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 is a song written in 1979, a hit in 1983, yet has the Girl Group sound of the early 1960s. The song is called “They Don’t Know” and Tracey Ullman’s recording, released in September of 1983, hit #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 in Ullman’s native UK. “They Don’t Know” was written…
Today’s classic song of the day was a hit for two (and in the UK, three) separate artists. The song is “Do You Love Me” and the lucky performers were the Contours in 1962 and the Dave Clark Five in 1964. “Do You Love Me” was one of the very first Motown hits. The song was written by Motown owner…
Today’s classic song of the day is “Cool Jerk.” It was originally released by a group called the Capitols in April of 1966; it rose to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, #5 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #2 on Billboard’s Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart. “Cool Jerk” was written by Don Storball, one of the Capitols.…
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 “The Tide is High” by Blondie. Released in October of 1980, the single went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and around the world; it hit the top spot in Canada, New Zealand, and the UK, and was a Top 10 hit in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa,…
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…