THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

297-Swing Out Sister-Where in the World.

1989-Number 47 single.

Best Bit-At 4.14. They took their name from the title of an obscure 1945 musical movie called ‘Swing Out Sister,’ They claim they chose the name because it was the only one they could all agree on, in that they all hated it.

Swing Out Sister are a ‘Pop,’ ‘Jazz,’ and ‘Sophisti-Pop’ group who were formed in 1985, in Manchester, England, by Andy Connell, (keyboards) and Martin Jackson, (drums) prior to joining forces Andy Connell had performed in other bands, with the highest profile being the Manchester based Post Punk band ‘A Certain Ratio.’ Martin Jackson had also been in other bands, most notably ‘Magazine,’ who were another Post Punk band, also from the Manchester area. The pair recorded demo’s for ‘Phonogram Records,’ who insisted that they added vocals to their Electronic based music, and they turned to the Soul singer Diane Charlemagne (1964-2015.) Due to contractual problems Charlemagne was unable to officially work with the pair, so they approached Corinne Drewery whom they had first met in 1984, to become the groups vocalist, Drewery had previously been a fashion designer. Martin Jackson stayed with Swing Out Sister for the release of their debut Album ‘It’s Better to Travel,’ although he is credited with co-writing two of the tracks on the bands second Album ‘Kaleidoscope World’. Since Jackson’s departure Swing Out Sister have been a duo, but have brought in several high profile musicians to perform with them in the studio, and when performing live.

The discography of Swing Out Sister includes 10 studio Albums released between 1987-2017, and 23 singles released between 1985-2007, there are also 13 official compilation Albums and two live Albums available. In the UK, all of the first three of their studio Albums have reached the top 40, with their debut ‘It’s Better to Travel’ making the Number 1 position, also in the UK, six of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘Breakout,’ from 1986, peaking the highest at Number 4. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, two of their singles have reached the top 40, ‘Breakout,’ (1986-Number 6) and ‘Twilight World,’ (1987-Number 31) while ‘Where in the World’ failed to chart within the top 100. Swing Out Sister have also released other various live, compilation, or remix albums, some of which are only available in certain regions of the world.

‘Where in the World’ was the second of four singles released from Swing Out Sister’s second studio Album ‘Kaleidoscope World,’ from May 1989, the song was co-written by Corinne Drewery, and Andrew Connell, with the production being by Paul Staveley O’Duffy. Their debut studio Album ‘It’s Better to Travel’ had been recorded with mainly Electronic instruments, but ‘Kaleidoscope World’ was recorded with the addition of an Orchestra, making for a retro sounding sophisticated ‘Easy Listening’ sound. This sound would be continued throughout the duo’s career. Their music is heavily influenced by the ‘Easy Listening’ genre of the 1960’s, (see also best songs 419) you could say they were the Burt Bacharach and Hal David of the 1980’s (see also best songs 902-832-815-740-644 and 224.) Notable musicians who performed on ‘Where in the World’ include, Vini Reilly, who played the Spanish guitar on the surprise ending to the song. Reilly also features in this ‘1000 Best Songs’ list, having played guitar and keyboards on the Morrissey song ‘Suedehead’ (see also best songs 940.) The drummer on this song is Chris Whitten, who was also the drummer on ‘The Whole of the Moon’ by the Waterboys (see also best songs 755.)

‘Where in the World’ was produced by Paul Staveley O’Duffy who was born on December 31st, 1963, in London, England. At the age of 17 he began his music career as an engineer in London, before moving to New York in 1984, where he establishing himself as a club re-mixer, working on remixes for artists such as KC and the Sunshine Band, (see also best songs 893) and Freeez (see also best songs 825.) On returning to London in the late 1980’s, O’Duffy earned a ‘BMI’ nomination for ‘Producer of the Year’ in 1987, for his work on the multi-platinum debut Album ‘It’s Better to Travel,’ by Swing Out Sister, he would continue to collaborate with Swing Out Sister on a further four of their studio Albums as a producer and songwriter. Paul Staveley O’Duffy is also a well known composer for television, having composed the themes and incidental music for ‘The Team – A Season with Mclaren,’ (BBC2 series) The Great Outdoors,’ (Channel 4 series) ‘The Big Elsewhere,’ (with Swing Out Sister, NHK Japan series) and ‘London Bridge’ (Carlton TV drama series.)

Swing Out Sister are one of the prominent artists in the musical genre of ‘Sophisti-pop,’ which is a Pop music sub-genre that developed during the mid-1980’s out of the British ‘New Wave’ era. It originated with acts who blended elements of ‘Jazz,’ ‘Soul,’ and ‘Pop’ with lavish production. The term ‘Sophisti-pop’ was coined only after the genre’s peak in the mid-late 1980’s. Sophisti-pop is characterised by its extensive use of electronic keyboards, synthesizers, and polished arrangements, with artists often adopting a sharp, well-dressed and well-groomed visual presentation. The American online music and film magazine ‘Stylus Magazine’ suggested that acts had been influenced by the work of Roxy Music, (see also best songs 316 and 57) such as their 1982 Album ‘Avalon,’ often cited as the first ‘Sophisti-pop’ Album, and Bryan Ferry’s (see also best songs 721) 1985 Album ‘Boys and Girls.’

‘Where in the World’ was co-written by Andy Connell, (music) and Corinne Drewery, (lyrics) and tells the tale of a woman who for whatever reason has parted from her lover. She is making herself physically and mentally ill because she is missing this person so much.

‘Keep telling me my condition hasn’t changed, can’t appreciate there’s no one but myself to blame.’