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.
Classic-Tracks
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...
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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: Joni Mitchell’s “Free Man in Paris”
1974 found Joni Mitchell in complete control of her music and sound
2019
Classic Tracks: Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart”
Was Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” really an example of 1980s audio excess? Here's how the #1 hit was built.
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Classic Tracks: Love’s “My Little Red Book”
A look back at the first charting single from Love.
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Classic Tracks: Bush’s “Glycerine”
Frontman Gavin Rossdale and the production team of Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley weigh in on the creation of a grunge-era classic.
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...
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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...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: David Bowie’s “Five Years,” “Soul Love” & “Moonage Daydream”
The Ziggy Stardust album kicked off with a bang while also cementing David Bowie's career thanks to its tryptich of classic tracks.
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Classic Tracks: Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold”
By the time Neil Young rolled into Nashville to begin recording his Harvest album, he had already enjoyed several different careers as a musician.
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Classic Tracks: Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want To Have Fun”
Cyndi Lauper didn't want to record "Girls Just Want To Have Fun," but producer Rick Chertoff was sure it was a hit.
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Classic Tracks: Del Shannon’s “Runaway”
A look at the writing and recording of Del Shannon’s Number One hit from 1961, “Runaway”
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Culture Club’s “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me”
The third time was the charm when Culture Club hit the studio with producer Steve Levine in the summer of 1982; the result was...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.”
While it wasn't a hit when first released, Randy Newman's sardonic "I Love L.A." has become an unofficial theme song for the City of...
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Classic Tracks: Weird Al Yankovic’s “Eat It”
If Michael Jackson's "Beat It" is a classic, it stands to reason that Weird Al's parody, "Eat It" is one too—though it is entirely...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Joni Mitchell’s “Help Me”
Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark is exceptional among her greatest records as it has her one Top-10 pop hit, “Help Me.”
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: War’s “Low Rider”
War’s “Low Rider” is a song about a car—one of the coolest, most groove-y, sultry car songs ever, in fact.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Frank Zappa’s “Dancin’ Fool”
You can thank Disco for bringing Frank Zappa to the singles chart in the late 1970s with his first hit, “Dancin’ Fool.”
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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.'
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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.
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Classic Tracks: Martina McBride’s “Independence Day”
How Martina McBride recorded her passionate, powerful, CMA-winning anthem.
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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...
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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."
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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.
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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.
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Classic Tracks: Carl Perkins’ “Blue Suede Shoes”
A Classic Among Classics: “Blue Suede Shoes”
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Classic Tracks: X’s “More Fun In The New World”
Observations From Early ‘80s Sound Eerily Relevant Today
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Classic Tracks: Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)”
Whitney Houston’s First Platinum Single, Produced by Narada Michael Walden
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Classic Tracks: Stan Ridgway’s “Goin’ Southbound”
Stan Ridgway’s Noir-Style, Lo-Fi, High-End Sound
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Classic Tracks: Iris DeMent’s “Let the Mystery Be”
Musing on life and the afterlife, Iris Dement arrives
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Classic Tracks: Paul Davis’ “I Go Crazy”
Paul Davis’ Unexpected Hit Turns Into One for the Record Books
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Classic Tracks: The Tubes’ “White Punks On Dope”
The Tubes’ Anthemic, Zany, Crowd Favorite
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Classic Tracks: USA For Africa’s “We Are the World”
Unity, Passion and Commitment Reveal the Power of Music
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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.