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 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…
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…