Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Classic rock, pop, and soul songs from the '60s, '70s, and '80s
Jimmy Webb is one of the premier songwriters of the 20th century. Even his lesser-known tunes get covered by a multitude of artists, because they’re so darned good. Today’s classic song of the day is a case in point. The song is “Do What You Gotta Do” and it was a minor hit for a few different artists, as well…
From the collective pens of the legendary Motown songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland comes today’s classic song of the day, “Something About You.” This 1965 single by the Four Tops went to #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on Billboard’s R&B chart. Holland-Dozier-Holland, also known as H-D-H, was Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Brian’s brother Eddie Holland. They were…
Here’s another Motown classic from Levi Stubbs and the Four Tops. Today’s classic song of the day is “Shake Me, Wake Me (When It’s Over); it was released in February of 1966 and went to #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on Billboard’s R&B chart. Like many of the Four Tops’ songs, “Shake Me, Wake Me (When It’s…
This week we’re looking at songs that were hits for two or more different artists. Our first dual-artist classic song of the day is “Baby I Need Your Loving,” a huge hit for both the Four Tops and Johnny Rivers. “Baby I Need Your Loving” was written and produced by the Motown team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie…
Today’s classic song of the day is a post-Motown hit by the Four Tops. The song is “When She Was My Girl” and it was released on the Casablanca Records label in August of 1981. It marked a welcome return to the charts for the former Motown legends, peaking at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, #10 on the Cash…
Today’s classic song of the day sounds a lot like a previous classic song of the day, and it’s on purpose. Today’s song is “It’s the Same Old Song” by the Four Tops, and it was deliberately patterned on their previous hit, “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch).” Here’s one version of the story. The Tops had just…
Today’s classic song of the day is a Motown classic, “Reach Out I’ll Be There” by the Four Tops. Released during the fall of 1966, this one shot all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart, and the Cash Box Top 100. It was also a #1 hit in Spain…
Today’s classic song of the day is by a legendary Motown group after they left the Motown label. The song is “Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got)” and the group is the Four Tops. This single was released on the ABC/Dunhill label in in January of 1973. It proved that the Tops could be successful without Berry Gordy,…
Today’s classic Motown song of the day is “Bernadette” by the Four Tops. It was released in February of 1967 and peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart. “Bernadette” was a ground-breaking tune, especially for bass players. Motown legend James Jamerson played bass and showed all the other players out there…