THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

642-The Osmonds-Crazy Horses.

1972-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 0.09.They needed something that sounded like a horse. They tried everything, until they finally found something on Donny’s Yamaha organ’s wah-wah pedal that sounded like a neighing stallion.

The Osmonds father was George, (1917-2007) and their mother was Olive, (1925-2004) together they had nine children, Virl, Tom, Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Marie, and Jimmy. George Osmond was a devout Mormon, and brought his family up to be the same, when he died in 2007, as well as his nine children, he left 55 grandchildren, and 48 great grandchildren. George and Olive were both members of the ‘Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,’ and brought their family up on a farm, in Ogden, Utah, United States. Virl and Tom, who were both born with severe hearing impairments, would work in the family business, while the other seven siblings would all perform in differing guises under ‘The Osmonds’ musical banner.

‘The Osmond Brothers’ musical career began in 1958, when Alan, Wayne, Merrill, and Jay, began singing ‘Barbershop’ music for local audiences in and around Ogden, as well as during their weekly church services. Their big break came when they were booked to appear on a regular basis on the Andy Williams (1927-2012) (see also best songs 914 and 112) television show, between 1962-1969, and they would become a quintet for the first time in 1970, when joined by their younger brother Donny, whose solo career would then run concurrently alongside that of ‘The Osmonds,’ with whom he would remain a member. In the early 1970’s the youngest sibling ‘Jimmy’ also launched a successful solo career, as did the brothers only sister, ‘Marie,’ who would also team up with Donny, to record a number of successful charting duets.

The discography of The Osmonds includes 22 studio Albums released between 1963-2021, and 45 singles released between 1963-2018, there are also seven official compilation Albums, and three live Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, 10 of their singles reached the top 40, with ‘One Bad Apple’ from 1970 making the Number 1 spot, and ‘Crazy Horses’ peaking at Number 14, while in the UK, they have charted within the top 40 also on 10 occasions, with ‘Love Me for a Reason’ reaching Number 1 in 1974.

‘Crazy Horses’ was the title track, and the second of two singles released from The Osmonds 11th studio Album overall, from October 1972. The song was co-written by Alan, Merrill, and Wayne Osmond, with the production being by Alan Osmond, and Michael Lloyd, who was born Michael Jeffrey Lloyd on November 3rd, 1948, in New York City United States. At the age of 20 Lloyd was vice-president in charge of ‘A&R,’ at ‘MGM Records,’ with one of his early signings being Lou Rawls, (1933-2006) (see also best songs 322) whose career he helped resurrect. Lloyd would go on to work with The Osmonds on several of their hits, and then went on to produce for the teen idols Shaun Cassidy, and Leif Garrett. In the 1980’s he produced and arranged for Belinda Carlisle, and then in 1987 he was responsible as music supervisor for the soundtrack of the film ‘Dirty Dancing,’ and for producing the tracks (‘I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,’ (see also best songs 439) by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, and ‘She’s Like the Wind,’ performed by Patrick Swayze (1952-2009.)

‘Crazy Horses’ was a turning point in the career of The Osmonds, as prior to that they had always recorded songs written by other artists, and songs chosen for them by their record company. ‘Crazy Horses’ also saw the transition of the group from a ‘Bubblgum,’ ‘Pop’ orientated act, in to a ‘Hard Rock’ group. Donny Osmond has said,’Ozzy Osbourne (see also best songs 814) actually told me that ‘Crazy Horses’ is one of his favourite Rock and Roll songs.’ Speaking about how ‘Crazy Horses’ came about, Merrill Osmond has said,’We were rehearsing in a basement one day, when Wayne started playing this heavy rock riff. I came up with the melody, and Alan got the chords. The songs subject was way ahead of it’s time. It’s a song about the environment, those ‘Crazy Horses’ smoking up the sky, are gas guzzling cars, destroying the planet with their fumes.’

‘There’s a message floatin’ in the air, Crazy horses ridin’ everywhere. It’s a warning, it’s in every tongue, gotta stop them Crazy Horses on the run.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

643-DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince-Summertime.

1991-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 0.05. Unlike the majority of Rappers, you will never need a ‘Parental Advisory Label’ on one of Will Smith’s records, but he did show the world that he possesses a potty mouth, at the ‘Academy Awards’ of 2022.

Willard Carroll Smith II was born on September 25th, 1968, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, he began Rapping at the age of 12. Smith has said that when his grandmother found a notebook of his lyrics, which he described as containing ‘All his little curse words,’ she wrote him a note on a page in the book: ‘Dear Willard, truly intelligent people do not have to use words like this to express themselves. Please show the world that you’re as smart as we think you are.’ Will Smith said that this influenced his decision not to use profanity in his music.

Will Smith first met Jeff Townes (DJ Jazzy Jeff) at a house party that Townes was playing at in 1985. Townes’ ‘hype man’ had failed to show, and Smith filled in, and the two, from then on, decided to collaborate. DJ Jazzy Jeff was born Jeffrey Allen Townes on January 22nd, 1965, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, he has stated that he wanted to be a DJ since the age of 10. He has been highly praised for his skills on turntables, and is credited with making the ‘Transformer Scratch’ famous. After parting ways with Will Smith in 1994, he has written and produced for himself, and numerous other artists including Will Smith.

Due to the success of their early records, ‘NBC’ television decided to make a sitcom, with Will Smith starring as ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,’ with Jeff Townes also featuring heavily, as a recurring character. This led to Smith receiving his first major role in film, in the 1993 drama ‘Six Degrees of Separation.’ His music career, and acting career have run concurrently, leading to him becoming one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars. As of 2024, his films had grossed over $9.3 billion globally, with him being the only actor to have starred in eight consecutive films which have grossed over $100 million in the United States box office, and 11 consecutive films which have grossed over $150 million internationally.

The discography of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince includes five studio Albums released between 1987-1993, and 18 singles released between 1986-1998, there are also four official compilation Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, five of their singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Summertime,’ from 1991, peaking the highest at Number 4, while in the UK they have charted within the top 40 on six occasions, with ‘Boom! Shake the Room’ making Number 1 in 1993. The solo discography of Will Smith includes four studio Albums released between 1997-2005, and 18 singles issued between 1997-2019, there is also one official compilation Album available. On Billboard Will Smith has had seven top 40 hits, (one as the featured artist) with ‘Gettin’ Jiggy wit It,’ (1998) and ‘Wild Wild West’ featuring Dru Hill and Kool Moe Dee, (1999) both getting to Number 1. In the UK, he has had 12 top 40 hits, (one as the featured artist) with his debut solo single ‘Men in Black,’ reaching Number 1 in 1997.

‘Summertime’ was the first of four singles released from the DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince’s fourth studio Album ‘Homebase,’ from July 1991. The song heavily samples the 1974 track ‘Summer Madness,’ by the American R&B group Kool and the Gang,’ taken from their fifth studio Album ‘Light of Worlds.’ The songwriting credits for ‘Summertime’ are shared between all eight members of Kool and the Gang at that time, along with Will Smith, (who wrote the lyrics) Jeff Townes, and Lamar ‘Hula’ Mahone, who was also the songs co-producer along with Craig Simpson, (K. Fingers) and Roland Edison. Incidentally Lamar ‘Hula’ Mahone, would go on to great success as one half of the Hip-Hop duo The Outhere Brothers. In recognition of the Kool and the Gang original, the last line of ‘Summertime,’ as Rapped by Will Smith, is ‘And this is the definition of Summer Madness.’

Here it is a groove slightly transformed, just a bit of a break from the norm. Just a little somethin’ to break the monotony, of all that hardcore dance that has gotten to be a little bit out of control, it’s cool to dance, but what about the groove that soothes that moves romance.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

644-Aretha Franklin-I Say a Little Prayer.

1968-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 2.01. In the words of Green Gartside,’Each time I go to bed, I pray like Aretha Franklin.’ (see also best songs 554.)

‘I Say a Little Prayer’ was written by the legendary song writing duo of Burt Bacharach, (1928-2023) (music) and Hal David, (1921-2012) (lyrics) and was originally recorded by Dionne Warwick (see also best songs 224) for her eighth studio Album ‘The Windows of the World,’ from August 1967, ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ was the second of two singles released from the Album, the first being the title track. The Dionne Warwick recording, which was also produced by Bacharach & David, (see also best songs 902-832-815-740 and 224) reached Number 4 on the American Billboard Hot 100, but has never charted in the UK.

In 1968 Aretha Franklin, (1942-2018) (see also best songs 366) and her background vocalists ‘The Sweet Inspirations’ were singing ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ for fun, while rehearsing the songs intended for Aretha’s next Album, when it suddenly became apparent that this newly reinvented rendition was worthy of being more than just an Album track. Initially the song was scheduled as the ‘B’ side to ‘The House That Jack Built,’ but the radio DJ’s were preferring to play ‘I Say a Little Prayer.’ The release of ‘The House That Jack Built,’ reached Number 6 on Billboard, and when ‘I Say a Little Prayer,’ was switched to the ‘A’ side, it peaked at Number 10, less than a year after Dionne Warwick had reached Number 4. In the UK ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ became Aretha Franklin’s biggest hit single, until her 1987 duet with George Michael, (1963-2016) with ‘I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me’) reached Number 1.

The Aretha Franklin recording of ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ was the second of three singles released from her 13th studio Album ‘Aretha Now,’ from July 1968, ‘The House That Jack Built’ was not released as a track on that Album. ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ which was produced by Jerry Wexler, (1917-2008) (see also best songs 882) has backing vocals from ‘The Sweet Inspirations.’ Both the Dionne Warwick recording, and the Aretha Franklin version, have the American R&B girl group ‘The Sweet Inspirations’ in common, as they were in on rehearsals when Warwick was recording her version, and they can be heard performing backing vocals on Franklin’s recording.

The Sweet Inspirations (see also best songs 882) are an American ‘R&B’ girl group mostly known for their work as backup singers on studio recordings for other ‘R&B,’ and ‘Rock’ artists. They were formed in 1959 by former members of ‘The Drinkard Singers’, who were a long running ‘Gospel’ singing group from Newark, New Jersey, United States, they were active until 1979, and then again from 1994. In total there have been 11 different members come and go, including Dionne Warwick, and her sister Dee Dee Warwick, (1942-2008) as well as the singer/songwriter Doris Troy, (1937-2004) and Cissy Houston, the mother of Whitney Houston. The Sweet Inspirations released nine Albums between 1967-2005, and a further four between 1968-1971, with the American Jazz multi-instrumentalist Yusef Lateef (1920-2013.) They can be heard on hundreds of tracks as background vocalists, including ‘Brown Eyed Girl,’ by Van Morrison, (1967-Billboard Number 10) and ‘Grease’ by Frankie Valli (1978-Billboard Number 1 & UK Number 3.) The four members of The Sweet Inspirations who sang on ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ were Cissy Houston, Estelle Brown, Sylvia Shemwell, (1941-2010) and Myrna Smith (1941-2010.)

‘I Say a Little Prayer’ has been a hit single on two other occasions in the UK, In 1988 the English music producer Tim Simenon, using his alias ‘Bomb the Bass,’ took his ‘Electronic Dance Music’ version, featuring the singer Maureen, to Number 10, and in 1997 a Reggae version by the Jamaican singer Diana King, which was featured heavily in the comedy film ‘My Best Friends Wedding,’ reached Number 17 in the UK, and Number 38 on Billboard in America.

Burt Bacharach never wanted the Dionne Warwick version to be released, he has said,’I think I made the tempo a little too fast, I didn’t want the record to come out, but got overridden. I’m glad that I got overridden.’ Bacharach has also stated that he much prefers the Aretha Franklin arrangement, and production of the song by Jerry Wexler. As for how the song was inspired, Hal David wrote the lyrics with the intention to convey a woman’s concern for her man, who is serving in the Vietnam War.

‘The moment I wake up, before I put on my makeup, I say a little prayer for you. While combing my hair, now, and wondering what dress to wear, now, I say a little prayer for you.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

645-Armand Van Helden-The Funk Phenomena.

1996-Number 38 single.

Best Bit-At 1.00. For those who feel more comforted with repetition in their lives, then this ones for you.

Armand Van Helden (see also best songs 138) was born on February 16th, 1970, in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, he is a music producer, songwriter, remixer, and DJ, in the genre of ‘Electronic Dance Music,’ and it’s sub-genres, including ‘Speed Garage,’ and ‘Garage House,’ of which he is a pioneer. Armand Van Helden whose father was of Dutch and Indonesian descent, (Indo) and his mother, who was French, has recorded and performed under several different aliases, including ‘Deep Creed,’ ‘Wizzards of Wax,’ and ‘Duck Sauce.’ Armand Van Helden finally broke big in 1996 with his remix of the Tori Amos song ‘Professional Widow,’ which became a worldwide hit, and reached Number 1 in the UK, due solely to his remix. This led to many of the worlds top artists, including the Rolling Stones, and Janet Jackson, requesting remixes from him.

The discography of Armand Van Helden, using his own name, includes nine studio Albums, released between 1996-2016, and 62 singles, released between 1994-2014, there are also 11 official compilation Albums available. In America he has never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles, but five of his tracks have made the top 10 Billboard ‘Dance Club’ chart. In the UK he has had 12 top 40 hits, as either the lead or featured artist, with ‘You Don’t Know Me,’ featuring Duane Harden, (1999) and ‘Bonkers,’ by Dizzee Rascal featuring Armand Van Helden, (2009) both reaching the Number 1 spot.

‘The Funk Phenomena’ can be filed under the genre of ‘Garage House,’ which was originally known as ‘Garage,’ or ‘New York House,’ or ‘New Jersey sound,’ that was developed alongside ‘Chicago House’ music. The genre was popular in the 1980’s in the United States, and the 1990’s in the United Kingdom, where it developed into ‘UK Garage,’ and ‘Speed Garage.’ ‘Garage House’ which was developed in the ‘Paradise Garage’ nightclub, in New York City, and Club Zanzibar, in Newark, New Jersey, United States, in the early to mid 1980’s, is recognisable by it’s gospel-influenced piano riffs and female vocals, and has a more soulful ‘R&B’ derived sound than ‘Chicago House’ music. When ‘Garage House’ became popular in the UK in the early 1990’s, it acquired the name ‘UK Garage.’

‘The Funk Phenomena’ was released as a single from Armand Van Helden’s debut studio Album ‘Old School Junkies: The Album,’ in 1996, the song is credited as being co-written by Armand Van Helden, and Method Man, (see also best songs 359 and 166) with the production being by Armand Van Helden. Like many ‘Dance Music’ tracks, ‘The Funk Phenomena’ has many official and unofficial remixes. On ‘The Funk Phenomena’ there are three significant samples, the endlessly repeated chant of ‘The Funk Phenomena,’ is taken from the 1995 ‘Hip-Hop’ song ‘How High,’ (1995-Billboard Number 13) by ‘Method Man & Redman,’ and that is why Method Man receives the songwriting credit. It is the voice of the American Rapper ‘Redman’ that can be heard saying ‘The Funk Phenomena.’ The main sample on ‘The Funk Phenomena,’ is lifted from the 1973 track ‘Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?’ (1973-Billboard Number 69) by the American ‘R&B’ group ‘Creative Source,’ but none of that songs writers receive song writing credits on ‘The Funk Phenomena.’ The other song sampled is ‘Don’t Throw My Love Around,’ by the American Funk band ‘Cooly’s Hot Box,’ who also receive no writing credits.

‘The Funk Phenomena.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

646-Paul McCartney and Wings-Junior’s Farm.

1974-Number 10 single.

Best Bit-At 3.56. Of the naming of ‘Wings,’ Paul McCartney has said that his wife Linda was in hospital giving birth to their second child Stella, there were complications at the birth, and both Linda and the baby nearly died. McCartney was praying, and the image of wings came to his mind. He decided to call his new band ‘Wings.’

Paul McCartney, (solo-see also best songs 107) (Beatles-see also best songs 599-238-218-157-141-80-51-10 and 6) was born James Paul McCartney, on June 18th, 1942, in Liverpool, England, he is the most successful songwriter of all time, having written or co-written 33 UK Number 1 singles, and 32 American Billboard Number 1 singles. In 1965 he was awarded the ‘MBE,’ ‘Member of the Order of the British Empire,’ and then in 1997, he was Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, for services to music, hence his title ‘Sir,’ and then in 2017, he was Appointed ‘Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour,’ ‘CH,’ in the 2017 Queens Birthday Honours, for services to music. Paul McCartney’s father was Jim McCartney, (1902-1976) and his mother was Mary Patricia, (née Mohin) (1909-1956) both of his parents wee also born in Liverpool. McCartney has a younger brother, Peter Michael McCartney, (born 1944) who is also a musician, and goes by the stage name of ‘Mike McGear,’ who in 1968, with the group ‘The Scaffold,’ reached Number 1 in the UK with ‘Lily the Pink.’ McCartney also has a younger adopted stepsister called Ruth, (born 1960) who was born to his father Jim’s second wife, Angie (born 1929) during her first marriage. Paul McCartney has been married on three occasions, and has five children.

With the success of his 1974 Album ‘Band on the Run,’ Paul McCartney had finally achieved critical acclaim away from the Beatles. The next studio Album ‘Venus and Mars’ wouldn’t be released until 1975, so ‘Juniors Farm’ was released without appearing on any Album. While recording in July 1974 in Nashville, Paul McCartney and Wings, who were at that time, Linda McCartney, (1941-1998) Denny Laine, (1944-2023) Jimmy McCullock, (1953-1979) (see also best songs 891) and Geoff Britton, had hired the ‘Lebanon, Tennessee’ farm, belonging to the Country Music singer/songwriter Curly Putman Jr. (1930-2016) which accounts for this songs title. In the UK, Curly Putman Jr. is best known for writing the songs ‘Green Green Grass of Home,’ which became a UK Number 1 & Billboard Number 12 hit for Tom Jones in 1966, (see also best songs 964) and ‘D-I-V-O-R-C-E,’ a UK Number 12 hit for Tammy Wynette in 1975.

‘Junior’s Farm’ which was written by Paul McCartney, and Linda McCartney, with the production being by Paul, was his final release on the ‘Apple Records’ label before signing a solo recording contract with ‘Capitol Records,’ in May 1975. Paul McCartney had his first ideas about writing a song about a quiet farm lifestyle during his long family stay at his cottage in Campbeltown, Scotland, between April and August 1970, during the turbulent break-up of the Beatles. McCartney has said that he based the song’s lyrical theme on Bob Dylan’s 1965 song ‘Maggie’s Farm,’ and that ‘The idea was to just get a fantasy song about this person Junior.’ He also said that, in contrast to the degree of thought Bob Dylan applied to his songwriting, Junior’s Farm ‘Has silly words, and basically all it means is, ‘Let’s get out of the city.’ As for reading deep meanings into the words, people shouldn’t bother, there aren’t any.’ Curly Putman Jr. has said,’Paul McCartney and Wings rented my farm for six weeks while recording in Nashville, for a pretty good little chunk of money.’ Evidently Putman and his wife spent their ‘rent’ on a holiday to Hawaii, and when they returned, McCartney saw them walking up the driveway. and Paul and the band greeted them by playing ‘Green, Green Grass of Home.’

Paul McCartney has insisted that the lyrics to ‘Junior’s Farm’ have no meaning, but they are probably full of drug references. For example, the Eskimo who was hoping for a fall of snow, is probably about Cocaine, and the lyrics ‘When up popped a sea lion ready to go,’ a ‘sea lion’ = ‘C line.’ There is possibly a disguised mention about America’s disgraced President Nixon, and also an observation on the state of the economy at that time, although that could be another drug reference.

‘I took my bag into a grocer’s store, the price is higher than the time before, old man asked me why is it more. I said you should have seen me with the poker man, I had a honey and I bet a grand, just in the nick of time I looked at his hand.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

647-Van Halen-Jump.

1984-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 3.36. Here’s an interesting coincidence for those of us with lots of spare time on our hands. The ‘B’ side of the U.S. 7 inch single release of ‘Jump’ is a song called ‘House of Pain.’ In 1992 the American ‘Hip-Hop’ group House of Pain had a hit with a song called ‘Jump’ (see also best songs 75.)

Van Halen were a Rock band who were officially formed in Pasadena, California, United States, in 1973, from 1974 to 1985 the group consisted of Eddie Van Halen, (1955-2020) (lead guitar) his brother Alex Van Halen, (drums) David Lee Roth, (lead vocals) and Michael Anthony (bass.) In 1985 David Lee Roth left the group to pursue a solo career, and he was replaced by Sammy Hagar as the new lead vocalist. Roth returned to the group in 2006, replacing Hagar, and in the same year Michael Anthony left, and was replaced by Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang Van Halen (bass.) After the death of Eddie Van Halen in 2020 the group was retired with Wolfgang Van Halen saying,’You can’t have Van Halen without Eddie Van Halen.’ In total there were eight members of Van Halen come and go, with the other two being founding member Mark Stone, (bass) who died in 2020, and Gary Cherone, who was the lead vocalist between 1996-1999.

With sales in excess of 80 million records sold worldwide, Van Halen are amongst the best selling artist of all time. Their discography includes 12 studio Albums released between 1978-2012, and 56 singles issued within the same time period, there are also two official compilation Albums, and two live Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, 16 of their songs have reached the top 40, with ‘Jump’ making the Number 1 spot in 1984, while in the UK, they have had six top 40 hits, with ‘Jump’ peaking the highest at Number 7.

‘Jump’ was the first of four singles released from Van Halen’s sixth studio Album ‘1984,’ which is sometimes stylized in Roman numerals as ‘MCMLXXXIV.’ The song was co-written by all four group members at that time, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth, and Michael Anthony, with the production being by Ted Templeton. ‘Jump’ is Van Halen’s most successful single, and introduced the use of a synthesizer by Eddie Van Halen, which David Lee Roth objected to, as he thought it would be seen as the group selling out in order to get more radio play. Eddie had written the music in 1981, admitting that he had copied the synth part from the Darryl Hall and John Oates (see also best songs 881) song ‘Kiss On My List’ (1980-Billboard Number 1 & UK Number 33 single.) Darryl Hall has stated that he had no problem with Eddie doing that.

‘Jump’ was produced by Ted Templeman, who was born Edward John Templeman, on October 24th, 1942, in Santa Cruz, California, United States. Templeman began his music career as the drummer, and than later the guitarist, and vocalist with the American ‘Sunshine Pop’ band Harpers Bizarre, who are best remembered for their 1967 cover of the Paul Simon song ‘The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy’) (1967-Billboard Number 13 & UK Number 34 single.) In 1970 Templeman began working for ‘Warner Bros.’ records, and it was he who discovered the ‘Doobie Brothers,’ going on to produce 11 of their Albums. He has also produced seven Albums for Van Halen, as well as Albums by Van Morrison, Carly Simon, and many others.

Ted Templeman has recalled the night ‘Jump’ was recorded at Eddie Van Halen’s newly constructed home studio. ‘Engineer Donn Landee and Ed put the track down alone in the middle of the night. We re-cut it once in one take for sonic reasons. Dave wrote the lyrics that afternoon in the backseat of his Mercury convertible. We finished all vocals that afternoon and mixed it that evening.’ David Lee Roth wrote the lyrics, and he has teased with various accounts as to what the song is about, but usually he tells the story of a news story he saw on television about a man about to kill himself by jumping off a building, Roth thought to himself, ‘might as well jump,’ but in a positive sense, ‘Don’t jump to your death, but instead jump in to a more positive frame of mind, and make the most of your life.’

‘I get up and nothin’ gets me down, you got it tough, I’ve seen the toughest around. And I know, baby, just how you feel, you got to roll with the punches to get to what’s real.’

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.’