THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

597-Shirley & Company-Shame, Shame, Shame.

1975-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 0.38. There’s absolutely no shame whatsoever in lovin’ 70’s Disco.

Shirley & Company were an act put together by Sylvia Robinson, (1935-2011) to record the 1974 Album ‘Shame, Shame, Shame.’ The act consisted of six studio musicians, and two singers who would promote the songs in the media. One of the singers was Shirley Goodman, who was born Shirley Mae Goodman, on June 19th, 1936, in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, she died on July 5th, 2005, having suffered a stroke in 1994, at the age of 69. Shirley Goodman had initially found success in the 1950’s as part of the duo ‘Shirley and Lee,’ with Leonard Lee, (1935-1976) together they released two studio Albums, and eight singles between 1952-1961, achieving two top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in America in 1956. Shirley was also a studio backing vocalist for other artists, and can be heard on The Rolling Stones 1972 Album ‘Exile on Main Street.’ The other vocalist on ‘Shame, Shame, Shame’ is Jason Alvarez, who was born Jesús Álvarez, on December 28th, 1951, in Havana, Cuba. Since 1981 he has been a solo artist, releasing 10 Albums in the ‘Christian R&B,’ and ‘Jesus Music’ genres, he became an ordained minister in 1982. The saxophone solo on the track was played by the American ‘Soul Jazz, ‘Swing,’ and ‘R&B’ tenor saxophonist, Seldon Powell (1928-1997.)

‘Shame, Shame, Shame’ was the first of three singles released from Shirley & Company’s only studio Album of the same name, from 1975. In America, and also in the UK, ‘Shame, Shame, Shame’ would prove to be their only charting single, although another track from the Album ‘Disco Shirley,’ made Number 12 in the Netherlands, and Number 27 in Belgium. ‘Shame, Shame, Shame’ is considered to be a defining song from the earlier part of the ‘Disco’ era, and is notable for it’s prominent use of the ‘Bo Diddley beat,’ (see also best songs 381.) The song was a worldwide hit, reaching Number 1 in Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, and West Germany, as well as charting in South Africa, (Number 3) and Australia (Number 16.)

‘Shame, Shame, Shame’ was written and produced by the legendary Sylvia Robinson, (see also best songs 523-466-290-87 and 17) who was born Sylvia Vanderpool, on May 29th, 1935, in Harlem, New York, United States, she died on September 29th, 2011, due to congestive heart failure, at the age of 76. There is a debate about who actually wrote ‘Shame, Shame, Shame’, as both Sylvia Robinson, and the American Soul singer Donnie Elbert (1936-1989) both claimed authorship. This led to Donnie Elbert leaving the ‘All Platinum’ record label, co-founded by Sylvia Robinson, and Robinson being credited as the songs sole writer. Sylvia Robinson is a very important figure in popular music, particularly in the development of ‘Hip-Hop.’ and she is known as the ‘Mother of Hip-Hop.’ She first found success as half of the duo ‘Micky & Sylvia,’ who had the 1956 Billboard Number 11 hit single with ‘Love Is Strange.’ In 1973 she had a solo hit single with ‘Pillow Talk,’ a song she had also written. She had initially offered the song to Al Green, (see also best songs 347) but he turned it down, saying that it’s suggestive lyrics went against his religious beliefs. The ‘orgasmic gasps’ and moaning on the track predate Donna Summer’s ‘Love to Love You Baby’ (see also best songs 78) by two years. Sylvia Robinson released five solo studio Albums between 1973-1977, and at least 22 singles between 1951-1982, as either ‘Little Sylvia,’ Sylvia Robbins,’ or ‘Sylvia, there is also one official compilation Album, issued in 1996. Her only charting single as a solo artist is ‘Pillow Talk,’ which reached Number 3 on Billboard, and Number 14 in the UK. With Mickey Baker, (1925-2012) as ‘Mickey & Sylvia,’ there were seven Albums issued between 1957-1997, and 26 singles released between 1954-1965.

Sylvia Robinson has also been part of consortium’s that have set up record labels. In 1967 she helped form ‘All Platinum’ records, (see also best songs 466) and in 1979, she was part of the team responsible for the founding of ‘Sugar Hill Records.’ Two of ‘Hip-Hop’s’ most important songs ‘Rappers Delight,’ by The Sugar Hill Gang, (see also best songs 17) and ‘The Message,’ by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, (see also best songs 290) probably would not have happened without her influence.

‘Don’t stop the motion, if you get the notion. You can’t stop the groove, ’cause you just won’t move. Got my sunroof down, got my diamonds in the back, put on your shaky wig woman, if you don’t I ain’t comin’ back. Shame shame shame, hey, shame on you, if you can’t dance too.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

598-Proclaimers-I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)

1988-Number 11 single.

Best Bit-At 1.34. To ‘haver’ is to talk foolishly. Some American radio stations initially banned the song, thinking that to ‘haver’ was something rude.

The Proclaimers are the duo Craig Reid, and Charlie Reid, they are twin brothers, who were born on March 5th, 1962, in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, their music has been described as ‘Alternative Folk,’ ‘Celtic Rock,’ ‘Post Rock,’ and ‘Rhythm and Blues.’ The brothers have been officially active since 1983, starting out as an acoustic duo, before recruiting a backing band, and becoming more ‘Rock’ orientated, their sound is recognisable by their strong Scottish accents, which they intentionally play up. Craig Reid has said,’It was a conscious thing, because we were singing about where we live, our experiences, and it just felt stupid to sing in an English or American accent.’ Craig Reid has acknowledged 1970’s ‘Punk Rock’ as a major influence, citing the Clash, the Jam, the Damned and the Sex Pistols as inspirational.

The discography of the Proclaimers, who have sold in excess of five million records worldwide, includes, 11 studio Albums released between 1987-2022, and 25 singles that have been released between 1987-2019, there are also six official compilation Albums available. On the Scottish Album chart, two of their Albums have reached Number 1, while on the UK Album chart, their second release ‘Sunshine on Leith,’ is their most successful, reaching Number 6 in 1988. On the UK top 40 singles chart, the Proclaimers have had six chart entries, with the 2007 re-make of (‘I’m Gonna Be) 500 Miles,’ featuring Brian Potter, and Andy Pipkin, making the Number 1 spot. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, they are recognised as ‘one hit wonders,’ as ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles’) remains their only chart entry to date. In 1993 (five years after it had been a hit in the UK) ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles’) was chosen for the American romantic comedy ‘Benny & Joon,’ starring Johnny Depp, and due to this exposure the song became a hit, peaking at Number 3.

‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles’) was the first of four singles released from the Proclaimers second studio Album ‘Sunshine on Leith,’ from August 1988, the song was co-written by Charlie Reid, and Craig Reid, with the production being by Pete Wingfield, who also produced the Album. Pete Wingfield (see also best songs 104) was born William Peter Wingfield, on May 7th, 1948, in Liphook, Hampshire, England, he is a music producer, songwriter, a vocalist, and plays the keyboards. In the 1970’s, he was a specialist in ‘Soul Music,’ and regularly contributed articles and reviews to the monthly journals, he also was a member of the British Soul band ‘Olympic Runners.’ Pete Wingfield is perhaps best remembered for his 1975 UK Number 7 & Billboard Number 15 hit single ‘Eighteen with a Bullet,’ which in 1998 featured on the soundtrack to the British black comedy crime film, ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.’ As a music producer Pete Wingfield produced the debut Albums for Dexys Midnight Runners, (‘Searching for the Young Soul Rebels,’ 1980) and the Kane Gang (‘Bad and Lowdown World of the Kane Gang,’ 1985.)

In 2007 the Proclaimers re-recorded ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles,’) with the slight change of title to ‘(I’m Gonna Be) 500 Miles,’ along with the British comedians Peter Kay, and Matt Lucas, for that years charity ‘Comic Relief’ single, it went to Number 1 in the UK, and ended as the eighth best selling single of the year. The popularity of the song led to a renewed interest in the original, and it re-entered the UK top 40 at Number 37. The Proclaimers become the first act in over 20 years to chart simultaneously with two different recordings of the same song on the UK chart. The last artist to achieve this was the Scottish singer Lulu, who in the last week of July 1986 had both her original 1964 recording of ‘Shout’ (see also best songs 508) in the Top 75, alongside a brand new ’86’ version.

Craig Reid and Charlie Reid wrote the bulk of ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles,’) while they were sitting in a flat in Edinburgh waiting for a lift to a gig in Aberdeen. Craig Reid has recalled, ‘I can remember sitting at the piano, and the chords just came to me. I reckon I just wrote the whole thing in 45 minutes. I knew that it was a good song, maybe even a single, but I had no idea how popular it would become.’

‘But I would walk five hundred miles, and I would walk five hundred more, just to be the man who walks a thousand miles, to fall down at your door.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

599-Beatles-Eleanor Rigby.

1966-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.17. It appears that when Eleanor Rigby was alive nobody had heard of her, but now she’s dead, she’s very well known.

‘Eleanor Rigby’ was released in August 1966 as a double ‘A’ sided single, with ‘Yellow Submarine’, both tracks were taken from the Beatles (see also best songs 599-456-319-238-141-80-51-10 and 6) seventh studio Album ‘Revolver.’ although the song is credited to Lennon/McCartney, (as the majority of Beatles songs were) this one was mainly McCartney. None of the Beatles played an instrument on the song, with McCartney providing lead, and harmony vocals, and Lennon, (see also best songs 927-473-218-168 and 20) and Harrison, (see also best songs 737 and 726) both providing harmony as well. It was a classical string ensemble of studio musicians comprising four violins, and two cellos, that played the music, which was arranged and produced by George Martin (1926-2016.) McCartney (see also best songs 646-107) has stated that he came up with the name ‘Eleanor’ from the actress Eleanor Bron who had starred with the Beatles in the 1965 film ‘Help.’ He has said that ‘Rigby’ came from a shop in Bristol called ‘Rigby & Evens Ltd, Wine & Spirit Shippers,’ which he had seen while on a visit to see his girlfriend of that time Jane Asher. However it has been pointed out that the graveyard of St Peter’s Church in Liverpool, which is in walking distance of the Woolton Village garden fete, where McCartney and Lennon first met on the afternoon of July 6th, 1957, contains the gravestone of an individual called Eleanor Rigby. Another of the gravestones there has the word ‘McKenzie’ written on it. McCartney’s explanation for this is that he must have subconsciously remembered the headstone, as he insists that he made the name up.

The song ‘Eleanor Rigby’ has caused controversy in religious circles. After Eleanor Rigby is buried, we learn that ‘no one was saved.’ this could indicate that her soul did not elevate to heaven as promised by the church. This could also be seen as a swipe at Christianity, and the concept of being saved by Jesus. ‘Eleanor Rigby’ was released in August 1966, just weeks after the furor over John Lennon’s remarks, ‘Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn’t argue about that; I’m right, and I will be proved right. We’re more popular than Jesus now.’

‘Eleanor Rigby’ tells the story of two lonely people, the churchgoing woman Eleanor Rigby, and the pastor Father McKenzie, whose sermons no one will hear. In the third verse Eleanor dies, and only Father McKenzie is present at the funeral to bury her. McCartney said, ’When I was really little, I lived on a housing estate, there were lots of old ladies, and I enjoyed sitting around with these older ladies because they had these great stories, in this case about World War II. One in particular I used to visit, and I’d go shopping with her, you know, she couldn’t get out, so I figured in my mind, of a sort of lonely old lady.’

‘Eleanor Rigby’ was released as a double ‘A’ sided single along with ‘Yellow Submarine,’ these were the only tracks issued as singles from the Beatles seventh studio Album ‘Revolver,’ from August 1966. The songs writing is credited to ‘Lennon/McCartney,’ with the production being by George Martin, who was born George Henry Martin on January 3rd, 1926, in Highbury, London, England, he died on March 8th, 2016, from complications associated with stomach cancer, at the age of 90. ‘Sir George Henry Martin CBE’ who was commonly referred to as the ‘Fifth Beatle,’ because of his extensive involvement in each of the Beatles’ original Albums, has been described as the ‘World’s most famous record producer,’ he was Knighted in 1996, in recognition of his services to the music industry and popular culture. George Martin has produced 30 UK Number 1 singles, and 23 American Billboard Number 1 singles. He produced his first UK Number 1 single in 1961, which was ‘You’re Driving Me Crazy,’ for ‘The Temperance Seven.’ Other highlights away from the Beatles, include his production of ‘Anyone Who Had a Heart,’ for the British singer Cilla Black, (1943-2015) which went on to become the best selling single in the UK by a female British artist in the 1960’s. In the 1980’s George Martin produced both ‘Ebony and Ivory,’ for Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder, (1982-UK & Billboard Number 1 ) and ‘Say Say Say,’ for Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson (1983-UK Number 2 & Billboard Number 1.) In 1997 he produced ‘Candle in the Wind 1997,’ for Elton John, (UK & Billboard Number 1) which is the second highest selling physical single of all time, behind Bing Crosby’s ‘White Christmas,’ (see also best songs 457) from 1942, and is the highest selling single since charts began in the 1950’s.

‘Eleanor Rigby died in the church, and was buried along with her name, nobody came. Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands, as he walks from the grave, no one was saved.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

600-Jim Capaldi-It’s All Up to You.

1974-Number 27 single.

Best Bit-At 0.21. Just man up, and tell what’s she’s missing, for goodness sake.

Jim Capaldi was born Nicola James Capaldi, on August 2nd, 1944, in Evesham, Worcestershire, England, he died on January 28th, 2005, of stomach cancer, at the age of 60. His father whose career was as a music teacher, was of Italian descent, and was also called Nicola, and it was his father who introduced the young Jim Capaldi to music, studying the piano, and voice coaching, and by the age of 14, he was also an accomplished player of the drums.

Jim Capaldi’s first major breakthrough occurred in 1967 when forming the ‘Psychedelic Rock’ band ‘Traffic’ with Steve Winwood, Chris Wood (1944-1983,) and Dave Mason, in Birmingham, England. Capaldi, and Mason had both previously played together in the bands the ‘Hellions,’ and ‘Deep Feeling,’ while Winwood had been the lead singer of ‘The Spencer Davis Group’ from the age of 14.The other founding member Chris Wood had been a member of a Birmingham band called ‘Locomotive. ‘Traffic’ were active on and off between 1969-2004, with alternating group members. Jim Capaldi was the drummer in Traffic, and it was also he who named the band, coming up with the name while the four group members were waiting to cross the street in Dorchester.

With ‘Traffic,’ Jim Capaldi released eight studio Albums between 1967-1994, and 13 singles within the same time period, there are also nine official compilation Albums, and three live Albums available. In the UK, five of their studio Albums have reached the top 40, with their self titled second Album from 1968, peaking the highest at Number 9, while all of their first four singles reached the UK top 40, with ‘Hole in My Shoe,’ from 1967, charting the highest at Number 2. In America on Billboard, seven of their studio Albums have made the top 40, with ‘John Barleycorn Must Die,’ from 1970, peaking the highest at Number 5, while they have had no top 40 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

It was while still a member of ‘Traffic,’ that Jim Capaldi launched his solo career, to run concurrently with being a member of Traffic, who would later spend the years of 1975-2003 on hiatus. Jim Capaldi released 13 solo studio Albums between 1972-2004, and 27 singles between 1972-2001, there are also four official compilation Albums available. In the UK, two of his singles have made the top 40, with ‘It’s All Up to You,’ reaching Number 27 in 1974, and his cover version of ‘Love Hurts,’ which had first been recorded by the ‘Everly Brothers’ in 1960, making Number 4 in 1975. His only chart entry on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart was his 1983 song ‘That’s Love,’ which reached Number 28.

Following Jim Capaldi’s death a tribute concert took place in January 2007, at the ‘Roundhouse,’ in Camden Town, London, England, with the proceeds going to the ‘Jubilee Action Street Children’s Appeal.’ Artists who took part included Pete Townshend, Paul Weller, Steve Winwood, and Gary Moore (1952-2011.) A recording of the concert was released as a double CD set the same year.

‘It’s All Up to You’ was the first of three singles issued from ‘Short Cut Draw Blood,’ the third solo studio Album from Jim Capaldi, from December 1975. The song was written and produced by Jim Capaldi, who also provided the vocals, drums, and percussion on the track. The other artists who performed on ‘It’s All Up to You’ were Jess Roden, (guitar) John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick, (piano, and clavinet) Phil Chen, (1946-2021) (bass) and Harry Robinson, (1932-1996) who did the sting arrangements. ‘It’s All Up to You’ tells the story of someone who is besotted by another, but that other has no idea. The narrator tells us of how much he loves this person, and how he would do anything to make them happy, but he hasn’t told them his feelings, possibly frightened of having his heart broken.

‘Everyday I watched you walkin’, walkin’ by my window pane. From the first time that I saw you, baby, I knew I’d never be the same. I wanna give you my lovin’, could you ever love me too? But you never seem to notice me, or what I’m goin’ through.’