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.
Classic Tracks
Classic-Tracks
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.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Doors’ “Riders on the Storm”
“When we first recorded ‘Riders on the Storm,’ it was a nice, light song—but when we got into mixing it is when it all...
Classic-Tracks
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.
Classic-Tracks
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...
Classic-Tracks
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.”
Classic-Tracks
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.'
Classic-Tracks
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.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Martina McBride’s “Independence Day”
How Martina McBride recorded her passionate, powerful, CMA-winning anthem.
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...
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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.
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
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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: 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.