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 overlooked ’70s soul track from an overlooked soul singer. The track is “It Ain’t Easy” and the singer is Claudia Lennear. Claudia Lennear was a background singer, one of the ladies featured in the 20 Feet From Stardom documentary. She made her bones as an Ikette with Ike & Tina Turner, and…
“Knock on Wood” is today’s classic song of the day and it was a hit in two different decades by two very different artists. “Knock on Wood” was a soul tune written by singer Eddie Floyd and guitarist Steve Cropper, both stalwarts of Memphis’ Stax Records. They wrote it in 1966 at the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King…
Family acts were a big thing for a time—think the Cowsills, the Jackson 5, and the Five Stairsteps, let alone the Beach Boys, the Bee Gees, and Sly and the Family Stone. Well, today’s classic song of the day is by yet another family act, the group of singing Mormon brothers called the Osmonds. The song is “One Bad Apple”…
It’s a hot summer Sunday here in the states, which means lots of folks on the coasts are heading to the beach. With that in mind, today’s perfect summer-themed classic song of the day is “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini,” by Brian Hyland. Released in June of 1960, this novelty single went all the way to #1 on…
Today is the Fourth of July, Independence Day here in these only somewhat United States, so today’s classic song of the day is the appropriately themed “4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)” by the great Bruce Springsteen. This song, while never released as a single here in the U.S., was one of the most popular tracks on Bruce’s second album,…
Today’s classic song of the day is a Motown classic from the Marvelettes. “Don’t Mess with Bill” was released in November of 1965 and went all the way to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. It got even higher on Billboard’s R&B chart, peaking at #3. “Don’t Mess with Bill” was written by a gent named Bill Robinson, who you…
Back in 1976, a little movie called Rocky was a surprise hit. The movie told the story of a small-time fighter named Rocky Balboa, played by Sylvester Stallone, who gets a one-time shot at the world heavyweight championship. While Rocky loses the big fight with Apollo Creed, he proves himself a real winner by getting as far as he did.…
Today’s classic song of the day is a forgotten track by a forgotten band, but with a notable lead singer. The song is “Without You” by Gayle McCormick and the Klassmen. (Yeah, that “K” name could be a little problematic.) The single was released in 1967 and it was a regional hit—well, it was a hit in St. Louis, from…
Canadian songbird Anne Murray brings us today’s classic song of the day, “Shadows in the Moonlight.” Released as a single in May of 1979, this soft rock number rose to #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went all the way to #1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. It also hit #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. In her…
Today’s classic song of the day was a minor hit for a major group. The song is “Satisfaction Guaranteed (Or Take Your Love Back)” and the band is Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. This Philly Soul classic was released in April of 1974 and peaked at just #58 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single did better on Billboard’s…