“Hawaii Five-O Theme” (The Ventures)

Hawaii Five-O

Riding this week’s wave of classic TV theme songs, today’s classic song of the day is the theme from the original 1960s show, Hawaii Five-O. The “Hawaii Five-O” theme was written by Morton Stevens, although you were just as likely to remember the soundalike version recorded by the Ventures. Released as a single in September of 1968, the Ventures’ version…

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“Love is All Around (Theme from The Mary Tyler Moore Show)” (Sonny Curtis)

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

When it comes to late ’60s/early ’70s television shows, there’s none better than The Mary Tyler Moore Show. There’s also no better theme song for a show than the one for The Mary Tyler Moore Show, “Love is All Around.” Written and performed by Sonny Curtis, this one is today’s classic song of the day. If you’ve ever seen The…

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“Do the 45” (The Sharpees)

Do the 45, Sharpees

Today’s classic song of the day is an obscure soul stomper by an equally obscure group called the Sharpees. The song is “Do the 45” and, when it was released in 1965, it got to #40 on Cash Box’s R&B chart, although it failed to crack the Billboard Hot 100. “Do the 45” was written by Andrew McKinney and Eddie…

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“Half-Breed” (Cher)

Half-Breed, Cher

The song “Half-Breed” was Cher’s second number-one hit (after 1971’s “Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves“), and it’s today’s classic song of the day. Released as a single in July of 1973, “Half-Breed” went to #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, and to #3 on Billboard’s Easy Listening chart. “Half-Breed” was written by Al Capps and…

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“Brass in Pocket” (The Pretenders)

Brass in Pocket, Pretenders

Pretenders was one of the most impressive debut albums I can remember. That album contained a slew of terrific tunes, including “Precious,” “Stop Your Sobbing,” “Kid,” and today’s classic song of the day, “Brass in Pocket.” Written by Chrissie Hynde and James Honeyman-Scott, “Brass in Pocket” was released in November of 1979 and, early the next year, peaked at #14…

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“I Don’t Want to Go Home” (Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes)

I Don't Want to Go Home, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes

For today’s classic song of the day, let’s head to New Jersey in the ’70s, with the local music scene riding the wave of a rock ‘n’ roll revolution started by some guy named Springsteen. The song is “I Don’t Want to Go Home” and it’s by a group called Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. “I Don’t Want to…

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