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 “Sideshow” by the group Blue Magic. Released early in 1974, this sweet slice of seventies Philadelphia soul went all the way to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, #5 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #1 on Billboard’s R&B chart. “Sideshow” was written by Vinnie Barrett and Bobby Eli, two Philadelphia songwriters…
Today’s classic song of the day is another standout track from Stevie Wonder’s 1976 masterpiece, Songs in the Key of Life. “Isn’t She Lovely” was the first track on the first side of the second disc; while it wasn’t released as a single, FM radio DJs picked up on it and drove it to #23 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart.…
Today’s classic song of the day is another piece of sophisticated adult pop from the pens of Burt Bacharach (music) and Hal David (words), “You’ll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart).” It was a hit for two different artists in successive decades. “You’ll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart)” was first recorded by Dionne…
Today’s classic song of the day is the final Motown single from Gladys Knight & the Pips. “Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)” was released as a single in late December of 1972 and, early in 1973, went all the way to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, #1 on the Cash Box Top…
Today’s classic song of the day is “Whatcha See is Whatcha Get” by the Dramatics. Released in June of 1971, this smooth sample of seventies soul peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on Billboard’s R&B chart. “Whatcha See is Whatcha Get” was written and produced by Tony Hester. Mr. Hester was a Detroit-based songwriter and producer,…
Today’s classic song of the day is “Shining Star” by Earth, Wind & Fire. Released in January of 1975, this funky little number was all over the radio my junior year in high school, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles charts. “Shining Star” was written by group members Maurice White, Larry Dunn, and…
Today’s classic song of the day is “I’ll Take You There” by the Staple Singers. Released in February of 1972, this reggae-influenced soul single went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Cash Box Top 100, and Billboard R&B charts. “I’ll Take You There” was written and produced by Al Bell (under his given name, Alvertis Isbell),…
Today is Father’s Day, so it’s only fitting that today’s classic Father’s Day song of the day is “Color Him Father” by the Winstons. This song is about the singer’s appreciation of his stepfather, who stepped in when his real father was “killed in the war.” (The Vietnam War, presumably.) The lyrics say it best: I love this man I…
Sly Stone passed away yesterday. In his memory, today’s classic song of the day is “Dance to the Music,” released as a single in November of 1967 by his group, Sly and the Family Stone. This early example of psychedelic soul went all the way to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall…