THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

413-Walk the Moon-Shut Up and Dance.

2014-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 1.47. Can you guess from which Police song this band took their name?

Walk the Moon was the brainchild of Nicholas Petricca, who was born on February 16th, 1987, he formed the band in 2006 while a student at ‘Kenyon College,’ in Gambler, Ohio, United States. In total there have been 10 different band members come and go, with Petricca who is the lead singer being the bands one constant. Petricca has cited the music of the 1980’s as his major influence, naming artists such as Talking Heads, (see also best songs 540) Tears for Fears, (see also best songs 640 and 24) and the Police (see also best songs 1020 and 727.) At the time of writing Walk the Moon remain active, but are currently on hiatus.

Without a recording contract, Walk the Moon financed the recording and release of their debut studio Album ‘I Want! I Want!’ in 2010, with the track ‘Anna Sun’ receiving multiple plays on American Alternative radio stations. This led to a bidding war between several record labels, with Walk the Moon signing to ‘RCA Records’ in February 2011. The discography of Walk the Moon includes five studio Albums released between 2010-2021, and 15 singles between 2012-2022, there are also seven extended plays, (EP’s) two official compilation Albums, and one live Album available. On both sides of the Atlantic, on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and on the UK top 40, ‘Shut Up and Dance’ remains the bands only top 40 single, coincidentally reaching the Number 4 position on both charts.

‘Shut Up and Dance’ was the first of three singles released from ‘Talking Is Hard,’ the third studio Album from Walk the Moon, from December 2014, the song was co-written by Walk the Moon group members Nicolas Petricca, Eli Mainman, Kevin Ray, and Sean Waugaman, along with Ben Berger, and Ryan McMahon, with the production being by Tim Pagnotta, who a founding member of the American Rock group ‘Sugarcult’ in 1998. Ben Berger and Ryan McMahon, along with Ryan Rabin, who is not credited on this track, were all members of the collective ‘Captain Cuts,’ who are a songwriting, record production, and remix team, based in Los Angeles, California, United States, at the time of writing McMahon is no longer a member. In December 2013, they signed a joint venture deal with ‘Warner Bros Records’ to form ‘Cuts Records,’ a record label through which to sign, produce and develop new artists. The trio have worked alongside dozens of artists including Steve Aoki, Carly Rae Jepson, Sabrina Carpenter, and Benson Boone.

Nicolas Petricca got the idea for the lyrics to ‘Shut Up and Dance’ while in a Los Angeles nightclub. He had frustratingly been waiting ages to get served at the bar, and was itching to get on to the dance floor with his female friend. He started complaining about the slow service when his female friend approached him and said, ‘Just shut up and dance with me.’ Petricca has said that the song does actually have a deeper meaning though,’The song is not so much about my personal experience, but about living in the moment.’ Petricca has also spoken about the time when the the band first realised that they had a potential massive hit on their hands, after playing it at a gig at ‘St. Louis University. ‘We had just learned the song and no one had ever heard it, so we thought we’d try it out for these kids. From moment one it was obvious there was something about the song. The kids were singing along with the chorus the second time around. We tried to capture that energy on the record.’

Nicolas Petricca has highlighted three songs that were instrumental in the creation of ‘Shut Up and Dance,’ ‘Just What I Needed,’ by The Cars, (1978) ‘Hit Me with Your Best Shot,’ by Pat Benatar, (1980) and ‘Jessie’s Girl,’ by Rick Springfield, (1981) (see also best songs 929) which he deemed ‘Simple and beautiful and in-your-face rock songs,’ that captured the sound the band desired. ‘Shut Up and Dance’ is inspired by the music of the 1980’s, which the group felt was a time in which ‘weird’ was celebrated, in both music and fashion. The song is considered by ‘Billboard Magazine’ to be heavily influenced by The Edge of U2, (see also best songs 766-320-190 and 84) who describe how the opening riff resembles U2’s 1987 song ‘Where the Streets Have No Name.’

‘A backless dress and some beat up sneaks, my discotheque Juliet teenage dream. I felt it in my chest as you looked at me, I knew we were bound to be together, bound to be together.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

414-FPI Project-Going Back to My Roots/Rich in Paradise.

1989-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 1.21. ‘Put your hands up in the air.’ (It’s an old saying.)

The FPI Project are the trio of Italian Dance music producers Marco Fratty, Corrado Presti, and Roberto Intrallazzi, as you can probably work out for yourself they took their stage name from the first initial of each of their surnames. The FPI Project were formed in Milan, Italy, in 1989, and have been releasing new music, and remixes ever since. The trio are considered to be one of the main forces in the development of the musical genre ‘Italian House,’ (see also best songs 895) with it’s use of predominantly electronic piano chords. This track remains their only UK top 40 hit to date, but they have charted on three further occasions in the 1990’s in the top 100.

The FPI Project released two versions of this song, one features the vocals of the English singer Sharon D. Clarke, (see also best songs 787) with spoken lyrics by Paolo Dini. The other is mainly instrumental, with just the vocals of Dini, both versions are highly recommended, but for clarity I have chosen the vocal version. Like many a good tune ‘Going Back to My Roots/Rich in Paradise’ contains many samples, including the 1989 Dance track ‘Too Nice to Be Real’ by the Belgium group ‘T99.’ The Dutch Dance music producers ‘Honesty 69’s’ (see also best songs 922) 1990 track called ‘Rich in Paradise’ is also heavily sampled.Throughout the track you hear ‘Yeah! Woo!’ which is Bobby Byrd (1934-2007) (see also best songs 561) saying ‘Yeah,’ and James Brown (1933-2006) (see also best songs 880-349-270 and 88) replying ‘Woo,’ this was taken from the 1972 James Brown penned song ‘Think (About It’) performed by Lyn Collins,(1948-2005) and is one of the most sampled sounds in music history, appearing on many Dance tracks.

The original version of ‘Going Back to My Roots’ was written by the legendary singer, songwriter and music producer Lamont Dozier, (1941-2022) (see also best songs 969-823-650-553-212 and 148) and first appeared on his fifth solo studio Album ‘Peddlin’ Music on the Side,’ from 1977. In 1980 the American singer Richie Havens (1941-2013) covered ‘Going Back to My Roots,’ incorporating ‘Disco’ influences, it was this version rather than the Lamont Dozier one that the ‘FPI Project’ were influenced by. The most commercially successful recording of ‘Going Back to My Roots’ came in 1981, when the New York City ‘Disco’ group Odyssey released a ‘Disco’ version, which reached Number 4 in the UK, and Number 1 in South Africa. In 2002 the American singer Linda Clifford took her 10 minutes ‘Disco’ version to Number 85 in the UK for a single week.

The female vocals on the ‘FPI Project’s’ version of ‘Going Back to My Roots/Rich in Paradise’ were provided by Sharon Delores Clarke MBE, (see also best songs 787) who was born on August 12th, 1966, in Enfield, London, England, she is an actress and a singer. Sharon Clarke is a critically acclaimed actress, having won three ‘Laurence Olivier Awards,’ including for ‘Best Actress in a Musical,’ for her role as Caroline Thibodeaux in the 2018 West End production of ‘Caroline, or Change,’ a role she reprised on Broadway in 2021, earning her both ‘Tony’ and ‘Grammy Award’ nominations. In the UK she is best known for her role as Lola Griffin in the medical drama ‘Holby City,’ and as Grace O’Brien in ‘Doctor Who.’ Sharon Clarke has appeared on three UK top 40 singles, the ‘FPI Project’s’ ‘Going Back to My Roots/Rich in Paradise,’ (1989-Number 9) Nomad, (‘I Wanna Give You) Devotion’) (1990-Number 2) (see also best songs 787) and Nomad, ‘Just a Groove’ (1991-Number 16.) Sharon Clarke was appointed ‘Member of the Order of the British Empire’ (MBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to drama.

Lamont Dozier wrote the lyrics to ‘Going Back to My Roots,’ which deal with self identity, family, and soul fulfilment. It has widely been seen as covering the same subject matter as the bestselling Alex Haley (1921-1992) novel ‘Roots’ that depicts a modern day African-American tracing his ancestry back, via the slave trade, to a village in The Gambia. This is supported by the extended final section in the Lamont Dozier recording which moves into ‘Afrobeat’ and ‘Yoruba’ chanting. Lamont Dozier has explained what the song is about, ‘The song was inspired by the fact that I have my ‘roots’ in Detroit and when I moved to Los Angeles, a few years ago, I found myself taking trips to Detroit to see my family and so on.’

‘Hey You, hey you don’t be silly. Put a condom on your willy. Rich in paradise.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

415-Nickleback-Rockstar.

2007-Number 2 single. It also re-entered the chart in 2008, reaching Number 27.

Best Bit-At 1.01. The song maybe about spending billions of Dollars, but Nickleback took their name from the Nickel in change that band member Mike Kroeger gave customers at his job at Starbucks, he would frequently say, ‘Here’s your Nickel back.’

Nickleback were formed in Hanna, Alberta, Canada, in 1995 by Chad Kroeger, (vocals) his brother Mike Kroeger, (bass) their cousin Brandon Kroeger, (drums) and Ryan Peake (guitar, and keyboards.) Brandon left the band in 1997, with Mitch Guindon (drums) being his replacement between 1997-1998, followed by Ryan Vikedal, (drums) from 1998-2005, and since 2005 Daniel Adair has been the bands official drummer. Prior to becoming Nickleback the four founding members had played together as a covers band called ‘Village Idiot’ in the early 1990’s, and at the time of writing they remain active.

Nickleback are one of Canada’s most successful acts, with record sales in excess of 50 million Albums worldwide. Their discography includes 10 studio Albums released between 1996-2020, and 44 singles released between 1996-2023, there are also two extended plays, (EP’s) and two official compilation Albums available. In Canada on the ‘Billboard Canadian Albums,’ six of their studio Albums have reached Number 1, and 19 of their singles have made the ‘Billboard Canadian Hot 100’ top 40, with ‘How You Remind Me,’ (2001) and ‘Someday,’ (2003) both reaching the Number 1 position, with ‘Rockstar’ only making Number 39. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, 10 of their singles have reached the top 40, with ‘How You Remind Me peaking the highest at Number 1, while ‘Rockstar’ made Number 6. In the UK, Nickleback have had nine top 40 entries on the singles chart, with ‘Rockstar’ peaking the highest at Number 2.

‘Rockstar’ was the fifth of seven singles released from ‘All the Right Reasons,’ the fifth studio Album by Nickleback, from October 2005, the song was co-written by all four band members, with the production being by Nickleback, and Joey Moi, who has worked on four Nickleback studio Albums between 2003-2011. Although ‘Rockstar’ was recorded in 2005, it didn’t become a hit in the UK until 2007, it had proved very popular, reaching the top 50 on downloads alone, prompting the record company to give it a physical release. ‘Rockstar’ went on to sell just short of 600,000 copies in the UK, and is their most successful track in that country. In America, ‘Rockstar’ had initially stalled at Number 54 on Billboard, but was re-issued in June 2007 with an accompanying video. ‘Rockstar’ was aided to it’s great success by it’s memorable video which features many rock star’s miming the songs lyrics, including Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, (see also best songs 653) who actually performs the spoken words on the track. Other famous faces making an appearance in the video include Gene Simmons, Kid Rock, (see also best songs 433) and Nelly Furtado. At the end of the video Nickelback are shown playing live on stage, this shot was filmed on July 13th, 2007, at the ‘Comcast Center for the Performing Arts,’ in Mansfield, Massachusetts, United States.

Chad Kroeger was born Chad Robert Turton, on November 15th, 1974, in Hanna, Alberta, Canada, he is the lead singer, and guitarist with Nickleback. His maternal grandfather, was the Canadian politician Henry Kroeger, (1917-1987) who was born in Moscow to a Mennonite family of Prussian descent. After Chad’s father left the family when he was two, he started going by his mother’s maiden name of Kroeger. Chad Kroeger who was married to the Canadian singer Avril Lavigne (see also best songs 953) from 2013 until their divorce in 2015, has worked on several other projects while being a member of Nickleback, including writing and producing the 2002 track ‘Hero,’ (Billboard Number 3 & UK Number 4) for the superhero film ‘Spider-Man.’ In 2001 he founded the band ‘The Suits XL,’ and then in 2005 he co-founded the Vancouver-based ‘604 Records,’ on which in 2006, ‘The Suits XL’ released an Album. He has also collaborated with other artists, including Santana, and Timbaland.

‘Rockstar’ does not condone what some perceive to be, and in some cases correctly, the decadence of a few. Instead ‘Rockstar’ pokes fun at the stereotypical lifestyle of a famous musician, complete with references to extravagant homes, groupies, drugs, and famous friends. Chad Kroeger has said, ‘We had a lot of fun with that one. Just crazy nonsensical things that help paint this picture of someone dreaming about being a Rock Star. It’s what you would also do if you won the lottery. I hope it comes across as us having a lot of fun, and even to some degree, making fun of ourselves.’

‘I want a brand new house on an episode of Cribs, and a bathroom I can play baseball in, and a king size tub, big enough for ten plus me.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

416-Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson-I Need It.

1975-Number 36 single.

Best Bit-At 2.25. He wasn’t christened ‘Guitar,’ but he should have been.

Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson was born John Watson Jr. on February 3rd, 1935, in Houston, Texas, United States, he died on May 17th, 1996. from a heart attack, collapsing on stage while on tour in Yokohama, Japan, at the age of 61. At the age of 15 Watson moved with his mother to Los Angeles, California, after his parents divorced. It was there that he first entered talent contests, which led to him performing with local Blues bands, as a pianist, guitarist and vocalist. He recorded his first songs in 1952 as ‘Young John Watson,’ but he changed to Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson after watching the 1954 American Western film ‘Johnny Guitar’ starring Joan Crawford (190?-1977.) Over the years Watson developed a flamboyant stage act, appearing confident with a humorous personality, and he would often wear outrageous flashy clothing when performing. Over the course of his career Watson toured and recorded with artists as diverse as Little Richard, (1932-2020) (see also best songs 521) Frank Zappa, (1940-1993) Herb Alpert, (see also best songs 815) and many more. His recording output altered with the decades changing music tastes, as he moved from the ‘Blues’ in the 1950’s, to ‘Soul’ in the 1960’s, through to the 1970’s when he turned to ‘Funk.’

Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson is one of the most influential guitarists of all time. The American musician Frank Zappa said that ‘Watson’s 1956 song ‘Three Hours Past Midnight’ inspired me to become a guitarist.’ Watson would go on to contribute to four of Frank Zappa’s studio Albums during the 1970’s, and 1980’s. The American musician Steve Miller covered Watson’s 1957 song ‘Gangster of Love’ in 1968, he also made reference to it in his 1969 song ‘Space Cowboy,’ as well as in his 1973 hit ‘The Joker’ (see also best songs 715.) The American Blues Rock guitarist Jimmie Vaughan has said, ‘When my brother Stevie and I were growing up in Dallas, we idolised very few guitarists. We were highly selective and highly critical. Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson was at the top of the list, along with Freddie, Albert and B. B. King.’ Johnny Guitar Watson was a major influence on a young Jimi Hendrix, (1942-1970) (see also best songs 983 and 492) Watson once said, ‘I used to play the guitar standing on my hands, I had a 150 foot cord and I could get on top of the auditorium, those things Jimi Hendrix was doing, I started that sh#t.’ In a 1994 interview Watson was asked if his 1980 song ‘Telephone Bill’ anticipated ‘Rap’ Music, to which Watson replied, ‘I damn well invented it.’

It was Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson’s 1954 instrumental track ‘Space Guitar,’ that was ground breaking, although it went generally unnoticed at the time of it’s release, retrospectively it has become one of the most important compositions of it’s era. ‘Space Guitar’ was Watson’s first recording to showcase his guitar playing. The backing arrangement for the piece is fairly typical for ‘R&B’ and ‘Jump Blues’ at the time, however, Watson’s groundbreaking performance on the electric guitar sets it apart. ‘Space Guitar’ has been described as being well ahead of its time, with Watson’s over-the-top guitar playing and the heavy use of audio effects. Remember this was 1954, I can only imagine what someone sitting down to listen to it for the first time must have thought. According to Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson, it was a remark by the unnamed recording engineer on the track that inspired the title for ‘Space Guitar,’ ‘I don’t know what you’re trying to do, man, but Jesus, man, what is it? Are you some kind of spaceman?’

The discography of Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson includes at least 27 Albums released between 1963-2004, and at least 53 singles released between 1952-1995. He has never charted within the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, although ‘A Real Mother for Ya,’ from 1977 made Number 41, while 11 of his singles have made the Billboard ‘Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs’ top 40, with ‘A Real Mother for Ya,’ peaking the highest at Number 5. In the UK, Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson’s only top 40 entry is ‘I Need It,’ which made Number 35, but failed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

‘I Need It’ was the first of three singles released from Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson’s 1975 Album ‘Ain’t That a Bitch,’ the song was written and produced by Watson. ‘Ain’t That a Bitch,’ was Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson’s first successful ‘Funk’ Album, and has sold in excess of 500,000 copies. In 1998 the British music magazine ‘The Wire’ included ‘Ain’t That a Bitch’ in their list of ‘100 Records That Set the World on Fire (While No One Was Listening.’)

‘You’ve got a thang for me, even the blind could see. Something you got, you can’t beat it, no, well, girl I need it.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

417-Crosby, Stills & Nash-Marrakesh Express.

1969-Number 17 single.

Best Bit-At 0.49. Marrakesh is a city in Morocco. The Marakesh Express is the train Graham Nash took on a trip there from Casablanca in 1966. The lyrics tell the tale of the sights and sounds that he encountered on that trip.

Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) are often cited as the first ‘Supergroup.’ It was the coming together of three already highly respected, and successful musicians. David Crosby (1941-2023) (see also best songs 621) had been a founding member of the American ‘Folk Rock’ band The Byrds from 1964 until his dismissal in 1967, Stephen Stills had been a founding member of the American Rock group Buffalo Springfield, (see also best songs 559) who had split, and he was looking for a new band, and Graham Nash who had just left the English Pop band the Hollies, (see also best songs 369) due to musical differences. After the success of their self titled debut Album in 1969 the trio went on tour, hiring other musicians to play with them including the equally highly respected and successful, and also former Buffalo Springfield member Neil Young (see also best songs 602 and 559.) Young would become the bands fourth member, as they would then perform as ‘Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSNY.) In their different guises the quartet remained active until 2015, with all members releasing solo Albums, and working on various projects with others. Prior to the release of their second studio Album ‘Déjà Vu,’ in March 1970, and their first as ‘Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young,’ (CSNY) the now expanded group embarked on a four-leg, 39 date tour. Their first major public gig was on August 16th, 1969, at the ‘Auditorium Theatre’ in Chicago, with Joni Mitchell (see also best songs 637-558 and 299) as their opening act, Mitchell and Graham Nash were romantically involved at that time. They mentioned they were going to someplace called ‘Woodstock’ the next day, but that they had no idea where it was. Their one hour show at the Woodstock Festival in the early morning of August 18th, 1969, was said to be a baptism by fire. The crowd of industry friends looking on from offstage was intimidating and prompted Stephen Stills to say, ‘This is the second time we’ve ever played in front of people, man. We’re scared sh#tless.’

The discography of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young includes eight studio Albums released between 1969-1999, and 19 singles released within the same time period, there are also eight official compilation Albums, and five live Albums available. In America on Billboard, their second studio Album ‘Déjà Vu’ is their most successful, reaching Number 1 on the Billboard 200 Album chart, and selling in excess of seven million copies, while nine of their singles have made the Billboard Hot 100 top 40, with ‘Just a Song Before I Go,’ from 1977, peaking the highest at Number 7, and ‘Marrakesh Express’ reaching Number 28. In the UK, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s only top 40 hit is ‘Marrakesh Express,’ which made Number 17.

Graham William Nash, OBE, was born on February 2nd, 1942, in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, he was a co-founder of the Hollies, but left the band in 1968 due to musical differences. In 2010 he was appointed an ‘Officer of the Order of the British Empire’ (OBE) in that years ‘Birthday Honours List’ for services to music and to charity. As a member of the Hollies Graham Nash can be heard singing the lead vocals on ‘On a Carousel,’ (1967-UK Number 4 & Billboard Number 11) and ‘Carrie Anne,’ (1967-UK Number 3 & Billboard Number 9.) Graham Nash had written ‘Marrakesh Express’ in 1966 with the aim of it becoming a future Hollies song, but when it was rejected for not being commercial enough, Nash became frustrated, leading to him leaving the band. Nash has explained how the song came about. ‘In 1966 I was visiting Morocco on vacation to Marrakesh, and getting on a train, and having a first class ticket, and then realising that the first class compartment was completely fu#king boring, you know, ladies with blue hair in there, it wasn’t my scene at all. So I decide I’m going to go and see what the rest of the train is like, and the rest of the train was fascinating. Just like the songs says, there were ducks and pigs and chickens all over the place, and people lighting fires. It’s literally the song as it is, what happened to me.’

‘Marrakesh Express’ was the debut single by Crosby, Stills & Nash, and the first of two singles released from their self titled debut studio Album from May 1968. The song was written by Graham Nash, with the production credited to Crosby, Stills & Nash. The trio were joined by the top session drummer Jim Gordon (1945-2023) (see also best songs 846-795 and 639) on the track. Gordon was a veteran performer on hundreds of songs, who in 1970 co-founded the ‘Supergroup’ Derek and the Dominos. At the very start of the song you can hear David Crosby saying, ‘Whoopa, hey mesa, hooba huffa, hey meshy goosh goosh.’ Graham Nash has said, ‘It’s some Crosby gibberish that we moved from the beginning of ‘Guinnevere’ (track 3 on the debut Album) to the front of ‘Marrakesh Express.’

‘Looking at the world through the sunset in your eyes. Trying to make the train through clear Moroccan skies. Ducks and pigs and chickens call, animal carpet wall to wall. American ladies five foot tall in blue.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

418-Rick James-Super Freak.

1981-It has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 2.33. When it comes to quality Funk on Motown, ‘U Can’t Touch This.’

Rick James was born James Ambrose Johnson Jr. on February 1st, 1948, in Buffalo, New York, United States, he died on August 6th, 2004, from pulmonary failure, and cardiac failure, at the age of 56. James had suffered from drug abuse since his teens, and at the time of his death he had various health conditions including diabetes. He had also previously suffered a stroke, and a heart attack, and was fitted with a pacemaker.

Rick James joined the U.S. Navy Reserve in order to avoid being drafted in to the army, but in 1964 he deserted to Toronto, Canada, where he co-founded the ‘R&B,’ and ‘Rock’ band ‘The Mynah Birds,’ whose line up of 14 rotating members between 1964-1967 included Neil Young (see also best songs 602 and 599) and Bruce Palmer (1946-2004) who would go on to form Buffalo Springfield. On finding out that Johnson was a fugitive it was the Canadian Pop singer Shirley Matthews (1942-2013) who suggested he changed his name to Ricky James Matthews, after a cousin of hers who had died. The Mynah Birds were signed to Motown records, but none of their recordings on that label were officially released until 2006. The authorities eventually caught up with Rick James, and he was sentenced to a one year prison term for desertion. After his release he started a variety of musical projects, and he finally found success in 1977 when signing with ‘Gordy Records’ a subsidiary of Motown.

The discography of Rick James includes 13 studio Albums released between 1978-2007, and 40 singles released between 1974-2006, there are also a further three Albums released between 1980-1983 that are credited to ‘The Stone City Band,’ and a 1970 Album recorded with Bruce Palmer called ‘The Cycle Is Complete,’ where he provides vocals and percussion. There have also been 10 official compilation Albums issued to date between 1984-2014. Rick James also had great success writing and producing for other artists on Motown, including The Temptations, (see also best songs 1031-1001-777 and 569) Teena Marie, (1956-2010) (see also best songs 735) and The Mary Jane Girls. In America on Billboard his only top 10 Album is ‘Street Songs’ from 1981, which reached Number 3, although 12 of his studio Albums have made the Billboard ‘Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums’ chart. On the Billboard Hot 100, five of his singles have reached the top 40, with ‘You and I’ peaking the highest at Number 13 in 1978, and ‘Super Freak’ making Number 16, while 23 of his singles have charted within the top 40 on the ‘Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs’ chart, with four of those tracks making the Number 1 position. Rick James did write and produce the song ‘Party All the Time,’ which when recorded by the American actor and singer Eddie Murphy reached Number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985. In the UK, Rick James has never had a top 40 single, although he wrote and produced ‘All Night Long’ for the ‘Mary Jane Girls’ which made Number 13 in 1983.

‘Super Freak’ was the second of four singles released from Rick James’ fifth studio Album ‘Street Songs,’ from April 1981, the song was co-written by Rick James, and Alonzo Miller, with the production being by Rick James. Alonzo Miller was a Los Angeles radio DJ who modified the tone of the lyrics in order that the song had a better chance of being played to a crossover white audience. It is said that Rick James was not initially excited about the song, but reputedly wanted to have something on the Album that ‘White folks could dance to.’ Some of the backing vocals on the track were provided by The Temptations who had recently returned to Motown records.

In 1990 Rick James successfully sued the American rapper MC Hammer for his sampling of this song on his 1990 Billboard Number 1 single ‘U Can’t Touch This’, having both James’ name and Miller’s added to the writing credits. In 2006 the Dutch ‘Dance Music’ group ‘Beatfreakz’ covered ‘Super Freak,’ taking their version to Number 7 in the UK. The song has also been sampled by Big Sean featuring Nicki Minaj on their single ‘Dance (Ass,’) (2011-Billboard Number 10) the American group the Black Eyed Peas on their 2020 single ‘Vida Loca,’ and it was also sampled by Nicki Minaj on her 2022 single, ‘Super Freaky Girl’ (Billboard Number 1 & UK Number 5.)

‘Super Freak’ is about a girl who is very adventurous sexually, a ‘Freak’ is slang for someone willing to try various fetishes, thus a ‘Super Freak’ will try just about anything.

‘She’s a very kinky girl, the kind you don’t take home to mother. She will never let your spirits down, once you get her off the street.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

419-Percy Faith-Theme from A Summer Place.

1960-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 1.00. You say it better when you say nothing at all.

‘Theme from A Summer Place was written for the 1959 American romantic drama film ‘A Summer Place.’ Originally called the ‘Molly and Johnny Theme,’ it was performed for the movie by the American ‘Easy Listening’ music arranger Hugo Winterhalter (1909-1973.) The music was not the films main title music, and was only played intermittently during the film, it only came to be immediately associated with the movie after this recording by Percy Faith.

‘Theme from A Summer Place’ was written by Max Steiner (1888-1971) (melody) and Mack Discant (1916-1961) (lyrics.) Although the lyrics were not used in the film, or in the Percy Faith version, there have been dozens, or maybe even hundreds of vocal versions recorded. Max Steiner was born Maximilian Raoul Steiner, on May 10th, 1888 in Vienna, Austria-Hungary, he died on December 28th, 1971, from congestive heart failure, at the age of 83. Steiner composed over 300 film scores, including ‘Casablanca,’ (1942) (but not ‘As Time Goes By’) ‘Gone With the Wind,’ (1939) and ‘King Kong,’ (1933.) He is referred to as the ‘Father of film music,’ or the ‘Dean of film music.’

Percy Faith was born on April 7th, 1908, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, he died on February 9th, 1976, from cancer, at the age of 67. Percy Faith recorded around 100 studio Albums between 1951-1976, 21 of which made the Billboard Hot 200 chart. He also had great success as a music producer for himself, and others. His productions can be heard on 16 Billboard hit singles, including both of his Number 1’s, this song in 1960, and the ‘Moulin Rouge Theme’ in 1953. Percy Faith is credited with popularising the genre of ‘Easy Listening’ also known as ‘Mood Music,’ although at times he has been ridiculed for inventing ‘elevator music.’ Although Percy Faith’s professional career began at the height of the ‘Swing Era,’ he refined and rethought orchestration techniques, including use of large string sections, to soften and fill out the brass-dominated popular music of the 1940’s. Percy Faith is the only artist to have the best selling single of the year during both the ‘Pop’ singer era (1953-‘Song from Moulin Rouge’) and the ‘Rock’ era, (1959-‘Theme from A Summer Place’) and he is one of only three artists, along with Elvis Presley and the Beatles, to have the best selling single of the year twice,

‘Theme from A Summer Place’ was written by Max Steiner, and produced by Percy Faith, and was released as a single in September 1959, it can also be found on Percy Faith’s 1971 compilation Album ‘A Summer Place.’ In 1959 prior to the film ‘A Summer Place’ being released, Percy Faith had already recorded and released ‘Theme from A Summer Place’ as a single. At first it only charted moderately, but it eventually took off in February 1960, spending nine consecutive weeks at Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, which at that time set a new record, which would stand until 1977. The song remains the longest running Number 1 instrumental in the history of the Billboard singles chart. Percy Faith re-recorded ‘Theme from A Summer Place’ twice. In 1969, as a female choral version, and then in 1976 as a ‘Disco’ version titled ‘Summer Place 76,’ which was released posthumously. In 1960 the British music producer Norrie Paramor (1914-1979) (see also best songs 709) released his arrangement of the ‘Theme from A Summer Place’ as a single on Columbia Records, featuring wordless vocals by the Scottish soprano Patricia Clarke, and credited to ‘Norrie Paramor & His Orchestra,’ the single reached number 36 on the UK top 40. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, a vocal version by the American male vocal trio the ‘Lettermen’ reached Number 16 in 1965.

‘Easy Listening’ music is a genre of music that was most popular during the 1950’s to the 1970’s. It is related to ‘Middle-Of-The-Road’ (MOR) music, and encompasses instrumental recordings of standards, hit songs, non-Rock vocals, and instrumental covers of selected popular Rock songs. It mostly concentrates on music that pre-dates the ‘Rock and Roll’ era, characteristically on music from the 1940’s and 1950’s. Vocalists who are associated with ‘Easy Listening,’ and appear in this ‘1000 Best Songs’ list include, Frank Sinatra, (see also best songs 877-567-469-120 and 73) Nat King Cole, (see also best songs 988-327-226 and 161) The Carpenters, (see also best songs 744) and The Mills Brothers (see also best songs 960 and 535.)