Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from yesterday and today
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from yesterday and today
Yesterday the Impressions told us “It’s All Right” and today J.J. Jackson reinforces that positive sentiment with today’s classic R&B song of the day, “But It’s Alright.” Released on Calla Records in 1966, “But It’s Alright” reached #22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles chart. The song was rereleased in 1969 on the Warner…
Today’s classic disco track of the day is “Funkytown” by Lipps Inc. It was one of the last big dance hits of that era, released in March of 1980, at the very end of the disco craze. It hit big, however, peaking at #1 all around the world—in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain,…
Today’s classic song of the day is “September Gurls” by Big Star. It’s a near-perfect piece of power pop, influential beyond its limited recognition at the time. Big Star’s Alex Chilton (former lead singer of the Box Tops) wrote “September Gurls” and the group released it on their second album, 1974’s Radio City. It was also released as a single…
Today’s classic song that packs an emotional punch is “Romeo and Juliet” by Dire Straits. This one was never released as a single in the U.S., although it was in the UK (where it rose all the way to #8 on the UK Singles chart). Here in the U.S. you had to listen to it on the band’s 1980 album,…
This week’s final city-themed song of the day is “Going Down to Liverpool.” The song was initially released by Katrina and the Waves (you know them from their huge hit, “Walking on Sunshine“) but made a bigger splash when covered by the Bangles. “Going Down to Liverpool” was written by Kimberley Rew of Katrina and the Waves. It first appeared…
Today’s classic song of the day is one of the 1980’s most popular and most despised tracks. We’re talking about “We Built This City” by Starship. Released in August of 1985, the song topped both the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100 and hit the top ten in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Paraguay, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, and West…
Today’s classic song of the day is “Allentown” by Billy Joel. The track was included on his 1982 album, The Nylon Curtain, and released as a single in November of that year. The single went to #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #14 on the Cash Box Top 100. “Allentown,” written by Mr. Joel, is about how the real…
Today’s classic song of the day is “Life in a Northern Town,” by the British band, the Dream Academy. Released in March of 1985, it peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, #9 on the Irish chart, and #15 on the UK Singles chart. “Life in a Northern Town” is a nostalgic song about living in a small English…
Today’s classic song of the day is “Love at the Five and Dime,” written and originally performed by songstress Nanci Griffith but made a bona fide hit by Kathy Mattea. Ms. Mattea’s version was released as a single in April of 1986 and made it all the way to #3 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. As I’ve written before,…