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’s classic song of the day is that soul classic, “Midnight Train to Georgia,” by Gladys Knight & the Pips. Everybody knows this one and for good reason; it’s a helluva song and a helluva performance. Released in August of 1973, it climbed all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Billboard R&B, and Cash Box Top 100…
This week’s final classic song by a guy named Gary, Gerry, or Jerry of the day takes us back to 1960 and “He Will Break Your Heart” by Jerry Butler. This track went all the way to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard R&B chart. Jerry “The Iceman” Butler was a former member of soul…
Over the past few days we’ve looked at songs from some of my favorite girl singers, so it’s inevitable that we’d come to the Queen of Soul. Today’s classic girl singer song of the day is Aretha Franklin’s 1971 classic “Rock Steady,” one of the funkiest tracks ever committed to vinyl. This happens to be a song that Aretha wrote…
Today’s classic song of the day is “Sitting in the Park,” the second big hit for R&B singer Billy Stewart. This track, written by Mr. Stewart, was released in June of 1965 and peaked at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the R&B chart. “Sitting in the Park is a sweet soul song. It’s got a loping…
Your classic song for a summer Sunday afternoon is “Groovin’,” by the Young Rascals, later covered by Booker T. and the M.G.’s. It was a big hit for both groups. The first version released was by the group then known as the Young Rascals. They released it in April of 1967, just in time for summer Top 40 radio, and…
Your forgotten soul single of the day is “Please Little Angel” by Doris Troy. The single was released, on the Atlantic Records label, in 1964, but only reached #128 on the Billboard Hot 100. (Which, I know, isn’t technically in the Hot 100.) “Please Little Angel” was written by Doris Troy herself (under her pen name of Doris Payne), along…
Your classic sweet soul song of the day is “Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do),” by Aretha Franklin. This song was just one of Aretha’s many hit songs, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the R&B chart in early 1974. Aretha Franklin had a ton of Top 40 singles in…
Your classic instrumental of the day that also had a hit version with lyrics is “Grazing in the Grass.” The original instrumental version was by Hugh Masekela and the subsequent version with lyrics was by the Friends of Distinction, and they were both top ten hits. Unlike the classic instrumentals of the day for the the past few days, which…
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…