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 Chicago’s “Make Me Smile.” This song was written by Chicago trombonist James Pankow’s seven-part “Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon” on 1970’s two-disc Chicago II album. It was part one of the suite, later reprised in part seven, “Now More Than Ever.” In fact, the single edit (what most of you know from…
All this week we’ve been looking at songs about different types of men. We end this trip with a song by the Beatles about a “Nowhere Man.” Released as a single in the U.S. in February of 1966, this one went to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Cash Box Top 100. While credited to Lennon-McCartney,…
Today’s song about a specific type of man is all about “The Rubberband Man.” The Spinners released this one in August of 1976 and the single went to #3 on the Cash Box Top 100, #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on Billboard’s Hot Soul Singles chart. “The Rubberband Man” is a wonderful slice of Philly Soul, written…
Here’s another classic song of the day about another type of man, a “Guitar Man.” This song, released by the group Bread in July of 1972, rose to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, #10 on the Cash Box Top 100, and #1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. Like most (all?) of Bread’s big hits, “Guitar Man” was written, sung,…
This week we’re focusing on songs about different types of men, and today’s classic man song of the day is about a “Piano Man,” as written and performed by piano man Billy Joel. The protagonist of this song is a guy who plays piano in a bar, and the song details the various customers of said establishment. “Piano Man” is…
Today’s classic song about a particular kind of man is about a “Secret Agent Man.” As recorded by Johnny Rivers, this single was released in March of 1966 and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the Cash Box Top 100. “Secret Agent Man” was written by the team of P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri, who…
Today’s classic “man” song of the day is about a “Handy Man.” This tune was a hit for three different artists—Jimmy Jones, Del Shannon, and James Taylor. Who wrote “Handy Man” is up for debate. The original recording, released in 1959 by the Sparks of Rhythm, lists Andrew Barksdale and Charles Merenstein as writers. That version was in a bluesy…
This week we’re featuring songs about specific types of men. Today’s classic man song of the day is about a “Magic Man,” as performed by Heart. Heart was led by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson from Seattle. Ann played guitar, Nancy sang. They were a phenomenon back in the mid-70s, female hard rockers in what was traditionally a testosterone-laden landscape.…
Today’s classic song of the day is an easy listening track from Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66. “Pretty World” was released as a single in May of 1969 and, while it only hit #62 on the Billboard Hot 100, it got a ton of airplay on easy listening stations across the country and went all the way to #4 on…
Today’s classic song of the day was a hit for two different artists in the ’60s—and a British a cappella group in the ’80s. The song is “When You’re Young and In Love,” and it was written by Van McCoy, who would make a name for himself in the ’70s with the iconic disco tune “The Hustle.” McCoy had been…