THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

867-Big Audio Dynamite-E=MC2.

1986-Number 11 single.

Best Bit-At 3.37. You don’t have to be an Albert Einstein to work out just how good this song is.

Big Audio Dynamite, which is often abbreviated to ‘BAD,’ were formed in London, England, in 1984, by Mick Jones, following his dismissal from ‘The Clash’ (see also best songs 638 and 294). Big Audio Dynamite, who would later become ‘Big Audio Dynamite II,’ and then ‘Big Audio,’ were active between 1984-1990, as ‘Big Audio Dynamite,’ and then between 1990-1993 as ‘Big Audio Dynamite II,’ and then as ‘Big Audio,’ between 1994-1995, they then became ‘Big Audio Dynamite’ again between 1996-1998, in 2011 the group reformed as ‘Big Audio Dynamite’ once more. In total there have been 13 different members come and go, with Mick Jones being the groups one constant.

The discography of ‘Big Audio Dynamite’ in all of it’s different guises, includes nine studio Albums released between 1985-1999, and 17 singles issued between 1985-1998, there are also seven official compilation Albums, and three live Albums available. In the UK, ‘Big Audio Dynamite’ have had two top 40 singles, with ‘Medicine Show’ from 1986, being their other chart entry, when peaking at Number 29. In 1991 their track ‘Rush’ was released as a double ‘A’ sided single with ‘The Clash’s’ song ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go,’ which went all the way to Number 1 in the UK, but the UK charts official compilers ruled against ‘Rush’ being granted Number 1 status as it was not a song by ‘The Clash,’ and therefore it was officially seen as the ‘B’ side for chart purposes. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart,’Rush’ was granted double ‘A’ sided status, and charted at Number 32, giving them their only top 40 hit in that country, although seven of their songs have made the Billboard ‘Alternative Airplay’ chart, with ‘Rush,’ and ‘Just Play Music’ from 1988, both reaching Number 1.

Mick Jones was born Michael Geoffrey Jones, on June 26th, 1955, in Wandsworth, London, England. His first venture in to music was as a guitarist with the ‘Glam Rock’ band ‘Delinquents,’ in the early 1970’s. He then met Tony James, (see also best songs 163) and formed the ‘Proto-Punk’ group, ‘London SS,’ until they split in 1976. When Jones was 21 years old in 1976, he was introduced to Joe Strummer, (1952-2002) and later that year the pair were two of the co-founders of ‘The Clash.’ In 1983 Jones was fired by ‘The Clash,’ and became a founding member of ‘General Public,’ where he appeared on their debut Album ‘All the Rage,’ before leaving to form ‘Big Audio Dynamite.’ Other projects that Mick Jones has been involved in, include, performing with the ‘Gorillaz,’ ‘The Justice Tonight Band,’ and ‘The Flaming Lips.’

‘E=MC2’ was co-written by Mick Jones, and fellow band member Don Letts, with the production credited to Jones. The song was the second of three singles released from ‘This Is Big Audio Dynamite,’ the debut studio Album from ‘Big Audio Dynamite,’ from November 1985. The majority of the lyrics to ‘E=MC2’ were written by Don Letts, and the song is a tribute to the English film director, and cinematographer, Nicolas Roeg (1928-2018.) The lyrics refer to several of Roeg’s films, including, ‘Performance,’ (1970) ‘Walkabout,’ (1971) ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth,’ (1976) and ‘Bad Timing’ (1980.) ‘E=MC2’ also heavily samples dialogue from the 1970 film ‘Performance,’ which starred Mick Jagger (see also best songs 933-662-452-160 and 77.)

‘E=MC2’ is Albert Einstein’s (1879-1955) formula that made Nuclear Power possible. It states that energy (E) is equivalent to mass (M) times the square of the speed of light (C.) In other words, matter is energy, and mass is the measure of an object’s energy. (After reading that, I think I had best stick to my music.)

‘Space guy fell from the sky, scratched my head and wondered why. Time slides into time, across international dateline. Scientist eats bubblegum, hall of fame, baseball Senator’s a hoodlum, big chiefs in the hall.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

868-Tony Bennett- I Left My Heart in San Francisco.

1962-Number 25 single.

Best Bit-At 0.43. The very last of the ‘Classic Crooners.’

Tony Bennett was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto, on August 3rd, 1926, in New York City, New York, United States, it was the legendary English comedian Bob Hope (1903-2003) who suggested the stage name Tony Bennett. Prior to Bennett’s music career taking off, he had been drafted in to the United States Army in November 1944, during the later stages of ‘ World War II,’ where he was assigned as a replacement infantryman to the ‘255th Infantry Regiment of the 63rd Infantry Division,’ a unit filling in for the heavy losses suffered in the ‘Battle of the Bulge.’ He moved across France and later into Germany, and then in March 1945 he joined the front line, in what he would later describe as a ‘Front-row seat in hell.’

Bennett had his greatest commercial success in the 1940’s, 1950′, and the early 1960’s, but as ‘Rock’ music became the dominant force, Bennett found that the hits were beginning to dry up. By the late 1970’s he was at an all time low, and had become dependant on drugs. The turnaround came after a near fatal cocaine overdose in 1979, after which his sons Danny, and Dae stepped in, with Danny taking over as his manager, and supervising his financial affairs, which would see a big upturn in Bennett’s life and career. Tony Bennett who has been married three times, entered into a long-term romantic relationship with Susan Crow in the late 1980’s. Crow, who was born in 1966 is 40 years younger than Bennett, and grew up in a family of devoted fans of the singer. Bennett had once posed for a photograph with Crow’s mother, Marion, while she was pregnant with her. As a teenager, Crow had been the head of the singer’s ‘Bay Area’ fan club. In 2016 Bennett was diagnosed with ‘Alzheimer’s disease,’ but because of the nature of it’s slow progression he was able to continue recording and performing live up until 2021. In a glowing tribute to Tony Bennett, in 1965 Frank Sinatra (1915-1998) (see also best songs 877-567-469-120 and 73) had this to say,’For my money, Tony Bennett is the best singer in the business. He excites me when I watch him. He moves me. He’s the singer who gets across what the composer has in mind, and probably a little more.’

The extensive discography of Tony Bennett includes 61 studio Albums released between 1952-2015, and eight collaborative Albums released between 2001-2021, there are also 33 official compilation Albums, and 11 live Albums available. Tony Bennett has also issued 83 singles between 1951-2021, of which 32 have made the Billboard Hot 100 charts top 40, with three of those tracks reaching Number 1, with ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco.’ peaking at Number 19. In the UK, he has charted within the top 40 on nine occasions, with ‘Stranger in Paradise’ topping the chart in 1953.

‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’ was written in 1953 by Douglass Cross, (1920-1975) (lyrics) and George Cory (1920-1978) (music.) The song was originally written for the American actress, and operatic contralto singer Claramae Turner, (1920-2013) who would often use the song as her encore, but she never got around to recording it in a studio. The song eventually came to the attention of the Jazz Pianist, and musical arranger Ralph Sharon, (1923-2015) who had worked with Tony Bennett since 1958. At the time Sharon and Bennett were on tour, and Bennett first introduced the song when performing at the ‘San Francisco Fairmont Hotel, in December 1961. ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco,’ which has since become the ‘signature tune’ of Tony Bennett was adopted by the City and County of San Francisco on May 15th, 1984, as one of it’s two official anthems, the other being the ‘Theme from San Francisco,’ from the 1936 film ‘San Francisco.’

‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco’ was the last song Tony Bennett ever sang in concert. He used it to close the show with Lady Gaga (see also best songs 363) at the ‘Radio City Music Hall,’ in New York, on August 5th, 2021.

‘My love waits there in San Francisco, above the blue and windy sea. When I come home to you, San Francisco, your golden sun will shine for me.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

869-Hank C. Burnette-Spinning Rock Boogie.

1971- It didn’t chart in the UK until 1976, when it reached Number 21.

Best Bit-At 2.12. The song could only ever have been an instrumental, as no one could ever sing fast enough to keep up with the beat.

Hank C. Burnette was born Sven-Åke Kenneth Högberg, on December 12th, 1944, in Sveg, Sweden. His stage name came about in the early 1960’s when he, and his manager Larry Stevens chose, ‘Hank,’ in tribute to the American singer/songwriter ‘Hank Williams,’ (1923-1953) (see also best songs 555) the ‘C’ is in honour of the American Country Music singer ‘Chet Atkins,’ (1924-2001) and ‘Burnette,’ is an acknowledgement of the American ‘Rockabilly’ singer/songwriter ‘Johnny Burnette’ (1934-1964.)

It was seeing Elvis Presley (1935-1977) (see also best songs 954-664-442 and 194) perform on television that sealed a life in music for the young Sven-Ake Högberg, he has explained,’It was like a full blown tornado had hit me. This mean-eyed rebellious looking cat, with a sneer grin on his upper lip, dark greasy pompadour hairdo and sharp sideburns, accompanied by a big, boxy ‘Gibson J-200’ loosely slung over his right hip, really looked like…something, to put it mildly, and with a name like Elvis Presley, where the hell did he come from…outer space? And his music was, of course, nothing less than a cultural shock to me He, right there and then, totally changed my way of thinking, my way of performing, my way of playing and gave me my first genuine insight into what real down-to-earth, red hot rootsy ‘Rock Music’ was all about. And from then on it was goodbye nice boy crew cut manners and trifling accordion waste-o-rama, and hello greasy, mean eyed real gone red hot down to earth ‘Rock’N’Roll’ music that mattered and nothing else.’ Following the ‘revelation’ of seeing ‘Elvis,’ he formed his own five piece band, calling themselves ‘Teddy &The Teddy Bears,’ after the 1957 American Billboard Number 1, and UK Number 3 single ‘Teddy Bear,’ which had been recorded by Presley, ‘Teddy &The Teddy Bears,’ remained active until January 1960.

‘Spinning Rock Boogie’ was originally written by Hank C. Burnette in 1971, but it didn’t become a hit until 1976, when it was edited from it’s original four minutes plus, to just under three minutes, and heavily promoted by the ‘Sonet’ record label in Europe. It is said that over his career Hank C. Burnette has recorded well over 1000 songs, releasing many of them on Albums, compilation Albums, singles, and EP’s. He is best known for musically working in the ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll,’ and ‘Rockabilly’ genres, where he has been a leading figure. At the time of writing ‘Spinning Rock Boogie,’ remains his only charting single in the UK.

‘Rockabilly’ is an early style of ‘Rock’N’Roll’ music, that dates back to the early 1950’s in the United States, especially the South. As a genre it blends the sound of Western musical styles, such as Country, with that of ‘Rhythm & Blues,’ leading to what is considered ‘classic’ ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll.’ Some have also described it as a blend of ‘Bluegrass’ with ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll.’ The term ‘Rockabilly’ itself is a blend of ‘Rock’ (from ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll”) and ‘Hillbilly,’ the latter is a reference to Country Music, which was often called ‘Hillbilly Music’ in the 1940’s and 1950’s that contributed strongly to the style. Other important influences on ‘Rockabilly’ include Western Swing, Boogie-Woogie, Jump Blues, and Electric Blues. One of the first written uses of the term ‘Rockabilly’ was in a press release describing Gene Vincent’s (1935-1971) ‘Be-Bop-A-Lula.’ (see also best songs 757.) Three weeks later, it was also used in a June 23rd, 1956, Billboard review of Ruckus Tyler’s “Rock Town Rock.’ The first record to contain the word ‘Rockabilly’ in a song title was ‘Rock a Billy Gal,’ by Haydon Thompson, which was released in November 1956. Johnny Burnette with the ‘Rock and Roll Trio’ had been playing a song called ‘Rock Billy Boogie’ since 1953, but they did not release it until 1957.

‘Can’t stop, a keep Rockin’ kid.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

870-Kelly Clarkson-Since U Been Gone.

2005-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 0.43. Ever wondered why so many songs from the early part of the 21st Century sounded similar? It was the fault of Max Martin, and Dr Luke.

Kelly Brianne Clarkson was born on April 24th, 1982, in Fort Worth, Texas, United States, she is a singer, songwriter, author, and television personality. Her big breakthrough came in 2002 when she became the first winner of the inaugural television series ‘American Idol: The Search for a Superstar.’ Immediately after winning ‘American Idol,’ she was signed to a record deal with ‘RCA Records,’ with the American record producer Clive Davis enlisted to work with her on her debut Album.

Kelly Clarkson at the time of writing has sold in excess of 28 million Albums, and 54 million singles worldwide, her discography includes 10 studio Albums released between 2003-2023, and 53 singles issued between 2002-2023, there is also one official compilation Album, and one official remix Album available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, she had had 18 top 40 hits, with three of those tracks reaching Number 1, ‘Since U Been Gone’ peaked at Number 2. In the UK, Kelly Clarkson has charted on 17 occasions, with ‘My Life Would Suck Without You,’ from 2009, making Number 1. Kelly Clarkson has also appeared in four films between 2003-2020, and was a judge on the American singing reality competition television series ‘The Voice,’ between 2018-2021, before returning to the show in 2023. Clarkson has also hosted the American daytime television variety talk show ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show,’ since 2019.

‘Since U Been Gone’ was co-written by Max Martin (see also best songs 824 and 317) and Dr. Luke, (see also best songs 953-824 and 566) with that duo also being the songs producers. ‘Since U Been Gone’ was the first of five singles to be released from Kelly Clarkson’s second studio Album ‘Breakaway,’ from November 2004. By 2004 Max Martin, and Dr Luke had written and produced many ‘Pop’ hits, and they were now wanting to produce a song with more of a ‘Rock’ influence. Both Martin and Luke had been listening to, and admiring ‘Alternative Rock,’ and ‘Indie Rock,’ and were particularly attracted to the song ‘Maps,’ by the American Indie Rock band ‘Yeah Yeah Yeahs.’ Dr Luke has said,’That was a conscious move by Max and myself, because we were listening to Alternative and Indie music … I said, ‘Ah, I love this song,’ and Max was like, ‘If they would just write a damn pop chorus on it!’ It was driving him nuts, because that indie song was sort of on six, going to seven, going to eight, the chorus comes … and it goes back down to five. It drove him crazy. And when he said that, it was like, light bulb. ‘Why don’t we do that, but put a big chorus on it?” It worked.’ ‘Since U Been Gone,’ and ‘Maps’ share many similarities, ‘Karen O’ who is the lead singer of ‘ Yeah Yeah Yeahs,’ and wrote ‘Maps’ has said noticing the similarity was, ‘like getting bitten by a poisonous varmint.’

‘Since U Been Gone’ had been written with ‘Pink’ (see also best songs 296) in mind, but she turned it down, it was then offered to Hilary Duff, but she rejected it, because she couldn’t reach the songs higher notes. Clive Davis then stepped in, and after much persuasion, as Martin and Luke were not keen on an ‘American Idol’ winner singing their song, they finally relented. Clarkson too initially was reluctant to record the song, as on first listen she thought it to be too ‘Poppy,’ as she was wanting to move her sound in to a more ‘Rock’ orientated style. Clarkson suggested to Martin and Luke that drums and a guitar should be added to the song, with the end result satisfying all three parties. Kelly Clarkson has said that the song is about a relationship turned sour, although it was going well at the very beginning.

‘Here’s the thing, we started out friends, it was cool but it was all pretend, yeah, yeah, since you been gone. You dedicated, you took the time, wasn’t long ’til I called you mine, yeah, yeah, since you been gone.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

871-Pet Shop Boys-A Red Letter Day.

1997-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 3.47. A red letter day, is a day of special significance, it dates back to Roman times (509-27 BC) when important dates were indicated in red, in their calendar.

‘A Red Letter Day’ was the fourth of five singles released from the Pet Shop Boys (see also best songs 378) sixth studio Album ‘Bilingual,’ from September 1996, with the songs writing, and it’s production credited to Neil Tennant, and Chris Lowe, the two members of the Pet Shop Boys. At the time ‘A Red Letter Day’ held the unenviable record of the biggest weekly fall in UK chart history, having entered the top 40 at Number 9, and a week later dropping to Number 42. This was beaten the following year by the English Rock band ‘Embrace,’ whose single ‘My Weakness Is None of Your Business,’ fell from Number 9 to Number 44 the following week. As with the majority of Pet Shop Boys singles there are many commissioned remixes, and Neil Tennant was so impressed with the ‘Motiv8’ remix, that he incorporated the synth line into the official single, the original version of the song is track 7 on ‘Bilingual.’

‘Motiv8’ is the alias of the British Electronic Dance Music producer, songwriter, remixer and sound engineer Steve Rodway, who has been a go to remixer for artists including the ‘Spice Girls,’ ‘Pulp,’ and ‘Erasure.’ Rodway’s most high profile success was co-writing and producing ‘Ooh Aah… Just a Little Bit,’ which became a UK Number 1 hit for Gina G, in 1996, the song was also that years entry for the UK in the ‘Eurovision Song Contest. Steve Rodway has also released eight singles between 1982-2005, of which three have made the UK top 40, with ‘Rockin’ for Myself,’ featuring Angie Brown, charting the highest at Number 18.

Neil Francis Tennant was born on July 10th, 1954, in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, England, it was in 1981 that he formed the Pet Shop Boys with Chris Lowe. Prior to the Pet Shop Boys, Tennant had been a journalist, working his way up to being the assistant editor of the influential British music magazine ‘Smash Hits,’ which was aimed at young adults. Tennant got his big breakthrough in music when as a journalist for ‘Smash Hits’ he went to New York to interview ‘The Police’ (see also best songs 1020 and 727.) While there, Tennant arranged to meet Bobby Orlando, a producer whom he and Chris Lowe had long admired. Tennant mentioned he was writing songs in his spare time, and Orlando agreed to record some tracks with him and Lowe at a later date. Orlando subsequently produced the Pet Shop Boys’ first single, ‘West End Girls,’ which went on to become a UK and American Billboard Number 1 single in 1986. Away from the Pet Shop Boys, Tennant has sung lead vocals on ‘Disappointed,’ (UK-Number 6, 1992) and backing vocals on ‘Getting Away With It,’ (UK-Number 12, and Billboard Number 38 single in 1989) with the English Alternative Dance ‘supergroup’ ‘Electronic,’ formed by Bernard Sumner, (see also best songs 885 and 619) and Johnny Marr (see also best songs 673-222-167 and 42.) Tennant has also sang backing vocals on many other artists tracks, including for Boy George, (The Crying Game-1992 UK Number 22, and Billboard Number 15)) and Robbie Williams (No Regrets-1998 UK Number 4.)

‘A Red Letter Day’ tells us that being loved is far more important than having material things. The song has become somewhat of a ‘Gay Pride’ anthem, as it also tells us that being accepted for the person you are, is something you should always strive to achieve. The song also is (probably) highly political, with subtle lyrical messages telling us to vote for the ‘Labour Party,’ in the 1997 general election. There are also clues to the Pet Shop Boys political leanings in the songs video, of an endless queue of people waiting at an unemployment office. ‘Red Letter Day’ was released on March 17th, which was the final date that year on which the current Prime Minister John Major could call a general election. In 1998 Neil Tennant was named in a list of the biggest private financial donors to the Labour Party, however, in the 2005 general election he voted for the Liberal Democrats, citing disillusionment with Labour’s ‘Identity Card’ scheme.

‘Go to work and take your calls, hang the fruits of your labour on the walls. Such precision and care, what does it matter if there’s no one here to share.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

872-Small Faces-Itchycoo Park.

1967-Number 3 single. When it was re-issued in 1975 it made Number 13.

Best Bit-At 2.23. You’ve heard of air guitar, well this is air drums. When she played the song, I remember Annie Nightingale, the first BBC Radio 1 DJ saying,’Drummers of the world unite.’

The Small Faces (see also best songs 1048) were formed in London, England, in 1965 by Steve Marriott, (1947-1991) (vocals, and guitar) Ronnie Lane, (1946-1997) (bass guitar) Kenney Jones, (drums) and Jimmy Winston, (1945-2020) (guitar, and keyboards) Winston left the group in 1966, and was replaced by Ian McLagan (1945-2014) (keyboards.) The Small Faces split in 1969 when Steve Marriott left to form the ‘Blues Rock’ band Humble Pie with Peter Frampton, while the other three members collaborated with Ronnie Wood, (see also best songs 565-160 and 70) Ronnie’s older brother Art Wood, (1937-2006) Rod Stewart (see also best songs 965-565-179-70 and 34) and Kim Gardner, (1948-2001) briefly continuing under the name ‘Quiet Melon,’ and then, with the departure of Art Wood and Gardner, as the ‘Faces’ (see also best songs 565 and 70.) Following the re-release of ‘Itchycoo Park’ in 1975, and also the break-up of the ‘Faces,’ the ‘Small Faces’ reformed, and remained active until 1979, with Rick Wills, replacing Ronnie Lane later in 1975.

The Small Faces were initially heavily influenced by American ‘R&B,’ but later they experimented with ‘Psychedelic Music.’ Their discography includes six studio Albums released between 1966-1978, and 14 singles that were issued between 1965-1976, including two re-releases, there are also four official compilation Albums, and three live Albums available. In the UK, the Small Faces have had 14 top 40 singles, with ‘All Or Nothing,’ which Steve Marriott has said is the best song that he wrote, giving them their only Number 1 single. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, ‘Itchycoo Park’ was their only top 40 chart entry, reaching Number 16.

‘Itchycoo Park’ which was never featured on any of the Small Faces UK studio Albums, but was featured on the North American release ‘There Are But Four Small Faces,’ in 1968. The song was co-written , and co-produced by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane, although mainly written by Lane, in 1995 a ‘Dance’ version of the song was released by the British band ‘M People,’ (see also best songs 430) which reached Number 11 in the UK. ‘Itchycoo Park’ is the nickname of ‘Little Ilford Park,’ in London. An ‘Itchycoo’ is slang for a flower found in the park called a ‘Stinging Nettle,’ which can burn the skin if touched. Ronnie Lane has said,’It’s a place we used to go to in Ilford years ago. Some bloke we know suggested it to us because it’s full of nettles and you keep scratching.’ Ronnie Lane has also explained the origins of the song,’Itchycoo Park’ basically came from me. I lifted it from a hymn, ‘God Be In My Head,’ and I also got the theme to the words in a hotel in Bath or Bristol. There was a magazine in the room with a rambling account of some place in the country, and it was about ‘dreaming spires’ and a ‘bridge of sighs,’ there was a write-up on this town, and I just thought they were nice lines.’

When ‘Itchycoo Park’ was first released many radio stations refused to play it, because of it’s controversial lyrics such as ‘What did you do there? I got high.’ In order to get the ban reversed the Small Faces put out a statement saying that ‘Itchycoo Park’ was a piece of waste ground in the East End, that the band had played on as kids. Ronnie Lane said that the meaning of ‘getting high,’ was the buzz of playing truant from school. They put the statement out at 10.am, and by lunchtime the ban had been lifted.

‘Itchycoo Park’ was one of the first hit songs to feature ‘Flanging,’ which is an audio effect produced by mixing two identical signals together. The song features one of the first uses of ‘phase-shifting’ production, which you can hear when the vocals and drums become distorted in the song. The technique was called ‘comb filtering,’ which could later be created using a processor, but at the time required three tape machines, with two of them playing the same thing at different frequencies, and the third one recording it. According to Glyn Johns, who engineered the sessions, it was a staff producer at Olympic Studios named George Chkiantz who came up with the effect, and Johns was looking for a place to use it. The Small Faces were always looking for new sounds and encouraged Johns to use the technique on this song. The groups keyboardist Ian McLagan has said, ‘We tried to replicate the phasing effect when we played it live. It was hopeless.’

‘I feel inclined to blow my mind, get hung up, feed the ducks with a bun. They all come out to groove about, be nice and have fun in the sun.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

873-Bachman-Turner Overdrive-Roll On down the Highway.

1975-Number 22 single.

Best Bit- At 2.34. ‘Ah, breaker one-nine, this here’s the Rubber Duck, you got a copy on me, Pig Pen, c’mon?’

Bachman-Turner Overdrive, (see also best songs 1005) or as is it often abbreviated, ‘BTO,’ were formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in 1973, by the brothers Randy Bachman, (lead guitar) Robbie Bachman, (1953-2023) (drums) Tim Bachman, (1951-2023) (guitar) and Fred Turner (lead vocals, and bass guitar.) In 1974 Blair Thornton (guitar) joined the group, replacing Tim Bachman, who had been fired after the release of the bands second studio Album ‘Bachman-Turner Overdrive 2.’ It was while on their way back from a gig in Toronto, that the group had spotted a copy of a trucker’s magazine called ‘Overdrive,’ while in a diner. Turner wrote ‘Bachman–Turner Overdrive, and the initials ‘B.T.O.’ on a napkin. The rest of the band decided the addition of ‘Overdrive’ was the perfect way to describe their music. ‘BTO’ were active between 1973-1980, and with varying members have reformed again between 1983-2005, and again as ‘Bachman & Turner,’ between 2009-2018. In total there have been nine official members come and go.

The discography of the Bachman-Turner Overdrive includes 10 studio Albums released between 1973-1996, and 28 singles issued in the same time period, there are also 14 official compilations, and four live Albums available. In Canada on the ‘RPM’ music industry chart top 40, ‘BTO’ achieved 11 hit singles, with ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,’ (1974) and ‘Hey You,’ (1975) both reaching Number 1. While on the American Billboard Hot 100, five of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,’ making Number 1. In the UK, they have charted within the top 40 on two occasions, with this song peaking at Number 22, and ‘You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,’ peaking at Number 2.

Randy Bachman was born Randolph Charles Bachman, on September 27th, 1943, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, as well as being a founding member of ‘BTO,’ he was also a founding member of ‘The Guess Who’ in 1965. Bachman left ‘The Guess Who’ in 1970, stating lifestyle differences between himself and the other band members as the main reason for him leaving. Bachman has said that immediately following the split he was labelled a ‘lunatic and a loser,’ and was told that nobody would want to work with him again. With ‘The Guess Who’ he recorded seven studio Albums between 1965-1970, and had four Canadian Number 1 singles, including ‘American Woman,’ and ‘No Sugar Tonight,’ which were both also American Billboard Number 1 songs in 1970. It was in 1971 that Randy Bachman first began working with Fred Turner, Turner had been recommended to Bachman by Neil Young (see also best songs 602 and 559.)

‘Roll On down the Highway’ was the second of two singles released from ‘Not Fragile,’ the third studio Album by ‘BTO,’ from September 1974. The song was co-written by Randy Bachman, and Fred Turner, with the production being by Bachman. Turner and Bachman had been contacted by ‘The Ford Motor Company’ to write a song for the automotive company’s advertising, but the company decided to not use any of their compositions. Randy Bachman and Fred Turner developed one of those rejected tracks, which would become ‘Roill On down the Highway,’ Bachman has said,’It’s like getting an assignment: write a new commercial for Ford and you’ll get paid $100,000. Well, I’d sit down and I’d write a commercial for Ford, ‘let it roll down the highway.’ Ford never picks it up, and I have a song called ‘Roll On Down the Highway.’

‘Time’s real short, you know the distance is long, I’d like to have a jet but it’s not in the song. Climb back in the cab, cross my fingers for luck, we gotta keep moving if we’re going to make a buck.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

874-Eels-Susan’s House.

1997-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 2.23. Just think, if Bon Jovi hadn’t have had the idea first, the Eels could have called their Album ‘Slippery When Wet.’

The Eels were formed in Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California, United States, in 1995, by Mark Everett. (multi instumentalist) Jonathan ‘Butch’ Norton, (drums) and Tommy Walter, (bass) in total there have been nine official members of the Eels come and go, with Everett being the bands one constant.

In 1991 Mark Everett signed a contract with ‘Polydor’ records, releasing two solo Albums. and two solo singles in 1992, and 1993, using the stage name ‘E.’ On signing for ‘Dreamworks’ records in 1995, Everett, Norton, and Walter became ‘Eels,’ the name was chosen so that the band records in music stores would be close to ‘E’s’ solo records in an alphabetical ordering, although with so many releases by bands such as the Eagles, and Earth Wind & Fire, the idea didn’t really work that well. The discography of the Eels, whose music has been described as ‘Alternative Rock,’ and ‘Indie Rock,’ includes 19 studio Albums released between 1985-2022, which includes Mark Everett’s recorded and released independently Album ‘Bad Dude in Love,’ from 1985, and also his two solo Albums. Everett and the Eels have also issued 17 singles between 1992-2020, and there are eight official live Albums, and four compilation Albums available. Many of the Eels songs have been used in film and television, including, ‘Christmas Is Going to the Dogs,’ in How the Grinch Stole Christmas,’ (2000) and ‘My Beloved Monster,’ in ‘Shrek’ (2001.) In America on Billboard none of their Albums or singles have ever charted within the top 40, but ‘Novacaine for the Soul’ made Number 1 on the ‘Alternative Airplay’ chart in 1996. In the UK, 14 of their Albums have made the top 40, and they have had six top 40 hit singles, with ‘Susan’s House’ charting the highest at Number 9 in 1997.

Mark Oliver Everett was born on April 10th, 1963, in Virginia, United States, in 2003 he was suspected of working under the alias MC Honky, who released the album ‘I Am the Messiah,’ although he denies it. Many of Everett’s songs are based on his real life experiences, for example the Eels second studio Album ‘Electro-Shock Blues’ from 1998, focuses extensively on the death of his mother Nancy, who had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Everett’s father was Hugh Everett III (1930-1982) the world famous physicist, and his maternal grandfather was Harold ‘Kid’ Gore, (1891-1969) a legendary American football, and basketball coach.

‘Susan’s House’ was the second of five singles released from the Eels debut studio Album ‘Beautiful Freak,’ from August 1996. The song was co-written by Mark Everett, Jim Jacobsen, and Jim Weatherly. ‘Susan’s House’ samples the piano introduction from the 1974 Gladys Knight & the Pips track ‘Love Finds Its Own Way,’ from her their Album ‘I Feel a Song,’ that track had been written by Weatherly, (1943-2021) (see also best songs 667) and is the reason why he is credited as one of the songs writers. ‘Susan’s House’ tells the tale of Mark Everett walking from his house, to Susan’s house, and the horrors he encounters along the way, but he is comforted in the knowledge that when he arrives, he will be safe. Everett has said, ‘Susan wasn’t a crazy girl, a rare exception at the time,’ In reality Susan’s house was in Pasadena, which was not a walkable distance from where Everett lived at the time. By the time of recording the song, Everett and Susan had already been apart a few years. Susan is also the subject of the song ‘Beautiful Freak,’ from the same Album.

‘Here comes a girl with long brown hair who can’t be more than seventeen. She sucks on a red Popsicle, while she pushes a baby girl in a pink carriage, and I’m thinking, that must be her sister, that must be her sister, right? They go into the 7-11 and I keep walking.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

875-Love Affair-Everlasting Love.

1986-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.30. Everlasting Love is the only song to have been a UK top 40 hit in the 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s, and the 2000’s.

‘Everlasting Love’ is one of the most covered songs of all time. Other significant covers include the original version from Robert Knight, (1940-2017) (1967-American Billboard Number 13 & 1974-UK Number 40) The Town Criers, (1968-Australia Number 17) Carl Carlton, (1974-Billboard Number 6) Sandra, (1987-Switzerland & West Germany Number 5) and the ‘Cast of Casualty,’ as a ‘Children in Need’ charity single (1998-UK Number 5.)

‘Everlasting Love’ was co-written by James E. ‘Buzz’ Cason, who was born on November 27th, 1939, in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, and McGavock Dickinson ‘Mac’ Gayden, who was born on June 5th, 1941, also in Nashville, Tennessee. ‘Everlasting Love’ was written with Robert Knight in mind, with the writers aiming to produce it in the ‘Motown’ style reminiscent of the ‘Four Tops,’ and the ‘Temptations,’ of that period.

The Love Affair were formed in London, England, in 1966, and remained active through until 1971, in total there were seven members come and go during that time period. The Love Affair are best remembered for their ‘Pop’ hits, but several of their ‘B’ sides, and Album tracks leaned more towards ‘Soft Rock,’ and ‘Progressive Rock.’ They issued two Albums in 1968, and 1971, and 11 singles between 1967-1971, a further four singles were issued after the band split, between 1973-1988. There are also three official compilation Albums available. The Love Affair had great success in Europe, but failed to break into the North American market, which was one of the main reasons that they split. In the UK, five of their singles reached the top 40, with ‘Everlasting Love’ making the Number 1 spot, the song was also a hit in other countries including Australia, where it reached Number 36, and South Africa, where it made Number 9.

The Love Affair had not been the first choice to record the first British cover version of ‘Everlasting Love,’ as Mike Smith (1935-2011) (one of the songs co-producers) had first offered the song to the Scottish band ‘Marmalade,’ who turned it down, saying it was too ‘poppy’ for them. Steve Ellis who was the 16 year old lead singer with the Love Affair has said,’We had two managers, David Wedgebury and John Cokell, who both worked at Decca, and had access to all the imports on the ‘Monument’ label. We rehearsed in a factory in Walthamstow, and one night they turned up with ‘Everlasting Love’ by Robert Knight. I loved it and so we set about putting it down on tape. The bands record label were in a rush to release the Love Affair’s version before ‘Monument’ records released the Robert Knight original in the UK, so in order to save time on rehearsals Steve Ellis sang the lead vocals, fronting session musicians, which comprised of the arranger/conductor Keith Mansfield’s 40-piece Orchestra, plus a rhythm section, the session musicians included, Peter Ahern (triangle percussion), Clem Cattini (drums), Alan Parker (guitar), Russ Stableford (bass), and the female backing singers, Madeline Bell, Kiki Dee, (see also best songs 481) Lesley Duncan, (1943-2010) and Kay Garner (1943-2007.)

It is possible that those in charge at the record label thought that the other members of the Love Affair were not up to the musical standards required that they were wanting to achieve, but Mike Smith has said,’There just wasn’t time for the group to learn the arrangement in time, so we used session musicians.’ Steve Ellis has spoken about recording the song,’The general opinion seemed to be that I should do it with an orchestra and then give it a Phil Spector-type production. Obviously I felt odd without the band being in the studio, but it was for the good of all involved. Two takes and it was done. The band were not too concerned about this approach to things.’

‘Where life’s river flows, no one really knows, ’til someone’s there to show the way to lasting love. Like the sun that shines, endlessly it shine, you always will be mine. It’s everlasting love.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

876-Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull-On the Floor.

2011-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.03. ‘You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching. Love like you’ll never be hurt, sing like there’s nobody listening, and live like it’s heaven on earth.’ (William W. Purkey) That quote probably sums up what this song is all about.

Jennifer Lynn Lopez (currently Jennifer Lynn Affleck) was born on July 24th, 1969, in New York City, United States, prior to pursing a successful career in music, she was an actress, and in 1997 she became the first Hispanic actress to earn over US$1 million for a film, when playing the leading role in the American biographical musical drama ‘Selena.’ In total Jennifer Lopez has appeared in 45 films to date, and has also worked on many television shows, including the American sketch comedy television series ‘In Living Color,’ between 1991-1993, where she appeared in 62 episodes, and she was a judge on ‘American Idol,’ on and off between 2011-2021, where she appeared in 170 episodes.

In 1999 Jennifer Lopez launched her music career, and in 2001 she became the first female to have a Number one film (‘The Wedding Planner’) and Number 1 album simultaneously (‘J.Lo’) when both were released in the same week in January 2001. The discography of Jennifer Lopez includes eight studio Albums released between 1999-2014, and 65 singles issued between 1999-2022, there are also three official compilation Albums, and one Remix Album available. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, she has had 17 top 40 hits, with four of those tracks reaching Number 1, although ‘On the Floor,’ only peaked at Number 3. In the UK, she has achieved 23 top 40 hits, with three of those songs reaching Number 1, including ‘On the Floor.’

‘On the Floor’ was the first of three singles released from ‘Love?’ which was the seventh studio Album released by Jennifer Lopez from April 2011. ‘On the Floor’ has eight writers credited, who are, Nadir Khayat, Kinnda Hamid, AJ Junior, Teddy Sky, Bilal Hajji, Armando Perez, (Pitbull, see also best songs 531) Gonzalo Hermosa, and Ulises Hermosa, with the production being by Nadir Khayat, under his working name ‘RedOne’ (see also best songs 363.)

‘On the Floor’ proved to be a big moment in the musical career of Jennifer Lopez, as the hits had dried up, and this would be her first top 10 hit on either side of the Atlantic since 2006, it also coincided with Lopez becoming a judge on the very popular ‘American Idol’ talent show. The ‘Rap’ on ‘On the Floor’ was provided by the American Rapper ‘Pitbull,’ who like Lopez has also topped the UK top 40 on three occasions. Pitbull has spoken about the part he played on the track,’When you got these big, big ‘House’ records or club records that are very global, I try to come in on what I was raised on, what I’m a fan of, which is just spitting hard,’

‘On the Floor’ samples the 1989 UK Number 4 hit single ‘The Lambada,’ by the French/Brazilian group ‘Kaoma,’ who in turn had sampled the ‘Lambada’ from a song called ‘Llorando se fue,’ which is a 1981 Bolivian Folk song recorded by the band ‘Los Kjarkas, which is the reason why Gonzalo Hermosa of that band receives songwriting credit on ‘On the Floor.’ Nadir ‘RedOne’ Khayat who was the songs producer, and also one of the songs writers, based parts of the song on the 2010 track ‘Party O’Clock,’ by Kat DeLuna, which he also had written and produced, and which had only been a top 20 hit in Belgium. Kat DeLuna has said,’It’s cool that artists like J.Lo are inspired by my musical sound and style. Jennifer helped pave the way for Latinas like myself. I love her.’ Jennifer Lopez who had started her performing career as a dancer has reminisced about ‘On the Floor,’ The minute ‘RedOne’ played it for me, I made him play it 20 times in a row, and I just sat there at the board and I kept listening to it and listening to it, because I really feel like, emotionally, I connected to it, but also because of how much I love to dance, and how much that’s always been such a big part of who I am since I started. Since I was a little girl, I just totally connected with the idea of getting out there.’

‘Don’t stop, keep it moving, put your drinks up. It’s getting ill, it’s getting sick on the floor. We never quit, we never rest on the floor. If I ain’t wrong, we’ll probably die on the floor.’