THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

621-The Byrds-All I Really Want to Do.

1965-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 0.20. Using the lyrics of Bob Dylan, and heavily influenced by the harmonies of the Beach Boys, and arranged in a ‘Beatlesque’ manner, ‘Folk Rock’ had just been invented.

The Byrds were formed in Los Angeles, California, United States, in 1964, and remained active until 1973, they then reformed between 1989-1991, and again for a final time in 2000, after which the band name was retired. The Byrds one constant was Roger McGuinn, (lead vocals, and guitar) who was known as Jim McGuinn until mid 1967. The other four original members were Gene Clark, (1944-1991) (rhythm guitar, and vocals) David Crosby, (1941-2023) (rhythm guitar, and vocals) (see also best songs 417) Michael Clarke, (1946-1993) (drums) and Chris Hillman (bass guitar, and vocals.) There were a further six members come and go, including Gram Parsons, (1946-1973) (rhythm guitar, piano, and vocals.) Initially the group called themselves ‘The Jet Set,’ but in late November 1964, two weeks after signing with ‘Columbia Records,’ they decided to rename themselves as ‘The Byrds,’ a moniker that retained the theme of flight, and also echoed the deliberate misspelling of the ‘Beatles.’

The discography of The Byrds includes 12 studio Albums released between 1965-1973, and 29 singles released between 1964-1973, there are also a massive 47 official compilation Albums, and three live Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, seven of their singles made the top 40, with their cover of the Bob Dylan song ‘Mr. Tambourine Man,’ reaching Number 1, while in the UK they had five top 40 hits, with ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ also making the Number 1 spot.

‘All I Really Want to Do’ was the second of two singles released from The Byrds’ debut studio Album ‘Mr. Tambourine Man,’ from June 1965, the song was a cover of a Bob Dylan (see also best songs 792-358-103-36 and 7) song, and was produced by Terry Melcher (1942-2004.) Bob Dylan had recorded ‘All I Really Want to Do’ for his fourth studio Album ‘Another Side of Bob Dylan,’ in 1964, with the lyrical content being a departure from his normal topical political songwriting, to a more personal one. The song was inspired by Dylan’s recent separation from his girlfriend Suze Rotolo, (1943-2011) although some have speculated that the song is a message to his fans, that regardless of any change in musical style, he will always be there for them. Bob Dylan had been an acoustic artist up until this point, but was now wanting to experiment with electric instruments, something some of his loyal fan base didn’t want to comprehend.

‘All I Really Want to Do’ was the second cover version of a Bob Dylan song by The Byrds to be released as a single, following on from ”Mr. Tambourine Man,’ which had reached Number 1 on both sides of the Atlantic. The Byrds had not wanted to do another Dylan cover, but Columbia Records had insisted, thinking a follow up hit was a certainty, but the American singer Cher, (see also best songs 672) also released her version of ‘All I Really Want to Do’ at the same time, which was produced by Sonny Bono, (1935-1998) as her debut solo single. A chart battle ensued, with Cher winning in America, when her version reached Number 15 on Billboard, with The Byrds only reaching Number 40, but in the UK, it was the other way around, with The Byrds winning the battle, by peaking at Number 4, while Cher stalled at Number 9.

The Byrds recording of ‘All I Really Want to Do’ was produced by Terry Melcher, who was born Terrence Paul Jorden, on February 8th, 1942, in New York City, United States, he was the son of the American singer, and actress Doris Day, (1922-2019) (see also best songs 333) he died on November 19th, 2004, after a long battle with melanoma.Terry Melcher, has been credited with helping to shape the sound of 1960’s ‘Surf Music’ in California, forming the vocal duo of ‘Bruce & Terry,’ with Bruce Johnson, who would later on join the Beach Boys. It was while working on the staff at Columbia Records’ that Melcher met The Byrds,’ and he went on to produce both of their first two studio Albums, and receive critical acclaim for helping to shape the new genre of ‘Folk Rock.’ In 1966 Melcher played tambourine on three tracks on the Beach Boys classic Album ‘Pet Sounds,’ including ‘Good Vibrations’ (see also best songs 180.) In 1988, Melcher was one of the four co-writers of the Beach Boys fourth and final Billboard Number 1 single ‘Kokomo.’

The term ‘Folk Rock’ refers to the blending of elements of Folk music and Rock music, the term ‘Folk Rock’ was first coined by the American music press to describe the music of The Byrds. The commercial success of The Byrds’ cover version of Bob Dylan’s ‘Mr. Tambourine Man,’ along with Dylan’s own recordings with Rock instrumentation, on Albums such as ‘Bringing It All Back Home,’ (1965) and ‘Blonde on Blonde,’ (1966) encouraged other Folk acts, such as ‘Simon & Garfunkel,’ to use electric backing on their records. Bob Dylan’s controversial appearance at the ‘Newport Folk Festival,’ on 25 July, 1965, where he was backed by an electric band, was also a pivotal moment in the development of the genre.

‘I ain’t lookin’ to compete with you, beat or cheat or mistreat you. Simplify you, classify you, deny, defy or crucify you. All I really want to do, is, baby, be friends with you.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

622-Fleetwood Mac-Everywhere.

1988-Number 4 Single. It also re-entered the chart on downloads in 2013, when reaching Number 15.

Best Bit-At 0.01. I don’t mean to be rude, but if you would rather ‘Jack’ than listen to Fleetwood Mac, then I feel sorry for you.

Fleetwood Mac have a long and turbulent history. They were formed in London, England, in 1967, by Peter Green, (1946-2020) (guitar) who then recruited Mick Fleetwood, (drums) Jeremy Spencer, (vocals and guitar) and Bob Brunning, (1943-2011) (bass) with John McVie (bass) replacing Brunning a few weeks after their first public appearance. Danny Kirwan, (1950-2018) (vocals and guitar) joined the group in 1968, with Christine McVie, (1943-2022) (vocals and keyboards) joining in 1970, shortly after Peter Green had left the band. This first edition of ‘Fleetwood Mac,’ who took their name from the surname of Mick Fleetwood, and from ‘Mac’ being short for McVie, was very different musically to the later incarnation of the mid 1970’s onward, with the first lineup playing a mixture of ‘Blues Rock,’ and ‘Folk Rock.’ Their musical style changed radically in 1975, to a more commercially sounding ‘Pop Rock,’ and ‘Soft Rock’ influence, with the arrival of Lindsay Buckingham, (guitar) and Stevie Nicks, (vocals) in total there have been 18 different members come and go, and at the time of writing they remain active, with Mick Fleetwood being the groups longest serving member.

The discography of Fleetwood Mac, who have sold in excess of 120 million records worldwide, includes 18 studio Albums released between 1968-2003, and 62 singles released between 1967-2013, there are also 23 official compilation Albums, and 10 live Albums available. Their 11th studio Album, ‘Rumours,’ from February 1977, is currently the eighth best selling Album worldwide of all time, with sales in excess of 40 million. In the UK, 16 of their singles have reached the top 40, with their 1968 instrumental track ‘Albatross,’ making the Number 1 spot, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100, 18 of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘Dreams,’ from 1977, reaching Number 1, and ‘Everywhere,’ peaking at Number 14.

‘Everywhere’ was the fourth of seven singles released from ‘Tango in the Night,’ which was the fourteenth studio Album from Fleetwood Mac, from April 1987. The song was written by Christine McVie, with the production being by Richard Dashut, who was a long term collaborator with Fleetwood Mac, and produced some of their other Albums, including ‘Rumours.’ Dashut also produced solo Albums for the Fleetwood Mac group members as well.

Christine McVie was born Christine Anne Perfect, on July 12th, 1943, in Greenodd, Lancashire, England, she died of a stroke on November 30th, 2022, at the age of 78, having been suffering from metastatic cancer of an unknown primary origin. Prior to joining Fleetwood Mac, McVie had been the vocalist, and keyboard player with the British ‘Blues’ band ‘Chicken Shack,’ and had sung lead vocals on their 1969 UK Number 14 hit single ‘I’d Rather Go Blind,’ She had married John McVie in 1968, and joined him in Fleetwood Mac in 1970, the couple were married until divorcing in 1976, but remained friends, and working colleagues. Christine McVie released four solo studio Albums between 1970-2017, and seven solo singles between 1969-2022, including the Billboard Hot 100 Number 10 hit ‘Got a Hold on Me’ in 1984. She also appeared on 14 Fleetwood Mac Albums, and two Chicken Shack Albums. Following her death Fleetwood Mac issued a statement saying that she was ‘The best musician anyone could have in their band, and the best friend anyone could have in their life.’ Stevie Nicks said that McVie had been her ‘Best friend in the whole world.’

One of the striking things about ‘Everywhere’ is the songs unusual ‘intro.’ Richard Dashut who produced the track has said,’That’s a half-speed acoustic guitar and electric combined.’ Christine McVie has also spoken about the song’s intro, Lindsay Buckingham slowed the tape down, really slowly, and played the parts slowly, and then when it came to the right speed, it sounded bloody amazing.’ ‘Everywhere’ is a song about being completely lost in love. Christine McVie wrote the song around the time that she married her second husband Eduardo Quintela in 1986.

‘Can you hear me calling out your name? You know that I’m falling, and I don’t know what to say. I’ll speak a little louder, I’ll even shout,
you know that I’m proud, and I can’t get the words out.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

623-Hole-Celebrity Skin.

1998-Number 19 single.

Best Bit-At 0.59. Ignore all of that 1990’s media fake news, you were force fed by the tabloids. The real musical ‘Girl Power’ wasn’t all that Spice hype, it was ladies like this.

Courtney Love was born Courtney Michelle Harrison, on July 9th, 1964, in San Francisco, California, United States, she is a singer, musician, songwriter, and an actress, and has appeared in seven films between 1986-2002. Courtney Love is best known for being the co-founder, and lead vocalist of the ‘Alternative Rock’ group ‘Hole,’ and also for being the widow of Kurt Cobain, (1967-1994) (see also best songs 788 and 9) the frontman for ‘Nirvana,’ whom she married in 1992. Together they had one child, Frances Bean Cobain, who was born on August 18th, 1992, and currently controls the publicity rights to her father’s name and image.

‘Hole’ who were an ‘Alternative Rock,’ ‘Grunge,’ ‘Punk Rock,’ and ‘Noise Rock’ group, were formed in 1989, in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States, by Courtney Love, (lead vocals, and rhythm guitar) and Eric Erlandson, (lead guitar) after he had responded to an advertisement placed by Courtney Love in ‘Recycler,’ a local classified ad paper. The advertisement read,’I want to start a band. My influences are ‘Big Black,’ ‘Sonic Youth,’ and ‘Fleetwood Mac.” Love and Erlandson began to write together, and were soon joined by Mike Geisbrecht, (rhythm guitar,) Lisa Roberts, bass) and Caroline Rue, (drums) in total there have been 15 different members come and go, with Courtney Love being the groups one constant during their active years of 1989-2002, and then 2009-2012. Of the naming of the band, Courtney Love has said that the name was partly inspired by a quote from ‘Euripides’ (Greek Writer-480-406 BC) that read, ‘There is a hole that pierces right through me.’ Love has also acknowledged the ‘obvious’ genital reference in the band’s name, alluding to the vagina.

The discography of ‘Hole’ includes four studio Albums released between 1991-2010, and 16 singles released between 1990-2010, there is also one official compilation Album, and one live Album available. In America they have never had a top 40 single on the Billboard Hot 100, but nine of their songs have reached the Billboard ‘Alternative Airplay’ top 40, with ‘Celebrity Skin’ making the Number 1 spot. In the UK, five of their singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Doll Parts,’ from 1994, peaking the highest at Number 16. Courtney Love has also released one solo studio Album, ‘America’s Sweetheart,’ in 2004, which made Number 53 on Billboard, and Number 56 in the UK.

‘Celebrity Skin’ was the first single released by Hole from their third studio Album of the same name, from September 1998, the song was co-written by Courtney Love, Eric Erlandson, and Billy Corgan of the ‘Smashing Pumpkins,’ (see also best songs 374) with the production being by Michael Beinhorn (see also best songs 614.) ‘Celebrity Skin’ represented a departure from the bands first two Albums, which were more aggressive in melody, and less lyrically restrained, It is said that Courtney Love was in need of inspiration at that time, and so brought in Billy Corgan, who wrote this songs main guitar riff, as well as co-writing four tracks on the Album.

The lyrics to ‘Celebrity Skin’ were written by Courtney Love, as were all the lyrics on the Album. The song tells of the futility of celebrity, and fame, and is anti Hollywood. The lyrics contain literary references, the line,’Oh look at my face/my name is might have been,’ is directly lifted from the opening verse of Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s (1828-1882) poem ‘A Superscription,’ (1869) and the phrase ‘Pound of flesh,’ originates from William Shakespeare’s (1564-1616) ‘The Merchant of Venice’ (1598.) A line from the song, ‘Beautiful Garbage,’ inspired the ‘Alternative Rock’ group ‘Garbage’ to call their third studio Album in 2001, ‘Beautiful Garbage.’ Eric Erlandson has said,’Courtney writes what she feels, and this is obviously one of her observations of Hollywood. We used this great hollow city as inspiration for the Album.’

‘When I wake up, in my makeup, it’s too early for that dress, wilted and faded somewhere in Hollywood. I’m glad I came here with your pound of flesh. No second billing ’cause you’re a star now, oh, Cinderella.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

624-Billie Holiday-Strange Fruit.

1939-It has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 1.11. ‘The Lady Sings the Blues.’

Billie Holiday was born Eleanora Fagan, on April 7th, 1915, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, she died on July 17th, 1959, after a long battle with drugs, and alcohol, at the age of 44. Billie Holiday had a turbulent upbringing, at the age of 11 she found a job running errands in a brothel, and at the age of 13 she became a victim of sexual trafficking. Her father Clarence Halliday, (1898-1937) became her father at the age of 16, but didn’t stick around, choosing to move to Baltimore, to pursue a career in music, where he became a successful musician, playing rhythm guitar, and the banjo. Clarence Halliday died in 1937, he had been exposed to mustard gas while serving in World War I, and later fell ill with a lung disorder while on tour in Texas, and was refused treatment at a local hospital. This led to him getting pneumonia, and without antibiotics, the illness was fatal. Two years later Billie Holiday recorded ‘Strange Fruit’ in her father’s memory. She took her stage name from her fathers surname, (her parents had never married) and her first name from the American actress Billie Dove, (1903-1997) whom she admired. It was her friend, the American Jazz tenor saxophonist Lester Young, (1909-1959) who gave her the nickname ‘Lady Day.’ Billie Holiday is remembered as one of the greatest ‘Jazz,’ and ‘Pop’ vocalists of the 20th Century, with her vocal style being strongly influenced by Jazz instrumentalists, as she created a unique way of manipulating phrasing and tempo, and being revered for her vocal delivery, and improvisational skills. Holiday said that she always wanted her voice to sound like an instrument, and cited amongst her influences, Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) (see also best songs 1039-767-286-231 and 100) and the African-American ‘Blues’ singer Bessie Smith (1894-1937.)

‘Strange Fruit’ was originally written as a poem in 1937, by the white Jewish, songwriter, school teacher, and union activist Abel Meeropol, (1903-1986) under his pseudonym of Lewis Allan. Meeropol had been outraged after seeing a photograph of a horrific lynching in a civil rights magazine. The photo was a shot of two black men hanging from a tree, after they had been lynched in Marion, Indiana, United States, the two men are the ‘strange fruit.’ Meeropol wrote some music to go with the lyrics, and his wife, the singer Laura Duncan (now deceased) first performed ‘Strange Fruit’ as a protest song in New York City venues in the late 1930’s, including at Madison Square Garden. In 1939 while a performer at the first integrated venue in New York, the ‘Café Society’ nightclub,’ the song was brought to the attention of Billie Holiday. It was a very brave decision for Billie Holiday to record, and perform the song, as it would be bound to cause controversy, putting Holiday’s own personal safety at risk, as well as potentially damaging her career as a black performer.

Billie Holiday first performed ‘Strange Fruit’ at the ‘Café Society’ in 1939. She said that singing it made her fearful of retaliation but, because its imagery reminded her of her father, she continued to sing the song, making it a regular part of her live performances. Because of the emotions the song created, Barney Josephson, (1902-1988) who was the founder of the ‘Café Society,’ insisted that Billie Holiday would close her performances with it, the waiters would stop all service in advance, the room would be in darkness, except for a spotlight on Holiday’s face, and there would be no encore. During the musical introduction to the song, Holiday would stand with her eyes closed, as if she were evoking a prayer.

Billie Holiday approached her record label ‘Columbia Records,’ with whom she was contracted to at the time, to record ‘Strange Fruit,’ but ‘Columbia’ feared the reaction by record retailers in the South, as well as negative reaction from affiliates of its co-owned radio network, ‘CBS.’ Billy Holiday turned to her friend Milt Gabler, (1911-2001) (see also best songs 628) who, with the permission of ‘Columbia Records,’ as a one off, allowed Holiday to record ‘Strange Fruit’ on Gabler’s own label, ‘Commodore.’ The Café Society’ band led by Frankie Newton (1906-1954) were used for the recording, with Milt Gabler producing the track, which went on to sell in excess of one million copies, and become Billie Holiday’s best selling record.

‘Strange Fruit’ became Billy Holiday’s signature tune, and was the song that she would always finish on for the rest of her career. In 1999 the American ‘Time’ news magazine voted ‘Strange Fruit’ the ‘Song of the Century.’ When the song had first come out in 1939, the same magazine had denounced it as ‘A piece of musical propaganda.’

‘Southern trees bear a strange fruit, blood on the leaves and blood at the root. Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze, strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

625-Raspberries-Overnight Sensation (Hit Record.)

1974-It has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 4.18. It’s ironic that the main reason that the song never became a hit record in the UK, was because radio stations wouldn’t play songs which were more than three minutes long.

The Raspberries were formed in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, in 1970, from the coming together of two local bands, ‘The Choir,’ and ‘Cyrus Erie.’ In total there have been seven different members come and go, with the ‘classic lineup’ consisting of Eric Carmen, (vocals, guitar, bass, and piano) Wally Bryson, (guitar) Dave Smalley, (guitar, and bass) and Jim Bonfanti (drums.) The group remained active until 1975, but then got together again in 1999, until 2000, with Wally Bryson reforming the band, without Eric Carmen, but with Dave Smalley, and Scott McCarl (bass.) They re-united one final time, with Eric Carmen back in the fold, to tour, between 2004-2005.

The discography of the Raspberries includes four studio Albums released between 1972-1974, and 10 singles released between 1972-1975, there are also at least three official compilation Albums, and two live Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, four of their singles reached the top 40, with ‘Go All the Way,’ charting the highest at Number 5 in 1972, and ‘Overnight Sensation (Hit Record,’) peaking at Number 18, while in the UK, none of their Albums or singles have ever charted. The majority of the songs recorded by the Raspberries were written by Eric Carmen, and it was resentment to the amount of input Carmen had, which led to the group splitting initially. Eric Carmen went on to have a very successful solo career, issuing six studio Albums between 1975-2000, and reaching the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 with eight of his singles between 1975-1988, with his debut single ‘All by Myself’ peaking the highest at Number 2 in 1975, that track was also his only UK top 40 entry, reaching Number 12. In 1996 the Canadian singer Celine Dion, did a cover version of ‘All by Myself,’ which made Number 4 on Billboard, and Number 6 in the UK. Another successful cover of an Eric Carmen song was by the American singer Sean Cassidy, who took the Carmen penned ‘That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll,’ to Number 3 on Billboard in 1977, but the best known song by Eric Carmen, and probably his biggest earner is ‘Hungry Eyes,’ (1987-Billboard Number 4 & UK Number 82) which has gained notoriety through being one of the most popular tracks that was chosen for the 1987 film ‘Dirty Dancing,’ (see also best songs 439) and it’s soundtrack Album, which has sold in excess of 32 million copies worldwide.

‘Overnight Sensation (Hit Record’) was the first of two singles released from the Raspberries fourth studio Album ‘Starting Over,’ from September 1974. and was written by Eric Carmen, with the production being by Jimmy lenner, who would go on to be the key music producer for the 1987 film ‘Dirty Dancing,’ and also be the co-executive producer of the soundtrack, along with Bob Feiden.

The Raspberries were particularly influenced by the British Rock group ‘The Who,’ (see also best songs 926-306 and 265) with Eric Carmen saying,’Pete Townshend coined the phrase ‘Power Pop’ to define what The Who did. For some reason it didn’t stick to The Who, but it did stick to these groups that came out of the 70’s, that played that kind of melodic songs, with crunchy guitars, and some wild drumming.”Power Pop’ is a subgenre of ‘Rock Music,’ and a form of ‘Pop/Rock,’ based on the early music of bands such as The Who, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds. ‘Power Pop’ incorporates melodic hooks, vocal harmonies, an energetic performance, and cheerful sounding music, with lyrics that create a sense of yearning, longing, despair, or self-empowerment. Along with the Raspberries, other notable 1970’s artists who are considered exponents of ‘Power Pop’ include ‘Badfinger, and Dave Edmunds. The genre continued to flourish in the 1980’s, and 1990’s, and also into the 21st Century.

‘Overnight Sensation (Hit Record’) tells the tale of an aspiring singer/songwriter yearning to have a song of his get played on the radio, and make the charts. Perhaps when Eric Carmen wrote the song, he was despairing of ever breaking through to more substantial recognition. John Lennon (1940-1980) was a fan of the Raspberries, and was present at the recording of the Album ‘Starting Over,’ and although not credited, he is rumoured to have been involved in the mixing and production of ‘Overnight Sensation (Hit Record.’) Interestingly John Lennon called a track on his final Album ‘Double Fantasy,’ from 1980, (‘Just Like) Starting Over.’

‘Well I know it sounds funny, but I’m not in it for the money, no. I don’t need no reputation, and I’m not in it for the show. I just want a hit record, yeah, wanna hear it on the radio. Want a big hit record, yeah, one that everybody’s got to know.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

626-Hamilton Bohannon-South African Man.

1974-Number 22 single.

Best Bit-At 4.31. If an alien came down to earth, and asked me what ‘FUNK’ is, I would tell them, ‘THIS IS.’

Hamilton Bohannon (see also best songs 46) was born Hamilton Frederick Bohannon, on March 7th, 1942, in Newnan, Georgia, United States, he died on April 24th, 2020, at the age of 78. Hamilton Bohannon learned to play the drums while still at school, and then began playing in local bands, at one time crossing paths with Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) (see also best songs 983 and 492.) After a brief period as a school teacher, Hamilton Bohannon was recruited in 1964 as a drummer in 13 year old Stevie Wonder’s (see also best songs 920-843-834-682-570-503-366-205-152 and 65) touring band. In 1967 he moved to Detroit, where he was employed by ‘Motown’ as the leader, and arranger, of ‘Bohannon & The Motown Sound,’ who were the touring backing band for ‘Tamla Motown’s’ biggest names, including Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, and The Temptations. When ‘Motown’ moved from Detroit to Los Angeles in the early 1970’s, Bohannon didn’t go with them, and instead embarked on a solo career, which started with the release of his first studio Album ‘Stop & Go,’ in 1973. In total between 1973-1989, Bohannon issued 19 studio Albums. Unfortunately his music rarely crossed over into the mainstream charts, and he never achieved a top 40 single on the American Billboard Hot 100, although in the UK, he did have three top 40 hits, with ‘Disco Stomp,’ from 1975, peaking the highest at Number 6. Hamilton Bohannon was a devout Christian, and retired from the music business in 1989, but he did make a comeback, when touring, and once again getting behind the drum kit in 2014, at the age of 72.

‘South African Man’ was the only single released from Hamilton Bohannon’s second studio Album ‘Keep On Dancin,” from 1974, and was his first track to reach the Billboard ‘Hot R&B’ chart, peaking at Number 78. The song found it’s greatest success in the UK, where it made Number 22. ‘South African Man’ was written, produced, arranged, and directed, by Hamilton Bohannon, and released on ‘Dakar Records,’ with all of that labels releases being distribute by ‘Brunswick Records.’ ‘South African Man’ was written by Hamilton Bohannon during a time of cultural and political upheaval in South Africa. The song paid tribute to the resilience and strength of the South African people, who faced oppression and discrimination under apartheid. The lyrics to ‘South African Man’ celebrate the spirit of the South African man’s determination to overcome adversity. Musically the song is a blend of ‘Funk,’ ‘Disco,’ and ‘African Rhythms,’ which can all be all filed under the genre of ‘R&B.’ ‘South African Man’ is a call for peace, and the ending of apartheid.

‘R&B,’ which is an abbreviation of ‘Rhythm and blues,’ is a genre of popular music that originated within the African-American communities in the 1940’s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to African Americans. The term ‘Rhythm and blues’ has undergone a number of shifts in it’s meaning. In the early 1950’s, it was frequently applied to ‘Blues’ records, but once ‘Blues’ had helped to contribute to the development of ‘Rock ‘N Roll,’ the term ‘R&B’ became used in a wider context. It then referred to music styles that developed from, and incorporated ‘Electric Blues, as well as ‘Gospel,’ and ‘Soul Music.’ From the 1960’s to 1970’s, some British groups were referred to, and promoted, as being ‘R&B’ bands. By the 1970’s, the term ‘Rhythm and blues’ had changed once again, and was used as a blanket term for ‘Soul,’ and ‘Funk.’ In the late 1980’s, a newer style of ‘R&B’ developed, becoming known as ‘Contemporary R&B,’ which combines ‘Rhythm and Blues’ with various elements of ‘Pop,’ ‘Soul,’ ‘Funk,’ ‘Disco,’ ‘Hip-Hop,’ and ‘Electronic’ music. Although the American journalist Jerry Wexler (1917-2008) of Billboard magazine is credited with coining the term ‘Rhythm and blues’ as a musical term in the United States in 1948, the term had been used in Billboard as early as 1943.

‘South African man help him if you can. South African man, make it a better land.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

627-Rick Astley-Never Gonna Give You Up.

1987-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.16. The jewel in the Stock, Aitken, and Waterman crown.

Stock, Aitken, and Waterman, (abbreviated as SAW) are the English songwriting, and record production trio of Mike Stock, who was born on December 3rd, 1951, in Margate, Kent, England, Matt Aitken, who was born on August 25th, 1956, in Coventry, England, and Pete Waterman, who was born on January 15th, 1947, also in Coventry, England, the trio are one of the most successful songwriting and producing partnerships of all time, having achieved over 100 UK top 40 hit singles, and selling in excess of 150 million records worldwide. The trio were active between 1984-1993, and then again between 2005-2010, they got together again in 2015, and are still together at the time of writing. ‘SAW’ who produce music in the genres of ‘Hi-NRG,’ ‘Eurobeat,’ ‘Pop,’ and ‘Dance/Pop,’ have written and produced for some of the worlds top artists including Donna Summer, (1948-2012) Cliff Richard, and Kylie Minogue, in fact there are 96 different acts listed for whom ‘SAW’ have either written or produced for. In the UK they have achieved 13 Number 1 singles between 1985-1990, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100, three of their tracks have made the Number 1 spot between 1986-1988, including ‘Never Gonna Give You Up.’

‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ was the debut single from Rick Astley, and was written and produced by ‘SAW.’ It was the first of six singles issued worldwide from Rick Astley’s debut studio Album ‘Whenever You Need Somebody,’ from November 1987. The song would go on to become the best selling UK single of 1987, spending five weeks at Number 1, and has since gone on to sell in excess of one million copies in that country. ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ also topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988, and has also reached Number 1 in 25 other countries around the world in total. Mike Stock has readily admitted that the 1985 song ‘Trapped,’ (UK-Number 3) by the American ‘House Music’ artist Colonel Abrams, (1949-2016) (see also best songs 935) was a big influence on ”Never Gonna Give You Up,’ with Stock saying, ‘For Rick Astley’s song I didn’t want it to sound like Kylie or Bananarama, so I looked at the Colonel Abrams track ‘Trapped,’ and recreated that syncopated bassline in a way that suited our song.’ The songs lyrics came about after Rick Astley overheard a telephone conversation between Pete Waterman and a woman Waterman had been seeing for three years, who was on the other end of the line. After the phone call had ended Astley said to Waterman, ‘You’re never gonna give her up.’ Matt Aitken and Waterman then changed the story a bit, and made the songs narrator the one who was the vulnerable one.

Richard Paul Astley was born on February 6th, 1966, in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire, England, and while still at school, he played the drums in a number of local bands. In 1985 Astley was drumming, and singing with a ‘Soul’ band called ‘FBI,’ this was where he came to the attention of Pete Waterman, who persuaded him to go to London, and be schooled for a career with ‘SAW.’ Astley would stay with ‘SAW’ until 1990, then leave to pursue his passion of ‘Soul Music,’ and ditching the boy next door look, growing his hair, and presenting himself as a mature and passionate musician. Rick Astley retired from music in 1993 to concentrate on his family life, but returned to the music industry in 2000, when signing with ‘Polydor Records,’ and then finally returning to touring in 2004.

The discography of Rick Astley includes nine studio Albums released between 1987-2023, and 24 singles released between 1987-2024, there are also 12 official compilation Albums, and two remix Albums available. In the UK, Rick Astley has had two Number 1 Albums, and nine top 40 hit singles, with ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ being his only Number 1, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100, seven of his singles have reached the top 40, with both ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ (1988) and ‘Together Forever,’ (1988) making the Number 1 spot. Of his success in America, Rick Astley has said,’If you really want to say to the world, that was a proper hit, you’ve got to have a hit in America, If you don’t do it in America, then it’s not really worldwide, is it?’

‘We’re no strangers to love, you know the rules and so do I. A full commitment’s what I’m thinking of, you wouldn’t get this from any other guy. I just wanna tell you how I’m feeling, gotta make you understand.’