THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

742-Fat Larry’s Band-Zoom.

1982-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 0.56. But what could ‘Zoom’ really be about. Could it be about video communication, or maybe it’s about a brand of ice cream on a stick, which was very popular in the 1960’s, or it could maybe about whizzing down the motorway at speed, but my inclination is that it is a romantic song, about love at first sight.

The Fat Larry’s Band were a ‘Funk,’ and ‘R&B’ group formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, in 1976, by ‘Fat’ Larry James, who was born in Philadelphia, on August 2nd, 1949, he died on December 5th, 1987, from a heart attack, at the age of 38. Prior to forming the ‘Fat Larry’s Band,’ ‘Fat’ Larry James had been a session musician, singing backing vocals for other Philadelphia Soul groups, including ‘Blue Magic,’ and the ‘Delfonics.’ In total there were 13 different members of the ‘Fat Larry’s Band,’ who remained active until the death of James in 1987. The Fat Larry’s Band released eight studio Albums between 1976-1986, and 19 singles within the same time period, there are also two official compilation Albums available. The Fat Larry’s Band never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, but did have four entries on the Billboard ‘Hot R&B’ chart. In the UK, two of their singles reached the top 40, with ‘Center City,’ their debut release, being their other hit, when making Number 31 in 1976. ‘Zoom’ also found success in New Zealand, and also in Australia, where it peaked at Number 10.

‘Zoom’ was co-written by Len Barry, (1942-2020) and Bobby Eli, (1946-2023) with the production being by Larry James, who also sang lead vocals, and played the drums on the track The song was the fourth of four singles released from ‘Breakin’ Out,’ the sixth studio Album from the ‘Fat Larry’s Band,’ from 1982. Len Barry was born Leonard Warren Borisoff, on June 12th, 1942, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, he died on November 5th, 2020, from myelodysplasia, or cancer of the bone marrow, at the age of 78. Len Barry began his music career as a member of the Philadelphia ‘Doo-Wop’ group ‘The Dovells,’ appearing on all five of their Billboard Hot 100 hits between 1961-1963, including ‘Bristol Stomp,’ (Billboard Number 2-1962.) As a solo artist Len Barry had a 1965 hit with ‘1-2-3,’ a song he co-wrote, which reached Number 2 on Billboard, and Number 3 in the UK, it is that song that he is best remembered for. In total Len Barry released 25 singles as a solo artist between 1964-2006, with three of those tracks making the Billboard Hot 100, and two reaching the UK top 40.

‘Zoom’ was also co-written by Bobby Eli, who was born Eli Tatarsky, on March 2nd, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, he died on August 17th, 2023, at the age of 77. Bobby Eli was a musician, arranger, composer, and record producer, and a founding member, and lead guitarist of the Philadelphia studio band ‘MFSB.’ As a member of ‘MFSB’ he played on dozens of tracks issued on the ‘Philadelphia International’ record label, for artists including Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the O’Jays, and Billy Paul, who all feature in this ‘1000 Best Songs’ list. Other notable songs co-written by Bobby Eli include, ‘Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely, for the Main Ingredient, ‘Sideshow,’ for Blue Magic,’ and with Len Barry, ‘Love Town,’ which was a hit for Booker Newberry, making Number 6 in the UK in 1983.

Of the 13 different members of the Fat Larry’s Band, one of the most significant was Bryan Loren, who was born Bryan Loren Hudson, on May 5th, 1966, in Long Island, New York, United States, he appeared on five Fat Larry Band Albums, including playing on ‘Zoom.’ He has released two solo studio Albums in 1984, and 1992, and his song writing credits include, co-writing, along with Michael Jackson, (1958-2009) the UK 1990 Number 1 single ‘Do the Bartman,’ for ‘The Simpsons.’ In 2020 Bryan Loren transitioned from male to female, becoming Bryanna Loren Hudson.

‘Zoom, you chased the day away. High noon, the moon and stars came out to play. Then my whole world went zoom, moonbeams dancin’ in the afternoon, shadows blowin’ as the roses bloom.’