THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

196-Leonard Cohen-Suzanne.

1967-It has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 1.00. By 1967 Leonard Cohen had become disillusioned with his lack of financial success as an author and a poet, so he decided to go to America to pursue a career as a Folk music singer/songwriter, and for that we all say ‘Hallelujah.’

Leonard Norman Cohen was born on September 21st, 1934, in Westmount, Quebec, Canada, he died on November 7th, 2016, at his home in Los Angeles, at the age of 82, with leukemia being a contributing cause. Leonard Cohen was one of those rare musicians, in that he came to recording later in life. Where as many singer/songwriters have given their best by the age of 30, Cohen didn’t record his first Album until the age of 33, that first Album was ‘Songs of Leonard Cohen,’ which features ‘Suzanne’ as track 1, side 1, on the Album. Many of the tracks on the Album had been written as poems many years earlier including ‘Suzanne,’ and many music critics agree the Album is among his greatest works. In total Leonard Cohen issued 15 studio Albums between 1967 through to the posthumous release ‘Thanks for the Dance’ in 2019, there are also eight official live Albums, and four compilation Albums available. Cohen also released a total of 44 singles between 1967-2019, with his only charting single being ‘Hallelujah,’ reaching Number 17 in Canada, Number 36 in the UK, and Number 1 in France.

‘Suzanne’ started out life as a poem which Cohen had written in 1966 about a platonic relationship he had had with Suzanne Verdal. Leonard Cohen has said,’I wrote this in 1966, Suzanne had a room on a waterfront sheet in the port of Montreal, everything happened just as it was put down. She was the wife of a man I knew, her hospitality was immaculate.’ Suzanne Verdal has also offered her recollections,’ Leonard was a friend of my husband, Armand. We were all hanging at the same places in Montreal. By 1965 I had separated from Armand and was living with our little girl. Leonard would come over and I would serve him jasmine tea with mandarin oranges, and light a candle. We were never lovers of the flesh but on a very deep level we were. I had the opportunity more than once, but I respected his work and what he stood for so much, I didn’t want to spoil it. Also, Leonard is an incredibly sexual man! He’s very attractive to women, and I didn’t want to be just one of the crowd.’

In ‘Suzanne’ Leonard Cohen reminisces of the times he and Suzanne Verdal spent together by the harbour in Montreal, and the walks that they would take around Old Montreal past the church of Note-Dame-Bob-Secours, where sailors were blessed before heading out to sea. The songs second verse speaks of Jesus, and how he would watch over the sailors at sea. In my opinion, here Cohen is making a comparison between his love for Suzanne, and the love Jesus has for all the people.

‘And you want to travel with her, and you want to travel blind, and you know that she will trust you, for you’ve touched her perfect body with your mind.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

197-Glen Campbell-Rhinestone Cowboy

1975-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 0.53. Some artists who have made the wearing of Rhinestones on their stage attire famous include Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond and Liberace, although of course Neil Diamond felt much more comfortable in blue jeans.

Glen Travis Campbell (see also best songs 846) was born on April 22nd, 1936, in Billstown, Arkansas, United States. In 2010 Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and became a patient at a long term care and treatment facility in 2014, he died on August 8th, 2017, at the age of 81.

Glen Campbell began his professional musical career in 1960 as a session musician in Los Angeles, playing with a group of studio musicians who would later become collectively known as ‘The Wrecking Crew,’ (see also best songs 978-846-811-744-672-660-527-486-262- 202-197-192-180-127 and 71)) Campbell played on hundreds of recordings, including the Beach Boys 1966 classic Album ‘Pet Sounds,’ where he played the guitar, and Banjo. Campbell also had his own television show on ‘CBS,’The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour,’ between 1969-1972. He made 11 appearances in films between 1965-1997, most notably playing the character ‘Le Boeuf’ in the 1969 movie ‘True Grit’ starring John Wayne. Glen Campbell released 60 studio Albums between 1962-2018, and 115 singles between 1958-2017, with 21 of those songs reaching the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 singles chart, with two of those tracks making the Number 1 spot. In the UK eight of his singles have made the top 40, with three of those songs reaching Number 4, in total Glen Campbell has sold in excess of 45 million records. The legendary songwriter Jimmy Webb (see also best songs 846-119 and 1) on Campbell’s death said about him,’Any guitar player in the world, from George Benson to Eric Clapton,’ added that Paul McCartney considered him among the best guitar players. “People will realise what an extraordinary genius Glen really was,’

Glen Campbell first heard ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ playing on the radio while he was touring in Australia. He identified with the songs subject matter, decided to learn it, and on his return to the United States he approached his record label ‘Capital’ and told them of ‘A great new song.’ The song he had heard on the radio was written and performed by the singer/songwriter Larry Weiss whose version had made very little commercial impact. The song is about a Country singer struggling to make it big, and it reflected Weiss striving to make it in a singing career. Campbell could also relate to the songs lyrics as his hits had dried up, with him not having a top 10 single since 1970.

Although Larry Weiss failed in his bid to be a famous singer he nevertheless had great success as a songwriter, with other notable successes being the co-writing with Scott English (1937-2018) of ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining,’ becoming a hit when recorded by Jeff Beck, and ‘Bend Me, Shape Me,’ a hit for both ‘The American Breed,’ and ‘Amen Corner.’

I’ve been walkin’ these streets so long, singin’ the same old song, I know every crack in these dirty sidewalks of Broadway. Where hustle’s the name of the game, and nice guys get washed away like the snow and the rain.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

198-Eagles-Hotel California.

1977-Number 8 single.

Best Bit-At 4.20. A Five Star Hotel.

The Eagles (see also best songs 505) were formed in 1971 in Los Angeles, California, United States, and remained active until 1980. After the break up the former members all pursued solo careers, and then in 1994 Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Timothy B Schmit, Don Felder, and Glenn Frey (1948-2016) reformed, with Frey being quoted as saying,’We never broke up, we just took a 14-year vacation.’ At the time writing the Eagles continue to tour as Henley, Walsh, Schmit, and Vince Gill, who has been an official band member since 2017. The Eagles have released seven studio Albums between 1972-2007, and 30 singles, of which 17 have reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 chart in America, including five which have made the Number 1 spot. In the UK seven of their singles have made the top 40, with this song charting the highest when making Number 8 in 1977. The Eagles can boast of having the best selling ‘Greatest Hits 1971-1975’ Album in American history, with sales at around 38 million copies, and 40 million worldwide. They also have the second best ever selling studio Album in America with ‘Hotel California,’ having sold around 26 million copies in the States, and 32 million copies in total worldwide.

‘Hotel California’ was co-written by Don Felder, Don Henley, and Glenn Frey, and was produced by Bill Szymczyk who produced all of the bands studio Albums with the exception of ‘Eagles,’ (1972) and ‘Desperado’ (1973.) ‘Hotel California’ has become the Eagles signature song, with the guitar solo (from 4.20, until fade) being voted the greatest of all time by the British music magazine ‘Guitarist’ in 1998. The songs lyrics which were mainly written by Don Henley, and Glenn Frey have been studied endlessly by music critics and fans, and like many of the best lyrics the songs subject is open to interpretation, which is exactly what this countdown of ‘best songs ever’ is made for. In my opinion the most likely scenario is that the song is about materialism and excess. California is used as the setting but it could relate to anywhere in America. There are those who think the song is about drug use, and others have pondered if it is about the breakup of a romantic relationship.

Don Felder has offered an insight in to how the song came about, he has said,’Don Henley, and Glenn wrote most of the words. All of us kind of drove into L.A. at night. Nobody was from California, and if you drive into L.A. at night … you can just see this glow on the horizon of lights, and the images that start running through your head of Hollywood and all the dreams that you have, and so it was kind of about that … what we started writing the song about.’ Don Henley has also offered an explanation,’We were all middle-class kids from the Midwest. Hotel California was our interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles,’ he also said,’It’s a song about a journey from innocence to experience.’

‘On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair, warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air. Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light, my head grew heavy and my sight grew dim, I had to stop for the night.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

199-Johnny Cash-Don’t Take Your Guns to Town.

1958-It has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 0.31. You’ve heard of a boy named Sue, well this ones called Bill.

Johnny Cash (see also best songs 857 and 428) was born J. R. Cash, on February 26th, 1932, in Kingsland, Arkansas, United States, he died on September 12th, 2003, of complications from diabetes, at the age of 71. With record sales in excess of 90 million, Johnny Cash is one of the best selling artists of all time.

Prior to finding great success as a singer/songwriter Johnny Cash had enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1950, and after basic training he was assigned to service in Landsberg, West Germany where he worked as a Morse code operator, intercepting Soviet Army transmissions. During this time Cash created his first band ‘The Landsberg Barbarians.’ After four years service he was honourably discharged as a staff sergeant, and returned to Texas.

In 1954 Cash plucked up the courage to visit the ‘Sun Records’ studio, hoping to get a recording contract with the labels owner Sam Phillips. (1923-2003) He auditioned for Phillips by singing mostly gospel songs, only to learn from the producer that he no longer recorded gospel music. Phillips was rumoured to have told Cash to “Go home and sin, then come back with a song I can sell”, although in 2002 Cash denied that Phillips ever made any such comment. Johnny Cash got his contract and recorded just the one Album for ‘Sun Records,’ his 1957 debut Album ‘Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar. Cash then signed with ‘Columbia Records,’ but he had left several recordings in the Sun vaults, which Sam Phillips would release through until 1964.

‘Don’t Take Your Guns to Town’ was written by Johnny Cash, and produced by Don Law, (1902-1982) the song was the first single released from his second studio Album ‘The Fabulous Johnny Cash,’ from November 1958, his first Album for Columbia, he would stay with Columbia Records for the next 28 years. ‘Don’t Take Your Guns to Town’ tells the story of a young cowboy who ignores the pleas of his mother to leave his guns at home, and not to get in to a gun fight, he goes in to town, starts drinking, gets in to an altercation with a much older man, which leads to both men drawing their weapons, and young Bill being killed, with the words of his mother ringing in his ears, while he lies there dying.

Over the years Johnny Cash would often re-record his songs many times. In 1974 he recorded a more uptempo version for his 48th studio Album ‘The Junkie and the Juicehead Minus Me,’ which included very slightly different lyrics. In 1998 Cash performed the song as a duet with Willie Nelson for the Album ‘VH1 Storytellers: Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson,’ and in the early 1990’s Cash made a guest appearance on the children’s television programme ‘Sesame Street,’ where he performed the song with new child-friendly lyrics titled ‘Don’t Take Your Ones to Town.’

‘A young cowboy named Billy Joe grew restless on the farm. A boy filled with wanderlust who really meant no harm. He changed his clothes and shined his boots, and combed his dark hair down. And his mother cried as he walked out, ‘Don’t take your guns to town son, leave your guns at home, Bill, don’t take your guns to town.”

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

200-Simon & Garfunkel-The Boxer.

1968-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 2.53. On June 3rd, 2016, at a concert in Berkeley, California, Paul Simon stopped singing partway through ‘The Boxer’ to announce in one sentence the breaking news.’I’m sorry to tell you this in this way, but Muhammad Ali passed away.’ Paul Simon then finished the song with the last verse.
‘The Boxer’ was the first of four singles from Simon & Garfunkel’s fifth and final studio Album ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ from 1970. ‘The Boxer’ was written by Paul Simon, and he also produced the track along with Art Garfunkel, and Roy Halee, who had worked with the duo on previous occasions.

The lyrics to ‘The Boxer’ are mainly autobiographical and were written during a time when Simon & Garfunkel (see also best songs 529-96 and 71) felt that their work was being unfairly criticised. The lyrics describe poverty and loneliness in New York City, while the final verse is an observation of a boxer who despite the effects of ‘Every glove that laid him down, or cut him till he cried out, ‘I am leaving.” The lyrics continue,’The fighter still remains.’ Paul Simon has explained the songs meaning,’I think the song was about me, everybody’s beating me up, and I’m telling you now I’m going to go away if you don’t stop, by that time we had encountered our first criticism. For the first few years, it was just pure praise, it took two or three years for people to realise that we weren’t strange creatures that emerged from England, but just two guys from Queens who used to sing Rock N’ roll., and maybe we weren’t real folkies at all! Maybe we weren’t even hippies’ Paul Simon has also said about his writing of the song,’I think I was reading the Bible around that time, that’s where I think phrases such as ‘workman’s wages,’ and ‘seeking out the poorer quarters’ came from, that was biblical.’ The songs chorus consists of repetitions of ‘lie-la-lie’, Simon has stated that this was originally intended only as a placeholder, but became part of the finished song.’I didn’t have any words! Then people said it was ‘lie,’ but I didn’t really mean that it was a lie. But, it’s not a failure of songwriting, because people like that, and they put enough meaning into it, and the rest of the song has enough power and emotion, I guess, to make it go, so it’s all right, but for me, every time I sing that part…, I’m a little embarrassed.’

‘The Boxer’ was originally written with an extra verse that doesn’t appear on the ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ Al;bum version. The extra verse can be found on the duo’s ‘Live 1969’ Album, and also on Paul Simon’s 1974 solo live Album ‘Live Rhymin.’ Here are the lyrics to that extra verse.

‘Now the years are rolling by me, they are rockin’ evenly. I am older than I once was, and younger than I’ll be. That’s not unusual, no, it isn’t strange. After changes upon changes, we are more or less the same, after changes we are more or less the same.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

201-Rambler Trio featuring Arthur Smith-Guitar Boogie.

1945-Has never charted. There was no UK chart until 1952.
Best Bit-At 1.22. ‘I guess you guys aren’t ready for that, but you kids are gonna love it.’

There are many songs (and some feature in this countdown) that hold claims to being the very first ever ‘Rock N’ Roll’ song, and this one has very strong claims.

Arthur Smith was born on April 1st, 1921, in Clinton, South Carolina, United States, he died on April 3rd, 2014, at the age of 93. Prior to serving in the U.S. Navy in World War 2, Smith along with his brothers Ralph and Sonny were becoming a popular Country Music group making regular live appearances on ‘WBT,’ a commercial radio station serving parts of North and South Carolina. Arthur Smith would go on to host his own Country Music syndicated television show, ‘The Arthur Miller Show,’which ran for 32 years from it’s inception in 1951.In 1957 Smith opened his own recording studio, which was used by many top artists including Pat Boone and Earl Scruggs. The most famous song recorded at his studio was ‘Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag’in 1965, by James Brown, which went on to reach Number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. As a composer Smith wrote around 500 songs, with ‘Feudin’ Banjos’ being the best known, after being used in the 1972 film ‘Deliverance,’ and re-titled ‘Dueling Banjos.’ Smith was not credited in the film for his composition so he filed a lawsuit against Warner Brothers, winning a substantial settlement, it included him being awarded songwriting credit, and back royalties. This was considered a landmark copyright infringement suit.

In 1945 Arthur Smith created a ‘new sound’ by playing ‘boogie-woogie’ on a guitar instead of a piano, alternating between boogie rhythmic patterns and soloing. ‘Boogie Woogie’ is a style of music that developed in African-American communities in the 1870’s, but became very popular in the 1920’s. Boogie Woogie was always played on the piano but Smith’s use of a guitar as lead instrument led to a new genre of music that would become known as ‘Hillbilly Boogie.’

‘Guitar Boogie’ was credited by the record company to the ‘Rambler Trio featuring Arthur Smith. The Rambler trio also consisted of Don Reno, (1926-1984) on rhythm guitar, and Roy Lear who played bass.’Guitar Boogie’ was the first guitar instrumental to climb the Country Music chart, and then cross over on to the popular music chart, where it reached Number 8. In the 1950’s as ‘Rock N’ Roll’ was taking a tighter grip many versions by other artists were recorded. The most successful cover in America was by ‘Frank Virtue and the Virtues,’ who recorded the song with the title of ‘Guitar Boogie Shuffle,’ taking the song to Number 5 on Billboard in 1959. Also in 1959 in the UK the song had it’s greatest success when covered by Bert Weedon, (1920-2012) who took his version, also titled ‘Guitar Boogie Shuffle’ to Number 10, and becoming the first British guitarist to have a top 10 single.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

202-The 5th Dimension-Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In.

1969-Number 11 single.

Best Bit-At 0.39. The editor of the ‘New Musical Express (NME) from 1978-1985, and astrologer Neil Spencer, has said that this songs lyrics are ‘astrological gibberish,’ noting that Jupiter forms an astrological aspect with Mars several times a year, and the moon is in the 7th House for two hours every day. I say the lyrics should be treated as poetic licence, and perhaps not be taken two seriously.

‘Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In’ is a medley of two songs originally featured in the 1967 groundbreaking Rock Musical ‘Hair,’ which was written by Gerome Ragni, (1935-1991) and James Rado, with the music written by Galt MacDermot (1928-2018.) ‘Hair explores the many themes of the hippie movement of the 1960’s, and the decisions young people had to make at that time, such as with the war in Vietnam.

The veteran American record producer, and engineer Dayton Burr ‘Bones’ Howe (see also best songs 811 and 660) had been to see the show ‘Hair,’ and had come away wanting to record ‘Aquarius’ with his current project, the five piece vocal group the ‘5th Dimension.’ The only problem was that ‘Aquarius’ on it’s own was two short to be released as a single, so he got the idea to create a medley with another musical moment from the show, a few bars from the song “The Flesh Failures,” that consist of the repeated words “let the sunshine in.” Howe brought in the American composer Bill Holman to write new music, and he also got the session musicians ‘The Wrecking Crew’ (see also best songs 978-846-811-744-672-660-527-486-262-197-192-180-127 and 71) to play on the track. The instrumental was recorded separately in Hollywood, and the vocals were later added by the 5th Dimension in Las Vegas in between time while they were touring. ‘Aquarius/Let the Sunshine’ went on to spend six weeks at Number 1 on Billboard in 1969, ending the year as the second best selling song that year in America behind ‘Sugar Sugar’ from ‘The Archies.’

The 5th Dimension were formed in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1965, they remain active with only founding member Florence LaRue being the groups one constant. The bands classic line up consisted of Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis Jr., (see also best songs 572) Florence LaRue, LaMonte McLemore, and Ronald Townson (1933-2001.) After the departures of McCoo and Davis Jr. in 1975, there have been 25 further members come and go. The 5th Dimension have issued 13 studio Albums between 1967-1995, and 44 singles, of which 20 have reached the Billboard top 40, with two making the Number 1 spot. In the UK they have reached the top 40 twice, with ‘Wedding Bell Blues,’ which was their other American Number 1 single, reaching Number 16, also in 1969.

‘When the moon is in the Seventh House, and Jupiter aligns with Mars, then peace will guide the planets, and love will steer the stars. This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

203-Cat Stevens-Morning Has Broken.

1972-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 1.39. Here is a piece of silly trivia, Rick Wakeman played the piano on David Bowie’s ‘Life On Mars,’ and he also played the piano on this song about life on earth.

In 1931 the editor of ‘Songs of Praise Discussed,’ who was the English Priest Percival Dearmer, (1867-1936) wanted a new hymn which gave thanks for each day. He approached the English poet and children’s author Eleanor Farjeon, (1881-1965) who wrote the lyrics to ‘Morning Has Broken,’ inspired by the village of Alfriston, in East Sussex, England. The lyrics were set to the traditional Scottish Gaelic tune ‘Bunessan,’ which was first associated with the Christmas Carol ‘Child in the Manger,’ The lyrics to ‘Morning Has Broken’ first appeared in the second edition of the book ‘Songs of Praise,’ in 1931.

While searching for new material for his fifth studio Album ‘Teaser and the Firecat,’ Cat Stevens (see also best songs 384) came across ‘Songs of Praise’ in a bookshop, Stevens has said,’I accidentally fell upon the song when I was going through a slightly dry period, and I needed another song or two for ‘Teaser And The Firecat.’ I came across this hymn book, found this one song, and thought, this is good. I put the chords to it and then it started becoming associated with me.’
When Cat Stevens recorded ‘Morning Has Broken’ it only lasted 45 seconds, and his producer Paul Samwell-Smith (see also best songs 361) told Stevens that it was far too short to be a track on his Album. In order to fill the song out Stevens brought in Rick Wakeman, who he had recently heard recording a demo for a song that would later be called ‘Catherine Howard.’ At first Wakeman wasn’t keen, but he eventually adapted the composition to what we hear now, while ‘Catherine Howard’ can be found on Rick Wakeman’s second studio Album ‘The Six Wives of Henry V111’ from 1972.

Richard Christopher Wakeman was born on May 18th, 1949, in Perivale, London, England, he has been a member of the rock bands ‘The Strawbs,’ and then the rock band ‘Yes,’ with whom he has appeared on eight studio Albums. Wakeman has also as a solo artist, and with various others issued over 90 Albums, and sold over 50 million records. He has also contributed to many Albums as a session musician, notably playing the mellotron, and electric harpsichord on David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity,’ in 1969, and the piano on Bowie’s ‘Hunky Dory’ Album, (see also best songs 5) Wakeman also played the piano on the T. Rex song ‘Bang a Gong (Get It On’) (see also best songs 386.)

‘Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning. Born of the one light Eden saw play, praise with elation, praise ev’ry morning, God’s recreation of the new day.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

204-Lynyrd Skynyrd-Sweet Home Alabama.

1976-Number 21 single.

Best Bit-At 0.02.’And we were trying different things and we were smoking funny things, making love out by the lake to our favourite song.’

Lynyrd Skynyrd (see also best songs 12) were formed in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, in 1964. Tragedy struck on October 20th, 1977, when their chartered airplane crashed after running out of fuel, the pilot attempted an emergency landing before crashing in a heavily forested area five miles northeast of Gillsgurg, Mississippi. Band members Ronnie Van Zant, (1948-1977) and Steve Gaines, (1949-1977) along with backup singer Cassie Gaines, (1948-1977) who was Steve’s older sister, and assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, (1949-1977) pilot Walter McCreary, (1943-1977) and co-pilot William Gray (1945-1977) were killed on impact. Other band members Allen Collins, (1952-1990) Gary Rossington, Leon Wilkeson, (1952-2001) Billy Powell, (1952-2009) Artimus Pyle, and Leslie Hawkins, plus tour manager Ron Eckerman, (1951-2014) and several road crew members suffered serious injuries. In total their have been 27 different members of Lynyrd Skynyrd who remain active, with Gary Rossington being the bands only constant.

‘Sweet Home Alabama’ was the second and final single released from Lynyrd Skynyrd’s second studio Album ‘Second Helping’ from January 1974, the song was co-written by Ed King, Gary Rossington, and Ronnie Van Zant. ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ was written as an answer song to ‘Southern Man,’ and ‘Alabama,’ which were two songs that had been written and recorded by Neil Young (see also best songs 602 and 417.) ‘Southern Man’ is a scathing attack on the American South, taking it to task over it’s bloody history, and slavery, Ronnie Van Zant said,’We thought Neil was shooting all the ducks in order to kill one or two,’ In Neil Young’s 2012 autobiography he said,’My own song ‘Alabama’ richly deserved the shot Lynyrd Skynyrd gave me with their great record. I don’t like my words when I listen to it. They are accusatory and condescending, not fully thought out, and too easy to misconstrue.’ The other subjects raised in ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ are ‘Watergate,’ and the then Governor of Alabama, George Wallace, (1919-1998) who was a staunch supporter of racial segregation. Neil Young is name checked in the song, as are the ‘Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section,’ who are nicknamed ‘The Swampers,’ and produced, or engineered, or played on more than 500 studio recordings for artists such as Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, and The Rolling Stones.

‘Well I heard Mister Young sing about her, well I heard ole Neil put her down. Well, I hope Neil Young will remember, a Southern man don’t need him around anyhow.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

205-Stevie Wonder-Superstition.

1973-Number 11 single.

Best Bit-At 0-11. Over the years I have heard many bands at Wedding functions totally murder this song, but thankfully it hasn’t affected the way I still think about it.

‘Superstition’ was the first of two singles released from Stevie Wonder’s 15th studio Album ‘Talking Book’ from 1972, Wonder chose the Albums title because he considered each song to be akin to a chapter in a book, that is part of a whole story. The front cover of the Albums sleeve shows a rare picture of Stevie without his trademark sunglasses on. ‘Superstition’ gave Stevie Wonder his second Billboard Hot 100 Number 1 single in America, his first since ‘Fingertips Pt 2’ in 1963. The Albums follow up single ‘You Are the Sunshine of My Life,’ would also go on to hit the Number 1 spot.

Stevie Wonder (see also best songs 920-843-834-682-570-503-366-152 and 65) is not only capable of writing and producing his own songs, he can also play any musical instrument he requires. On his Albums from the 1970’s onwards Motown records gave him the freedom to write and release music at his own discretion, on ‘Superstition’ Wonder played all the instruments, with the exception of the saxophone, played by Trevor Laurence, and the trumpet played by Steve Madaio. If an artist who Stevie Wonder admired was available he would invite them to the recording studio, and in 1972 the English guitarist Jeff Beck (see also best songs 361) who was an admirer of Wonder met with him at the start of the recording sessions for ‘Talking Book.’ It was Jeff Beck who came up with the iconic opening drumbeat for ‘Superstition,’ which Wonder then improvised on. Jeff Beck planned to release ‘Superstition’ himself as a single with his new band ‘Beck, Bogert & Appice,’ but Motown supremo Berry Gordy heard the song, and he convinced Stevie to rush release his version immediately, as he felt it had Number 1 potential.

In ‘Superstition’ Stevie Wonder tells us not to waste our time and energy worrying about things that there is no proof exist. For example some people refuse to walk under ladders, as they think that if they do then something bad will happen to them. Some people think that breaking glass will cause seven years of bad luck, and some think the number 13 is also unlucky. Whether or not Stevie Wonder also includes religion in these statements is unclear.

‘Very superstitious, writings on the wall, very superstitious, ladders bout’ to fall. Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin’ glass, seven years of bad luck, the good things in your past. When you believe in things that you don’t understand, then you suffer superstition ain’t the way.’