THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

216-Leslie Hutchinson-These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You.)

1936-It has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 0.41. The way in which the lyrics are written would become known as a ‘List Song.’ A list song is based wholly or in part on a list. Unlike songs with a narrative and a cast of characters, list songs develop by working through a series of information, sometimes humorous or comical (see also best songs 930-810-800-792-767-710-655-587 and 332.)

‘These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You’) was composed in 1934 by Jack Strachey, (1894-1972) (music) and Eric Maschwitz, (1901-1969) (lyrics) who used the pseudonym Hot Marvell. The American songwriter Harry Link (1896-1956) would later add an instrumental part to the song which many performers have used, but his name doesn’t appear on the songs writing credits. In 1939 Eric Maschwitz arguably wrote even more famous lyrics for ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square,’ another song which has become a ‘standard,’ with the music written by Manning Sherwin (1902-1974.)

‘These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You’) was written in haste by Maschwitz for a BBC weekly radio revue programme that needed a piece of music. On quickly completing the lyrics Maschwitz read them out over the phone to Strachey who immediately set about composing the music. The song garnered little interest, despite also being featured in ‘Spread It About,’ a London revue of 1936.

It was the West Indian singer Leslie Hutchinson (‘Hutch’) (1900-1969) who while on a visit to Naschwitz’s office at the BBC discovered the song on top of a piano, Hutch liked it and recorded it on ‘HMV Records’ in 1936. This led to several recordings of the song being recorded for the American market the same year, including notable versions by Billie Holiday, and Benny Goodman. The song is now considered a Jazz standard but has been interpreted in many other genres, including James Brown (1933-2006) who has recorded the song on three occasions, and Bryan Ferry who covered the song for his first solo Album ‘These Foolish Things’ in 1973.

There has been speculation as to whom Eric Maschwitz had in mind when he quickly penned the songs lyrics. His wife the English actress Hermoine Gingold, (1897-1987) who Maschwitz was married to at the time speculated that it was either written about her or the actress Anna May Wong, (1905-1961) but Maschwitz eventually admitted the romantic lyrics were about the actress and singer Jean Ross (1911-1973) citing ‘Fleeting memories of a young love,’ as inspiring the song. The two of them had been romantically linked when they were younger.

A cigarette that bears a lipstick’s traces, an airline ticket to romantic places. A fairgrounds painted swings, these foolish things remind me of you.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

217-Fatback Band-Yum Yum (Gimme Some.)

1975-Number 40 single.

Best Bit-At 0.01. The songs lyrics tell us that the singer likes ice cream, and he also likes chips, but most of all he likes girls. Let me assure you that I have chosen this song for it’s exceptional Funky Music, and not for it’s lyrical content.

The Fatback Band (see also best songs 798) whom have been known as just ‘Fatback’ since 1977, were formed in New York City, United States, in 1970, by Bill ‘Fatback’ Curtis, who was born in 1932, and up until 1970 had worked as a session drummer. The first line up of the Fatback Band included Johnny King,(guitar) Johnny Flippin, (bass) George Williams,(trumpet) Earl Shelton, (saxophone) George Adams,(flute) and Gerry Thomas (keyboards.) In 1977 the American singer Deborah Cooper joined the band, and can be heard first performing on ‘Double Dutch,’ she would later go on to work with Robert Clivilles, and can be heard singing lead vocals on C+C Music Factory’s 1991 UK Number 15 hit ‘A Deeper Love.’ In total there have been 27 different band members come and, and as of 2022 they remain active as a touring act, with Bill Curtis being the bands one constant.

The Fatback Band have released 23 studio Albums between 1972-1988, there is also remix Album that was issued in 2003, and a best of called ’21 Karat Fatback.’ They have also issued 42 singles between 1973-2005, and although they have never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 in America, 11 of their singles have reached the Billboard R&B top 40 chart. In the UK six of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘I Found Lovin” charting the highest at Number 7 on it’s second re-release in 1987.

The Fatback Band’s founding member Bill Curtis has described the Fatback Band’s sound,’Street Music is what I always called it because it came from the top of my head, and we never rehearsed. Everything was just raw energy, most of the guys had no idea until it was time to do it. That’s how we made all our first records.’ When asked why the Fatback Band never had a hit in America, Curtis blamed the lack of the bands exposure on his own stubborn unwillingness to hire a manager,’I told myself, whatever we do, I ain’t working for no Berry Gordy.’

‘Yum Yum (Gimme Some’) was the sixth single release from the Fatback Band, and it was also the title track of their fifth studio Album released in 1975, it was written and arranged by the bands guitarist at that time Johnny King, with the production credited to all the band members.

‘I like ice cream, and I like cake, but most of all I like the girls for goodness, goodness sake’s. Ha ha ha, yes, yes. My name is Yum Yum gimme some.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

218-Beatles-In My Life.

1965-It has never been released as a single in the UK.

Best Bit At 2.10. John Lennon shows off his vocal versatility, as he goes all falsetto on us. This was a technique he would later use on ‘Revolution,’ (‘You Know it’s gonna be alright) and in ‘Imagine,’ (‘Living life in peace, you-oh-oh-oh, you may say I’m a dreamer.)

As with nearly all of the Beatles original songs the writing credits were shared as Lennon/McCartney (see also best songs 599-319-238-141-80-51-10 and 5) but this one was mainly the work of John Lennon. There have always been disputes about how much input into a song Lennon or McCartney had, but McCartney disputes this one more than most stating that he had a major influence on the songs melody, and admitting that his inspiration was Smokey Robinson, (see also best songs 1031-309 and 193) the Beatles had previously recorded Robinson’s song ‘You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me’ for their second Album ‘With the Beatles’ in 1963.

There is no dispute that the lyrics were primarily written by John Lennon, (see also best songs 927-473-456-168 and 20) who has called the song his ‘first real major piece of work,’ because he had written lyrics from a personal point of view for the first time. The original lyrics were written by Lennon in 1964, and were based on a bus route he had used as a youngster, naming sites in Liverpool he had seen on the journey such as ‘Penny Lane,’ and ‘Strawberry Fields.’ places he would revisit in later songs. Lennon wasn’t happy with that lyrical idea when coming to recording, so instead chose to generalise the thoughts of his past .Lennon called his original lyrics ‘ridiculous,’ and re-worked the words in to a more personal account of his past memories and present situation. According to Lennon’s friend and biographer Peter Shotten, (1941-2017) the lines “Some friends are dead, and some are living, In my life I’ve loved them all,’ referred to himself (Shotten) and the ex Beatles bass guitarist Stuart Sutcliffe (1940-1962.) It is speculated that others who were in Lennon’s thoughts included his Aunt Mimi, (1906-1991) and his wife at the time Cynthia (1939-2015.)

‘In My Life’ made it’s first appearance on the Beatles sixth studio Album ‘Rubber Soul’ which was released on December 3rd, 1965. The song, and it’s parent Album were both produced by George Martin (1926-2016) who was often referred to as the ‘Fifth Beatle.’ It was Martin who wrote, and played the instrumental break on ‘In My Life.’ Lennon had not decided which instrument should be used, but eventually asked Martin to play a piano solo, suggesting ‘something Baroque sounding.’ Martin wrote a Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) influenced piece, but then realised that it didn’t fit the songs tempo, so he recorded his part with the tape running at half speed, so when played back at normal pace the piano was twice as fast, and an octave higher. This gave the track a unique sound, reminiscent of a harpsichord, which led to other musicians and producers introducing the harpsichord into their arrangements.

John Lennon’s original lyrics for ‘In My Life’ which he later discarded included,’Penny Lane is one I’m missing, up Church Road to the clock tower. In the circle of the abbey, I have seen some happy hours. Past the tram sheds with no trams, on the five bus into town. Past the Dutch and St. Columbus, to the Dockers Umbrella that they pilled down.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

219-The Stooges-No Fun.

1969-It has never been released as a single in the UK.

Best Bit-At 3.17. The Three Stooges were fun, but these four Stooges were ‘No Fun.’

The Stooges were formed in 1967 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, by what is considered the classic line up of Iggy Pop, (lead vocals) Dave Alexander (1947-1975) (bass guitar) Ron Asheton, (1948-2009) (lead guitar) and Scott Asheton (1949-2014) (drums.) They were active between 1967-1971, but reformed with a slightly different line up between 1972-1974, there was a further reformation with further changes in membership between 2003-2016, after which the band was finally retired as Iggy Pop was the only remaining founding member still living. In total there have been 14 different official band members, with Iggy Pop being the one constant. The Stooges issued five studio Albums between 1969-2013, and 24 singles, and although their early releases met with very little commercial success, their influence on future generations should not be under estimated, especially in the genre of Punk Rock.

The Stooges started out life as the ‘Psychedelic Stooges,’ and have also been known at one time as ‘Iggy and the Stooges,’ due to their flamboyant front man Iggy Pop (see also best songs 701.) He was born James Newell Osterberg Jr. on April 21st, 1947, in Muskegon, Michigan, United States. At the age of 18 he was given the nickname ‘Iggy’ by a member of ‘Prime Movers,’ a band he had recently joined, after leaving his previous group ‘The Iguanas.’ He was given the nickname ‘Pop’ while a member of The Stooges, as he resembled a local who was known to the band. Iggy Pop who is celebrated by being called the ‘Godfather of Punk’ is an outrageous performer, his act has included smearing himself in peanut butter, or sometimes raw meat, and occasionally revealing his genitalia on stage. Iggy Pop who often performs bare chested has also self mutilated while performing, and has rolled around on broken glass. He is also generally regarded as the person who invented ‘stage diving.’

‘No Fun’ is the opening track on Side 2 of The Stooges self titled debut studio Album from August 1969, with all four band members receiving the song writing credits, as they also were on the Albums other seven tracks. The Album was produced by the Welsh musician John Cale, who had been a founding member of the Velvet Underground (see also best songs 401 and 165.) ‘No Fun’ is a song about being bored, and also being somewhat of a loner, but not having enough get up and go to do anything about it. In 1977 the Sex Pistols (see also best songs 576-92 and 27) covered the song for the ‘B’ side of their single ‘Pretty Vacant,’ bringing The Stooges to the attention of a whole new generation.

‘No fun to be alone, walking by myself. No fun to be alone, in love with nobody else. Well, maybe go out, maybe stay home, maybe call Mom on the telephone.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

220-Celine Dion-My Heart Will Go On.

1998-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 3.24.’But now you know there was a man named Jack Dawson, and that he saved me…in every way that a person can be saved.’

Celine Marie Claudette Dion who was the youngest of 14 children born to her parents, was born on March 30th, 1968, in Charlemagne, Quebec, Canada, she is the best selling Canadian recording artist of all time, and also the best selling French Language artist of all time. In Canada in the 1980’s she was a teen star, releasing eight studio Albums in French, before leaning English, and signing to ‘Epic Records’ in 1990, and then issuing her first English sung Album ‘Unison’ in 1990. Celine Dion first gained international recognition in 1982 when winning the ‘Yamaha World Popular Song Festival’, and further international success was gained when she won the 1988 ‘Eurovision Song Contest’ representing Switzerland, in Dublin, Ireland, with the song ‘Ne partez pas sans moi.’ In total Celine Dion has released 15 French language studio Albums between 1981-2016, and 12 English language studio Albums between 1990-2019. She has released 137 singles between 1981-2019, with 18 French language songs charting on the Canada QC’ chart in the 1980’s. In America on Billboard, 17 of her singles have reached the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with four of her songs reaching Number 1, while in the UK, 24 of her singles have reached the top 40, with two making the Number 1 spot. With sales of over 200 million records Celine Dion is one of the best selling artists of all time, and during her peak period between 1997-1998 it was reckoned that she was selling a record once every 1.2 seconds of the day.

My Heart Will Go On’ was written for the 1997 American romance and disaster film ‘Titanic,’ it is a fictionalised account of the sinking of the ‘RMS Titanic’ in 1912. The music for ‘My Heart Will Go On,’ and also the films score was written by James Horner, (1953-2015) who by 1997 had already scored for dozens of other films and television programmes including his breakthrough success with ‘The Lady In Red’ in 1979, he would go on to score ‘Avatar’ in 2009, which is the highest grossing film of all time, ahead of ‘Titanic’ in second place. Horner died in 2015 when the aircraft he was piloting crashed in Los Padres National Forrest, California, he was 61 years old.

‘The lyrics to ‘My Heart Will Go On’ were written by Will Jennings, (see also best songs 588) who has worked with, and written for many of the world’s top artists. Other notable songs he has co-written include ‘Up Where We Belong,’ for the 1982 film ‘An Officer and a Gentleman,’ and ‘Didn’t We Nearly Have It All,’ which when recorded by Whitney Houston in 1987 became a Billboard Number 1 single. ‘My Heart Will Go On’ has become Celine Dion’s signature tune, and with sales in excess of 20 million copies it is the best selling single by a solo female artist in history, and is currently the seventh biggest selling single of all time.

‘Every night in my dreams I see you, I feel you, that is how I know you go on. Far across the distance, and spaces between us, you have come to show you go on.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

221-George Benson-Breezin’.

1976-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 0.19.’Because I’m bad, I’n bad, come on you know, and the whole world has to answer right now. Just to tell you once again, who’s bad.’

George Washington Benson was born on March 22nd, 1943, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. He has released 36 studio Albums to date between 1964-2019, and 72 singles and extended plays, between 1954-2010. In America on Billboard seven of his singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Give Me the Night’ charting the highest at Number 4 in 1980, while in the UK he has charted on 14 occasions, with ‘Give Me the Night,’ and ‘In Your Eyes,’ (1983) both peaking at Number 7. Benson is also a prolific sideman, having currently appeared on 115 Albums for artists as diverse as Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, and Chet Atkins.

George Benson started his musical career very much in the genre of ‘Jazz,’ releasing his first studio Album of ‘Jazz/Soul’ music called ‘The New Boss Guitar of George Benson’ in 1964 at the age of 21. It would be a further 14 Albums of success limited to the Jazz market, until his big commercial breakthrough occurred in 1976 with the release of his 15th studio Album ‘Breezin,” from which this song is the Album’s title track. ‘Breezin’ was originally written in 1970 by the American singer/songwriter Bobby Womack, (1944-2014) (see also best songs 494 and 156) whose biggest success as a songwriter is ‘It’s All Over Now,’ which when recorded by the Rolling Stones in 1964 gave them their first UK Number 1 single. The first recorded version of ‘Breezin’ was by the Hungarian Jazz guitarist Gabor Szabo (1936-1982) for his 1971 Album ‘High Contrast,’ on which Bobby Womack wrote four of the seven tracks, and also played the electric guitar on. Womack also wrote a few lyrics for ‘Breezin,’ which he would perform during his concerts. In 1977 at the ‘Catamaran Hotel’ in San Diego during a performance, Gabor Szabo complained to the audience about Benson’s success with ‘Breezin.’ Szabo indicated that he had recorded the song before Benson, and accused him of having plagiarised his arrangement. He expressed disdain for Benson’s success with his arrangement that he himself had created. Incidentally both the Szabo, and Benson versions had both been produced by Tommy LiPuma, (1936-2017) whose productions for artists such as Barbra Streisand and The Crusaders have sold in excess of 75 million Albums.

‘Breezin’ may have been the turning point for George Benson, but even bigger mainstream and commercial success was just around the corner when he signed with ‘Quest Records’ owned by Quincy Jones (see also best songs 1022-889-812-703-511-357 and 191.) This collaboration saw the release of Benson’s 18th studio Album ‘Give Me the Night,’ issued in 1980, it was produced by Jones, with five of the 10 tracks written by Rod Temperton (1949-2016 (see also best songs 812-703 and 511)

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

222-The Smiths-There Is a Light That Never Goes Out.

1. 1986-The song was not released as a single until 1992, when reaching Number 25.
2. 
   Best Bit-At 1.03. In the British television sitcom Gavin & Stacey, ‘Doris,’ the elderly actress played by the Welsh born Margaret John, (1926-2011) in a memorable scene at a barbecue entertains the gathering with a rendition of this song, making her in my opinion the coolest octogenarian in the world ever.
3. 
   The Smiths (see also best songs 673-167 and 42) were formed in Manchester, England, in 1982, by Steven Morrissey, (vocals) and Johnny Marr, (guitars and keyboards) who had first met in 1978 at a Patti Smith concert at Manchester’s Apollo Theatre, they were joined later on the same year by Andy Rourke, (bass) and Mike Joyce (drums.) The band were active through until 1987, with five other official members coming and going in that time period. It was Morrissey (see also best songs 940 and 72) who chose the bands name, saying,’it was the most ordinary name, and I thought it was time that the ordinary folk of the world showed their faces.’ The Smiths split in 1987 with Morrissey and Marr each taking 40% of The Smiths recording and performance royalties, with Joyce and Rourke each receiving 10%. Joyce and Rourke both thought that they were entitled to 25% each, and took their case to court, with Rourke who was in debt at the time settling for £83,000, and 10% of royalties, while Joyce continued with his action, eventually receiving around £1 million in back royalties, and 25% henceforth.
4. 
   ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out’ was co-written by Morrissey (lyrics) and Johnny Marr, (music) with the pair also credited as the tracks producers. The song first appeared on The Smiths third studio Album ‘The Queen is Dead’ from 1986, but wasn’t released as a single until 1992, when it was chosen to promote the release of ‘Best 2,’ a compilation of some of the bands back catalogue, five years after they had parted ways.
5. 
   Once again the unique lyrics, and storytelling of Morrissey shine through, as he lays bare his innermost thoughts. In ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out,’ Morrissey is the passenger in a car being driven by the person he loves and greatly admires. As the pair take their journey Morrissey begs the driver not to take him home, since he isn’t welcome at home anymore, which makes him feel depressed. He begs the driver to take him somewhere exciting, as Morrissey is so in love with the driver at that moment. He exclaims that even if a double-decker bus was to crash into them, and kill them, it would be a privilege to die at their side. It has long been speculated that Morrissey is gay, and maybe it was the revealing of this at home, which led to him not being welcome there anymore.
6. 
   Johnny Marr has revealed that he got the idea for the songs intro after hearing The Rolling Stones cover version of the song ‘Hitch Hike’ by Marvin Gaye, The Velvet Underground also pinched the The Stones intro for their 1967 song ‘There She Goes Again.’ Marr has said,’I didn’t realise that ‘There Is a Light That Never Goes Out’ was going to be an anthem, but when we first played it I thought it was the best song I’d ever heard.’ He has also said,’Someone told me that if you listen with the volume really, really up you can hear me shout ‘That was amazing’ right at the end.’
7. 
   ‘And if a double-decker bus crashes into us, to die by your side is such a heavenly way to die. And if a ten ton truck ills the both of us, to die by your side, well, the pleasure, the privilege is mine.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

223-Ralph McTell-Streets of London.

1974-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 0.36. There are people of a certain age who may know Ralph McTell better for ‘Alphabet Zoo,’ and ‘Tickle on the Tum.’

Ralph McTell was born Ralph May on December 3rd, 1944, in Farnborough, Kent, England, He was named Ralph after the English music composer Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958) as his father Frank May had worked as a gardener for Williams prior to the second World War. The surname McTell was suggested to him by the English Folk music artist Wizz Jones, because of Ralph’s love of the American Blues artists, such as Robert Johnson,(1911-1938) and Blind Willie McTell (1898-1959.) There are at least 60 official Albums of Ralph McTell’s music available, from his first release ‘Eight Frames a Second’ in 1968, through to his latest release ‘Hill of Beans’ in 2019. He has had two top 40 singles in the UK, with ‘Dreams of You’ from December 1975, being the other hit, when reaching Number 36.

Although not a hit until many years later, Ralph McTell had written ‘Streets of London’ in the mid 1960’s while busking and hitchhiking his way throughout Europe. He was especially struck by what he saw in Paris, and for a long time called the song ‘Streets of Paris,’ but eventually chose London, as he realised that was what he was subconsciously writing about, and there was also a famous song called ‘The Poor People of Paris,’ and he didn’t want any confusion.

McTell refused to put the song on his debut Album ‘Eight Frames a Second’ from 1968 as he felt the song was too depressing, but it did first appear on his second release ‘Spiral Staircase’ from 1969 for the first time, after the Album’s producer Gus Dudgeon (1942-2002) (see also best songs 946 and 62) talked him around. The song first became a hit single in the Netherlands in 1972, reaching Number 9 when McTell re-recorded it. It became a hit in the UK in 1974 when re-recorded again, with this time featuring the Folk band ‘Prelude’ on backing vocals. In 2017 McTell officially re-recorded the song for a third time for single release, this time as a duet with Annie Lennox (see also best songs 582) as a charity single for the UK charity ‘Crisis.’

‘Streets of London’ was released in 1974 for the Xmas market, but was kept off the prestigious Xmas Number 1 spot by the band ‘Mud’ (see also best songs 7730 with ‘Lonely This Christmas’ for one week, and then by Status Quo (see also best songs 905 and 108) for one week with their only UK Number 1 ‘Down Down.’ The ‘Streets of London’ contrasts the common problems of everyday people with those of the homeless, elderly, ignored and forgotten members of society, and reminds us that there are others worse off than ourselves. The songs melody has been noted for it’s similarities to ‘Pachelbel’s Canon,’ composed somewhere between 1680-1706 by the German composer Johann Pachelbel (1653- to around 1706.) ‘Pachelbel’s Canon’ has had a big influence in ‘Pop Music,’ with the music producer Peter Waterman (see also best songs 627) describing ‘Canon in D’ as,’Almost the godfather of pop music, because we’ve all used that in our own ways for the past 30 years.’ Other songs which have used ‘Pachelbel’s Canon’s’ chord progression include ‘Basket Case’ by Green Day, and ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ from Oasis (see also best songs 1006.)

‘Have you seen the old man in the closed down market picking up the papers with his worn out shoes. In his eyes you see no pride, and hanging loosely at his side, yesterdays paper, telling yesterdays news.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

224-Dionne Warwick-Walk On By.

1964-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 1.42.’I honestly believe that if I’d sneezed on my next record, then Cilla would have sneezed on hers too.’ These were the words of Dionne Warwick venting her frustration that UK record labels preferred to release her American hits in Britain sung by British singers.

Dionne Warwick was born Marie Dionne Warrick on December 12th, 1940, in Orange, New Jersey, United States, with record sales in excess of 100 million she is one of the best selling solo artists of all time. In the 20th Century on Billboard in America, during the ‘Rock N’ Roll’ era (from 1955) she stands second to only Aretha Franklin (see also best songs 644 and 366) for the most Billboard top 100 singles entries with 69. The change in the spelling of her surname from ‘Warrick’ to ‘Warwick’ was due to a misspelling on her first single release ‘Don’t Make Me Over’ in 1962, and from then on she began using the new spelling.

Many of Dionne Warwick’s family were members of the American Gospel singing group ‘The Drinkard Singers,’ including her sister Dee Dee Warwick, (1942-2008) (see also best songs 1001) her aunt Cissy Houston, (the mother of Whitney Houston) and Judy Clay (1938-2001) who had been unofficially adopted as a child by Dionne Warwick’s parents. After several personnel changes in the early 1960’s, the remaining members of ‘The Drinkard Singers’ became ‘The Sweet Inspirations,'(see also best songs 882.)

It was while performing background vocals on the ‘Drifters’ 1962 song ‘Mexican Divorce’ that Dionne Warwick first came to the attention of the composer Burt Bacharach, (see also best songs 902-832-815-740-644 and 376) who got her to record demo’s for his latest songs, for other artists to potentially use, before he decided to take her on board to record his songs, exclusively. Dionne Warwick went on to work alongside many other artists in the following years, and has of 2022 released 40 studio Albums between 1963-2019, and 95 singles between 1962-2019. She has had two Billboard Number 1 singles with ‘Then Came You,’ with The (Detroit) Spinners in 1974, and with ‘That’s What Friends Are For,’ recorded with Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder, in 1985. Her highest charting song in the UK is ‘Heartbreaker’ from 1982, which was written by the Bee Gees, and has Barry Gibb performing the backing vocals.

‘Walk On By’ was co-written by the legendary songwriting team of Burt Bacharach, (music) and Hal David, (1921-2012) who provided the lyrics. The song is about someone being dumped by their lover, and knowing that there is no chance of reconciliation, wants them to stay well away, as it would break her heart even just to see them again. The song has been recorded dozens of times, and in many different styles over the years. In the UK, aside from Dionne Warwick, the song has reached the top 40 on three other occasions, the Stranglers took their version to Number 21 in 1978, Sybil made Number 6 in 1990, and Gabrielle reached Number 7 in 1997. In America Dionne Warwick took the song to Number 6, while the other hit version in The States was from Isaac Hayes (see also best songs 530-398 and 1) whose 12 minute recording for his 1969 Album ‘Hot Buttered Soul’ was edited down to 4.34, and reached Number 30 on the Billboard chart.

‘If you see me walking down the street, and I start to cry each time we meet walk on by, walk on by. Make believe that you don’t see the tears, just let me grieve in private, ’cause each time I see you I break down and cry.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

225-Jennifer Holliday-And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.

1982-Number 32 single.

Best Bit-At 2.27. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

‘And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’ is one of the songs written by Tom Eyen (1940-1991) who wrote the lyrics, and Henry Krieger, who wrote the music for the 1981 Broadway musical ‘Dreamgirls.’ Tom Eyen was a prolific writer and director of plays, having already produced dozens in the 1960’s, and 1970’s, including his first encounter with Henry Krieger in 1975, for the musical version of ‘The Dirtiest Show in Town,’ called ‘The Dirtiest Musical in Town.’ In 1981 Eyen again joined forces with Krieger, and also the musical director Michael Bennett (1943-1987) to write the book, and the lyrics for ‘Dreamgirls.’

‘Dreamgirls’ tells the story of a fictitious African/American girl group called ‘The Dreamettes,’ and deals with their rise to fame in the early 1960’s, and all of their subsequent struggles along the way. Many critics have pointed out the glaring similarity to that of the real life story of ‘Diana Ross and the Supremes, (see also best songs 1001-900-519-411-365-212-183-148 and 28) but Eyen strongly denies this, probably in order to avoid lawsuits from the Supremes, and the Motown corporation. Instead Eyes states that ‘The Dreamettes’ are based on many girl groups of the era such as the Shirelles, the Chiffons, and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. Eyes has also stated that many of the male characters are based on artists such as Stevie Wonder and Little Richard, and others. In 2006 ‘Dreamgirls was made into a film starring Jamie Foxx, Beyonce, (see also best songs 800 and 23) and Eddie Murphy among it’s star cast.

‘And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going’ became the highlight of the Broadway Musical ‘Dreamgirls’ when performed by Jennifer Holliday at the end of Act 1, between 1981-1983. Holliday was portraying the character of Effie White a singer with the girl group who had now had their name shortened to ‘The Dreams.’ The song is about the character Effie White begging her lover Curtis Taylor Jr., who is also the bands manager not to end their professional and romantic relationship, as he will never know a greater love, the song was regularly staged to thunderous applause.

Due to the songs popularity it was released as a single by Jennifer Holliday in 1982, and reached Number 22 in America on Billboard. Holliday who was born Jennifer Yvette Holliday on October 19th, 1960 in Houston, Texas, United States, has since gone on to release seven studio Albums between 1983-2014, and 23 singles, with this song remaining her only chart hit to date. Following the success of the film in 2006, Jennifer Hudson who was making her film debut playing the part of Effie White released her version of ‘And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going’ as her debut single, the song would peak at Number 60 on the Billboard Hot 100. Hudson’s follow up single ‘Spotlight’ gave her, her only chart success to date when reaching Number 24 on Billboard, and Number 11 in the UK in 2008, co-incidentally ‘And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going’ reached a peak position of Number 32 in the UK for both Holliday and Hudson. On June 26th, 2007 at the ‘7th Annual Black Entertainment Television Awards’ Jennifer Holiday, and Jennifer Hudson performed ‘And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going’ a a duet for the first time together.

‘Tear down the mountains, yell, scream and shout, you can say what you want I’m not walkin’ out. Stop all the rivers, push, strike, and kill, I’m not gonna leave you,there’s no way I will.’