Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
“Bobby’s Girl” is today’s classic song of the day—and it was a hit for one singer here in the U.S. and other in the UK and Europe. The song “Bobby’s Girl” was written by the team of Gary Klein and Henry Hoffman. The guys enlisted Marcie Blane, then a senior in high school (and captain of the cheerleading squad), to…
Music journalist Robert Christgau has called today’s classic song of the day “the most beautiful song in the English language.” The Who’s Pete Townshend called it “divine” and “a masterpiece.” The song is “Waterloo Sunset,” and it’s every bit as good as these folks say. “Waterloo Sunset” was written and produced by the Kinks’ Ray Davies and released as a…
Here’s a classic song of the day that sounded different from anything else on the charts at the time, “A Little Bitty Tear” by Burl Ives. Released as a single in November of 1961, it rose all the way to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 on Billboard’s Country Singles chart, and #1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. “A…
Even though I am an innately political person with extremely strong views, I try to keep politics out of this blog. That isn’t always possible, however, because much of the music of the past sixty years has been overtly political. Think Bob Dylan (“The Times They Are a Changin’“), Marvin Gaye (“What’s Going On“), Edwin Starr (“War“), Creedence Clearwater Revival…
Ask any ten people what their favorite Beatles song is, and at least five are bound to answer “Hey Jude,” today’s classic song of the day. Released as a single in August of 1968, “Hey Jude” was a worldwide hit, reaching the top of the charts in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Rhodesia, Spain,…
Folks might find it hard to believe today, but there was a time when Top 40 radio played all genres of music. You might tune into your favorite AM station and hear a tune by the Beatles, followed by a Motown single by the Temptations or Supremes, then maybe a straight pop number by the Turtles or the Grass Roots,…
The Grass Roots were pretty big back in the late ’60s and early ’70s. Case in point is today’s classic song of the day, “The River is Wide.” Released as a single in April of 1969, this tune went all the way to #31 on the Billboard Hot 100. “The River is Wide” was written by Billy Admire and Gary…
For today’s classic song of the day, let’s take a trip back to the psychedelic sixties and the song “Crystal Blue Persuasion.” The single, by Tommy James and the Shondells, was released in June of 1969 and went all the way to #2 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Cash Box Top 100. Tommy James wrote “Crystal Blue…
Jimmy Webb is one of the premier songwriters of the 20th century. Even his lesser-known tunes get covered by a multitude of artists, because they’re so darned good. Today’s classic song of the day is a case in point. The song is “Do What You Gotta Do” and it was a minor hit for a few different artists, as well…