Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Bob Dylan wrote “If Not for You” as a love song for his first wife, Sara, and it’s today’s classic song of the day. The song has been recorded by Dylan himself, his pal George Harrison, and, as a much bigger hit, by singer Olivia Newton-John. The first version of “If Not for You” to hit vinyl was by Bob…
Today’s classic song of the day is “From the Beginning” from the prog rock trio Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Released as a single in August of 1972, this song was the group’s highest-charting single, going all the way to #39 on the Billboard Hot 100. Greg Lake wrote “From the Beginning” and initially considered giving it to his other group,…
For today’s classic song of the day we go way back to early 1961 and Del Shannon’s massive hit, “Runaway.” This one shot all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100 and also topped the charts in Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, and the UK. “Runaway” was written by Del Shannon (then going…
America’s first big hit, “A Horse with No Name,” is today’s classic song of the day. Released in January of 1972 in the U.S., and November 1971 in the UK, the group’s debut single went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100. It went to #3 on Billboard’s Easy Listening chart and…
Still remembering the late Bobby Hart, who passed away last week, today’s classic song of the day is “Come a Little Bit Closer” by Jay and the Americans. Released during the fall of 1964, this single peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Come a Little Bit Closer” was written by Bobby Hart and his longtime partner Tommy Boyce,…
Still honoring songwriter Bobby Hart, who passed away last week, today’s classic song of the day is one of his most popular tunes, “Last Train to Clarksville” by the Monkees. Released as a single in August of 1966, this track went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 “Last Train to Clarksville” was written by Bobby Hart…
We found out yesterday that songwriter Bobby Hart passed away earlier last week. In his honor, today’s classic song of the day is “I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight?” by Mr. Hart and his partner Tommy Boyce, performing as Boyce and Hart. This single, released in December of 1967, shot up the charts early in 1968, reaching #8 on the…
In honor of Tom Shipley, who passed away last month, and Mike Brewer, who passed away late last year, today’s classic song of the day is their biggest hit, “One Toke Over the Line.” The single, billed to Brewer & Shipley, was released in March of 1971 and went all the way to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100—and #8…
I’ve always thought of today’s classic song of the day as an instrumental, but it really isn’t. “Shotgun” by Junior Walker & the All Stars actually has lyrics, and they’re sung by Junior Walker himself. There’s a story behind that. “Shotgun” wasn’t actually recorded by Junior Walker’s real band. Berry Gordy (who co-produced the track with Lawrence Horn) thought the…