Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
In honor of the late Nicolette Larson’s birthday, today’s classic song of the day is her hit, “Lotta Love.” Released in the fall of 1978, this single went to #8 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, and #1 on Billboard’s Easy Listening chart. “Lotta Love” was written by Neil Young, for whom Ms. Larson had…
Today’s classic song of the day is “Bad Sneakers” by Steely Dan, the second track on side one of Steely Dan’s 1975 album, Katy Lied. It was released as the second single from the album (the first was “Black Lightning,” which peaked at #37 on the charts), even though it only hit #103 on the Billboard Hot 100—which, if you…
Today’s socially conscious track by a legendary soul singer is “Living for the City” by Stevie Wonder. Released as a single in November of 1973, it went all the way to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart. “Living for the City” was the third track on side one of Stevie’s 1973 album,…
Today’s socially relevant classic song of the day by an R&B legend is “Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology)” by Marvin Gaye. Released in June of 1971, it hit #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 (for two weeks) on Billboard’s R&B Singles chart. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002. “Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology)”…
Continuing with our socially conscious late ’60s/early ’70s songs by major R&B artists, today’s protest song of the day is “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World is Today)” by the Temptations. This powerful track was recorded on April 12 and 14 in 1970 and released as a single less than a month later, on May 7. It hit #3…
Yesterday’s classic song of the day was Edwin Starr’s “War.” Continuing the anti-war theme, today’s socially conscious classic song of the day by a top R&B artist is “Bring the Boys Home” by Freda Payne. This powerful protest song was released in May of 1971 and peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on Billboard’s Best Selling…
This week we’re featuring socially conscious songs from the turbulent late ’60s/early ’70s from Motown and other R&B artists. We start with one of the most memorable protest songs of that or any era, “War” by Motown artist Edwin Starr. “War,” an obvious anti-Vietnam War protest song (“War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothin’!”) was written by legendary Motown…
Today’s almost-forgotten classic song of the day is “For the Love of Him” by Bobbi Martin. Released late in 1969, this single peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Billboard’s Easy Listening chart in March of 1970. Bobbi Martin wrote “For the Love of Him” with Henry Jerome, an A&R director at United Artist Records. He…
Today is Independence Day here in these barely United States, which calls for a uniquely American tune as today’s classic song of the day. That tune is “American Tune,” written and performed by Paul Simon. Included as part of Simon’s third solo album, There Goes Rhymin’ Simon, the single was released in November of 1973 and peaked at #35 on…