Classic-Tracks
The Origins of Carl Perkins’ Iconic Rock ‘n’ Roll Anthem
A Classic Among Classics: “Blue Suede Shoes”
Classic-Tracks
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 and ‘The New World’
Observations From Early ‘80s Sound Eerily Relevant Today
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)’
Whitney Houston’s First Platinum Single, Produced by Narada Michael Walden
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: ‘Let the Mystery Be’
Musing on life and the afterlife, Iris Dement arrives
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: ‘I Go Crazy’
Paul Davis’ Unexpected Hit Turns Into One for the Record Books
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: “We Are the World”
Unity, Passion and Commitment Reveal the Power of Music
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks Go Immersive
Elton John and Prince Get the Dolby Atmos Music Treatment
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Smithereens’ “Behind the Wall of Sleep”
The Smithereens Get Bumped to Record Plant Studio C and Make a Classic
Classic-Tracks
“Car Wheels on a Gravel Road”
Lucinda Williams’ Breakthrough, Grammy-Winning Masterpiece
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: “Tainted Love”
Soft Cell’s Synth-Pop Dance Hit and the Emergence of Sampled Sounds
2019
Classic Tracks: “Total Eclipse of the Heart”
Behind the Scenes of Bonnie Tyler’s Classic Earworm
2019
Classic Tracks: ‘Ships in the Night’ by Be-Bop Deluxe
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 Track: Blondie, “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”
By Matt Hurwitz. Carl Reiner was pulling together a television special called "Wonderful World of Pizazz," which celebrated the hippie styling of the day,...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Track: Semisonic ‘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: “I’ll Be You,” The Replacements
“I’ll Be You,” became The Replacements’ biggest hit.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: “Guitar Town” by Steve Earle
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 Track: ‘Master of Puppets,’ Metallica
By Sarah Jones. "Master of Puppets," Metallica’s third album, was released in March 1986 as the band’s major-label debut. Five years into their careers,...
2017
Classic Tracks: A Tribe Called Quest, “Can I Kick It?”
You know it the moment it starts: that unmistakable bassline, Lou Reed’s“Walk on the Wild Side” recast as the slinky pulse of a head-bobbing...
2017
Classic Tracks: The Dead Milkmen, “Punk Rock Girl”
The story behind this month’s Classic Track, “Punk Rock Girl,” is a tale of two musical cities: Locales in the Dead Milkmen’s hometown of...
2017
Classic Tracks: Katrina & The Waves, “Walking On Sunshine”
A song is in select company when listeners know it from the drum intro. Hits such as “Superstition,” “Get Off of My Cloud” and...
2017
Classic Tracks: Cheap Trick 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...
2017
Classic Tracks: Dolly Parton, “Here You Come Again”
Armin Steiner can’t say enough good things about Dolly Parton.He had never worked with her before she came to L.A. to record this month’s...
2017
Classic Tracks: Camper Van Beethoven “Pictures of Matchstick Men”
Camper Van Beethoven formed in the founding members’ hometown of Redlands, Calif., but it was in their college days, at the University of California...
2017
Classic Tracks: Aerosmith “Walk This Way”
It’s a good thing Aerosmith needed a break one day while recording a track at Record Plant New York for their most successful album,...
2017
Classic Tracks: Mr. Mister’s “Kyrie”
A quintessential representation of its time is Mr. Mister’s synthesizer- propelled “Kyrie” which hit Number One on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in March of...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Jennifer Warnes’ “Right Time Of The Night”
“Right Time of the Night,” released in 1976, was all about firsts. It was the first hit by songwriter Peter McCann. It was artist...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: “How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)”
Recording JT's version of the Motown hit
2016
Classic Track: “Best of My Love,” The Emotions
If The Emotions’ hit single “Best of My Love” sounds like a female version of Earth, Wind & Fire, that’s because it almost is....
2016
Classic Track: “An American Dream,” The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Four studios from all around the country, an initial duet refusal, and the ultimate singing partner were all part of the “An American Dream”...
2016
Classic Tracks: “All By Myself,” Eric Carmen
In late 1974, Raspberries were still in full gear as one of power pop’s biggest bands. But the Cleveland-based group’s front man, Eric Carmen,...