THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

649-Slade-Cum On Feel the Noize.

1973-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.01. Three very noisy babies. The songs introduction of Noddy Holder shouting ‘Baby, Baby, Baby,’ was only meant to be a microphone test, but it appeared everybody liked it, so they kept it in.

Slade were formed in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England, in 1966, by Neville ‘Noddy’ Holder, (lead vocals, and guitar) Dave Hill, (guitar, and vocals) Jim Lea, (bass, and keyboards) and Don Powell (drums.) Between 1966-1969, they were called ‘The N’Betweens,’ which was changed to ‘Ambrose Slade,’ in 1969, then ‘The Slade,’ between 1969-1970, and then just ‘Slade.’ The name ‘Ambrose Slade’ had come about as one of the groups promoters secretary, had named her handbag ‘Ambrose,’ and her shoes ‘Slade.’ In 1992, both Noddy Holder, and Jim Lea, left the group, with Dave Hill, and Don Powell, and three new recruits, continuing as ‘Slade II,’ until reverting to ‘Slade’ in 2002. In 2020, after 54 years Don Powell left ‘Slade,’ leaving Dave Hill as the groups one constant, and at the time of writing with three others, the group remain active for touring. In total there have been 13 different members come and go.

Slade were the biggest selling singles act of the 1970’s in the UK, with their best selling song being ‘Merry Xmas Everybody,’ which has sold in excess of one million copies. The discography of Slade includes 15 studio Albums released between 1969-1994, and 56 singles issued between 1966-2013, there are also 10 official compilation Albums, and six live Albums available. In the UK, 25 of their singles have reached the top 40, with six of those making the Number 1 position, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100, after several unsuccessful attempts in the 1970’s, they finally charted in the top 40 in 1983, with ‘My Oh My,’ reaching Number 37, and then in 1984, with ‘Run Runaway,’ peaking at Number 20.

‘Cum On Feel the Noize’ was released as a stand alone single, in February 1973, and then later included on the groups September 1973 compilation Album ‘Sladest.’ The song was co-written by Noddy Holder, (lyrics) and Jim Lea, (music) who together would write the majority of Slade’s songs, with the production being by Chas Chandler (1938-1996.) Chas Chandler was born Bryan James Chandler, on December 18th, 1938, in Heaton, Newcastle, England, he died on July 17th, 1996, of an aortic aneurysm, at the age of 57. Chandler began his professional music career in 1962, as the bass player with ‘The Alan Price Trio,’ who would become ‘The Animals,’ (see also best songs 851) in 1963, after Eric Burdon joined the band. Despite finding commercial success with ‘The Animals,’ Chas Chandler became disillusioned with the lack of money, recalling that, ‘We toured non-stop for three years, doing 300 gigs a year. and we hardly got a penny.’ Chandler turned his attentions to becoming a talent scout, an artist manager, and a record producer, and soon became the manager for a then unknown Jimi Hendrix, (1942-1970) (see also best songs 983 and 492.) By 1968 Chandler had become frustrated with the recording sessions for Jimi Hendrix’s album ‘Electric Ladyland,’ claiming they were self-indulgent, so he parted ways with Hendrix, and by 1969 was working with Slade, with whom he managed, and produced for the next 12 years.

‘Cum On Feel the Noize’ caused controversy, especially with school teachers, who said that the deliberate misspelling of the songs title, and many other Slade songs as well, was not setting a good example to school children. Jim Lea has spoken about how the song came to fruition,’I was at a Chuck Berry (1926-2017) (see also best songs 548-308 and 30) gig in ’72, and everybody was singing his tunes. He kept stopping and letting the crowd sing, and it wasn’t just a few people, it was everyone. I thought it was amazing and thought, why not write the crowd into the songs, and so we got round to ‘Mama Weer All Crazee Now,’ (1972-UK Number 1) and ‘Cum On Feel the Noize,’ and all the chants were written into the tunes.

Although Slade never broke through fully in America, they were influential on many ‘Rock,’ and ‘Heavy Metal’ groups of the 1980’s. In 1983 the American Heavy Metal group ‘Quiet Riot’ covered ‘Cum On Feel the Noize,’ taking it to Number 5 on Billboard, and selling in excess of one million copies, which finally brought Slade to the attention of the wider American record buying public.

‘So you think I got an evil mind, well, I’ll tell you honey, and I don’t know why, and I don’t know why. So you think my singing’s out of time, well it makes me money, and I don’t know why, and I don’t know why anymore, oh no.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

650-Four Tops-Reach Out I’ll Be There.

1966-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.37. The ad lib, ‘Just look over your shoulder.’ Levi Stubbs was a passionate singer, and when he improvised that line, Holland-Dozier-Holland liked it so much, they left it in.

The Four Tops certainly had longevity, having formed in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in 1953, the four members remained as a quartet with no line up changes, through until the death of Laurence Patton in 1997. The four founding members of the Four Tops were Levi Stubbs, (1936-2008) Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir, Renaldo ‘Obie’ Benson (1936-2005) and Lawrence Payton, (1938-1997) Theo Peoples took Payton’s place in 1998, and remained a group member until 2010, when he left, Harold ‘Spike’ Bonhart, replaced him, until leaving in 2018. At the time of writing, the Four Tops remain active as a touring group, led by the one surviving original member Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir, along with the Tamla Motown veteran Ronnie McNeir, who joined in 1999, Lawrence Payton Jr. who joined in 2005, and Alexander Morris, who joined in 2019.

The Four Tops were originally called ‘Four Aims,’ but in 1956 they decided to change their name to ‘Four Tops,’ to avoid confusion with the American vocal group the ‘Ames Brothers.’ Between 1956-1962 the group issued four unsuccessful singles, on four different record labels, before signing with ‘Motown’ records in 1963, initially recording Jazz standards for Motown’s ‘Workshop Jazz Records’ label, they also sang backing vocals on The Supremes single ‘Run, Run, Run,’ (1964) and the Martha and the Vandellas single ‘My Baby Loves Me (1966.) The Four Tops finally made their commercial breakthrough in July 1964, when Motown’s legendary song writing team of ‘Holland–Dozier–Holland’ offered them the song ‘Baby I Need Your Loving,’ which went on to reach Number 11 on Billboard in America.

The discography of the Four Tops includes 29 studio Albums released between 1965-1995, and 59 singles released between 1956-1989, there are also 10 official compilation Albums, and two live Albums available. The Four Tops who have recorded for ‘Motown’ records, ‘ABC/Dunhill’ records, ‘Casablanca’ records, and ‘Arista’ records, have had 24 top 40 hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in America, with both ‘I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch’) (1965) and ‘Reach Out I’ll Be There,’ (1966) both reaching Number 1. In the UK, the Four Tops have made the top 40 on 30 occasions, with ‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’ making the Number 1 spot.

‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’ was written and produced by the legendary song writing team of ‘Holland–Dozier–Holland,’ (see also best songs 969-823-553-411-212 and 148) and was the first of six singles released from the Four Tops fourth studio Album ‘Reach Out,’ from July 1967. The song has become the Four Tops signature tune, and as with many of the other ‘Motown’ tracks from that period, it features Motown’s in house band ‘The Funk Brothers,’ (see also best songs 948-569-414-382-212-148 and 28) and the female backing vocals of ‘The Andantes,’ who appear unaccredited. ‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’ was covered in 1971 by Diana Ross, and reached Number 29 on Billboard, and in 1975 the American singer Gloria Gaynor released a ‘Disco’ version of the song, which made Number 14 in the UK. In 1988 the British music producers Phil Harding, and Ian Curnow, issued a remix of the song, which peaked at Number 11 in the UK.

Lamont Dozier (1941-2022) has explained how ‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’ came about,’Brian, Eddie and I often had discussions about what women really want most of all from a man, and after talking about some of our experiences with women, we all three agreed that they wanted someone to be there for them, through thick or thin, and be there at their beck and call. Thus this song was born.’ In 2014 Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir said,’Eddie (Holland) realised that when Levi hit the top of his vocal range, it sounded like someone hurting, so he made him sing right up there. Levi complained, but we knew he loved it. Every time they thought he was at the top, he would reach a little further, until you could hear the tears in his voice. The line “Just look over your shoulder” was something he threw in spontaneously. Levi was creative like that, he could always add something from the heart.’

‘I can tell the way you hang your head, you’re without love and now you’re afraid, and through your tears you look around, but there’s no peace of mind to be found.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

651-Dooley Wilson-As Time Goes By.

1942-It didn’t chart in the UK until 1977, when it reached Number 15.

Best Bit-At 1.31. Don’t forget, in the film nobody ever said, ‘Play it again Sam.’

‘As Time Goes By’ was originally written by the American songwriter Herman Hupfeld, (1894-1951) for the 1931 Broadway Musical ‘Everybody’s Welcome.’ In the show it was first sung by Frances Williams, (1905-1995) and first recorded by Rudy Vallée (1901-1986) on July 25, 1931, for ‘Victor Records,’ then also by Jacques Renard (1897-1973) and his Orchestra, on ‘Brunswick Records,’ with both recordings meeting with little commercial success at that time. Herman Hupfeld was born on February 1st, 1894, in Montclair, New Jersey, United States, he died on June 8th, 1951, after having a stroke, at the age of 57. Herman Hupfeld never wrote a whole Broadway score, but he became known as a composer who could write a song to fit a specific scene within a Broadway show. ‘As Time Goes By,’ is by far the song that Hupfield is best remembered for, but he wrote in excess of 100 others, including ‘Let’s Put Out the Lights (and Go to Sleep,’) and ‘Sing Something Simple.’

‘As Time Goes By’ would probably have been forgotten in the annals of time, but 11 years later in 1942, it was re-introduced in the American romantic drama film ‘Casablanca,’ starring Humphrey Bogart, (1899-1957) and Ingrid Bergman, (1915-1982) where it was sung by ‘Sam,’ portrayed by Dooley Wilson (1886-1953.) In 2004 the ‘American Film Institute’ unveiled it’s list of the top 100 songs from the cinema from the 20th Century, and ‘As Time Goes By,’ was at Number 2, behind ‘Over the Rainbow,’ sung by Judy Garland (see also best songs 68.)

Arthur ‘Dooley’ Wilson was born on April 3rd, 1886, in Tyler, Texas, United States, he died on May 30th, 1953, of natural causes. Wilson earned his nickname ‘Dooley’ early on his career, for his ‘whiteface’ impersonation of an Irishman singing a song called ‘Mr. Dooley.’ Dooley Wilson was a drummer, and a singer who took up acting in the 1930’s, eventually signing a contract with ‘Paramount Pictures,’ which led to him being cast in the role of ‘Sam’ for the 1942 film ‘Casablanca.’ In the film Wilson is sat at a piano performing the song at the request of Ingred Bergman, who plays the part of Ilsa Lund. Dooley Wilson couldn’t actually play the piano to the standard required, so in the film it was overdubbed by the studio pianist Jean Vincent Plummer (1913-1989.) Such has been the impact of ‘Casablanca,’ and Wilson’s rendition of ‘As Time Goes By,’ that in 2014 the piano he played in the film was put up for auction at ‘Bonhams,’ in New York, and sold for £3.4 million. Dooley Wilson appeared in 19 films between 1939-1951, and then in the American situation comedy television series ‘Beulah,’ between 1951-1952.

Because of contractual stipulations, Dooley Wilson couldn’t release his recording of ‘As Time Goes By’ in the aftermath of the films success, so the record companies of the aforementioned cover versions by Rudy Vallee, and Jacques Renard, which had both been recorded in 1931 were both re-issued, with the Rudy Vallee version reaching Number 1, and the Jacques Renard version peaking at Number 3 in America. Eventually Jack Warner (1892-1978) of ‘Warner Bros,’ came to an agreement with Dooley Wilson, finally allowing him to issue his recording, under the stipulation that the studio would receive most of the profits, but the moment had gone, and Wilson’s version failed to chart. In 1977 Dooley Wilson’s version was re-released in some countries, and finally charted in the UK, where it peaked at Number 15 in January 1978.

‘As Time Goes By’ has been covered by many of the worlds top artists down the decades, with the majority, including the Dooley Wilson version, omitting the songs first verse, which begins,’This day and age we’re living in, gives cause for apprehension, with speed and new invention, and things like third dimension.’ Such is the esteem that ‘As Time Goes By’ is held in, that since 1999, an instrumental version of the song’s closing bars has accompanied the studio logo of many ‘Warner Bros. Pictures,’ and ‘Warner Bros. Television’ productions, in reference to the studio’s production of ‘Casablanca.’

‘It’s still the same old story, a fight for love and glory, a case of do or die, the world will always welcome lovers, as time goes by.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

652-Dizzee Rascal featuring Chrome-Holiday.

2009-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 3.08. It’s one of those wonderful hands in the air moments, where you can dance yourself Dizzee.

Dizzee Rascal (see also best songs 138) was born Dylan Kwabena Mills, on September 18th, 1984, in London, England, he was an important player in the development of the musical genre ‘Grime’ (see also best songs 813) in the early 2000’s, with his debut Album ‘Boy in da Corner,’ which is a prime example of the genre, winning the 2003 ‘Mercury Music Prize.’ Dizzee Rascal who partly took his stage name from one of his school teachers, who was the first to call him ‘rascal,’ has at the time of writing released eight studio Albums between 2003-2024, and 45 singles in the same time period. In the UK he has had 21 top 40 hits as the lead artist, with four of those tracks reaching Number 1, he has also had a further three top 40 hits as a featured artist. Dizzee Rascal has appeared on two charity singles, which have also made the Number 1 spot, performing on, ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ as part of Band Aid 20, (2004) and ‘Shout,’ as ‘Shout for England,’ with James Corden (2010.)

‘Holiday’ was the second of six singles released from Dizzee Rascal’s fourth studio Album ‘Tongue n’ Cheek,’ from September 2009, the song was co-written by Dizzee Rascal, (lyrics) and Calvin Harris, (music) along with Nick Detron, who is also credited as a co-writer of the track, as well as others tracks on the ‘Tongue n’ Cheek’ Album. Providing vocals on ‘Holiday,’ alongside Dizzee Rascal, is the ‘R&B’ singer ‘Chrome,’ who had also previously sang on Dizzee Rascal’s 2008 UK Number 1 single ‘Dance wiv Me,’ which was produced by Calvin Harris, who is also the producer of ‘Holiday.’ ‘Tongue n’ Cheek’ was a further departure from Dizzee Rascal’s ‘Grime’ roots, as he moved towards a more ‘commercial sound,’ alienating some of his fan base. Speaking about ‘Holiday’ Dizzee Rascal has said,’I live in a country house in Kent now, big pond, big fish, big whatever, and when I first moved in, I had a little pool party kind of thing. Where I lived before I didn’t really invite anyone round, but this time there were about 20 people there, and I suddenly realised that what I needed to do was make an Album you could play all the way through without spoiling the party.’ Calvin Harris had originally written the music for ‘Holiday’ with the British girl group ‘The Saturdays’ in mind, but after their management turned it down, he then offered it to Dizzee Rascal.

Calvin Harris (see also best songs 760 and 566) was born Adam Richard Wiles, on January 17th, 1984, in Dumfries, Scotland, both of his parents were English, and had moved to Dumfries after marrying. Calvin Harris has spoken about how he came about his stage name,’My first single was more of a Soul track, and I thought Calvin Harris sounded a bit more racially ambiguous. I thought people might not know if I was black or not. After that, I was stuck with it.’ Calvin Harris who has stated that it was the English ‘Funk’ band ‘Jamiroquai,’ and the English music producer Fatboy Slim, (see also best songs 760-387 and 95) who inspired him to make music, is one of the worlds highest paid disc jockeys/music producers, and is ranked in the top 30 ‘British Millionaires in music,’ according to ‘The Sunday Times Rich List.’

For his first two studio Albums, Calvin Harris sang the vocals on many of the tracks, but after coming to the realisation that others could perform his songs better than he could, he decided to concentrate on writing and producing, and from then on for the majority of his songs, he has employed many different guest vocalists. The discography of Calvin Harris includes six studio Albums released between 2007-2022, and 55 singles released between 2007-2023. In the UK, 38 of his singles have reached the top 40, with nine of those tracks making the Number 1 spot, he has also had a further four top 40 hits as the featured artist, with two of those songs also reaching Number 1. Calvin Harris has also reached Number 1 in the UK in 2012 with his official remix of ‘Spectrum (Say My Name’) by Florence and the Machine, and then in 2013 his official remix of ‘Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat,’ by Fatboy Slim and Riva Starr featuring Beardyman, reached Number 3. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, Calvin Harris has had 14 top 40 singles, with ‘This Is What You Came For,’ featuring Rihanna, peaking the highest at Number 3 in 2015. On Billboard, Calvin Harris has also reached Number 1 in 2011, as the featured artist on ‘We Found Love,’ by Rihanna.

‘Then after we’ll take a truck to the night spot, the hot spot, the top spot, party around the clock. And when we get there it’s strictly VIP, no need for ID, security know me. No waiting in line, no high entry fee.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

653-ZZ Top-Legs.

1984-Number 16 single.

Best Bit-At 0.20. ZZ Top were Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard, and Dusty Hill, can you guess which one didn’t sport a beard.

ZZ Top were formed in Houston, Texas, United States, in 1969, in total there have been seven different members come and go, and at the time of writing they remain active, with the classic line up being Billy Gibbons, (guitar, and vocals) Frank Beard, (drums) and Joseph ‘Dusty’ Hill (1949-2021) (bass and vocals.) ZZ Top were visually unforgettable when performing, as both Billy Gibbons, and Dusty Hill both wore sunglasses, hats, and ‘strikingly’ long beards. The original line up of ZZ Top, which consisted of Billy Gibbons, Lanier Greig, (1948-2013) and Dan Mitchell, and were managed by Bill Ham, (1937-2016) released their first single, the Billy Gibbons composition ‘Salt Lick,’ in 1969. The song met with no commercial success, and by 1970 Frank Beard, and Dusty Hill would replace the previous members, and the line up of ZZ Top was in place for the next 51 years, until the death of Dusty Hill in 2021. At the request of Hill, the groups long term collaborator Elwood Francis replaced Hill in 2021, providing lead vocals, and bass guitar. It was the groups one constant Billy Gibbons who chose the groups name, he had noticed that many acts such as ‘B.B. King,’ and ‘Z.Z. Hill,’ used initials, and he thought of combining the two into ‘ZZ King,’ but considered it too similar to the Blues legends name, so as he had always thought of BB King as a top performer, he came up with ‘ZZ Top.’

The discography of ZZ Top, who can be filed in the genres of ‘Blues Rock,’ ‘Hard Rock,’ ‘Boogie Rock,’ and ‘Southern Rock,’ and have sold in excess of 40 million records worldwide, includes the release of 15 studio Albums between 1971-2012, and 38 singles that have been released between 1969-2012, there are also six official compilation Albums, and four live Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, eight of their singles have reached the top 40, with both ‘Legs,’ (1984) and ‘Sleeping Bag,’ (1985) both peaking the highest at Number 8, while in the UK, they have charted within the top 40 on 10 occasions, with ‘Gimme All Your Lovin,” (1983) and ‘Viva Las Vegas,’ (1992) both peaking the highest at Number 10.

‘Legs’ was the fourth and final single released from ‘Eliminator,’ the eighth studio Album from ZZ Top, from March 1983. The songs writing credit is given to all three of the groups members, Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard, with the production being by Bill Ham. ‘Eliminator’ would prove to be the peak of the groups commercial career, and although it has never peaked above Number 9 on the ‘Billboard 200’ Album chart, it has sold in excess of 11 million copies in America, as well as topping the one million mark in both the UK, and Canada. The making of ‘Eliminator’ continued a shift towards a more radio friendly commercial sound for ZZ Top, which wouldn’t have pleased some of their long term fans, who grew up listening to the more rawer ‘Blues Rock’ the band had played in the 1970’s. ‘Eliminator’ was heavily influenced by the ‘new’ Electronic synthesizers, used by such groups as ‘Depeche Mode,’ (see also best songs 968-261 and 134) and ‘Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’ (see also best songs 720.)

‘Eliminator’ was produced by Bill Ham, who was born Billy Mack Ham, on February 4th, 1937, in Waxahachie, Texas, United States, he died on June 20th, 2016, at the age of 79. Many agree that Bill Ham was instrumental to the success of ZZ Top, as their manager since their incarnation, co-writing songs, constructing their image, and producing every one of the group’s Albums, from their debut, through to 1996’s ‘Rhythmeen’ Album. Ham and ZZ Top parted ways in 2006.

Billy Gibbons has explained how he got the idea for ‘Legs,’ ‘I was driving in Los Angeles, and there was this unusual downpour. And there was a real pretty girl on the side of the road. I passed her, and then I thought, ‘Well, I’d better pull over’ or at least turn around and offer her a ride, and by the time I got back she was gone. Her legs were the first thing I noticed. Then I noticed that she had a Brooke Shields hairdo that was in danger of falling. She was not going to get wet. She had legs and she knew how to use them.’

‘She’s got legs, she knows how to use them, she never begs, she knows how to choose them. She’s holdin’ leg, wonder how to feel them. Would you get behind them, if you could only find them?’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

654-Fratellis-Chelsea Dagger.

2006-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 0.33. ‘Do-do-do-do-do-do.’ The songs writer, John Lawler said,’It came to me really quickly. I was going,’Do-do-do-do-do-do,’ and it was so easy to write, that I couldn’t believe nobody had ever used the melody before.

The Fratellis were formed in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2005, after John Lawler, (Jon Fratelli) (lead vocals & guitarist) responded to an advert placed in a music shop by the groups future drummer Gordon McRory, (Mince Fratelli) they were joined soon after by the bass player Barry Wallace (Barry Fratelli.) Even so none of the three group members are related, they all chose the stage name ‘Fratelli,’ taking the name from the criminal family in the 1985 American comedy film ‘The Goonies.’ The Fratellis were active until going on hiatus in 2009, they reformed in 2012, and at the time of writing they remain active. The trio played their first official live show in March 2005, and word soon got around, with ‘Fallout Records’ signing them almost immediately. The discography of the Fratellis includes six studio Albums released between 2006-2021, and 17 singles issued within the same time period, there are also four extended plays (EP’s) available. In the UK, the Fratellis have achieved five top 40 singles, with two of their tracks reaching the top 10, ‘Chelsea Dagger,’ (2006 Number 5 single) and ‘Whistle for the Choir’ (2006 Number 9 single.) In their native Scotland, where the chart is compiled by the same company who compile the UK chart (Official Charts Company, OCC,) they have had seven top 40 hits, with ‘Look Out Sunshine!’ making Number 1 in 2008.

Jon Fratelli who was born John Paul Lawler on March 4th, 1979, in Glasgow, Scotland, he is the main songwriter for the Fratellis, as well as being the groups lead singer, and guitarist. In 2009 when the Fratellis went on hiatus, Lawler teamed up with the female Scottish singer/songwriter Lou Hickey to form the duo ‘Codeine Velvet Club,’ and together they issued one Album called ”Codeine Velvet Club’ in 2010. John Lawler’s Album discography is completed by the releases of his two solo Albums, ‘Psycho Jukebox,’ in 2011, and ‘Bright Night Flowers,’ in 2019.

‘Chelsea Dagger’ was the second of six singles released from the Fratellis’ debut studio Album ‘Costello Music’, from September 2006, the Album took it’s title from the studio that they used to rent in Budhill, Glasgow. ‘Costello Music’ has gone on to sell in excess of 900,000 copies in the UK, and in excess of a further 300,000 worldwide. The Album has been critically acclaimed, and led to the Fratellis winning the ‘Brit Award for best Breakthrough Act’ in the UK in 2007. ‘Chelsea Dagger’ was written by Jon Fratelli, with the production being by Tony Hoffer, who is credited for his work on multiple platinum selling Albums, including, ‘Midnite Vultures,’ by Beck (1999) and ‘Inside In/Inside Out,’ by The Kooks (2006.)

‘Chelsea Dagger’ was written by Jon Fratelli for his wife Heather, who worked as a burlesque dancer with the stage name ‘Chelsea Dagger.’ Her stage name is a play on the name ‘Britney Spears, ‘Chelsea::Britney, Dagger::Spear.’ Heather performed as ‘Chelsea Dagger’ at the ‘Club Noir,’ which according to ‘Guinness World Records’ was the largest burlesque club in the world, until it closed it’s doors for the last time in 2017. Jon Fratelli has said the song has been wonderful for the band, as its royalties have supported them financially ever since.

‘Chelsea Dagger’ has become an anthem for sports teams all over the world. The first team to adopt the song were the Scottish football team ‘Glasgow Celtic,’ whom Jon Fratelli is a lifelong fan of, the song is also often played by the English football team ‘Chelsea’ at their home games. The song has also been used in the North American National Hockey League, Australian Rugby League, and by the Professional Darts Corporation, with many more sporting events, and teams playing the song, when celebrating success.

Well, you must be a girl with shoes like that, she said, ‘You know me well.’ I’ve seen you and little Steven and Joanne around the back of my hotel, oh yeah. Someone said you was askin’ after me, but I know you best as a blagger. I said, ‘Tell me your name, is it sweet?’ She said, ‘My boy, it’s Dagger,’ oh yeah.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

655-Gary Shearston-I Get a Kick Out of You.

1974-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 3.10. It is not uncommon for comedians to perform in a ‘deadpan’ manner, but it appears that there are singers who do as well.

Gary Rhett Shearston was born on January 9th, 1939, in Inverell, New South Wales, Australia, he died on July 1st, 2013, after suffering a stroke, at the age of 74. It was at the age of 19 that Gary Shearston became a professional singer, having learned to play the guitar, he studied English, American, and Australian Folk songs. This led to him signing with ‘Leedon Records’ in 1962, and then in 1963 he was signed to the Australian division of ‘CBS Records.’ In 1965 radio stations in Sydney started playing the song ‘Sydney Town,’ from his Album ‘Australian Broadside,’ which reached the top 10 in Sydney, and then a year later it reached Number 33 nationally. This success led to him becoming Australia’s biggest record seller of Folk music, and hosting his own national television show called ‘Just Folk,’ After several years of touring, in 1989 Gary Shearston became a cleric in the Anglican Church of Australia, in rural New South Wales. He was ordained a deacon in 1991, and a priest in 1992.

The discography of Gary Shearston includes 18 Albums released between 1964-2013, and five singles released between 1965-1975. In Australia two of his singles reached the ‘Kent Music Report’ top 40 singles chart, (the ‘ARIA’ chart since 1988) with ‘Sydney Town’ reaching Number 33, and ‘I Get a Kick Out of You,’ peaking at Number 19. His only international hit was ‘I Get a Kick Out of You,’ which reached Number 7 in the UK in 1974.

‘I Get a Kick Out of You,’ was written by Cole Porter (1891-1964) (see also best songs 944-295 and 73) and was covered by Gary Shearston in 1974 for his eighth Album ‘Dingo,’ with the production being by Hugh Murphy (1946-1998) (see also best songs 61.) ‘I Get a Kick Out of You,’ which has countless cover versions, has never charted in America on Billboard by any artist, and in the UK only Gary Shearston has had a hit with the song. Cole Porter wrote ‘I Get a Kick Out of You’ in 1931 for the musical ‘Star Dust,’ but it wasn’t used. It was first introduced in the 1934 musical ‘Anything Goes,’ (another Cole Porter musical) and then sung by the American actress Ethel Merman (1908-1984) in the 1936 film version.

Cole Porter’s lyrics to ‘I Get a Kick Out of You’ have caused more than their fair share of controversy over the years. The line ‘Some get a kick from cocaine,’ had to be re-written by Porter as ‘Some like the perfume from Spain,’ for the 1936 movie version, as a reference to drugs was not allowed at that time by the ‘Hollywood Production Code’ of 1934. Frank Sinatra (1915-1998) (see also best songs 877-567-469-120 and 73) recorded ‘I Get a Kick Out of You’ without the drug reference in 1953, and then with the drug reference on a recording live in Paris in 1962, which was not commercially released until 1994.

‘I Get a Kick Out of You’ originally included the lyrics ‘I get no kick in a plane, I shouldn’t care for those nights in the air that the fair Mrs. Lindbergh goes through, but I get a kick out of you.’ These lyrics were changed by Cole Porter to ‘Flying too high with some guy in the sky, is my idea of nothing to do.’ The change was made due to the tragic kidnapping, and murder of Anne Lindbergh’s (1906-2001) infant child in 1932.

In ‘I Get a Kick Out of You,’ Cole Porter is stating that cocaine, or alcohol, or even flying in an aeroplane, are just plain boring, when compared to the kick he gets out of the one he yearns for.

‘I get a kick every time I see you’re standing there before me. I get a kick though it’s clear to me you obviously do not adore me.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

656-Boz Scaggs-Lowdown.

1976-Number 28 single.

Best Bit-At 3.19. The makers of the film ‘Saturday Night Fever’ approached the management of Boz Scaggs, asking if they could use this song on the soundtrack of their new film. Scaggs’ management said no, instead taking up the offer of another film called ‘Looking for Mr. Goodbar, released around the same time. The ‘Saturday Night Fever’ soundtrack to date has sold in excess of 23 million copies worldwide.

Boz Scaggs was born William Royce Scaggs, on June 8th, 1944, in Canton, Ohio, United States, he acquired the nickname ‘Bosley’ while at school, which was later shortened to ‘Boz.’ At the age of 15 he attended the same school as Steve Miller, (see also best songs 715) the pair would later attend the same university. Boz Scaggs played on both of Steve Millers first two studio Albums, ‘Children of the Future,’ (1968) and ‘Sailor’ (1968.) Between 1965-1974 Boz Scaggs released six solo studio Albums, which all met with poor sales, it wasn’t until the release of his seventh Album ‘Silk Degrees’ in 1976, that things changed.

The discography of Boz Scaggs includes 19 solo studio Albums released between 1965-2018, and six official compilation Albums, that have been issued between 1980-2019. He has also released 17 singles between 1971-1994, of which eight have reached the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart top 40, with ‘Lowdown’ peaking the highest at Number 3, while in the UK he has charted within the top 40 on four occasions, with ‘What Can I Say’ from 1976, charting the highest at Number 10.

‘Lowdown’ was the second of four singles released from ‘Silk Degrees,’ the seventh solo studio Album from Boz Scaggs, from February 1976, the song was co-written by Boz Scaggs, and David Paich, with the production being by Joe Wissert. ‘Silk Degrees’ was initially a slow burner, but after the release of ‘Lowdown,’ sales quickly began to pick up, and at the time of writing it has sold in excess of five million copies in the United States. As well as the Album’s hit singles, which also included, ‘It’s Over,’ ‘What Can I Say,’ and ‘Lido Shuffle,’ was the song ‘We’re All Alone,’ which when covered by the American singer Rita Coolidge, reached Number 7 in America, and Number 6 in the UK. Boz Scaggs has spoken about how the Album’s title came about,’It was just something I had scribbled on the side of a page. The last thing I do after I record an album is name it. Silk Degrees doesn’t mean anything specifically. It’s just an image I couldn’t get out of my head.’

‘Lowdown’ was co-written by David Paich, who was born on June 25th, 1954, in Los Angeles, California, United States. In 1977 he was one of the co-founders of the American Rock group ‘Toto,’ and he is best known as their principal songwriter, and keyboardist. With ‘Toto’ he has sold in excess of 40 million records worldwide, with the songs he has written, or co-written for ‘Toto’ including, ‘Hold the Line,’ (1978-Billboard Number 5 & UK Number 14) ‘Rosanna,’ (1982-Billboard Number 2 & UK Number 12) and ‘Africa,’ (1982-Billboard Number 1 & UK Number 3.) Other notable work, away from ‘Toto’ include, co-writing the ‘Disco’ track ‘Got to Be Real,’ which made Number 12 on Billboard for the American singer Cheryl Lynn in 1978, and also working as a session musician, and musical arranger on Michael Jackson’s 1982 Album ‘Thriller’ (see also best songs 511 and 191.) David Paich had been brought in by Boz Scaggs to help him create a change in direction, in order to achieve commercial success, Scaggs also brought in Jeff Porcaro, (1954-1992) (drums) and David Hungate, (bass) who would both join up later with Paich to form ‘Toto.’

Boz Scaggs has explained his early working experience with David Paich, ‘We took off for a weekend to this getaway outside of LA, where there was a piano. and stayed up all night banging around ideas. We hit on ‘Lowdown,’ and then we brought it back to the band and recorded it. We were just thrilled with that one. That was the first song that we attempted, and it had a magic to it.’ As for the songs meaning, the word ‘Lowdown’ is a popular slang word meaning, a summary of what’s going on for real. The song is about a girl who doesn’t appreciate what her man gives her. The ‘dirty lowdown’ is the honest truth.

‘Baby’s into running around, hanging with the crowd, putting your business in the street. Talking out loud, saying you bought her this and that, and how much you done spent. I swear she must believe it’s all heaven sent.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

657-Roy Orbison and the Candy Men-Oh, Pretty Woman.

1964-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0-35. ‘MERCY!’

Roy Kelton Orbison was born on April 23rd, 1936, in Hendersonville, Tennessee, United States, he died of a heart attack on December 6th, 1988, at the age of 52. Music critics described his music as ‘Operatic,’ which earned him the nickname, ‘The Caruso of Rock,’ after the Italian Operatic tenor Enrico Caruso, (1873-1921) he was also widely known as ‘The Big O.’ During his career Roy Orbison suffered badly from stage fright, which is why he took to wearing dark sunglasses when performing, leading many initially in to thinking that he was actually blind. It was while at high school that Roy Orbison and some friends formed the band ‘Wink Westerners,’ playing ‘Country’ standards and Glenn Miller songs, (1904-1944) (see also best songs 808-321 and 146) which led to appearances on the local radio station ‘ KERB,’ in Kermit, Texas. With the ‘Wink Westerners,’ Orbison won a talent contest, leading to television appearances on ‘KMID-TV,’ in Midland, Texas. When Johnny Cash (1932-2003) (see also best songs 857-428 and 199) toured the area in 1955 and 1956, he appeared on the same local television show, and suggested to Roy Orbison that he should get in touch with Sam Phillips (1923-2003) at ‘Sun Records,’

Roy Orbison cut his teeth as as singer and songwriter at ‘Sun Records,’ but he failed to make a commercial breakthrough, until coming to the attention of the American music producer Fred Foster (1931-2019) (see also best songs 341) who signed him up to ‘Monument Records,’ in 1960, a label which he had founded in 1958. Fred Foster is credited with the development of Roy Orbison, and he would oversee the most successful period in Orbison’s career between 1960-1965, but with the inevitable change in music tastes, Roy Orbison would find his record sales declining over the next 20 plus years, until his career was given a big boost when he was asked to join the British/ American ‘supergroup’ the ‘Traveling Wilburys’ in 1988, performing alongside Bob Dylan, George Harrison, (1943-2001) Jeff Lynne, and Tom Petty (1950-2017.) With the ‘Traveling Wilburys’ Orbison adopted the stage name ‘Lefty Wilbury,’ in honour of one of his earliest musical influences, the American ‘Country,’ and ‘Honky Tonk’ singer Lefty Frizzell (1928-1975.)

The solo discography of Roy Orbison includes 23 studio Albums released between 1961-2015, and 92 singles issued between 1956-2017, there are also 24 official compilation Albums, and four live Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, 20 of his tracks have made the top 40, with ‘Running Scared,’ (1961) and ‘Oh, Pretty Woman,’ (1964) both reaching Number 1. In the UK he has achieved 32 top 40 hits, with ‘Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel’) (1960) ‘It’s Over,’ (1964) and ‘Oh, Pretty Woman,’ (1964) all making the Number 1 position.

‘Oh, Pretty Woman’ was co-written by Roy Orbison, and Bill Dees, (1939-2012) with the production being by Fred Foster, and was released as a stand alone single. It has gone on to sell in excess of seven million copies worldwide, and after being chosen as a piece of music for the film, the producers named the 1990 American romantic comedy ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’ after the song. The songs title was inspired by Roy Orbison’s wife, Claudette, (1941-1966) interrupting a conversation to announce that she was going out. When Orbison asked if she had enough cash, Bill Dees, the songs co-writer interjected,’Pretty woman never needs any money.’ Bill Dees has also said,’Mercy,’ was mine, I used to say that all the time, when I saw a pretty woman, or had some good food.’

Bill Dees has told how quickly the song came about,’He sang it (Orbison) while I was banging my hand down on the table, and by the time she returned (Claudette) we had the song. I love the song. From the moment that the rhythm started, I could hear the heels clicking on the pavement, click, click, the pretty woman walking down the street, in a yellow skirt and red shoes. We wrote Oh Pretty Woman on a Friday, the next Friday we recorded it, and the next Friday it was out. It was the fastest thing I ever saw. Actually, the yeah, yeah, yeah in Oh Pretty Woman probably came from the Beatles.’

‘Pretty woman, walkin’ down the street, pretty woman the kind I like to meet. Pretty woman I don’t believe you, you’re not the truth, no one could look as good as you, MERCY!.’