THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

Johnny Nash-You Got Soul.

1968-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 0.06. You Got Soul. He was also blessed with more than his fair share of Reggae, and Pop.

Johnny Nash was born John Lester Nash Jr. on August 19th, 1940, in Houston, Texas, United States, he died of natural causes in his home, surrounded by close family, in Houston, on October 6, 2020, after a period of declining health, at the age of 80. As a child he sang in the choir at the ‘Progressive New Hope Baptist Church,’ in South Central Houston, and then at the age of 13 in 1953, he was hired to sing covers of ‘R&B hits’ on ‘Matinee,’ which was a local variety show on ‘KPRC-TV,’ in Houston. Between the years of 1956-1963, he was a singer on the broadcaster Arthur Godfrey’s (1903-1983) radio and television programmes In 1956 he signed with the record label ‘ABC-Paramount,’ releasing his first single ‘A Teenager Sings the Blues,’ which failed to chart later that year. At that time Johnny Nash sang in the same style as Johnny Mathis, (see also best songs 706) and was marketed as a competitor. In 1959 he appeared in the first of four films, starring in the American coming-of-age drama ‘Take a Giant Step,’ he would appear in a further three movies, with his last being the Swedish romance ‘ Vill så gärna tro,’ in 1971.

By 1964 Johnny Nash had teamed up with Danny Sims, (1936-2012) who was now his manager, and together they formed ‘JoDa Records,’ in New York. Although the label filed for bankruptcy within two years, they were successful promoting American artists abroad. Nash and Sims relocated to Jamaica in 1966, where they were taken to a Rastafarian party, where Bob Marley & The Wailing Wailers (see also best songs 618 and 56) were performing. Bob Marley introduced Nash to the local music scene, and Nash in turn signed Bob Marley, (1945-1981) Bunny Wailer, (1947-2021) Peter Tosh, (1944-1987) and Rita Marley, to a contract for J$50 a week.

The discography of Johnny Nash includes 19 studio Albums released between 1958-1986, and 66 singles released between 1956-1989, there are also four official compilation Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, five of his singles have reached the top 40, with ‘I Can See Clearly Now,’ from 1972 reaching Number 1, while in the UK, he achieved eight top 40 hit singles, with ‘Tears on My Pillow,’ from 1975, making the Number 1 spot.

‘You Got Soul’ was the second of three singles released from Johnny Nash’s seventh studio Album ‘Hold Me Tight,’ from 1968, the song was written by Johnny Nash, with the production being by Nash and Arthur Jenkins. By the time of the Albums release, Johnny Nash was heavily influenced by the music coming out of Jamaica, as all of his recordings from then onward were influenced by ‘Reggae Music.’

‘You Got Soul’ was co-produced by Arthur Jenkins, (see also best songs 927-690 and 703) who was born Arthur Eugene Jenkins, Jr. on December 7th, 1936, in The Bronx, New York, United States, he died unexpectedly at home on January 28th, 2009, at the age of 73. Jenkins was a keyboardist, composer, arranger and percussionist, who worked on the Albums of some of the worlds most iconic artists, including John Lennon, (1940-1980) Bob Marley, (1945-1981) and Harry Belafonte (1927-2023.) Arthur Jenkins worked with Johnny Nash for nine years, collaborating as musical director and accompanist, and travelling with him to Jamaica. In 1967, along with Nash, and Danny Sims, the three of them formed the ‘JAD Records’ label, to which Bob Marley and the Wailers, and others, including Byron Lee, (1935-2008) Neville Willoughby, (1937-2006) and Jimmy Cliff were signed.

Johnny Nash semi retired from music in 1980, although there was one more Album issued in 1986. At the age of 40, his priorities had changed, and he began to focus more on family life, church activities, and helping local causes. He had been a keen horse rider in his youth, and in 1993 he set up the ‘Johnny Nash Indoor Arena,’ in Houston, where he financed weekly rodeos for youngsters who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford to get on a horse. Speaking about his love of ‘Reggae’ he once said,’Reggae represented to me a layer of rhythm that was really infectious. I could lay on top of the rhythm, and do my ballads.’

‘Hey, I can tell by the way you walk you got soul, soul. I can tell by the way you talk you got soul, soul. You somethin’ deep inside, nothin’ in the world can hide, yeah, you got soul.’