THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

722-Green Day-21 Guns.

2009-Number 36 single.

Best Bit-At 1.06. ‘For those about to rock, we salute you.’

Green Day were formed in East Bay, California, United States, in 1987, and at the time of writing they remain active, with Billie Joe Armstrong, (lead vocalist, and guitarist) Mike Dirnt, (bass) and Tré Cool (drums) being recognised as the classic line up. In total there have been six different members come and go. It was Billie Joe Armstrong, and Mike Dirnt, who were both 15 years old at the time, who co-founded the group, along with Sean Hughes, (bass) and Raj Punjabi, (drums) calling themselves ‘Blood Rage.’ The name changed to ‘Sweet Children,’ between 1987-1989, before ‘Green Day’ was finally settled upon, the name was chosen due to the groups fondness for ‘cannabis.’ The phrase, ‘Green day,’ was slang in the Bay Area of California, for spending a day doing nothing but smoking marijuana, Billie Joe Armstrong has said that he considered it to be ‘The worst band name in the world.’

With sales in excess of 75 million, Green Day are one of the best selling groups of all time, their 1991 Album ‘Kerplunk,’ with sales of over 4.5 million copies is one of the best selling independent albums of all time. Green Day started out life as a ‘Punk Rock’ group, but over the years they have also experimented, and recorded in other genres, including ‘Alternative Rock,’ and ‘Power Pop.’ The discography of Green Day includes 14 studio Albums released between 1990-2020, and 48 singles issued between 1994-2023, there are also four official compilation Albums, and four live Albums available. In America on Billboard, three of their studio Albums have reached Number 1, and five of their singles have made the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart top 40, with ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams,’ peaking the highest at Number 2 in 2004, ’21 Guns’ reached Number 22. In the UK, four of their Albums have reached the Number 1 spot, and 22 of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘The Saints Are Coming,’ billed as ‘ U2 and Green Day,’ peaking the highest at Number 2 in 2006.

’21 Guns’ was the second of five singles released from ’21st Century Breakdown,’ which was the eighth studio Album issued by Green Day, from May 2009, the track was written by Billie Joe Armstrong, with the production credited to Butch Vig, (see also best songs 788-641-421 and 9)) and Green Day, Butch Vig was also the Albums co-producer as well. Butch Vig was born Bryan David Vig, on August 2nd, 1955, in Viroqua, Wisconsin, United States, he is best known as the co-founder, drummer, and co-producer of the Alternative Rock group Garbage, and also as the producer of the ‘diamond selling’ Nirvana Album ‘Nevermind,’ from 1991. Other significant acts produced by Butch Vig include, The Smashing Pumpkins, (‘Gish’) Sonic Youth, (‘Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star’) and Foo Fighters (Wasting Light.)

Billie Joe Armstrong, was born on February 17th, 1972, in Oakland, California, United States, he is considered by some music critics to be one of the greatest Punk Rock guitarists of all time. Away from Green Day, Armstrong has released two studio Albums, ‘Foreverly,’ with Norah Jones in 2013, and ‘No Fun Mondays,’ in 2020, he has also issued 13 solo singles between 2013-2020. Armstrong has released music with his side projects, ‘Pinhead Gunpowder,’ ‘The Network,’ ‘Foxboro Hot Tubs,’ ‘SWMRS,’ ‘The Boo,’ ‘The Shrives,’ and ‘The Longshot,’ all between 1994-2020.

A 21-gun salute is the most commonly recognised of the customary gun salutes that are performed by the firing of cannons or artillery as a military honour. As naval customs evolved, 21 guns came to be fired for heads of state, or in exceptional circumstances for heads of government, with the number decreasing with the rank of the recipient of the honour. ’21 Guns’ addresses the subject of patriotism. Billie Joe Armstrong has said,’It brings up ’21st Century Breakdown’ (Album) in a lot of ways, and the 21 gun-salute for someone that’s fallen, but done in an arena rock ‘n’ roll sort of way.’

Do you know what’s worth fighting for, when it’s not worth dying for. Does it take your breath away, and you feel yourself suffocating. Does the pain weigh out the pride, and you look for a place to hide. Did someone break your heart inside, you’re in ruins.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

723-Marvin Gaye-Got to Give It Up.

1977-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 1.39. The song was subject to a landmark court case in 2013 against the writers of ‘Blurred Lines,’ a song which had given Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell Williams a Billboard and UK Number 1 single. Gaye’s family argued that it sounded too similar to ‘Got to Give It Up,’ and the judgement awarded $7.3 million to the Gaye family, nice work if you can get it.

Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. (see also best songs 183 and 114) was born on April 2nd, 1939, in Washington, D.C., United States, he died on April 1st, 1984, after being shot in the chest, and his shoulder, by his father Marvin Gay Sr., (1914-1988) at the age of 44. By the mid 1970’s Marvin Gaye’s record label Tamla Motown were feeling under pressure to keep up with the latest music trends, namely ‘Disco,’ so Marvin Gaye, after a lot of persuading, came up with this gem. Throughout 1976 Marvin Gaye was suffering financial difficulties, due to pending lawsuits from former band mates, and the divorce proceedings between himself and his first wife Anna Gordy (1922-2014.) In order to relieve Gaye from his debt, his European concert promoter Jeffrey Kruger (1931-2014) booked him on a lengthy European tour. The tour was a great success, with one of the shows which was filmed at the ‘London Palladium, being released as an Album ‘Live at the London Palladium.’ Around the same time ‘Motown’ tried to get Marvin Gaye to record ‘Disco Music,’ which was the best selling genre at that time. However Gaye criticised ‘Disco,’ saying, ‘It lacked substance,’ and refused to record a ‘Disco’ Album. However he finally came around to the idea after seeing the success his label mate Diana Ross (see also best songs 1001-900-519-365-212-183-148 and 28 ) had achieved with her ‘Disco’ hit ‘Love Hangover’ (1976-Billboard Number 1 & UK Number 10.)

‘Got to Give It Up’ was the only single released from Marvin Gaye’s live double Album ‘Live at the London Palladium,’ from March 1977, all of the other tracks on the Album were live recordings, with ‘Got to Give It Up’ being the only studio recording. The song was written by Marvin Gaye, with the production of the track, and also the Album, being by Art Stewart. ‘In it’s entirety ‘Got to Give It Up’ runs for 11.52, and takes up the whole of side 4 of the Album, but it was an edited version of 4.12, which was issued for the 7 inch single. The song proved very successful reaching the Number 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and also on their ‘Hot R&B’ chart as well. Following the success of ‘Got to Give It Up,’ Art Stewart came to the attention of other ‘Motown’ artists including Rick James, (1948-2004) (see also best songs 418) and he and James co-produced Rick James’ 1978 Album ‘Come Get It!’ Art Stewart also worked closely with James’ fellow ‘Motown’ label mate Teena Marie (1956-2010) (see also best songs 735.)

‘Got to Give It Up’ was originally titled ‘Dancing Lady,’ as Marvin Gaye had been influenced by Johnny Taylor’s (1934-2000) 1976 Billboard Number 1 single ‘Disco Lady.’ ‘Got to Give It Up’ was recorded at ‘Marvin’s Room,’ which was a recording studio founded by Marvin Gaye in Los Angeles in 1975. The lead vocals were sung by Marvin Gaye, who also sang backing vocals, along with his brother Frankie Gaye, (1941-2001) and his second wife Janis Hunter (1956-2022.) Other notable names performing on the track were Jack Ashford of the ‘Funk Brothers,’ who provided percussion, and the singer songwriter Frankie Beverley, the tenor saxophone solo was provided by Fernando Harkness.

‘Got to Give It Up’ was an important influence on Michael Jackson (1958-2009) (see also best songs 812-511-249-191 and 137.) Jackson would write, along with his brother Randy, ‘Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground,’) (1978-Billboard Number 7 & UK Number 4) adapting parts of Gaye’s chant, transforming it into ‘Let’s dance, let’s shout, shake your body down to the ground,’ Michael Jackson’s song ‘Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough,’ (1979-Billboard Number 1 & UK Number 3) written solely by Michael Jackson, and recorded the same year as ‘Shake Your Body,’ took even more of Gaye’s influence on ‘Got to Give It Up,’ by using percussive instruments, and Jackson singing the track falsetto, as Gaye had done on ‘Got to Give It Up.’

‘I used to go out to parties and stand around, ’cause I was too nervous to really get down. But my body yearned to be free, I got up on the floor, and found someone to choose me.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

724-Primal Scream-Loaded.

1990-Number 16 single.

Best Bit-At 3.28. When asked by the ‘NME’ how all the samples were cleared, Bobby Gillespie said,’I don’t know what you’re talking about. (with a grin on his face) Imagine if we hadn’t got the Fonda one though. We wouldn’t be sat here now. I don’t know where we’d be, but we would not be sat here talking to you. The Gods were smiling on us that day.’

Primal Scream were formed in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1982, by Bobby Gillespie, and Jim Beattie, in total there has been 24 different members come and go, with Gillespie being the groups one constant, and at the time of writing they remain active with four current members. Primal Scream who took their name from a term for a type of cry heard in ‘primal therapy,’ created by the American psychologist, psychotherapist Arthur Janov, (1924-2017) started out life as an ‘Indie Rock’ group, before moving in to ‘Psychedelic Rock,’ and ‘Garage Rock,’ but it was when they incorporated ‘Dance Music’ to their sound, they finally achieved mainstream success.

Primal Scream have released 11 studio Albums between 1987-2016, and 26 singles between 1985-2016, there are also four official compilation Albums, and one live Album available. In the UK, 16 of their singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Country Girl’ from 2006 peaking the highest at Number 5. In America they have never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, but they have had four entries on the ‘Billboard Alternative Airplay’ chart, with ‘Movin’ on Up,’ placing the highest at Number 2 in 1992.

Bobby Gillespie was born Robert Gillespie, on June 22nd, 1961, in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2021 he issued his book ‘Tenement Kid,’ which is a memoir relating to his childhood in the 1960’s in Springburn, Glasgow, his discovering of ‘Punk Rock’ music, and then his realisation as an artist, through until the release of the ‘Screamadelica’ Album in 1991, the book has been met with critical acclaim. Prior to going full time with Primal Scream, Gillespie had split his career with being the drummer for ‘The Jesus and Mary Chain,’ (see also best songs 878 and 336) playing on the groups debut Album ‘Psychocandy’ from 1985. After that the Reid Brothers who were two of the four members of ‘The Jesus and Mary Chain’ at that time, gave Gillespie an ultimatum to abandon Primal Scream or be replaced, Gillespie has said,’I never really enjoyed being in Primal Scream, but the Mary Chain is Jim and William’s band, and I knew I could express myself better in Primal Scream.’

‘Loaded’ was released in February 1990, some 19 months before the release of it’s parent Album ‘Screamadelica,’ from September 1991, in total six singles were released from the Album. ‘Screamadelica’ has received universal praise from music critics, and has been frequently named one of the best Albums of the 1990’s in various polls. It won the first ever ‘Mercury Music Prize’ in 1992, and has sold over three million copies worldwide to date. ‘Loaded’ was co-written by Primal Scream group members Bobby Gillespie, Andrew Innes, and Robert Young, (1964-2014) with the production being by Andrew Weatherall, who was born Andrew James Weatherall, on April 6th, 1963, in Windsor, Berkshire, England, he died on February 17th, 2020, with the cause given being a pulmonary embolism. ‘Loaded’ came about after Primal Scream had got in touch with Weatherall, agreeing a £500 fee to remix an earlier song of their’s called ‘I’m Losing More Than I Ever Had.’ Weatherall incorporated many samples including spoken word, and the finished work is seen as groundbreaking in it’s fusion of ‘Rock Music,’ and ‘Dance Music.’

Andrew Weatherall reduced ‘I’m Losing More Than I Ever Had.’ to around a seven second loop, then added a heavy bass line, and a drum loop from an Italian bootleg mix of Edie Brickell’s 1988 track What I Am.’ Other samples include a vocal sample taken from American girl group ‘The Emotions’ 1976 song ‘I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love,’ and Bobby Gillespie singing a line from the ‘Blues’ singer Robert Johnson’s (1911-1938) 1936 Blues song ‘Terraplane Blues.’ Perhaps the most memorable sample on ‘Loaded’ is the spoken word intro taken from the 1966 film ‘Wild Angels,’ which features an audio sample of the actual words spoken in that film by the actors Frank Maxwell, (1916-2004) and Peter Fonda (1940-2019.)

Bobby Gillespie has said,’We just did ‘Loaded’ as an experiment. There was nothing in it for us anyway, so we had nothing to lose, you know? There was no game plan with Weatherall at all. We didn’t think ‘We’re going to get famous and rich’ or ‘We’re gonna get a hit.’ It was just us trying to make a record that could ply in this scene and that people could dance to. But I remember when we finished it sounded f—ing amazing. We’d done it.’

‘Just what is it that you want to do? Well, we wanna be free, we wanna be free to do what we wanna do, and we wanna get loaded and we wanna have a good time. And that’s what we’re gonna do, we’re gonna have a good time, we’re gonna have a party.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

725-Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes-Don’t Leave Me This Way.

1977-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 3.13. Because of the groups billing, you could be forgiven for thinking that Harold Melvin was the lead singer, but he wasn’t.

Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes were formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, in 1954, prior to forming as the ‘Blue Notes,’ they were originally known as ‘The Charlemagnes.’ The first line up consisted of five members, including Harold Melvin, (1940-1977) and lead singer Franklin Peaker (1935-2006.) The group officially disbanded in 1996, but some members have sporadically played live as the ‘Blue Notes’ on occasions since. In total there have been 18 different members come and go, with no new music released since 1984. Prior to finding success, the group had issued four unsuccessful singles in America between 1965-1970 on various record labels, although their first release ‘Get Out (And Let Me Cry’) did reach Number 35 in the UK in 1965. In 1970 the group recruited Teddy Pendergrass (1950-2010) as the drummer for their backing band, but after hearing him sing, he took over lead vocals from the then lead singer John Atkins (1944?-1998.) Success finally arrived when they landed a recording deal with ‘Philadelphia International Records’ in 1971.

The discography of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes includes nine studio Albums released between 1972-1984, of which the first four were all recorded on ‘Philadelphia International’ records, the other five Albums were issued on labels including ‘ABC,’ and ‘MCA,’ there are also nine official compilation Albums available. Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes released 29 singles between 1965-1994, with all the hits coming from their time on ‘Philadelphia International’ records. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, four of their singles have reached the top 40, with ‘If You Don’t Know Me by Now,’ charting the highest at Number 3 in 1972. In the UK, six of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’ peaking the highest at Number 3 in 1977.

Teddy Pendergrass was born Theodore DeReese Pendergrass, on March 26th, 1950, in Kingstree, South Carolina, United States. In 2009 he underwent successful surgery for colon cancer, but a few weeks later he returned to the hospital with respiratory issues. After seven months, he died of respiratory failure, on January 13, 2010, at the age of 59. Pendergrass left ‘Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes’ in 1976 over financial disagreements, and launched a very successful solo career, releasing 14 solo studio Albums between 1977-1998, and 39 singles between 1977-1997. It was on the Billboard ‘Hot R&B’ chart where he found his greatest charting success, with 27 of his tracks reaching that charts top 40, including three Number 1 hits. In March 1982 a car crash left Pendergrass paralysed from the chest down, but in time he was able to continue his successful solo career, until announcing his retirement in 2007. Just prior to the car crash, especially in America, Teddy Pendergrass had become so popular, that by the early 1980’s, the media were calling him ‘the black Elvis,’ not only in terms of his crossover popularity, but also due to him buying a mansion akin to ‘Elvis’s Graceland,’ located just outside his hometown of Philadelphia.

‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’ was the third and final single released from ‘Wake Up Everybody,’ which was the fourth studio Album by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, from November 1975. ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’ was co-written by the legendary song writing duo of Kenny Gamble, and Leon Huff, with the lyrics written by Cary Gilbert, (1942-1993) (see also best songs 896) Gamble and Huff (see also best songs 1001-896-648-604-571-338-322 and 258) who had formed ‘Philadelphia International Records,’ in 1971, also produced the track. ‘Philadelphia Records’ chose not to issue ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’ as a single, so that labels main competitors in the ‘Soul’ market at that time who were ‘Motown’ records, took advantage and released a version by Thelma Houston which went to Number 1 on Billboard in 1977, and Number 13 in the UK. The version by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes was finally issued as a single in America in 1979, but only as a 12 inch single, and it failed to chart. The other significant recording of ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way,’ is the version by the British synth-pop duo ‘The Communards,’ (see also best songs 318) who spent four weeks at Number 1 in the UK with the song in 1986, their version also reached Number 40 in America, but in the UK it was the best selling single of that year.

‘Oh, baby, my heart is full of love and desire for you, so come on down and do what you’ve got to do. You started this fire down in my soul, now can’t you see it’s burning out of control. So come on down and satisfy the need in me, ’cause only your good loving can set me free.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

726-Cream-Badge.

1969-Number 18 single.

Best Bit-At 2.12. The crème de la crème of Cream.

‘Cream’ were formed in London, England, in 1966, by Jack Bruce, (1943-2014) (lead vocals, and bass, keyboards, piano, harmonica, cello, acoustic guitar, and recorder) Ginger Baker, (1939-2019) (drums, and backing and lead vocals) and Eric Clapton, (lead and rhythm guitars, and backing and lead vocals) the trio are widely considered to be the first ‘supergroup.’ A ‘supergroup’ is a musical group formed with members who are already successful as solo artists, or as members of other successful groups. The group were named ‘Cream,’ as the three members were considered the ‘cream of the crop’ amongst ‘Blues,’ and ‘Jazz’ musicians. As ‘Cream’ they were active between 1966-1968,’ although they did perform together again in 1993, and then for a final time in 2005.

‘Cream’ who have sold in excess of 15 million Albums worldwide, released four studio Albums between 1966-1969, and there have been 10 singles issued between 1966-2006. There are also 10 official compilation Albums, and four live Albums available. In the UK, all four of their studio Albums reached the top 10, with their final release ‘Goodbye’ making Number 1, while in America on the ‘Billboard 200,’ all four Albums made the top 40, with their third release ‘Wheels of Fire’ reaching Number 1. Seven of their singles made the top 40 in the UK, with ‘I Feel Free’ peaking the highest at Number 11 in 1966, while in America on the ‘Billboard Hot 100,’ three of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘White Room’ from 1968, charting the highest at Number 5.

Eric Patrick Clapton CBE was born on March 30th, 1945, in Ripley, Surrey, England, he is the only three-time inductee to the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,’ once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of the ‘Yardbirds’ (see also best songs 361) and of ‘Cream.’ With record sales of around 300 million worldwide, he is one of the best selling artists of all time. He acquired his nickname ‘slowhand,’ because whenever he broke a guitar string during a concert, he would stay on stage and replace it. The English audiences would wait out the delay by doing what is called a ‘slow handclap,’ it was the music producer Giorgio Gomelsky (1934-2016) who gave him that nickname. Prior to starting a solo career in 1970, Eric Clapton had played in a number of different local bands, before joining the ‘Yardbirds’ from 1963-1965, and then ‘John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers,’ from 1965 to 1966. He then became a member of ‘Cream’ between 1966-1968, after which he formed ‘Bind Faith,’ who were active for just a few months, before forming ‘Derek and the Dominos,’ who like ‘Blind Faith,’ he released just one studio Album with. As a solo artist Eric Clapton has released 21 studio Albums between 1970-2018, and 61 singles between 1970-2016, there are also 21 official compilation Albums, and 15 live Albums available. Clapton has also released a further 25 singles as a member of the aforementioned groups he was a member of prior to 1970. In the UK as a solo artist 12 of his singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Tears in Heaven’ from 1992, peaking the highest at Number 5, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100, he has had 15 top 40 hits, with ‘I Shot the Sheriff,’ reaching Number 1 in 1974.

‘Badge’ was the only single issued from ‘Cream’s’ fourth an final studio Album ‘Goodbye,’ (also known as ‘Goodbye Cream’) from February 1969. ‘Badge’ was co-written by Eric Clapton, and George Harrison, (1943-2001) (see also best songs 737) with the production credited to Felix Pappalardi, (1939-1983) who had also been the producer of ‘Cream’s’ second and third studio Albums, Pappalardi also played the piano and mellotron on ‘Badge.’ George Harrison played rhythm guitar on the track, but due to contractual reasons he is listed under the pseudonym of ‘L’Angelo Misterioso.’ The songs title ‘Badge’ has absolutely nothing to do with the songs subject, as when Clapton was reading through Harrison’s notes, he misread ‘Bridge’ (as in the songs bridge) for ‘Badge,’ which Harrison found funny, so they decided to use it. The songs lyrics are not intended to make any sense, the line about swans living in the park, was actually a throwaway comment made by Ringo Starr when he was drunk, although Starr does not receive any songwriting credits.

‘Thinkin’ ’bout the times you drove in my car, thinkin’ that I might have drove you too far, and I’m thinkin’ ’bout the love that you laid on my table. I told you not to wander ’round in the dark, I told you ’bout the swans, that they live in the park, then I told you ’bout our kid, now he’s married to Mabel.’