Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
It’s day number two of horn rock week and today’s classic horn rock song of the day is “Spinning Wheel” by Blood, Sweat & Tears. This classic track perfectly blended jazz and rock aesthetics and peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 (and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart) in July of 1969. It was nominated for three Grammy…
We’re starting off a week of horn rock tunes with your classic horn rock song of the day, “Don’t You Care” by the Buckinghams. This tune, released in March of 1967, didn’t sound like the psychedelic rock and sunshine pop on the charts at the time, which may have helped it cut through the clutter on the airwaves. It spent…
Your classic Sunday song of the day is “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” by the Monkees. It was the group’s fourth big hit (after “Last Train to Clarksville,” “I’m a Believer,” and “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You”), hitting #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967. The Monkees were a big deal when their TV show debuted back in…
Your forgotten soul single of the day is “Please Little Angel” by Doris Troy. The single was released, on the Atlantic Records label, in 1964, but only reached #128 on the Billboard Hot 100. (Which, I know, isn’t technically in the Hot 100.) “Please Little Angel” was written by Doris Troy herself (under her pen name of Doris Payne), along…
After yesterday’s “Laughing in the Rain,” by Neil Sedaka, today’s rain-themed classic song of the day is “Walking in the Rain.” This one was a hit twice for two different groups—the Ronettes and Jay and the Americans. “Walking in the Rain” was written by two of my favorite Brill Building songwriters, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil (with a third credit…
Today’s classic song of the day is “Different Drum” by the Stone Poneys. The song, released in 1967, went to #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the first big hit for the group’s young vocalist, Linda Ronstadt. “Different Drum” was written by soon-to-be Monkee Michael Nesmith way back in 1964. It was first recorded in 1965, in a…
Your final classic instrumental song of the day this week is “Stranger on the Shore” by Mr. Acker Bilk. Released late in 1961, it topped all the UK charts early the next year and, later in 1962, reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It was the UK’s biggest-selling single of 1962 and remains that country’s best-selling instrumental single…
Your classic instrumental song of the day comes from a time where elevator music stood side-by-side on the charts alongside raucous rock ‘n’ roll tunes, doo-wop vocal harmonies, Brill Building pop masterpieces, and silly novelty songs. We’re talking about that crazy world of 1960 and Percy Faith’s big hit, “Theme from A Summer Place.” Believe it or not, this shmaltzy…
Your second classic instrumental hit this week that you didn’t know had lyrics is “Soulful Strut,” a big hit for a little combo called Young-Holt Unlimited. Released in November of 1968, it went on to hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Rhythm & Blues Singles charts, #2 on the Easy Listening Chart, and #1 in Canada. The song…