Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
A few weeks ago we devoted an entire week to Motown hits. This week we’re moving onto the next decade of soul and covering seven singles that helped define the Philadelphia Soul sound of the 1970s. The first song we’re starting with, however, predated and helped originate Philly Soul in the late 1960s. The song is “La-La (Means I Love…
Today’s classic song of the day is “Take a Letter Maria’ by R.B. Greaves. Released in autumn of 1969 by ATCO Records (I vividly remember that yellow and white label), “Take a Letter Maria” peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It ended up selling more than 2 1/2 million copies. The song is about a guy who discovers…
Today’s first long forgotten classic soul song of the day is “Mix It Up Baby” by Barbara Lynn. This one is long forgotten because it didn’t chart when it was released in March of 1968. Ms. Lynn wrote “Mix It Up Baby” and it was released on her “Here Is Barbara Lynn” album for Atlantic Records. It’s a mid-tempo dance…
Today’s classic song of the day is “A Girl Like You” by the Young Rascals. Released in 1967, it peaked at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. “A Girl Like You” is an upbeat, feel good shuffle. The first part of each verse (‘I don’t know what it’s all about…”) is more subdued, with just piano accompanying the vocals, then…
Today’s long lost classic soul song of the day is “Nothing But a Heartache” by the Flirtations. Released in 1969, it only made it to #34 on the Billboard Hot 100. It should have been higher. “Nothing But a Heartache” was written by British songwriters Wayne Bickerton and Tony Waddington. Bickerton was a fairly successful producer for acts like Petula…
Today’s nearly forgotten classic song of the day is “I Can’t Stay Mad at You” by Skeeter Davis. This single was released in August of 1963 and peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Singles chart, and #14 on the Hot Country Singles chart. “I Can’t Stay Mad at You” was written by…
Your forgotten classic oldie of the day is “With This Ring” by the Platters. This single was released in February of 1967 and went to #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #12 on Billboard’s R&B chart. The song was written by Richard “Popcorn” Wylie, Luther Dixon, and Tony Hester. Together and separately, they were responsible for such hits as…
Our final classic rain-themed song of the day this week is one of my personal favorites, “Baby the Rain Must Fall” by Glenn Yarbrough. Released in January of 1965, this track went to #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart. “Baby the Rain Must Fall” was written by legendary composer Elmer Bernstein (with lyricist…
We’ve been doing a few days of rain-themed songs, so let’s keep it going with today’s classic rain song of the day, “I Wish It Would Rain” by the tempting Temptations. Motown released this one on the Gordy Records label in late December of 1967 and it peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February and March of…