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 is Mother’s Day, so it’s only fitting that today’s classic song of the day is “Mama Said” by the Shirelles. Released as a single in April of 1961, this girl group classic peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on Billboard’s R&B chart. “Mama Said” was written by Luther Dixon and Willie Densen. Dixon and Denson…
Our classic “love” song of the day for Valentine’s Week is one with a common title. The tune is “Look of Love” by Lesley Gore—and it’s not ABC’s “The Look of Love” (yesterday’s classic song of the day) or Dusty Springfield’s “The Look of Love” (another former classic song of the day). No, this one has a slightly different title…
Today’s classic song of the day was recorded by one group but released under another group’s name. The song is that Wall of Sound classic, “He’s a Rebel,” and there’s an interesting story behind it. To start out, “He’s a Rebel” was written by Gene Pitney for the Shirelles, but that group, which was really hot at the time, turned…
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 is “Tell Him” by the Exciters. This version of the song (SPOILER ALERT: it wasn’t the first) was released in October of 1962 and it went to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on Billboard’s Hot Rhythm & Blues Songs list. “Tell Him” was originally written as “Tell Her” by legendary songwriter…
Today’s classic song of the day is “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle.” This song was a hit for the Royalettes in 1965 and Deniece Williams in 1982; it was also featured on Laura Nyro’s 1971 album of covers with Labelle, Gonna Take a Miracle. First things first. “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle” was written by Teddy Randazzo, Bobby Weinstein, and…
Today’s nearly forgotten classic song of the day is “I Can’t Stay Mad at You” by Skeeter Davis. This single was released in August of 1963 and peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Singles chart, and #14 on the Hot Country Singles chart. “I Can’t Stay Mad at You” was written by…
Today’s classic ’60s pop song that sounds like a Girl Group but isn’t of the day is “Dream Baby,” by an 18 year-old, not-yet-famous singer named Cher. This one was a flop when it was released but became a Girl Group classic, and deservedly so. “Dream Baby” was written and produced by Cher’s then-husband and singing partner, Sonny Bono. It…
Last week we took a look at the Girl Group sound of the early 1960s, but that sound wasn’t limited to girl groups. There were plenty of solo girl singers who put out records that mirrored that Girl Group sound, and we’re going to listen to some of them this week. Let’s start with a singer named Ellie Greenwich. Music…