THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

638-The Clash-Bankrobber.

1980-Number 12 single.

Best Bit-At 4.29. The Clash filmed a low budget promotional video for the song, depicting members of the band recording the track in the studio, interspersed with The Clash roadies, Johnny Green and Barry Glare, wearing bandanas over their faces, performing a heist in Lewisham, London. During filming Green and Glare were stopped by the police, who thought that they were genuine bank robbers.

The Clash (see also best songs 294) were formed in London, England, in 1976, and remained active until 1986. In total there were 10 official members come and go, with the considered classic line up comprising of Joe Strummer, (1952-2002) (lead vocals & rhythm guitar) Mick Jones, (lead guitar & lead vocals) (see also best songs 867) Paul Simonon, (bass guitar) and Nicky ‘Topper’ Headon (drums.) It was Paul Simonon who came up with the groups name, and he has explained, ‘It really came to my head when I started reading the newspapers, and a word that kept recurring was the word ‘clash’, so I thought ‘the Clash, what about that.’ The Clash started out life as a ‘Punk Rock’ group, heavily influenced by fellow London based band the ‘Sex Pistols,’ (see also best songs 576-92 and 27) but they soon began to experiment with a variety of musical genres, including ‘Reggae,’ ‘Rockabilly,’ ‘Dub,’ and ‘R&B.’ The Clash are one of the most critically acclaimed acts of all time, and were once billed as ‘The Only Band That Matters.’

‘Bankrobber’ was released as a stand alone single, issued to fill the gap between the groups third studio Album ‘London Calling,’ (1979) and their fourth Album ‘Sandinista! (1980) ‘Bankrobber’ first appeared on an Album later in 1980, with the release of their compilation ‘Black Market Clash,’ where it is stretched to 6.16, with the ‘Dub’ version added. ‘Bankrobber’ was co-written by Joe Strummer, (lyrics) and Mick Jones, (music) with the production being by Mikey Dread, who was born Michael George Campbell, on June 4th, 1954, in Port Antonio, Jamaica, he died on March 15th, 2008, from a brain tumor, at the age of 53. It is said that Mikey Dread showed a natural aptitude for engineering and electronics from an early age, and after finishing college he started out as an engineer with the ‘Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation’ (JBC.) In the mid to late 1970’s he also worked as a recording artist for the legendary Jamaican music producers Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, (1936-2021) (see also best songs 817 and 789) Sonia Pottinger, (1931-2010) and Joe Gibbs (1942-2008) (see also best songs 952.) Mikey Dread came to the attention of The Clash, who invited him over to England to tour with them in 1980, which led to him producing ‘Bankrobber,’ and then going on to perform on several songs on the ‘Sandinista!’ Album later that year. Mikey Dread also released 17 Albums between 1979-2007, and there were a further five compilation Albums issued between 1989-2006. He also released 26 singles between 1978-2001, and appeared as a guest artist on many records for others.

The lyrics to ‘Bankrobber’ are not meant to be taken literally, they are in fact a continuation of the groups themes of dead end jobs, and escaping oppression by ‘the man,’ that ran through so many of The Clash songs. The songs video was banned by the British television music show ‘Top of the Pops,’ due to it’s robbery theme, so instead the resident dance group ‘Legs and Co’ had to dance to it, when the song appeared on the show in August 1980. In 1997 the English ‘Indie Rock’ group ‘Audioweb’ did a cover version of ‘Bankrobber,’ which reached Number 19 in the UK.

‘My daddy was a bank robber, but he never hurt nobody, he just loved to live that way, and he loved to steal your money. Some is rich, and some is poor, and that’s the way the world is, but I don’t believe in laying back, sayin’ how bad your luck is.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

639-Carly Simon-You’re So Vain.

1973-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 2.56. One of Pop Music’s best kept fun secrets, is ironically taken from her 1972 Album ‘No Secrets.’

Carly Elisabeth Simon was born on June 25th, 1943, in New York City, United States, alongside her music career she is the author of two memoirs, and five children’s books. Prior to finding worldwide success as a solo artist, and signing with ‘Electra Records’ in 1970, Carly Simon, and her two older sisters, Joanna, (1936-2022) and Lucy, (1940-2022) were signed to ‘Kapp Records’ in 1964, releasing three studio Albums as ‘The Simon Sisters,’ between 1964-1969.
The solo discography of Carly Simon includes 23 studio Albums released between 1971-2009, and 41 singles released between 1971-2023, there are also 10 official compilation Albums, four soundtrack Albums, and two live Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, 13 of her singles have reached the top 40, with ‘You’re So Vain’ making the Number 1 spot, while in the UK, she has charted within the top 40 on eight occasions, with ‘You’re So Vain’ peaking the highest at Number 3. Carly Simon was married to the American singer/songwriter James Taylor between 1972-1983, and in 1974 they had a hit duet with a cover version of the ‘Inez and Charlie Foxx’ song ‘Mockingbird,’ (Billboard Number 5 & UK Number 34) and a further hit with ‘Devoted to You’ (1978-Billboard Number 36.) Carly Simon also sang ‘Nobody Does It Better,’ which was the critically acclaimed theme to the 1977 James Bond film ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’ (Billboard Number 2 & UK Number 7.)

‘You’re So Vain’ was the first of two singles released from Carly Simon’s third solo studio Album ‘No Secrets,’ from November 1972, the song was written by Carly Simon, with the production being by Richard Perry, who would also later produce ‘Nobody Does It Better.’ ‘You’re So Vain’ can boast some of the era’s top session musicians playing on the track, including Klaus Voormann, (see also best songs 927-737-592-131-39 and 20) (bass) and Jim Gordon, (1945-2023) (see also best songs 846-795 and 417) (drums) the orchestration was by Paul Buckmaster, (1946-2017) and Mick Jagger (see also best songs 933-662-452-160 and 77) can be heard providing backing vocals.

Carly Simon has had a lot of fun, and publicity teasing the media, and the general public about whom ‘You’re So Vain’ is really about. Even now, 50 plus years later, it is said that only a handful of people know the truth. In order to keep the mystery going, Carly Simon from time to time drops hints. She has stated that the song refers to three men only, one of whom is the American actor Warren Beatty. Carly Simon has said that the songs second verse is about him. She has also stated that the song isn’t actually just about one person, but an amalgamation of three men she has known. Unaccredited vocals on the track are provided by Mick Jagger, of whom Carly Simon has stated, is definitely not part of the subject of the song. In 2001 Carly Simon used the basis of ‘You’re So Vain’ in collaboration with Janet Jackson, (see also best songs 679) and Missy Elliott (see also best songs 691) recording a new ‘version’ called ‘Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You’) for Janet Jackson’s Album ‘All For You,’ which when issued as a single, reached Number 28 on Billboard, and Number 13 in the UK. The phrase ‘Son of a Gun,’ is what Carly Simon whispers at the very start of ‘You’re So Vain.’

Carly Simon has explained how ‘You’re So Vain’ first came about,’There was originally a song that had the melody of what is now ‘You’re So Vain,’ called ‘Bless You Ben.’ It went ‘Bless you Ben, you came in, where nobody else left off, there I was, by myself, hiding up in my loft.’ It never went anywhere, I could never fall in love with it. And then I was at a party and somebody walked in and my friend said to me ‘Doesn’t he look like he’s just walked on to a yacht?’ So, I thought to myself – hmmm, let me write that in my notebook. And then one day, when I was playing ‘Bless You Ben’ on the piano, I substituted ‘You walked into the party, like you were walking onto a yacht’ and the exchange was equal. And it felt natural, and it felt good, and then I could get into that man, I knew who I was talking about.’

‘Well I hear you went up to Saratoga, and your horse naturally won. Then you flew your Learjet up to Nova Scotia, to see the total eclipse of the sun. Well, you’re where you should be all the time, and when you’re not, you’re with some underworld spy, or the wife of a close friend, wife of a close friend.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

640-Tears for Fears-Change.

1983-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 2.39. ‘Dance like nobody’s watching.’

Tears for Fears (see also best songs 24) were formed in Bath, Somerset, England, in 1981, by Roland Orzabal, and Curt Smith. The groups name was inspired by the trauma based psychotherapy, ‘Primal Therapy,’ which had been developed by the American psychologist Arthur Janov, (1924-2017) which had gained tremendous publicity after John Lennon (1940-1980) became Janov’s patient in 1970. Shortly after forming Tears for Fears, Orzabal and Smith were joined by Ian Stanley, (keyboards) and Manny Elias, (drums) Elias left the group in 1986, and Stanley in 1987. Roland Orzabal, and Curt Smith recorded and toured together, until falling out with each other in 1991. In 2000 after not speaking to each other in nearly 10 years, they had to meet up to sign some routine paperwork, and this led to a re-union, and the recording of the sixth studio Album ‘Everybody Loves a Happy Ending’ in 2004. At the time of writing Tears for Fears remain active, with Roland Orzabal being the groups one constant.

The discography of Tears for Fears includes seven studio Albums released between 1983-2022, and 39 singles released between 1981-2023, there are also three official compilation Albums, four box sets, and two live Albums available. In the UK, 17 of their singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World,’ peaking the highest at Number 2 in 1985. Although they have never had a UK Number 1 single, a version of their 1982 Number 3 hit ‘Mad World,’ when issued in 2003 by Michael Andrews, and Gary Jules, was that years Christmas Number 1 single. In America, Tears for Fears became one of the most successful British acts of the 1980’s, achieving seven top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, with both ‘Shout,’ (1984) and ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World,’ (1985) reaching the Number 1 position. Tears for Fears released their first five studio Albums between 1983-1995, then the next in 2004, and the latest in 2022.

Roland Orzabal, was born Roland Jaime Orzabal de la Quintana, on August 22nd, 1961, in Bath, Somerset, England, he first met Curt Smith while both were in their early teens in Bath. In the late 1970’s, they formed a ‘Mod’ music group, called ‘Graduate,’ along with three other members, with which they released one Album ‘Acting My Age,’ and then disbanded. Orzabal and Smith then briefly joined the English ‘New Wave’ band ‘Neon,’ in the early 1980’s, before going on to form Tears for Fears. After Orzabal and Smith split in 1991, Orzabal continued recording under the Tears for Fears name, releasing the Albums ‘Elemental,’ (1993) and ‘Raoul and the Kings of Spain,’ (1995) he has also issued one solo Album under his own name, called ‘Tomcats Screaming Outside,’ in 2001. Roland Orzabal provides vocals, guitar, and keyboards for Tears for Fears, as well as being the groups main songwriter. He has won three ‘ Ivor Novello Awards’ for his songwriting, the latest in 2021, along with Curt Smith, for the ‘Outstanding Song Collection,’ by Tears for Fears.

‘Change’ was the fourth and final single released from Tears for Fears’ debut studio Album ‘The Hurting,’ from March 1983, the song was written by Roland Orzabal, with the production being by Chris Hughes, and Ross Cullum. ‘The Hurting’ has been described as partly a ‘concept Album,’ focusing on themes of child abuse, psychological trauma, and depression. The songs were written by Roland Orzabal, and were inspired by his own childhood traumas, and the primal theories by Arthur Janov, with the majority of the songs being heavily inspired by the writings of Janov. Speaking about ‘Change,’ Roland Orzabal has said about the songs meaning,’It;s not really about much. It’s just one of those cheap Pop lyrics,’ while Curt Smith has said,’It’s a strange little Pop song.’

‘You walked in to the room, I just had to laugh, the face you wore was cool, you were a photograph, When it’s all too late, it’s all too late.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

641-Sonic Youth-Bull in the Heather.

1994-Number 24 single.

Best Bit-At 0.16. Undoubtedly the best song in the world ever written about a racehorse.

Sonic Youth were an ‘Alternative Rock’ group, formed in New York City, United States, in 1981, by Kim Gordon, (vocals and bass) Thurston Moore, (vocals and guitar) Lee Ranaldo, (guitar) Anne DeMarinis, (keyboards) and Richard Edson, (drums) in total there were 10 different members come and go, until they split in 2011, with Gordon, Moore, and Ranaldo being the groups three constants. Kim Gordon, and Thurston Moore were married in 1984, but divorced in 2013, they had one daughter, Coco Hayley Gordon Moore, who you could say appears in this songs video in 1994, as Kim Gordon was five months pregnant at the time of recording. Sonic Youth chose their name from combining the nickname of the American Rock band MC5’s (see also best songs 155) lead singer Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith, (1948-1994) with the Jamaican Reggae artist Big Youth. Kim Gordon has said,’As soon as Thurston came up with the name ‘Sonic Youth,’ a certain sound that was more of what we wanted to do came about.’

Sonic Youth are considered to be one of the most important acts in the development of experimental Rock Music, redefining what a Rock guitar could do, by using a wide variety of unorthodox guitar tuning’s. Lee Ranaldo has said that the odd tuning’s, ‘Were an attempt to introduce new sounds. When you’re playing in standard tuning all the time things sound pretty standard. Rather than re-tune for every song, Sonic Youth generally used a particular guitar for one or two songs, and would take dozens of instruments on tour. This would be the source of much trouble for the band, as live performances of many songs relied on specific guitars that have been uniquely prepared or otherwise altered for those exact songs.’

The discography of Sonic Youth includes 15 studio Albums released between 1983-2009, and 21 singles issued between 1984-2019, there are also four official compilation Albums available. Sonic Youth have also issued dozens of other recordings, including eight extended plays, and six video Albums. In America they have never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles, but five of their tracks have made the Billboard ‘Alternative Airplay’ top 40. In the UK, three of their singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Bull in the Heather’ charting the highest at Number 24.

Many of the Sonic Youth band members, including all three constants, have worked on other musical projects, both during the life of the band, and after. Kim Althea Gordon, who was born on April 28th, 1953, in Rochester, New York, United States, has released Albums with ‘Free Kitten,’ (1994-1998) ‘Body/Head,’ (2013-2018) and ‘Glitterbust,’ (2016) she has also released three solo Albums between 2019-2024. Thurston Joseph Moore, was born on July 25th, 1958, in Coral Gables, Florida, United States, his discography away from Sonic Youth includes eight solo Albums, released between 1995-2021, and a further Album with ‘Chelsea Light Moving’ in 2013. Lee Mark Ranaldo, was born on February 3rd, 1956, in Glen Cove, New York, United States, his discography includes 13 solo Albums released between 1987-2020, as well as several collaborations with others.

‘Bull in the Heather’ was written by all of the members of Sonic Youth at that time, with the production being by Butch Vig, (see also best songs 788-421 and 9) the song was the only single released from ‘Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star,’ which was the eighth studio Album released by Sonic Youth, from May 1994. Kim Gordon has explained what ‘Bull in the Heather’ is about, saying it’s, ‘Using passiveness as a form of rebellion, like, I’m not going to participate in your male dominated culture, so I’m just going to be passive.’ Bob Nastanovich who is a member of the American ‘Indie Rock’ band ‘Pavement,’ and also a big fan of horse racing, had told Kim Gordon about a horse called ‘Bull In The Heather,’ who had won at big odds. In the context of the song, the horses odds probably represent coming out on top, even when the odds are against you.

Ten, twenty, thirty, forty, tell me that you want to hold me. Tell me that you want to bore me, tell me that you gotta show me. Tell me that you need to slowly, tell me that yr burning for me. Tell me that you can’t afford me.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

642-The Osmonds-Crazy Horses.

1972-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 0.09.They needed something that sounded like a horse. They tried everything, until they finally found something on Donny’s Yamaha organ’s wah-wah pedal that sounded like a neighing stallion.

The Osmonds father was George, (1917-2007) and their mother was Olive, (1925-2004) together they had nine children, Virl, Tom, Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Marie, and Jimmy. George Osmond was a devout Mormon, and brought his family up to be the same, when he died in 2007, as well as his nine children, he left 55 grandchildren, and 48 great grandchildren. George and Olive were both members of the ‘Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,’ and brought their family up on a farm, in Ogden, Utah, United States. Virl and Tom, who were both born with severe hearing impairments, would work in the family business, while the other seven siblings would all perform in differing guises under ‘The Osmonds’ musical banner.

‘The Osmond Brothers’ musical career began in 1958, when Alan, Wayne, Merrill, and Jay, began singing ‘Barbershop’ music for local audiences in and around Ogden, as well as during their weekly church services. Their big break came when they were booked to appear on a regular basis on the Andy Williams (1927-2012) (see also best songs 914 and 112) television show, between 1962-1969, and they would become a quintet for the first time in 1970, when joined by their younger brother Donny, whose solo career would then run concurrently alongside that of ‘The Osmonds,’ with whom he would remain a member. In the early 1970’s the youngest sibling ‘Jimmy’ also launched a successful solo career, as did the brothers only sister, ‘Marie,’ who would also team up with Donny, to record a number of successful charting duets.

The discography of The Osmonds includes 22 studio Albums released between 1963-2021, and 45 singles released between 1963-2018, there are also seven official compilation Albums, and three live Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, 10 of their singles reached the top 40, with ‘One Bad Apple’ from 1970 making the Number 1 spot, and ‘Crazy Horses’ peaking at Number 14, while in the UK, they have charted within the top 40 also on 10 occasions, with ‘Love Me for a Reason’ reaching Number 1 in 1974.

‘Crazy Horses’ was the title track, and the second of two singles released from The Osmonds 11th studio Album overall, from October 1972. The song was co-written by Alan, Merrill, and Wayne Osmond, with the production being by Alan Osmond, and Michael Lloyd, who was born Michael Jeffrey Lloyd on November 3rd, 1948, in New York City United States. At the age of 20 Lloyd was vice-president in charge of ‘A&R,’ at ‘MGM Records,’ with one of his early signings being Lou Rawls, (1933-2006) (see also best songs 322) whose career he helped resurrect. Lloyd would go on to work with The Osmonds on several of their hits, and then went on to produce for the teen idols Shaun Cassidy, and Leif Garrett. In the 1980’s he produced and arranged for Belinda Carlisle, and then in 1987 he was responsible as music supervisor for the soundtrack of the film ‘Dirty Dancing,’ and for producing the tracks (‘I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,’ (see also best songs 439) by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, and ‘She’s Like the Wind,’ performed by Patrick Swayze (1952-2009.)

‘Crazy Horses’ was a turning point in the career of The Osmonds, as prior to that they had always recorded songs written by other artists, and songs chosen for them by their record company. ‘Crazy Horses’ also saw the transition of the group from a ‘Bubblgum,’ ‘Pop’ orientated act, in to a ‘Hard Rock’ group. Donny Osmond has said,’Ozzy Osbourne (see also best songs 814) actually told me that ‘Crazy Horses’ is one of his favourite Rock and Roll songs.’ Speaking about how ‘Crazy Horses’ came about, Merrill Osmond has said,’We were rehearsing in a basement one day, when Wayne started playing this heavy rock riff. I came up with the melody, and Alan got the chords. The songs subject was way ahead of it’s time. It’s a song about the environment, those ‘Crazy Horses’ smoking up the sky, are gas guzzling cars, destroying the planet with their fumes.’

‘There’s a message floatin’ in the air, Crazy horses ridin’ everywhere. It’s a warning, it’s in every tongue, gotta stop them Crazy Horses on the run.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

643-DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince-Summertime.

1991-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 0.05. Unlike the majority of Rappers, you will never need a ‘Parental Advisory Label’ on one of Will Smith’s records, but he did show the world that he possesses a potty mouth, at the ‘Academy Awards’ of 2022.

Willard Carroll Smith II was born on September 25th, 1968, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, he began Rapping at the age of 12. Smith has said that when his grandmother found a notebook of his lyrics, which he described as containing ‘All his little curse words,’ she wrote him a note on a page in the book: ‘Dear Willard, truly intelligent people do not have to use words like this to express themselves. Please show the world that you’re as smart as we think you are.’ Will Smith said that this influenced his decision not to use profanity in his music.

Will Smith first met Jeff Townes (DJ Jazzy Jeff) at a house party that Townes was playing at in 1985. Townes’ ‘hype man’ had failed to show, and Smith filled in, and the two, from then on, decided to collaborate. DJ Jazzy Jeff was born Jeffrey Allen Townes on January 22nd, 1965, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, he has stated that he wanted to be a DJ since the age of 10. He has been highly praised for his skills on turntables, and is credited with making the ‘Transformer Scratch’ famous. After parting ways with Will Smith in 1994, he has written and produced for himself, and numerous other artists including Will Smith.

Due to the success of their early records, ‘NBC’ television decided to make a sitcom, with Will Smith starring as ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,’ with Jeff Townes also featuring heavily, as a recurring character. This led to Smith receiving his first major role in film, in the 1993 drama ‘Six Degrees of Separation.’ His music career, and acting career have run concurrently, leading to him becoming one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars. As of 2024, his films had grossed over $9.3 billion globally, with him being the only actor to have starred in eight consecutive films which have grossed over $100 million in the United States box office, and 11 consecutive films which have grossed over $150 million internationally.

The discography of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince includes five studio Albums released between 1987-1993, and 18 singles released between 1986-1998, there are also four official compilation Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, five of their singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Summertime,’ from 1991, peaking the highest at Number 4, while in the UK they have charted within the top 40 on six occasions, with ‘Boom! Shake the Room’ making Number 1 in 1993. The solo discography of Will Smith includes four studio Albums released between 1997-2005, and 18 singles issued between 1997-2019, there is also one official compilation Album available. On Billboard Will Smith has had seven top 40 hits, (one as the featured artist) with ‘Gettin’ Jiggy wit It,’ (1998) and ‘Wild Wild West’ featuring Dru Hill and Kool Moe Dee, (1999) both getting to Number 1. In the UK, he has had 12 top 40 hits, (one as the featured artist) with his debut solo single ‘Men in Black,’ reaching Number 1 in 1997.

‘Summertime’ was the first of four singles released from the DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s fourth studio Album ‘Homebase,’ from July 1991. The song heavily samples the 1974 track ‘Summer Madness,’ by the American R&B group Kool and the Gang,’ taken from their fifth studio Album ‘Light of Worlds.’ The songwriting credits for ‘Summertime’ are shared between all eight members of Kool and the Gang at that time, along with Will Smith, (who wrote the lyrics) Jeff Townes, and Lamar ‘Hula’ Mahone, who was also the songs co-producer along with Craig Simpson, (K. Fingers) and Roland Edison. Incidentally Lamar ‘Hula’ Mahone, would go on to great success as one half of the Hip-Hop duo The Outhere Brothers. In recognition of the Kool and the Gang original, the last line of ‘Summertime,’ as Rapped by Will Smith, is ‘And this is the definition of Summer Madness.’

Here it is a groove slightly transformed, just a bit of a break from the norm. Just a little somethin’ to break the monotony, of all that hardcore dance that has gotten to be a little bit out of control, it’s cool to dance, but what about the groove that soothes that moves romance.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

644-Aretha Franklin-I Say a Little Prayer.

1968-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 2.01. In the words of Green Gartside,’Each time I go to bed, I pray like Aretha Franklin.’ (see also best songs 554.)

‘I Say a Little Prayer’ was written by the legendary song writing duo of Burt Bacharach, (1928-2023) (music) and Hal David, (1921-2012) (lyrics) and was originally recorded by Dionne Warwick (see also best songs 224) for her eighth studio Album ‘The Windows of the World,’ from August 1967, ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ was the second of two singles released from the Album, the first being the title track. The Dionne Warwick recording, which was also produced by Bacharach & David, (see also best songs 902-832-815-740 and 224) reached Number 4 on the American Billboard Hot 100, but has never charted in the UK.

In 1968 Aretha Franklin, (1942-2018) (see also best songs 366) and her background vocalists ‘The Sweet Inspirations’ were singing ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ for fun, while rehearsing the songs intended for Aretha’s next Album, when it suddenly became apparent that this newly reinvented rendition was worthy of being more than just an Album track. Initially the song was scheduled as the ‘B’ side to ‘The House That Jack Built,’ but the radio DJ’s were preferring to play ‘I Say a Little Prayer.’ The release of ‘The House That Jack Built,’ reached Number 6 on Billboard, and when ‘I Say a Little Prayer,’ was switched to the ‘A’ side, it peaked at Number 10, less than a year after Dionne Warwick had reached Number 4. In the UK ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ became Aretha Franklin’s biggest hit single, until her 1987 duet with George Michael, (1963-2016) with ‘I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me’) reached Number 1.

The Aretha Franklin recording of ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ was the second of three singles released from her 13th studio Album ‘Aretha Now,’ from July 1968, ‘The House That Jack Built’ was not released as a track on that Album. ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ which was produced by Jerry Wexler, (1917-2008) (see also best songs 882) has backing vocals from ‘The Sweet Inspirations.’ Both the Dionne Warwick recording, and the Aretha Franklin version, have the American R&B girl group ‘The Sweet Inspirations’ in common, as they were in on rehearsals when Warwick was recording her version, and they can be heard performing backing vocals on Franklin’s recording.

The Sweet Inspirations (see also best songs 882) are an American ‘R&B’ girl group mostly known for their work as backup singers on studio recordings for other ‘R&B,’ and ‘Rock’ artists. They were formed in 1959 by former members of ‘The Drinkard Singers’, who were a long running ‘Gospel’ singing group from Newark, New Jersey, United States, they were active until 1979, and then again from 1994. In total there have been 11 different members come and go, including Dionne Warwick, and her sister Dee Dee Warwick, (1942-2008) as well as the singer/songwriter Doris Troy, (1937-2004) and Cissy Houston, the mother of Whitney Houston. The Sweet Inspirations released nine Albums between 1967-2005, and a further four between 1968-1971, with the American Jazz multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef (1920-2013.) They can be heard on hundreds of tracks as background vocalists, including ‘Brown Eyed Girl,’ by Van Morrison, (1967-Billboard Number 10) and ‘Grease’ by Frankie Valli (1978-Billboard Number 1 & UK Number 3.) The four members of The Sweet Inspirations who sang on ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ were Cissy Houston, Estelle Brown, Sylvia Shemwell, (1941-2010) and Myrna Smith (1941-2010.)

‘I Say a Little Prayer’ has been a hit single on two other occasions in the UK, In 1988 the English music producer Tim Simenon, using his alias ‘Bomb the Bass,’ took his ‘Electronic Dance Music’ version, featuring the singer Maureen, to Number 10, and in 1997 a Reggae version by the Jamaican singer Diana King, which was featured heavily in the comedy film ‘My Best Friends Wedding,’ reached Number 17 in the UK, and Number 38 on Billboard in America.

Burt Bacharach never wanted the Dionne Warwick version to be released, he has said,’I think I made the tempo a little too fast, I didn’t want the record to come out, but got overridden. I’m glad that I got overridden.’ Bacharach has also stated that he much prefers the Aretha Franklin arrangement, and production of the song by Jerry Wexler. As for how the song was inspired, Hal David wrote the lyrics with the intention to convey a woman’s concern for her man, who is serving in the Vietnam War.

‘The moment I wake up, before I put on my makeup, I say a little prayer for you. While combing my hair, now, and wondering what dress to wear, now, I say a little prayer for you.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

645-Armand Van Helden-The Funk Phenomena.

1996-Number 38 single.

Best Bit-At 1.00. For those who feel more comforted with repetition in their lives, then this ones for you.

Armand Van Helden (see also best songs 138) was born on February 16th, 1970, in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, he is a music producer, songwriter, remixer, and DJ, in the genre of ‘Electronic Dance Music,’ and it’s sub-genres, including ‘Speed Garage,’ and ‘Garage House,’ of which he is a pioneer. Armand Van Helden whose father was of Dutch and Indonesian descent, (Indo) and his mother, who was French, has recorded and performed under several different aliases, including ‘Deep Creed,’ ‘Wizzards of Wax,’ and ‘Duck Sauce.’ Armand Van Helden finally broke big in 1996 with his remix of the Tori Amos song ‘Professional Widow,’ which became a worldwide hit, and reached Number 1 in the UK, due solely to his remix. This led to many of the worlds top artists, including the Rolling Stones, and Janet Jackson, requesting remixes from him.

The discography of Armand Van Helden, using his own name, includes nine studio Albums, released between 1996-2016, and 62 singles, released between 1994-2014, there are also 11 official compilation Albums available. In America he has never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles, but five of his tracks have made the top 10 Billboard ‘Dance Club’ chart. In the UK he has had 12 top 40 hits, as either the lead or featured artist, with ‘You Don’t Know Me,’ featuring Duane Harden, (1999) and ‘Bonkers,’ by Dizzee Rascal featuring Armand Van Helden, (2009) both reaching the Number 1 spot.

‘The Funk Phenomena’ can be filed under the genre of ‘Garage House,’ which was originally known as ‘Garage,’ or ‘New York House,’ or ‘New Jersey sound,’ that was developed alongside ‘Chicago House’ music. The genre was popular in the 1980’s in the United States, and the 1990’s in the United Kingdom, where it developed into ‘UK Garage,’ and ‘Speed Garage.’ ‘Garage House’ which was developed in the ‘Paradise Garage’ nightclub, in New York City, and Club Zanzibar, in Newark, New Jersey, United States, in the early to mid 1980’s, is recognisable by it’s gospel-influenced piano riffs and female vocals, and has a more soulful ‘R&B’ derived sound than ‘Chicago House’ music. When ‘Garage House’ became popular in the UK in the early 1990’s, it acquired the name ‘UK Garage.’

‘The Funk Phenomena’ was released as a single from Armand Van Helden’s debut studio Album ‘Old School Junkies: The Album,’ in 1996, the song is credited as being co-written by Armand Van Helden, and Method Man, (see also best songs 359 and 166) with the production being by Armand Van Helden. Like many ‘Dance Music’ tracks, ‘The Funk Phenomena’ has many official and unofficial remixes. On ‘The Funk Phenomena’ there are three significant samples, the endlessly repeated chant of ‘The Funk Phenomena,’ is taken from the 1995 ‘Hip-Hop’ song ‘How High,’ (1995-Billboard Number 13) by ‘Method Man & Redman,’ and that is why Method Man receives the songwriting credit. It is the voice of the American Rapper ‘Redman’ that can be heard saying ‘The Funk Phenomena.’ The main sample on ‘The Funk Phenomena,’ is lifted from the 1973 track ‘Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?’ (1973-Billboard Number 69) by the American ‘R&B’ group ‘Creative Source,’ but none of that songs writers receive song writing credits on ‘The Funk Phenomena.’ The other song sampled is ‘Don’t Throw My Love Around,’ by the American Funk band ‘Cooly’s Hot Box,’ who also receive no writing credits.

‘The Funk Phenomena.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

646-Paul McCartney and Wings-Junior’s Farm.

1974-Number 10 single.

Best Bit-At 3.56. Of the naming of ‘Wings,’ Paul McCartney has said that his wife Linda was in hospital giving birth to their second child Stella, there were complications at the birth, and both Linda and the baby nearly died. McCartney was praying, and the image of wings came to his mind. He decided to call his new band ‘Wings.’

Paul McCartney, (solo-see also best songs 107) (Beatles-see also best songs 599-238-218-157-141-80-51-10 and 6) was born James Paul McCartney, on June 18th, 1942, in Liverpool, England, he is the most successful songwriter of all time, having written or co-written 33 UK Number 1 singles, and 32 American Billboard Number 1 singles. In 1965 he was awarded the ‘MBE,’ ‘Member of the Order of the British Empire,’ and then in 1997, he was Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, for services to music, hence his title ‘Sir,’ and then in 2017, he was Appointed ‘Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour,’ ‘CH,’ in the 2017 Queens Birthday Honours, for services to music. Paul McCartney’s father was Jim McCartney, (1902-1976) and his mother was Mary Patricia, (née Mohin) (1909-1956) both of his parents wee also born in Liverpool. McCartney has a younger brother, Peter Michael McCartney, (born 1944) who is also a musician, and goes by the stage name of ‘Mike McGear,’ who in 1968, with the group ‘The Scaffold,’ reached Number 1 in the UK with ‘Lily the Pink.’ McCartney also has a younger adopted stepsister called Ruth, (born 1960) who was born to his father Jim’s second wife, Angie (born 1929) during her first marriage. Paul McCartney has been married on three occasions, and has five children.

With the success of his 1974 Album ‘Band on the Run,’ Paul McCartney had finally achieved critical acclaim away from the Beatles. The next studio Album ‘Venus and Mars’ wouldn’t be released until 1975, so ‘Juniors Farm’ was released without appearing on any Album. While recording in July 1974 in Nashville, Paul McCartney and Wings, who were at that time, Linda McCartney, (1941-1998) Denny Laine, (1944-2023) Jimmy McCullock, (1953-1979) (see also best songs 891) and Geoff Britton, had hired the ‘Lebanon, Tennessee’ farm, belonging to the Country Music singer/songwriter Curly Putman Jr. (1930-2016) which accounts for this songs title. In the UK, Curly Putman Jr. is best known for writing the songs ‘Green Green Grass of Home,’ which became a UK Number 1 & Billboard Number 12 hit for Tom Jones in 1966, (see also best songs 964) and ‘D-I-V-O-R-C-E,’ a UK Number 12 hit for Tammy Wynette in 1975.

‘Junior’s Farm’ which was written by Paul McCartney, and Linda McCartney, with the production being by Paul, was his final release on the ‘Apple Records’ label before signing a solo recording contract with ‘Capitol Records,’ in May 1975. Paul McCartney had his first ideas about writing a song about a quiet farm lifestyle during his long family stay at his cottage in Campbeltown, Scotland, between April and August 1970, during the turbulent break-up of the Beatles. McCartney has said that he based the song’s lyrical theme on Bob Dylan’s 1965 song ‘Maggie’s Farm,’ and that ‘The idea was to just get a fantasy song about this person Junior.’ He also said that, in contrast to the degree of thought Bob Dylan applied to his songwriting, Junior’s Farm ‘Has silly words, and basically all it means is, ‘Let’s get out of the city.’ As for reading deep meanings into the words, people shouldn’t bother, there aren’t any.’ Curly Putman Jr. has said,’Paul McCartney and Wings rented my farm for six weeks while recording in Nashville, for a pretty good little chunk of money.’ Evidently Putman and his wife spent their ‘rent’ on a holiday to Hawaii, and when they returned, McCartney saw them walking up the driveway. and Paul and the band greeted them by playing ‘Green, Green Grass of Home.’

Paul McCartney has insisted that the lyrics to ‘Junior’s Farm’ have no meaning, but they are probably full of drug references. For example, the Eskimo who was hoping for a fall of snow, is probably about Cocaine, and the lyrics ‘When up popped a sea lion ready to go,’ a ‘sea lion’ = ‘C line.’ There is possibly a disguised mention about America’s disgraced President Nixon, and also an observation on the state of the economy at that time, although that could be another drug reference.

‘I took my bag into a grocer’s store, the price is higher than the time before, old man asked me why is it more. I said you should have seen me with the poker man, I had a honey and I bet a grand, just in the nick of time I looked at his hand.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

647-Van Halen-Jump.

1984-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 3.36. Here’s an interesting coincidence for those of us with lots of spare time on our hands. The ‘B’ side of the U.S. 7 inch single release of ‘Jump’ is a song called ‘House of Pain.’ In 1992 the American ‘Hip-Hop’ group House of Pain had a hit with a song called ‘Jump’ (see also best songs 75.)

Van Halen were a Rock band who were officially formed in Pasadena, California, United States, in 1973, from 1974 to 1985 the group consisted of Eddie Van Halen, (1955-2020) (lead guitar) his brother Alex Van Halen, (drums) David Lee Roth, (lead vocals) and Michael Anthony (bass.) In 1985 David Lee Roth left the group to pursue a solo career, and he was replaced by Sammy Hagar as the new lead vocalist. Roth returned to the group in 2006, replacing Hagar, and in the same year Michael Anthony left, and was replaced by Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang Van Halen (bass.) After the death of Eddie Van Halen in 2020 the group was retired with Wolfgang Van Halen saying,’You can’t have Van Halen without Eddie Van Halen.’ In total there were eight members of Van Halen come and go, with the other two being founding member Mark Stone, (bass) who died in 2020, and Gary Cherone, who was the lead vocalist between 1996-1999.

With sales in excess of 80 million records sold worldwide, Van Halen are amongst the best selling artist of all time. Their discography includes 12 studio Albums released between 1978-2012, and 56 singles issued within the same time period, there are also two official compilation Albums, and two live Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, 16 of their songs have reached the top 40, with ‘Jump’ making the Number 1 spot in 1984, while in the UK, they have had six top 40 hits, with ‘Jump’ peaking the highest at Number 7.

‘Jump’ was the first of four singles released from Van Halen’s sixth studio Album ‘1984,’ which is sometimes stylized in Roman numerals as ‘MCMLXXXIV.’ The song was co-written by all four group members at that time, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth, and Michael Anthony, with the production being by Ted Templeton. ‘Jump’ is Van Halen’s most successful single, and introduced the use of a synthesizer by Eddie Van Halen, which David Lee Roth objected to, as he thought it would be seen as the group selling out in order to get more radio play. Eddie had written the music in 1981, admitting that he had copied the synth part from the Darryl Hall and John Oates (see also best songs 881) song ‘Kiss On My List’ (1980-Billboard Number 1 & UK Number 33 single.) Darryl Hall has stated that he had no problem with Eddie doing that.

‘Jump’ was produced by Ted Templeman, who was born Edward John Templeman, on October 24th, 1942, in Santa Cruz, California, United States. Templeman began his music career as the drummer, and than later the guitarist, and vocalist with the American ‘Sunshine Pop’ band Harpers Bizarre, who are best remembered for their 1967 cover of the Paul Simon song ‘The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy’) (1967-Billboard Number 13 & UK Number 34 single.) In 1970 Templeman began working for ‘Warner Bros.’ records, and it was he who discovered the ‘Doobie Brothers,’ going on to produce 11 of their Albums. He has also produced seven Albums for Van Halen, as well as Albums by Van Morrison, Carly Simon, and many others.

Ted Templeman has recalled the night ‘Jump’ was recorded at Eddie Van Halen’s newly constructed home studio. ‘Engineer Donn Landee and Ed put the track down alone in the middle of the night. We re-cut it once in one take for sonic reasons. Dave wrote the lyrics that afternoon in the backseat of his Mercury convertible. We finished all vocals that afternoon and mixed it that evening.’ David Lee Roth wrote the lyrics, and he has teased with various accounts as to what the song is about, but usually he tells the story of a news story he saw on television about a man about to kill himself by jumping off a building, Roth thought to himself, ‘might as well jump,’ but in a positive sense, ‘Don’t jump to your death, but instead jump in to a more positive frame of mind, and make the most of your life.’

‘I get up and nothin’ gets me down, you got it tough, I’ve seen the toughest around. And I know, baby, just how you feel, you got to roll with the punches to get to what’s real.’