THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

335-Faith No More-Epic.

1990-Number 25 single.

Best Bit-At 0.33. After hearing Faith No More’s Album ‘The Real Thing,’ Anthony Kiedis who is the lead singer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers (see also best songs 977) accused Mike Patton the lead singer of Faith No More of stealing his style. Tongue in cheek Kiedis said, ‘My drummer says he’s gonna kidnap (Patton) him, shave his hair off, and cut off one of his feet, just so he’ll be forced to find a style of his own.’ In another interview he clarified his comment, remarking, ‘I love ‘The Real Thing,’ and I liked his vocals, when I heard the record I noticed subtle similarities, but when I saw the video it was like, ‘Wait a second here, what the fu#k?’ Mike Patton has since gone on to say that he is flattered that Anthony Kiedis talks about him in interviews, and enjoys the free publicity it brings.

Faith No More were formed in San Francisco, California, United States, in 1979, three of the original line up, Billy Gould, (bass) Roddy Bottum, (keyboards and rhythm guitar) and Mike Bordin (drums) are the bands three constants. They were active until 1998, but reformed again in 2009, through until 2020, and at the time of writing they are on hiatus. In total there have been 13 different members come and go, including the American singer Courtney Love, (see also best songs 623) who was with the group for a short time in 1984, but didn’t appear on any released recordings. In 1979 the group started out life as ‘Sharp Young Men,’ by 1983 they had changed to ‘Faith. No Man,’ issuing their first single ‘Quiet in Heaven/Song of Liberty,’ under that name. When one of the founding members Mike Morris left the group shortly after, they chose the name ‘Faith No More’ to to accentuate the fact that ‘The Man’ (Mike Morris) was ‘No More.’

The discography of Faith No More includes seven studio Albums released between 1985-2015, and 25 singles released between 1983-2016, there are also six official compilation Albums and one live Album available. In America on the Billboard 200 Album chart, four of their studio Album releases have made the top 40, with their fourth Album ‘Angel Dust’ peaking the highest at Number 10 in 1992. Faith No More have had one single reach the Billboard Hot 100, which is this track ‘Epic,’ which made Number 9 in 1990, while in the UK, 12 of their singles have reached the top 40, with their 1992 cover of the Lionel Richie penned hit ‘Easy’ for his American group the Commodores peaking the highest at Number 3, six places above the 1977 Commodores original.

‘Epic’ was the second of five singles released from ‘The Real Thing,’ which is the third studio Album by Faith No More, from June 1989, the song was co-written by the group members Mike Patton, Billy Gould, Jim Martin, Roddy Bottum, and Mike Bordin, with the production being by Matt Wallace, whose other high profile work includes Faith No More’s ‘Angel Dust’ Album, (1992) and Maroon 5’s debut studio Album ‘Songs About Jane’ (2002.) Faith No More’s lead singer Mike Patton who had joined the group in 1989 was responsible for the lyrics, while the majority of the songs music had been composed at an earlier date prior to his arrival. Faith No More were struggling for a breakthrough hit, with their record label suggesting that this was their last chance. The label let the band choose a song for release, and a video for it to be made, but both the band and the label had no real expectations of the song being a hit. Billy Gould has recalled, ‘At the time it was our favourite song on the Album, but no one from the record label seemed too interested in it. In fact, we had done a video for ‘From Out Of Nowhere’ which didn’t get much traction, and the label told us, ‘Hey guys, the Album didn’t work. We’ll do one more video for whatever song you want.’ So we picked ‘Epic’ because it just felt the most natural at the time. We had very little expectations of it becoming a commercial hit.’

Faith No More are recognised as leading lights in the genre of ‘Alternative Rock’ music, and it’s offshoot ‘Rap Metal.’ Rap Metal is a fusion genre that combines ‘Hip-Hop’ with ‘Heavy Metal.’ It usually consists of Heavy Metal guitar riffs, ‘Funk Metal’ elements, rapped vocals, and sometimes turntables. Other artists on this ‘1000 Best Songs’ list who have fused the genres include the Beastie Boys, (see also best songs 610) and Run-DMC (see also best songs 305 and 113.) Scott Ian, the co-founder of the American ‘Thrash Metal’ group Anthrax who helped pioneer the genre, believes that it was Rage Against the Machine (see also best songs 837) who invented the genre.

What ‘Epic’ is about is open to interpretation. Personally I would like to think it is about that ultimate feeling of satisfaction, when for instance, you finally meet that special person that will change your life. Or it might be that moment when you finally achieve something that you have always striven for. It’s that fleeting moment when your on cloud nine. In 1990 Mike Patton who wrote the lyrics gave some insight to the songs meaning when saying it was about sexual frustration, sex, and the lack of it. Patton said that the song is about masturbation, ‘Most people don’t like to talk about it. I’m here to tell ya, I love it. That’s kinda of what Epic’s really about.’……. I prefer my interpretation.

‘Can you feel it, see it, hear it today? If you can’t, then it doesn’t matter anyway. You will never understand it ’cause it happens too fast, and it feels so good, it’s like walking on glass.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

336-The Jesus and Mary Chain-Some Candy Talking.

1986-Number 13 single.

Best Bit-At 1.24. The BBC banned the track because they thought it was about Heroin. Ironically the first recording of the song was made for the BBC Radio 1 John Peel (1939-2004) (see also best songs 728-659-435 and 409) in session show.

The Jesus and Mary Chain (see also best songs 878) were formed in East Kilbride, Scotland, United Kingdom, in 1983 by the brothers Jim Reid (born December 29th, 1961) and his brother William Reid, (born October 28th, 1958) they are the bands only two constants. The Reid brothers then recruited Douglas Hart on bass, and Murray Dalglish on drums as their initial lineup. After the release of their debut single ‘Upside Down’ in 1984, Murray Dalglish left, and was replaced by Bobby Gillespie (see also best songs 724) on drums, who would play on the groups debut Album ‘Psychocandy,’ and the ‘EP’ (extended play) from which this song was taken. The Jesus and Mary Chain broke up in 1999, but got together once again in 2007, and at the time of writing they remain active as a quintet, in total there have been 22 different members come and go. As for where they took their group name from, they initially told journalists that they had taken it from a line in a Bing Crosby film, although six months later they admitted that this was not true. Other accounts suggest that the name derived from an offer on a breakfast cereal packet, where customers could send off for a gold Jesus & Mary chain. Jim and William Reid have said that wanted to form a band in the early 1980’s in response to their distaste of the music at the time, William Reid has said, ‘It was the crap coming out of the radio that made us want to be in a band. This worked in our favour, it was perfect timing, because there weren’t any guitar bands, everybody was making this electronic pop music.’

The discography of The Jesus and Mary Chain includes eight studio Albums released between 1985-2024, and 21 singles released between 1984-2023, there are also six extended plays, (EP’s) seven official compilation Albums, and three live Albums available. In the UK, The Jesus and Mary Chain have had seven of their eight studio Albums reach the top 40, with their second release ‘Darklands’ peaking the highest at Number 5 in 1987, while 11 of their singles have reached the UK top 40, with ‘April Skies,’ from 1987 charting the highest at Number 8. The Jesus and Mary Chain’s only entry on the American Billboard Hot 100 singles chart is ‘Sometimes Always,’ which reached Number 96 in 1994, although five of their tracks have made the Billboard ‘Alternative Airplay’ chart, with ‘Blues from a Gun’ peaking the highest at Number 1 in 1989.

‘Some Candy Talking’ was co-written by William Reid and Jim Reid, with the production being by the English music producer Phil Ward Large, who has worked with other high profile groups including ‘The Farm,’ and ‘That Petrol Emotion.’ ‘Some Candy Talking’ was first issued in July 1986 as part of a three track extended play, which was also called ‘Some Candy Talking.’ The EP was issued eight months after the release of their critically acclaimed debut studio Album ‘Psychocandy,’ from November 1985. Following the Albums reissue on Compact Disc in 1986, ‘Some Candy Talking’ was added as a bonus track.

With the release of ‘Psychocandy’ The Jesus and Mary Chain created a new genre of music that has become known as ‘Noise Pop,’ The duo would structure the traditional type of ‘Pop’ song, but as so to gain attention they would add guitar feedback, and noise, which would prove highly influential on the fourth coming ‘Shoegazing’ genre, and ‘Alternative Rock Music’ in general. ‘Noise Pop’ has been described by the American online music database ‘AllMusic’ as ‘the halfway point between ‘Bubblegum’ (see also best songs 1000) and the avant-garde, the combination of conventional ‘Pop’ songwriting with experimental sounds of white noise, distorted guitars and drones.’ ‘AllMusic’ cites the Velvet Underground (see also best songs 401 and 165) as the earliest roots of the genre, with their experiments with feedback and distortion on their early Albums. ‘Noise Pop’ continued to be influential in the ‘Indie Rock’ scene into the 1990’s.

When ‘Some Candy Talking’ was released it was banned by all the major radio stations as it was thought that the song was about Heroin, but the bands lead singer Jim Reid, in an interview in 2005 stated that the song had nothing to do with drugs. I shall leave you to make up your own minds.

‘I’m going down to the place tonight, to see if I can get a taste tonight. A taste of something warm and sweet, that shivers your bones and rises to your heat.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

337-Willie Nelson-Funny How Time Slips Away.

1961-It has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 0.48. …and the older you get, the quicker it slips.

Willie Nelson was born Willie Hugh Nelson on April 29th, 1933, in Abbott, Texas, United States, he was named Willie by his cousin Mildred, who also chose Hugh as his middle name, in honour of her recently deceased younger brother. Willie Nelson had thought for much of his life that his birthday was April 30th, but he discovered late in life from an elderly relative that he was actually born just before midnight on the 29th, as the doctor hadn’t recorded his time of birth accurately, now Willie celebrates both days. Much of Willie Nelson’s early success came as a songwriter, with two of his most famous compositions being ‘Crazy,’ a song which when recorded by Patsy Cline (1932-1963) (1961-Billboard Number 9) has gone on to become one of the most played songs in ‘Country Music,’ and ‘Pretty Paper,’ which when recorded by Roy Orbison, (1936-1988) (see also best songs 657) reached Number 6 in the UK in 1963. Willie Nelson is considered one of the most important figures in American music, in the genres of ‘Country Music,’ ‘Country Rock,’ and ‘Outlaw Country,’ which is a sub genre of American Country Music, of which Nelson is considered one of it’s originators. Willie Nelson has also appeared in numerous films since making his acting debut in ‘The Electric Horseman’ in 1979, other acting highlights include appearing in ‘Barbarosa’ in 1982, and the film version of his 1975 Album ‘Red Headed Stranger,’ in 1986.

The discography of Willie Nelson, who has sold in excess of 50 million records worldwide, includes a staggering 102 studio Albums released between 1962-2023, and 132 singles released between 1957-2024, there are also two soundtrack Albums, 51 official compilation Albums, and 14 live Albums available. In America on Billboard, 10 of his singles have reached the Hot 100, with ‘To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before,’ his 1984 duet with Julio Iglesias, peaking the highest at Number 5. Willie Nelson has had great success on the Billboard ‘Hot Country Songs’ chart with 74 of his singles making the top 40, with 19 of those singles reaching Number 1, he has also appeared on that chart as a guest artist on a further nine occasions, with five of those tracks making the Number 1 spot. In the UK his only charting single to date is his 1984 collaboration with Julio Iglesias on the Number 17 hit ‘To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before.’

‘Funny How Time Slips Away’ which has never been issued as a single by Willie Nelson is track 4 on side 1 of his debut studio Album ‘…And Then I Wrote,’ from September 1962, the song was written by Willie Nelson, with the production being by Joe Allison, who was born Joe Marion Allison on October 3rd, 1924, in McKinney, Texas, United States, he died on August 2nd, 2002, of lung cancer, at the age of 77. Joe Allison worked in the genre of ‘Country Music’ as a songwriter, Disc Jockey, business executive, and music producer. He wrote hit singles for a number of well known ‘Country’ artists, with his most successful being his co-write with his wife Audrey of ‘He’ll Have to Go’ (1960-Billboard Number 2 & UK Number 12) for Jim Reeves (1923-1964.) In the 1970’s Joe Allison was head of ‘Paramount Music,’ and ‘Capitol Records’ ‘Country divisions.’ In 1976, he was inducted into the ‘Disc Jockey Hall of Fame,’ and in 1978, into the ‘Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame,’ he is also an inductee in the ‘Country Music Hall of Fame.’

Willie Nelson recorded three studio Albums between 1985-1995 as part of the American Country Music ‘supergroup’ ‘The Highwaymen,’ who were made up of Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, (1932-2003) (see also best songs 857-428 and 199) Waylon Jennings, (1937-2002) and Kris Kristofferson (1936-2024) (see also best songs 341.) The genre of ‘Country’ music the quartet produced became known as ‘Outlaw Country.’ The group recorded ‘Country Music’ with more of a ‘Rock’ orientated slant, as opposed to the slick production style, of the ‘Nashville Sound.’

‘Funny How Time Slips Away’ was written by Willie Nelson in 1961, with the first recorded version being by the American Country Music singer Billy Walker in 1961, (1929-2006) whose recording peaked at Number 23 on the Billboard ‘Hot Country Songs’ chart. The most commercially successful version of the song was by Jimmy Elledge (1943-2012) who took his recording to Number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961, and it has since gone on to sell in excess of one million copies. In 1964 the American Soul singer Joe Hinton (1929-1968) took his version to Number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, and in 2017 Willie Nelson recorded a duet of the song with Glen Campbell, (1936-2017) which appeared on Campbell’s final Album ‘Adios.’

‘Funny How Time Slips Away. is a song of bitterness. The narrator bumps in to his ex girlfriend, and he tells her that he is doing fine. He says that he has heard that she has told her new love that she will be with him until the end of time, the same thing she once said to him. He hints to her that one day she may also get dumped the way he was by her. With the passing of time the narrator has got over his broken heart, hence the songs title,’Funny How Time Slips Away.’

‘I gotta’ go now, guess I’ll see you hanging around. Don’t know though, oh no, never know when I’ll be back in town. But I remember what I told you, that in time your gonna pay.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

338-Little Anthony & The Imperials-Better Use Your Head.

1966-It didn’t chart in the UK until it was re-released in 1976, when reaching Number 42.

Best Bit-At 0.38. How about this for an accolade. The legendary songwriter, and producer Kenny Gamble (see also best songs 1001-896-725-648-604-571 and 322) has stated that Little Anthony & The Imperials and their music, were a major influence in the development of ‘Philadelphia Soul,’ and on artists such as the Stylistics, (see also best songs 765) the Delfonics, and the Chi-Lites.

When it comes to longevity Little Anthony & The Imperials must be closing in on number one. The Imperials were officially formed in 1958 in Brooklyn, New York City, United States by Clarence Collins, Tracey Lord, Nathanial Rodgers, Ernest Wright, and Anthony Gourdine. They had previously recorded for ‘Apollo’ records as a ‘Doo-Wop’ group in 1957, with a slightly different line up. known as ‘The Chesters.’ As The Imperials, success was instant, as their first single ‘Tears on My Pillow’ reached Number 4 on Billboard in America, selling over one million copies. It was the legendary DJ Alan Freed (1921-1965) who first started calling them ‘Little Anthony & The Imperials’ when playing ‘Tears on My Pillow,’ having been impressed with the falsetto vocals of lead singer Anthony Gourdine. In 1990 a cover version of ‘Tears on My Pillow’ by Kylie Minogue (see also best songs 928) in a similar style became a UK Number 1 single. Like many acts of longevity, band members have come and gone over the years, and their have been a total of 12 official group members in that time. In the current line up are the original forming members Anthony ‘Little Anthony’ Gourdine, and Ernest West, who both performed on ‘Better Use Your Head.’ After the success of ‘Tears on My Pillow’ the group struggled for further immediate success, and members came and went, but by 1963 the four vocalists which are now recognised as the ‘classic line up’ were Gourdine, Wright, Collins, and Samuel Strain, who had become a group member in 1961.

The discography of Little Anthony & The Imperials includes 10 studio Albums released between 1959-1975, and 49 singles released between 1958-1979, there are also two official compilation Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, seven of their singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Tears on My Pillow’ peaking the highest at Number 4 in 1958, with ‘Better Use Your Head’ stalling at Number 54. They also had great success on the ‘Billboard Hot R&B’ singles chart, with 11 top 40 entries. In the UK, Little Anthony & The Imperials have had one top 40 chart entry, with ‘Who’s Gonna Love Me,’ making Number 17 in 1978.

‘Better Use Your Head’ was the first of three singles released from ‘Payin’ Our Dues,’ which was the fifth studio Album by Little Anthony & The Imperials, from 1966, the song was co-written by Teddy Randazzo, (1935-2003) and his then wife Victoria Pike, with the production credited to Teddy Randazzo, who was born Alessandro Carmelo Randazzo, on May 13th, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York, United States, he died on November 21st, 2003, at the age of 68. Teddy Randazzo was a singer, songwriter, arranger, and a music producer. Prior to finding success as a songwriter, he pursued a career as a solo singer, which saw three of his singles reach the Billboard Hot 100, with ‘The Way of a Clown’ peaking the highest at Number 44 in 1960. It is as a songwriter that he is best remembered, composing several hit singles, many with his songwriting partner Bobby Weinstein (1939-2022.) His best known compositions include, ‘Pretty Blue Eyes,’ which was a top 10 hit for Steve Lawrence on Billboard in America, and for Craig Douglas in the UK in 1959, ‘Hurt So Bad,’ which has been a top 20 Billboard hit for the Zombies, (1965) the Lettermen, (1969) and Linda Ronstadt, (1980) ‘Yesterday Has Gone,’ a UK Number 4 hit for Cupid’s Inspiration in 1968, and ‘It’s Gonna Take a Miracle’ which when covered by Deniece Williams in 1982 reached Number 10 on Billboard. Teddy Randazzo also wrote other hit songs for Little Anthony & The Imperials, including ‘Goin’ Out of My Head’ (1964-Billboard Number 6.)

‘Little Anthony’ was born Jerome Anthony Gourdine, on January 8th, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York, United States, it was while in high school that he and his friends created a ‘Doo-Wop’ group called, ‘The Duponts.’ He was then the lead singer of ‘The Chesters,’ who became ‘The Imperials,’ who would later become ‘Little Anthony & The Imperials.’ Fellow long term group member Sammy Strain, who was born Samuel Strain Jr. on December 9th, 1939, in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, joined The Imperials in 1961, he was also a member of ‘The O’Jays’ between 1976-1992, before re-joining ‘Little Anthony & The Imperials.’ Strain holds the distinction of being twice inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,’ in 2005 with The O’Jays, (see also best songs 648) and in 2009 with Little Anthony & The Imperials.’ At one time Sammy Strain was married to the American ‘Soul & Funk’ singer Yvonne Fair (1942-1994) (see also best songs 480.)

In the early 1970’s ‘Better Use Your Head’ began to gain popularity within the Northern Soul scene, (see also best songs 969) with the track becoming a favourite in the clubs. This led to the song being reissued, and reaching Number 42 in the UK in 1976.

‘Better Use Your Head’ is the tale of a couple whose relationship is threatened when one of them is attracted to another, and may take up with that other person. The other partner is willing to give their relationship a second chance, but warns that if they stray there will be no going back.

‘You better stop and think what you’re sayin’, you’d better hold on make sure you’re sold on letting me go. Make sure you know what you wanna surpass.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

339-Carly Rae Jepsen-Call Me Maybe.

2012-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.00. Lust at first sight.

Carly Rae Jepsen was born on November 21st, 1985, in Mission, British Columbia, Canada. After performing several lead roles in her high school’s musical productions, she enrolled at the ‘Canadian College of Performing Arts,’ in Victoria, British Columbia. In 2007 she competed on the fifth season of ‘Canadian Idol,’ where she finished in third place. This attracted the attention of the music manager Jonathan Simkin, who signed her to a management deal with ‘604 Records’ later that year, where she released her debut single, which was a cover of the John Denver song ‘Sunshine on My Shoulders,’ in June 2008. Her debut studio Album ‘Tug of War,’ which was issued three months later is a ‘Pop Rock,’ and ‘Folk’ influenced Album, Carly Rae Jepsen would then move away from ‘Folk,’ and more towards ‘Dance Pop,’ with ‘Electronic’ influences.

The discography of Carly Rae Jepsen includes seven studio Albums re;eased between 2008-2023, and 33 singles released within the same time period, there are also four extended plays, (EP’s) and two remix Albums available. In Canada, on the ‘Canadian Hot 100,’ eight of her singles have made the top 40, with ‘Call Me Maybe,’ peaking the highest at Number 1, while in America on the ‘Billboard Hot 100,’ she has charted within the top 40 on three occasions, with ‘Call Me Maybe,’ peaking the highest at Number 1, and in the UK, Carly Rae Jepsen has had four top 40 chart entries, with ‘Call Me Maybe’ also charting the highest at Number 1.

‘Call Me Maybe’ was co-written by Carly Rae Jepsen, Tavish Crowe, and Josh Ramsey, who also produced the track. The song made it’s first appearance on Carly Rae Jepsen’s second EP release ‘Curiosity,’ from February 2012, as track two of the six track EP, the song would later appear on Jepson’s second studio Album ‘Kiss,’ released in September 2012. ‘Call Me Maybe’ was originally written as a ‘Folk’ song by Jepsen, and Tavish Crowe, who was a guitarist with Jepson’s touring band, and has since collaborated with her on many other occasions. The song received a complete overhaul when Josh Ramsey came on board, transforming it into the ‘Bubblegum Pop’ (see also best songs 1000) track we now all know. Josh Ramsey who was born Joshua Keeler Ramsay on June 11th, 1985, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is a singer, songwriter, producer, recording engineer, and multi-instrumentalist, who is best known for being the lead vocalist of the Canadian ‘Pop Rock’ band Marianas Trench whom he co-founded in 2001. With Marianas Trench he has released six studio Albums between 2006-2024, and 27 singles within the same time period. Josh Ramsey has also released one solo studio Album, ‘The Josh Ramsay Show,’ in 2022, seven singles as the lead artist, and two as a featured artist between 2009-2023.

In December 2011, prior to ‘Call Me Baby’ becoming a worldwide hit, the singers Justin Bieber, and Selena Gomez were in Canada, and heard the track on the radio. Both were impressed with what they heard and wrote about it on their Twitter accounts, instantly gaining Jepsen international attention, leading to her being signed by Scooter Brawn (Bieber’s manager) to his ‘Schoolboy Record’ label. Beiber’s tweet had said, ‘The song is possibly the catchiest song I’ve ever heard.’ ‘Call Me Maybe’ went on to top the charts in 18 countries, and to date has sold, and streamed over 18 million times worldwide, making it the best selling single by a female artist in the 21st Century to date. ‘Call Me Maybe’ has also been ranked by Billboard Magazine as Number 1 on the list of ‘The best chorus’ of the 21st Century.’

Carly Rae Jepsen has spoken about the songs phenomenal worldwide success, ‘When you write a bunch of songs, it’s like being asked to pick a favourite kid. You wonder what will be loved and which will just be my own little journal entry that I personally like. It was a surprise that it took off the way it did, but a welcome surprise. I think how it was written – it was a folk song to begin with – and how it is about trying to pick up a guy. It is simple and feels good, and I am a romantic at heart. I like the idea of being in the moment of meeting someone, feeling that buzz and that feeling of attraction that you act on. You have to be spontaneous and brave. I have never been brave enough to ask for his number, but that’s how I would do it if I was.’

‘Call Me Maybe’ is the story of a female being smitten at seeing a very attractive male take off his shirt, as she watches from across the street. She immediately want’s this guy, and try’s to catch his attention. The song’s memorable video show’s Carly Rae Jepsen rehearsing in a garage with her band, and when the guy walks over to them, it isn’t her who he is interested in, but the male guitarist, who he gives his phone number to. In 2018 Holden Nowell who played the part of Jepsen’s love interest in the video said that it was his idea to hand over his phone number on a piece of paper, as the original story line had called for him to kiss the male band member, and Nowell told the directors, ‘I’m going to be completely honest with you, I’m not going to kiss a guy, especially for $500.’

‘I threw a wish in the well, don’t ask me I’ll never tell. I looked at you as it fell, and now you’re in my way.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

340-Funkadelic-(Not Just) Knee Deep.

1979-It has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 6.59. The ‘Freak’ in the song is name of a dance, and like ‘Rock ‘N Roll’ it has that naughty double entendre interpretation.

The mastermind behind Funkadelic is George Clinton who was born George Edward Clinton, on July 22nd, 1941, in Kannapolis, North Carolina, United States. In 1955 he co-founded the ‘Doo-Wop’ group ‘The Parliaments’ who were originally based on ‘Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers (see also best songs 250.) Over the years ‘The Parliaments’ sound developed with the adding of Soul, R&B, Rock, and Funk, they remained active until 1969. Due to contractual problems with his record label, and in order to continue recording for other labels George Clinton was forced to change the bands name, it was the bassist Billy ‘Bass’ Nelson’ who coined the new name ‘Funkadelic’ (see also best songs 26.) Clinton didn’t just form the Rock and Funk orientated Funkadelic, he also simultaneously formed the Funk, R&B, and Psychedelic Soul outfit Parliament as well (see also best songs 612 and 143.) Clinton who would work with many differing musicians released Albums with both acts, with Parliament releasing nine studio Albums between 1970-1980, with a 10th Album ‘Medicaid Fraud Dogg’ issued in 2018, their first in 38 years, while his sister act Funkadelic released 13 studio Albums between 1970-1981, there has also been a 14th studio Album issued in 2014 called ‘First Ya Gotta Shake the Gate,’ the first new material under the Funkadelic banner in 33 years.

‘(Not Just) Knee Deep’ was the first of two singles released from Funkadelic’s 10th studio Album ‘Uncle Jam Wants You,’ from September 1979, and at 15 minutes and 21 seconds it is one of the longest songs on this countdown, although when it was released as a single it was edited down to 4 minutes and 25 seconds. ‘(Not Just) Knee Deep’ was produced by George Clinton, and although Clinton is down as the songs sole writer, one of the songs vocalists Philippé Wynne also received royalties according to the songs publishers. Philippé Wynne was born Phillip Walker, on April 3rd, 1941, in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, he died of a heart attack, on July 14th, 1984, at the age of 43. Prior to joining the Funkadelic collective he had been a member of the Spinners (known in the UK as the Detroit Spinners) (see also best songs 834) during their time at Atlantic Records, staying with that group until 1977. While associated with Parliament-Funkadelic, Philippé Wynne also appeared on the Bootsy Collins (see also best songs 850-612-340-143 and 88) Album ‘Sweat Band’ in 1980. After leaving The Detroit Spinners, Philippé Wynne released three solo studio Albums between 1977-1984, including one on George Clinton’s record label ‘Uncle Jam’ records, and one on ‘Sugarhill’ records.

Other musicians who played a big part in the making of (‘Not Just) Knee Deep,’ included Walter ‘Junie’ Morrison, who was the tracks arranger, and keyboard player, Booty Collins, who played the drums, and Michael Hampton, (see also best songs 26) who provided the tracks critically acclaimed guitar solo. Walter ‘Junie’ Morrison (see also best songs 506-143 and 26) was born on June 28th, 1954, in Dayton, Ohio, United States, he died on January 21st, 2017, at the age of 62, his death was reported the following month, but the details remained private. Of his part in creating ‘(Not Just) Knee Deep,’ Morrison has said, ‘I created ‘Knee Deep’ using a drum machine, Fender Rhodes, Steinway Grand, Mini-Moog for the lead and bass lines, and a Gibson L6S for my jazzy guitar solo. Bootsy (Collins) added his drums at a later date. In fact, Bootsy was also the drummer on ‘One Nation (Under A Groove.’) Michael Hampton added his monumental guitar solo to the Knee Deep mix some time later, as well. Although Bernie Worrell (1944-2016) (see also best songs 612-143 and 26) is a phenomenal musician, contrary to popular belief, he did not perform on (‘Not Just) Knee Deep.’ The track is of my conception. It originally began with the idea, groove and keyboard parts that I had created a few years prior to producing the track for Funkadelic, which later became (‘Not Just) Knee Deep,’ as you now know it today.’

(‘Not Just) Knee Deep’ is just one of the Funkadelic tracks that have been sampled on many occasions, particularly noteworthy is the 1989 UK Number 22 hit single by the ‘Hip-Hop’ trio De La Soul, (see also best songs 444 and 246) with their song ‘Me Myself and I.’ George Clinton has said, ‘I get back more than they do. They used ‘Knee Deep’ and they paid, but I get paid in a different way because I know how to appreciate it, the fact that they used the music. If they’re hot with the kids and the kids like them then they’ll like me. According to Clinton, he earned $100,000 for the sample. Many other artists including The Black Eyed Peas (see also best songs 899 and 234) and Tone Loc have sampled the track. Dr Dre’s (see also best songs 564-544-482-189-128 and 48) use of Funkadelic samples has also led to them becoming a big influence in the genre of ‘Gangsta Rap.’

(‘Not Just) Knee Deep’ is the tale of a guy meeting a girl at a club. He sees her dancing to the ‘Monkey,’ the ‘Chicken,’ and the ‘Jerk,’ but he is besotted by her after she ‘busts’ her moves to ‘The Freak.’

‘The girl is a freak, the girl never misses a beat. Not just knee deep, she was totally deep, when she did the freak with me.’