Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Here’s one you probably haven’t heard. Today’s classic song of the day is a lost track from singer Joanie Sommers, better known for her misogynistic 1962 hit, “Johnny Get Angry.” It’s called “Don’t Pity Me” and it should have been a hit— but wasn’t. “Don’t Pity Me” was released in 1965 and went exactly nowhere—at the time. In later years…
Today’s classic song of the day is an R&B classic, Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour.” Released as a single in May of 1965, this single only reached #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 but peaked at #1 on Billboard’s R&B chart. “In the Midnight Hour” was Wilson Pickett’s first mainstream hit. It was written by Mr. Pickett and famed…
Today’s classic song of the day is “She’s Just My Style” by Gary Lewis & the Playboys. Released in November of 1965, this single went all the way to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. “She’s Just My Style” was written by Gary Lewis along with professional songwriter Al Capps, producer Snuff Garrett, and arranger/studio musician Leon Russell. Here’s what…
The man dubbed “Mr. Excitement” brings us today’s classic song of the day. The man is Jackie Wilson and the song is “Whispers (Gettin’ Louder).” Released as a single in August of 1966, this track peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on Billboard’s Top Selling R&B Singles chart. “Whispers (Gettin’ Louder)” is a perfect example of…
“Everyday People” was the first single by Sly and the Family Stone to hit #1 on the charts and it’s today’s classic song of the day. Released in November of 1968, “Everyday People” grabbed the top position on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard’s R&B charts. Billboard ranked it as the #5 single for all of 1969. Sylvester “Sly”…
Today’s classic song of the day is an instrumental written by a Frenchman and recorded by a French orchestra leader. The song is “Soul Coaxing” and, when it was released in the U.S. in February of 1968, it went to #37 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on Billboard’s Easy Listening chart. I’ll admit I wasn’t familiar with this…
Today’s classic song of the day is an autobiographical journey through the early’60s folk music scene and the formation of the group the Mamas & the Papas. The song is “Creeque Alley” and, when it was released as a single in April of 1967, it went to #5 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100. “Creeque…
Today’s classic song of the day is a bit of psychedelia from the Summer of Love. The song is “Incense and Peppermints’ by the Strawberry Alarm Clock and it was released in May of 1967. It went all the way to #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100. The Strawberry Alarm Clock were a California-based…
Many people don’t know that Neil Diamond got his start as a Brill Building songwriter, a protege of established songwriters Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry. Some of his first successes were songs he wrote for the Monkees, starting with “I’m Believer” and followed up by today’s classic song of the day, “A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You.” Don…