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 was one of the first disco tunes of the 1970s. It allegedly influenced Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus to write “Dancing Queen” for ABBA, another huge early disco track. The song is “Rock Your Baby” and the artist was George McCrae. Released in May of 1974, this dance track made it all the way…
“The Eyes of a New York Woman” was B.J. Thomas’ first solo hit, and it’s today’s classic song of the day. Released in June of 1968, this single charted as high as #28 on the Billboard Hot 100. Chips Moman produced this track, which was penned by songwriter Mark James. James was also responsible for writing “Hooked on a Feeling”…
Disco was all the rage back in the late ’70s. You couldn’t walk into a bar or turn on the radio without hearing that incessant four-on-the-floor disco beat. It was even more in-your-face at the various dance clubs of the day, which I tried to avoid like the proverbial plague. Because disco was so big, all sorts of artists tried…
“Bobby’s Girl” is today’s classic song of the day—and it was a hit for one singer here in the U.S. and other in the UK and Europe. The song “Bobby’s Girl” was written by the team of Gary Klein and Henry Hoffman. The guys enlisted Marcie Blane, then a senior in high school (and captain of the cheerleading squad), to…
“Walk on the Wild Side,” today’s classic song of the day, was more than a little bit controversial in its day. Probably still is today, for that matter. Lou Reed wrote “Walk on the Wild Side” about various individuals he knew in the New York City underground scene, specifically a handful of regulars at Andy Warhol’s studio, the Factory. The…
Music journalist Robert Christgau has called today’s classic song of the day “the most beautiful song in the English language.” The Who’s Pete Townshend called it “divine” and “a masterpiece.” The song is “Waterloo Sunset,” and it’s every bit as good as these folks say. “Waterloo Sunset” was written and produced by the Kinks’ Ray Davies and released as a…
Back in the early ’70s there were quite a few spiritually driven tunes on the pop charts. We’re talking so-called Jesus Rock songs like “Day By Day,” “Are You Ready?,” “Spirit in the Sky,” “My Sweet Lord,” and today’s classic song of the day, “Put Your Hand in the Hand” by a group called Ocean. Released as a single in…
Here’s a classic song of the day that sounded different from anything else on the charts at the time, “A Little Bitty Tear” by Burl Ives. Released as a single in November of 1961, it rose all the way to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 on Billboard’s Country Singles chart, and #1 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. “A…
Today’s classic song of the day is an album cut from my favorite Elton John album, 1970’s Tumbleweed Connection. (Well, it was released as a single in Australia, Brazil, and New Zealand, but not in the U.S., the UK, or elsewhere.) The song is “Country Comfort” and it’s one of Elton’s best. “Country Comfort” was written, as all but one…
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…