Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
We’re in the middle of June, which puts us smack dab in the middle of summer here in North America. With that in mind, we’re going to do a full week of summer-themed songs here at the Classic Song of the Day blog, and our first classic summer song of the day this week is from a group that you…
Still honoring the late Brian Wilson, today’s classic song of the day is the Beach Boys’ “Heroes and Villains,” which may be Brian’s most complex and sophisticated tune—even more so than the group’s previous release, “Good Vibrations.” Brian Wilson wrote “Heroes and Villains” in collaboration with lyricist Van Dyke Parks, who wrote the words for most of the songs intended…
In honor of the late Brian Wilson, who passed away earlier this week, today’s classic song of the day is one of his most sophisticated works, “Good Vibrations.” Released as a single by the Beach Boys in October of 1966, this groundbreaking track went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and all around the world—it was a number-one hit…
This one truly saddens me. Brian Wilson has passed away. He was 82 years old. He’d been suffering for some months from dementia, although no cause of death was immediately given. Brian Wilson was a true musical genius. He was the driving force behind the Beach Boys, yes, but that often lightweight group was the vehicle for his sophisticated musical…
Today’s classic song that was so nice it was a hit twice of the day is “Baby, I Love You.” This one was a hit originally for the Ronettes and, about a half-dozen years later, for singer Andy Kim. “Baby, I Love You” was written by the team of Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, with the typical-for-that-era addition of Phil…
Today’s classic song that was a hit for multiple artists of the day is “I Say a Little Prayer.” It was a hit for both Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin, about a year apart. “I Say a Little Prayer” was written by the legendary team of Burt Bacharach (music) and Hal David (words). Its somewhat frothy musical nature belies the…
Continuing our short string of songs from ’70s singer-songwriters, today’s classic song of the day is one you might not have heard from a singer you definitely know. The song is “Vanilla O’Lay” and it was written and performed by Ms. Jackie DeShannon. “Vanilla O’Lay” was included on Ms. DeShannon’s 1972 album, Jackie. That album fit right in with Carole…
Continuing a string of tunes by ’70s singer-songwriters, today’s classic song of the day is “So Far Away” by Carole King. This one is off her massive and massively influential Tapestry album; released as a single in March of 1971, “So Far Away” peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100, #13 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #3…
Today’s classic singer/songwriter song of the day is James Taylor’s “Carolina in My Mind.” Taylor wrote it back in 1968 when he was in London recording tracks for his self-titled debut album for Apple Records. It’s all about being homesick for his home back in North Carolina; he started writing it at producer Peter Asher’s flat in London, wrote some…