Category 1970s

“Flim Flam Man” (Barbra Streisand/Laura Nyro)

Flim Flam Man, Barbra Streisand

Today’s classic song of the day is a Laura Nyro composition that was a hit when recorded by Barbra Streisand. The song is “Flim Flam Man” and it’s a good one. Ms. Nyro wrote “Flim Flam Man”—originally titled “Hands Off the Man (Flim Flam Man)”—back in 1967 and included it on her debut album, More Than a New Discovery. When…

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“Queen of Hearts” (Juice Newton/Dave Edmunds)

Queen of Hearts, Juice Newton

Today’s classic song of the day is “Queen of Hearts.” The song was written by Hank DeVito, Emmylou Harris’ pedal steel guitarist, first recorded (and a hit in England) by Dave Edmunds, and made an even bigger hit here in the U.S. by country singer Juice Newton. Dave Edmunds, of Rockpile fame, first recorded “Queen of Hearts” for his 1979…

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“Lady Marmalade” (Labelle)

Lady Marmalade, Labelle

If you know today’s classic song of the day, chances are you know a little French, in particular the line Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir? That’s right, the song is “Lady Marmalade” and it was a big hit for the group Labelle. “Lady Marmalade” was written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan. Crewe was a member of the Four…

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“Silver Bird” (Mark Lindsay)

Silver Bird, Mark Lindsay

Today’s classic song of the day is “Silver Bird” by Mark Lindsay. This was Lindsay’s third big hit of his post-Paul Revere & the Raiders solo career, after “Arizona” (1969) and “Miss America” (1970). “Silver Bird” was written by industry pros Kenny Young and Artie Butler. (Kenny also wrote Lindsay’s previous hit, “Arizona.”) The single was released in May of…

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“Come and Get It” (Badfinger)

Come and Get It, Badfinger

Today’s classic song of the day was written by a Beatle and recorded by a group that that Beatle found and nurtured. The song is “Come and Get It,” the group is Badfinger, and the Beatle is Paul McCartney. That’s right, Paul McCartney wrote “Come and Get It” back in 1969, for the movie The Magic Christian, which starred another…

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“Black Friday” (Steely Dan)

Katy Lied, Steely Dan

Today is the Friday after Thanksgiving here in the United States, what we call Black Friday. That’s because it’s the day that shoppers go crazy snatching up ridiculous deals on all sorts of merchandise, racking up sales so big that merchants who might have been in the red all year long make enough money to finally go into the black.…

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“Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” (Sly and the Family Stone)

Today is Thanksgiving day in the United States, so let’s be thankful for today’s classic song of the day, “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” by Sly and the Family Stone. In case you can’t figure out the mondegreen (intentional misspelling), the title reads as “Thank you for lettin’ me be myself again.” But then, you probably knew that.…

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