Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Elvis Presley, ‘Burning Love’
It's one of Elvis' best-known songs, but "Burning Love" nearly wasn't recorded by The King.
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Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried”
Country music legend Merle Haggard recounts how he came to record the massive hit, "Mama Tried."
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Jennifer Warnes’ “Right Time Of The Night”
“Right Time of the Night,” released in 1976, was all about firsts—and it was no easy gig for producer Jim Ed Norman.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Doors’ “Riders on the Storm”
“When we first recorded ‘Riders on the Storm,’ it was a nice, light song—but when we got into mixing it is when it all...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Fireballs’ “Sugar Shack”
In August 1958, George Tomsco was facing a dilemma that many high school graduates face: what should he do with the rest of his...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Arlo Guthrie’s “City of New Orleans”
Sometimes, a so-called "career record" can affect more than one career.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: k.d. lang’s “Constant Craving”
Nashville still had the door closed for us in country, so we figured, ‘What the hell, we’ll do exactly what we want,’ says producer...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Waylon Jennings’ “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way”
“Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way,” is on Waylon Jennings’ Dreaming My Dreams, the only record he made with legendary engineer/producer Cowboy...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Do You Believe in Magic”
Fortunately, nice guys don't always finish last. Sometimes they reach the top of the hill and stay there for quite some time.
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Classic Tracks: Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler”
Kenny Rogers' recording of the Don Schlitz-penned song The Gambler turned a simple record into an entire industry.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Runaways’ “Cherry Bomb”
Kim Fowley and the Runaways recorded “Cherry Bomb” in a store room on purpose—or so he said.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Big Brother & The Holding Company’s “Piece of My Heart”
Janis Joplin got her start in folk music, surprisingly enough.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: John Fogerty’s “Centerfield”
John Fogerty’s “Centerfield” is the only song formally “inducted” into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.—it plays there ’round the clock.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Mudhoney “Touch Me I’m Sick”
Jack Endino jumpstarted his producing career with EPs for Soundgarden, Green River and Mudhoney, and its debut single, “Touch Me I’m Sick."
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Watching the Wheels”
John Lennon's top-10 hit, “Watching the Wheels,” was among producer Jack Douglas' favorite songs on 'Double Fantasy.'
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Ray Parker Jr.’s “Ghostbusters”
You know the movie and you know the classic track, but do you know how the song really came to be?
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle”
Posthumously released, Jim Croce's “Time in a Bottle” reached the top slot on the pop charts in December 1973.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London”
When Warren Zevon emerged in the midst of L.A.'s vibrant singer/songwriter scene in the mid-'70s, he was like a breath of...well, strange air.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: R.E.M.’s “So. Central Rain”
Mix takes a deep dive into the recording of R.E.M.'s 'So. Central Rain' with producer Mitch Easter.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Traffic’s “Dear Mr. Fantasy”
Although Steve Winwood was just shy of 19 when he formed the group Traffic in the spring of 1967, he was already a veteran...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Grateful Dead’s “Touch of Grey”
In the summer of 1987, the Grateful Dead made it into the Top 10 with the only hit single of their 30-year career: “Touch...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Joe Walsh’s “Life’s Been Good”
Producer/engineer Bill Szymczyk talks about the recording of Joe Walsh’s 1978 hit, “Life’s Been Good”
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Brownsville Station’s “Smokin’ in the Boys Room”
When it came out in late 1973, "Smokin' in the Boys Room" immediately became the rallying anthem for many high school students.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Traveling Wilburys’ “Handle With Care”
The Traveling Wilburys were perhaps popular music's most unusual George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison wrote all the material
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away”
Take a deep dive into the recording of the Dobie Gray classic, oft-covered 1973 hit “Drift Away.”
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Average White Band’s “Pick Up the Pieces”
There was something audacious about it: a group from Scotland calling itself The Average White Band. If the funk don't fly, then the honky...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Supertramp’s “The Logical Song”
"When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful..." That's the memorable opening to "The Logical Song" by Supertramp.
2014
Classic Tracks: Midnight Oil’s “Beds Are Burning”
Midnight Oil's “Beds Are Burning” was powerful on every level: musically, politically, sonically, even visually.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today”
He Stopped Loving Her Today: It's the saddest song, and the most mournful voice, and the most histrionic production and the cruelest punchline in...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way”
“Walk This Way” likely would not have come to be if Aerosmith hadn’t gotten itchy in the studio and decided to go to the...
2013
Classic Tracks: Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers’ “Tomorrow People”
Two albums into his career, Ziggy Marley took a gamble on working with a producer team that had never made records for anyone other...
2013
Classic Track: Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Pride and Joy”
The story of the recording of this Classic Track begins far from Texas, in Switzerland at the Montreux Jazz Festival in July 1982.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild”
The road to becoming a rock 'n' roll icon is stranger for some than others. Take John Kay the voice and face of the...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Hall & Oates “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)”
"Remember the old Roland CompuRhythm box? I turned to the Rock and Roll 1 preset, sat down at a Korg organ that happened...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son”
Engineer Russ Gary talks about the recording of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son” in 1969.
2012
Classic Tracks: Eddie Money, “Two Tickets to Paradise”
Eddie Money burst onto the scene at an interesting time, with New Wave, Blue Collar Rock, Country Rock and more all in full-flower. Money...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Cheap Trick’s “Surrender”
Formed in 1974 by four musicians from Rockford, Ill., Cheap Trick possessed experience, musical chops and most of all, songs.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Booker T. & The MG’s’ “Time Is Tight”
A simple, four-chord tune laid to tape with no overdubs, "Time Is TIght" is a consummate work of soul minimalism.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Chubby Checker’s “The Twist”
There have been dance fads as long as people have danced to novelty records -- but few have had the enduring appeal of Chubby...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: B.B. King’s “The Thrill Is Gone”
It was the last track of the last session of the album...and it was the perfect way to end it.
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Classic Tracks: Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say”
Ray Charles' best-known hit was first improvised on-stage to fill time at the end of a gig...and became legendary.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On”
"Let's Get It On" embraces love and lust, the spiritual and the carnal fused together in an uplifting union. Recording it was not as...