THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

440-David Bowie-Soul Love.

1972-It has never been released as a single in the UK.

Best Bit-At 1.03. Some music critics have cited ‘Five Years’ and ‘Soul Love,’ which are the opening two tracks on ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars,’ as the best start to any Album ever made.

‘Soul Love’ is track 2 on David Bowie’s (see also best songs 807-334-302-209-186-131-118-58-47-31 and 5 ) & (see also his production work 701-131 and 58) fifth studio Album ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars,’ released in February 1972. The Album wasn’t intentionally written as a concept Album, but many of the songs are about the fictional character ‘Ziggy Stardust,’ invented by David Bowie. Ziggy was a androgynous, bisexual rock star who is sent to Earth as a saviour, before an impending apocalyptic disaster (see also best songs 31.) When Bowie toured the Album, he performed in the character of Ziggy Stardust, with the three musicians who backed him, and who also played on the Album, being known as the ‘Spiders from Mars.’ The musicians were Mick Ronson, (1946-1993) (guitar, piano and synthesizer) (see also best songs 661-405-334-186-131-58-31 and 5) Trevor Bolder, (1950-2013) (bass guitar and trumpet) and Mick Woodmansey (drums.) After Bowie killed off Ziggy Stardust in 1973, the Spiders from Mars were disbanded, but in 1975 Bolder and Woomansey reformed without Ronson, and were joined by three others for the release of a self titled Album in 1976, which proved to be a final hoorah. The bands name ‘Spiders from Mars’ came from the UFO sighting on October 27th, 1954, where a stadium crowd thought they had witnessed Martian spacecraft which cast off a thin filament material, later hypothesised to be webs from migrating spiders.

‘Soul Love’ was written by David Bowie, with the production being by Bowie and Ken Scott, it was first released on David Bowie’s fifth studio Album ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars,’ from June 1972. In 1978 Bowie released his second live Album, ‘Stage,’ and to promote the Album, a live version of ‘Soul Love’ was issued as a single in Japan. On ‘Soul Love’ David Bowie provides the lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar, and plays the saxophone.

Ken Scott (see also best songs 807-186-31 and 5) was born on April 20th, 1947, in London, England, he is a record producer, and engineer. Scott had shown an interest in music from an early age, and in 1964 he wrote letters inquiring about recording engineer job openings, and mailed them to several London recording studios. ‘Abbey Road Studios’ got in touch and interviewed him, and then offered him a position at the age of 16. He received the traditional Abbey Road studio training under their engineers, including Malcolm Addey, and Norman ‘Hurricane’ Smith (1923-2008.) His first success as a ‘second engineer’ came in July 1964 when the English Rock group Manfred Mann took their cover version of ‘Do Wah Diddy Diddy’ to Number 1 in the UK. In September 1967 he was promoted to engineer, which led to him working with the Beatles on many of their songs including ‘I Am the Walrus,’ (see also best songs 80) and ‘Hey Jude’ (see also best songs 6.) Ken Scott’s first work as a producer was his co-production of the Album ‘Hunky Dory,’ (1971) with David Bowie, he would go on to work with Bowie on a further three of his Albums. Scott’s other production highlights include ‘Crime of the Century, (1974) and ‘Crisis? What Crisis?’ (1975) for the British Rock band Supertramp, and ‘There & Back’ for Jeff Beck (1944-2023) (1980.) In 2015 Ken Scott was appointed a Senior Professor at ‘Leeds Beckett University’s School of Film, Music and Performing Arts,’ in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England,

‘Soul Love’ has three verses presenting different facets of human love. The first verse is stone love, and tells of a mother kneeling at the grave of her brave soldier son, who gave his life fighting for his country. The second verse tells of new love, a young couple find love for the first time, ‘A love so strong it tears their hearts.’ The third verse deals with religious and spiritual love, putting faith in what the priest is saying. David Bowie was 24 years old when he wrote these incredible lyrics.

‘Love is careless in it’s choosing, sweeping over cross and baby. Love descends on those defenceless, idiot love will spark the fusion. Inspiration have I none just to touch the flaming dove. All I have is my love of love and love is not loving.’