Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Chicago group the Buckinghams bring us today’s classic song of the day, “Kind of a Drag.” Released in December of 1966, this single went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February of 1966. It scored just a little lower on the Cash Box Top 100, peaking at #3. “Kind of a Drag” was written by…
Today’s classic song of the day was never released as a single (at least in the U.S.) but every serious music lover of the ’70s knows it. The song is “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)” and it was a highlight of Bruce Springsteen’s 1973 album, The Wild, the Innocent & the E-Street Shuffle. That album, Springsteen’s second, is my second favorite…
Today’s extremely obscure classic song of the day is one most of you probably have never heard. The song is “If You Love Me (Really Love Me)” and it was recorded by both Brenda Lee and Donna Loren—although neither version made much of a splash at the time. “If You Love Me (Really Love Me)” was written way back in…
“Have You Seen Her” is a sweet slice of Chicago Soul with heavy overtones of the nearby Philly Soul sound. Released by the Chi-Lites in October of 1971, “Have You Seen Her” went all the way to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Billboard’s R&B chart. This is the one with the spoken word introduction: One month…
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…