Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from yesterday and today
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from yesterday and today
As we continue to focus on favorite songs from the mid-70s, today’s classic song of the day is Joni Mitchell’s “Coyote.” This was the lead track from her 1976 album Hejira; it was released as a single in February of 1977 and, while it didn’t chart in the U.S., did reach #79 on Canada’s RPM Top Singles chart. “Coyote” was…
Revisiting some of my favorite tunes from the mid-70s, today’s classic songs of the day are both from George Benson’s genre-bending Breezin’ album: “This Masquerade” and the album’s title track, “Breezin’.” Both songs blended jazz and pop in a way that was unique for the time but led to the establishment of what some now call smooth jazz. George Benson…
Today’s classic mid-70s song of the day is “I Wish” by Stevie Wonder. It was the lead single from his triumphant Songs in the Key of Life album, released in November of 1976, my first semester at Indiana University. This track hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Cash Box Top 100, and Billboard Soul Singles charts. It also won…
Today’s mid-70s classic rock song of the day is “Night Moves” by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band. Released in November of 1976, it rose to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 early the next year. Rolling Stone magazine named it Best Single of the Year for 1977. “Night Moves” is a coming of age song, filled with nostalgia…
This week we’re looking at some of my favorite classic rock tracks from the mid-70s, starting with today’s classic song of the day, Bruce Springsteen’s immortal “Born to Run.” This song was the lead track on side two of 1975’s Born to Run album; released as a single in August of 1975, it rose to #23 on the Billboard Hot…
Yesterday’s classic power pop song of the day was “My Best Friend’s Girl” and today’s song is strongly inspired by that and other songs by the Cars. Today’s song is “Stacy’s Mom” by Fountains of Wayne and it sounds like a Cars song had the Cars still been recording songs in the early 2000s, except maybe a little catchier. “Stacy’s…
We’re on a bit of a power pop kick this week, so today’s classic song of the day is that power pop/New Wave classic, “My Best Friend’s Girl” by the Cars. Released in October of 1978, this pre-MTV wonder only hit #35 on the Billboard Hot 100 (although it did go all the way to #3 in the UK), even…
Today’s classic song of the day is “September Gurls” by Big Star. It’s a near-perfect piece of power pop, influential beyond its limited recognition at the time. Big Star’s Alex Chilton (former lead singer of the Box Tops) wrote “September Gurls” and the group released it on their second album, 1974’s Radio City. It was also released as a single…
Today’s classic song about teenage lust of the day is “Go All the Way” by Raspberries. Released in July of 1972, this was the group’s biggest hit, peaking at #5 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100. “Go All the Way” was written by Raspberries’ front man Eric Carmen. It’s a perfect piece of power pop,…
Today’s classic song of the day is “Cruel to Be Kind” by Nick Lowe. Released in August of 1979, it peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, the Cash Box Top 100, and the UK Singles chart. This made it the best-performing U.S. single of Lowe’s long and illustrious career. Lowe wrote this one way back when he was…
I love picking out little-known tracks from the 1960s and 1970s and giving them a little wider exposure. That leads us to your totally forgotten classic soul song of the day, “I Wouldn’t Change a Thing About You” by Johnny Wyatt. Released in August of 1963 on Challenge Records, this track was the B-side of a single; a tune called…
Today’s classic song of the day takes us “Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa,” courtesy of Gene Pitney. This song was released in October of 1963 and peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa” was written by the legendary team of Burt Bacharach (music) and Hal David (words). It was the seventh top twenty hit…