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.’