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 could ‘Zoom’ really be about. Could it be about video communication, or maybe it’s about a brand of ice cream on a stick, which was very popular in the 1960’s, or it could maybe about whizzing down the motorway at speed, but my inclination is that it is a romantic song, about love at first sight.

The Fat Larry’s Band were a ‘Funk,’ and ‘R&B’ group formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, in 1976, by ‘Fat’ Larry James, who was born in Philadelphia, on August 2nd, 1949, he died on December 5th, 1987, from a heart attack, at the age of 38. Prior to forming the ‘Fat Larry’s Band,’ ‘Fat’ Larry James had been a session musician, singing backing vocals for other Philadelphia Soul groups, including ‘Blue Magic,’ and the ‘Delfonics.’ In total there were 13 different members of the ‘Fat Larry’s Band,’ who remained active until the death of James in 1987. The Fat Larry’s Band released eight studio Albums between 1976-1986, and 19 singles within the same time period, there are also two official compilation Albums available. The Fat Larry’s Band never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, but did have four entries on the Billboard ‘Hot R&B’ chart. In the UK, two of their singles reached the top 40, with ‘Center City,’ their debut release, being their other hit, when making Number 31 in 1976. ‘Zoom’ also found success in New Zealand, and also in Australia, where it peaked at Number 10.

‘Zoom’ was co-written by Len Barry, (1942-2020) and Bobby Eli, (1946-2023) with the production being by Larry James, who also sang lead vocals, and played the drums on the track The song was the fourth of four singles released from ‘Breakin’ Out,’ the sixth studio Album from the ‘Fat Larry’s Band,’ from 1982. Len Barry was born Leonard Warren Borisoff, on June 12th, 1942, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, he died on November 5th, 2020, from myelodysplasia, or cancer of the bone marrow, at the age of 78. Len Barry began his music career as a member of the Philadelphia ‘Doo-Wop’ group ‘The Dovells,’ appearing on all five of their Billboard Hot 100 hits between 1961-1963, including ‘Bristol Stomp,’ (Billboard Number 2-1962.) As a solo artist Len Barry had a 1965 hit with ‘1-2-3,’ a song he co-wrote, which reached Number 2 on Billboard, and Number 3 in the UK, it is that song that he is best remembered for. In total Len Barry released 25 singles as a solo artist between 1964-2006, with three of those tracks making the Billboard Hot 100, and two reaching the UK top 40.

‘Zoom’ was also co-written by Bobby Eli, who was born Eli Tatarsky, on March 2nd, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, he died on August 17th, 2023, at the age of 77. Bobby Eli was a musician, arranger, composer, and record producer, and a founding member, and lead guitarist of the Philadelphia studio band ‘MFSB.’ As a member of ‘MFSB’ he played on dozens of tracks issued on the ‘Philadelphia International’ record label, for artists including Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the O’Jays, and Billy Paul, who all feature in this ‘1000 Best Songs’ list. Other notable songs co-written by Bobby Eli include, ‘Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely, for the Main Ingredient, ‘Sideshow,’ for Blue Magic,’ and with Len Barry, ‘Love Town,’ which was a hit for Booker Newberry, making Number 6 in the UK in 1983.

Of the 13 different members of the Fat Larry’s Band, one of the most significant was Bryan Loren, who was born Bryan Loren Hudson, on May 5th, 1966, in Long Island, New York, United States, he appeared on five Fat Larry Band Albums, including playing on ‘Zoom.’ He has released two solo studio Albums in 1984, and 1992, and his song writing credits include, co-writing, along with Michael Jackson, (1958-2009) the UK 1990 Number 1 single ‘Do the Bartman,’ for ‘The Simpsons.’ In 2020 Bryan Loren transitioned from male to female, becoming Bryanna Loren Hudson.

‘Zoom, you chased the day away. High noon, the moon and stars came out to play. Then my whole world went zoom, moonbeams dancin’ in the afternoon, shadows blowin’ as the roses bloom.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

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

2001-It has never charted in this format 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, from the debut studio Album by ‘Cosmic Gate,’ called ‘Rhythm & Drums,’ which was released in February 2001. ‘Fire Wire’ appears in two different versions on the Album, the ‘Club Mix,’ at a running time of 8.13, and also as the ‘DJ Scot Project Remix,’ which goes for 9.56. The radio edit of ‘Fire Wire’ which runs at a little under three minutes, peaked at Number 9 on the UK top 40 singles chart in 2001. ‘Party Alarm’ was the second single released from ‘Aquagen,’ and was a track from their debut studio Album ‘Abgehfaktor,’ from 2000, the song in it’s original form has never charted in the UK. The Album includes all of the first five singles released by ‘Aquagen,’ as well as the ‘Und ab geht’s’ mix of ‘Party Alarm.’

‘Cosmic Gate’ are the ‘Electronic Music’ production duo of Claus Terhoeven, who was born in 1972, and also works under the stage name of ‘Nic Chagall,’ and Stefan Bossems, who is also known as ‘DJ Bossi,’ and was born in 1967, both hail from Krefeld, Germany. The duo who formed their partnership as ‘Cosmic Gate’ in 1999, are critically acclaimed in the genres of ‘Trance,’ Techno,’ and ‘Progressive Music,’ and at the time of writing they remain active. Together they have released 11 studio Albums between 2001-2023, and 58 singles between 1999-2022, there is also one official compilation Album available,’Back 2 the Future – The Classics from 1999-2003: Remixed,’ which was released in 2011. Cosmic Gate have also been commissioned to produce dozens of remixes for various other artists, and have also released 18 volumes of ‘DJ Mix’ compilations, between 2001-2020. In Germany five of their singles have made the ‘GfK Entertainment charts’ top 40, which is the German official singles chart, with ‘Exploration of Space,’ peaking the highest at Number 12 in 2001, while ‘Fire Wire’ failed to chart. In the UK two of their tracks have made the top 40, with the other being ‘Exploration of Space,’ which reached Number 29 also in 2001.

‘Aquagen,’ like ‘Cosmic Gate, also hail from Krefeld, Germany, and are the ‘Electronic Dance Music’ duo of Gino Montesano, and Olaf Dieckmann, the pair formed ‘Aquagen’ in 1999, and at the time of writing they remain active. As ‘Aquagen’ the duo have released three studio Albums between 2000-2002, and 14 singles between 1999-2013, there is also one official compilation Album called ‘So Far So Good (The Very Best Of,’) from 2009. In the UK, they have charted within the top 40 singles chart on two occasions, with ‘Phatt Bass,’ Aquagen vs Warp Brothers,’ reaching Number 9 in 2000, and their cover version of ‘Hard to Say I’m Sorry,’ by the American Rock group ‘Chicago,’ (see also best songs 328) making Number 33 in 2002.

‘Fire Wire’ is one of a number of songs in this ‘1000 Best Songs’ list that can be filed under ‘Trance,’ or ‘Techno.’ Techno is a genre of electronic dance music, (EDM) which is generally produced for use in a continuous DJ set, with tempo’s often varying between 120 and 150 beats per minute (bpm.) In order to make their music artists will use electronic instruments, such as drum machines, sequencers, and synthesizers, as well as digital audio workstations. Drum machines from the 1980’s, such as the ‘Roland TR-808,’ and ‘TR-909,’ are highly prized, and software emulations of such retro instruments are popular. During the mid to late 1990’s, as computer technology became more accessible and music software advanced, interacting with music production technology was possible using means that bore little relationship to traditional musical performance practices from previous decades, for instance, many were now able to gain access to the use of a laptop, and the chance to make your own music had become far more accessible, with the software that was continuously being updated.

‘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 0.49. ‘Yesterday Once More’ was written about someone feeling nostalgic when they heard a certain song, and ironically when people hear this song now, it makes them feel nostalgic.

Karen Anne Carpenter was born on March 2nd, 1950, in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Karen began dieting while in high school, and by following the ‘Stillman diet,’ she remained around 120lb, (54 kg) until her career reached it’s peak in 1973. After seeing photos of herself performing, she felt that she was looking overweight, so she changed her diet, and by September 1975 her weight had dropped to around 91lb (41kg.) By 1981 Karen was taking thyroid-replacement medication, and consuming as many as 90 tablets per night. The self abuse finally took it’s toll, when on February 4th, 1983, she collapsed on the floor in her parents home, having had a cardiac arrest, after being rushed to hospital, she was later pronounced dead, at the age of 32. Karen Carpenter suffered from ‘anorexia nervosa,’ which is a disease which the majority of people did not know about or understand back then, but Karen’s family helped to bring it in to the spotlight by starting up the ‘Karen A. Carpenter Memorial Foundation,’ which raises money for research on anorexia nervosa, and other eating disorders.

At the age of 14, in 1964, Karen Carpenter was bought a set of drums by her parents, and by the age of 15 with her brother Richard, and their friend Wes Jacobs, they began performing together as the ‘Dick Carpenter Trio.’ In 1967 Karen and Richard, along with this song co-writer John Bettis, and others, formed the group ‘Spectrum,’ by this stage Karen was now also being recognised not only for her talent as a drummer, but for also having a unique singing voice. After signing with ‘A&M Records’ in 1969, Karen continued to be the drummer, as well as lead vocalist for the Carpenters debut studio Album, before the legendary drummer Hal Blaine (1929-2019) (see also best songs 978-811-672-527-426-202-127-110 and 71 ) was brought in to share the studio recording drumming duties. After her death Hal Blaine was one of her fellow musicians who highly praised her talent as a drummer. Karen’s singing also garnered critical praise, with Paul McCartney saying that she had,’The best female voice in the world, melodic, tuneful and distinctive,’ while Elton John said that she had,’One of the greatest voices of our lifetime.’

With record sales in excess of 100 million the Carpenters are one of the best selling acts of all time. Their discography includes 14 studio Albums released between 1969-2001, and 49 singles issued between 1966-2003, there are also 16 official compilation Albums, and two live Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, 21 of their singles have reached the top 40, with three of those tracks making Number 1, with ‘Yesterday Once More,’ peaking at Number 2. In the UK they have charted within the top 40 on 17 occasions with ‘Yesterday Once More,’ (1973) and ‘Please Mr Postman,’ (1974) both peaking the highest at Number 2. Karen Carpenter also posthumously released one Solo Album in 1996, and Richard Carpenter had issued two solo Albums, in 1987, and 1998.

‘Yesterday Once More’ was the first of three singles released from ‘Now & Then,’ the fifth studio Album by the Carpenters, from May 1973, the song was co-written by Richard Carpenter, and his long term collaborator John Bettis, with the songs production credited to Richard and Karen Carpenter. ‘Yesterday Once More’ is the Carpenters best selling single worldwide, with sales at around two million copies sold, with one million of those being in America, Richard Carpenter has stated that it is his favourite song of those that he has written. ‘Yesterday Once More’ is the opening track on side 2 of ‘Now & Then,’ and after playing in full, it segues in to eight edited cover versions by the Carpenters of 1960’s songs, with ‘Yesterday Once More’ reprised at the end. Tony Peluso (1950-2010) who played lead guitar on the Album, is also heard performing as a radio DJ throughout the eight song melody. Peluso was also the DJ heard on the Carpenters 1976 UK Number 9 hit ‘Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft.’

‘When I was young I’d listen to the radio, waitin’ for my favourite songs, when they played I’d sing along, it made me smile. Those were such happy times and not so long ago, how I wondered where they’d gone, but they’re back again just like a long lost friend, all the songs I loved so well.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

745-Adam Faith-What Do You Want?

1959-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.46. Blink and you’ll miss it. At 1.34, this is the shortest UK Number 1 song ever.

Adam Faith was born Terence Nelhams Wright, on June 23rd, 1940, in Acton, Middlesex, England. In 1986, he had open heart surgery, and then in 2003, he became ill after his evening stage performance in the touring production of ‘Love and Marriage,’ in Stoke-on-Trent, England, and he died of a heart attack early the next morning, on March 8th, 2003, at the age of 62. Adam Faith was a teen idol, actor, and a journalist, taking his stage name on the advice of the British television producer Jack Good, (1931-2017) who showed him a book of names, he picked ‘Adam’ from the boys list, and ‘Faith’ from the girls list. Adam Faith is remembered by many as much for his acting as well as his singing. He appeared in eight films between 1960-1980. including ‘Stardust,’ (1974) and ‘McVicar (1980.) His television work included 26 episodes of ‘Budgie’ between 1970-1972, and 30 episodes of ‘Love Hurts,’ between 1992-1994. In the early 1970’s he went into music management, managing the English singer Leo Sayer, among others. He also co-produced, along with David Courtney, the debut solo studio Album from Roger Daltrey, called ‘Daltrey,’ from 1973.

Adam Faith who became the first British artist to make the UK top five with each of his first seven hits, released seven studio Albums between 1960-1993, and 42 singles between 1958-1994, there are also 20 official compilation Albums, and one live Album available. In the UK, 23 of his singles have reached the top 40, with ‘What Do You Want?’ (1959) and ‘Poor Me,’ (1960) both making the Number 1 spot. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, his only top 40 entry was ‘It’s Alright,’ which reached Number 31 in 1964.

‘What Do You Want?’ was the fourth single release from Adam Faith, and his breakthrough hit from October 1959. The song was written by Les Vandyke, (1931-2021) (see also best songs 997) and produced by John Burgess, (1932-2014) with the songs arrangement being by John Barry (1933-2011.) John Edward Burgess was born on March 8th, 1932, in London, England, he died in March 2014, at the age of 82. Burgess began his career in music working in the promotion and publicity section of ‘EMI’ records in 1951. When that company took over ‘Capitol Records,’ he became responsible for promoting its artists, including Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee and Dean Martin. In the mid 1950’s Burgess had become the assistant to the record producer Norman Newell, (1919-2004) it was when Newell was unavailable for the recording session, that Burgess was given responsibility for producing the then unknown Adam Faith’s fourth single, ‘What Do You Want?’ In the 1960’s Burgess would go on to produce hits for ‘Freddie and the Dreamers,’ including ‘If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody,’ (1963-UK Number 3) and “I’m Telling You Now”, (1963-UK Number 2 & Billboard Number 1) and also for ‘Manfred Mann,’ on their early hits, including ‘Do Wah Diddy Diddy,’ (1964-UK & Billboard Number 1) and “Pretty Flamingo’ (1966-UK Number 1 & Billboard Number 29.) John Burgess was also the producer of the ‘James Bond Theme’ in 1962, which was one of the many recordings he produced for the ‘John Barry Seven.’

”What Do You Want?’ was arranged by John Barry, who was born John Barry Prendergast, on November 3rd, 1933, in York, England, he died of a heart attack on January 30th, 2011, at the age of 77. John Barry will always be best remembered for his work on the ‘James Bond’ films, for which he composed the scores for 11 of those films between 1963-1987, as well as arranging and performing the ‘James Bond Theme,’ for the first film in the series, which was 1962’s ‘Dr. No.’ He also wrote the ‘Grammy,’ and ‘Academy Award’ winning scores to the films ‘Dances with Wolves,’ (1990) and ‘Out of Africa,’ (1985) as well as the scores of ‘The Scarlet Letter,’ (1995) ‘Chaplin,’ (1992) and many others, he also wrote the theme for the television series ‘The Persuaders!’ (1971.) As the ‘John Barry Seven,’ or the ‘John Barry Orchestra,’ he achieved nine UK top hits between 1960-1971, with ‘Hit and Miss’ from 1960, peaking the highest at Number 10.

‘One of these days when you need my kissing, one of these days when you want me too. Don’t turn around coz I’ll be missing, then you’ll want my love baby. Oh well, then you’ll wanta my love baby.’

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/Rock has the ‘Marraskesh Express, but Funk has this.

B. T. Express were formed in Brooklyn, New York, United States, in 1974, by the music producer Jeff Lane. They started out in 1972 as the ‘King Davis House Rockers,’ and then were later called the ‘Brooklyn Trucking Express,’ before finally deciding on ‘B. T. Express.’ In total there were nine different members come and go, with the group remaining active through until 1987. The discography of B. T. Express includes seven studio Albums released between 1974-1982, and 20 singles issued between 1974-1994, there are also three official compilation Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, three of their tracks have reached the top 40, with their debut single ‘Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied’) peaking the highest at Number 2 in 1974. Their other two Billboard top 40 entries were ‘Express, (1974-Number 4) and ‘Give It What You Got’ (1975-Number 31.) B. T. Express also charted on the Billboard ‘Hot R&B’ chart on eight occasions, with ‘Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied’) and ‘Express’ both making Number 1. They also charted on six occasions on the Billboard ‘Dance Club Songs’ chart, where ‘Express’ also topped that countdown. In the UK their only top 40 single is ‘Express.’

Jeff Lane who was one of the main players in the bringing together of B. T. Express, who are best remembered as being one of the groups at the forefront of laying down the foundations for the ‘Disco’ era, would later go on to work with ‘Brass Construction,’ who were another Brooklyn based ‘Funk’ group. Jeff Lane was the producer of ‘Brass Construction’s’ 1976 Billboard Hot 100 Number 14, and Billboard Hot R&B Number 1 hit ‘Movin.” Lane would later go on to produce Albums by Eddie Kendricks, (Vintage ’78-1978) and Wilson Pickett (Right Track-1981.)

One of the musicians recruited by B. T. Express in 1974 was the keyboard player, and vocalist Kashif Saleem, who was born Michael Jones, on December 26th, 1956, in New York City, New York, United States, he died on September 25th, 2016, of ‘undetermined causes.’ Jones who studied Islam, and changed his name to Kashif Saleem, was considered a pioneer in ‘urban music,’ rated alongside Stevie Wonder, because of his specific synthesizer technology approach, and the introduction of ‘MIDI’ in his production. Kashif stayed with B. T. Express until 1978, and then in 1983 he signed with ‘Arista Records’ as a solo artist, releasing seven Albums, and 18 singles between 1983-2004. Kashif was also a music producer, and songwriter for other artists including Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King, (I’m in Love-UK Number 27-1980) and Whitney Houston, (You Give Good Love-Billboard Number 3-1985) he also dueted with Whitney Houston on the track ‘Thinking About You,’ which he co-wrote and produced, on Whitney Houston’s self titled debut Album in 1985.

‘Express’ was the third of four singles released from ‘Do It (‘Til You’re Satisfied,’) which was the debut studio Album released by B. T. Express, from November 1974, all of the band members at that time are given writing credits, with Jeff Lane being the songs producer. ‘Express’ is a mainly instrumental track, with only the lyrics ‘Here comes the express, chuggin, chuggin, chuggin, chuggin, chuggin, uh’ being repeated, which once again begs the question, when is an instrumental not an instrumental? (see also best songs 985.)

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, Scotland, in 2002, by Alex Kapranos, (lead vocals, lead guitar, keyboards), Nick McCarthy, (rhythm guitar, keyboards, vocals), Bob Hardy, (bass guitar, percussion) and Paul Thomson (drums, percussion, and backing vocals.) Julian Corrie, (keyboards, lead guitar, backing vocals) and Dino Bardot, (rhythm guitar, backing vocals) joined the band in 2017, after Nick McCarthy left in 2016. Another founding member Paul Thompson left the group in 2021, and was replaced by Audrey Tait (drums, percussion.) In total there have been seven different members of Franz Ferdinand come and go, and at the time of writing they remain active. All of the bands original lineup had played in other various bands during the 1990’s, and when coming together they chose the stage name ‘Franz Ferdinand,’ after seeing a racehorse with that name in action on television. It got the band members discussing the horses namesake, the ‘Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, (1863-1914) whose assassination in 1914 was one of the main events leading up to the outbreak of ‘World War I.’ Their thinking was that his death had left a significant mark in history, and the bands goal was also to leave a significant mark in music’s history. The groups percussionist Paul Thomson has said,’I like the idea that, if we become popular, maybe the words Franz Ferdinand will make people think of the band instead of the historical figure.’

The discography of Franz Ferdinand includes five studio Albums released between 2004-2018, and 27 singles issued between 2003-2022, there are also two official compilation Albums, and two live Albums available. In the UK, nine of their singles have reached the top 40, with ‘Take Me Out,’ peaking the highest at Number 3. In America, they have made the Billboard Hot 100 on two occasions, with ‘Take Me Out’ charting the highest at Number 66. In 2015 Franz Ferdinand got together with the American Rock band ‘Sparks,’ (see also best songs 840) to form the ‘supergroup’ ‘FFS.’ together they released the critically acclaimed Album ‘FFS,’ which peaked at Number 15 in the UK, and there were also three singles released from the Album.

‘Take Me Out’ was co-written by Franz Ferdinand band members Alex Kapranos, and Nick McCarthy, with the production being by Tore Johansson. The song was the second of five singles issued from the groups self titled debut Album, from February 2004. The Album received universal critical acclaim, winning the 2004 British ‘ Mercury Music Prize,’ In the UK the Album has sold in excess of 1.2 million copies, and worldwide it has sold in excess of 3.6 million, with at least one million copies sold in America. Tore Johansson who produced ‘Take Me Out,’ and co-produced the Album with Franz Ferdinand, was born on November 6th, 1959, in Sweden. Prior to working with Franz Ferdinand, Johansson had been the producer for the Swedish Rock band ‘The Cardigans,’ having produced five of their six studio Albums between 1994-2005.

Alex Kapranos got the idea for ‘Take Me Out’ after watching the 2001 war film ‘Enemy At The Gates.’ The film is set during the Second World War, around the siege of Stalingrad. One of the themes of the film is this stand off between two snipers. Alex Kapranos has said,’Jude Law is the Soviet sniper, and Ed Harris is the evil Nazi. They’re both kind of tucked away, hidden from each other, waiting for the other to make a move and expose themselves. ‘Cause as soon as the other makes a move, the other will know where they are and will take them out. This image of the two snipers left quite an impact on me, it felt like a very good metaphor for the kind of romantic situations that we sometimes find ourselves in, you know, where you both know you’re into the other but no one wants to kind of, like, expose their vulnerability and make a move, and let the other know how they feel. And so I could write the song so you can’t really tell what I’m talking about. Am I talking about snipers or am I talking about some kind of romantic situation?’

‘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.’

‘So if you’re lonely, you know I’m here waiting for you. I’m just a crosshair, I’m just a shot away from you. And if you leave here, you leave me broken, shattered, I lie. I’m just a crosshair, I’m just a shot, then we can die.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

748-Martha and the Muffins-Echo Beach.

1980-Number 10 single.

Best Bit-At 1,58. 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, Canada, in 1977, by Mark Gane, (synthesizer, and guitar) and his fellow art student at that time David Millar (vocals.) They were soon joined by Martha Johnson, (keyboards, and vocals) with the initial lineup being completed by Mark Gane’s brother Tim, (drums) and Carl Finkle (bass.) Millar left the group before the recording of ‘Echo Beach,’ with both Martha Lady, (keyboards, and vocals) and Andy Haas, (saxophone) joining the group. In total there have been nine different members come and go, with Mark Gane, and Martha Johnson who are married, being the only two remaining members. The name ‘Martha and the Muffins’ was chosen to distance themselves from the aggressive sounding names adopted by many ‘Punk’ bands of that era. In 1983 when the group were a quartet they decided to change their name to ‘”M + M,’ but it never really caught on, with Martha Johnson saying,’The name change just never stuck, because our legacy was ‘Martha and the Muffins.’

The discography of Martha and the Muffins includes eight studio Albums released between 1980-2019, and 18 singles issued between 1978-2010, there are also two official compilation Albums available. In their native Canada, five of their singles have reached the Canadian top 40 singles chart, with ‘Echo Beach’ peaking the highest at Number 5, while in the UK, only ‘Echo Beach’ has charted, when reaching Number 10, and in America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, their only entry to date remains ‘Black Stations/White Stations,’ which peaked at Number 63 in 1984. Martha Johnson has also released two solo Albums, in 1995, and 2013.

‘Echo Beach’ was the first of three singles released from ‘Metro Music,’ the debut Album by Martha and the Muffins, from February 1980, it was written by Mark Gane, and produced by Mike Howlett. Echo Beach is the groups only international hit to date, finding success in the UK. and also Australia, where it reached Number 6. The songs producer Mike Howlett was born Michael John Gilmour Howlett, on April 27th, 1950, in Sydney, Australia. Howlett settled in England in the early 1970’s, and joined the ‘Progressive Rock’ group ‘Gong,’ with whom he remained a member until 1977, when he then formed the short lived ‘Pop/Rock’ group ‘Strontium 90,’ with Sting, Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers, who would later go on to form ‘The Police’ (see also best songs 1020 and 727.) In the early 1980’s Mike Howlett became an in-demand music producer, with a string of hit singles and Albums, including ‘Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, ‘Enola Gay.’ (see also best songs 720 ) and ‘A Flock of Seagulls,’ ‘Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You’) (see also best songs 996.)

‘Echo Beach’ was written by Mark Gane when he was a student at the ‘Ontario College of Art. He had a very dull part time job, where he had to check wallpaper for printing faults, and his mind would wander to a ‘happier place.’ Gane has said that ‘Echo Beach’ is a place that he made up, but it is based on ‘Sunnyside Beach,’ on the shoreline of ‘Lake Ontario,’ in Toronto, where he had spent time. Mark Gane has also said,’The lake and beach could have been in the middle of nowhere, while the city behind became a surrealistic sight.’ ‘Echo Beach’ is probably influenced by the lyrics to song ‘Hiroshima Mon Amour,’ by the British band ‘Ultravox,’ whose lyrics include,’Riding inter-city trains, dressed in European grey. Riding out to echo beach, a million memories in the trees and sands.’ Basically ‘Echo Beach’ is a place to escape to, when you let you’re imagination run wild.

‘From nine to five, I have to spend my time at work, my job is very boring, I’m an office clerk. The only thing that helps me pass the time away, is knowing I’ll be back at Echo Beach someday.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

749-Chubby Checker-The Twist.

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

Best Bit-At 0.06. Only two songs have reached the Number 1 spot on Billboard, with the same singer, with the same song, in the ‘Rock ‘N Roll’ era. Chubby Checker with ‘The Twist,’ in 1960, and 1962, and Mariah Carey with ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You,’ (see also best songs 822 ) in 2019-2020-2021, and 2022.

Chubby Checker was born Ernest Evans on October 3rd, 1941, in Spring Gully, South Carolina, United States. A a child he entertained his school classmates by performing vocal impressions of popular entertainers of the day, such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley and Fats Domino. This eventually led to him being signed by ‘Cameo-Parkway Records,’ who released his first single ‘The Class,’ in 1959, which was a novelty song of Chubby Checker doing impressions of various musicians, the song reached Number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was as a youngster that 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 ‘Rock ‘N Roll’ star Fats Domino (see also best songs 617 and 272.)

Chubby Checker has had many hit singles whose subject has been about performing dance moves, these include ‘The Hucklebuck,’ (1960) ‘Pony Time.’ (1961) ‘The Fly,’ (1961) and ‘Limbo Rock’ (1963.) The discography of Chubby Checker includes 16 studio Albums released between 1960-2001, and 51 singles issued between 1959-2013, there are also three official compilation Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 he has had 23 top 40 hits, (including re-issues) with two of those songs reaching Number 1, the other being ‘Pony Time,’ in 1961. In the UK Chubby Checker has had 10 top 40 hits, with two of his tracks peaking at Number 2, ‘Let’s Twist Again,’ in 1961, and also his final chart entry to date ‘The Twist’ (“Yo, Twist!” version) with the ‘Fat Boys’ in 1988.

The original version of ‘The Twist’ was written by Hank Ballard, and first recorded by ‘Hank Ballard and the Midnighters,’ as the ‘B’ side to their 1958 single ‘Teardrops on Your Letter,’ which stalled at Number 87 on Billboard. When it was re-issued as the ‘A’ side in 1960 on the back of the success of the Chubby Checker version, it made Number 28 on Billboard. Hank Ballard was born John Henry Kendricks, on November 18th, 1927, in Detroit, Michigan, United States, he died of throat cancer on March 2nd, 2003, at the age of 75. Hank Ballard is remembered as playing a leading role in the development of ‘Rock ‘N Roll,’ with songs such as ‘Work With Me, Annie,’ (1954) and it’s answer song Annie Had a Baby’ (1954.) Hank Ballard who was the cousin of Florence Ballard (1943-1976) of the ‘Supremes,’ had nine top 40 hit singles on Billboard, with ”Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go,’ charting the highest at Number 6 in 1960.

Hank Ballard got the idea for ‘The Twist’ when watching his group the ‘Midnighters’ perform, Ballard has said,’The group often moved onstage like they were trying to put a cigarette out. In a sense, they were twisting. Thus, the title of the song.’ ‘The Twist’ developed from a previous song written by Hank Ballard, and his fellow band member Cal Green (1937-2004) called ‘Is Your Love for Real.’ which was based on Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters 1955 song ‘What’cha Gonna Do.’ Ballard wrote new lyrics, and ‘Is Your Love for Real,’ became ‘The Twist.’

‘Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, performed ‘The Twist’ on a Baltimore television dance show hosted by local DJ Buddy Deane (1924-2003.) Deane then recommended the song to Dick Clark, (1929-2012) host of the national ‘American Bandstand’ television show. Clark attempted to book Ballard to perform, but he was unavailable, which led to Clark searching for someone else. He settled on Chubby Checker whose voice was very similar to Hank Ballard’s, and after Checker’s appearance on ‘American Bandstand,’ ‘The Twist’ became a national hit.

When Hank Ballard first heard Chubby Checker’s version of ‘The Twist’ on the radio he thought it was himself, saying,’They cloned it.’ Hank Ballard was not bitter towards Chubby Checker, or Dick Clark, as he earned massive royalties from the song. Chubby Checker has explained how to dance ‘The Twist,’ ‘It’s like putting out a cigarette with both feet, and coming out of a shower and wiping your bottom with a towel to the beat.’

When the song first got to Number 1 in 1960, it was the youth who bought the song, but after the dance moves became more and more popular, and with celebrities also latching on to the fad, the older generation also grew to love it, leading to it’s re-release, and it once again made Number 1 in 1962. ‘The Twist’ was a dance where the participants didn’t touch each other, which was unusual at the time, becoming a new trend, peaking with ‘Disco Dancing’ over a decade later.

‘Yeah, you should see my little sis, you should see my, my little sis. She really knows how to rock, she knows how to twist. Come on and twist, yeah, baby twist, ooh yeah, just like this. Come on, little miss, and do the twist.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

750-Barry Manilow-Copacabana (At the Copa.)

1978-Number 42 single.

Best Bit-At 3.23. The story line to the song is so depressing, that it would make for a good episode of the soap Eastenders.

Barry Manilow was born Barry Alan Pincus, on June 17th, 1943, in New York City, United States, shortly before his 13th birthday, his grandfather had his name changed to ‘Manilow,’ the maiden name of his mother, his parents had been divorced when he was a baby. Barry Manilow got his grounding in the music industry during the 1960’s, writing, singing, and recording hit jingles for business corporations which included ‘Kentucky Fried Chicken, ‘Pepsi,’ and ‘McDonalds.’ In 1969 Manilow signed with ‘Columbia/CBS Music’ vice-president and recording artist, Tony Orlando, (see also best songs 886) and Orlando worked with Manilow on some of his early recordings.

With record sales in excess of 85 million, Barry Manilow is one of the best selling artists of all time. He has released 31 studio Albums between 1973-2020, and 57 singles between 1973-2022, there are also 17 official compilation Albums, six live Albums, and four soundtrack Albums available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, he has had 25 top 40 hits, with three of those tracks ‘Mandy,’ (1974) ‘I Write the Songs,’ (1975) and ‘Looks Like We Made It,’ (1977) all making the Number 1 spot, with ‘Copacabana (At the Copa’) reaching Number 8. In the UK he has charted within the top 40 on 13 occasions, with ‘I Wanna Do It With You,’ being his only top 10 hit, when peaking at Number 8 in 1982.

‘Copacabana (At the Copa’) was the third of four singles released from ‘Even Now,’ the fifth studio Album from Barry Manilow, from February 1978. ‘Copacabana (At the Copa’) was co-written by Barry Manilow (music) and Jack Feldman, and Bruce Sussman, who both wrote the lyrics, the song was produced by Manilow, and Ron Dante. ‘Copacabana (At the Copa’) was inspired by a conversation between Barry Manilow, and Bruce Sussman, at the ‘Copacabana Hotel,’ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, when they discussed whether there had ever been a song written about the ‘Copacabana.’ Barry Manilow had been a regular visitor to the ‘Copacabana’ nightclub in New York City (named after the hotel) in the 1960’s. Bruce Sussman who co-wrote the songs lyrics has said,’We thought we were writing the ‘novelty’ cut for Barry’s ‘Even Now’ Album. ‘Copacabana’ surprised everyone, certainly us, and especially ‘Arista Records,’ for they were faced with the first of Barry’s hits that was forced off an Album. This put Barry in the unique position of having three hit records in the Top 40 at once. It earned for him his first, and believe it or not, only ‘Grammy’ award, his first gold single for a song he composed, his first international hit record, and the first song to inspire projects in other media. So much for novelty cuts.’

In 1985 Barry Manilow, along with Bruce Sussman, and Jack Feldman, expanded ‘Copacabana (At the Copa’) into a full length, made for television musical, also called ‘Copacabana,’ writing many additional songs, and expanding the plot. In 1994 the television version was further expanded by the three writers, and made in to a full length, two act musical, again titled ‘Copacabana,’ which ran initially in London’s West End, an American production was later developed, that toured the United States. Over 200 productions of the show have since been staged worldwide.

‘Copacabana (At the Copa’) tells the story of a showgirl (Lola) and her bartender boyfriend (Tony.) A gangster called Rico takes a fancy to Lola, but he oversteps the mark, Tony comes to her aid, but in the ensuing brawl, Tony is shot, and killed. In the final verse we find Lola, sat in the same club, which is now a disco, drunk, and still grieving for Tony, while dressed in her glamorous showgirl attire she wore from 30 years earlier. According to the songs narrator,’Lola lost her youth, and she lost her Tony, and now she’s lost her mind.

‘Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl, with yellow feathers in her hair, and a dress cut down to there. She would Merengue and do the Cha-Cha, and while she tried to be a star Tony always tended bar. Across the crowded floor, they worked from eight til four, they were young and they had each other, who could ask for more.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

751- Malcolm McLaren and the World’s Famous Supreme Team-Buffalo Gals.

1982-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 2.09.’Oh, give me a home where the Buffalo roam, and I’ll show you a filthy house.’

Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren was born on January 22nd, 1946, in Stoke Newington, London, England, he died on April 10th, 2010, from the cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, at the age of 64. Malcolm McLaren is best remembered as the manager of the English Punk Rock group the ‘Sex Pistols,’ (see also best songs 576-92 and 27) he was also the manager of the Post Punk groups ‘Adam and the Ants,’ and ‘Bow Wow Wow,’ as well as playing a prominent part in the development of the American Rock band ‘New York Dolls. Between 1974-1976 McLaren, with his then girlfriend Vivienne Westwood (1941-2022) operated the boutique ‘SEX,’ in Chelsea, London, which helped shape early ‘Punk’ fashion, and became an early hub for the subculture in the capital. The discography of Malcolm McLaren includes eight studio Albums released between 1983-2005, and 20 singles issued between 1982-2004, there is also one official compilation Album available. In the UK, Malcolm McLaren has reached the top 40 singles chart on six occasions, with ‘Double Dutch’ featuring ‘The Ebonettes,’ from 1983, peaking the highest at Number 3, while in America he has never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, but on the Billboard ‘Dance Club Songs’ chart, four of his tracks have reached the top 40, with ‘Deep in Vogue,’ with ‘The Bootzilla Orchestra,’ making the Number 1 spot in 1989.

‘Buffalo Gals’ was co-written by Malcolm McLaren, Trevor Horn, (see also best songs 676-455 and 19) and Anne Dudley, with the production credited to McLaren, and Horn. ‘Buffalo Gals’ was the first of four singles released from ‘Duck Rock,’ the debut studio Album from Malcolm McLaren, from May 1983. McLaren had got the idea for ‘Buffalo Gals’ while looking for a support act for ‘ Bow Wow Wow, in New York City, in the early 1980’s, He had gone to an outdoor concert, which was known as a ‘Block Party,’ where he saw the American ‘Hip-Hop’ artist ‘Afrika Bambaataa and Universal Zulu Nation’ (see also best songs 716) perform. This was McLaren’s first exposure to ‘Hip-Hop,’ and it was where he discovered the ‘scratching’ technique he would use on ‘Buffalo Gals,’ that would be developed by Trevor Horn. In the liner notes for the ‘Duck Rock’ Album Malcolm McLaren wrote that ‘Buffalo Gals’ was ‘recorded with the ‘World’s Famous Supreme Team,’ and Zulu singers backing them up, with the words ‘She’s looking like a hobo.’ The performance by the ‘Supreme Team’ may require some explaining, but suffice to say they are DJ’s from New York City who have developed a technique using record players like instruments, replacing the power chord of the guitar with the needle of a gramophone, moving it manually backwards and forwards across the surface of a record. We call it scratching.’

‘The World’s Famous Supreme Team’ were the American ‘Hip-Hop’ duo of ‘Sedivine the Mastermind,’ (Larry Price) and ‘Just Allah the Superstar,’ (Ronald Larkins Jr.) who broadcast a radio show beginning in 1979 in Newark, New Jersey, the duo were active together until 1991. Samples of their radio shows were featured on the ‘Duck Rock’ Album, and McLaren would further work with the duo again in 1984, on the Album ‘Would Ya Like More Scratchin,’ and then again in 1990 on the duo’s third and final Album ‘Round the Outside! Round the Outside!.’ ‘The World’s Famous Supreme Team’ also issued five singles between 1982-1991, three of which were in collaboration with Malcolm McLaren.

‘Buffalo Gals’ is a traditional American song, written and published as ‘Lubly Fan’ in 1844 by the American ‘Blackface Minstrel’ performer John Hodges (1821-1891.) The song was popular throughout the United States where Minstrels often altered the lyrics to suit local audiences, performing it as ‘New York Gals,’ in New York City, ‘Boston Gals,’ in Boston, or “Alabama Girls,’ in Alabama. The traditional songs chorus is ‘Buffalo gals, won’t you come out tonight, come out tonight, come out tonight? Buffalo gals, won’t you come out tonight, and dance by the light of the moon.’ Malcolm McLaren altered the songs lyrics, and on his version he calls the lyrics in a ‘Square Dance’ style.

‘Buffalo Gals’ is a groundbreaking song because it helped introduce ‘Hip-Hop’ culture to an English audience. The songs video showed ‘break-dancing’ by the the American ‘Hip-Hop’ group ‘Rock Steady Crew,’ as well as introducing ‘Rapping,’ Scratching,’ and ‘Graffiti.’

‘First buffalo gal go around the outside, round the outside, round the outside. Two buffalo gals go around the outside, ’round the outside, ’round the outside. Three buffalo gals go around the outside. Four buffalo gals go around the outside, ’round the outside ’round the outside.