Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Even though I am an innately political person with extremely strong views, I try to keep politics out of this blog. That isn’t always possible, however, because much of the music of the past sixty years has been overtly political. Think Bob Dylan (“The Times They Are a Changin’“), Marvin Gaye (“What’s Going On“), Edwin Starr (“War“), Creedence Clearwater Revival…
Stevie Wonder is one of our generation’s great treasures. His string of albums from 1972’s Music of My Mind to 1976’s Songs in the Key of Life is one of the most impressive accomplishments in the history of popular music. Today’s classic song of the day wasn’t part of that historic group of masterpieces, but came just before it. The…
Ask any ten people what their favorite Beatles song is, and at least five are bound to answer “Hey Jude,” today’s classic song of the day. Released as a single in August of 1968, “Hey Jude” was a worldwide hit, reaching the top of the charts in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Rhodesia, Spain,…
We’re travelling back in time to Philadelphia in the mid-70s for today’s classic song of the day. The song is “Mighty Love” by the Spinners; it was released in December of 1973 and, early the next year, climbed all the way to #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart. “Mighty Love” was written…
Folks might find it hard to believe today, but there was a time when Top 40 radio played all genres of music. You might tune into your favorite AM station and hear a tune by the Beatles, followed by a Motown single by the Temptations or Supremes, then maybe a straight pop number by the Turtles or the Grass Roots,…
How about a classic song of the day that started life as a jeans commercial? This one-hit wonder is appropriately titled “Jeans On” and it was released by David Dundas in October of 1976. The single went all the way to #3 on the UK charts and #17 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Jeans On” was written by David Dundas…
The Grass Roots were pretty big back in the late ’60s and early ’70s. Case in point is today’s classic song of the day, “The River is Wide.” Released as a single in April of 1969, this tune went all the way to #31 on the Billboard Hot 100. “The River is Wide” was written by Billy Admire and Gary…
Today’s classic song of the day is “Sunshine” by Jonathan Edwards. This was Mr. Edwards’ first single and the only one to reach the top forty. This kind of makes him a one-hit wonder, although he did have a few (very minor) country hits in the 1980s. Jonathan Edwards released “Sunshine” as a single in November of 1971. Early in…
For today’s classic song of the day, let’s take a trip back to the psychedelic sixties and the song “Crystal Blue Persuasion.” The single, by Tommy James and the Shondells, was released in June of 1969 and went all the way to #2 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Cash Box Top 100. Tommy James wrote “Crystal Blue…
Anybody remember The Point!, an album and animated film from singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson? Whether you do or not, you probably do remember the hit song that emanated from this project, Nilsson’s “Me and My Arrow.” Released in March of 1971, this single rose to #34 on the Billboard Hot 100, #27 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #3 on…