The song was written, by the late reggae icon Bob Marley (1945-1981)
in 1973 for his Burnin’ album.
Marley: “I wanted to say ‘I shot the police’ but the government would have
made a fuss so I said ‘I shot the sheriff’ instead… but it’s the same idea: justice.
It was a traditional folk song (also recorded by Bob Dylan) which The Animals turned
into an electrifying gem. It started artists/bands going more electric than before.
British songsmith DONOVAN (born Donovan Phillips Leitch 78 years ago) scored
a No. 1 hit in the US on 3 September 1966, this day 58 years ago with SUNSHINE SUPERMAN (almost 54 million streams on Spotify). It peaked at #2 in the UK.
“Sunshine came softly through my a-window today
Could’ve tripped out easy a-but I’ve a-changed my ways
It’ll take time, I know it but in a while
You’re gonna be mine, I know it, we’ll do it in style
‘Cause I made my mind up you’re going to be mine”
American one hit pop wonders ZAGER AND EVANS scored a huge international
hit with their catchy single IN THE YEAR 2525. Today 55 years ago the topped
the UK Singles Chart. They also got to number one in the US.
Only 501 years to go.
In the year 2525, if man is still alive
If woman can survive, they may find
In the year 3535
Ain’t gonna need to tell the truth, tell no lie
Everything you think, do and say
Is in the pill you took today
In the year 4545
You ain’t gonna need your teeth,
won’t need your eyes
You won’t find a thing to chew
Nobody’s gonna look at you
In the year 5555
Your arms hangin’ limp at your sides
Your legs got nothin’ to do
Some machine’s doin’ that for you
In the year 6565
You won’t need no husband, won’t need no wife
You’ll pick your son, pick your daughter too
From the bottom of a long glass tube
In the year 7510
If God’s a coming, He oughta make it by then
Maybe He’ll look around Himself and say
Guess it’s time for the judgment day
In the year 8510
God is gonna shake His mighty head
He’ll either say I’m pleased where man has been
Or tear it down, and start again
In the year 9595
I’m kinda wonderin’ if man is gonna be alive
He’s taken everything this old earth can give
And he ain’t put back nothing
Now it’s been ten thousand years
Man has cried a billion tears
For what, he never knew, now man’s reign is through
But through eternal night, the twinkling of starlight
So very far away, maybe it’s only yesterday
In the year 2525, if man is still alive
If woman can survive, they may find
New electro wave celeb GARY NUMAN released his hit single CARS 40 years ago today, on 24 August 1984. It appeared on his first solo LP
(after 2 albums with Tubeway Army) The Pleasure Principle. It went to
the top of the UK Singles Chart.
Motown stars THE SUPREMES (1959–1977) withDiana Ross scored
multiple hits. One of their biggest one was WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO?
(almost 130 million streams on Spotify) which topped the US charts on
22 August 1964, today 60 years ago.
“Baby, baby, baby don’t leave me
Ooh, please don’t leave me all by myself
I’ve got this burning, burning, yearning feelin’ inside me
Ooh, deep inside me and it hurts so bad”
30 years ago, on 8 August 1994, Manchester legends OASIS released their supernova classic LIVE FOREVER.
A 24 karat gold anthem written, of course, by Noel Gallagher,
inspired by Shine A Light, a 1972 song by The Stones.
Live Forever was the third single from their supreme debut album Definitely Maybe and their first one that entered the Top-10 of
the UK Singles Chart.
Noel today, about the joyful anthem.
‘Live Forever’ is 30! “If there was any doubters after ‘Shakermaker’ and ‘Supersonic’, that was the one that people went ‘Ah, it’s actually f**king classic’. ” pic.twitter.com/t1a1W5aLdD
Maybe I just wanna fly
Wanna live, I don’t wanna die
Maybe I just wanna breathe
Maybe I just don’t believe
Maybe you’re the same as me
We see things they’ll never see
You and I are gonna live forever
Today 38 years ago, on 26 July 1986, world-music legendPETER GABRIEL topped
the US Singles Chart with his sexually loaded knockout Sledgehammer (more
than 136 million streams on Spotify).
It was the lead single from his album So, produced by Daniel
Lanois and the author himself. It peaked at #4 in Great-Britain.
