THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

900-Diana Ross-Touch Me in the Morning.

1973-Number 9 single.

Best Bit-At 2.28. It’s the best offer you’ll get all day.

‘Touch Me in the Morning’ is the title track, and the first of two singles released from Diana Ross’ fourth studio Album from June 1973. The song was co-written by Michael Masser, (1941-2015) (music) and Ron Miller, (1932-2007) (lyrics) with the production credited to Masser, and Tom Baird (1943-1975/1976?) Tom Baird, who was also a songwriter, and session musician, worked for many years for ‘Motown Records,’ and it’s subsidiary labels ‘Rare Earth,’ and ‘Tamla.’ The songs title is actually very fitting, because at that time Diana Ross would only record her vocals in the early morning hours. In an interview with Diana’s second eldest daughter many years later, Tracee Ellis Ross said that her mother would put them to bed and record all night, in order to wake her children, and send them to school the next morning. Also commenting on the recording process Michael Masser recalled,’She always tried to push hard to get the vocals right for this particular song.’ Masser called it a ‘Draining experience, that resulted in several near-emotional breakdowns when she wasn’t up to her abilities.’

1973 was another very busy year for Diana Ross, (see also best songs 1001-900-519-411-365-212-183-148 and 28) she was now three years in to her solo career, and had just completed her first film ‘ Lady Sings the Blues,’ in 1972, for which she had won the ‘Golden Globe Award,’ and ‘Academy Award’ nominations, for ‘Best Actress,’ for her portrayal of Billie Holiday (1915-1959) (see also best songs 624.) This would be the first of three major films that Diana Ross would star in, with the other two being ‘Mahogany,’ (1975) and ‘The Wizz’ (1978.) With Diana Ross having spent time on her acting career, Motown supremo Berry Gordy felt that Ross needed a ‘big’ song to get her solo singing career back on track, and ‘Touch Me in the Morning’ certainly did the trick, giving Diana her second solo American Billboard Number 1 single, after 1970’s ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.’ In fact 1973 proved to be very productive musically, with the release of three studio Albums. Following on from ‘Touch Me in the Morning,’ in June, came the duets Album ‘Diana & Marvin,’ with Marvin Gaye, (1939-1984) (see also best songs 723-183 and 114) in October, and then December saw the release of ‘Last Time I Saw Him,’ Diana’s sixth solo studio Album. Incidentally the soundtrack of ‘Lady Sings the Blues’ had proved to be a major success, reaching the Number 1 spot on Billboard, and selling in excess of 2 million copies in the States.

‘Touch Me in the Morning’ was co-written by Michael Masser, and Ron Miller. Ronald Norman Miller, was born on October 5th, 1932, in Chicago, Illinois, he died of cardiac arrest, after a long battle with emphysema, and cancer, at the age of 74. Whereas Michael Masser was a relative newcomer, Miller was a veteran by comparison, having co-written many of Stevie Wonder’s 1960’s hits, including ‘For Once in My Life,’ (1968-Billboard Number 2, and UK Number 3) and ‘Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday,’ (1969-Billboard Number 7, and UK Number 2.) Miller was also the co-writer of ‘I’ve Never Been to Me,’ for Charlene (1982-Billboard Number 3, and UK Number 1.)

Michael Masser was born on March 24th, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois, United States, he died on July 9th, 2015, at the age of 74.’Touch Me in the Morning’ was the first major composition by Masser, who would go on to even greater success, writing two Billboard Number 1 singles for Whitney Houston,’Didn’t We Almost Have It All,’ (1987) and ‘Saving All My Love for You,’ (1985) Masser also co-wrote with Linda Creed, (1948-1986) the George Benson, and Whitney Houston hit ‘The Greatest Love of All.’ Other hits co-written by Masser for Diana Ross include ‘Last Time I Saw Him,’ and ‘Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To)’

Ron Miller was impressed by Michael Masser’s ‘Pop’ composition, but was worried that a pure Pop record would alienate Ross’ fans. Miller freely admits pinching some ‘Soul’ from one of Diana’s earlier hits.’I didn’t want Diana to lose her base, so we ripped off a riff from Ashford and Simpson (see also best songs 703-359-228 and 28.) One part is straight out of ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,’ and then we had her talking in parts, all of which we did to keep the identity she established with ‘Mountain,’ and to add some ‘Soul’ to the record.’

‘Hey! Wasn’t it me who said that nothing good’s gonna last forever? And wasn’t it me who said, let’s just be glad for the time together? It must’ve been hard to tell me that you’ve given all you had to give. I can understand you’re feeling that way, everybody’s got their life to live.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

901-Manic Street Preachers-The Everlasting.

1998-Number 11 single.

Best Bit-At 3.41. If all songs were as a easy to decipher as boy meets girl, boy and girl get married, boy and girl live happily ever after, then we wouldn’t have to engage our brains.

The Manic Street Preachers (see also best songs 248) were formed in Blackwood, Wales, in 1986, by James Dean Bradfield, (lead vocals, and lead guitar) his cousin Sean Moore, (drums) Nicky Wire, (bass, piano, and vocals) and Miles ‘Flicker’ Woodward (bass.) Woodward left in 1988 claiming he was unhappy that the band were moving away from their ‘Punk Rock’ roots. The classic line up was completed in 1989 when the ‘Manics’ former driver and roadie Richey Edwards became a full time band member. Edwards went missing on February 1st, 1995, and after 28 years, 2 months, and 12 days, on November 24th, 2008, he was ‘Declared dead in absentia.’

‘The Everlasting’ was the second single released from the Manic Street Preachers fifth studio Album ‘This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours,’ from September 1998, the song was written by James Dean Bradfield, and Sean Moore, who wrote the music, and Nicky Wire, who provided the lyrics, the production was by Mike Hedges. The first three ‘Manics’ Albums had lyrics that had all been co-written by Wire and Richey Edwards, with the fourth ‘Everything Must Go’ (1996) using lyrics on five tracks that had been written by Edwards before his disappearance. ‘This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours,’ was the first ‘Manics’ Album to only use just the lyrics of Nicky Wire. Dave Eringa who co-produced the Album, along with Mike Hedges, and has worked on 10 ‘Manics’ Albums in total has said,’You get midweek chart positions, and sales figures all week, and it was my first chance of a possible Number 1, which is such an exciting thing. Every day it was just getting worse and worse. I was becoming more and more psychotic. If it had been released the same week as a ‘Nirvana’ record or an ‘Oasis’ record, you’d just have to put your hands up and say ‘c’est la vie,’ but the horror of losing out to ‘Steps’ would have been unbelievable!’ Eringa could breathe a sigh of relief as the ‘Manics’ Album did go straight in at Number 1, while the debut Album from ‘Steps,’ called ‘Step One’ entered the chart at Number 2. ‘This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours,’ gave the ‘Manics’ their first UK Number 1 Album, and then in 2021, ‘The Ultra Vivid Lament,’ finally gave them their second chart topper.

Nicky Wire was born Nicholas Allen Jones, on January 20th, 1969, in Llanbadoc, Monmouthshire, Wales, he first met his fellow band mates at ‘ Oakdale Comprehensive School,’ in Caerphilly, Wales, where they all attended as students. He chose his stage name ‘Wire,’ because of his lanky ‘wiry’ frame, as he is 6 feet 3 inches tall. At school he was very athletic, and was the captain of the ‘Welsh national football schoolboys’ team, at the age of 14. He was also offered a trial at both Tottenham Hotspur, and Arsenal football clubs in England, but back and knee problems brought his football career to an end. Away from the ‘Manics,’ Wire has released one solo studio Album ‘I Killed the Zeitgeist,’ in 2006, and also four solo singles, issued between 2005-2006.

Nicky Wire was looking for a ‘grand’ title for a song. He was impressed by song titles such a ‘The Universal,’ by ‘Blur,’ and ‘The Eternal,’ by ‘Joy Division,’ and was looking for something similar. In the end he chose the title ‘The Everlasting,’ from a poem that had been written by his brother Patrick Jones. There are many ways of trying to interoperate the meaning of ‘The Everlasting,’ and what Wire is telling us, so I can only offer my interpretation. ‘The Everlasting’ is probably partly about how life can grind you down, as you grow from a carefree youth, into the dissolution of becoming an adult. At the start of the journey,’Our smiles were genuine,’ but as you grow older, you become exhausted. Nicky Wire has said,’I was tired. I’d got to my little house, I was reading R.S. Thomas, (Welsh poet-1913-2000) and thinking how comfortable things were, but how things might be getting too big.’

‘The gap that grows between our lives, the gap our parents never had. Stop those thoughts control your mind, replace the things that you despise. Oh you’re old I hear you say, it doesn’t mean that I don’t care. I don’t believe in it anymore, pathetic acts for a worthless cause.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

902-Sandie Shaw- (There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me.

1964-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 0.28. I am a great believer in that, the first version of a song you hear, will nearly always remain as your favourite version.

Sandie Shaw MBE, was born Sandra Ann Goodrich, on February 26th, 1947, in Dagenham, Essex, England, her manager Eve Taylor, (1915-1983) who had organised her first contract with ‘Pye’ records, also gave Sandie Shaw her stage name. In 1967 Shaw represented the UK, in that years ‘Eurovision Song Contest,’ with ‘Puppet on a String,’ the song went on to win the contest, giving the UK it’s first win in the competition, and with estimated sales worldwide in excess of four million copies,’Puppet on a String’ is the best selling ‘Eurovision’ song of all time. The song also went on to top the UK top 40 singles chart, making Sandie Shaw the first female to have had three Number 1 hits on that chart.

Sandie Shaw who was appointed ‘Member of the Order of the British Empire,’ (MBE) in the 2017 Birthday Honours, for her services to music, retired from the music industry in 2013. Her discography includes seven studio Albums released between 1965-1988, and 41 singles issued between 1964-1994, she has also released 10 ‘EPs’ in the UK, and 11 official compilation Albums, with several of her songs being sung by her in other languages as well as English. In the UK, 16 of her singles have reached the top 40, with three of those songs making Number 1, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, she has never reached the top 40, with this song peaking at Number 52, although it did reach Number 1 in Canada.

(‘There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me’ was co-written by the legendary songwriting team of Burt Bacharach, (1928-2023) and Hal David, (1921-2012) (see also best songs 832-815-740-640-376 and 224) with the Sandie Shaw version being produced by Tony Hatch (see also best songs 838.) The first charting version of the song was by the American Soul singer Lou Johnson, (1941-2019) whose recording reached Number 49 on Billboard in 1964. Other noteworthy versions include, R.B. Greaves, (1943-2012) who was an American R&B performer, whose version reached Number 27 on Billboard in 1970. Dionne Warwick, (see also best songs 224) who had recorded the song as a ‘demo’ in 1963, released a studio version as a ‘B’ side in 1968. The most successful recording of the song in America was by the British ‘Synth-Pop’ duo ‘Naked Eyes,’ who made Number 8 on Billboard in 1984, although in the UK the song stalled at Number 59. In 1995 the English ‘Electronic Dance Music’ duo ‘Tin Tin Out’ recorded a ‘Dance’ version, which peaked at Number 14 in the UK. As I stated at the start, I am a great believer in that the first recording of a song you hear, generally had the greatest impact.

‘(‘There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me’ was the second single released by Sandie Shaw, in September 1964, her manager Eve Taylor had heard the Lou Johnson version while in America scouting for new material for Sandie Shaw to record. The song was Shaw’s breakthrough hit, and spent three weeks at Number 1 in the UK. Her first single release had been the Chris Andrews penned ‘As Long as You’re Happy Baby,’ in July of 1964, but that song had failed to chart. After the success of ‘(‘There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me,’ Sandie Shaw went on a run of scoring a further 14 top 40 hits, but after ‘Monsieur Dupont’ had made Number 6 in 1969, she failed to have a hit again in the UK until 1984, when the Johnny Marr, and Morrissey (see also best songs 940-673-222-167-72 and 42) track ‘Hand in Glove’ gave her one final top 40 hit, when peaking at Number 27. As a youth Morrissey had been a fan of Sandie Shaw, having being inspired by her 1969 song ‘Heaven Knows I’m Missing Him Now,’ which 15 years later would be an inspiration for the ‘Smiths’ 1984 Number 10 hit, ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now.’

‘(‘There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me’ is about someone who has lost the love of their life, but that love is constantly in the narrators thoughts, because everywhere she goes, is a reminder of when they were together.

‘I walk along the city streets you used to walk along with me, and every step I take recalls how much in love we used to be. Oh, how can I forget you? When there is always something there to remind me.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

903-Duran Duran-Planet Earth.

1981-Number 12 single.

Best Bit-At 2.55. I think their message is, listen up world, we have something new, and exciting, that we want to show you.

Duran Duran were formed in Birmingham, England, in 1978, in total there have been 12 different members come and go, with the classic line up, (who also played on this song) being the founding members Nick Rhodes, (keyboards) and John Taylor, (bass) they were joined in 1979 by Roger Taylor, (drums) Andy Taylor, (guitar) and Simon Le Bon, both joined in 1980. Although there are three band members all sharing the surname of ‘Taylor,’ that is just coincidence, as none of them are related to each other. The group took their name from ‘Dr. Durand Durand,’ who was a character from the 1968 science fiction film ‘Barbarella.’

The discography of Duran Duran includes 15 studio Albums released between 1981-2021, and 46 singles issued during the same time period, there are also four official compilation Albums available. In the UK, Duran Duran have achieved 30 top 40 singles, with ‘ Is There Something I Should Know?’ (1983) and ‘The Reflex,’ (1984) both making the Number 1 spot, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, they have charted within the top 40 on 15 occasions, with ‘The Reflex,’ (1984) and ‘A View to a Kill,’ (1985) both reaching the Number 1 spot.

Duran Duran were one of the leading exponents in the ‘Synth-Pop’ explosion of the late 1970’s, having been heavily influenced by the ‘Electronic’ music of ‘Kraftwerk,’ (see also best songs 41) and Giorgio Moroder, (see also best songs 78 and 11) as well as the ‘Disco/Funk’ of ‘Chic,’ (see also best songs 175 and 17) along with others. Duran Duran won the hearts of teenage girls, and became regulars on the newly launched ‘MTV,’ partly due to becoming attached to the burgeoning ‘New Romantic’ movement, that had originated in the late 1970’s. The ‘New Romantic’ movement emerged from the nightclub scene in London, and Birmingham.’New Romantics’ were characterised by flamboyant, eccentric fashion, inspired by fashion boutiques such as ‘Kahn and Bell,’ in Birmingham, and ‘PX’ in London. The fashion was influenced by ‘Glam Rock’ artists such as David Bowie, (1948-2016) and Marc Bolan, (1947-1977) coupled with the early ‘Romantic’ period of the late 18th, and early 19th Century, from which the movement took its name. The term ‘New Romantic’ was coined by Richard James Burgess, who co-founded the ‘Synth-Pop’ group ‘Landscape,’ who had a 1981 Number 5 hit in the UK with ‘Einstein a Go-Go,’ Burgess also produced ‘To Cut a Long Story Short,’ (UK 1980 Number 5) which was the debut hit single for Spandau Ballet, another act who were heavily connected to the ‘New Romantic’ scene.

‘Planet Earth’ was the debut single from Duran Duran, and was the first of three singles issued from the bands debut studio Album ‘Duran Duran,’ from June 1981. ‘Planet Earth’ has writing credits given to all five band members at that time, with the production credited to Colin Thurston (1947-2007.) Prior to producing the first two Duran Duran Albums, Thurston had worked as a co-engineer on David Bowie’s ‘Heroes,’ and Iggy Pop’s ‘Lust for Life,’ Albums, both which were recorded in 1977. Thurston is also credited with co-producing the latter Album with David Bowie, and Iggy Pop, under the collective pseudonym ‘Bewlay Bros.’ His later production work in the 1980’s includes ‘Talk Talk’s’ debut studio Album ‘The Party’s Over,’ (1982) and Gary Numan’s seventh solo studio Album, ‘The Fury’ (1985.)

‘Only came outside to watch the nightfall with the rain. I heard you making patterns rhyme, like some new romantic looking for the TV sound. You’ll see I’m right some other time. Look now, look all around, there’s no sign of life, voices, another sound, can you hear me now? This is planet Earth, you’re looking at planet Earth.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

904-Feeder-Buck Rogers.

2001-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 0.24. For the youngsters out there, a C.D. player was something that you could listen to music on. Don’t ask me about the Gramophone, as I am far, far too young to remember.

Feeder are a British Rock group who were formed in Newport, Wales, in 1994, by Grant Nicholas, (guitar, vocals, and piano) Taka Hirose, (bass, and multi instrumentalist) and Jon Lee, (1968-2002) (drums) after the suicide of Lee in 2002, ex ‘Skunk Anansie’ drummer Mark Richardson took over the role of drummer until returning to a re-formed Skunk Anansie in 2009. At the time of writing, Feeder, who took their name from Grant Nicholas’ pet goldfish, remain active as a duo of Nicholas and Hirose.

Feeder who can be filed under ‘Post Britpop,’ Alternative Rock,’ and ‘Post Grunge,’ have released 11 studio Albums to date, between 1997-2022, and 40 singles between 1996-2022, there are also 12 official compilation Albums available. Feeder have achieved 10 top 40 Albums in the UK, with ‘Pushing the Senses’ from 2005, peaking the highest at Number 2, while on the UK top 40 singles chart, they have had 20 chart entries, with both ‘Buck Rogers,’ and ‘Tumble and Fall’ from 2005, making Number 5. Although they have never charted on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in America, they have charted twice on the Billboard ‘Rock’ airplay chart, and once on the Billboard ‘Alternative Rock’ chart as well.

‘Buck Rogers’ was the first of four singles released from ‘Echo Park,’ the third studio Album from Feeder, from April 2001. ‘Buck Rogers’ and it’s parent Album’s 12 tracks were all written by Grant Nicholas, with the production credited to Feeder, and Gil Norton (see also best songs 490 and 292.) Nicholas thought that ‘Buck Rogers’ was too commercial sounding, and too radio friendly, for the type of sound he was trying to achieve with Feeder, and had intended to offer the song to the American Rock band ‘SR-71,’ for them to release as a single, but after being persuaded by Gil Norton to have Feeder release it themselves, it has gone on to be there best known, and probably their best loved song. Grant Nicholas has said,’If I put my hand on my heart, I was just trying to write a song that sounded like the Pixies (see also best songs 688.) On the demos, it was much more raw, too, but I think the end result was a bit poppy, a bit throwaway.’

Gil Norton was born in Liverpool, England, and is one of the most successful music producers of all time, since starting out on his first production work in 1981. As well as ‘Feeder,’ with whom he has produced three studio Albums, his other two productions on this ‘1000 Best Songs’ countdown are the ‘James’ song ‘Sit Down’ from 1990, and the ‘Foo Fighters’ 1997 single ‘Everlong,’ and it’s parent Album ‘The Colour and the Shape.’ Norton has also produced for many of the worlds top acts, including ‘Echo and the Bunnymen,’ the ‘Pixies,’ and ‘Patti Smith,’ along with many others.

‘Buck Rogers’ tells the story of a relationship ending, in which the girlfriend of the narrator leaves him for a character called Buck Rogers. Nicholas explained,’I was going through a break-up, and it was inspired by that. I just put a load of words down without really thinking about them. It was supposed to be stupid and funny, it was never supposed to be used for anything.’ The songs title was inspired by the 1979-1981 American science fiction adventure television series ‘Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.’ Nicholas had been experimenting on a keyboard, and told his engineer, Matt Sime, that he thought what he was playing sounder futuristic, they both agreed a good title would be ‘Buck Rogers.’

In admitting that the songs lyrics are meant to be stupid and funny, Nicholas has said that people always ask him about the lyrics,’Drink cider from a lemon. Nicholas has said that as a teenager he and his friends would go out drinking cider, but because of it’s taste, they would add lemonade.

‘He’s got a brand new car, looks like a jaguar. It’s got leather seats, it’s got a CD player, but I don’t wanna talk about it anymore. I think we’re gonna make it, I think we’re gonna save it, so don’t you try and fake it anymore, anymore.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

905-Status Quo-Forty Five Hundred Times.

1973-It has never been released as a single in the UK.

Best Bit-At 4.42. ‘You say tomato, I say tomahto.’

Status Quo (see also best songs 108) were formed in London, England, in 1962, by Francis Rossi, (guitar, and vocals) and Alan Lancaster, (1949-2021) (bass) while they were still at school, the classic line up was completed by John Coghlan, (drums) who joined later in 1962, and Rick Parfitt (1948-2016) (guitar, and vocals) who joined in 1967. In total there have been 14 different members come and go, with Francis Rossi being the bands one constant.

With sales in excess of 115 million records sold, Status Quo are one of the best selling acts of all time. Their extensive discography includes 33 studio Albums released between 1968-2019, and 98 singles, issued between 1966-2022, there are also 26 official compilation Albums, 12 live Albums, and 18 box sets available. In the UK, Status Quo have achieved 60 top 40 singles, which is more than any other ‘Rock’ group. Four of their studio Albums have reached the Number 1 spot, and one of their singles ‘Down Down,’ from 1974, has also made Number 1. In America, Status Quo have never captured the public’s imagination, as none of their Albums has ever charted on any Billboard chart, and it is also very slim pickings on the ‘Hot 100’ singles chart, where only ‘Pictures of Matchstick Men,’ (1968-Number 12 ) and ‘Ice in the Sun,’ (1968-Number 70) have ever charted.

Francis Dominic Nicholas Michael Rossi, OBE, was born on May 29th, 1949, in Forest Hill, London, England, in 2010, Rossi along with his fellow band mate Rick Parfitt were both appointed ‘Officer of the Order of the British Empire’ (OBE.) In 1984, both Rossi and Parfitt appeared on the ‘Band Aid’ charity single, ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas? (see also best songs 455) It is said that Bob Geldof (see also best songs 632) wanted them on the track, in order to represent the previous musical generation, and felt that having them on the song would generate many more sales, as Status Quo fans would want to buy a copy. A year later in 1985 Status Quo opened ‘Live Aid’ at ‘Wembley Stadium’ with ‘Rocking All Over the World.’ As well as appearing on all 33 Status Quo studio Albums, Rossi has also released three solo Albums in 1996, 2010, and 2019.

‘Forty Five Hundred Times’ is the final track on ‘Hello!’ the sixth studio Album by Status Quo from September 1973. ‘Forty Five Hundred Times’ was co-written by Francis Rossi, and Rick Parfitt, with all four members of Status Quo credited with the songs production. The Album version lasts for just short of 10 minutes, but there is a 17 minutes extended version on 1977’s ‘Live!’ Album, recorded at the ‘Glasgow Apollo.’ There is also a 20 minute recording performed at the ‘NEC Arena’ in 1982, at a charity concert for ‘The Prince’s Trust, which can be found on the 2017 release ‘Live at the N.E.C. ‘ The song has been voted the Number 1 Status Quo song of all time by the bands fans, and when played live in concert, it has been known for the group to stretch it out for around 30 minutes.

Status Quo had been touring America, and had picked up a few local colloquialisms. In the States they say ’45 hundred times,’ but in the UK they say, ‘four thousand, five hundred times,’ The reason why that particular number was chosen according to Francis Rossi, was because ‘It fit the song musically.”Forty Five Hundred Times’ is about pleading to a girl to stay in a relationship. Rossi has also said that it is one of his favourite ‘Quo’ songs, as did Rick Parfitt, who recalled,’The amps were all around the room, and we just sat in a circle and vibed with each other. Nobody knew where anybody was gonna go, and in those days, you didn’t give a f..k about over-spill, so the amps were cranked. It was magical.’

‘There’s nobody on the end of my line, I’m in time but somebody’s missing. Maybe I can find a hand for my hand, if I find a well for my wishing. Be my friend, be my friend.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

906-Booker T. & the M.G.’s-Green Onions.

1962-It didn’t chart in the UK until 1979, when reaching Number 7.

Best Bit-At 1.52. For a healthy musical life, make this one of your five a day.

Booker T. & the M.G.’s were formed in 1962 by Booker T. Jones, (organ, and piano) Steve Cropper, (guitar) (see also best songs 828-712 and 530) Lewie Steinberg, (1933-2016) (bass) and Al Jackson Jr. (1935-1975) (drums) (see also best songs 828 and 347.) As well as releasing music as ‘Booker T. & the M.G.’s,’ they also provided backing for numerous artists on the ‘Stax Records’ label, they were the house band at ‘Stax,’ the equivalent at ‘Motown Records’ were the ‘Funk Brothers.’ Booker T. & the M.G.’s, who were one of the first racially integrated ‘Rock’ groups, having two white members, took their name from the British sports car manufacturer ‘MG Cars,’ for many years ‘Stax Records’ said that the ‘MG’ stood for ‘Memphis Group,’ for fear of being sued in court. In 1965 Lewie Steinberg was replaced by Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn (1941-2012) on bass, and this line up remained intact until the departure of Booker T. Jones in 1971. In total there have been 10 different band members, as the group reformed to tour, and record between 1973-1977, and again between 1992-2012.

As well as playing on classic ‘Stax’ tracks for legendary artists such as Otis Redding, (1941-1967) Rufus Thomas, (1917-2001) and Wilson Pickett, (1941-2006) Booker T. & the M.G.’s also released 13 studio Albums between 1962-1994, and 30 singles in the same time period. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, seven of those singles made the top 40, with ‘Green Onions’ charting the highest at Number 3, while in the UK, they have reached the top 40 on four occasions, with ‘Time Is Tight’ peaking the highest at Number 4 in 1969.

Booker Taliaferro Jones Jr. was born on November 12th, 1944, in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. Jones was musically a child prodigy, playing the oboe, saxophone, trombone, double bass, and piano at school, and the organ at church. Jones’ first professional recording was playing baritone saxophone on the 1960 track ‘Cause I Love You’, by Carla and Rufus Thomas, on the ‘Satellite’ record label, which would soon become ‘Stax Records.’ Since leaving Booker T. & the M.G.’s in 1971, Booker T. Jones has released nine solo Albums between 1974-2019, he has also performed on numerous Albums, for artists of the calibre of Rod Stewart, (A Night on the Town-1977) and Bill Withers (Just as I Am-1971.)

The instrumental ‘Green Onions’ which is also the title of the debut Album by Booker T. & the M.G.’s from October 1962, has song writing, and production, credited to all four band members at that time. ‘Green Onions’ was improvised in the studio, but was mainly written by Booker T. Jones at the age of 16, on a ‘Hammond M3 organ.’ Speaking about the song Jones has said,’Green Onions’ appears to be a simple song, but every time I play it I have to pay attention. I have to remember, and school myself on how the notes go, because it’s just not as simple as it sounds.’ The song got it’s name after Jones had listened to an early version of the track played to him by ‘Stax Records’ co-founder, and music producer Jim Stewart (1930-2022.) Stewart was enthusiastic about the recording, but Jones felt it was far from the finished article. Stewart said,’If we released this as a record, what would you want to call it?’ ‘Green Onions,’ was Booker T. Jones’ reply. ‘Why ‘Green Onions,’ Jim asked, and Booker T. replied,’Because that is the nastiest thing I can think of, and it’s something you throw away.

When ‘Green Onions’ was completed, Steve Cropper took a copy straight down to the Memphis radio station ‘WLOK,’ that very same morning. A DJ at the station called Rueben Washington was a friend of Cropper’s, and had a listen to the song off air, then having been impressed, he immediately played it on air. Cropper has said,’He played it four or five times in a row. We were dancing around the control room, and believe it or not, the phone lines lit up. I guess we had the whole town dancing that morning.’

‘Green Onions’ was not initially a hit in the UK, until it was chosen as one of the tracks for the soundtrack to the 1979 film ‘Quadrophenia,’ (see also best songs 265) in the film ‘Sting,’ (see also best songs 1020 and 727) in his role as ‘Ace Face,’ is seen dancing to ‘Green Onions.

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

907-Puddle of Mudd-She Hates Me.

1993-It wasn’t released until 2002, when reaching Number 14.

Best Bit-At 1.36. I don’t think this guy is under any illusion as to what she thinks of him.

Puddle of Mudd were formed in Kansas City, Missouri, United States, in 1992, by Wes Scantlin, (vocals, and rhythm guitar) Jimmy Allen, (lead guitar) Sean Salmon, (bass) and Kenny Burkitt, (drums) they used to practice next to the ‘Missouri River Levee,’ which inspired the groups name. In total there have been 15 different members come and go, with Wes Scantlin being the bands one constant. The discography of Puddle of Mudd includes six studio Albums released between 1997-2019, an Album of cover versions issued in 2011, and one ‘best of’ compilation released in 2010. Puddle of Mudd have also released 16 singles between 2001-2019, with two of those tracks ‘Blurry,’ (Number 5 in 2001) and ‘She Hates Me,’ (Number 13 in 2002) both making the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in America. In the UK, they have charted within the top 40 on three occasions, with ‘Blurry’ being the most successful, when peaking at Number 8.

By 1999 the original line up of Puddle of Mudd had split, leaving only Wes Scantlin to continue the bands name. Scantlin’s big break came after a copy of a demo tape was heard by Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit (see also best songs 583.) Durst got in touch with Scantlin, and after hearing that Puddle of Mudd had split, he set about putting together a group of musicians to record new material, and re-record some of their old songs. The end result was ‘Come Clean,’ which was released in August 2001, as the debut studio Album from Puddle of Mudd, which has since gone on to sell in excess of 5 million copies worldwide.

‘She Hates Me’ (also known as ‘She F..king Hates Me’) was written as far back as 1993, but remained unreleased until 2002 when appearing as one of the 11 tracks on ‘Come Clean,’ ‘She Hates Me’ was the last of four singles issued of the Album in August 2002. ‘She Hates Me’ was co-written by Wes Scantlin, and Jimmy Allen, with the production being by John Kurzweg. Although Allen hadn’t been a member of Puddle of Mudd since 1997, he is credited as a co-writer on three of the tracks on ‘Come Clean.’ Wes Scantlin was inspired to write the lyrics to ‘She Hates Me’ after an incident in his relationship with the mother of his son, Scantlin has said,’I came home really late, she was furious, and she wouldn’t let me sleep in the bed. She made me sleep in the corner on the carpet, and I had no pillow. I had a little notebook, and I grabbed a little pencil, and I just started writing, ‘She f–king hates me. She f–king hates me.’ She was always talking about, ‘Sex isn’t everything in a relationship.’ And I was like, ‘Alright. But I’m home and feeling frisky, so let’s get down.’ She was like, ‘Nope, you’re not getting nothing,” and that’s how that went.’

‘She Hates Me’ should be filed under the musical genre of ‘Post-Grunge,’ which is an offshoot of ‘Grunge,’ which is less abrasive or intense in tone than traditional Grunge. ‘Grunge’ is an ‘Alternative Rock’ genre that emerged during the mid-1980’s in the American Pacific Northwest state of Washington, particularly in Seattle and nearby towns. Among the most notable and successful names in the genre of ‘Grunge,’ were ‘Nirvana,’ (see also best songs 788 and 9) and Pearl Jam’ (see also best songs 458). It was in the 1990’s that ‘Post Grunge’ bands such as ‘Bush,’ ‘Creed,’ and ‘Nickleback,’ (see also best songs 415) began to come to the fore, playing a more ‘radio friendly’ type of music, that often had a production quality that was much higher and cleaner than ‘Grunge.’

There have been accusations that ‘She Hates Me’ is very similar to the main chord progression used in the 1983 song ‘I Saw Your Mommy,’ by the American ‘Thrash Metal’ band ‘Suicidal Tendencies,’ leading to claims that Puddle of Mudd plagiarised that song. ‘She Hates Me’ also shares similar chords and melodies with the song ‘Summer Nights,’ (see also best songs 768) by John Travolta and Olivia Newton John, (1948-2022) from the 1978 musical film ‘Grease,’ so much so, that sometimes at gigs, Puddle of Mudd perform the two songs together as a medley.

‘Met a girl, thought she was grand, fell in love, found out first hand. Went well for a week or two, then it all came unglued. In a trap trip I can’t grip, never thought I’d be the one who’d slip.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

908-Guy Marks-Loving You Has Made Me Bananas.

1968-It didn’t chart in the UK until 1978, when on it’s re-issue it reached Number 25.

Best Bit-At 0.58. The greatest compliment I can pay to this song, is to say it sounds just as authentic as the ‘Big Band’ radio broardcasts from the early 20th Century that it parodies.

Guy Marks was born Mario Scarpa on October 31st, 1923, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, he died at the ‘Atlantic City Medical Centre-Pomona,’ in Pomona, New Jersey, on November 28th, 1987, at the age of 64. Guy Marks who was the youngest of 11 children, was a very successful impersonator, comedian, actor, and singer, who appeared alongside all of the biggest American entertainment stars of the day, including regular appearances on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show,’ ‘The Dean Martin Show,’ and ‘The Joey Bishop Show.’ As part of his night club act, Guy Marks would do a routine where he would mimic a local radio broadcaster from the 1930’s era, and then go in to a routine where he would parody the singer of a Big Band. In 1968 Marks recorded the first of his two studio Albums,’Loving You Has Made Me Bananas,’ on the ‘ABC Records’ label, the other tracks on that Album including this songs ‘B’ side ‘Forgive Me My Love,’ are legitimate songs from an earlier era, also performed in the same 1930’s, and 1940’s style. Guy Marks would also release one further Album, ‘Hollywood Sings as impersonated by Guy Marks.’ Marks is considered to have been one of the greatest impersonators of all time, and is best remembered for his 1975 stand up routine ‘How The West Was REALLY Won? where he was critically acclaimed for his flawless impersonations of characters such as Humphrey Bogart, (1899-1957) Gary Cooper, (1901-1961) and Robert Mitchum (1917-1997.)

‘Loving You Has Made Me Bananas’ can be filed under the genre of ‘Novelty Songs.’A novelty song is a type of song that built upon some form of novel concept, such as a gimmick, or a piece of humour, or a sample of popular culture. Novelty songs partially overlap with ‘Comedy Songs,’ which are more explicitly based on humour, and with musical parody, especially when the novel gimmick is another popular song. ‘Novelty’ songs have always been a staple of the music charts, and dozens have been hits down the decades, including many that have reached the Number 1 spot. Some prime examples are ‘Patti Page, with ‘(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?’ (Billboard Number 1, and UK Number 9 in 1953) and Chuck Berry, with ‘My Ding-a-Ling,’ (Billboard and UK Number 1 in 1972) ‘Novelty Songs’ have also proved very popular when used in aid of charity, with one of many examples being the 1991 UK Number 1 hit ‘The Stonk’ by ‘Hale and Pace,’ which raised over £100,000 for the ‘Comic Relief’ charity. ‘Novelty Songs’ have also been very successful over the Christmas period, with the English ‘You Tuber,’ musician, and blogger Mark Hoyle, using his pseudonym ‘LadBaby,’ in collaboration with his wife Roxanne, having achieved five consecutive UK Christmas Number 1 ‘Novelty’ hit singles, from 2018-2022.

‘Loving You Has Made Me Bananas’ was the only hit single released by Guy Marks, where in America on it’s release in 1968, it peaked at Number 51 on Billboard. The song, and it’s parent Album of the same name, were both produced by Peter DeAngelis, (1929-1982) who also wrote the songs ‘B’ side ‘Forgive Me My Love.’ When the song became a surprise hit in the UK in 1978, Guy Marks was invited on to the music programme ‘Top of the Pops’ to promote it. This was one of the rare occasions where an act sang live, rather than the usual miming that was insisted on by the shows producers. When performing the song on ‘Top of the Pops’, Marks name checked Johnny Pearson (1925-2011) who led the ‘Top of the Pops’ orchestra for the performance. There were also three female singers providing the backing vocals live, and in a very comical moment, you can hear one of them singing ‘shop fitter blues,’ instead of the correct ‘ship fitter blues,’ which is followed by audible howls of laughter. ‘Loving You Has Made Me Bananas’ has nonsensical lyrics, with the only thing they have in common, being that they rhyme.

‘Oh, you burned your finger that evening, while my back was turned. I asked the waiter for iodine, but I dined all alone. Your red scarf matches your eyes, you closed your cover before striking. Father had the ship fitter blues, loving you has made me bananas.’

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

909- David Guetta and Chris Willis featuring Fergie and LMFAO-Gettin’ Over You.

2010-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.08. Turn up that Guetta Blaster!

The original mix of ‘Gettin’ Over You’ was called ‘Gettin’ Over,’ and was a collaboration between David Guetta, and Chris Willis, and can be found on Guetta’s fourth studio Album ‘One Love’ from August 2009. The version I have chosen, was re-titled ‘Gettin’ Over You,’ and was remixed for Guetta’s ‘Deluxe Edition’ of that Album, now called ‘One More Love,’ which was issued in November 2010, and now featured ‘Fergie,’ and ‘LMFAO.’ Along with the aforementioned artists, the other songwriters for the track were Will.i.am, Jean Claude Sindres, Frederic Riesterer, and Sandy Vee, with the production credited to David Guetta, and the last three named writers.

David Guetta (see also best songs 260 and 234) had produced the ‘Black Eyed Peas’ (see also best songs 899 and 234) 2009 American Billboard, and UK Number 1 single ‘I Got A Feeling,’ and ‘Will.i.am’ of that group wanted to include ‘Gettin’ Over You’ on the Black Eyed Peas Album ‘The E.N.D.,’ but Guetta wanted to use the song himself. Fergie, also of the Black Eyed Peas, was also very keen on the song, and a compromise was reached where the song would be re-recorded with vocals provided by Fergie, Chris Willis, and Red Foo, and Sky Blu of ‘LMFAO’ (see also best songs 63.) ‘Gettin’ Over You’ went on to top the charts in four countries including France, where the song gave Guetta his first Number 1 hit in the country of his birth. Although the song only peaked at Number 31 in America, worldwide it has sold in excess of 800,000 copies to date.

‘Fergie’ was born Stacy Ann Ferguson on March 27th, 1975, in Hacienda Heights, California, United States. Between 1984-1989 she starred in the American television children’s programme ‘Kids Incorporated,’ before becoming a member of the American female ‘R&B’ trio ‘Wild Orchid,’ where she recorded two issued studio Albums between 1997-2001, before leaving the group, Fergie was then invited to join the Black Eyed Peas in 2003. Fergie was a part of the Black Eyed Peas during their most successful period, where she appeared on four of their studio Albums between 2003-2010, she quit the Black Eyed Peas before the release of their seventh studio Album ‘Masters of the Sun Vol. 1’ in 2018. Fergie has also had great success as a solo artist, having released two studio Albums, the first in 2006, and the second in 2017, and she has also released 13 singles between 2006-2017. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, she has achieved seven top 40 solo hits, with three of those tracks making Number 1, while in the UK, she has charted on four occasions, with ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry,’ peaking the highest at Number 2 in 2007. She has also made the top 40 twice as a featured artist, on this song, and on ‘Party People’ by Nelly (Billboard Number 40, and UK Number 14, in 2008.)

David Guetta has spoken about how the collaboration for the song came about,’Even after I refused to let the Peas have it, Fergie was still saying, ‘I love that track!’ So I said, ‘If you still want to do it, then we’ll do it together’. I wanted to keep Chris Willis on there because I’ve been working with him since the beginning. He’s the best singer on the planet.’ Chris Willis has also recalled the collaboration,’I was really intimidated because I was familiar with The Black Eyed Peas, and had followed their career. There was Fergie right there, in all of her glory, singing and being the diva. I hadn’t really had a whole lot of experience with videos, so watching the directors, and all the dancers, and all of that was just really overwhelming. But it was a really good idea, the concept that David had to invite ‘Fergie’ and ‘LMFAO’ on the record. I think that really took it far beyond. Redfoo of ‘LMFAO’ has discussed the songs meaning,’The concept is, you’re in love with a girl, and then you guys separate. She probably got with Lil Jon (see also best songs 982 and 943) or somebody, so I’m gonna party till you come get me.’

‘Wish I could spin my world into reverse, just to have you back again. There’s no gettin’ over, there’s no gettin’ over, there’s just no gettin’ over you.’