Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Today’s classic song of the day was never released as a single (at least in the U.S.) but every serious music lover of the ’70s knows it. The song is “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)” and it was a highlight of Bruce Springsteen’s 1973 album, The Wild, the Innocent & the E-Street Shuffle. That album, Springsteen’s second, is my second favorite…
“Have You Seen Her” is a sweet slice of Chicago Soul with heavy overtones of the nearby Philly Soul sound. Released by the Chi-Lites in October of 1971, “Have You Seen Her” went all the way to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Billboard’s R&B chart. This is the one with the spoken word introduction: One month…
The early seventies were a great time for soul music. Motown was still going strong and the sophisticated sounds of Philly Soul were starting to fill the radio airwaves. The R&B charts were dominated by male vocal groups, many survivors from the doo-wop era, finding their way into a new era with mellow harmonies, snappy dance moves, and very groovy…
Canadian troubadour Gordon Lightfoot brings us today’s classic song of the day. The song is called “Beautiful” and it first appeared on Mr. Lightfoot’s 1972 album, Don Quixote. Released as a single in May of 1972, it peaked at just #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #30 on Billboard’s Easy Listening chart. It did much better in his native…
The band Creedence Clearwater Revival brings us today’s classic song of the day, “Sweet Hitch-Hiker.” Released as a single in July of 1971, this one went to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the Cash Box Top 100. “Sweet Hitch-Hiker,” which was written and sung by John Fogerty, was the band’s first single after the departure of…
Here’s one you probably don’t know from an artist you’ve probably never heard of, but it’s so good it warrants being featured as a classic song of the day. The song is “Starry Eyes” and it’s by a cat named Roky Erickson; he released it on Mars Records in 1975 to absolutely no acclaim whatsoever. Roky Erickson was a singer/songwriter/guitarist…
The Grass Roots were a band whose success spanned two decades—the end of the ’60s and the beginning of the ’70s. Today’s classic song of the day comes from later in the group’s recording career. It’s “Sooner or Later” and it was released in May of 1971. The track peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #12 on…
Today’s classic song of the day is “Ms. Grace” by the Tymes. This is an odd one in that it hit #1 on the UK Singles Chart in January of 1975, yet only hit #91 on the Billboard Hot 100 here in the U.S. (It rose a little higher on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, all the way to #75,…
The Doobie Brothers had two personalities, one pre-Michael McDonald, one post-Michael McDonald. The first incarnation was very much a rock band, almost a jam band, led by Tom Johnston’s vocals and songwriting, Patrick Simmons’ guitars, and the dual drums of John Hartman and Michael Hossack. Guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter joined the band in 1974, direct from his stint with Steely…