Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Fontella Bass’ “Rescue Me” is today’s classic song of the day. Released as a single in September of 1965, “Rescue Me” soared to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, #3 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #1 on Billboard’s Hot Rhythm & Blues chart. “Rescue Me” took shape during a songwriting and rehearsal session at Chess Studios in Chicago.…
Today’s classic song of the day is one of the best Beach Boys tunes you’ve probably never heard. The song is “Please Let Me Wonder” and it easily ranks among Brian Wilson’s top ten, maybe even top five, tunes for the group. “Please Let Me Wonder” was written by Brian Wilson with Mike Love contributing lyrics. It was included on…
Today’s classic song of the day is a bona fide classic from the guy who pretty much invented rock ‘n’ roll. The tune is “No Particular Place to Go” and it was a huge hit (and an instant classic) from the Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Mr. Chuck Berry. Chuck wrote this one after he was released from a year…
For today’s classic song of the day we go back to 1964 and Phil Spector’s favorite girl group, the Ronettes. The tune is “Do I Love You” and, when it was released in June of 1964, it went to #34 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #36 on the Cash Box 100. It did a bit better north of the…
Believe it or not, this is the 1000th post here on the Classic Song of the Day blog. I started this blog back on February 18, 2023, with a post all about composer Burt Bacharach, who had recently passed away. Over the next 999 posts I’ve covered songs both popular and relatively unknown, mostly from the ’60s and ’70s but…
For today’s classic song of the day we return to Swinging London in the mid-60s and another terrific tune by Brit songbird Petula Clark. The song is “I Know a Place” and, when it was released in March of 1965, it went all the way to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #17 on the UK charts. Like most…
I’m happy to present today’s classic song of the day, “Happy.” No, not the 2013 tune by Pharrell Williams, from the Despicable Me soundtrack. This “Happy” was a single back in 1967 that was a minor hit for two different groups at more or less the same time. Radio play and record sales were much different back in the ’60s.…
This evening I’m sitting in (on drums) with some friends in a band playing a Halloween-themed house party. The band is kind of an outlaw/trad country thing, but they’re throwing in some “black” songs to fit the Halloween vibe. One of the songs they’re playing is the one I’ve chosen for today’s classic song of the day, the Rolling Stones’…
Today’s classic song of the day is a legendary piece of psychedelic rock from equally legendary songwriter Todd Rundgren. The song is “Open My Eyes” and it was recorded by his first group, Nazz, in 1968. The single failed to crack the Billboard Hot 100 but gained attention and influence when it was featured on the iconic 1972 garage rock…