Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
“Pancho and Lefty” is today’s classic song of the day. Written by singer/songwriter Townes Van Zandt, it’s a story song about a Mexican bandit named Pancho and his pal Lefty, who eventually betrays him to the Federales. Some people think that “Pancho and Lefty” is about real Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa. Mr. Van Zandt said that wasn’t the case, but…
“Lay Lady Lay” was Bob Dylan’s fourth and final top ten single, and it’s today’s classic song of the day. Released in July of 1969, “Lay Lady Lay” peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, #8 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #19 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. Bob Dylan included “Lay Lady Lay” on his country-flavored 1969…
Here’s a classic song of the day that sounded different from anything else on the charts at the time, “A Little Bitty Tear” by Burl Ives. Released as a single in November of 1961, it rose all the way to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 on Billboard’s Country Singles chart, and #1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. “A…
The word “snowbird” means different things to different people. To some, it describes the northerners, mainly older folk, who travel south to winter in warmer climes. Snowbirds typically come from Canada or Minnesota or some other place suitably cold and snowy and spend the winter in Florida or Arizona or some other place suitably warm and snowless. For the purposes…
Roger Miller was a popular country artist who made several crossovers onto the mainstream pop charts in the mid-sixties. His first big crossover hit, “Dang Me,” is today’s classic song of the day. Roger Miller said he wrote “Dang Me” in four minutes in a motel room in Phoenix, Arizona. His friend Johnny Cash contradicts that story, saying he was…
“A Boy Named Sue” is today’s classic song of the day with a person’s name in the title. Recorded by Johnny Cash and released as a single in July of 1969, this track hit #2 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, and #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles and Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts. Noted…
Today’s classic song of the day is one that I’m sure almost all of you know and many of you like. The song is “Gentle on My Mind,” as performed by Glen Campbell. Originally released in June of 1967, the record peaked at just #62 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #30 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Capitol Records…
Responding to a reader request to feature some Eddie Rabbitt, today’s classic song of the day is his 1980 crossover hit, “I Love a Rainy Night.” Released in November of 1980, it peaked early the following year at #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard’s Hot Country Songs charts. It was also #1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart,…
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…