THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

840-Sparks-This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us.

1974-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 1.54. If Ron Mael, with his menacing demeanour tells you that there isn’t room for both of you, you’d better leave. After watching Ron Mael sitting motionless at the keyboards, throwing out chilling looks, while Sparks were performing on ‘Top of the Pops,’ John Lennon quipped,’It’s Hitler on telly.’

‘Sparks’ were formed in 1966, in Pacific Palisades, California, United States, by the brothers Ron Mael, (keyboards) who was born Ronald David Mael, on August 12th, 1945, in Culver City, California, and his younger sibling Russell Mael, (vocals) who was born Russell Craig Mael, on October 5th, 1948, in Los Angeles, California. The brothers first recordings were made using the name ‘Urban Renewal Project,’ in 1967, only the song ‘Computer Girl,’ has ever been released officially from that session. In 1968 they changed their name to ‘Halfnelson,’ after the wrestling hold, and in 1971 they released their debut studio Album called ‘Halfnelson.’ In 1972 they finally settled on the name ‘Sparks,’ which was a play on the ‘Marx Brothers.’

‘Sparks’ are one of the most critically acclaimed acts of all time. In the early 1970’s their sound was defined as ‘Glam Rock,’ but fearing that they were going musically stale, in 1978 they changed styles radically, when working with the legendary music producer Giorgio Moroder (see also best songs 78 and 11) on the Album ‘No. 1 in Heaven,’ making them forerunners of ‘Synthpop,’ and influencing the next generation of musicians, such as ‘New Order,’ and ‘Depeche Mode.’ The discography of ‘Sparks’ includes 26 studio Albums released between 1971-2023, and 76 singles issued between 1972-2023, there are also two Soundtrack Albums, 12 official compilation Albums, and one live Album available. In America there commercial success has been very limited, with only their fourth studio Album, ‘Propaganda,’ (1974) making a dent on the Billboard chart, when reaching Number 63. Their greatest success has been achieved in Europe, where in the UK, they have charted within the top 40 singles chart on 12 occasions, with this song peaking the highest at Number 2. Seven of their studio Albums have also made the UK top 40 Album chart, with ‘Kimono My House,’ charting the highest at Number 4.

‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us,’ was written by Ron Mael, with the production being by Muff Winwood. The song was the first of four singles released from ‘Kimono My House,’ which was the third studio Album from ‘Sparks,’ from May 1974. Muff Winwood, who would also produce the next ‘Sparks’ Album ‘Propaganda,’ also in 1974, was born Mervyn Winwood, on June 15th, 1943, in Erdington, Birmingham, England, he was nicknamed ‘Muff,’ after the popular 1950’s children’s television character ‘Muffin the Mule.’ Prior to moving in to music production, Winwood had been the bass player in the very successful 1960’s ‘R&B outfit ‘The Spencer Davis Group,’ of which his brother Steve Winwood was also a member. Muff Winwood’s other notable production work includes the Sutherland Brothers original version of ‘Sailing,’ (1972) and the debut studio Album from Dire Straits, in 1978 (see also best songs 829.)

‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us,’ like many of the songs written by Ron Mael has very ‘quirky,’ but clever lyrics. In the song the main character is very shy, but keeps on trying to work up the nerve to ask out girls, but he always ends up chickening out. In order to make himself feel better he watches old cowboy movies, where he invents imaginary hero scenes to boost his weak self confidence. Ron Mael has spoken about the song,’This town ain’t big enough for the both of us’ is a movie cliché, a challenge from one gunfighter to another. But having a song that was the opposite of a cliché, but used a clichéd line, really interested me. The vocals sound so stylised because I wrote it without any regard for vocals and Russell had to adapt. We were shocked when the record company thought it was a single, but doing Top Of The Pops had a tremendous effect. Suddenly there were screaming girls. We recorded it during the energy crisis, and we were told that because of the vinyl shortage it might never come out.’

‘Zoo time, is she and you time, the mammals are your favourite type, and you want her tonight. Heartbeat, increasing heartbeat, you hear the thunder of stampeding rhinos, elephants and tacky tigers. This town ain’t big enough for the both of us, and it ain’t me who’s gonna leave.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

841-The Pussycat Dolls featuring Busta Rhymes-Don’t Cha.

2005-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.04. Having a positive body image is a good thing, but this lot appear to suffer from a severe case of egotism.

The Pussycat Dolls were the brainchild of the American dancer, and choreographer Robin Antin, who formed the original Pussycat Dolls in 1995 as a ‘modern burlesque troupe,’ that was based in Las Vegas, and featured a rotating cast of dancers. At the suggestion of Jimmy Lovine, the co-founder of ‘Interscope Records,’ Antin decided to reinvent The Pussycat Dolls as a mainstream ‘Pop’ group in 2003.The six members who made up the new group were, Nicole Scherzinger, Carmit Bachar, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta, Melody Thornton, and Kimberly Wyatt. The Pussycat Dolls were active between 2003-2010, and then reformed without Melody Thornton between 2019-2021.

The Pussycat Dolls discography includes two studio Albums released in 2005, and 2008, and 15 singles issued between 2004-2020. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, eight of those tracks have reached the top 40, with ‘Don’t Cha’ peaking the highest at Number 2, while in the UK, they have charted within the top 40 on 11 occasions, with both ‘Don’t Cha,’ and the follow up single ‘Stickwitu,’ both making Number 1. Although The Pussycat Dolls only released two studio Albums, they are currently the fourth best selling ‘Girl Group’ of all time, with worldwide sales in excess of 55 million.

‘Don’t Cha’ was written by Cee-Lo Green, (see also best songs 174) with the original version of the song being recorded by the American singer Tori Alamaze in 2004, Alamaze had previously been a backing singer for the American ‘Hip-Hop’ duo ‘Outkast,’ (see also best songs 351.) After her version only had minor commercial success, Alamaze gave up her rights to the song. At the suggestion of Doug Morris, who was then the chairman of the ‘Universal Music Group,’ the song was offered to The Pussycat Dolls,’ who were then an unknown act, Cee-Lo Green was initially sceptical,’I didn’t know too much about them, but when I found out that ‘Interscope Records’ was involved, that was an alliance I didn’t hesitate to make.’

‘Don’t Cha’ was the first of six singles released from The Pussycat Doll’s debut studio Album ‘PCD,’ from September 2005. The song was written and produced by Cee-Lo Green. Also credited as songwriters are Busta Rhymes, (see also best songs 675 and 210) and Anthony Ray, who is better known by his stage name ‘Sir Mix-a-Lot,’ as the songs chorus is a slightly modified interpolation of the chorus line sung by Sir Mix-a-Lot on his 1988 track ‘Swass.’ ‘Don’t Cha’ is a song about a girl who taunts a guy about his girlfriend, this makes the girlfriend jealous, as the girl asks the guy if he wishes that his girlfriend was as hot as her.

The female vocals on ‘Don’t Cha’ are provided by Nicole Scherzinger, who was born Nicole Prascovia Elikolani Valiente, on June 29th, 1978, in Honilulu, Hawaii, United States. As well as being a singer, she has also acted in films, and on television, having appeared in four films between 2003-2016. The discography of Nicole Scherzinger who has sold in excess of 16 million records worldwide, include two studio Albums released in 2011, and 2014, and 14 singles as the lead artist, and a further 11 singles as a featured artist. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, she had had three top 40 hits, with ‘Come to Me,’ by ‘Diddy’ featuring Nicole Scherzinger, charting the highest at Number 9 in 2006. In the UK, she has charted within the top 40 on 12 occasions, with ‘Don’t Hold Your Breath’ from 2011, reaching Number 1. Nicole Scherzinger has said that she did most of the singing on The Pussycat Dolls’ Album ‘PCD.’ ‘People don’t even know the whole story. They have no idea, I was in the centre because I was singing. I hope I don’t get in trouble for the stuff that I say, but I’ll never forget I finished the album, ‘PCD,’ and Ron (the executive producer Ron Fair) and I brought the girls into the studio, and we played it for them. It was the first time they’d ever heard the music. Do you understand what I’m saying? We played the Album for the Pussycat Dolls. It was the first time they’d ever heard the songs.’

‘I know you like me, I know you do, that’s why whenever I come around she’s all over you. I know you want it, it’s easy to see, and in the back of your mind I know you should be uhh with me.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

842-Dick Haymes-It Might as Well Be Spring.

1945-It has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.

Best Bit-At 0.11. Some music critics have commented that the lyrics verge on corny, well if that’s true, sign me up to the corny club immediately.

‘It Might as Well Be Spring’ was written by the legendary songwriting team of Richard Rodgers, (1902-1979) (music) (see also best songs 343 and 60) and Oscar Hammerstein II, (1895-1960) (lyrics) (see also best songs 82 and 60) for the 1945 musical film ‘State Fair,’ it was the only ‘Rodgers and Hammerstein’ musical written directly for a film. ‘State Fair’ itself was a musical adaptation of the 1933 film of the same name, which itself was an adaptation of the 1932 novel, by the American author Phil Stong (1899-1957.) Both Rodgers and Hammerstein who are also critically acclaimed for their collaborations with others, are considered the greatest musical theatre writing partnership of the 20th Century, their Broadway productions in the 1940’s, and 1950’s, which is now considered to be the ‘Golden Age’ of musical theatre, included their outstanding Broadway productions, ‘Oklahoma!,’ ‘Carousel,’ ‘South Pacific,’ ‘The King and I,’ and ‘The Sound of Music,’

Richard Charles Rodgers was born on June 28th, 1902, in New York City, United States, he died on December 30th, 1979, at the age of 77, after surviving cancer of the jaw, a heart attack, and a laryngectomy. He was cremated, and his ashes were scattered at sea. Rogers who was the co-composer of 43 Broadway musicals, and over 900 songs between 1917-1979, is best remembered for his songwriting partnerships, first with lyricist Lorenz Hart, (1895-1943) (see also best songs 343) and then with Oscar Hammerstein II. With Hart he wrote musicals during the 1920’s, and 1930’s, and then worked with Hammerstein during the 1940’s, and 1950’s. Rodgers was the first person to win all four of the top American entertainment awards in theatre, film, recording, and television. The awards are, a ‘Tony,’ an ‘Oscar,’ a ‘Grammy,’ and an ‘Emmy.’ In 1944 he was also awarded a ‘Pulitzer Prize,’ making him one of only two people to receive all five awards, the other is Marvin Hamlisch, (1944-2012) (see also best songs 214 and 145.)

‘It Might as Well Be Spring’ is sung early on in the 1945 film ‘State Fair,’ by the character ‘Margy,’ who is the teenage daughter of the ‘Frake family. In the film, the part of ‘Margy’ was played by the actress Jeanne Crain, (1925-2003) who mimes the song to the dubbed vocals by Louanne Hogan (1919-2006.) Also starring in the film was Dick Haymes, who played the part of ‘Wayne Frake, the brother of ‘Margy.’ In 1945 he recorded the first hit version of ‘It Might as Well Be Spring,’ which reached Number 5 on the ‘Billboard Magazine Best Seller’ chart. Also in 1945 another version of the song by Paul Weston (1912-1996) & Margaret Whiting, (1924-2011) reached Number 6 on the same chart, a third recording by Sammy Kaye, (1910-1987) also charted in 1946, making Number 8.

Dick Haymes was born Richard Benjamin Haymes, on September 13th, 1918, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he died from lung cancer on March 28, 1980, at the age of 61. Haymes who was one of the most popular vocalists of the 1940’s, and 1950’s, got his major break in 1942, when he became the replacement for Frank Sinatra (1915-1998) in the Tommy Dorsey (1905-1956) band, prior to joining Dorsey’s group, Haymes had sung with the Harry James (1916-1983) orchestra. Dick Haymes appeared in 26 films between 1935-1978, and had 62 top 30 hits on the Billboard Music chart between 1941-1951, of which three of those songs reached the Number 1 spot.

In the book titled ‘Lyrics,’ Oscar Hammerstein II wrote about ‘It Might as Well Be Spring,’ ‘As the story opens, the young girl is unhappy. She is not in love with anybody. She is going to a state fair with her family, but is not looking forward to it. She has the blues. She doesn’t know why. It occurred to me that her feeling was very much like spring fever. It then occurred to me, very unhappily, that all state fairs are held in the autumn. September or early October. Then, wanting desperately to write a song about spring fever, I toyed with the notion of having her say, in effect, “It’s autumn, but I have spring fever, so ‘it might as well be spring.’” Rather half-heartedly I threw the idea at Dick. He jumped up excitedly and said. “That’s it.”…In about a week I had written a refrain to this title. An hour after I gave the lyric to Dick, he had set the melody.

‘I’m as busy as a spider spinning daydreams, I’m as giddy as a baby on a swing. I haven’t seen a crocus or a rosebud, or a robin or a bluebird on the wing. But I feel so gay in a melancholy way, that it might as well be spring,

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

843-Gary Byrd and the GB Experience-The Crown.

1983-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 5.30. The musical royalty, that is his highness, Stevie Wonder, who will forever wear the Crown.

Gary Byrd was born on March 14, 1949, in Buffalo, New York, United States. he is a radio talk show host, poet, songwriter, music producer, and a Rapper. He began his broadcasting career on ‘WUFO’ radio, in Buffalo, in 1964, at the age of 15, where he was described as a ‘radio prodigy.’ In the 1980’s Byrd worked as a DJ in the UK, presenting a ‘Gospel’ music programme, on the countries national ‘BBC Radio 1,’ called ‘Sweet Inspirations.’ Prior to ‘The Crown,’ Gary Byrd had issued the Album, ‘The Gary Byrd Experience,’ in 1972, the Album featured Byrd delivering spoken word ‘Raps’ over music, in a similar style to that of his contemporary Gil Scott-Heron (1949-2011) (see also best songs 181.) Byrd is also remembered for his other release, the single,’Every Brother Ain’t A Brother,’ from 1970. ‘The Crown’ was not the only time that Gary Byrd, and Stevie Wonder have collaborated, as Byrd wrote the lyrics to two of the tracks on Wonder’s 1976 Album ‘Songs in the Key of Life,’ those tracks being ‘Village Ghetto Land,’ and ‘Black Man.’ Byrd also co-wrote three other songs with Wonder, ‘Dark N’ Lovely,’ (1987) which is a tribute to the ‘anti-apartheid’ movement in South Africa, the song ‘Front Line,’ from the 1982 ‘Stevie Wonder’s Original Musiquarium I’ Album, and ‘Misrepresented People,’ in 2000, for the soundtrack of Spike Lee’s movie ‘Bamboozled,’ in which Byrd appears, playing himself as a radio talk show host.

At 10.35 seconds ‘The Crown’ is one of the longest tracks to reach the UK top 10 singles chart, having been released on 12 inch vinyl in July 1982. ‘The Crown’ was co-written by Gary Byrd, and Stevie Wonder, (see also best songs 920-834-682-570-366-205-152 and 65) with Byrd providing the ‘Rap,’ and Wonder singing one verse, and also providing backing vocals, along with the unaccredited female vocalist ‘Crystal Blake.’ ‘The Crown’ was accredited to ‘Gary Byrd and the GB Experience,’ and remains their only release to date, with the songs production being by Stevie Wonder. In America ‘The Crown’ has the dubious honour of being the only song ever to be released on Stevie Wonder’s short lived ‘Wondirection’ record label, which was set up as a subsidiary of the ‘Motown’ record label. ‘The Crown’ only reached Number 69 on the ‘Billboard R&B’ chart, due to lack of promotion, as at the same time ‘Motown’ records were in takeover negotiations with ‘MCA Records,’ and the small ‘Wondirection’ label received very little promotion.

‘The Crown’ tells the story of of the historical narrative of human progress, beginning with the ancient Egyptians, and continuing to the present day, (1983) with an emphasis on African heritage. Gary Byrd has said about the song,’The idea is not that black, white or anyone is better, but that we all have our place. We’ve all made contributions, and mistakes too. Wearing the crown is reaching the top of your potential. You could be a writer, or you could be a mechanic, but you can still wear the crown.’

The style in which Gary Byrd ‘Raps’ is very much in style of the era, but the subject matter is very different. ‘The Crown’ came hot on the heels of ‘The Message,’ by Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five’ from 1982, (see also best songs 290) and whereas the majority of ‘Rap’ music up until that time had been about self bravado, and having a good time,’ The Message,’ and now ‘The Crown,’ were tackling social issues, and conveying a serious message, through music and Rap. It is also worth pointing out that Stevie Wonder’s vocals on the track, were reminiscent of his heyday in the 1970’s, with his original written music, and also the songs length, bringing to mind the dance-floor filler ‘Rappers Delight,’ by the ‘Sugarhill Gang,’ from some three years earlier (see also best songs 17.)

People of the world wherever you be, welcome to Cosmic YOUniversity. Where life is the journey and love is the trip, and the study of them will make you hip. I’m professor of the Rap and when I speak, I guarantee that my lines will not be weak. They say a mind is a terrible thing to waste, that’s why I’m here and on the case.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

844-Charlatans-The Only One I Know.

1990-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 2.54. At the height of the ‘Madchester’ music scene in 1990, the ‘University of Manchester’ was the most sought after destination for University applicants in the UK, it appears that they didn’t want to come just to learn, they wanted to listen as well.

The Charlatans are considered one of the leading exponents of the ‘Madchester’ music scene, although they were originally formed in the West Midlands, England, in 1988. The group were formed by Martin Blunt, (bass) Rob Collins, (1963-1996) (keyboards) Jon Brookes, (1968-2014) (drums) Jon Day, (guitar) and Baz Ketley, (vocals, and guitar) Ketley left the group in 1989, and he was replaced by Tim Burgess (lead vocals.) In total there have been eight different members come and go, and at the time of writing they remain active.

The discography of the Charlatans includes 13 studio Albums released between 1990-2017, and 48 singles issued between 1990-2018, there are also six official compilation Albums, and three live Albums available. In the UK, three of there Albums have reached the Number 1 spot, while 22 of there singles have made the top 40, with ‘One to Another,’ charting the highest when reaching Number 3 in 1996. The Charlatans have never charted on the American Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, but they have had seven singles either reach the Billboard ‘Alternative Rock,’ ‘Dance Club,’ chart, or ‘Mainstream Rock’ chart, with ‘Weirdo,’ from 1992, making Number 1 on the ‘Alternative Rock’ chart.

The categories of musical genres that the Charlatans are bracketed in, include ‘Alternative Rock,’ ‘Indie Rock,’ ‘Britpop,’ and ‘Madchester.’ ‘Madchester was a musical and cultural scene that developed in the English city of Manchester in the late 1980’s, and was closely associated with the ‘Indie Dance’ scene. The term ‘Madchester’ was coined by Tony Wilson, (1950-2007) who was a journalist, television presenter, and the co-founder of the Manchester based record label ‘Factory Records.’ The music that was coined ‘Madchester,’ saw artists merging ‘Indie Music,’ with elements of ‘Acid House,’ ‘Psychedelia,’ and 1960’s’Pop.”Madchester’ was widely seen as being heavily influenced by drugs, in particular ‘MDMA.’ At the centre of the scene was the ‘Hacienda’ nightclub in Manchester, which was owned by members of the English Rock group ‘New Order’ (see also best songs 885 and 619.) The ‘Hacienda’ opened in May 1982, but was plagued by crime and financial troubles, and finally closed it’s doors in June 1997.

‘The Only One I Know’ was the first of three singles released from the Charlatan’s debut studio Album ‘Some Friendly,’ from October 1990. The song was co-written by all five members of the Charlatans at that time, with the production credited to Chris Nagle. ‘The Only One I Know’ is heavily influenced by two other songs, the ‘organ riff’ is lifted from the 1967 song ‘Hush,’ written by Joe South, (1940-2012) and performed by the English Rock band ‘Deep Purple,’ (see also best songs 550 and 89) while ‘The Only One I Know’s’ lyrics include the lines,’Everyone has been burned before, everybody knows pain.’ These lyrics are taken from the 1967 song ‘Everybody’s Been Burned,’ by the American Rock group ‘The Byrds’ (see also best songs 621.) The lyrics to ‘Everybody’s Been Burned’ tell us that although you will probably get hurt by trying to love someone, it is still better than hiding away, and not trying to love at all. ‘The Only One I Know’ is a tale of loving someone far more, than they probably love you. Tim Burgess has said that the song is about teenage feelings,’I like somebody, why do they not like me? I was 21 or 22, but still had those powerful emotions.’

‘The only one I know, has come to take me away. The only one I know, is mine when she stitches me. The only one I see, has found an aching in me. The only one I see, has turned her tongue into me.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

845-Dobie Gray-Out on the Floor.

1965-It didn’t chart in the UK until it was re-issued in 1975, when reaching Number 42.

Best Bit-At 2.13. In 2000 the ‘Wigan Casino’ DJ Kev Roberts compiled the ‘Northern Soul Top 500’ songs list, which was based on a survey of Northern Soul fans, and this song was placed at Number 2. Which song was Number 1? (see best songs 97.)

‘Northern Soul’ (see also best songs 969) is ‘Soul Music’ that originated from American Northern city’s, such as Detroit, and Chicago in the mid 1960’s, that was first introduced in to clubs in the UK, in Northern England, and the English Midlands, in the late 1960’s. The term ‘Northern Soul’ was devised by the music writer, and record store owner Dave Godin (1936-2004) who stated,’I had started to notice that Northern football fans who were in London to follow their team were coming in to the store to buy records, but they weren’t interested in the latest developments in the Black American chart. I devised the name as a shorthand term. It was just to say, if you’ve got customers from the North, don’t waste time playing them records currently in the U.S. Black Chart, just play them what they like,;’Northern Soul.”

The music that those early enthusiasts were searching for was ‘Black American Soul Music’ from the mid 1960’s with a heavy beat, and a fast tempo, generally songs that had been influenced by the ‘Motown’ sound that was the most popular ‘dance’ music of that era. These ‘Northern Soul’ enthusiasts were not interested in songs that had already been big hits, what they were seeking out, were the records that had failed to gain commercial success, and the rarer they were, and harder to find, the better. Many tracks that would become ‘Northern Soul classics,’ actually started out life as the ‘B’ side to an unsuccessful obscure America ‘Soul’ single, which had generally been issued in very small quantities. The few copies that the enthusiasts could get their hands on would become collectors items, and sell for vastly inflated prices.

In their 1999 book,’Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: the history of the DJ,’ the authors Bill Brewster, and Frank Broughton describe ‘Northern Soul’ as ‘A genre built from failures,’ and they go on to say,”Northern Soul’ was the music made by hundreds of singers and bands who were copying the Detroit sound of Motown Pop. Most of the records were complete failures in their own time and place, but in Northern England from the end of the 1960’s, through to its heyday in the middle 1970’s, were exhumed and exalted.’

Dobie Gray (see also best songs 243) was born Lawrence Darrow Brown, on July 26th, 1940, in Simonton, Texas, United States, he died on December 6th, 2011, of complications from cancer surgery, at the age of 71. Dobie Gray covered many musical genres during the course of his career, including,’Soul,’ ‘R&B.’ ‘Pop,’ and ‘Country,’ aside from ‘Out on the Floor,’ he is best remembered for the 1965 R&B’ hit ‘The ‘In Crowd,’ (Billboard Number 13 & UK Number 25) and the 1973 ‘Soft Rock’ track ‘Drift Away (Billboard Number 5.)

‘Out on the Floor’ was co-written by Fred Darian, and Al De Lory, (1930-2012) (see also best songs 846) with the songs production, and arrangement probably also done by the pair. In the UK,’Out on the Floor’ was first issued in 1970, on the ‘Soul Sounds’ record label, with it’s original ‘B’ side ‘No Room to Cry.’ It has since been re-issued on six further occasions, peaking at Number 42 in 1975, when released on the ‘Black Magic’ record label. The song also re-entered the UK top 100 at Number 95, when re-issued on the ‘Inferno Soul Club UK,’ label in 1983, with the ‘Neil’s All Nighter Mix,’ on it’s ‘B’ side.

‘Out on the floor tonight, I feel like singin,’ the beat is hot and bright, guitars are ringin.’ The chicks are out of sight everything’s swingin,’ the room is packed up tight, lined at the door, oh, yeah. So I’m gettin’ my kicks, out on the floor.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

846-Glen Campbell-Wichita Lineman.

1968-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 2.30. If a songwriter can make what appears to be, probably quite a mundane job, seem mysterious and romantic, they must be doing something right.

‘Wichita Lineman’ was written by Jimmy Webb, (see also best songs 119 and 1) who was born Jimmy Layne Webb, on August 15th, 1946, in Elk City, Oklahoma, United States, he is the only artist to ever receive ‘Grammy Awards’ for music, lyrics, and orchestration. Webb’s first major career breakthrough came in 1965 when he was contracted to ‘Jobete Music,’ which was part of ‘Motown Records,’ his first recorded song was ‘My Christmas Tree,’ by the Supremes, which appeared on their 1965 ‘Merry Christmas’ album. Jimmy Webb who is universally acclaimed as one of the greatest songwriters of the second half of the 20th Century, and who in 2011 was unanimously elected as ‘Chairman of the Songwriters Hall of Fame,’ replacing Hal David, (1921-2012) (see also best songs 902-832-815-740-644-376 and 224) will be best remembered for songs such as ‘Up, Up and Away,’ recorded by the 5th Dimension, (Billboard Number 7-1967) ‘MacArthur Park,’ (see also best songs 119) and ‘By the Time I Get to Phoenix (see also best songs 1.)

Jimmy Webb had a long working relationship with Glen Campbell, (1936-2017) (see also best songs 197) and other songs the pair collaborated on included ‘Galveston,’ (1969-Billboard Number 4 & UK Number 14) and ‘Where’s the Playground Susie’ (1969-Billboard Number 26.) Jimmy Webb has also released 14 solo studio Albums between 1968-2019, and although none were significantly considered to be a commercial success, many of those Albums have met with much critical acclaim. Jimmy Webb who is also the songwriter of the song that I have chosen as ‘The Best Song in the World Ever,’ has said about his writing style,’The territory I tend to inhabit is that sort of ‘crushed lonely hearts’ thing. The first part of a relationship is usually that white-hot centre when all the happy songs come. When that’s gone it can be devastating, and that’s when the sorrowful songs come.’

‘Wichita Lineman’ is the title track of the 11th studio Album by Glen Campbell, and was the second of two singles released from the Album, which was issued in November 1968, was written by Jimmy Webb, and produced bu Al De Lory (1930-2012.) ‘Wichita Lineman’ made Number 1 on the Billboard ‘Hot Country Singles’ chart, and Number 3 on the ‘Hot 100 Singles’ chart in America. Among the musicians who played on the track were members of ‘The Wrecking Crew,’ (see also best songs 978-811-744-672-660-527-486-262-202-197-192-180-127 and 71) which included Carol Kaye, (bass guitar) Hal Blaine, (1929-2019) (drums) and Al Casey (1936-2006) (acoustic guitar.) Al De Lory, who produced and arranged the track was also a member of ‘The Wrecking Crew. He was born on January 31st, 1930, in Los Angeles, California, United States, and died on February 5th, 2012, at the age of 82. His career highlights include playing keyboards on various Phil Spector ‘Wall of Sound’ productions, and playing the harpsichord, organ, piano, and tack piano, on the Beach Boys 1966 classic Album ‘Pet Sounds.’ In total Al De Lory worked alongside Glen Campbell as producer and/or arranger on 18 of his Albums, between 1967-1972.

Jimmy Webb has said that he got his inspiration for writing ‘Wichita Lineman’ while driving through Washita County, in Oklahoma. At that time many telephone companies were county owned utilities, and their linemen were county employees. Webb drove past endless telephone poles, and then in the distance he saw a solitary lineman atop a pole. He described it as ‘The picture of loneliness,’ as he watched the lineman speak in to the phone. Webb let his imagination run wild, as he thought what the man might be saying in to the receiver. Jimmy Webb has spoken about ‘Wichita Lineman,’ I’ve never worked with high-tension wires or anything like that. My characters were all ordinary guys. They were all blue-collar guys who did ordinary jobs. As Billy Joel (see also best songs 810 and 215) likes to say, which is pretty accurate, he said, ‘They’re ordinary people thinking extraordinary thoughts.’ I always appreciated that comment, because I thought it was very close to what I was doing, or what I was trying to do. And they came from ordinary towns. They came from places like Galveston and Wichita, and places like that. I have a very specific image of a guy I saw working up on the wires out in the Oklahoma panhandle one time, with a telephone in his hand, talking to somebody. And this exquisite aesthetic balance of all these telephone poles just decreasing in size as they got further and further away from the viewer, that being me, and as I passed him, he began to diminish in size. The country is so flat, it was like this one quick snapshot of this guy rigged up on a pole with this telephone in his hand. And this song came about, really, from wondering what that was like, what it would be like to be working up on a telephone pole, and what would you be talking about? Was he talking to his girlfriend? Probably just doing one of those checks where they called up and said, ‘Mile marker 46,’ you know. ‘Everything’s working so far.”

‘I am a lineman for the county and I drive the main road, searchin’ in the sun for another overload. I hear you singin’ in the wire, I can hear you through the whine, and the Wichita lineman is still on the line.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

847-Taylor Swift-Love Story.

2008-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 3.18. In William Shakespeare’s version of Romeo and Juliet there is a tragic ending, but in Taylor Swift’s version, they live happily ever after.

Taylor Alison Swift was born on December 13th, 1989, in West Reading, Pennsylvania, United States, her parents named her after the American singer/songwriter James Taylor (see also best songs 558.) Taylor Swift who is one of the all time best selling music artists, with worldwide record sales in excess of 200 million, can probably put her success, and longevity down to recording in several different musical genres. She began songwriting professionally at the age of 14, and in 2005 she became the youngest artist to sign with ‘Big Machine Records,’ in Nashville, Tennessee, an independent record label, distributed by the ‘Universal Music Group,’ that specialises in ‘Country,’ and ‘Pop’ artists. Her self titled debut studio Album, recorded in 2006 has been described as ‘Country,’ while her second (‘Fearless’) in 2008 is considered more ‘Country Pop.’ In 2010 she released her third studio Album ‘Speak Now,’ which incorporated ‘Rock’ influences, then ‘Red,’ in 2012, experimented with ‘Electronic’ instruments. In 2014 she released the ‘Synth Pop’ Album ‘1989,’ and in 2017 her Album ‘Reputation,’ saw her delving into ‘Hip-Hop.’ ‘Lover’ from 2019,’ is a mixture of ‘Electropop,’ and ‘Pop Rock,’ while her 2020 Album releases ‘Folklore,’ and Evermore,’ delve into the ‘Indie Folk,’ and ‘Alternative Rock’ genres. Her latest release (at the time of writing) is her 10th studio Album,’Midnights,’ which was issued in October 2022, and sees her experimenting with genres that are described as ‘Chill-Out,’ and ‘Dream Pop.’ In 2021 after a dispute with ‘Big Machine Records,’ Taylor Swift re-recorded the back catalogue that she had released on that label, and to date three of her studio Albums have been re-released as, ‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version,’) (2021) ‘Red (Taylor’s Version,’) (2021) and ‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version,) (2023.)

The discography of Taylor Swift includes 10 studio Albums issued between 2006-2022, with the last nine all reaching Number 1 on the Billboard 200 Album chart. She has also released 58 singles as the lead artist, and a further eight as the featured artist. As the lead artist, 48 of her songs have made the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts top 40, with eight of those tracks reaching the Number 1 spot, while as the featured artist, she has charted on a further four occasions. Taylor Swift has also charted within the Hot 100 with a further 123 songs, that have never been officially released as singles, but have charted either on downloads, or Billboard radio airplay rules, these include the track ‘All Too Well,’ which was originally recorded in 2012, for the ‘Red’ Album, and then when released in 2021 on the ‘Red (Taylor’s Version’) Album, the song went all the way to Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and at 10.13 seconds, it is currently the longest song to have ever reached the top of that chart to date. In the UK, Taylor Swift has charted as the lead artist within the top 40 on 29 occasions, with two of those tracks reaching Number 1, while as the featured artist, she has had one further chart entry. She has also charted in the UK a further 15 times, within the top 40 on downloads alone, which is without an official single release.

‘Love Story’ was the first of five singles released from Taylor Swift’s second studio Album ‘Fearless,’ from November 2008, the song was written by Taylor Swift, and co-produced by Swift, and her long term collaborator Nathan Chapman. Many of Taylor Swift’s songs are based on her real life experiences, and ‘Love Story,’ is rumoured to be about her relationship with Joe Jonas of the American ‘Pop/Rock’ band the ‘Jonas Brothers.’ The pair had dated for much of 2008, with Swift’s father strongly objecting to the relationship. Taylor Swift had always been a big fan of the William Shakespeare (1564-1616) play ‘Romeo and Juliet, (1597) and likened her situation to that of those two lovers, but instead of a tragic ending like the the one in the Shakespeare play, Taylor Swift opted for a happy ending, where her Romeo asks for her hand in marriage.

Taylor Swift has spoken about ‘Love Story,’ ‘I was going through a situation like that where I could relate. I used to be in high school where you see a boyfriend every day. Then I was in a situation where it wasn’t so easy for me, and I wrote this song because I could relate to the whole Romeo and Juliet thing. I was really inspired by that story. Except for the ending. I feel like they had such promise and they were so crazy for each other, and if that had just gone a little bit differently, it could have been the best love story ever told. And it is one of the best love stories ever told, but it’s a tragedy. I thought, why can’t you make it a happy ending and put a key change in the song, and turn it into a marriage proposal. That’s the girly in me.’

‘He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring, and said, “Marry me, Juliet you’ll never have to be alone. I love you, and that’s all I really know, I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress, it’s a love story, baby, just say, “Yes.”

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

848-Soft Cell-Tainted Love.

1981-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.02. Everyone knows about the fun you can have with an air guitar, but what about air percussion, clicking fingers, and space age noises.

Soft Cell were formed in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, in 1977, by Marc Almond, who was born Peter Mark Almond, on July 9th, 1957, in Southport, Merseyside, England, and David James Ball, who was born on May 3rd, 1959, in Chester, Cheshire, England. Almond, who is the duo’s vocalist, and Ball who is a multi instrumentalist, first met while studying at Leeds Polytechnic, their first recording was an EP titled ‘Mutant Moments,’ which was released in 1980, and which was funded by a loan of £2,000 from Dave Ball’s mother. Soft Cell remained active through until 1984, but did reform again between 2000-2005, and then again in 2018, and at the time of writing they remain active.

Soft Cell have sold in excess of 10 million records, having released five studio Albums between 1981-2022, and 22 singles in the same time period, there are also 15 official compilation Albums, and five live Albums available. In the UK, 12 of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘Tainted Love’ reaching Number 1, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, ‘Tainted Love’ remains their only chart entry, peaking at Number 4 in 1982. On Billboard ‘Tainted Love’ was a slow burner, spending 43 weeks on the Hot 100, which at that time broke a new record for longevity on that chart.

Both Marc Almond, and David Ball have both worked on numerous projects without each other. David Ball has released two studio Albums,’In Strict Tempo,’ in 1983, and ‘Photosynthesis,’ with Jon Savage, in 2016, Ball has also worked as a remixer for many different artists, as well as working with Richard Norris as ‘The Grid,’ since 1988. As ‘The Grid’ they achieved six UK top 40 singles between 1990-1995, including ‘Swamp Thing,’ which made Number 3 in 1994, and has sold in excess of one million copies worldwide. Marc Almond, who took his stage name, and its spelling, from his boyhood idol Marc Bolan, (1947-1977) (see also best songs 848 and 67) has sold in excess of 30 million records worldwide, having released 25 studio Albums between 1984-2020, and 50 singles between 1984-2017, he has also released two studio Albums, and three singles as part of the group ‘Marc and the Mambas,’ between 1982-1983. As a solo artist Marc Almond has had nine UK top 40 hits, with his 1989 cover of ‘Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart,’ featuring Gene Pitney, (1940-2006) making the Number 1 spot.

‘Tainted Love’ was originally written in 1964 by Ed Cobb, (1938-1999) Cobb had been a member of the American Pop group ‘The Four Preps,’ between 1956-1966. The first recording of ‘Tainted Love’ was by Gloria Jones, which appeared as the ‘B’ side to her 1965 single ‘My Bad Boy’s Comin’ Home,’ which failed to chart. Jones who is affectionately known as ‘The Queen of Northern Soul,’ was the girlfriend of Marc Bolan, and it was she who was driving the car that crashed killing Bolan on September 16th, 1977. In 1973 the British club ‘Northern Soul’ (see also best songs 969) DJ Richard Searling while on a trip to America, purchased a copy of that Gloria Jones single, and started playing it in the Northern Soul clubs in England. Marc Almond and David Ball on hearing the song took an instant liking to it, and they recorded a drastically different arrangement with synthesizers, which were very much the latest thing at the time.

‘Tainted Love’ was the first of three singles released from ‘Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret,’ the debut studio Album from Soft Cell from November 1981, with the production being by Mike Thorne, who is probably best remembered for his work with the ‘Punk Rock’ group ‘Wire,’ working on their first three Albums between 1977-1979. Soft Cell issued ‘Tainted Love’ as a single lasting 2.41 seconds, but it was the 12 inch recording at 8.58 seconds that will always be a wonderful memory for those of us working as DJ’s at the time, as the extended mix seamlessly transitioned in to a cover version of ‘Where Did Our Love Go,’ originally recorded by the ‘Supremes’ ((see also best songs 1001-411-212 and 148) in 1964. The mix may sound very tame by today’s modern day technology, but back in 1981, it sounded like it had just arrived from another planet.

Marc Almond has spoken about ‘Tainted Love,’ Dave Ball introduced me to the record, and I loved it so much, and we wanted an interesting song for a encore number in our show. Dave loved Northern Soul, and it was a novelty to have an Electronic synthesizer band doing a Soul song. When we signed with our record company, they wanted to record it. They told us to put bass, guitar and drums on it as they said it was too odd. They put it out anyway, and the next thing it was gathering radio play and then it was Number 1. I was fascinated that it was originally by Gloria Jones, the girlfriend of Marc Bolan, and I’d always been a T-Rex fan.’

‘Sometimes I feel I’ve got to run away, I’ve got to get away from the pain you drive into the heart of me. The love we share seems to go nowhere, and I’ve lost my light, for I toss and turn, I can’t sleep at night.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

849- Kanye West, Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz-Mercy.

2012-Number 55 single.

Best Bit-At 3.20. Suddenly from absolutely out of nowhere, comes a swirling blast of ‘EDM,’ to completely blow you away. As the ‘Big O’ said, some 48 years earlier,’MERCY.’

Kanye Omari West was born on June 8th, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, in October 2021 he legally changed his name to ‘Ye,’ with no middle or last name. West had been wanting to change his name since 2018, stating that ‘Ye’ was the most commonly used word in the Bible. He has said, ‘In the Bible it means ‘you’. So, I’m you. I’m us. It’s us. It went from being Kanye, which means the only one, to just Ye.’

Kanye West (see also best songs 1049-477 and 267) began his music career in the mid 1990’s as a music producer. His first official production credits came at the age of 19, when he produced eight tracks on ‘Down to Earth,’ the 1996 debut album by the Chicago Rapper, ‘Grav.’ West continued to learn his trade, with his most high profile production prior to the turn of the Century coming in 1999, when he co-produced the track ‘My Life,’ for the American Rapper Foxy Brown’s second studio Album ‘Chyma Doll,’ in collaboration with Deric Angelettie, (D-Dot) the Album became the first ‘Hip-Hop’ album by a female Rapper to debut at the top of the American Billboard 200 chart. In 2000 Kanye West began producing for artists on the ‘Roc-A-Fella’ records label, and he is often credited with revitalising Jay-Z’s (see also best songs 636-477-267 and 23) career, with his contributions to Jay-Z’s 2001 Album, ‘The Blueprint,’ Although he was making a name for himself as a music producer, Kanye West also had aspirations to be a Rapper, but he found himself denied or ignored by record labels, because he did not portray the ‘Gangsta’ image prominent in mainstream ‘Hip-Hop’ at that time. It was following a car accident in 2002 that West finally got around to seriously pursue his career as a Rapper, he recorded his first ‘mixtape’ in 2002, called ‘Get Well Soon,’ and then he began work on his debut studio Album,’The College Dropout,’ which was released in 2004.

In 2004 Kanye West set up his own record label ‘GOOD Music,’ in order to release his own music, and that of other artists he would sign, which would include ‘Big Sean,’ and ‘Pusha T,’ who both appear on ‘Mercy.’ In 2012 West released an Album of new music, featuring many artists from his record label to showcase the labels talents. The compilation was called ‘Cruel Summer,’ and ‘Mercy’ was the first of four singles released, peaking at Number 14 on the American Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

‘Mercy’ was co-written by Kanye West, Sean Anderson, (Big Sean)Terrence Thornton, (Pusha T)Tauheed Epps, (2 Chainz) Mike Will Made It, Hudson Mohawke, Mike Dean, Stepan Taft, James Thomas Denzie Beagle, Winston Riley, and Reggie Williams, with the songs production credited to Lifted, Mike Dean, Mike Will Made It, Kanye West, and Hudson Mohawke.’Mercy’ contains several samples, it starts with a vocal sample from Fuzzy Jones, (-2005) from the ‘Super Beagle’s’ track ‘Dust A Soundboy.’ Another significant sample is the 2012 song ‘Lambo,’ by Yung Bizzle, that songs lyrics include the line ‘Okay, Lamborghini Mercy, your chick, she so thirsty,’ the ‘Lamborghini Murciélago,’ (Mercy for short) is a sports car produced by the Italian automotive manufacturer ‘Lamborghini’ between 2001 and 2010.

On ‘Mercy,’ Kanye West reminisces about those early days when he struggled to get recognition as a Rapper, although (in my opinion) it must be nigh on impossible living inside his head. On the one hand he can’t help himself, because he feel the need to brag about all the trappings of his success, such as the ‘Lamborghini Murcielago,’ but on the other hand as a God fearing born again Christian, he feels that he must spread the word that if you break the rules on earth, you will end up in hell, with no ‘MERCY’ being shown, hence the songs opening line,’Well it is a weeping and a moaning, and a gnashing of teeth.’

‘Most rappers taste level, ain’t at my waist level. Turn up the bass ’til it’s up-in-your-face level. Don’t do no press, but I get the most press, kid, plus, yo my bitch make your bitch look like Precious.’