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: 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: 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”
The Smithereens Get Bumped to Record Plant Studio C and Make a Classic
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love”
Soft Cell’s Synth-Pop Dance Hit and the Emergence of Sampled Sounds
2019
Classic Tracks: Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart”
Behind the Scenes of Bonnie Tyler’s Classic Earworm
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 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: 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...
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: 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...
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.
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...
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...
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...
2012
Classic Tracks: INXS’s “Need You Tonight”
With "Need You Tonight," INXS wrote a hit, and had the help of an all-star production team with Chris Thomas and Bob Clearmountain to...
2012
Classic Tracks: Bill Withers, “Ain’t No Sunshine”
Bill Withers said that “Ain’t No Sunshine,” was inspired the toxic relationship of an alcoholic couple—an unlikely source for such a loving song, but...
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: The Doobie Brothers’ “What a Fool Believes”
No one was more surprised than Michael McDonald when the song he wrote for the Doobie Brothers, “What a Fool Believes,” earned Grammys for...
news
Classic Tracks: The MC5’s “Kick Out the Jams”
Discover how the MC5 recorded its ferocious debut single, "Kick Out The Jams," live and captured lightning in a bottle in the process.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up”
Engineer Chris Kimsey salvaged “Start Me Up" from the Some Girls sessions, and this time, everything clicked.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Staples’ “Respect Yourself”
“Respect Yourself” was released as a single in the fall of 1971, reaching #2 on the R&B charts and #12 on the pop charts.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Thomas Dolby’s “She Blinded Me With Science”
The creator of this month's quirky Classic Track was born Thomas Morgan Robertson on October 14, 1958, in Cairo, Egypt.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: John Coltrane’s “My Favorite Things”
Legendary producer Tom Dowd sheds light on the recording of John Coltrane's classic rendition of "My Favorite Things."
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: KC & The Sunshine Band’s “That’s the Way (I Like It)”
When George McCrae's smash hit "Rock Your Baby" hit Number One in mid-1974, few could have predicted that it would usher in the Age...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Genesis’ “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway”
It's not surprising that decades down the line many people don't realize that Peter Gabriel was once a driving member of Genesis.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The O’-Jay’s “For the Love of Money”
"For the Love of Money" made it to the Top 10 in the spring of 1974 (Number 9 pop, Number 3 R&B) and catapulted...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Dire Straits’ “Money for Nothing”
A stinging critique of the 1980s even as they happened, Dire Straits' "Money For Nothing" had a lengthy genesis, as related here by engineer...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid”
In the fall of 1970, Black Sabbath mounted an aural assault on the music world with the release of their second album, Paranoid. Creating...