THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

872-Small Faces-Itchycoo Park.

1967-Number 3 single. When it was re-issued in 1975 it made Number 13.

Best Bit-At 2.23. You’ve heard of air guitar, well this is air drums. When she played the song, I remember Annie Nightingale, the first BBC Radio 1 DJ saying,’Drummers of the world unite.’

The Small Faces (see also best songs 1048) were formed in London, England, in 1965 by Steve Marriott, (1947-1991) (vocals, and guitar) Ronnie Lane, (1946-1997) (bass guitar) Kenney Jones, (drums) and Jimmy Winston, (1945-2020) (guitar, and keyboards) Winston left the group in 1966, and was replaced by Ian McLagan (1945-2014) (keyboards.) The Small Faces split in 1969 when Steve Marriott left to form the ‘Blues Rock’ band Humble Pie with Peter Frampton, while the other three members collaborated with Ronnie Wood, (see also best songs 565-160 and 70) Ronnie’s older brother Art Wood, (1937-2006) Rod Stewart (see also best songs 965-565-179-70 and 34) and Kim Gardner, (1948-2001) briefly continuing under the name ‘Quiet Melon,’ and then, with the departure of Art Wood and Gardner, as the ‘Faces’ (see also best songs 565 and 70.) Following the re-release of ‘Itchycoo Park’ in 1975, and also the break-up of the ‘Faces,’ the ‘Small Faces’ reformed, and remained active until 1979, with Rick Wills, replacing Ronnie Lane later in 1975.

The Small Faces were initially heavily influenced by American ‘R&B,’ but later they experimented with ‘Psychedelic Music.’ Their discography includes six studio Albums released between 1966-1978, and 14 singles that were issued between 1965-1976, including two re-releases, there are also four official compilation Albums, and three live Albums available. In the UK, the Small Faces have had 14 top 40 singles, with ‘All Or Nothing,’ which Steve Marriott has said is the best song that he wrote, giving them their only Number 1 single. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, ‘Itchycoo Park’ was their only top 40 chart entry, reaching Number 16.

‘Itchycoo Park’ which was never featured on any of the Small Faces UK studio Albums, but was featured on the North American release ‘There Are But Four Small Faces,’ in 1968. The song was co-written , and co-produced by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane, although mainly written by Lane, in 1995 a ‘Dance’ version of the song was released by the British band ‘M People,’ (see also best songs 430) which reached Number 11 in the UK. ‘Itchycoo Park’ is the nickname of ‘Little Ilford Park,’ in London. An ‘Itchycoo’ is slang for a flower found in the park called a ‘Stinging Nettle,’ which can burn the skin if touched. Ronnie Lane has said,’It’s a place we used to go to in Ilford years ago. Some bloke we know suggested it to us because it’s full of nettles and you keep scratching.’ Ronnie Lane has also explained the origins of the song,’Itchycoo Park’ basically came from me. I lifted it from a hymn, ‘God Be In My Head,’ and I also got the theme to the words in a hotel in Bath or Bristol. There was a magazine in the room with a rambling account of some place in the country, and it was about ‘dreaming spires’ and a ‘bridge of sighs,’ there was a write-up on this town, and I just thought they were nice lines.’

When ‘Itchycoo Park’ was first released many radio stations refused to play it, because of it’s controversial lyrics such as ‘What did you do there? I got high.’ In order to get the ban reversed the Small Faces put out a statement saying that ‘Itchycoo Park’ was a piece of waste ground in the East End, that the band had played on as kids. Ronnie Lane said that the meaning of ‘getting high,’ was the buzz of playing truant from school. They put the statement out at 10.am, and by lunchtime the ban had been lifted.

‘Itchycoo Park’ was one of the first hit songs to feature ‘Flanging,’ which is an audio effect produced by mixing two identical signals together. The song features one of the first uses of ‘phase-shifting’ production, which you can hear when the vocals and drums become distorted in the song. The technique was called ‘comb filtering,’ which could later be created using a processor, but at the time required three tape machines, with two of them playing the same thing at different frequencies, and the third one recording it. According to Glyn Johns, who engineered the sessions, it was a staff producer at Olympic Studios named George Chkiantz who came up with the effect, and Johns was looking for a place to use it. The Small Faces were always looking for new sounds and encouraged Johns to use the technique on this song. The groups keyboardist Ian McLagan has said, ‘We tried to replicate the phasing effect when we played it live. It was hopeless.’

‘I feel inclined to blow my mind, get hung up, feed the ducks with a bun. They all come out to groove about, be nice and have fun in the sun.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

873-Bachman-Turner Overdrive-Roll On down the Highway.

1975-Number 22 single.

Best Bit- At 2.34. ‘Ah, breaker one-nine, this here’s the Rubber Duck, you got a copy on me, Pig Pen, c’mon?’

Bachman-Turner Overdrive, (see also best songs 1005) or as is it often abbreviated, ‘BTO,’ were formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in 1973, by the brothers Randy Bachman, (lead guitar) Robbie Bachman, (1953-2023) (drums) Tim Bachman, (1951-2023) (guitar) and Fred Turner (lead vocals, and bass guitar.) In 1974 Blair Thornton (guitar) joined the group, replacing Tim Bachman, who had been fired after the release of the bands second studio Album ‘Bachman-Turner Overdrive 2.’ It was while on their way back from a gig in Toronto, that the group had spotted a copy of a trucker’s magazine called ‘Overdrive,’ while in a diner. Turner wrote ‘Bachman–Turner Overdrive, and the initials ‘B.T.O.’ on a napkin. The rest of the band decided the addition of ‘Overdrive’ was the perfect way to describe their music. ‘BTO’ were active between 1973-1980, and with varying members have reformed again between 1983-2005, and again as ‘Bachman & Turner,’ between 2009-2018. In total there have been nine official members come and go.

The discography of the Bachman-Turner Overdrive includes 10 studio Albums released between 1973-1996, and 28 singles issued in the same time period, there are also 14 official compilations, and four live Albums available. In Canada on the ‘RPM’ music industry chart top 40, ‘BTO’ achieved 11 hit singles, with ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,’ (1974) and ‘Hey You,’ (1975) both reaching Number 1. While on the American Billboard Hot 100, five of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,’ making Number 1. In the UK, they have charted within the top 40 on two occasions, with this song peaking at Number 22, and ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,’ peaking at Number 2.

Randy Bachman was born Randolph Charles Bachman, on September 27th, 1943, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, as well as being a founding member of ‘BTO,’ he was also a founding member of ‘The Guess Who’ in 1965. Bachman left ‘The Guess Who’ in 1970, stating lifestyle differences between himself and the other band members as the main reason for him leaving. Bachman has said that immediately following the split he was labelled a ‘lunatic and a loser,’ and was told that nobody would want to work with him again. With ‘The Guess Who’ he recorded seven studio Albums between 1965-1970, and had four Canadian Number 1 singles, including ‘American Woman,’ and ‘No Sugar Tonight,’ which were both also American Billboard Number 1 songs in 1970. It was in 1971 that Randy Bachman first began working with Fred Turner, Turner had been recommended to Bachman by Neil Young (see also best songs 602 and 559.)

‘Roll On down the Highway’ was the second of two singles released from ‘Not Fragile,’ the third studio Album by ‘BTO,’ from September 1974. The song was co-written by Randy Bachman, and Fred Turner, with the production being by Bachman. Turner and Bachman had been contacted by ‘The Ford Motor Company’ to write a song for the automotive company’s advertising, but the company decided to not use any of their compositions. Randy Bachman and Fred Turner developed one of those rejected tracks, which would become ‘Roill On down the Highway,’ Bachman has said,’It’s like getting an assignment: write a new commercial for Ford and you’ll get paid $100,000. Well, I’d sit down and I’d write a commercial for Ford, ‘let it roll down the highway.’ Ford never picks it up, and I have a song called ‘Roll On Down the Highway.’

‘Time’s real short, you know the distance is long, I’d like to have a jet but it’s not in the song. Climb back in the cab, cross my fingers for luck, we gotta keep moving if we’re going to make a buck.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

874-Eels-Susan’s House.

1997-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 2.23. Just think, if Bon Jovi hadn’t have had the idea first, the Eels could have called their Album ‘Slippery When Wet.’

The Eels were formed in Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California, United States, in 1995, by Mark Everett. (multi instumentalist) Jonathan ‘Butch’ Norton, (drums) and Tommy Walter, (bass) in total there have been nine official members of the Eels come and go, with Everett being the bands one constant.

In 1991 Mark Everett signed a contract with ‘Polydor’ records, releasing two solo Albums. and two solo singles in 1992, and 1993, using the stage name ‘E.’ On signing for ‘Dreamworks’ records in 1995, Everett, Norton, and Walter became ‘Eels,’ the name was chosen so that the band records in music stores would be close to ‘E’s’ solo records in an alphabetical ordering, although with so many releases by bands such as the Eagles, and Earth Wind & Fire, the idea didn’t really work that well. The discography of the Eels, whose music has been described as ‘Alternative Rock,’ and ‘Indie Rock,’ includes 19 studio Albums released between 1985-2022, which includes Mark Everett’s recorded and released independently Album ‘Bad Dude in Love,’ from 1985, and also his two solo Albums. Everett and the Eels have also issued 17 singles between 1992-2020, and there are eight official live Albums, and four compilation Albums available. Many of the Eels songs have been used in film and television, including, ‘Christmas Is Going to the Dogs,’ in How the Grinch Stole Christmas,’ (2000) and ‘My Beloved Monster,’ in ‘Shrek’ (2001.) In America on Billboard none of their Albums or singles have ever charted within the top 40, but ‘Novacaine for the Soul’ made Number 1 on the ‘Alternative Airplay’ chart in 1996. In the UK, 14 of their Albums have made the top 40, and they have had six top 40 hit singles, with ‘Susan’s House’ charting the highest at Number 9 in 1997.

Mark Oliver Everett was born on April 10th, 1963, in Virginia, United States, in 2003 he was suspected of working under the alias MC Honky, who released the album ‘I Am the Messiah,’ although he denies it. Many of Everett’s songs are based on his real life experiences, for example the Eels second studio Album ‘Electro-Shock Blues’ from 1998, focuses extensively on the death of his mother Nancy, who had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Everett’s father was Hugh Everett III (1930-1982) the world famous physicist, and his maternal grandfather was Harold ‘Kid’ Gore, (1891-1969) a legendary American football, and basketball coach.

‘Susan’s House’ was the second of five singles released from the Eels debut studio Album ‘Beautiful Freak,’ from August 1996. The song was co-written by Mark Everett, Jim Jacobsen, and Jim Weatherly. ‘Susan’s House’ samples the piano introduction from the 1974 Gladys Knight & the Pips track ‘Love Finds Its Own Way,’ from her their Album ‘I Feel a Song,’ that track had been written by Weatherly, (1943-2021) (see also best songs 667) and is the reason why he is credited as one of the songs writers. ‘Susan’s House’ tells the tale of Mark Everett walking from his house, to Susan’s house, and the horrors he encounters along the way, but he is comforted in the knowledge that when he arrives, he will be safe. Everett has said, ‘Susan wasn’t a crazy girl, a rare exception at the time,’ In reality Susan’s house was in Pasadena, which was not a walkable distance from where Everett lived at the time. By the time of recording the song, Everett and Susan had already been apart a few years. Susan is also the subject of the song ‘Beautiful Freak,’ from the same Album.

‘Here comes a girl with long brown hair who can’t be more than seventeen. She sucks on a red Popsicle, while she pushes a baby girl in a pink carriage, and I’m thinking, that must be her sister, that must be her sister, right? They go into the 7-11 and I keep walking.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

875-Love Affair-Everlasting Love.

1986-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.30. Everlasting Love is the only song to have been a UK top 40 hit in the 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s, and the 2000’s.

‘Everlasting Love’ is one of the most covered songs of all time. Other significant covers include the original version from Robert Knight, (1940-2017) (1967-American Billboard Number 13 & 1974-UK Number 40) The Town Criers, (1968-Australia Number 17) Carl Carlton, (1974-Billboard Number 6) Sandra, (1987-Switzerland & West Germany Number 5) and the ‘Cast of Casualty,’ as a ‘Children in Need’ charity single (1998-UK Number 5.)

‘Everlasting Love’ was co-written by James E. ‘Buzz’ Cason, who was born on November 27th, 1939, in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, and McGavock Dickinson ‘Mac’ Gayden, who was born on June 5th, 1941, also in Nashville, Tennessee. ‘Everlasting Love’ was written with Robert Knight in mind, with the writers aiming to produce it in the ‘Motown’ style reminiscent of the ‘Four Tops,’ and the ‘Temptations,’ of that period.

The Love Affair were formed in London, England, in 1966, and remained active through until 1971, in total there were seven members come and go during that time period. The Love Affair are best remembered for their ‘Pop’ hits, but several of their ‘B’ sides, and Album tracks leaned more towards ‘Soft Rock,’ and ‘Progressive Rock.’ They issued two Albums in 1968, and 1971, and 11 singles between 1967-1971, a further four singles were issued after the band split, between 1973-1988. There are also three official compilation Albums available. The Love Affair had great success in Europe, but failed to break into the North American market, which was one of the main reasons that they split. In the UK, five of their singles reached the top 40, with ‘Everlasting Love’ making the Number 1 spot, the song was also a hit in other countries including Australia, where it reached Number 36, and South Africa, where it made Number 9.

The Love Affair had not been the first choice to record the first British cover version of ‘Everlasting Love,’ as Mike Smith (1935-2011) (one of the songs co-producers) had first offered the song to the Scottish band ‘Marmalade,’ who turned it down, saying it was too ‘poppy’ for them. Steve Ellis who was the 16 year old lead singer with the Love Affair has said,’We had two managers, David Wedgebury and John Cokell, who both worked at Decca, and had access to all the imports on the ‘Monument’ label. We rehearsed in a factory in Walthamstow, and one night they turned up with ‘Everlasting Love’ by Robert Knight. I loved it and so we set about putting it down on tape. The bands record label were in a rush to release the Love Affair’s version before ‘Monument’ records released the Robert Knight original in the UK, so in order to save time on rehearsals Steve Ellis sang the lead vocals, fronting session musicians, which comprised of the arranger/conductor Keith Mansfield’s 40-piece Orchestra, plus a rhythm section, the session musicians included, Peter Ahern (triangle percussion), Clem Cattini (drums), Alan Parker (guitar), Russ Stableford (bass), and the female backing singers, Madeline Bell, Kiki Dee, (see also best songs 481) Lesley Duncan, (1943-2010) and Kay Garner (1943-2007.)

It is possible that those in charge at the record label thought that the other members of the Love Affair were not up to the musical standards required that they were wanting to achieve, but Mike Smith has said,’There just wasn’t time for the group to learn the arrangement in time, so we used session musicians.’ Steve Ellis has spoken about recording the song,’The general opinion seemed to be that I should do it with an orchestra and then give it a Phil Spector-type production. Obviously I felt odd without the band being in the studio, but it was for the good of all involved. Two takes and it was done. The band were not too concerned about this approach to things.’

‘Where life’s river flows, no one really knows, ’til someone’s there to show the way to lasting love. Like the sun that shines, endlessly it shine, you always will be mine. It’s everlasting love.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

876-Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull-On the Floor.

2011-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.03. ‘You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching. Love like you’ll never be hurt, sing like there’s nobody listening, and live like it’s heaven on earth.’ (William W. Purkey) That quote probably sums up what this song is all about.

Jennifer Lynn Lopez (currently Jennifer Lynn Affleck) was born on July 24th, 1969, in New York City, United States, prior to pursing a successful career in music, she was an actress, and in 1997 she became the first Hispanic actress to earn over US$1 million for a film, when playing the leading role in the American biographical musical drama ‘Selena.’ In total Jennifer Lopez has appeared in 45 films to date, and has also worked on many television shows, including the American sketch comedy television series ‘In Living Color,’ between 1991-1993, where she appeared in 62 episodes, and she was a judge on ‘American Idol,’ on and off between 2011-2021, where she appeared in 170 episodes.

In 1999 Jennifer Lopez launched her music career, and in 2001 she became the first female to have a Number one film (‘The Wedding Planner’) and Number 1 album simultaneously (‘J.Lo’) when both were released in the same week in January 2001. The discography of Jennifer Lopez includes eight studio Albums released between 1999-2014, and 65 singles issued between 1999-2022, there are also three official compilation Albums, and one Remix Album available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, she has had 17 top 40 hits, with four of those tracks reaching Number 1, although ‘On the Floor,’ only peaked at Number 3. In the UK, she has achieved 23 top 40 hits, with three of those songs reaching Number 1, including ‘On the Floor.’

‘On the Floor’ was the first of three singles released from ‘Love?’ which was the seventh studio Album released by Jennifer Lopez from April 2011. ‘On the Floor’ has eight writers credited, who are, Nadir Khayat, Kinnda Hamid, AJ Junior, Teddy Sky, Bilal Hajji, Armando Perez, (Pitbull, see also best songs 531) Gonzalo Hermosa, and Ulises Hermosa, with the production being by Nadir Khayat, under his working name ‘RedOne’ (see also best songs 363.)

‘On the Floor’ proved to be a big moment in the musical career of Jennifer Lopez, as the hits had dried up, and this would be her first top 10 hit on either side of the Atlantic since 2006, it also coincided with Lopez becoming a judge on the very popular ‘American Idol’ talent show. The ‘Rap’ on ‘On the Floor’ was provided by the American Rapper ‘Pitbull,’ who like Lopez has also topped the UK top 40 on three occasions. Pitbull has spoken about the part he played on the track,’When you got these big, big ‘House’ records or club records that are very global, I try to come in on what I was raised on, what I’m a fan of, which is just spitting hard,’

‘On the Floor’ samples the 1989 UK Number 4 hit single ‘The Lambada,’ by the French/Brazilian group ‘Kaoma,’ who in turn had sampled the ‘Lambada’ from a song called ‘Llorando se fue,’ which is a 1981 Bolivian Folk song recorded by the band ‘Los Kjarkas, which is the reason why Gonzalo Hermosa of that band receives songwriting credit on ‘On the Floor.’ Nadir ‘RedOne’ Khayat who was the songs producer, and also one of the songs writers, based parts of the song on the 2010 track ‘Party O’Clock,’ by Kat DeLuna, which he also had written and produced, and which had only been a top 20 hit in Belgium. Kat DeLuna has said,’It’s cool that artists like J.Lo are inspired by my musical sound and style. Jennifer helped pave the way for Latinas like myself. I love her.’ Jennifer Lopez who had started her performing career as a dancer has reminisced about ‘On the Floor,’ The minute ‘RedOne’ played it for me, I made him play it 20 times in a row, and I just sat there at the board and I kept listening to it and listening to it, because I really feel like, emotionally, I connected to it, but also because of how much I love to dance, and how much that’s always been such a big part of who I am since I started. Since I was a little girl, I just totally connected with the idea of getting out there.’

‘Don’t stop, keep it moving, put your drinks up. It’s getting ill, it’s getting sick on the floor. We never quit, we never rest on the floor. If I ain’t wrong, we’ll probably die on the floor.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

877-Frank Sinatra-You Make Me Feel So Young.

1956-It has never been released as a single in the UK.

Best Bit-At 1.26. The very first British Album chart was published on July 22nd, 1956, and ‘Songs for Swingin’ Lovers!’ by Frank Sinatra, became the first ever Number 1 Album, staying at the top for two weeks.

Francis Albert Sinatra (see also best songs 567-469-120 and 73) was born on December 12th, 1915, in Hoboken, New Jersey, United States, both of his parents were Italian immigrants, he died on May 14th, 1998, after a heart attack, at the age of 82. During the early part of his career he was nicknamed ‘Chairman of the Board,’ but later on he became fondly known as ‘Ol’ Blue Eyes,’ due to his piecing blue eyes. Frank Sinatra was married four times, and had three children, including Nancy Sinatra (see also best songs 1010-978-367 and 124.) With sales in excess of 150 million records sold worldwide, he is one of the best selling artists of all time. Away from music, Sinatra also had a long and successful career as an actor, where he appeared in 62 films between 1941-1995, for which he received numerous awards, including winning the ‘Golden Globe for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy,’ for his role in the 1957 musical comedy ‘Pal Joey.’

The extensive discography of Frank Sinatra includes 59 studio Albums released between 1946-1994, and 297 singles issued between 1939-1993. Sinatra’s first chart entry in America was in 1939 with the ‘Harry James Orchestra,’ on ‘It’s Funny to Everyone but Me,’ he also had his first Number 1 hit single with the ‘Harry James Orchestra,’ in 1940 with ‘All or Nothing at All.’ Between 1940-1942 he recorded with the ‘Tommy Dorsey Orchestra,’ and he released his first solo single ‘Night and Day,’ in 1942, which reached Number 16 on the chart. In total Frank Sinatra has had 170 top 40 hits in America, with 11 of those songs reaching the Number 1 spot. In the UK, since an official chart was first published in 1952, Frank Sinatra has charted within the top 40 on 30 occasions between 1953-1993, with three of those tracks reaching Number 1, including his 1967 duet with his daughter Nancy Sinatra on ‘Somethin’ Stupid.’

‘You Make Me Feel So Young’ is the opening track on ‘Songs for Swingin’ Lovers!’ which was the 10th Album released by Frank Sinatra from March 1956. ‘You Make Me Feel So Young’ was co-written by Josef Myrow, (1910-1987) (melody) and Mack Gordon, (1904-1959) (see also best songs 775 and 321) (lyrics) with the song and it’s parent Album being produced by Voyle Gilmore (1912-1979.) The Album’s music was arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle (1921-1985) (see also best songs 286 and 73.) ‘You Make Me Feel So Young’ was originally written by Myrow and Gordon for the 1946 musical film ‘Three Little Girls in Blue,’ where it was sung by the characters and performed by Vera-Ellen, (1921-1981) and Charles Smith, (1920-1988) with voices dubbed by Carol Stewart and Del Porter (1902-1977.)

Frank Sinatra’s musical career had been on the decline for several years, and was badly in need of a boost, and that’s what happened when he signed with ‘Capital Records’ in 1953, but essentially it was being teamed up with the arranger and composer Nelson Riddle that changed his fortunes for the better. Riddle who had already arranged ‘Mona Lisa’ (1950) for Nat King Cole, (1919-1965) the best selling song of Cole’s career, was brought in to work with Sinatra by ‘Capital Records,’ and together they would collaborate on 19 Albums together. Other classic Albums the pair teamed up for include ‘ In the Wee Small Hours,’ (1955) ‘ Songs for Young Lovers,’ (1954) and ‘Swing Easy!.’ (1954.) ‘Songs for Swingin’ Lovers!’ is considered to be amongst Sinatra’s best work, and in 2000, the Album was inducted into the ‘Grammy Hall of Fame.’

‘The moment that you speak, I want to go and play hide and seek. I wanna go and bounce the moon just like a toy balloon. You and I are just like a couple of tots, running across a meadow, pickin’ up lots of forget me nots.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

878-The Jesus and Mary Chain-Sometimes Always.

1994-Number 22 single.

Best Bit-At 1.57. In one last ditch attempt to get on the Radio 2 playlist, they came up with this.

The Jesus and Mary Chain (see also best songs 336) were formed in East Kilbride, Scotland, in 1983, they officially split in 1999, but reformed in 2007, and at the time of writing they remain active. The original line up were comprised of the brothers Jim Reid, (singer/songwriter, and lead vocalist) William Reid, (composer, singer, and lead guitar) Douglas Hart, (bass) and Murray Dalglish (drummer.) The bands two constants have been the Reid brothers, as Hart left in 1991, then founded his own video company, while Dalglish was only a member for a few months, until leaving in November 1984, when he was replaced by Bobby Gillespie (see also best songs 724.) In total there have been 23 different band members come and go, with five official members still performing.

‘Sometimes Always’ was the first of two singles released from The Jesus and Mary Chains’ fifth studio Album ‘Stoned & Dethroned,’ from August 1994. The song was written by William Reid, with the production by William, and Jim Reid. ‘Sometimes Always’ is a very different sound to that which got the brothers signed to ‘Creation Records’ in 1983. The Reid brothers early influences included bands such as ‘The Stooges,’ (see also best songs 219) and ‘The Ramones,’ (see also best songs 707 and 102) but to my ears this track sounds like the best song Lee Hazelwood (1929-2007) (see also best songs 1010-978-367 and 124) never wrote.

As well as issuing seven studio Albums, and 21 singles with The Jesus and Mary Chain, William Reid has also released an EP as ‘William,’ in 1998, called ‘Tired of F..king.’ He has also issued a further two EP’s, and two solo Albums, between 1999-2000, as ‘Lazycame.’ Jim Reid has also released music with Ben Lurie, also a one time member of The Jesus and Mary Chain, and Romi Mori, and Nick Sanderson of the American Rock band ‘The Gun Club,’ using the name ‘Freeheat’ since 1999. He has also issued two solo singles in 2005 and 2006.

The female vocals on ‘Sometimes Always’ are sung as a duet between Jim Reid, and Hope Sandoval, William Reid has said,’We’d always liked Hope’s voice. We asked her years ago to be on one of the records, but there was never a song that suited. Then this one came along and it felt right.’ Initially William had been worried that the song was ‘A bit too cute, too light a story,’ but his worries were soon laid to rest, as he has explained,’When we recorded it, Hope and Jim sang, and they just transcended it.’

Hope Sandoval was born on June 24th, 1966, in Los Angeles, California, United States, she is a singer and songwriter. Sandoval is best known for being the co-founder, and lead singer of the American Alternative Rock band ‘Mazzy Star,’ whom she founded in 1988 with David Roback (1958-2020.) With ‘Mazzy Star,’ Sandoval has released four studio Albums between 1990-2013, and 12 singles between 1990-2014. ‘Mazzy Star’ have never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 in America, but have had three singles reach the Billboard Alternative chart, with ‘Fade into You’ peaking the highest at Number 3 in 1994. In the UK, their only top 40 entry remains ‘Flowers in December,’ which reached Number 40 in 1996. Sandoval has also issued three Albums between 2001-2016, and nine singles in the same time period with the Irish musician Colm Ó Cíosóig, who was the founding member, and drummer with the Alternative Rock band ‘My Bloody Valentine,’ together they perform as ‘Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions.’

‘Sometimes Always’ tells the tale of couple who broke up because he left her, and now he realises that he has made a big mistake, She tells him that she gave him everything, but he just threw it back in her face. He begs her to take him back, and after making him beg, she decides to give him one more chance…. Some women never learn do they.

‘Oh, you’re a lucky son, lucky son of a gun, you went away, you went away, you went away, but now you’re back. I got down on my knees, and then I begged you please, I always knew you’d take me back.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

879-Beck-Where It’s At.

1996-Number 35 single.

Best Bit-At 3.53. He’s got two turntables, and a microphone, all he needs now is some flashing lights, and he can do mobile disco’s.

Beck was born Bek David Campbell, on July 8th, 1970, in Los Angeles, California, United States. His mother is Bibbe Hansen, who is a musician and actress, and performed in the Andy Warhol (1928-1987) movie ‘Prison’ (1965.) Beck’s father is the Canadian musical arranger, composer, and conductor David Campbell, who has worked on over 450 Gold and Platinum Albums, by artists of a wide range of genres since 1972, including Michael Jackson, Beyonce, and Harry Styles. Campbell has also contributed music to his extensive filmography since 1978. Beck is considered to be one of the most innovative artists since the start of the 1990’s, he has covered many different musical genres, including ‘Alternative Rock,’ ‘Anti-Folk,’ Hip-Hop,’ Psychedelia,’ Lo-Fi,’ and ‘Art Pop,’ with many of his 14 studio Albums vastly differing in musical genres. For the discography of Beck (see also best songs 230.)

‘Where It’s At’ was the first of five singles released from Beck’s fifth studio Album ‘Odelay,’ from June 1996. The Album is Beck’s most successful to date, having sold in excess of 2.3 million copies in America, and a further 750,000 worldwide to date. ‘Where It’s At’ was co-written by Beck, along with John King, and Michael Simpson, who are better known as ‘The Dust Brothers,’ all three are also credited as the songs producers. ‘Where It’s At’ which can boast many ‘samples,’ references ‘Old School Hip-Hop,’ when DJ’s would use two turntables and a microphone to create the right atmosphere. Beck also reminisces about his early days as a struggling musician, when he had to work menial odd jobs in order to make ends meet. Along with the many samples in the song, there is also audio included from a 1969 middle-school sex education Album called ‘Sex For Teens (Where It’s At,’) which is from where the song takes it’s title. Samples from that Album appear throughout the song, for example, “What about those who swing both ways AC-DC.’ The line ‘That was a good drum break,’ was taken from the 1989 song ‘I Don’t Care If U Disrespect Me (Just So You Love Me’) by the American Rock band ‘The Frogs,’ and the sample ‘Two turntables and a microphone,’ is lifted from the 1985 song ‘Needle to the Groove,’ by the Old School Hip-Hop group ‘Mantronix.’ Another sample is the track ‘Knock Him Out Sugar Ray,’ by the American ‘Funk’ band ‘Experience Unlimited (E.U.)’Where It’s At’ also makes reference to the American experimental musician Gary Wilson, who was an early influence on Beck. Speaking about ‘Where It’s At’ Beck has said,’I came up with that little riff on the Wurlitzer organ, and said I gotta remember this. The Dust Brothers were like-minded. We were drawn to the way drums had been recorded in the Sixties and early Seventies, sort of a heavy, dry, thick, soulful sound.’

The Dust Brothers are the duo of ‘E. Z. Mike,’ (Michael Simpson) and ‘King Gizmo,’ (John King) the pair started working together in Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The Dust Brothers first received critical acclaim for their production work on the ‘Beastie Boys’ second studio Album ‘Paul’s Boutique’ in 1989, the same year also saw them them write and produce tracks on Tone Lōc’s debut studio Album, ‘Lōc-ed After Dark,’ and Young MC’s debut Album ‘Stone Cold Rhymin.’ The Dust Brothers have also co-produced with the Rolling Stones, on their 1997 Album ‘Bridges to Babylon,’ as well as assembling the score for the 1999 film ‘Fight Club,’ The duo also co-produced the 1997 UK, and Billboard Number 1 single ‘MMMBop,’ by the American Pop/Rock band ‘Hanson. When the British duo ‘The Chemical Brothers’ (see also best songs 300 and 53) began their career around 1989, they also called themselves the ‘Dust Brothers,’ paying homage to the American duo, but because of trademark reasons they had to rename themselves ‘The Chemical Brothers. All worked out fine, and there were no hard feelings, as in 1997 the Dust Brothers remixed the Chemical Brothers track ‘Elektrobank.’ on their EP of the same name.

‘There’s a destination a little up the road, from the habitations and the towns we know. A place we saw the lights turn low, Jig-saw jazz and the get-fresh flow.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

880-James Brown-Get Up Offa That Thing.

1976-Number 22 single.

Best Bit-At 0.20. By 1976, James Brown had been having hits for 18 years, and he wanted to let everyone know that he was still the Number 1, which is why you hear him taunt those young whippersnappers, The Ohio Players, KC and The Sunshine Band, and Barry White (Barry who?)

‘Get Up Offa That Thing’ was the first of two singles released from James Brown’s 43rd studio Album of the same name, from July 1976. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, the song peaked at Number 45, and Number 4, on the Billboard Hot R&B chart, while in the UK, it was his highest charting song in the decade of the 1970’s. ‘Get Up Offa That Thing,’ and it’s parent Album’s writing credits are registered to James Brown’s wife Diedre, and their two daughters, Deanna, and Yamma. This was because at that time Brown was in trouble with the ‘IRS,’ for failure to pay back taxes. Brown owed millions of Dollars in back taxes, and he didn’t want the royalties to go the ‘IRS.’ In fact it was Brown who wrote all of the six tracks on the Album, and also produced them as well, with the exception of track 2, ‘You Took My Heart,’ which was co-written with the saxophonist St. Clair Pinckney, (1930-1999) who was also a member of Brown’s backing band ‘The J.B.’s.’

‘The J. B.’s’ were James Brown’s backing group from 1970, through until his death in 2006, The J. B.’s were formed after most of the members of Brown’s previous band walked out on him over a pay dispute. In total there have been 34 different members of The J. B.’s, although none of the original seven members played on ‘Get Up Offa That Thing.’ As a side project, ‘The J. B.’s’ issued 14 Albums between 1972-2014, with four of those issued as ‘The JB Horns.’ They also issued 25 singles between 1970-1978, with many of these releases being distributed on the James Brown’s owned record label ‘People Records.’ Like many James Brown’s recordings, the music of ‘The J. B.’s’ has been heavily used for samples by Hip-Hop DJ’s, and record producers.

‘Get Up Offa That Thing’ is filed under the genre of ‘Funk’ music. ‘Funk’ is a music genre that originated in Black American communities in the mid-1960’s, when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music, through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the mid-20th Century. James Brown (1933-2006) (see also best songs 349-270 and 88) is recognised as the main player in the development of ‘Funk’ from the mid 1960’s, into the early part of the 1970’s, with artists such as ‘Parliament-Funkadelic,’ (see also best songs 612-340-143 and 26) Fatback Band, (see also best songs 798 and 217) and Earth Wind & Fire (see also best songs 916 and 462) adopting and developing Brown’s innovations.

The word ‘Funk’ initially referred to ‘a strong odour.’ It was originally derived from the Latin ‘fumigare,’ which means ‘to smoke,’ via the Old French ‘fungiere,’ and in this sense, it was first documented in English in 1620. In 1784 ‘funky’ meaning ‘musty’ was first documented, which, in turn, led to a sense of ‘earthy,’ that was taken up around 1900 in early ‘Jazz Music’ slang for something ‘deeply or strongly felt.’ Even though in white culture, the term ‘funk’ can have negative connotations of odour, or being in a bad mood, in African communities, the term ‘funk,’ while still linked to body odour, had the positive sense that a musician’s hard-working, honest effort led to sweat, and from their ‘physical exertion’ came an ‘exquisite,’ and ‘superlative’ performance.

James Brown has explained that he got the title ‘Get Up Offa That Thing’ while performing in front of an uninspired crowd in a Fort Lauderdale Club.’ He has said,’The audience was sitting down, trying to do a sophisticated thing, listening to Funk. One of the tightest bands they’d ever heard in their lives, and they were sitting. I had worked hard and dehydrated myself, and was feeling depressed. I looked out at all those people sitting there, and because I was depressed they looked depressed. I yelled, ‘Get up offa that thing and dance till you feel better!’ I probably meant until I felt better.’

‘Ha! Get funky! So good, uh! I’m first to stop, ha! I’ve told them now, ha! Uh! Ha! Ohio player! Can you hit it one time, check this out! Get up offa that thing,’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

881-Hall & Oates-She’s Gone.

1973-It did not chart until 1976, when it peaked at Number 42.

Best Bit-At 4.35. The all time best selling duo’s are, 3/ The Everly Brothers, 2/ Simon & Garfunkel, and at Number 1/Daryl Hall & John Oates.

Daryl Hall was born Daryl Franklin Hohl on October 11th, 1946, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States, and John William Oates was born on April 7th, 1948, in New York City, United States. Although they are commonly referred to as ‘Hall & Oates,’ they dislike that billing, and are adamant that their stage name is referred to as ‘Daryl Hall and John Oates,’ The duo first met at the ‘Adelphi Ballroom,’ in Philadelphia in 1967, when both were performing with different groups in a band competition, Daryl Hall was with ‘The Temptones,’ and John Oates with ‘The Masters.’ They soon discovered that they both had the same taste in music, and decided to work together, sharing the same apartments in Philadelphia. One of the apartments they shared had ‘Hall & Oates’ on the mailbox, which became the duo’s common nickname. In 1968 John Oates went to Europe, where he stayed for two years, but on his return, he and Hall began to work more seriously together, and signed a contract with ‘Atlantic Records’ in 1970.

The discography of Daryl Hall & John Oates includes 18 studio Albums released between 1972-2006. and 63 singles issued between 1972-2018, there are also 27 official compilation Albums and 11 live Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, 29 of those singles have made the top 40, with six of those tracks reaching Number 1. While in the UK, they have achieved six top 40 hits, with ‘Maneater,’ from 1982, charting the highest at Number 6. Daryl Hall has also released eight solo Albums between 1980-2022, and 24 singles between 1980-2011, while John Oates has issued five solo studio Albums between 2002-2018, and five live Albums between 2004-2020.

‘She’s Gone’ was co-written by Daryl Hall & John Oates, and produced by Arif Mardin (1932-2006) (see also best songs 985-882-554 and 85.) The song was the first of two singles released from the duo’s second studio Album ‘Abandoned Luncheonette,’ from November 1973, the Album was also written by Hall & Oates, with Mardin producing. On it’s initial release in November 1973, ‘She’s Gone’ made little impact, only reaching Number 60 on Billboard, but after their breakthrough hit, with their eighth single release ‘Sara Smile’ (Billboard Number 4) in 1975, Atlantic Records, who the duo had left, to join ‘RCA’ records in 1974, re-issued ‘She’s Gone,’ and this time it peaked at Number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Daryl Hall has called ‘She’s Gone’ the best song that he and John Oates ever wrote together. Oates has said that he came up with the chorus, which he wrote on an acoustic guitar, but Oates thought that it sounded like the Cat Stevens song ‘Wild World,’ (1970) so he went to his Wurlitzer keyboard and ‘reworked the groove.’ He has said,’From there, it was a matter of finding the progression, and coming up with the lyrics. We sat down together, and the first line that came out was, ‘Everybody’s high on consolation. It was one of those things where the lines just flowed out, and we were banging it back and forth. To me that is the ultimate Daryl and John song, because that was so collaborative, and so much a part of both of our experiences and lives thrown together.’

‘She’s Gone’ is based on Daryl Hall & John Oates true life experiences. Hall had recently got divorced from his first wife, Bryna Lublin, and Oates had been stood up on New Years Eve by his girlfriend. Many of the duo’s songs were written independently, but this one was a team effort, with Oates writing the chorus, and both adding the verses. Daryl Hall has said,’It’s very autobiographical. What we wrote about was real, even though it was two different situations,and it’s very thematic with us.This soaring melody and uplifting chord progression, but about a very sad thing.’ While John Oates has said,’Making a very, very personal statement but yet saying it in a way that a lot of people can relate it to themselves. That’s the secret of a good lyric. It’s that universal intimacy. I think that’s what we achieved with ‘She’s Gone.’

‘Get up in the morning, look in the mirror, one less toothbrush hanging in the stand, yeah. My face ain’t looking any younger, now I can see love’s taken a toll on me.’