THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

740-Bobby Gentry-I’ll Never Fall in Love Again.

1969-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.02.The words of advice from the good Doctor Hal David,’Don’t kiss a guy, because you’ll get enough germs to catch pneumonia, and after you do, he’ll never phone ya.’

‘I’ll Never Fall in Love Again’ was written by Burt Bacharach, who wrote the music, and Hal David (1921-2012,) who provided the lyrics, pacifically for the 1968 Broadway Musical ‘Promises, Promises,’which is based on the 1960 film ‘The Apartment,’ in total Bacharach and David wrote five songs for the musical.

At the time when Bacharach and David (see also best songs 902-832-815-644 and 224) were commissioned to write this song, Bacharach was hospitalised with pneumonia, and it was that which gave Hal David the idea for those ‘strange’ lyrics.The song was first performed as a duet on December 1st, 1968, at the Broadway premiere of ‘Promises, Promises’ by the characters played by the actors Jill O’Hara, and Jerry Orbach. Other significant versions of the song are by longtime Bacharach and David collaborator Dionne Warwick (see also best songs 224,) who took her version to Number 1 on Billboard in 1970. In the UK it was Bobby Gentry’s (see also best songs 18) version that triumphed, reaching Number 1 1969, and in 1990 Scottish band Deacon Blue (see also best songs 1032) took their version to Number 2 in the UK, and Ireland.

‘What do you get when you kiss a guy? You get enough germs to catch pneumonia, after you do, he’ll never phone ya.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

741-Genesis-Mama.

1983-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 2.14 on the video, where you can watch Phil Collins doing an impression of a scary monster.

‘Mama’ is taken from Genesis’ self titled 12th studio Album, and was co-written by the three band members at that time Tony Banks, Phil Collins, and Mike Rutherford. Phil Collins got the idea for the song after reading the memoir ‘The Moons a Balloon,’ first published in 1971 by British actor David Niven (1910-1983.) Hugh Padgham who produced the song has said that the inspiration for Collins’ sinister laugh came after hearing the Grandmaster Flash song ‘The Message,'(see also best songs 290.) Phil Collins has said that the song is about a young teenager that has a mother fixation with a prostitute, he develops feelings for her, but they are not reciprocated.

The original members of Genesis first met at boarding school in Surrey, England, in 1967, the line up included Peter Gabriel (see also best songs 254,) Anthony Philips, Chris Stewart, Banks, and Rutherford, Phil Collins was recruited in August 1970, and Steve Hackett was a member between 1971-1977. The music entrepreneur Jonathan King who had also boarded at the same school as the original Genesis line up, produced their first Album,’From Genesis to Revelation,’ in 1967, he is also credited with the naming of the band. Their original sound was Folk Rock, but they moved in to Progressive Rock in the 1970’s, before moving on to a more commercial ‘Pop’ sound towards the end of that decade.

‘I can’t see you mama, but I can hardly wait, ooh to touch, and to feel you mama, oh I just can’t keep away.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

742-Fat Larry’s Band-Zoom.

1982-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 0.56.But what is ‘Zoom’ really about. Could it be about video communications, or maybe it’s about a brand of ice cream on a stick, from the 1960’s, but my inclination is that it is a romantic song, about love at first sight.

Fat Larry’s Band were a R&B, and Funk band formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States in 1976, they were active until 1987, releasing nine studio Albums. As well as ‘Zoom’ they also charted in the UK with ‘Center City’ which reached Number 31 in 1976.The band was originally put together by ‘Fat’ Larry James (1949-1987,) who co-wrote, and produced many of the bands songs, he was also the drummer, and provided vocals, he died of a heart attack at the age of 38. Another band member between 1982-1983, was Bryan ‘The Wiz’ Loren, who in 2020 transitioned from male to female, becoming Bryanna Loren Hudson, among her many musical credits is being the writer of the 1990 UK Number 1 single,’Do the Bartman,’ which featured the vocals of Michael Jackson.

‘Zoom’ was co-written by Len Barry, and Bobby Eli, and produced by Larry James. Len Barry is best remembered for the song ‘1-2-3,’ which reached Number 3 in the UK , and Number 2 on Billboard in 1965. Barry and Eli also co-wrote ‘Love Town,’ which peaked at Number 6 in the UK for Booker Newberry, in 1983.

‘Smack, just one kiss and I was outta whack, all at once there was no turnin’ back.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

743-Cosmic Gate v Aquagen-Fire Wire v Party Alarm.(Remix.)

2001-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 3.09.’Vorsprung Durch Tecchnik.’The ultimate in German Techno-logy.

‘Fire Wire.’ and ‘Party Alarm’ are two separate songs, ‘Fire Wire’ was originally released in 2001 by the German Dance Music producers Claus Terhoeven, and Stefan Bossems, on their debut Album ‘Rhythm & Drums.’In it’s original form the song reached Number nine in the UK, it was the follow up to the duo’s only other UK top 40 hit,’Exploration of Space,’ which had peaked at Number 29,also in 2001.Cosmic Gate were formed in 1999, in Krefeld, Germany,and are still active, having released nine studio Albums, the latest being 2019’s ’20 Years (Forward Ever Backward Never.’)

Aquagen are also a German Dance Music duo originating from Krefeld, consisting of Gino Montesano, and Olaf Dieckmann, who have worked together since 1999. ‘Party Alarm’ is taken from their debut Album ‘Abgehfaktor, from 2000. As Aquagen they have charted twice in the UK, with ‘Phat Bass’ reaching Number nine in 2000, and a cover of the Chicago song,’Hard to Say I’m Sorry,’ reaching Number 33 in 2002.

‘Fire-Wire,”Seid ihr bereit fur. Die nachste Stufe im Aquagen-Zyklus’?

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

744-Carpenters-Yesterday Once More.

1973-Number 2 single.

Best Bit- At 0.50.’Yesterday Once More’ was written about someone feeling nostalgic when they heard a certain song,and ironically when people hear the song now, it makes them feel nostalgic.

‘Yesterday Once More’ is the Carpenters best selling song worldwide, with Richard Carpenter stating that it is the favourite song he has written.The track is taken from the Carpenters fifth studio Album ‘Now & Then,’ from 1973, it is the first song on ‘side 2’ of the Album, and segues into a near 15 minutes medley of 1960’s covers, before reprising this song at the end.

‘Yesterday Once More’ was co-written by Richard Carpenter, and longtime associate John Bettis, both Carpenter, and Bettis, along with Karen Carpenter, had all originally played together in a band called ‘Spectrum’ in 1966. Bettis is credited with writing over 800 songs, some made famous by the Carpenters, but others include ‘One Moment in Time,’ made famous by Whitney Houston,’Human Nature,’ for Michael Jackson,’and ‘Crazy for You,’ made famous by Madonna.Karen Anne Carpenter was born on March 2nd, 1950, in New Haven, Connecticut, United States, and died on February 4th, 1983, from complications due to anorexia nervosa, her older brother Richard was also born in New Haven, on October 15th, 1946. Karen didn’t start her musical career as a singer, in fact she was a critically acclaimed drummer, she always considered herself a ‘drummer who sang.’Her drumming has been praised by fellow musicians Hal Blaine, and Buddy Rich, with Elton John calling her ‘One of the greatest voices of our lifetime,’while Paul McCartney has said,’The best female voice in the world, melodic, tuneful, and distinctive.’

‘All my best memories come back clearly to me, some can even make me cry, just like before, it’s yesterday once more.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

745-Adam Faith-What Do You Want?

1959-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.43.Blink and you’ll miss it.At 1.33, this is the shortest UK Number 1 song ever.

Adam Faith was born Terence Nelhams-Wright on 23rd June 1940, in Acton, Middlesex, England, he died on 8th March 2003, from a heart attack, he was the first UK artist to reach the top 5 with each of his first seven hit singles.In total he had 23 top 40 entry’s including two Number 1’s, with ‘Poor Me’ being the other.As well as being a ‘Teen Idol’ Faith was also an actor in films, and television, starring in ‘Budgie’ between 1971-1972, and appearing in eight films including ‘Beat Girl’ in 1960, and ‘Stardust,’ in 1974. In the 1970’s he went into music management, managing Leo Sayer, among others,he also co-produced Roger Daltrey’s first solo Album, which included the hit ‘Giving It All Away.’

‘What Do You Want?’ was the breakthrough hit for Adam Faith, it was written by Les Vandyke (see also best songs 997,) produced by John Burgess (1932-2014,) and arranged by John Barry (1933-2011.) Vandyke has written 25 top 40 UK hits, including ‘Poor Me,”Gonna Make You an Offer You Can’t Refuse'(Jimmy Helms,) and ‘Jack in the Box’ (Clodagh Rodgers.)

‘One of these days when you need my kissing, one of these days when you want me too.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

746-B. T. Express-Express.

1974-Number 34 single.

Best Bit-At 0.22. Pop has ‘9 to 5,’Swing has ‘Chattanooga Choo Choo,’Skiffle has ‘The Rock Island Line,’Dance has ‘The Last Train to Trancentral,’Soul has the ‘Love Train,’Folk has the ‘Marrakesh Express,’ but Funk has this.

B. T. Express were formed in Brooklyn, New York, United States, in 1974, they were active until 1987, releasing seven studio Albums, and achieving two top 10 singles on Billboard,’Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied’) reached Number 2 in 1974, and this song peaked at Number 4 in the same year. They are recognised as major players in the development of, and laying down the foundations for the ‘Disco’ era.

‘Express’ was taken from the bands debut Album ‘Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied’,) with all the band members sharing song writing credits.This included Billy Nichols, who prior to joining B. T. Express had worked for Tamla Motown, playing live with Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, before becoming musical director for Marvin Gaye. Another notable member was Michael Jones (1956-2016,) who changed his name to Kasif Saleem, in the 1980’s he wrote, produced, and played with artists such as Whitney Houston, and George Benson.

‘Here comes the express, express, chug, chug, chug. uh!’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

747-Franz Ferdinand-Take Me Out.

2004-Number 3 single.

Best Bit-At 0.55.The bit which hits you like a Glasgow kiss.

Franz Ferdinand were formed in Glasgow in 2002 by Alex Kapranos (lead vocals, lead guitar, keyboards,) Nick McCarthy (rhythm guitar,) Bob Hardy (bass,) and Paul Thomson (drums,) McCarthy left in 2016, with Julian Corrie (keyboards,) and Dino Bardot (rhythm guitar,) both joining in 2017.

After seeing the racehorse ‘Archduke Ferdinand’ in action on television, it got the band members discussing it’s namesake,the ‘Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria,’ whose assassination in 1914 was one of the main events leading up to the outbreak of World War 1. Their thinking was that his death had left a significant mark in history, and the bands goal was to leave a significant mark in music’s history.

‘Take Me Out’ is taken from Franz Ferdinand’s self titled debut Album from 2004, it won the ‘Mercury Music Prize’ for that year. Since it’s release it has sold in excess of 3.6 million copies worldwide, including over 1.27 million copies in the UK. ‘Take Me Out’ appears to continue the theme of assassination, comparing lovers to snipers aiming at each other.Alex Kapranos told the ‘New Musical Express,’It’s about how you’d rather be shot, than continue the tension.’

‘I say don’t you know, you say you don’t know, I say take me out.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

748-Martha and the Muffins-Echo Beach.

1980-Number 10 single.

Best Bit-At 1.23.There are blueberry muffins, apple muffins, cornmeal muffins, chocolate chip muffins,and if you venture in to the ‘Urban Dictionary,’ the meaning of muffin may make you blush.

Martha and the Muffins are a Canadian Rock band formed in Toronto, Ontario, in 1977, since 1983 they have also been known as ‘M+M.’ The band were formed by fellow students David Millar, and Mark Gane, lead singer and keyboardist Martha Johnson was soon asked to join, and the lineup was completed by Mark Gane’s brother Tim on drums, and bass player Carl Finkle. They chose their name to distance themselves from the aggressive names adopted by many Punk bands of that era.’Echo Beach’ is the bands only international hit, but in their home country of Canada, they had a further four top 40 singles in the 1980’s. The band is still active, as the now husband and wife Martha Johnson, and Mark Gane, work under that name, although there has been no new Album since 2010.

‘Echo Beach’ was written by Mark Gane, and as is mentioned in the lyrics (‘far away in time,’) there is no such place, it is somewhere the narrator would sometimes rather be, his ‘Happy Place.’The song was written when Gane’s was working in a dull job, part of his work was to check wallpaper for printing faults.

‘From nine till five I have to spend my time at work, the job is very boring I’m an office clerk.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

749-Chubby Checker-The Twist.

1960-Number 44 single. When reissued in 1962 it reached Number 14, and when reissued as a double ‘A’ side with ‘Let’s Twist Again’ in 1975, it peaked at Number 5.

Best Bit-At 1.26. Check out the video for the possible visual explanation as to why Catherine Lodders, a Dutch 21 model, and Miss World in 1962 agreed to be his wife.

Chubby Checker was born Earnest Evans on October 3rd, 1941, in Spring Gully, South Carolina, United States. As a youngster he acquired the nickname ‘Chubby’ because of his weight, and the ‘Checker’ was added as his stage name, as a nod to the then current star Fats Domino. Chubby Checker would go on to have a further 19 top 40 singles on Billboard, through until 1965, many with the theme of dance moves, such as ‘The Hucklebuck,”The Fly,’ and ‘Pony Time.’ In 1988 Checker reached Number 16 on Billboard, and Number 2 in the UK, with a new version of ‘The Twist,’ recorded with the Hip-Hop trio The Fat Boys.

‘The Twist’ was written by Hank Ballard (1927-2003) of Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, they were an American R&B group who had 10 top 40 hits on Billboard in the 1950’s, and 1960’s. Cal Green of the Midnighters, and Ballard already had a song written called ‘Is Your Love For Real,’ which was based on The Drifters 1955 song ‘What’cha Gonna Do,’ and what they did was change the words to a song about doing the ‘twist’ dance. Ballard got the idea for the song when watching the ‘Midnighters,’To Hank the group often moved like they were ‘trying to put a cigarette out, in a sense they were twisting.’thus, the title of the song.

The Twist is the only song to reach Number 1 on Billboard twice by the same artist, in the summer of 1960, and again when re-released in the winter of 1961.

My daddy is sleepin’ and mama ain’t around, we’re gonna twisty twisty twisty till we tear the house down.’