Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: John Cougar Mellencamp’s “Cherry Bomb”
John Cougar Mellencamp’s 1987 hit came from the classic album that reinvented his sound, 'The Lonesome Jubilee.'
Classic-Tracks
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Gary Wright’s “Dream Weaver”
In April 2009, at a party inside Capitol Studios in Hollywood honoring his late friend George Harrison, Gary Wright found himself chatting at a...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville”
Few songs have defined an artist, an era and an attitude quite like Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville," released in January 1977.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Band’s “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”
Decades later, it's difficult to put into words just how bold and fresh and affecting those opening lines were in 1969.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Martina McBride’s “Independence Day”
How Martina McBride recorded her passionate, powerful, CMA-winning anthem.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Duran Duran’s “Hungry Like The Wolf”
Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes and legendary producer David Kershenbaum share how they hot-rodded "Hungry Like The Wolf"—and half the 'Rio' album—to appeal to American...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Al Stewart, “Year of the Cat”
Folk singer Al Stewart reinvented his sound when he met producer Alan Parsons, resulting in the classic "Year of the Cat."
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Steve Earle’s “This City”
Steve Earle’s ode to the city of New Orleans had a surprising start, as engineer Jason Wormer shares.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues”
“You know, Eddie, there’s never been a blues song written about the summertime. Let’s write a song called ‘Summertime Blues.’"
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Who’s “Baba O’Riley”
Legendary producer Glyn Johns shares how The Who’s “Baba O’Riley" came together and became a classic rock staple.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Carl Perkins’ “Blue Suede Shoes”
A Classic Among Classics: “Blue Suede Shoes”
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Oingo Boingo’s “Just Another Day”
“Just Another Day” Turns Out to be More Timeless Than One Might Have Imagined in 1985
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: X’s “More Fun In The New World”
Observations From Early ‘80s Sound Eerily Relevant Today
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)”
Whitney Houston’s First Platinum Single, Produced by Narada Michael Walden
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Stan Ridgway’s “Goin’ Southbound”
Stan Ridgway’s Noir-Style, Lo-Fi, High-End Sound
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Iris DeMent’s “Let the Mystery Be”
Musing on life and the afterlife, Iris Dement arrives
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Paul Davis’ “I Go Crazy”
Paul Davis’ Unexpected Hit Turns Into One for the Record Books
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Tubes’ “White Punks On Dope”
The Tubes’ Anthemic, Zany, Crowd Favorite
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: USA For Africa’s “We Are the World”
Unity, Passion and Commitment Reveal the Power of Music
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Leo Sayer’s “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing”
Leo Sayer’s Number 1 Hit, With a Fresh Groove and Memorable Hook
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Smithereens’ “Behind the Wall of Sleep”
Pat DiNizio reworked the title of an H.P. Lovecraft short story, “Beyond the Wall of Sleep,” and the rest is rock history.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Lucinda Williams’ “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road”
Lucinda Williams’ Breakthrough, Grammy-Winning Masterpiece
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love”
Soft Cell’s Synth-Pop Dance Hit and the Emergence of Sampled Sounds
2019
Classic Tracks: Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart”
Behind the Scenes of Bonnie Tyler’s Classic Earworm
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Prince and the Revolution’s “Let’s Go Crazy”
Trying to Tone Down Prince’s Live-in-the-Studio Track
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4”
Chicago’s Horn, Vocal, Guitar-Riff Masterpiece
2019
Classic Tracks: Todd Rundgren’s “Hello It’s Me”
Live in the Studio, With Arrangements on the Spot
2019
Classic Tracks: Be-Bop Deluxe’s “Ships in the Night”
By 1975, British rockers Be-Bop Deluxe had recorded and released two albums on EMI’s Harvest label without much notice in the States. The first,...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Moody Blues’ “Nights in White Satin”
In 1966, pop music was changing drastically, and so were The Moody Blues.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Blondie’s “Denis”
Blondie included “Denis” on the album "Plastic Letters," the second LP the band made in Plaza Sound, New York City, with Richard Gottehrer and...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Track: The Cowsills’ “Hair”
Carl Reiner was pulling together a television special called "Wonderful World of Pizazz," which celebrated the hippie styling of the day, and wanted The...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Track: Semisonic’s “Closing Time”
If it had not been for producer Steve Lillywhite, Semisonic’s "Feeling Strangely Fine" and its hit single “Closing Time” would never have seen the...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Replacements’ “I’ll Be You”
“I’ll Be You,” became The Replacements’ biggest hit.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Steve Earle’s “Guitar Town”
In this month’s Classic Tracks we take a look at sessions for the entire album, which included not only the Top 10 title track,...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Supertramp’s “Give a Little Bit”
By Matt Hurwitz. Though he no longer recalls precisely where or when “Give a Little Bit” was written, Hodgson explains, “I’ve always known that...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Metallica’s “Master of Puppets”
"Master of Puppets," Metallica’s third album, was released in March 1986 as the band’s major-label debut. Five years into their careers, they were maturing...
2017
Classic Tracks: A Tribe Called Quest’s “Can I Kick It?”
Everyone’s favorite hip hop anthem was the third single released off A Tribe Called Quest’s debut album, People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, released on Jive...
2017
Classic Tracks: The Dead Milkmen’s “Punk Rock Girl”
“Punk Rock Girl,” is a tale of two musical cities—the Dead Milkmen’s hometown of Philadelphia and Austin, Texas, where producer Brian Beattie is based.
2017
Classic Tracks: Katrina & The Waves’ “Walking On Sunshine”
The now-classic 1980s take on a 60s soul stomper didn't find its groove (literally) until the drums were re-recorded and the track got a...
2017
Classic Tracks: Cheap Trick’s “At Budokan”
In August 1977, Cheap Trick had the lead review in Rolling Stone magazine—the same issue marking Elvis’s death—for their new album, In Color. Though a...