Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
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…
Singer Mary Wells brings us today’s classic song of the day, “You Beat Me to the Punch.” Released as a single in July of 1962, it peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 but went all the way to #1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles chart. “You Beat Me to the Punch” was written, as were many Motown songs…
Today’s classic song of the day is “Ms. Grace” by the Tymes. This is an odd one in that it hit #1 on the UK Singles Chart in January of 1975, yet only hit #91 on the Billboard Hot 100 here in the U.S. (It rose a little higher on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, all the way to #75,…
Today’s classic song of the day comes to us from a group called the Essex. The song is “Easier Said Than Done” and, when it was released in May of 1963, it went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Cash Box Top 100, and Billboard’s R&B chart. “Easier Said Than Done” was written by William Linton…
The Doobie Brothers had two personalities, one pre-Michael McDonald, one post-Michael McDonald. The first incarnation was very much a rock band, almost a jam band, led by Tom Johnston’s vocals and songwriting, Patrick Simmons’ guitars, and the dual drums of John Hartman and Michael Hossack. Guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter joined the band in 1974, direct from his stint with Steely…
This blog is all about classic rock, pop, and soul songs, primarily from the 1960s and 1970s, but every now and then I like to shake things up and feature a track from a different genre. Today is one of those days. When you think big band music, most people typically think of the swing music of Benny Goodman, Tommy…
Today’s classic song of the day is about a boy tasked with leading his impoverished family after the death of his father. The song is “Patches” and it was a big hit for blind blues singer Clarence Carter. “Patches” was written by General Johnson, the lead singer of the group Chairmen of the Board, and Ron Dunbar, of Invictus Records…
The Turtles bring us today’s classic song of the day, “You Baby.” Released as the lead single off their album of the same name in February of 1966, “You Baby” peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and a little higher, #17, on the Cash Box Top 100. “You Baby” was written by the prolific team of Steve Barri…
“Funky Nassau” by the Beginning of the End is today’s classic song of the day. A potent mix of soul with Latin American and Caribbean beats, this single was released in March of 1971 and made it all the way to #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #7 on Billboard’s Best Selling Soul Singles chart. Nassau, of course, is…
Here’s one you probably haven’t heard. Today’s classic song of the day is a lost track from singer Joanie Sommers, better known for her misogynistic 1962 hit, “Johnny Get Angry.” It’s called “Don’t Pity Me” and it should have been a hit— but wasn’t. “Don’t Pity Me” was released in 1965 and went exactly nowhere—at the time. In later years…