Me, if All Those Endearing Young Charms,’ which was first published in 1808. The songs chorus ‘Come On Eileen’ is said to be loosely based on the ‘Northern Soul’ favourite ‘A Man Like Me,’ by Jimmy James and The Vagabonds. Kevin Rowland who was very much influenced by ‘Soul’ music of the 1960’s has spoken about ‘Come On Eileen,’We wanted a good rhythm and we found one. Lots of records we liked had that rhythm: ‘Concrete and Clay,’ ‘It’s Not Unusual’ by Tom Jones. Lots of records we liked had that ‘Bomp ba bomp, bomp ba bomp.’ We felt it was a good rhythm. We came up with the chord sequence ourselves, and just started singing melodies over it. I remember thinking, ‘We’re really onto something here.’ I came up with that, ‘Too ra loo ra,’ and I remember thinking, ‘Wow, this is sounding really good.’ You get a feeling when you’re writing a song. Something happens. And in the end it kind of finished itself.’

‘Poor old Johnnie Ray, sounded sad upon the radio, moved a million hearts in mono. Our mothers cried, sang along, who’d blame them.’