Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
This week we’re going all organic, featuring tunes with prominent organ parts. Our first classic organic song of the week is the instrumental track “Green Onions,” made famous by Memphis’ own, Booker T. & the M.G.’s. This one hit #3 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100 charts, and rose to the very top of Billboard’s…
We continue our salute to drummer extraordinaire Hal Blaine with today’s classic song of the day, the instrumental hit “A Taste of Honey” by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. Mr. Albert’s single, released in August of 1965, peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent five weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Easy Listening chart. It also won…
Your final classic instrumental song of the day this week is “Stranger on the Shore” by Mr. Acker Bilk. Released late in 1961, it topped all the UK charts early the next year and, later in 1962, reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It was the UK’s biggest-selling single of 1962 and remains that country’s best-selling instrumental single…
Your classic instrumental song of the day comes from a time where elevator music stood side-by-side on the charts alongside raucous rock ‘n’ roll tunes, doo-wop vocal harmonies, Brill Building pop masterpieces, and silly novelty songs. We’re talking about that crazy world of 1960 and Percy Faith’s big hit, “Theme from A Summer Place.” Believe it or not, this shmaltzy…
For today’s classic instrumental song of the day we’re sticking with mid-70s disco and “The Hustle,” by Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony. Disco was all the thing back in 1975 when this single was released, which explains why it went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts and #1 on…
Today’s classic instrumental song of the day is a tasty slice of Philly Soul, “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)” by MFSB, featuring the Three Degrees. Released in February of 1974, this track hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Billboard’s Easy Listening chart, Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart, and the Cashbox Top 100. You can’t get much better than that.…
Your second classic instrumental hit this week that you didn’t know had lyrics is “Soulful Strut,” a big hit for a little combo called Young-Holt Unlimited. Released in November of 1968, it went on to hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Rhythm & Blues Singles charts, #2 on the Easy Listening Chart, and #1 in Canada. The song…
We’re starting out a week of instrumental songs of the day (or is that songs of the days?) with an instrumental you know but probably didn’t know it had words. I’m talking about “The Horse” by Cliff Nobles & Co., which was released in 1968, sold a million copies in its first three months of release, and went all the…
Your surf instrumental song of the day is “The Lonely Surfer” by Jack Nitzsche. This is a classic surf music instrumental, released on Nitzsche’s solo album of the same name. Released as a single in August of 1963, it peaked at #39 on the Billboard Hot 100. “The Lonely Surfer” moves us from the Carolina beach music sound of yesterday’s…