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
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: 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
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...
2017
Classic Tracks: Dolly Parton’s “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’s “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: Mr. Mister’s “Kyrie”
The band decided to create "Kyrie" part by part, yet endeavor to make it sound live, keeping that objective throughout the entire process.
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...
2016
Classic Tracks: Rockpile’s “Teacher Teacher”
Rockpile—Nick Lowe (lead vocals, bass), Dave Edmunds (lead vocals, guitar), Billy Bremner (backing vocals, guitar), and Terry Williams (drums)—had a classic track on their...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: James Taylor’s “How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)”
Recording JT's version of the Motown hit
2016
Classic Tracks: The Emotions’ “Best of My Love”
If The Emotions’ hit single “Best of My Love” sounds like a female version of Earth, Wind & Fire, that’s because it almost is....