THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

761-Randy Edelman-Concrete and Clay.

1976-Number 11 single.

Best Bit-At 2.21. Randy Edelman has written a colossal amount of original music, and what do I do? I choose a cover version.

Randy Edelman was born on June 10th, 1947, in Paterson, New Jersey, United States, he is best known for his film scores, and he is a Composer, conductor, and also plays the piano. Randy Edelman’s film scores include ‘XXX,’ (2002) ‘Ghostbusters 2,’ (1989) ‘Kindergarten Cop,’ (1990) ‘The Last Mohicans,’ (1992) and many more, he also wrote the theme, and scored many episodes of the American television series ‘MacGyver,’ which ran for seven seasons between 1985-1992. Randy Edelman is also a prolific writer of ‘Pop’ music, and has released 14 Albums between 1972-2011, with many of his songs being covered by some of the worlds top artists. His best known composition that was covered by another artist is probably ‘Weekend in New England,’ which reached Number 10 on the American Billboard Hot 100 in 1976, when recorded by Barry Manilow. Edelman has charted twice on the UK top 40, with ‘Concrete and Clay’ reaching Number 11 in 1976, and ‘Uptown Uptempo Woman,’ making Number 25 in the same year. Randy Edelman has been married to the singer/songwriter Jackie DeShannon since 1976 (see best songs 573.)

Randy Edelman recorded his cover of ‘Concrete and Clay’ for his fifth Album ‘Farewell Fairbanks,’ in 1975, it was the only cover version on the Album. The original version of ‘Concrete and Clay’ was written by Tommy Moeller, and Brian Parker, (1940-2001) who were both members of the British Pop band ‘Unit 4 + 2,’ and gave that group their only UK Number 1 single with the song in 1965, ‘Concrete and Clay’ also charted on Billboard in America, peaking at Number 28. ‘Unit 4 + 2’ were formed in Hertfordshire, England, in 1963, with Moeller, and Parker being two of the original four who formed the group. At first they called themselves ‘Unit 4,’ being inspired by ‘Unit 4,’ which was the fourth and final segment of the BBC Radio show ‘Pick of the Pops,’ which featured the Top 10 singles of that particular week. The quarter were soon joined by Russ Ballard, and Bob Henrit, who first played with the group as session musicians, hence the name change to ‘Unit 4 + 2,’ that pair would both become fully fledged official members in 1967. In total there were 11 different members of ‘Unit 4 + 2,’ through until their split in 1970. ‘Unit 4 + 2’ released two studio Albums, the first in 1965, (‘1st Album’) and the second (‘Unit 4 + 2’) in 1969, they also issued 12 singles between 1964-1969, with their only other UK hit being ‘(You’ve) Never Been in Love Like This Before,’ which reached Number 14 in 1965. In America only ‘Concrete and Clay’ charted.

‘Concrete and Clay’ failed to make great inroads on Billboard in America due to a competing version by the American singer Eddie Rambeau. The legendary music producer Bob Crewe (1930-2014) (see also best songs 914-863-739-499-393-284-164-112 and 83) had heard ‘Concrete and Clay’ while on a trip to the UK, and realising it’s potential got it recorded and released a week before the competing version from ‘Unit 4 + 2’ was issued in the States. Sales were split with ‘Unit 4 + 2’ peaking at Number 28, and Eddie Rambeau reaching Number 35. Other significant versions of the song include the 1986 re-make by Martin Plaza, co-lead singer of the Australian band ‘Mental as Anything,’ whose cover version reached Number 2 in Australia. Also in 1986 a remake by the German synthpop music group ‘Hong Kong Syndikat,’ reached Number 26 in Germany, and also reached Number 12 in France in 1987.

‘Concrete and Clay’ is a love song. The narrator is in love, (probably for the first time) and he is appreciating all of the wonders of nature that surround him. His feelings are so strong that he thinks that even hardened substances such as ‘concrete’ or ‘clay’ will crumble well before the love that he and his partner share.

‘You to me are sweet as roses in the morning, and you to me are soft as summer rain at dawn, in love we share that something rare. The sidewalks in the street, the concrete and the clay beneath my feet begins to crumble.’