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A Change Is Gonna Come: How Gospel Gave Birth To Soul
Two hundred thousand fans came to pay their respects to Sam Cooke at a memorial service in Chicago after his death, shot at the age of 33 by a frightened night manager in a cheap motel after an...
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‘Dear Prudence’: The Story Behind The Beatles’ Song
Over the end of the Esher demo of “Dear Prudence,” John Lennon can be heard explaining the origin of the song: “No one was to know that sooner or later she was to go completely berserk under the care...
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‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’: The Story Behind The Beatles’ Song
Of all the songs on The White Album, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” underwent some of the most radical changes over the course of recording. Left unheard until its 1996 release on Anthology 3, the...
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Freddie Mercury Singles: 13 Songs That Defined The Singer’s Solo Career
With his restless creative spirit, Freddie Mercury continually sought new avenues of expression. He conquered the world with Queen, penning timeless rock anthems that continue to find new audiences...
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‘Helter Skelter’: The Story Behind The Beatles Classic
Preparing to record “Blackbird” at Abbey Road Studio Two one evening, Paul McCartney warmed up with an early version of “Helter Skelter.” A light yet funky acoustic piece with a falsetto vocal, this...
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‘Glass Onion’: The Story Behind The Song
As the 60s progressed, pop music became more sophisticated. One result of this was that song lyrics began to be viewed by some fans as secret messages, clues to some deeper meaning for them to decipher...
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‘Yer Blues’: The Story Behind The Song
“While we were recording The White Album, we ended up being more of a band again,” Ringo Starr would reflect, “and that’s what I always love. I love being in a band.” Increasingly over the previous few...
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We Shall Overcome: The Power Of Protest Songs
“I thought that if you had an acoustic guitar, it meant that you were a protest singer,” sang Morrissey on The Smiths’ song “Shakespeare’s Sister.” Back in 1985, that might not have been an unusual...
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‘Abbey Road’ Cover Versions: The Beatles’ Classic Album Reimagined
The last album recorded by The Beatles featured several of their most loved – and most covered – songs. “Something”, “Come Together” and “Here Comes The Sun”, for example, have been recorded by...
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Idol Playthings: How Teen Idols Shaped The Pop World
Before Disney created a factory-line assembly of teen idols to take over the world and Justin Bieber redefined global pop stardom with his army of Beliebers, the practice of promoting attractive,...
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‘Something’: How George Harrison’s Songwriting Came Into Its Own
While promoting the new Beatles album, Abbey Road, in 1969, John Lennon described George Harrison’s “Something” as “about the best track on the album” – high praise, indeed. Released as a single in...
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Best 90s Country Songs: 51 Essentials For Your Playlist
The 90s were a wild time for country music, with artists pursuing a variety of pathways to stardom. You had the pop sensations like Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, and Shania Twain crossing over to huge...
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‘Come Together’: The Story Behind The Beatles’ ‘Abbey Road’ Song
The John Lennon-penned “Come Together” may have been a memorable opener for Abbey Road, but it was actually one of the last songs The Beatles would begin working on. Unlike the majority of the songs on...
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‘Long, Long, Long’: The Story Behind The Song
Side Three of “The White Album” includes some of the heaviest songs in The Beatles’ catalog. But the disc closes with one of their more tranquil moments, as George Harrison’s spiritual “Long, Long,...
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Chairman Of The Boards: How Producers Shaped Our Sounds
The story of the recording studio can roughly be divided into two time periods: before and after the 60s. As to exactly where the year dot is, opinion is divided. But during a few phenomenally eventful...
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The Best Of The Brill Building: 30 Timeless Pop Gems
The Brill Building, at 1619 Broadway in New York City, gave its name to a style of pop music that was both innocent and sophisticated. Along with its less-glamorous neighbor at 1650 Broadway, this...
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Every Cover Version The Beatles Recorded And Released
Between 1963 and 1970, The Beatles’ catalogue included 25 cover versions – the vast majority included on their albums or EPs up to 1965. But over the last 30 years, many more have come to light. Below...
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The Best Funk Albums Ever: 40 Classic Records
The best funk albums ever made have one thing in common: They make you want to get down. Over the years, plenty of artists have excelled in the genre: James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic, Rick James....
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Muscle Shoals Studio: A History Of The Soul Of America
The sleepy town of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, would become the unlikely destination for America’s greatest recording artists, churning out classic hits like Percy Sledge’s “When A Man Loves a Woman”; “I...
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‘Jealous Guy’: Behind John Lennon’s Unflinchingly Honest Love Song
One of John Lennon’s best-known and most-loved songs, “Jealous Guy” first saw the light of day on his 1971 Imagine album, before Roxy Music had a No.1 hit with their version, released in February 1981...
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