THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

648-The O’Jays-Love Train.

1973-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 2.25. While appearing on the legendary American music television programme ‘Soul Train,’ The O’Jays were asked if this song was inspired by ‘Soul Train,’ they replied ‘Yes,’ but of course they were just being nice.

The O’Jays were formed in Canton, Ohio, United States, in 1958, by Eddie Levert, Walter Lee Williams, William Powell, (1942–1977) Bobby Massey, and Bill Isles, ( 1941–2019) in total there have been eight different members come and go, and at the time of writing they remain active, with Eddie Levert being the groups one constant. When first forming at ‘Canton McKinley High School,’ they were originally known as ‘The Mascots,’ and then ‘The Triumphs,’ before deciding on ‘The O’Jays’ in 1963, taking the name in tribute to the Cleveland radio disc jockey Eddie O’Jay, Between 1960-1972, they released five studio Albums, and 33 singles, with their biggest success coming in 1965, with their 13th single release, ‘Lipstick Traces (On a Cigarette,’) which peaked at Number 48 on Billboard, in America, and Number 19 in Canada. Shortly before The O’Jays big breakthrough occurred in 1972, after being signed by ‘Philadelphia International Records,’ the original members Bill Isles, and Bob Massey had left.

The discography of The O’Jays includes 29 studio Albums released between 1965-2019, and 92 singles released between 1960-2018, there are also 20 official compilation Albums, and one live Album available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, nine of their singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Love Train’ making Number 1 in 1973, while in the UK, they have charted within the top 40 also on nine occasions, with ‘Love Train’ peaking the highest at Number 9.

‘Love Train’ was the third of four singles released from The O’Jays sixth studio Album ‘Backstabbers,’ and the first of their eight studio Albums released on the ‘Philadelphia International’ record label, from August 1972. ‘Love Train’ was co-written, and co-produced by the legendary songwriting duo of Kenny Gamble, and Leon Huff, (see also best songs 1001-896-725-604-571-338-322 and 258) with the ‘Philadelphia International’ studio house band, ‘MFSB,’ providing the backing. According to Eddie Levert, when The O’Jays started work on ‘Love Train,’ it didn’t have any lyrics, Levert has recalled,’Kenny Gamble wrote them on the spot in about five minutes. By the time we started laying down the vocals, we knew we had a hit, Love Train felt like destiny. It had such perfect, timeless lyrics, that it was almost as if they’d come from God, and we had to deliver them to the people.’

Eddie Levert was born Edward Willis Levert, on June 16th, 1942, in Bessemer, Alabama, United States, but was raised in Canton, Ohio, where he moved at the age of six. His two sons Gerald Levert, (1966-2006) and Sean Levert, (1968-2008) were both also musicians, who formed the American ‘R&B’ vocal group ‘Levert,’ with Marc Gordon in 1983, releasing seven studio Albums, and 23 singles between 1985-1997, and charting with ‘Casonova’ in 1987 (Billboard Number 5 & UK Number 9.) In 1992 Eddie and his son Gerald recorded the song ‘Baby Hold On to Me,’ which went to Number 1 on the Billboard R&B chart, and also reached Number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, he has also released three solo Albums between 1995-2012.

The lyrics to ‘Love Train’ call for unity, and world peace. One of The O’Jays founding members Walter Williams has said,’1972 was explosive. Vietnam was rumbling on, the rich were getting richer, so it was the perfect time to sing about social issues. The song mentioned places that were having human rights problems, but in a positive, hopeful way. The first stop we make will be England, tell all the folks in Russia and China too.’ Coincidentally ‘Love Train’ entered the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 on January 27th, 1973, which was the same day that the agreement on ending the war, and restoring peace in Vietnam was signed.

‘All of you brothers over in Africa, tell all the folks in Egypt, and Israel, too. Please don’t miss this train at the station, ’cause if you miss it, I feel sorry, sorry for you.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

649-Slade-Cum On Feel the Noize.

1973-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.01. Three very noisy babies. The songs introduction of Noddy Holder shouting ‘Baby, Baby, Baby,’ was only meant to be a microphone test, but it appeared everybody liked it, so they kept it in.

Slade were formed in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, in 1966, by Neville ‘Noddy’ Holder, (lead vocals, and guitar) Dave Hill, (guitar, and vocals) Jim Lea, (bass, and keyboards) and Don Powell (drums.) Between 1966-1969, they were called ‘The N’Betweens,’ which was changed to ‘Ambrose Slade,’ in 1969, then ‘The Slade,’ between 1969-1970, and then just ‘Slade.’ The name ‘Ambrose Slade’ had come about as one of the groups promoters secretary, had named her handbag ‘Ambrose,’ and her shoes ‘Slade.’ In 1992, both Noddy Holder, and Jim Lea, left the group, with Dave Hill, and Don Powell, and three new recruits, continuing as ‘Slade II,’ until reverting to ‘Slade’ in 2002. In 2020, after 54 years Don Powell left ‘Slade,’ leaving Dave Hill as the groups one constant, and at the time of writing with three others, the group remain active for touring. In total there have been 13 different members come and go.

Slade were the biggest selling singles act of the 1970’s in the UK, with their best selling song being ‘Merry Xmas Everybody,’ which has sold in excess of one million copies. The discography of Slade includes 15 studio Albums released between 1969-1994, and 56 singles issued between 1966-2013, there are also 10 official compilation Albums, and six live Albums available. In the UK, 25 of their singles have reached the top 40, with six of those making the Number 1 position, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100, after several unsuccessful attempts in the 1970’s, they finally charted in the top 40 in 1983, with ‘My Oh My,’ reaching Number 37, and then in 1984, with ‘Run Runaway,’ peaking at Number 20.

‘Cum On Feel the Noize’ was released as a stand alone single, in February 1973, and then later included on the groups September 1973 compilation Album ‘Sladest.’ The song was co-written by Noddy Holder, (lyrics) and Jim Lea, (music) who together would write the majority of Slade’s songs, with the production being by Chas Chandler (1938-1996.) Chas Chandler was born Bryan James Chandler, on December 18th, 1938, in Heaton, Newcastle, England, he died on July 17th, 1996, of an aortic aneurysm, at the age of 57. Chandler began his professional music career in 1962, as the bass player with ‘The Alan Price Trio,’ who would become ‘The Animals,’ (see also best songs 851) in 1963, after Eric Burdon joined the band. Despite finding commercial success with ‘The Animals,’ Chas Chandler became disillusioned with the lack of money, recalling that, ‘We toured non-stop for three years, doing 300 gigs a year. and we hardly got a penny.’ Chandler turned his attentions to becoming a talent scout, an artist manager, and a record producer, and soon became the manager for a then unknown Jimi Hendrix, (1942-1970) (see also best songs 983 and 492.) By 1968 Chandler had become frustrated with the recording sessions for Jimi Hendrix’s album ‘Electric Ladyland,’ claiming they were self-indulgent, so he parted ways with Hendrix, and by 1969 was working with Slade, with whom he managed, and produced for the next 12 years.

‘Cum On Feel the Noize’ caused controversy, especially with school teachers, who said that the deliberate misspelling of the songs title, and many other Slade songs as well, was not setting a good example to school children. Jim Lea has spoken about how the song came to fruition,’I was at a Chuck Berry (1926-2017) (see also best songs 548-308 and 30) gig in ’72, and everybody was singing his tunes. He kept stopping and letting the crowd sing, and it wasn’t just a few people, it was everyone. I thought it was amazing and thought, why not write the crowd into the songs, and so we got round to ‘Mama Weer All Crazee Now,’ (1972-UK Number 1) and ‘Cum On Feel the Noize,’ and all the chants were written into the tunes.

Although Slade never broke through fully in America, they were influential on many ‘Rock,’ and ‘Heavy Metal’ groups of the 1980’s. In 1983 the American Heavy Metal group ‘Quiet Riot’ covered ‘Cum On Feel the Noize,’ taking it to Number 5 on Billboard, and selling in excess of one million copies, which finally brought Slade to the attention of the wider American record buying public.

‘So you think I got an evil mind, well, I’ll tell you honey, and I don’t know why, and I don’t know why. So you think my singing’s out of time, well it makes me money, and I don’t know why, and I don’t know why anymore, oh no.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

650-Four Tops-Reach Out I’ll Be There.

1966-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.37. The ad lib, ‘Just look over your shoulder.’ Levi Stubbs was a passionate singer, and when he improvised that line, Holland-Dozier-Holland liked it so much, they left it in.

The Four Tops certainly had longevity, having formed in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in 1953, the four members remained as a quartet with no line up changes, through until the death of Laurence Patton in 1997. The four founding members of the Four Tops were Levi Stubbs, (1936-2008) Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir, Renaldo ‘Obie’ Benson (1936-2005) and Lawrence Payton, (1938-1997) Theo Peoples took Payton’s place in 1998, and remained a group member until 2010, when he left, Harold ‘Spike’ Bonhart, replaced him, until leaving in 2018. At the time of writing, the Four Tops remain active as a touring group, led by the one surviving original member Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir, along with the Tamla Motown veteran Ronnie McNeir, who joined in 1999, Lawrence Payton Jr. who joined in 2005, and Alexander Morris, who joined in 2019.

The Four Tops were originally called ‘Four Aims,’ but in 1956 they decided to change their name to ‘Four Tops,’ to avoid confusion with the American vocal group the ‘Ames Brothers.’ Between 1956-1962 the group issued four unsuccessful singles, on four different record labels, before signing with ‘Motown’ records in 1963, initially recording Jazz standards for Motown’s ‘Workshop Jazz Records’ label, they also sang backing vocals on The Supremes single ‘Run, Run, Run,’ (1964) and the Martha and the Vandellas single ‘My Baby Loves Me (1966.) The Four Tops finally made their commercial breakthrough in July 1964, when Motown’s legendary song writing team of ‘Holland–Dozier–Holland’ offered them the song ‘Baby I Need Your Loving,’ which went on to reach Number 11 on Billboard in America.

The discography of the Four Tops includes 29 studio Albums released between 1965-1995, and 59 singles released between 1956-1989, there are also 10 official compilation Albums, and two live Albums available. The Four Tops who have recorded for ‘Motown’ records, ‘ABC/Dunhill’ records, ‘Casablanca’ records, and ‘Arista’ records, have had 24 top 40 hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in America, with both ‘I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch’) (1965) and ‘Reach Out I’ll Be There,’ (1966) both reaching Number 1. In the UK, the Four Tops have made the top 40 on 30 occasions, with ‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’ making the Number 1 spot.

‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’ was written and produced by the legendary song writing team of ‘Holland–Dozier–Holland,’ (see also best songs 969-823-553-411-212 and 148) and was the first of six singles released from the Four Tops fourth studio Album ‘Reach Out,’ from July 1967. The song has become the Four Tops signature tune, and as with many of the other ‘Motown’ tracks from that period, it features Motown’s in house band ‘The Funk Brothers,’ (see also best songs 948-569-414-382-212-148 and 28) and the female backing vocals of ‘The Andantes,’ who appear unaccredited. ‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’ was covered in 1971 by Diana Ross, and reached Number 29 on Billboard, and in 1975 the American singer Gloria Gaynor released a ‘Disco’ version of the song, which made Number 14 in the UK. In 1988 the British music producers Phil Harding, and Ian Curnow, issued a remix of the song, which peaked at Number 11 in the UK.

Lamont Dozier (1941-2022) has explained how ‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’ came about,’Brian, Eddie and I often had discussions about what women really want most of all from a man, and after talking about some of our experiences with women, we all three agreed that they wanted someone to be there for them, through thick or thin, and be there at their beck and call. Thus this song was born.’ In 2014 Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir said,’Eddie (Holland) realised that when Levi hit the top of his vocal range, it sounded like someone hurting, so he made him sing right up there. Levi complained, but we knew he loved it. Every time they thought he was at the top, he would reach a little further, until you could hear the tears in his voice. The line “Just look over your shoulder” was something he threw in spontaneously. Levi was creative like that, he could always add something from the heart.’

‘I can tell the way you hang your head, you’re without love and now you’re afraid, and through your tears you look around, but there’s no peace of mind to be found.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

651-Dooley Wilson-As Time Goes By.

1942-It didn’t chart in the UK until 1977, when it reached Number 15.

Best Bit-At 1.31. Don’t forget, in the film nobody ever said, ‘Play it again Sam.’

‘As Time Goes By’ was originally written by the American songwriter Herman Hupfeld, (1894-1951) for the 1931 Broadway Musical ‘Everybody’s Welcome.’ In the show it was first sung by Frances Williams, (1905-1995) and first recorded by Rudy Vallée (1901-1986) on July 25, 1931, for ‘Victor Records,’ then also by Jacques Renard (1897-1973) and his Orchestra, on ‘Brunswick Records,’ with both recordings meeting with little commercial success at that time. Herman Hupfeld was born on February 1st, 1894, in Montclair, New Jersey, United States, he died on June 8th, 1951, after having a stroke, at the age of 57. Herman Hupfeld never wrote a whole Broadway score, but he became known as a composer who could write a song to fit a specific scene within a Broadway show. ‘As Time Goes By,’ is by far the song that Hupfield is best remembered for, but he wrote in excess of 100 others, including ‘Let’s Put Out the Lights (and Go to Sleep,’) and ‘Sing Something Simple.’

‘As Time Goes By’ would probably have been forgotten in the annals of time, but 11 years later in 1942, it was re-introduced in the American romantic drama film ‘Casablanca,’ starring Humphrey Bogart, (1899-1957) and Ingrid Bergman, (1915-1982) where it was sung by ‘Sam,’ portrayed by Dooley Wilson (1886-1953.) In 2004 the ‘American Film Institute’ unveiled it’s list of the top 100 songs from the cinema from the 20th Century, and ‘As Time Goes By,’ was at Number 2, behind ‘Over the Rainbow,’ sung by Judy Garland (see also best songs 68.)

Arthur ‘Dooley’ Wilson was born on April 3rd, 1886, in Tyler, Texas, United States, he died on May 30th, 1953, of natural causes. Wilson earned his nickname ‘Dooley’ early on his career, for his ‘whiteface’ impersonation of an Irishman singing a song called ‘Mr. Dooley.’ Dooley Wilson was a drummer, and a singer who took up acting in the 1930’s, eventually signing a contract with ‘Paramount Pictures,’ which led to him being cast in the role of ‘Sam’ for the 1942 film ‘Casablanca.’ In the film Wilson is sat at a piano performing the song at the request of Ingred Bergman, who plays the part of Ilsa Lund. Dooley Wilson couldn’t actually play the piano to the standard required, so in the film it was overdubbed by the studio pianist Jean Vincent Plummer (1913-1989.) Such has been the impact of ‘Casablanca,’ and Wilson’s rendition of ‘As Time Goes By,’ that in 2014 the piano he played in the film was put up for auction at ‘Bonhams,’ in New York, and sold for £3.4 million. Dooley Wilson appeared in 19 films between 1939-1951, and then in the American situation comedy television series ‘Beulah,’ between 1951-1952.

Because of contractual stipulations, Dooley Wilson couldn’t release his recording of ‘As Time Goes By’ in the aftermath of the films success, so the record companies of the aforementioned cover versions by Rudy Vallee, and Jacques Renard, which had both been recorded in 1931 were both re-issued, with the Rudy Vallee version reaching Number 1, and the Jacques Renard version peaking at Number 3 in America. Eventually Jack Warner (1892-1978) of ‘Warner Bros,’ came to an agreement with Dooley Wilson, finally allowing him to issue his recording, under the stipulation that the studio would receive most of the profits, but the moment had gone, and Wilson’s version failed to chart. In 1977 Dooley Wilson’s version was re-released in some countries, and finally charted in the UK, where it peaked at Number 15 in January 1978.

‘As Time Goes By’ has been covered by many of the worlds top artists down the decades, with the majority, including the Dooley Wilson version, omitting the songs first verse, which begins,’This day and age we’re living in, gives cause for apprehension, with speed and new invention, and things like third dimension.’ Such is the esteem that ‘As Time Goes By’ is held in, that since 1999, an instrumental version of the song’s closing bars has accompanied the studio logo of many ‘Warner Bros. Pictures,’ and ‘Warner Bros. Television’ productions, in reference to the studio’s production of ‘Casablanca.’

‘It’s still the same old story, a fight for love and glory, a case of do or die, the world will always welcome lovers, as time goes by.’