THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

321-Glenn Miller and His Orchestra with Tex Beneke and The Four Modernaires-Chattanooga Choo Choo.

1941-Has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 2.51. This was the first song ever to be presented with a Gold Disc for sales in excess of 1 million copies.

‘Chattanooga Choo Choo’ was co-written by the legendary song writing duo of Mack Gordon (1904-1959) (see also best songs 877 and 775) who wrote the lyrics, and Harry Warren (1893-1981) (see also best songs 877-775 and 396) who composed the music. Gordon and Warren were commissioned to write some of the music for the 1941 musical film ‘Sun Valley Serenade,’ which was in some part made to showcase the talents of the Glenn Miller Orchestra (see also best songs 808 and 146.) The near eight minute scene (I have posted the video) of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, along with the vocals provided by Paula Kelly, (1919-1992) Tex Beneke, (1914-2000) and also the singing and dancing by Dorothy Dandridge, (1922-1965) and ‘The Nicholas Brothers,’ Fayard (1914-2006) and Harold, (1921-2000) is the films most celebrated and memorable scene. The studio recording of ‘Chatanooga Choo Choo’ at 3 minutes and 26 seconds was also recorded by the Glenn Miller Orchestra with Ted Beneke and The Four Modernaires, with their female singer Paula Kelly providing the female vocals. The studio version was recorded on May 7th, 1941, and originally released as the ‘B’ side to ‘I Know Why (And So Do You’) It went on to reach Number 1 in America on December 7th, 1941, and would stay at the top for nine consecutive weeks.

Mack Gordon was born Moses Gittler on June 21st, 1904, in Grodno, Congress Poland, which was then part of the Russian Empire, he died in 1959 at the age of 54. He emigrated with his mother and older brother to New York City in 1907, to join up with his father who had settled in America earlier. During Gordon’s career as a lyricist he worked with several other composers, but notably with Harry Warren with whom he wrote this song. Gordon’s songs have been used in over 100 films, with him specifically writing for over half of those, in total he wrote over 120 songs. Other notable songs he wrote the lyrics for include ‘At Last,’ which became the signature song for Etta James (1938-2012,) and ‘You Make Me Feel So Young’ which was recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1956.

Mack Gordon and Harry Warren had got their inspiration for writing the song while travelling on the ‘Southern Railway’s Birmingham Special’ train, this was one of three trains operating from New York City via Chattanooga. ‘The Birmingham Choo Choo’ didn’t sit well with Gordon’s lyrics so he chose the name of another train,’The Chattanooga,’ which was a wood burning steam locomotive owned by the ‘Cincinnati Southern Railway,’ that travelled from Cincinnati to Chattanooga, it was a newspaper reporter who first dubbed it the ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo.’

‘Chattanooga Choo Choo’ tells of the delights of travelling on that train, and because it is such an enjoyable journey, the day flies by as he spends time in the diner. The narrator also tells us that the purpose for his train ride is so he can meet up with his sweetheart who he hasn’t seen for a while, where he will promise her that he will never leave her side again.

‘There’s gonna be a certain party at the station, satin and lace I used to call funny face. She’s gonna cry until I tell her that I’ll never roam, so Chattanooga Choo Choo won’t you choo choo me home.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

322-Lou Rawls-You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine.

1976-Number 10 single.

Best Bit-At 2.13. Lou Rawls released around 60 Albums, he also had a substantial acting career, performing in 15 films, he was also a voice over in cartoons, and appeared in commercials endorsing products.In 1955 he enlisted in the United States Army as a paratrooper, where he made 26 jumps, he left the army three years later as a Sergeant. In 1980 he started the charity the ‘Lou Rawls Parade of Stars Telephon,’ an annual event which has raised to date over US$200 million.I don’t know what he did in his spare time though!

Louis Allen Rawls was born on December 1st, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois, United States, he died of cancer on January 6th, 2005, at the age of 72. He started singing Gospel at the age of seven, and after graduating from high school he briefly sang with Sam Cooke (see also best songs 156) in the ‘Teenage Kings of Harmony’ Gospel group, before moving to Los Angeles, where he joined another Gospel group, the ‘Pilgrim Travelers.’ Rawls would later sing again with Sam Cooke, as backing vocalist on Cooke’s 1962 single ‘Bring It On Home to Me,’ (Billboard Number 13 hit) and ‘That’s Where It’s At,’ in 1964.

In 1980 Rawls began the ‘Lou Rawls Parade of Stars Telephon’ which benefits the ‘United Negro College Fund’. It became an annual event, and in 1998 it became known as ‘An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence.’ The event raised over $200 million in 27 shows for the charity, through until 2006.

‘You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine’ was co-written by the legendary songwriting team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff (see also best songs 1001-896-648-604-571 and 448.) In an attempt to lure Rawls to their record label ‘Philadelphia International,’ Gamble and Huff pacifically wrote this song for him. By 1976 Philadelphia International Records had taken over from Tamla Motown as the worlds number one producers of quality Soul music, and they were also now leading the way in the production of Disco music, with many of the labels artists, including this song, being backed by the labels in house studio band ‘M.F.S.B,’ In total ‘M.F.S.B.’ had 32 different members come and go between them forming in 1971, through until their disbanding in 1985. Due to a disagreement with Gamble and Huff shortly before the recording of this song over finances, several of the group members moved on to ‘Salsoul Records,’ where they became known as the ‘Salsoul Orchestra,’ other members began performing as ‘The Ritchie Family Orchestra.’ As for what ‘M.F.S.B.’ stood for, there are two explanations. The clean one is ‘Mother, Father, Sister, Brother,’ and the rude one is ‘Mother-F…in’, Son of-a-Bitch,’ an expression which was used among the musicians to compliment a person’s musical prowess.

‘You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine’ was taken from the Album ‘All Things in Time,’ and provided Lou Rawls with his first Billboard hit in seven years. In total Rawls had five Billboard top 40 hits with this being the most successful when making Number 2, while in the UK this song was his only top 40 single. The song is a warning to the girl that if she let’s the guy go, she will spend the rest of her life looking for someone just like him. The song was written around the time that Kenny Gamble was going through a divorce from the singer Dee Dee Sharp (see also best songs 1001.)

‘You’ll never find, it’ll take the end of all time, someone to understand you like I do. You’ll never find the rhythm the rhyme, all the magic we shared just us two.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

323-Leftfield featuring John Lydon-Open Up.

1993-Number 13 single.

Best Bit-At 0.15. When two of Electronic Dance Music’s most innovative artists team up with a ‘National Treasure’ there is a fairly good chance of something special occurring.

Leftfield were formed in London, England, in 1989 by Neil Barnes, and Paul Daley, they are considered to be very influential in the evolution of Electronic Dance Music in the early 1990’s. In 1992 in a review in the ‘Mixmag’ music magazine the writer described their sound as ‘Progressive House,’ thus defining a new genre of music. The word ‘Progressive’ had previously appeared in music in the mid 1960’s, when used to describe artists who were creative with Rock Music.

Prior to forming Leftfield Neil Barnes had been playing percussion as a session musician, but after being inspired by the music of Afrika Bambaataa (see also best songs 716) he decided to have a go at producing Electronic Dance Music, resulting in the first two singles,’Not Forgotten,’ and ‘More Than I Know,’ being released under the ‘Leftfield’ name. For the remixes of the tracks Barnes brought in Paul Daley who was the percussion player with the Dance act ‘A Man Called Adam,’ on realising they had a lot in common they joined forces to become ‘Leftfield.’ The duo were active until 2002, but in 2010 Barnes revived Leftfield, with Daley declining to get involved. Since then Barnes has toured and recorded under the name Leftfield with other artists. Leftfield have recorded three studio Albums between 1995-2015, and 16 singles have been issued, six of which have reached the UK top 40.

‘Open Up’ was one of Leftfield’s earlier recordings added to the duo’s debut studio Album ‘Leftism’ released in 1995 to critical acclaim. Leftfield invited guest vocalists to perform on their songs, and had been waiting for something suitable for John Lydon to sing on (see also best songs 967-576-92 and 27.) Barnes said,’We had to do something that warranted getting John in. We were terrified that we’d do something second rate. We worked on the bass line until we got it right, spinning in records endlessly, trying different breaks to get the right feel for it. John Lydon has said,’They brought me over to the studio one night, and I more or less just free-formed it. I’ve been running the ideas for my mind almost constantly, so it was all just waiting for the pen to hit the page.’

‘Open Up’ included the line ‘burn Hollywood burn,’ Lydon has said that the song was partly about him not being given a part in a movie, but it was only ‘Some of it.’ ‘Open Up’ is probably a scathing attack on all the opulent excesses, and fake lifestyles of the people who attempt to live the Hollywood ‘dream.’

‘Lose myself inside your schemes, go for money honey, not the screen, be a movie star, blah blah blah, go the whole hog, be bigger than god.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

324-White Stripes-Seven Nation Army.

2003-Number 7 single.

Best Bit At 0.09. Jack and Meg White hated that journalists wanted to know all about their private life, so they told them that they were brother and sister, when they were really man and wife, (which could have left them with some right old explaining to do.)

The White Stripes were formed in 1997, in Detroit, Michigan, United States, by the husband and wife duo of Jack and Meg White who had married in 1996, although the couple divorced in 2000, they continued working together as White Stripes through until the band split in 2011. They took the bands name from Meg’s love of Peppermints, Jack explained,’We were going to call ourselves the Peppermints, but since our last name was White, we decided to call it the White Stripes.’Jack White was born John Anthony Gillis on July 9th, 1975, in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in a somewhat unusual move, when he married Meg, he took her surname. Jack White is one of the most celebrated musicians of the late 20th, and early 21st Century, particularly for his recording technique and guitar playing. He is credited with the revival of ‘Garage Rock’ music, which he blended with his ‘Blues’ influences. Aside from his work with the White Stripes, White has also released three solo studio Albums between 2012-2018, he is also a member of the American Rock group ‘The Dead Weather,’ releasing three studio Albums between 2009-2015, and also the American Rock band the ‘Raconteurs,’ who have also released three studio Albums between 2006-2019. The White Stripes released six studio Albums between 1999-2007, and 28 singles, of which ‘Icky Thump’ in 2007, when making Number 26 on Billboard, was their only charting single in America on the Hot 100 top 40 chart, while in the UK 13 of their singles have reached the top 40.

‘Seven Nation Army’ was the first single released from the White Stripe’s fourth studio Album ‘Elephant’ from 2003, and was written and produced by Jack White. ‘Seven Nation Army’ started out as a guitar riff written by Jack White at the ‘Corner Hotel’ in Melbourne, Australia when the White Stripes were on tour in 2002. White knew straight away he had something special, and initially he decided to save it thinking it would make a great James Bond theme, but in time he realised that there would be little chance of them coming to call. Ironically in 2008 White did receive the call when he composed, and co-sang ‘Another Way to Die’ with Alicia Keys, the theme to the James Bond film ‘Quantum of Solace.’ After writing the guitar riff White gave it a name, he called it ‘Seven Nation Army’ because as a child he had thought that the ‘Salvation Army’ were actually called ‘Seven Nation Army,’ something he had misheard. Jack and Meg felt that the press would often intrude on their privacy, and the songs lyrics are Jack saying that no matter how much you delve into our private lives, we will not be bullied by you.

‘I’m gonna fight ’em all, a seven nation army couldn’t hold me back. They’re gonna rip it off, taking their time right behind my back.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

325-Bon Jovi-Livin’ on a Prayer.

1986-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 0.21. Every mobile DJ, and every party DJ, probably plays this, religiously.

Jon Bon Jovi was born John Francis Bongiovi Jr. on March 2nd, 1962, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, United States, he is one of the founding members of Bon Jovi, who were founded in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey, New York. The band remain active with Jon Bon Jovi, and David Bryan being the only two remaining members from the original line up (see also best songs 959.) With record sales well in excess of 100.0000 they are one of the worlds best selling artists. Music critics have credited them with bridging the gap between Heavy Metal and Pop.

Bon Jovi’s first two studio Albums, their self titled debut from 1984, and ‘7800 Fahrenheit’ from 1985, were a mixture of Hard Rock and Glam Metal, with both achieving moderate success. The band realised that if they were to take things to the next level they would need to create a more radio friendly sound. This led to the hiring of the songwriter and music producer Desmond Child, who already had a proven track record. Child who was born John Charles Barrett on October 28th, 1953, in Gainesville, Florida, United States, had previously worked with the American Rock band Kiss, co-writing their 1979 Billboard Number 11 hit ‘I Was Made for Lovin’ You.’ Child would go on to write for dozens of other artists including Alice Cooper, and Meatloaf. Child was also the co-writer of ‘Livin’ la Vida Loca,’ the U.S., and UK Number 1 hit in 1999 for Ricky Martin.

‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ was co-written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child, and was the second single released from Bon Jovi’s third studio Album ‘Slippery When Wet’ from 1986. The first single release ‘You Give Love a Bad Name’ which is also credited to all three, had given Bon Jovi their first American Number 1 single, a fete which Livin’ on a Prayer replicated.

‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ is the story of Tommy and Gina who are a working class couple struggling to make ends meet. Tommy loses his job as a dockworker because of a strike, while Gina works as a waitress in a diner. The characters Tommy and Gina were loosely based on a real life situation that Desmond Child had encountered in the 1970’s with his then girlfriend Maria Vidal, with whom he was living. At that time Child was a taxi driver, and Vidal was a singing waitress in a diner. Maria Vidal who would go on to have a 1984 UK Number 11 hit with ‘Body Rock’ was nicknamed ‘Gina’ due to her physical resemblance to the Italian actress and photographer Gina Lollobrigida. In 2000 Jon Bon Jovi reintroduced Tommy and Gina in the song ‘It’s My Life.’

‘Tommy’s got his six string in hock, now he’s holding in what he used to make talk, so tough, it’s tough. Gina dreams of running away, when she cries in the night, Tommy whispers, ‘Baby it’s okay, someday,’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

326-? and the Mysterians-96 Tears.

1966-Number 37 single.

Best Bit-At 0.04. In the piecing together of the development of Rock Music, and learning about how the previous generation influenced the next, this band, and this song were definitely an inspiration. Of that there is no question.

The Mysterians were formed in 1962 in Bay City, Michigan Saginaw, United States, by Larry Borjas, (guitar) Robert Martinez, (drums) and Bobby Balderrama, (lead guitar) the three of them were all sons of migrant farmers who had settled in Michigan,they took their name from the 1957 Japanese science fiction film ‘The Mysterians.’ Their initial motivation was the instrumental ‘Surf Rock’ music of artists such as Link Wray (1929-2005) (see also best songs 301) and Duane Eddy, but after the ‘British Invasion’ they decided they also needed a vocalist, after hearing the Beatles, and The Rolling Stones. The new vocalist was Rudy Martinez, the brother of Robert, who went by the stage name of ‘Question Mark.’ To cement this new line up they became ‘? and the Mysterians,’ the original quintet were completed by the recruiting of keyboard player Frank Rodriguez. The band which have seen 19 members come and go have never officially been retired, but have had periods where they have been on hiatus. They have released four studio Albums between 1966-1999, and 13 singles between 1966-2012. In America this song was a Billboard Number 1 single, and they also charted at Number 22 with the follow up ‘I Need Somebody,’ while in the UK this song remains their only hit.

’96 Tears’ was written and produced by Rudy Martinez, when asked why 96? Martinez has said that the number 96 has ‘A deep, philosophical meaning,’ but he has refused to elaborate any further. The organ riff on the track was played by Frank Rodriguez on a ‘Vox Continental,’ although the organ had been used on previous hits,(see also best songs 851) the playing of it on this track would lead to it’s use on future hit singles, (see also best songs 235) and also by countless other wannabee hit makers.

In 1971 the Rock music critic, and writer Dave Marsh wrote a piece for the ‘Creem’ music magazine, where when writing about ‘? and the Mysterians’ called them ‘Punk Rock,’ this was the first time ‘Punk Rock’ had ever been mentioned, and Marsh is credited with coining the term. ‘? and the Mysterians’ are also retrospectively remembered as one of the first ‘Garage Rock’ bands, a term that was not used until the early 1970’s. ‘? and the Mysterians’ were the archetypal American Garage Rock band playing a raw and energetic style of Rock ‘N Roll in the early 1960’s. The genre of ‘Garage Rock’ derives from the perception that groups were often made up of young amateurs who rehearsed in the family garage.

’96 Tears’ are not the narrators tears. He has been given the elbow by his partner, and plans to get back with them in order to make then suffer how he has suffered, by then splitting up with them, in order to get his own back.

‘You’re way on top now since you left me, you’re always laughing way down at me, but watch out now, I’m gonna get there.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

327-Nat King Cole-Smile.

1954-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 0.08. Michael Jackson often cited ‘Smile’ as his favourite song. In 2009 at Jackson’s memorial his brother Jermaine sang a version in Michael’s honour (see also best songs 570.)

The original version of ‘Smile’ was written by Charlie Chaplin for the 1936 American silent comedy ‘Modern Times.’ The film which was also written, produced, and directed by Chaplin is a comment on the desperate employment and financial conditions many people faced during the ‘Great Depression.’ In 1989 the film was one of the first 25 films selected by the ‘Library of Congress’ for preservation in the United States ‘National Film Registry’ for being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. was born on April 16th, 1889, in London, England, he died after suffering a stroke in his sleep on December 25th, 1977, at the age of 88. Chaplin who had been born in to severe poverty, went on to become the ultimate ‘rags to riches’ story. Through his onscreen persona of ‘The Tramp’ Chaplin became a worldwide icon. Chaplin was a perfectionist, and due to his high profile and financial position was able to spend as long as he wished perfecting his films.

Although Chaplin is given sole credit for the writing of ‘Smile’ and the film score for ‘Modern Times,’ this has been hotly disputed by Alfred Newman, (1900-1970) and David Raskin. (1912-2004) Newman had collaborated with Chaplin on his previous film ‘City Lights,’ and towards the end of the ‘Modern Times’ soundtrack recording sessions Chaplin and Newman had a falling out, leading to Newman’s angry departure. According to David Raskin it was he who wrote the music as a young man. He said that Chaplin would often sit in the washroom, humming tunes and telling Raskin to ‘take this down.’ Raskin said his job was to turn the humming into a score, and create timings and synchronisation that fit the situations.

In 1954 the lyricists John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons (1910-1987) wrote the lyrics for ‘Smile.’ Turner ran the ‘Peter Maurice Music Company’ who employed Parsons, the company specialised in adapting songs originally written in foreign languages into English, Parsons would work on the translation and Turner would suggest some changes. Other well known translations by Turner and Parsons include ‘O mein Papa,’ and ‘Auf Wiederseh’n, Sweetheart,’ which became an American Number 1 single for Vera Lynn (1917-2020) (see also best songs 172 and 49) in 1952.

‘Smile’ has been recorded by many of the world’s top artists, with the first version with lyrics by Nat King Cole (1919-1965) (see also best songs 988-226 and 161) in 1954, and reaching Number 2 in the UK, and Number 10 in America. Another notable recording is from Michael Jackson (1958-2009) (see also best songs 812-511-249 and 191) who included the song on his 1995 Album ‘HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1.’

‘Smile’ is a song of positivity, it tells us that we must never lose faith in the hope that things will get better. Smile and you will feel better, smile and you will make others feel better as well.

‘Smile though your heart is aching, smile even though it’s breaking. When there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by if you smile.’