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 track
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: 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...
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...
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....
2016
Classic Tracks: The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “An American Dream”
The story behind “An American Dream," which put the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band back on pop radio after 10 years, was nothing less than...
2016
Classic Tracks: Eric Carmen’s “All By Myself”
The completed track was seven and a half minutes long, with a piano interlude that changed keys four times...how to cut it for radio?
2016
Classic Tracks: REO Speedwagon’s “Roll With the Changes”
“Roll With the Changes” continues to be an REO Speedwagon fan favorite and a Midwestern mainstay—here's how it came into existence.
2016
Classic Tracks: Elton John’s “Honky Cat”
“Honky Cat” proved that John’s decision to record with his live band—bassist Dee Murray, drummer Nigel Olsson and guitarist Davey Johnstone—was a good one.
2015
Classic Tracks: Herb Alpert’s “Rise”
This is the story of a song that grew from the notion of Herb Alpert cutting his own disco record, but ended up being...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Christopher Cross’s “Ride Like the Wind”
“Ride Like the Wind,” and Christopher Cross’s Grammy history-making debut album, might not have happened if Cross hadn’t discovered in time that Michael Omartian...
2015
Classic Tracks: The Zombies’ “She’s Not There”
If one of the defining characteristics of a Classic Track is its immediate recognition, then The Zombies’ “She’s Not There” is as classic as...
2014
Classic Track: “You’re No Good,” Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt, producer Peter Asher, engineer Val Garay, session player Paul Stallworth and more recall the rollercoaster process of recording her trademark hit.
2013
Classic Tracks: Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl”
Whether you label it power-pop, rock or AOR, Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl" is a classic mix of a memorable hook, taut storytelling and producer...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: George Harrison’s “Got My Mind Set on You”
The last solo single by a Beatle to top the charts, George Harrison's "Got My Mind Set On You" was an anomaly in that...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Bonnie Raitt’s “Thing Called Love”
The late, great engineer Ed Cherney discusses the recording of Bonnie Raitt’s rambunctious, John Hiatt-penned commercial breakthrough, “Thing Called Love.”
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Talking Heads’ “Road to Nowhere”
Written in the same creative cycle as songs for 'True Stories,' "Road To Nowhere" marked a return to Americana for the group
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Blue Oyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”
Blue Oyster Cult talks about recording "(Don't Fear) The Reaper," keeping the vibe of the original demo...and that SNL "More Cowbell" skit.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Lou Reed’s “Walk on the Wild Side”
Engineer Ken Scott talks in detail about the recording of Lou Reed’s 1973 hit “Walk on the Wild Side”
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Classics IV’s “Traces”
Cover-band mates cum pop stars: As old as rock itself, this dream, born from endless hours spent woodshedding hits of the day, can come...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Elvis Costello & The Attractions’ “Pump It Up”
Conceived during a night of "assisted insomnia," Elvis Costello's "Pump It Up" has become a signature song for the artist, with its erudite wordplay...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Romantics’ “What I Like About You”
Sometimes the rock 'n' roll myth of using music to get out of a dead-end life actually comes to pass—much as it did for...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Pat Benatar’s “Love Is a Battlefield”
It's fortunate that most creative people are extremely confident in their visions and fight for their beliefs. Many hits would not see the light...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: David Crosby’s “Laughing”
At the dawn of the 1970s, David Crosby was on top of the rock world, as 'If I Could Only Remember My Name' and...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight”
The story behind Phil Collins' classic "In The Air Tonight" and arguably the most famous drum fill of all-time.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Paul McCartney’s “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey”
Only an artist with the confidence and musical genius of Paul McCartney could write a song with 12 sections and make it a hit.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Bruce Springsteen’s “The River”
Take a deep dive into The River, and how 16 months of sessions resulted in Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band's classic.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer”
While it started as a songwriting exercise inspired by Alice Cooper, "Psycho Killer" became the New Wave standard-bearers' calling card.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game”
Between that brooding, melancholy, impossibly romantic voice and languorous guitar, how could "Wicked Game" not become a hit?
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love”
Tom Dowd recalls recording "Sunshine Of Your Love" as an exercise in "protecting" Ginger Baker's drums from Eric Clapton's Marshall stacks.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Bob Seger’s “Night Moves”
'Night Moves' was a good move for Bob Seger—both the Number One single and the title track of his album released in 1976.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration”
When's the last time you heard Kool & The Gang's triumphal, anthemic, R&B smash "Celebration"? At your cousin's wedding last summer?
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Clash’s “London Calling”
For the mix of the track "London Calling," Strummer described an image of the London fog swirling off the river Thames...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive”
Written while on vacation in Bermuda and recorded on a terrible console, the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" became a disco classic.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: T. Rex’s “Bang a Gong (Get It On)”
Though many American rock fans are familiar with T. Rex's "Bang A Gong (Get It On)," which made it to Number Ten in the...
Close