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 co-written by George David Weiss, the guy who wrote the words for yesterday’s classic song of the day, Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.” The song is “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and it was a big hit for Elvis Presley back in 1961. Written for Elvis to sing in the 1961 film,…
It’s New Years Day, so let’s start the new year right by focusing on some of the best things in life, as exemplified in today’s classic song of the day. The song is “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong, and there’s an interesting story behind the tune that spans several decades. First, about the song. “What a Wonderful World”…
Today’s classic song of the day was written and originally recorded by Jackie DeShannon—although it was a bigger hit for the group the Searchers. The song is “When You Walk in the Room” and Ms. DeShannon released her version as a B-side to her “‘Till You Say You’ll Be Mine” single in November of 1963. She re-released it as an…
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…
Today’s classic song of the day is a collaboration between two massive rock superstars, David Bowie and the band Queen, led by singer Freddie Mercury. The song is “Under Pressure” and it was released as a single in October of 1981 (in the U.S.; November in the UK). The song went to #29 on the Billboard Hot 100, #22 on…
Today’s classic song of the day is that disco classic, Thelma Houston’s “Don’t Leave Me This Way.” If you were anywhere near a radio or dance floor during the spring of 1977, you heard a lot of this one. “Don’t Leave Me This Way” was written by Philly Soul legends Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, along with frequent collaborator Cary…
Still celebrating composer Jim Steinman’s birthday, today’s classic song of the day is one of his tunes from the 1984 movie, Streets of Fire. “Tonight is What It Means to Be Young” was the movie’s closer, sung in the movie by lead character Ellen Aim (Diane Lane). In reality, Ms. Lane was lip synching to a studio group called Fire…
Still celebrating yesterday’s birthday of the late Jim Steinman, here’s the biggest-selling song he wrote, “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” Performed by Welsh songstress Bonnie Tyler, this over-the-melodramatic-top power ballad was released in June of 1983 (February in the UK) and shot to #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100 charts. It also hit #1…
Today’s classic dream-related song of the day is “Your Wildest Dreams” by the Moody Blues. Released in April of 1986, this single went to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song’s music video also got a ton of airplay on MTV and other channels. “Your…