THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

78-Donna Summer-Love to Love You Baby.

1975-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 11.40. (It’s well worth the wait.) If you were born sometime in 1976, then there is a fair chance that you were conceived to this song.

Donna Summer (see also best songs 11) was born LaDonna Adrian Gaines on December 31st, 1948, in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, she died from lung cancer on May 17th, 2012, at the age of 63. In 1973 she married the Austrian actor Helmuth Sommer, and took his surname for her recording career, but due to an error in printing on the record cover of her 1974 single ‘Denver Dream,’ Donna Sommer became Donna Summer, and the name stuck. Donna Summer who was a leading light in the ‘Disco’ era of the 1970’s, also became known as the ‘Queen of Disco.’

In 1968 Donna Summer landed the part of ‘Sheila’ in the Munich production of ‘Hair,’ (see also best songs 202) and moved to Germany, where she became fluent in the language. It was in 1968 as Donna Gaines that she released her first single, a German version of ‘Aquarius,’ from the musical ‘Hair.’ During the next three years Donna would appear on three Albums of cast recordings, and release three commercially unsuccessful singles. For a more in depth discography for Donna Summer see best songs 11.

It was while working as a part time model, and backing singer in Munich in 1973 that Donna Summer first met the music producers Giorgio Moroder, and Peter Bellotte, which led to the recording of Summer’s debut studio Album ‘Lady of the Night,’ which was issued in February 1974, and included her breakthrough hit single ‘The Hostage,’ which peaked at Number 2 in the Netherlands.

‘Love to Love You Baby’ which was also the title track of Donna Summer’s second studio Album from August 1975, was co-written by Summer, Giorgio Moroder, and Pete Bellotte, with the songs production being credited to Bellotte. It was Summer who suggested to Moroder that the lyrics ‘Love to Love You Baby’ might make for a song, and Moroder went away and came up with a demo recording. A tape was sent to Neil Bogart (1943-1982) who was the president of ‘Casablanca Records’ who played it at a party at his home. His guests were so impressed that they kept on asking to hear it again, leading to Bogart asking Moroder if he could write a longer version. Moroder came up with a recording that lasted 16.49, which became an inspiration for extended ‘Disco’ versions of songs to be made, and it also was one of the songs that kick started the release of the 12 inch single format.

Donna Summer had had a religious upbringing, and at first wanted someone else to record the song, but after hearing Donna’s erotic moans and groans Moroder was very impressed, and managed to persuade her to perform the song. Summer tried to record the track in the conventional manner, but realised she was too shy, so Moroder suggested that that she could have the studio to herself with all the lights turned down. In an interview in 1976 Summer finally answered the question everyone was asking.’Were you alone in the studio?’Yes, I was alone in the studio. ‘Did you touch yourself?’ Yes, well, actually I had my hand on my knee.’ According to a tally by ‘Time’ magazine, Summer can be heard simulating 22 orgasms over the course of the song.

‘I love to love you baby. When you’re laying so close to me, there’s no place I’d rather you be than with me. Do it to me again and again, you put me in such a awful spin, in a spin.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

79-Energy 52-Cafe Del Mar (Three ‘n’ One Remix.)

1993-It never charted when the original version was released. The ‘Three ‘n’ One’ remix reached Number 51 in 1997, in 1998 the ‘Nalin & Kane remix peaked at Number 12, and in 2002 the ‘Marco V’ remix made Number 24.

Best Bit-At 5.59. Fittingly for what many people consider to be the best ‘Trance’ tune of all time, it is named after the world famous ‘Cafe Del Mar’ bar.

‘Energy 52’ was a short lived project comprising of the two German music producers Harold Bluchel, and Paul Schmitz-Moormann, (also known as ‘Kid Paul’) who formed in Berlin, Germany, in 1991, and remained active together until 1993. Bluchel was born on February 19th, 1966, in Nuremberg, Germany, and at the age of six he started taking lessons in classical piano. In 1976 he started taking an interest in ‘Electronic Music,’ and in particular ‘Kraftwerk,’ (see also best songs 41) and ‘Tangerine Dream.’ In 1986 he moved to West Berlin where he entered into the ‘Berlin University of the Arts’ to study. It was while living in Berlin, that he first met Kid Paul, and then in 1988 he started to compose in ‘Techno’ music and ‘House’ music. Bluchel has worked under seven different stage names, releasing seven Albums as ‘Cosmic Baby’ between 1992-2007, and four Albums as Harold Bluchel between 2006-2020.

‘Cafe Del Mar’ by ‘Energy 52’ is recognised as one of the most popular ‘Trance’ songs in the world, and in lists compiled is often voted at Number 1. The song appears on hundreds of compilation Albums, and has been remixed, and re-recorded by dozens of artists and producers since it’s initial release. Other notable acts to have covered or remixed the track include ‘Tall Paul,’ (see also best songs 271) in 2006, ‘Deadmau5’ in 2008, and ‘Dimitri Vegas’ in 2022. The main melody of ‘Cafe Del Mar’ is based on the 1983 Classical piece ‘Struggle for Pleasure,’ which was written by the Belgium composer Wim Mertens.

‘Trance’ music is a genre of Electronic Dance Music’ that developed in the early 1990’s from the German ‘Techno,’ and ‘Hardcore’ scenes.Trance music is characterised by a tempo generally lying between 135–150 beats per minute, (BPM) with repeating melodic phrases, and a musical form that distinctly builds tension and elements throughout the track often culminating in 1 to 2 “peaks” or ‘drops.’ Although trance is a genre of its own, it incorporates influences from other musical styles such as Techno, ‘House,’ Pop,’ ‘Chill-out,’ Classical Music,’ Tech House,’ Ambient,’ and ‘Film Music.’

The genres name of ‘Trance’ is taken from the medical term which may be associated with hypnosis, or meditation, also a trance like state can be associated with magic, flow, prayer, and altered states of consciousness. ‘Trance Music’ often uses the same repetitive melody throughout, and is often lengthy so as to incorporate sufficient time to build the ‘peaks’ and ‘drops,’ with many Trance songs also having a sparse opening and closing section in order to aid the mixing by DJ’s.

The ‘Cafe del Mar’ (‘Sea Cafe’) is a bar located in Sant Antoni de Portmany, Ibiza, which was established in 1980. In 1999, it founded the record label ‘Café del Mar Music,’ known for its series of ‘Chillout’ CDs. Today, Café del Mar is a bar brand that includes a bar in Ibiza, and 11 bars elsewhere in the world, including one in Malta. The Cafe del Mar was designed by ‘Lluis Guell, (1945-2005) who was in charge of the design, decoration and architecture. One of the first DJ’s at the Cafe del Mar was Jose Padilla (1955-2020) who created the first six volumes of the Cafe del Mar compilation CD albums issued between 1994 and 1999. In total to date there have been 26 volumes of music released, which include the genres of ‘Balearic Ambient,’ and ‘Easy Listening’ music.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

80-Beatles-I Am the Walrus.

1967-It has never been released as a single in the UK.

Best Bit-At 2.36. I can vaguely remember being sat in an English literature lesson at school, I must have been around 12 years old. The subject was dissecting and understanding the meaning of the Beatles song ‘She’s Leaving Home.’

John Lennon (1940-1980) (see also best songs 927-473-456-168 and 20) got the idea for these, what appear to be randomly put together lyrics when he received a letter from a student who explained that his English teacher was having the class analyse Beatles songs. On the completion of this song Lennon told his close friend Pete Shotton, (1941-2017) ‘Let the f…..s work that one out.’

‘I Am the Walrus’ was conceived by John Lennon from many different ideas. He wrote the line,’Mis-ter cit-y police-man,’ to the melody of a siren he had heard in the street. The ‘Walrus’ refers to the Lewis Carroll (1832-1898) (see also best songs 512) poem ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter,’ which appears in the book ‘Through the Looking Glass,’ which was published in 1871. Lennon’s friend and former member of ‘The Quarrymen,’ Pete Shotten, had recently reminded Lennon of a playground nursery rhyme that they used to sing,’Yellow matter custard, green slop pie,all mixed together with a dead dog’s eye. Slap it on a butty, ten-foot thick, then wash it all down with a cup of cold sick.’ ‘Semolina pilchard’ refers to Sergeant Norman Pilcher (1935-2021) of the London drug squad. The words ‘Elementary penguin’ means it is naive to just go around chanting ‘Hare Krishna,’ or putting all of your faith in one idol. The voices you hear towards the fade out of the song were recorded by Lennon from a BBC radio broadcast of the Shakespeare play King Lear.

In 1980 Lennon reflected on his use of the Lewis Carroll poem ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter,’It never dawned on me that Lewis Carroll was commenting on the capitalist and social system. I never went into that bit about what he really meant, like people are doing with the Beatles’ work. Later, I went back and looked at it and realised that the walrus was the bad guy in the story, and the carpenter was the good guy. I thought, Oh, s–t, I picked the wrong guy. I should have said, ‘I am the carpenter,’ but that wouldn’t have been the same, would it?’

‘I Am the Walrus’ was one of six original compositions written by the Beatles for their 1967 television film ‘Magical Mystery Tour,’ which was meant to be a surreal comedy, and was first broadcast on BBC1 television on December 26th, 1967, to poor reviews. As with all of the Beatles songs the writing is credited to Lennon/McCartney, but ‘I Am the Walrus’ was the work of Lennon. In the UK, all six songs were released on a double ‘EP,’ while in America an Album was issued which included all six tracks on side 1, and five of the Beatles recent singles filled side 2. Whereas the film had received mostly negative reviews, the six songs that were included on the soundtrack were critically acclaimed.

‘I Am the Walrus’ much to the disappointment of Lennon was not chosen for release as a Beatles single, and was relegated to the ‘B’ side of the Paul McCartney (see also best songs 646 and 107) composition ‘Hello Goodbye,’ which Lennon considered to be far inferior,’Hello Goodbye’ which is also on the soundtrack of the ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ went on to top the charts in both the UK and U.S. in 1967.

As well as all four Beatles (see also best songs 599-319-238-218-157-141-51-10 and 5) playing on ‘I Am the Walrus,’ there is also an orchestra, whose arrangement was directed by this songs producer George Martin (1926-2016.) Providing backing vocals were Ray Thomas, (1941-2018) and Mike Pinder of the Moody Blues, (see also best songs 313) and also the 16 strong ‘Mike Sammes Singers,’ led by Mike Sammes (1928-2001.)

John Lennon went on to name check the ‘Walrus’ in three of his subsequent songs. In the 1968 Beatles song ‘Glass Onion’ he sings, “I told you ’bout the walrus and me, man. You know that we’re as close as can be, man. Well here’s another clue for you all, the walrus was Paul.’ In the third verse of his 1969 song ‘Come Together,’ he sings the line ‘He bag production, he got walrus gumboot,’ and in his 1970 solo song ‘God’, Lennon admits,’I was the walrus, but now I’m John.’

‘Expert, texpert choking smokers don’t you think the joker laughs at you. See how they smile like pigs in a sty see how they snide, I’m crying.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

81-John Miles-Music.

1976-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 2.58. Some songs have vague lyrics, some are practically impossible to decipher, others can appear to have more than one meaning, and some you can study for hours and hours and still get nowhere, but even my small brain had this one sussed in under five seconds.

John Miles was born John Errington on April 23rd, 1949, in Jarrow, County Durham, England, he died after a short illness on December 5th, 2021, at the age of 72. Miles became part of a local band in 1969 called ‘The Influence,’ which included Paul Thompson, who joined Roxy Music in 1971, (see also best songs 316 and 57) and Vic Malcolm who co-founded ‘Geordie’ (see also best songs 128) in 1971. In 1971 John Miles pursued a solo career, and although none of his songs from that period were commercially successful, his recording of the George Young (1946-2017) and Harry Vanda (see also best songs 939 and 447) song ‘One Minute Every Hour’ has become a ‘Northern Soul’ favourite.

In 1975 John Miles signed with ‘Decca Records’ which led to him working with Alan Parsons, (see also best songs 130) and Andrew Powell, (see also best songs 866-130-81 and 2) Parsons was this songs producer, and Powell did the orchestral arrangements. In total John Miles released 10 studio Albums between 1976-1999, and 18 singles between 1975-1994, of which four made the UK top 40, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100, his only top 40 hit was ‘Slow Down,’ which made Number 34 in 1976. From 1985 John Miles participated almost every year in the ‘Night of the Proms,’ which is a series of concerts held yearly in several European countries, and the United States. Miles’ song ‘Music’ became an anthem for these shows, and in 2009 he released a live Album,’The Best of John Miles at the Night of the Proms.’

‘Music’ was the second single released from John Miles’ first solo Album ‘Rebel’ from March 1976, on the Album’s cover Miles is posed with a big gun on his shoulders, reminiscent of James Dean, (1931-1955) who is considered a rebel. John Miles claims to have written ‘Music’ in around 30 minutes while performing in Leeds, England, at the ‘Cinderalla Rockerfellas’ nightclub, which was part of a chain of nightclubs owned by Peter Stringfellow (1940-2018.) In the UK ‘Music’ was released in it’s full entirety of 5.52 seconds, but in America it was heavily edited down to just over 3 minutes, which probably explains why it stalled at Number 88 on Billboard. In 2009 Miles collaborated with his son John Miles Jr. who is a member of the Belgium Dance act ‘Sylver,’ on a re-make of ‘Music,’ which saw this new version chart at Number 11 in Belgium.

Alan Parsons who produced ‘Music,’ and the rest of ‘Rebel’ as well has said,’Music’ is a milestone in the history of popular music, and John Miles is one of my favourite singers, and I am honoured that I have been able to put my mark onto his great music.’ Carl Huybrechts, who was one of the the joint creators of ‘Night of the Proms’ said,’I’ve heard him play ‘Music’ a thousand times. It always gave me goosebumps. With that huge orchestra there, it will always stay with me.’

‘Music was my first love, and it will be my last. Music of the future and music of the past.To live without my music would be impossible to do. In this world of troubles, my music pulls me through.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

82-Paul Whiteman and His Concert Orchestra with Paul Robeson and Mixed Chorus-Ol’ Man River.

1928-It has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 2.19. The Mississippi river is the second longest river on the North American continent. It flows generally South for 2,320 miles (3,730 km) to the Mississippi Delta in the Gulf of Mexico, but we’re not here for a geography lesson, so let me tell you about the song.

‘Ol’ Man River’ was written for the 1927 musical ‘Showboat,’ with the music being written by Jerome Kern, (1885-1945) (see also best songs 687) and the lyrics being provided by Oscar Hammerstein (1895-1960) (see also best songs 842 and 60.) The musical is based on the best selling novel ‘Show Boat,’ written in 1926 by the American author and dramatist Edna Ferber (1885-1968) Ferber had serious reservations about her work being turned in to a musical.

Up until ‘Showboat’ as a general rule musicals were basically, boy meets girl, they break up, reconcile, and then live happily ever after. Ferber was reassured ‘Showboat’ would be different, and it is now seen as groundbreaking in that it remained loyal to the story’s serious subject matter, which led the way for future musicals. Ferber related in her autobiography that when Jerome Kern first played her ‘Ol’ Man River,’The music mounted, mounted, mounted, and I give you my word my hair stood on end, the tears came to my eyes, and I breathed like a heroine in a melodrama. This was great music. It was music that would outlast Kern’s day and mine.’

Edna Ferber’s novel ‘Show Boat’ chronicles the lives of a family of performers from the 1880’s to the 1920’s. They travelled on the ‘Cotton Blossom’, a floating theatre boat that provided entertainment for the small isolated towns on the banks of the Mississippi.’Ol’ Man River’ tells of the hardships of Indians, now known as African Americans working tirelessly on the boat, and in the ports where it docks. It also tells of the way white European travellers on board were uncaring and disinterested in their plight.

The musical ‘Show Boat’ opened to rave revues in 1927, with ‘Ol’ Man River’ being performed by Jules Bledsoe, (1897-1943) he also sang it in the first film version in 1929. The first hit version of the song was in 1928 by ‘Paul Whiteman (1890-1967) and His Orchestra, with Bing Crosby (1903-1977) (see also best songs 934-457 and 259) providing the vocals, this version gave Bing Crosby his second American Number 1 single. Just two months later Whiteman and His Orchestra recorded the song again, this time with the bass singer Paul Robeson (1898-1976) providing the vocals. This recording was far more up tempo than the version recorded with Crosby, and over the years has become the definitive recording.

Paul Leroy Robeson was born on April 9th, 1898, in Princeton, New Jersey, United States, he died on January 23rd, 1977, following complications of a stroke at the age of 77. Robeson had been the first choice to play the role of ‘Joe’ who sings ‘Ol’ Man River’ in the musical, but due to other commitments he was unavailable at that time, however he accepted the role for it’s 1928 London production, and it’s 1932 Broadway revival. Paul Robeson would also make the role of ‘Joe’ is own when accepting the part for the 1936 second film version of ‘Show Boat.’

‘I gets weary, sick of trying. I’m tired of living, feared of dying, but Ol’ man river he’s rolling along.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

83-Frankie Valli-My Eyes Adored You.

1974-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 2.03. Reading between the lines I get the feeling that all of his other body parts were equally as keen.

Franki Valli (see also best songs 739 and 284) was born Francesco Stephen Castelluccio on May 3rd, 1934, in Newark, New Jersey, United States, he took his stage name from the American ‘Hillbilly’ singer ‘Texas Jean Valli,’ of whom he was an admirer. Frankie Valli’s first venture into music was in the early 1950’s where he was one third of the ‘Variety Trio.’ He recorded his first solo single, ‘My Mother’s Eyes’ in 1953, as ‘Frankie Valley,’ and then following this he became part of the quartet ‘The Variatones,’ who changed their name to the ‘Four Lovers’ in 1956. As the ‘Four Lovers’ they issued many unsuccessful singles, and one Album, and it wasn’t until Bob Gaudio (see also best songs 1007-914-863-739-499-393-284 164 and 112) joined the band in 1959, and they re-named themselves the ‘Four Seasons’ in 1960, did success finally arrive.

Franki Valli also launched a solo career which ran concurrently with being the lead singer of the Four Seasons, he has released 12 solo studio Albums between 1967-2021, and 33 singles between 1953-1981. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart top 40 he has achieved nine hits, including the two Number 1 songs, ‘My Eyes Adored You,'(1974) and ‘Grease’ (1978.) In the UK five of his singles have made the top 40, with ‘Grease’ charting the highest at Number 3.

‘My Eyes Adored You’ was co-written by the legendary Bob Crewe, (1930-2014) (see also best songs 914-863-739-499-393-284-164 and 112) and Kenny Nolan, Crewe was also the songs producer. ‘My Eyes Adored You’ was written initially for the Four Seasons, but their record label at that time ‘Motown’ records refused to release it. Franki Valli who had great faith in the song bought the rights to it for $4,000, and took it to ‘Capital Records,’ and then ‘Atlantic Records,’ who both also turned it down. Eventually Valli managed to get the song released on the smaller ‘Private Stock’ record label, and the song went onto become 5th best selling song of that year in America.

Although ‘My Eyes Adored You’ is a solo single release from Frankie Valli, the other members of the Four Seasons at that time also played on the track, Joe Long, (1932-2021) (bass) Gerry Polci, (drums) Lee Shapiro, (keyboards) and Demitri Callas (lead guitar.) ‘My Eyes Adored You’ spent one week at Number 1 on Billboard, before being notably replaced at the top by another Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan composition, ‘Lady Marmalade,’ by Labelle. Kenny Nolan was born on September 30th, 1949, in Los Angeles, California, United States, and in the early to mid 1970’s wrote or produced for the ‘Chelsea’ record label. His successes include ‘Swing Your Daddy’ for Jim Gilstrap (UK Number 4) in 1975, and ‘Get Dancin,” a Number 2 UK hit for ‘Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes’ in 1974 (see also best songs 1007.) Kenny Nolan also had a solo singing career, issuing six singles between 1976-1983, two of which made the Billboard Hot 100, with ‘I Like Dreamin,” reaching Number 3 in 1976.

‘My Eyes Adored You ‘tells of the narrator reminiscing about the time he was in love as an adolescent, but he never got the nerve up to tell her how much he loved her. Now many years later he wonders how different things could have been.

‘Carried your books from school, playing make believe you’re married to me. You were fifth grade, I was sixth when we came to be. Walking home every day over Barnegat Bridge and Bay, till we grew into the me and you who went our separate ways.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

84-U2-All I Want Is You.

1989-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 4.08. The songs video tells the tale of a dwarf who falls in love with a trapeze artist while working in a circus, and one of them dies towards the end of the story. There is a disagreement amongst fans as to who actually died, as it leaves the viewer in doubt, although ‘The Edge’ has been quoted as saying it is the trapeze artist who dies.’ Another longstanding mystery was who actually played the part of the dwarf, many think it is the future ‘Game of Thrones’ star Peter Dinklage in an early role, but it isn’t, it was actually an actor of around the same age, named Paolo Risi.

U2 (see also best songs 766-320 and 190) were formed in ‘Mount Temple Comprehensive School,’ in Dublin, Ireland, in 1976, they were originally known as ‘Feedback,’ (1976-1977) then ‘The Hype,’ (1977-1978) before settling on ‘U2.’ Dik Evans who is the older brother of Dave Evans, (The Edge) and Ivan McCormick (a mutual friend) soon left, leaving the classic line up of Bono, (Paul Hewson) (vocals) The Edge, (guitar) Adam Clayton, (bass) and Larry Mullen Jr. (drums.) The discography of U2 includes 14 studio Albums released between 1980-2017, and 83 singles issued between 1980-2021. In their native Ireland 50 of their singles have reached the top 40, with a staggering 21 of those making the Number 1 spot. In the UK, they have achieved 43 top 40 singles, with seven of those reaching Number 1, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, they have had 17 top 40 hits, of which two have made the top spot. U2 are one of the worlds best ever selling groups, with record sales in excess of 175 million.

‘All I Want Is You’ was the fourth and final single released from U2’s sixth studio Album ‘Rattle and Hum’ from 1987. The lyrics are written by Bono, and all four band members are given the credit for composing the music. The song and it’s parent Album was produced by Jimmy Lovine, with the string arrangements on ‘All I Want Is You,’ being the work of the American composer, songwriter, arranger, and producer Van Dyke Parks, who since the 1960’s has worked alongside artists of the calibre of The Beach Boys, Harry Nilsson, and Ringo Starr.

‘All I Want Is You’ was written by Bono about his wife Alison Hewson, who was born Alison Stewart on March 23rd, 1961, the pair first met at ‘Mount Temple Comprehensive School’ at the age of 12, and they married in 1982, and have four children. Often when performing the song live, Bono will dedicate it to his wife. It is said that Alison who is an Irish activist was also a major influence on other U2 songs such as ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday,’ and ‘New Years Day,’ the U2 song ‘Sweetest Thing’ was also written about her. In ‘All I Want Is You,’ the narrator is saying that material things are not important, it is love that really matters.

‘You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold. You say you want your story to remain untold, but all the promises we make from the cradle to the grave, when all I want is you.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

85-Chaka Khan-I Feel For You.

1984-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.05. To have your name constantly repeated in one of Pop music’s most famous raps must be very special, but it must also be a double edged sword. Poor Chaka Khan, every time some ‘numpty,’ thinking they are the first to do it, sings it to her, she will have to show remarkable patience.

Chaka Khan (see also best songs 703 and 228) was born Yvette Marie Stevens on March 23rd, 1953, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. She first found success as the lead singer with the American Funk band ‘Rufus,’ where she appeared on six of their 11 studio Albums between 1973-1978, she was also the lead singer on all of the bands 10 American Billboard Hot 100 top 40 singles, including their breakthrough hit ‘Tell Me Something Good,’ (1974, Number 3) which was written for them by Stevie Wonder (see also best songs 920-843-634-682-570-503-366-205-152 and 65.) It was while still a part of Rufus in 1978 that Chaka Khan also launched her solo career, which has seen the release of 13 studio Albums between 1978-2019, and 46 singles issued between 1978-2022, of which four have reached the Billboard Hot 100, with this song being the highest charting when reaching Number 3 in 1984. As a featured artist Chaka Khan did reach Number 1 in America in 1986 as the co vocalist on Steve Winwood’s ‘Higher Love.’ In the UK six of her singles have made the top 40, with this song being the most successful when making Number 1.

‘I Feel For You’ was written by Prince, (1958-2016) (see also best songs 884-487-269 and 54) and he recorded the song for his second studio Album titled ‘Prince,’ from 1979. Prince had first offered the song to the American R&B singer Patrice Rushen, who is best remembered in the UK for her 1982 hit ‘Forget Ne Nots,’ but she turned it down. Prior to Chaka Khan recording the song, ‘The Pointer Sisters’ recorded a version for their 1982 Album ‘So Excited,’ and then in 1984 Rebbie Jackson, who is the oldest member of the ‘Jackson family,’ recorded the song for her debut Album ‘Centipede.’

‘I Feel For You’ was produced by Arif Mardin, (1932-2006) (see also best songs 985-882-881-554-541 and 228) and among the musicians playing on the track is Stevie Wonder who plays the chromatic harmonica. Wonder’s song ‘Fingertips’ from 1963 is also used as a sample, but it is the tracks almost ‘novelty’ rap which has captured the public’s imagination. It was written by Melvin Glover who is better known as ‘Grandmaster Melle Mel, who had already had success with the groundbreaking Hip-Hop songs ‘The Message’ (see also best songs 290) and ‘White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It’) (see also best songs 523.)

In 1984 it was still rare for ‘Pop’ songs to have a rap on them, and it was the brainchild of Arif Mardin who specified that the ‘rap’ have a theme of ‘love,’ with no hip-hop cliches like money and cars, Mardin also suggested that the ‘rap’ should be kept short to eight lines. The repetition of Khan’s name at the start of the song was a lucky mistake made by Arif Mardin. While recording he pressed a wrong button causing the word ‘Chaka’ to repeat, he liked it so much that he decided to keep it in. Mardin has said,’As we were mounting the recording onto the main master, my hand slipped on the repeat machine. So it happened to be, ‘Chaka-Chaka-Chaka-Chaka-Chaka-Chaka Khan,’ and we said, ‘Let’s keep that. That’s very interesting.’

‘I wouldn’t lie to you, baby, It’s mainly a physical thing. This feeling that I got for you, baby, makes me wanna sing. I feel for you.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

86-Big Mama Thornton-Hound Dog.

1952-It has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 1.04. This original version, and the Elvis Presley cover are completely different renditions, but both are in there very different ways equally groundbreaking in the development of ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll.’ I could happily of posted the Elvis version as well, but this is a top 1000 countdown, not a top 1001.

Big Mama Thornton was born Willie Mae Thornton on December 11th, 1926, in Ariton, Alabama, United States, she died on July 25th, 1984, at the age of 57, of heart and liver disorders due to her longstanding alcohol abuse. She was given her nickname ‘Big Mama’ by Frank Schiffman, (1894-1974) the manager of Harlem’s Apollo Theatre, because of her strong voice, size, and personality. Thornton stated that ‘She was louder than any microphone, and did not want a microphone to ever be as loud as she was.’

Big Mamma Thornton first started singing Gospel music as a child in a Baptist church where her father was a minister. In 1940 she joined the ‘Hot Harlem Revue,’ where comparisons where soon being made between her and the late American Blues singer Bessie Smith, (1894-1937) (see also best songs 345) whom Thornton greatly admired. Big Mama Thornton was also a songwriter of ‘Blues’ songs, with her most famous being ‘Ball ‘n’ Chain,’ which gained a much wider audience when performed by Janis Joplin (1943-1970) (see also best songs 341) who was an admirer of Thornton’s, at the 1967 ‘Monterey Pop Festival.’

In August 1952 R&B bandleader and music entrepreneur Johnny Otis (1921-2012) invited two 19 year old budding songwriters by the names of Jerry Leiber, (1933-2011) and Mike Stoller (see also best songs 954-804 and 124) to his home to meet the Blues singer Big Mamma Thornton. After hearing her sing, they wrote a song to suit her personality. Jerry Leiber recalled,’She looked like the biggest, baddest, saltiest chick you would ever see, and she was mean, a ‘lady bear.’ She must have been 350 pounds, and she had scars all over her face.’ Mike Stoller said,’She was a wonderful Blues singer, with a great moaning style.’ Big Mamma Thornton’s singing style was a major influence on ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll,’ which was now only just around the corner, and music critics have also cited the song as an important part of the beginning of ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll,’ especially in it’s use of the guitar as the key instrument.

In 1955 the American vocal group ‘Freddy Bell and the Bellboys’ recorded a ‘tongue in cheek’ sanitised for mainstream version of ‘Hound Dog,’ removing innuendo such as ‘You can wag your tail but I ain’t gonna feed you no more,’ and basically changing a racy song about a disappointing lover into a song that was literally about a dog. They also gave the song a ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll’ rhythm, which did not please Jerry Leiber who found these changes irritating, saying that the rewritten words made ‘no sense.’

Elvis Presley (1934-1977) (see also best songs 954-664-442 and 194) saw Freddy Bell and the Bellboys perform their version of ‘Hound Dog’live, and decided to record the song himself in a similar style. Presley’s gyrating performance of the song on television shocked many of the older generation, and ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll’ had arrived. Presley’s version of ‘Hound Dog’ spent 11 weeks at Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in America, and is his all time best selling single.

‘You told me you was high class, but I could see through that. she told me you was high class, but I could see through that, and daddy I know you ain’t no real cool cat.’