Category Folk

“Green, Green”/”Today” (The New Christy Minstrels)

Green Green, New Christy Minstrels

Today’s classic songs of the day that my parents liked and listened to way too much come from a folk group called the New Christy Minstrels. The first song up is “Green, Green,” the lead track on the group’s Ramblin’ album and released as a single in June of 1963, during the folk revival period immediately preceding the Beatles and…

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“Rainy Day People” (Gordon Lightfoot)

Gordon Lightfoot

Building on yesterday’s classic tune, the Carpenters’ “Rainy Days and Mondays,” today’s rain-themed classic song of the day is “Rainy Day People” by Canadian troubadour Gordon Lightfoot. Released in March of 1975, this one went to #26 on the Billboard Hot 100, #1 on Billboard’s Easy Listening chart, and #1 on the Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary chart. According to Mr.…

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“Silver Threads and Golden Needles” (The Springfields/Linda Ronstadt)

Silver Threads and Golden Needles, the Springfields

Today’s classic song of the day is “Silver Threads and Golden Needles” by the Springfields. Released in late summer of 1962, this harmony-laden track peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Springfields were a folk trio from the UK consisting of Tim Feild, Dion O’Brien, and Mary Catherine O’Brien. The O’Brien siblings changed their names to Tom Springfield…

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“Brand New Key”/”Beautiful People”/”Photograph” (Melanie)

Melanie

In honor of her passing, today’s songs of the day are all by the artist known as Melanie (real name: Melanie Safka). She passed on January 23. Melanie was born on February 3, 1947, in Queens, New York City. She was regarded as a “beatnik” in high school and ran away to California. (She later returned home to her family…

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“Love at the Five and Dime” (Nanci Griffith/Kathy Mattea)

Last of the True Believers, Nanci Griffith

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,…

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