Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Today’s classic song of the day is an unusual one. “Comin’ Home Baby” was written as a jazz instrumental, had lyrics added, then became an unlikely pop hit for a famous jazz singer. Read on, please. “Comin’ Home Baby” was written, as an instrumental, by jazz bassist Ben Tucker. It was first recorded by the Dave Bailey Quintet on their…
The early seventies were a great time for soul music. Motown was still going strong and the sophisticated sounds of Philly Soul were starting to fill the radio airwaves. The R&B charts were dominated by male vocal groups, many survivors from the doo-wop era, finding their way into a new era with mellow harmonies, snappy dance moves, and very groovy…
Today’s classic song of the day comes to us from one of Stax Records’ most popular artists, Eddie Floyd. The song is “I’ve Never Found a Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)” and, when it was released in June of 1968, it peaked at just #40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #47 on the Cash Box Top 100,…
Canadian troubadour Gordon Lightfoot brings us today’s classic song of the day. The song is called “Beautiful” and it first appeared on Mr. Lightfoot’s 1972 album, Don Quixote. Released as a single in May of 1972, it peaked at just #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #30 on Billboard’s Easy Listening chart. It did much better in his native…
Today’s classic song of the day has a title that’s difficult to verbalize. The song is “Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um” (that’s six “um’s”) by Major Lance. Released as a single in December of 1963, this classic piece of Chicago Soul hit #5 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100 in February of 1964. “Um,…
The band Creedence Clearwater Revival brings us today’s classic song of the day, “Sweet Hitch-Hiker.” Released as a single in July of 1971, this one went to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the Cash Box Top 100. “Sweet Hitch-Hiker,” which was written and sung by John Fogerty, was the band’s first single after the departure of…
Gary Puckett & the Union Gap bring us today’s classic song of the day, “This Girl is a Woman Now.” This single, released in August of 1969, rose all the way to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, #5 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #2 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. “This Girl is a Woman Now” was written…
Here’s one you probably don’t know from an artist you’ve probably never heard of, but it’s so good it warrants being featured as a classic song of the day. The song is “Starry Eyes” and it’s by a cat named Roky Erickson; he released it on Mars Records in 1975 to absolutely no acclaim whatsoever. Roky Erickson was a singer/songwriter/guitarist…
The late Neil Sedaka (along with lyricist Roger Atkins) wrote today’s song of the day. The song is “Workin’ On a Groovy Thing” and the 5th Dimension made it into a hit. Released in June of 1969, the 5th Dimension’s single peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #23 on the Cash Box Top 100, but went all…
The Grass Roots were a band whose success spanned two decades—the end of the ’60s and the beginning of the ’70s. Today’s classic song of the day comes from later in the group’s recording career. It’s “Sooner or Later” and it was released in May of 1971. The track peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #12 on…