Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
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…
Today’s classic feel good get-up-and-dance song of the day is “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing,” by Leo Sayer—which has an interesting connection to Steely Dan’s classic album, Aja. Mr. Sayer released “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing” in October of 1976. It was an instant radio hit, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, #1 in Canada, and #2…
Let’s stretch this rain thing out another day with today’s classic rain-themed song of the day, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” by Creedence Clearwater Revival. This track, released in January of 1971, peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the Cash Box Top 100. Many have interpreted “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” as a…
After yesterday’s “Laughing in the Rain,” by Neil Sedaka, today’s rain-themed classic song of the day is “Walking in the Rain.” This one was a hit twice for two different groups—the Ronettes and Jay and the Americans. “Walking in the Rain” was written by two of my favorite Brill Building songwriters, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil (with a third credit…
Your classic pop song of the day is “Laughter in the Rain” by Neil Sedaka. This beautiful little song was released in late 1974 and hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on February 1, 1975. It also hit #1 on the Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart, as well as the Cash Box Hot 100. Neil Sedaka has had two…
Today’s classic song of the day is the smash hit “Love Will Keep Us Together” by the Captain and Tennille. This one, released in April of 1975, went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the Billboard Easy Listening Chart, and both the Australian and Canadian charts. It was a massive hit, staying at #1 for four consecutive weeks, earning…
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…
In honor of his passing, today’s classic song of the day is 1970’s “If You Could Read My Mind” by Gordon Lightfoot. This is a wonderful and wonderfully moving tune, brutally honest in its raw emotion, the feeling of its lyrics amplified by its heart-wrenching melody and chord progression. It’s a remarkable piece of music from a remarkable musician. “If…
Today’s classic song of the day is “Different Drum” by the Stone Poneys. The song, released in 1967, went to #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the first big hit for the group’s young vocalist, Linda Ronstadt. “Different Drum” was written by soon-to-be Monkee Michael Nesmith way back in 1964. It was first recorded in 1965, in a…
Your final classic instrumental song of the day this week is “Stranger on the Shore” by Mr. Acker Bilk. Released late in 1961, it topped all the UK charts early the next year and, later in 1962, reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It was the UK’s biggest-selling single of 1962 and remains that country’s best-selling instrumental single…