THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

790-T. Rex-Hot Love.

1971-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.58.A lot of time is spent by people discussing great intro’s to songs, but very little is spoken about the best ‘outro’, I would like to put this one forward as a strong contender.

Marc Bolan (see also best songs 386 and 67) was born Mark Feld on September 30th, 1947,in Stoke Newington. London, England, he died in a car crash on September 16th, 1977, at the age of 29. Bolan never learned to drive, it is said that he had a fear of premature death. Despite the fear, cars or automotive components are at least mentioned, or are the subject of many of his songs. He appeared twice on the BBC music show ‘Top Of The Pops’ in March 1971 to promote this song, dressed for the first time in shiny satin stage-wear, and glittery makeup, music historians see this as a crucial trigger in what was to become known as Glam Rock.

‘Hot Love’ was produced by the legendary Toni Visconti, who had previously produced (and would again later in the decade produce) David Bowie, the other artist significantly cited with the development of the genre.’Glam Rock.’

The only surviving member of the classic line-up of T.Rex is drummer Bill Legend, as percussionist Mickey Finn died of liver complications in 2003, and bass guitarist Steve Currie, like Bolan also died in a car crash, in 1981.

‘Well she ain’t no witch, and I love the way she twitch-a ha, ha.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

791-Terror Squad-Lean Back.

2004-Number 24 single.

Best Bit-At 1.31.The dance they are doing is called ‘The Rockaway,’ I would imagine it is one of the easier dance routines to choreograph.

‘Lean Back’ is one of the most successful Hip-Hop songs of all time,it spent three weeks at Number 1 on Billboard in August, and September 2004, on the best selling songs on Billboard since 1958, it is the 337th highest seller.The Terror Squad were formed in 1998, in The Bronx, New York, United States, by Joseph Cartagena who goes by the name of Fat Joe.He had earlier started a record label also called ‘Terror Squad’, and signed Rap artists to release solo material on the label, as well as working under the Terror Squad band banner.One of the original members of the Terror Squad was the critically acclaimed rapper Big Punisher who died of a heart attack in 2000, this forced Fat Joe in to recruiting new members Remy Ma, and Tony Sunshine, who both appear on this song.

Fat Joe was born on August 19th, 1970, in The Bronx, New York, like Big Punisher (1971-2000) he has suffered with weight problems all his life, and by 1996 weighed over 21 stone. In 2011 Fat Joe unveiled his latest weight loss efforts in the video for his song ‘Drop a Body,’ after shedding 88lb of his previous weight of 350lb.

One of the songs co-writers is Remy Ma who performs the second verse, she is one of only six female rappers to have performed on a Billboard Number 1 single.

‘Said my n….. don’t dance, we just pull up our pants, and do the Rockaway,now lean back, lean back, lean back.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

792-Bob Dylan-Subterranean Homesick Blues.

1965-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 0.10.It appears Dylan was doing Rap, well over a decade before anyone else.

‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ reflects certain elements of American society in the mid 1960’s. Using several slang terms the song references the drug culture, and politics of the time, the turmoil surrounding Vietnam, and the American Civil Rights Movement.Dylan (see also best songs 358-103-36 and 7) has said that inspiration for the song came from the writing technique of the ‘Beat Poets’ of the 1950’s,such as Jack Kerouac, and Allen Ginsberg.He also cited ‘Scat’ songs of the 1940’s, and the Chuck Berry song ‘Too Much Monkey Business,’from 1956 as a further influence.As for the songs title,the ‘Subterranean’ is probably a nod towards Jack Kerouac’s 1958 novel,’The Subterranean’s,’and ‘Homesick Blues,’ is Dylan telling us that even so he has made it big, he misses his past life.In one of John Lennon’s last interviews before he died in 1980, he said that on hearing the song, he was so captivated by it, that he was worried he would never be able to write anything that could compete with it.

In addition to the songs influence on future artists, it can also boast one of the most memorable, and ground breaking promotional film clips, the forerunner to what would become the music video.The clip was shot in an alley close to the Savoy Hotel, in London, with Dylan holding up cue cards with selected words and phrases from the songs lyrics. There are intentional misspellings, and puns throughout the clip,which features brief cameo’s from Allen Ginsberg, and the American Folk singer/songwriter Bob Neuwirth.

‘Johnny’s in the basement, mixing up the medicine, I’m on the pavement, thinking about the government’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

793-The Wannadies-You and Me Song.

1996-Number 18 single.

Best Bit-At 0.49.If your a fan of Easy Listening music, then the first 49 seconds will be right up your street. If you love Rock N’ Roll, then you can pogo around the room for the next 1.59 seconds.

The Wannadies were an Alternative Rock band formed in 1988 in Skelleftea, Northern Sweden, their Albums, and singles have only ever charted in their home country of Sweden, and also in the UK, where they have had three top 40 hits, the other two being ‘Hit,’ which reached Number 20 in 1997, and ‘Someone Somewhere,’ which peaked at Number 38 in 1996. They were active until 2009, but did reform for a reunion concert in 2016.

‘You and Me Song’ was originally released in 1994 from the Wannidies third studio Album ‘Be My Girl,’ but had little impact, only reaching Number 119 in the UK, but after the film producer Baz Luhrmann chose the song for the soundtrack to the 1996 movie ‘Romeo +Juliet,’ the bands record label re-released the song.

The song is also famous for being used in the British soap opera Coronation Street, in one of their most memorable scenes, when serial killer Richard Hillman drove his car in to a canal, while holding the Platt family hostage in the vehicle.

‘Always when we fight, I try to make you laugh, until everything’s forgotten, I know you hate that.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

794-Guy Mitchell-Singing the Blues.

1956-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.41.Not to be confused with the kind of Blues that Lead Belly, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Bessie Smith, or B.B.King were known for singing.

‘Singing the Blues’ is by far the best known song, of over 400 written by Melvin Endsley (1934-2004.) Endsley was born in Drasco, Arkansas, United States, at the age of three he contracted polio,requiring him to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

The first recording of the song was by Country singer Marty Robbins (1925-1982,) who took the song to Number 17 on Billboard in 1956, but it was the recording by Guy Mitchell which was the most successful.Guy Mitchell was born Albert Cernik on February 22nd, 1927, in Detroit, Michigan, United States, he died on July 1st, 1999, as well as having a singing career he was also an actor, and had his own television show,’The Guy Mitchell Show,’which ran between 1957-1958 on the ‘ABC,’ network. It was Mitch Miller (1911-2010) who was in charge of talent at Columbia Records who gave him his stage name,’My name is Mitchell, and you seem like a nice guy.’In total, including this song, Mitchell recorded six, one million selling singles.

In the 1950’s it was not unusual for more than one version of a song to be in the chart at the same time.In 1956 Guy Mitchell spent 10 non-consecutive weeks at Number 1, the sequence was broken by Tommy Steele’s version, which spent a week at the top.The song has also charted on three more occasions in the UK, in 1980 for Dave Edmunds (Number 28,) in 1994 for Daniel O’Donnell (number 23,) and in 2009 for Cliff Richard & the Shadows (Number 40.)

‘Oh the moon and stars no longer shine, the dream is gone I thought was mine.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

795-Maria Muldaur-Midnight at the Oasis.

1974-Number 21 single.

Best Bit-At 1.20. I always thought that the plural of cactus was cacti,but it appears that cactuses is also acceptable.

Maria Muldaur was born Maria D’Aato on September 12th, 1943, in New York City, United States. She was the wife of the musician Geoff Muldaur, but after they divorced, she continued to use the surname for her solo career.Before the release of her self titled debut Album in 1973 she had been a member of the ‘Even Dozen Jug Band,’in the 1960’s, they were a Folk group whose members included Steve Katz (later of Blood, Sweat and Tears,) and John Sebastian (later with the Lovin’ Spoonful.)

‘Midnight at the Oasis’ was written by the American songwriter, and television composer, soundtrack artist, and Buddhist teacher, David Nichtern, he also plays acoustic guitar on this track.Other top session musicians to play on the song included,Jim Gordan (drums,) Daniel Friedberg (bass,) and Amos Garrett, who played the famous instrumental guitar section.

The song is full of sexual innuendo, but the tone is playful throughout. Muldaur has said that people have approached her at concerts, or other events, and claimed that the song had inspired sexual encounters, loss of virginity, and pregnancy.

The song has been covered many times, most notably by the Acid Jazz, and Funk group The Brand New Heavies, who took their version to Number 13 in the UK in 1994.

‘But you won’t need no harem honey when I’m by your side, and you won’t need no camel, no no, when I take you for a ride.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

796-Bingo Players featuring Far East Movement-Get Up (Rattle.)

2013-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.46. It’s amazing what a difference adding some ‘party lyrics,’and a sprinkling of ‘dirty bass’ can make.

‘Get Up (Rattle’) started out life as an instrumental called ‘Rattle,’ by the Bingo Players, and released to very limited success in Europe in 2011. It wasn’t until the Far East Movement added the vocal, that it became a major hit in early 2013. The song was added to the deluxe editions of the Far East Movement’s fourth studio Album ‘Dirty Bass.’

The Bingo Players were the Dutch Electric Dance Music duo of Paul Baumer, and Maaten Hoogstraten, Baumer died of cancer in 2013, with Hoogstraten continuing to work using the name Bingo Players.This song is their only UK top 40 single, making them ‘One Hit Wonders,’ but their track ‘Cry (Just a Little’) from 2011 did reach Number 44, and was later covered by American Rap artist Flo Rida, who took his version to Number 3 in the UK in 2012.

The Far East Movement were formed in Los Angeles, California, United States, in 2004. to date they have achieved five UK top 40 singles, while in America on Billboard,’Like a G6,’ featuring The Cataracs, and Dev, was Number 1, in 2010. That achievement made the band members the first ever Asian/American group to top the Billboard Hot 100. Their latest Album release,’Identity,’ in 2016 featured many Asian performers, in an attempt to bridge the gap between Asian, and American artists.

‘Yeah, we be raging round the clock, feel that bass around the block, fill that red cup up to the top,birthday shots.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

797-AC/DC-Whole Lotta Rosie.

1980-Number 36 single.

Best Bit-At 0.31-The chubby chasers anthem.

AC/DC (see also best songs 245 and 170) were formed in 1973 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, by the Scottish born brothers Malcolm (1953-2017,) and Angus Young. They have sold in excess of 200 million records, with their 1980 Album ‘Back In Black,’ being the second highest selling Album of all time, with sales of over 50 million copies.

‘Whole Lotta Rosie’ is based on the true experiences of Bon Scott, who was born Ronald Scott in Forfar, Scotland on July 9th, 1946, he died on February 19th, 1980, like the Young brothers, he had also emigrated to Australia from Scotland as a child.

The story goes that one night after a show, Scott was propositioned by an obese Tasmanian woman, they ended up spending the night together at the Freeway Gardens Motel, in North Melbourne.Despite her size Scott found her to be one of the most talented lovers he had ever experienced (see also best songs 939.)

The songs intro is based on the 1955 Chuck Berry song,’No Money Down,’ which AC/DC originally used as the main riff for an earlier song of their’s called ‘Dirty Eyes,’ which they re-worked in to ‘Whole Lotta Rosie.’

‘She ain’t exactly pretty, ain’t exactly small, ’42,’ ’39,’ ’56,’ you could say she’s got it all.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

798-Fatback Band-(Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop.

1975-Number 18 single.

Best Bit-At 2.52. I would queue for a lifetime to catch this tune.

The Fatback Band are the brainchild of Bill Curtis who formed the band in 1970, in New York City, United States. Since their inception there have been 21 personnel changes, with Curtis being the one constant. Their last Album of original material was released in 1988, but they still tour to this day.Curtis had already been an experienced session drummer in the 1950’s, and 1960’s, and wanted to merge the ‘Fatback Jazz Beat’ sound of New Orleans, into a streetwise Funk band.In 1977 they dropped the ‘Band,’ and just called themselves ‘Fatback.’

‘(Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop’ is typical of their Funky sound, and also became a very popular Disco hit.The song has dance moves, which appear to have been lost in the annals of time, but the song is credited with helping popularise Line Dancing.

The Fatback Band were also forerunners in the genre of Rap music.In 1979 an unknown rapper by the name of Tim Washington was given the opportunity to Rap over a Bill Curtis beat as an experiment, the track called ‘King Tim 111 (Personality Jock’) became the first commercially released Rap song, just weeks ahead of Rap’s major breakthrough, ‘Rappers Delight,’ by the Sugarhill Gang.

‘Four to the front,then four to the back.Two to the front,but two to the back.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

799-The Everly Brothers-Walk Right Back.

1961-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.07.Phil and Don in perfect harmony, at least when they were singing.

The Everly Brothers were Isaac Donald Everly who was born on February 1st, 1937, and his younger brother Phillip Jason Everly, who was born on January 19th, 1939, and died on January 3rd, 2014.Don was born in Brownie, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, U.S., and Phil in Chicago, Illinois, they were born in to a musical family, with their father Isaac (1908-1975) being a guitar player.The brothers were active together between 1951-1973, and again between 1983-2005.They were making their way in the music business at the same time as the onset of the Rock ‘N’ Roll era, and are considered an important part in it’s development, heavily influencing the next generation, including the Beatles, The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, and the Bee Gees, with their close harmony singing.Shortly after the death of Phil in 2014, his brother Don admitted that he had lived ‘a very difficult life’ with his brother, and they had become estranged again in later years.

‘Walk Right Back’ was written by Sonny Curtis, who was born in Meadow, Texas, United States, on May 9th, 1937,he was a member of the Crickets from late 1958, but had performed alongside Buddy Holly in 1955 when opening for Elvis Presley,after Holly’s death, Curtis took over as lead singer of the Crickets.Other well known songs he has written include ‘I Fought the Law,’later covered by the Bobby Fuller Four, and the Clash, ‘More Than I Can Say,’ a hit for Bobby Vee, and Leo Sayer, and he also wrote the theme tune to The Mary Tyler Moore Show,’Love Is All Around.’

‘Walk right back to me this minute, bring your love to me, don’t send it, I.m so lonely everyday’.