THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

176-The Isley Brothers-Summer Breeze.

1974-Number 16 single.

Best Bit-At 4.18. After all these years of listening to the song, I have finally got around to googling what a ‘Jasmine’ is.

The original version of ‘Summer Breeze’ was written and recorded by Jim Seals, (1942-2022) and Darrell ‘Dash’ Croft in 1972, who performed as the American Soft Rock duo ‘Seals and Croft.’ They achieved the first of their eight Billboard Hot 100 top 40 singles when ‘Summer Breeze’ reached Number 6. Their version was also successful in Australia where it made Number 16, but in the UK the duo never made the top 40 with any of their songs. Prior to joining forces both Seals and Croft had both been members of the American Rock band the ‘Champs,’ this was after the group had reached Number 1 on Billboard in 1958 with ‘Tequila.’ Another member of the ‘Champs’ was the future Country Music star Glen Campbell, (1936-2017) (see also best songs 846 and 197) in 1963 Seals and Croft, and Campbell all left the ‘Champs’ to form the new, but short lived group ‘Glen Campbell and the GC’s.’ Seals and Croft finally became a duo in 1969, and performed for the final time together in 2004, having issued 17 official Albums.

In 1973 The Isley Brothers (see also best songs 823-681-508 and 382) recorded ‘Summer Breeze’ for what was to become their critically acclaimed 11th studio Album ‘3+ 3.’ The Album was the first official collaboration between three of the original founding members of The Isley Brothers, O’Kelly, (1937-1986) Rudolph, and Ronald Isley, who joining forces with their younger brothers Ernie, and Marvin, (1953-2010) and their brother-in-law Chris Jasper, whose older sister Elaine is married to Rudolph Isley. This line up of The Isley Brothers performed and recorded together until 1983, issuing 12 studio Albums. In total the discography of The Isley Brother consists of 31 studio Albums released between 1959-2015, and 111 singles issued between 1957-2021.

The Isley Brothers released their version of ‘Summer Breeze’ as the third and final single from ‘3+3’ in 1974, and although it made Number 16 in the UK, it only made Number 60 in the States, with the probable explanation being it’s proximity to the Seals and Croft hit version. Ernie Isley who was the guitarist on ‘Summer Breeze’ has received critical acclaim for his playing on the track, with many comparing him to Jimi Hendrix, (1942-1970) (see also best songs 983 and 492) in March 1964, Jimi Hendrix had recorded his first ever single called ‘Testify’ with The Isley Brothers,

‘Sweet days of summer, the Jasmine’s in bloom, July is dressed up and playing her tune. And I come home from a hard day’s work, And you’re waiting there, not a care in the world.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

177-Tubeway Army-Are ‘Friends’ Electric.

1979-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.01. Two UK Number 1 singles to date have been banned from airplay while holding the top spot, ‘Je t’aime moi non plus’ by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin from 1969, (see also best songs 467) and ‘Relax’ by Frankie Goes To Holywood from 1983. Had the powers in charge known what this song was really about, then there would have been three.

Gary Anthony James Webb (see also best songs 772 and 232) was born on March 8th, 1958, in London, England. He has sold in excess of 10 million records, and was at the height of his success in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, he continues to have a cult following to this day. His use of the synthesizer was groundbreaking in the late 1970’s, and helped to pave the way for acts such as Depeche Mode and Tears for Fears in the 1980’s, and artists from the 1990’s such as Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson have also cited Numan as a major influence.

‘Are ‘Friends’ Electric’ was the breakthrough hit for Gary Numan, and was first released on Numan’s second studio Album ‘Replicas’ from April 1979. At that time Numan was releasing music with the other members of his band under the name ‘Tubeway Army,’ but the Album, and this song were all written and produced by Numan, who would work under the name of Gary Numan on his next, and subsequent releases, although he continued to work with some of the musicians that had made up Tubeway Army.

At the time of recording ‘Are ‘Friends’ Electric,’ Gary Numan was a big fan of science fiction, and the song is heavily influenced by the writers Philip K. Dick, (1928-1982) and William S. Burroughs (1914-1997.) Numan let his imagination run wild, he would write short stories and then set them to music.’Are ‘Friends’ Electric’ is about a robot prostitute, it is set in a future world, and is about man living with robots, and how you can lock yourself away in a dark room away from any other humans. As a teenager Numan had been diagnosed with ‘Asperger’s Syndrome,’ and many of his songs deal with themes of technology and isolation. Gary Numan has spoken about the song,’It was a futurist version of getting pornography in the post, what comes in a brown envelope so your neighbours don’t know what it is. These machines that look human are doing various services in these grey coats, and they all look the same. If the BBC had known what it was about they would never have played it, they would never have let me go on Top of the Pops, thumbs up for obscure lyrics.’

Gary Numan and Tubeway Army had started out life as a ‘Punk Rock’ group, and the debut Album written by Numan can be filed under the genre of ‘Post-punk.’ It was quite by chance that Numan completely changed his musical path for his second and subsequent Albums, on discovering the ‘Moog Synthesizer,’ he has said, ‘I remember it clearly, I had been sent to a studio by (my label) Beggars to record my first Album., it was going to be a Punk Album, and we were going to play the songs live, But as soon as I walked into the control room, there was a mini Moog. I had never seen one before, I just thought it was the coolest looking thing, just fantastic, quite, quite small. Apparently, a company was going to come pick it up but the man said I could try it out until they came to collect it but they never turned up. I had this thing for the whole day and it was the most amazing experience. Very luckily, it had been left on that sound which had become famous, a huge big bottom bass roar. It was just huge, I didn’t know how to set it up. All I did was press a key and the room shook, and I just thought, “F–k me! That’s the most amazing thing I’d ever heard! The power!’ Imagine, if the sound had been something that went ping, I would’ve thought, ‘This is rubbish,’ and none of this success would’ve ever happened to me, so much of this was luck.”

‘It’s cold outside, and the paint’s peeling off of my walls. There’s a man outside, in a long coat, grey hat, smoking a cigarette.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

178-Edith Piaf-Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien

1960-It has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 1.47. ‘Formidable.’

Edith Piaf was born Edith Giovanna Gassion on December 19th, 1915, in Paris, France, she died on October 10th, 1963, at the age of 47, from liver failure, die to liver cancer and cirrhosis, although no autopsy was ever performed. Piaf had been an alcoholic for many years, and was also taking large amounts of medications for rheumatoid arthritis, and insomnia.

Edith Piaf was discovered singing in the Pigalle area of Paris in 1935 by the nightclub owner Louis Leplee (1883-1936) who also gave her her stage name Piaf, which is Paris Slang for ‘The Little Sparrow,’ Piaf stood at only 142 centimetres (4 feet and 8 inches tall.) During her lifetime Piaf became one of France’s most celebrated singers, and since her death her legend has grown even further, with several biographies and films written about her very colourful life. Piaf recorded dozens of songs between 1933-1963, including one her her signature songs ‘La Vie en rose in 1964, to which she wrote the lyrics.

‘Non Je Ne Regrette Rien,’ which in English translates as ‘No I regret nothing,’ was co-written by Charles Dumont who wrote the melody, and Michel Vaucaire, (1904-1980) who provided the lyrics. Dumont and Vaucaire had written the song in slightly different form in 1956, with the French singer Rosalie Dubois in mind, but after that didn’t come to fruition they modified the song with Edith Piaf now in mind. The story goes that Dumont and Vaucaire visited Piaf’s home on October 24th, 1960, where she received them in a very impolite and unfriendly manner. She was furious that her housekeeper Danielle had arranged a meeting with the two men without informing her, so she left them waiting an hour in her living room before she appeared. ‘As you can see I am extremely tired,’ she said to them, very irritated,’Hurry up only one song! Quick to the piano, go ahead,’ she commanded. Nervous and perspiring Dumont sang the song in a low voice. When he finished there was a big silence, as they waited for Piaf’s verdict.Will you sing it again?’ asked Piaf in a sharp voice. When he was hardly half way through, she interrupted him,’Formidable, this is the song I have been waiting for, it will be my biggest success.’

Piaf dedicated her recording of the song to the French Foreign Legion who at the time of recording were engaged in the Algerian War (1954-1962.) The song has since been adopted by the Foreign Legion, and is now sung when the soldiers are on parade. ‘Non, je ne regrette rien’ has been recorded by many artists down the years, and I highly recommend you take time to listen to the English language recording by Shirley Bassey (see also best songs 441) entitled ‘No Regrets,’ which when released as a single in the UK in 1965 reached Number 39.

‘Non, rien de rien, Non, je ne regrette rien. Ni le bien qu’on m’a fait. Ni le mal, tout ça m’est bien égal. Non, rien de rien.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

179-Rod Stewart-Sailing.

1975-Number 1 single. It was re-issued in 1976, and reached Number 3.

Best Bit-At 3.46. Rod has absolutely no chance of getting in to the Navy until he gets his hair cut.

‘Sailing’ was written in 1972 by Gavin Sutherland who was one half of The Sutherland Brothers with his brother Iain Sutherland (1948-2019.) (see also best songs 697) The Sutherland Brothers were the first to record ‘Sailing,’ which reached Number 54 in the UK in July 1972. In the UK The Sutherland Brothers are best remembered for their 1976 Number 5 hit ‘Arms of Mary,’ while in America they are known for the 1973 Billboard Number 48 song ‘(I Don’t Want To Love You But) You Got Me Anyway.’

Rod Stewart (see also best songs 965-565-206-70 and 34) first got to know about The Sutherland Brothers after Dee Harrington his girlfriend at the time saw them perform on the BBC television programme ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test,’ on June 20th, 1972. Stewart then went to see them play live at the ‘Marquee Club’ in London, and then went on to work with the brothers on two new songs for his forthcoming Album ‘Atlantic Crossing,’ but in the end neither song was used.

‘Sailing’ was the first single released from Rod Stewart’s sixth solo studio Album ‘Atlantic Crossing’ from 1975, and was produced by Tom Dowd (1925-2002) (see also best songs 475.) The impressive list of musicians who played on ‘Sailing,’ or ‘Atlantic Crossing’ include members of Booker T & the M.G.’s, (see also best songs 906) and The Memphis Horns. ‘Sailing’ is Rod Stewart’s best ever selling single, with sales in excess of 1.2 million copies in the UK. The song went to Number 1 on it’s initial release in 1975. and then in 1976 the song re-entered the UK top 40, and reached Number 3 after being used as the theme song for ‘Sailor,’ a documentary series on the ‘HMS Arc Royal, aired on BBC 1. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart ‘Sailing’ made little impact as the Albums lead single, only making a disappointing Number 58 placing.

It will come as a surprise to many to find out what the true meaning of ‘Sailing’ actually is, the songs writer Gavin Sutherland has explained.’Most people take the song to be about a young guy telling his girl that he’s crossing the Atlantic to be with her. In fact it’s an account of mankind’s spiritual odyssey through life on his way to freedom and fulfilment with the ‘Supreme Being.’

‘Can you hear me, can you hear me, Through the dark night, far away. I am dying, forever crying, To be with you, who can say.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

180-Beach Boys-Good Vibrations.

1966-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.26. When writing the lyrics Mike Love said that he actually didn’t know if there was such a word in the dictionary as ‘excitation’s,’, but there is.

‘Good Vibrations’ was co-written by Brian Wilson, (see also best songs 930-811 and 74) and his cousin Mike Love, who provided the majority of the lyrics. ‘Good Vibrations’ is considered by many music critics to be one of the most important songs in the development of Rock Music. It is said that the overall production expenses for making the record was something between $50,000, to $75,000, which in 2022 is equivalent to between $420,000 to $630,000, which made it the most expensive song ever recorded at that time. The song was recorded between February to September 1966 in several different studios, using members of the ‘Wrecking Crew,’ (see also best songs 192) and the Beach Boys themselves.

During the recording of the Beach Boys Album ‘Pet Sounds,’ in 1966, Brian Wilson began changing his writing process, he has said,’I had a lot of unfinished ideas, fragments of music I called ‘feels.’ Each feel represented a mood or an emotion I’d felt, and I planned to fit them together like a mosaic. I was an energetic 23 year-old, I said, this is going to be better than “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ (see also best songs 782.) The engineer Chuck Britz (1927-2000) who worked on the song said that Wilson considered the song to be ‘His whole life performance in one track.’

Brian Wilson has said that ‘Good Vibrations’ was inspired by his mother,’She used to tell me about vibrations. I didn’t really understand too much of what it meant when I was just a boy. It scared me, the word ‘vibrations.’ She told me about dogs that would bark at people and then not bark at others, that a dog would pick up vibrations from these people, that you can’t see, but you can feel.”

Wilson has admitted writing the music for ‘Good Vibrations while taking Marijuana, and he states that he has made his best music while under the influence of drugs. Some of the unique sounds on the track are made by Wilson experimenting with an electronic musical instrument called the ‘Theremin,’ which was invented in 1920 by Leon Theremin (1896-1993.) The sound of the instrument is often associated with eerie situations, and has often been heard in horror movies. After it’s use in ‘Good Vibrations’ the ‘Theremin’ was used more and more by the ‘Progressive Rock’ acts of the day such as Led Zeppelin (‘Whole Lotta Love,’) (see also best songs 135) and the Rolling Stones on their 1967 Albums ‘Between the Buttons,’ and ‘Their Satanic Majesties Request.’

Mike Love who wrote the majority of the songs lyrics has described them as ‘Basically a flowery poem.’ He has gone on to say,’The song seems to describe a really good acid trip. and while there is nothing specifically in the lyrics about drugs, it was this flowery power type of thing. Scott McKenzie wrote “If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair,” and there were love-ins, and all that kind of thing starting to go on.’

The reason why ‘Good Vibrations’ is considered to be one of the most important recordings in Pop Music history is the immediate influence it had on the Beach Boys contemporaries, such as the Beatles who took on board the ideas of Brian Wilson and developed their own Progressive Rock’ songs.

‘I-I love the colourful clothes she wears, and the way the sunlight plays upon her hair. I hear the sound of a gentle word, on the wind that lifts her perfume through the air.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

181-Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson-The Bottle.

1974-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 0.08.’I’ll send an SOS to the world. I hope someone gets my Message in a Bottle.’

Gilbert Scott-Heron was born on April 1st, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois, United States, he died on May 27th, 2011, having been HIV-positive for several years, he was 62 years old. Gil Scott-Heron was a poet, author, and musician primarily known for his spoken word performances in the 1970’s and 1980’s. His 1970 poem ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,’ which he set to music over a ‘Jazz/Funk’ beat is considered to be a major influence on the development of ‘Rap’ music, and ‘Hip-Hop’ music, influencing politically motivated artists such as Public Enemy (see also best songs 578 and 37) and N.W.A (see also best songs 564 and 128.) Due to this Heron is now fondly remembered as the ‘Godfather of Rap,’ but not all Rap artists, and Rap music were to Heron’s liking. In a 2010 interview Heron said,’I don’t know if I can take the blame for Rap Music. It’s something that’s aimed at the kids, I have kids, so I listen to it, but I would not say it’s aimed at me, I listen to the Jazz station.’ Heron preferred to call himself a ‘Bluesologist,’ which was his own made up term for ‘A scientist who is concerned with the origins of the Blues.’

Gil Scott-Heron’s mother Bobby Scott, was an Opera singer who performed with the ‘Oratorio Society of New York, while his father Gil Heron, who was nicknamed ‘The Black Arrow,’ was a Jamaican football player who in 1951 became the first black player to play for Glasgow Celtic Football Club in Scotland. The discography of Gil Scott Heron consists of 19 studio Albums, seven live Albums, six compilation Albums, and one film score, (‘The Baron,’ 1977) released between 1970-2020. Heron is also the author of six books published between 1970-2012.

‘The Bottle’ was written by Gil Scott-Heron and first appeared on his fifth studio Album ‘Winter in America,’ released in 1974. The Album is a collaboration with the keyboardist and flautist Brian Jackson who was born on October 11th, 1952, in Brooklyn, New York, United States. Jackson and Heron had first met while the two were attending ‘Lincoln University,’ in Pennsylvania, in 1970, and over the course of the next 10 years they worked together on nine Albums. Jackson has also since 1981 worked with artists of the calibre of Kool & The Gang, and Gwen Guthrie, on Albums of their’s. In 2022 he released his second solo studio Album ‘This is Brian Jackson,’ 22 years after his first solo release.

‘The Bottle’ was the only single released from the critically acclaimed ‘Winter in America,’ and is a social commentary on alcohol abuse. Heron got the idea for the song after seeing men line up every day in front of a liquor store called the Log Cabin, the men were bringing back their empty bottles to get a discount on their next purchase. Scott-Heron said of his inspiration for the song, ‘I discovered one of them was an ex-physician, who’d been busted for abortions on young girls. There was an air traffic controller in the military, one day he sent two jets crashing into a mountain, he left work that day and never went back.’

‘See that black boy over there, runnin’ scared, his ol’ man’s in the bottle.He done quit his nine to five to drink full time, so now he’s livin’ in the bottle.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

182-Liza Minnelli-Cabaret.

1972-It has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 2.57. Give them that ‘Ole Razzle Dazzle.’

Liza May Minnelli was born on March 12th, 1946, in Los Angeles, California, United States, she is the daughter of Judy Garland, (1922-1969) (see also best songs 68) and the film director Vincente Minnelli (1903-1986.) Alongside a very successful career as an actress in film, theatre, and television, Liza Minnelli has also recorded songs from the musicals she has appeared in, as well as concurrently having a mainstream ‘Pop’ recording career. The discography of Liza Minnelli consists of 11 studio Albums released between 1964-2010, 10 live Albums, eight soundtrack Albums, and five cast recordings, she has also issued 33 singles between 1963-2013.

Lisa Minnelli’s first attempt at making it as a ‘Pop,’ star was in the 1960’s, but none of her singles managed to make the charts. Success finally came in ‘Pop’ when she teamed up with the Pet Shop Boys, (see also best songs 871 and 378) who wrote eight of the 13 songs for her ninth studio Album ‘Results’ in 1986. Four singles were issued, and although they all failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 in America, the first single release ‘Losing My Mind’ did reach Number 6 in the UK, and is to date her only charting song. Liza Minnelli also appears in this countdown as a backing singer on the Alice Cooper hit ‘Teenage Lament ’74” (see also best songs 427.)

‘Cabaret’ is the title song from the 1966 musical of the same name, and in the production it is sung by the character Sally Bowles. The score was written by John Kander, who wrote the music, and Fred Ebb, (1928-2004) (see also best songs 469 and 441) who provided the lyrics. In 1972 ‘Cabaret’ was made in to a film starring Liza Minnelli as Sally Bowles. The story is set in 1931 Berlin under the presence of the growing Nazi Party, the film is loosely based on the 1966 musical, which in turn was adapted from the 1939 novel ‘The Berlin Stories/Goodbye To Berlin,’ by the author Christopher Isherwood (1904-1986.)

‘Cabaret’ is probably Liza Minnelli’s career highlight, and the performance she will be remembered for the most. She sings, or co-sings on four of the 12 songs on the films soundtrack Album, and won the ‘Academy Award’ that year for ‘Best Actress.’

‘What good is sitting alone in your room, come hear the music play. Life is a cabaret, old chum, come to the cabaret.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

183-Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye-You Are Everything.

1974-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 1.05. These days duets in Pop Music are commonplace, but back in 1973 it was still quite rare. The current thinking being, if two fan-bases are brought together, then they will sell twice as many records.

‘You Are Everything is the opening track of 10 released on the Diana Ross, and Marvin Gaye duets Album ‘Diana & Marvin’ recorded between 1971-1973, and released in October 1973. In total five of the tracks were issued as singles in different territories worldwide, but ‘You Are Everything’ was never released as a single in America, probably as the original version from ‘The Stylistics’ had reached Number 9 on Billboard only two years earlier. In the UK the song at that time was relatively unknown as it had not been a hit when issued by The Stylistics.

Initially Marvin Gaye (1939-1984) (see also best songs 723 and 114) didn’t want anything to do with the project. He had made himself a promise that he would never again record a duet with a female artist, because he felt that they were cursed by him recording with them. Mary Wells (1943-1992) career had never recovered after she left Motown, Kim Weston had also left the label abruptly, and Tammi Terrell (1945-1970) had developed a brain tumour, which later resulted in her death. Gaye did change his mind when it was pointed out to him that it would increase his popularity, he even, after much quibbling agreed to Diana Ross’ (see also best songs 1001-900-519-411-365-212-148 and 28) name in front of his on the billing, which was something that had never happened with his three previous partners.

‘You Are Everything’ was co-written by Thom Bell, and Linda Creed, (1948-1986) (see also best songs 765) and was produced by Hal Davis (1933-1998.) In 1971 both Bell and Creed had teamed up with The Stylistics, and worked on their first three studio Albums. In 1972 Bell agreed to produce the ex Motown group ‘The Spinners,’ (see also best songs 834) and stayed with them on the ‘Atlantic Records’ label for the next seven years, producing eight Albums with the band, including the Billboard Number 1 single ‘Then Came You,’ which featured the vocals of Dionne Warwick. Tom Bell was also responsible for producing the song ‘Are You Ready For Love’ in 1977 for Elton John, which when remixed in 2003 gave Elton his second UK Number 1 solo chart topper.

‘Today I saw somebody who looked just like you, she walked like you do, I thought it was you. As she turned the corner I called out your name, I felt so ashamed when it wasn’t you, wasn’t you, oh, oh.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

184-The Trammps-Disco Inferno.

1977-Number 16 single.

Best Bit-At 2.18. It is said that there are some people who love ‘Disco Music’ so much, that at their funeral they want this song playing when they are cremated.

The Trammps were formed in 1972, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, the group came together after two local bands,’The Volcanoes,’ and ‘The Exceptions’ merged. They took their name ‘The Trammps’ in honour of Charlie Chaplin, (1889-1977) (see also best songs 327) who was known as ‘The Little Tramp,’ but they added an extra ‘M’ to imply that they were ‘superior tramps.’ In total there were 22 different members come and go during their recording era, and later members have joined, as two competing groups both currently tour, and both calling themselves The Trammps. Many members of The Trammps were also members of the ‘Philadelphia International’ record labels in house band ‘MFSB,’ who played on many of the labels major hits (see also best songs 648.) Some of the ‘MFSB’ members left ‘Philadelphia Records’ in 1975 in a dispute over pay, moving to New York, and forming the ‘Salsoul Orchestra.

The Trammps discography consists of nine studio Albums which were released between 1975-1984, and 43 singles issued between 1972-2004. In America on Billboard, three of of their singles have reached the Hot 100 top 40, with this song peaking at Number 11 when re-released in 1978, while in the UK they have achieved five top 40 singles, with ‘Hold Back the Night’ charting the highest, when reaching Number 5 in 1975.

‘Disco Inferno’ was co-written by Ron ‘Have Mercy’ Kersey, (1949-2005) and Leroy Green, and also serves as the title track from The Trammps fourth studio Album from 1976. The single ‘Disco Inferno’ was first released in America in 1977, but only reached Number 53 on Billboard, it wasn’t until it was chosen as one of the tracks (side 4, track 2) for the soundtrack for the 1977 film ‘Saturday Night Fever’ (see also best songs 211 and 35) that it became a Number 11 hit in 1978. It is said that Leroy Green got the idea for the songs lyrics after watching the 1974 American disaster film ‘The Towering Inferno.’ The raging fire in the song is a metaphor for the musical heat that is generated on the dance floor, while the refrain ‘burn baby burn’ was a phrase chanted at the ‘Watts Riots’ in 1965, as fires raged throughout Los Angeles. There are cover versions of the song, which include a 1977 instrumental by ‘The Players Association,’ and a live recording by Cyndi Lauper from 1998. The song also became a hit again when recorded by Tina Turner in 1993, when she took the song to Number 12 in the UK.

‘To my surprise, one hundred stories high, people getting loose y’all, getting down on the roof. Folks are screaming, out of control, it was so entertaining when the boogie started to explode. I heard somebody say burn baby burn disco inferno, burn baby burn, burn that mother down.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

185-Ray Charles-Georgia On My Mind.

1960-Number 24 single.

Best Bit-At 2.45. It has always been open to question as to what the song was really written about, was it about a girl, or was it about a State?

‘Georgia On My Mind’ was written in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael, (1899-1981) (see also best songs 288) and Stuart Gorrell, (1901-1963) who wrote the majority of the lyrics. The first recording of the song was in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael and his Orchestra, with vocals by Carmichael. Gorrell had first met Carmichael at Indiana University when they were both students, and became friends. It was after hearing Carmichael’s melody that Gorrell got the inspiration to write the lyrics for ‘Georgia On My Mind,’ this is the only song that Gorrell is known to have written. On the original song credits only Carmichael was credited, but he did make sure that Gorrell received his royalties.

On reading the songs lyrics several times, Gorrell was asked by his mother,’What is Georgia, a girl or a State,’ to which Gorrell replied,’What do you think?’ In Hoagy Carmichael’s autobiography he wrote that the saxophonist Frankie Trumbauer (1901-1956) had told him that he should write a song about the State of Georgia, to which Carmichael jokingly volunteered the first two words ‘Georgia, Georgia.’ It is also worth noting that Carmichael did have a younger sister called Georgia, but he does go on to say in his autobiography that the song was in fact written about the State of Georgia.

The most famous version of ‘Georgia On My Mind’ was recorded by Ray Charles, (1930-2004) (see also best songs 475) who was a native of Georgia, having been born in Albany. Charles recorded the song for his 1960 Album ‘The Genius Hits the Road,’ and when it was released a single it gave him the first of his three Billboard Hot 100 Number 1 singles. In 1979 Charles performed the song in the aftermath of years of activism and national legislation resulting from the Civil Rights Movement. Charles was invited to perform the song before the Georgia General Assembly, which led to the song being adopted as the new State song of Georgia on April 24th, 1979.

In the UK this version by Ray Charles remains the only hit version of the song to date, although there are many other famous recordings, including ones by Ella Fitzgerald and Willie Nelson. In America the only other top 40 hit version of the song is the recording by Michael Bolton, which reached Number 36 on Billboard in 1990. Willie Nelson (see also best songs 337) who had recorded the song for his 1978 Album ‘Stardust,’ sang the song at Ray Charles’ funeral in 2004.

‘Georgia, Georgia, the whole day through. Just an old sweet song Keeps Georgia on my mind (Georgia on my mind.) I said Georgia, Georgia, a song of you comes as sweet and clear as moonlight through the pines.’