Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
“Don’t Worry Baby” is one of the Beach Boys’ best pre-Pet Sounds tracks, and it’s today’s classic song of the day. Released as a single in May of 1964, this melodic masterpiece made it all the way to #24 on the Billboard Hot 100. Brian Wilson wrote “Don’t Worry Baby” in reaction to the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby,” which Brian…
Sixty-two years ago today, on November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was driving in a motorcade through Dallas, Texas. As the motorcade drove through Dealey Plaza, three shots rang out from a window in the nearby Texas School Book Depository. Kennedy was hit twice, one bullet striking and passing through his neck and the second striking and passing through…
Today’s classic song of the day is one of the best Beach Boys tunes you’ve probably never heard. The song is “Please Let Me Wonder” and it easily ranks among Brian Wilson’s top ten, maybe even top five, tunes for the group. “Please Let Me Wonder” was written by Brian Wilson with Mike Love contributing lyrics. It was included on…
This week we’re celebrating summer with a bevy of summer-themed songs. When you think of summer, you think of cool cars on the strip, hot girls on the beach, surfing, and California—and there’s no band that more represents the California surf and cars scene than the Beach Boys. Jan and Dean, however, are a close second. Not surprisingly, Jan Berry…
We’re in the middle of June, which puts us smack dab in the middle of summer here in North America. With that in mind, we’re going to do a full week of summer-themed songs here at the Classic Song of the Day blog, and our first classic summer song of the day this week is from a group that you…
Still honoring the late Brian Wilson, today’s classic song of the day is the Beach Boys’ “Heroes and Villains,” which may be Brian’s most complex and sophisticated tune—even more so than the group’s previous release, “Good Vibrations.” Brian Wilson wrote “Heroes and Villains” in collaboration with lyricist Van Dyke Parks, who wrote the words for most of the songs intended…
In honor of the late Brian Wilson, who passed away earlier this week, today’s classic song of the day is one of his most sophisticated works, “Good Vibrations.” Released as a single by the Beach Boys in October of 1966, this groundbreaking track went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and all around the world—it was a number-one hit…
This one truly saddens me. Brian Wilson has passed away. He was 82 years old. He’d been suffering for some months from dementia, although no cause of death was immediately given. Brian Wilson was a true musical genius. He was the driving force behind the Beach Boys, yes, but that often lightweight group was the vehicle for his sophisticated musical…
Today’s classic song of the day is the beautiful “Caroline No,” originally released as a single by Brian Wilson but credited to the Beach Boys on their legendary Pet Sounds album. The single version, released in March of 1966, peaked at #32 on the Billboard Hot 100 (a disappointment compared with previous Beach Boy hits); on Pet Sounds, “Caroline No”…