分类: - Mooseville USA

Featured Artist: Joni Mitchell

9/3/2018

Born in Alberta, Canada on Nov. 7, 1943, Joni Mitchell is a nine-time Grammy winner, Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame inductee, artist, poet, singer, and songwriter.

If you haven't heard Joni Mitchell's music you've certainly heard a cover of one of her songs or know someone she has influenced. Prince, Nora Jones, Herbie Hancock, Sarah McLaughlin, Tori Amos, Kanye West, Taylor Swift, Madonna, Stevie Nicks, Tina Turner, k.d. Lang, Janet Jackson, and countless others have said Mitchell was a direct influence on their work.

What makes Joni so great, in our opinion, is her songs. She has a range of melodies from upbeat and rhythmic to relaxing and sensuous, but all of them have unique, thought-provoking lyrics that paint a picture in a way that it can only be described as pure poetry.

Though we could play a month of Joni, we've picked fourteen of our very favorites from this poetic goddess who’s been a great inspiration to us all here at Vinyl.

1. Big Yellow Taxi - from Ladies of the Canyon

Joni Mitchell wrote Big Yellow Taxi after her first trip to Hawaii. It was recorded and originally released from her 1970 album, Ladies of the Canyon. Though it was a hit in Canada, the song didn't gain popularity in the US until after Mitchell released a live version in 1974. The song's been covered by several artists, including the Counting Crows.

2. Raised On Robbery - from Court and Spark

Joni Mitchell had released a new album every year since 1968, but in 1973, she took some time off to work on Court and Spark (1974). Raised On Robbery was the album’s first single. Released in December 1973, it landed at No. 65 on Billboard Hot 100, and the album went on to become one of Mitchell’s greatest commercial successes.

3. Both Sides Now - from Clouds

Written by Joni Mitchell, Both Sides Now was originally recorded by Judy Collins. Released as a single in 1968, it won a Grammy. Joni released her own version in 1969 from the album, Clouds. The song was inspired by a passage in Saul Bellow's Henderson the Rain King (1959) and has been covered by dozens of artists.

4. You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio - from For the Roses

Released from the album For the Roses (1972), Joni Mitchell wrote You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio as a response to pressure Asylum Records was putting on her to write a hit song. She believed using radio-themed lyrics would entice stations to play the tune. With Graham Nash on harmonica, the single became Joni’s first Top 40 in the US.

5. Free Man In Paris - from Court and Spark

Free Man In Paris is from Joni Mitchell's 1974 album, Court and Spark. The song is about close friend David Geffen, during a trip the two took to Paris. It's one of Joni's most popular hits and has been covered by numerous artists. In the 1970s, an instrumental version was used as the theme for CBC's The Saturday Evening News.

6. All I Want - from Blue

All I Want is from our favorite Joni Mitchell album, Blue (1971). The album is one of the greatest of all time, and the songs were inspired by Joni's relationship with two men - Graham Nash and James Taylor. Blue and All I Want reference her relationship with Taylor and dealing with his heroin addiction. She really did knit him a sweater.

7. Night Ride Home - from Night Ride Home

Night Ride Home is from Joni Mitchell’s 1991 album, Night Ride Home. Though the album wasn’t commercially-successful, several songs received critical praise. Night Ride Home was originally titled “Fourth of July” and had been written about an evening in Hawaii. She first performed it in promotion of her 1988 album, Chalk Mark In a Rain Storm.

8. Help Me - from Court and Spark

Help Me is from Joni Mitchell’s 1974 album, Court and Spark. Commercially, it is her most successful song. Landing at No. 7 on Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Easy Listening charts, it is her only US top ten hit. Several artists have covered it, Prince references it in The Ballad of Dorothy Parker, and it’s been featured in South Park and Shameless.

9. Face Lift - from Taming the Tiger

Face Lift is from Joni Mitchell’s 1998 album, Taming the Tiger. Along with songs like Little Green and Chinese Café, Face Lift discusses the details of Joni getting pregnant and giving her daughter up for adoption in 1965, the main drive behind her songwriting. After the two reunited in 1997, Joni said she no longer felt the need to write.

10. Chelsea Morning - from Clouds

Joni Mitchell wrote Chelsea Morning while living in New York, before she had a record deal. It was included on her second album, Clouds (1969), because several artists had already covered it, including Judy Collins who had released a version a month before the release of Clouds. Fun Fact: Chelsea Clinton’s name was chosen because of Collins’ version.

11. A Case of You - from Blue

A Case of You is from Joni Mitchell’s 1971 album, Blue. Written around 1970, the song was inspired by her break up with Graham Nash. Mitchell plays the dulcimer, and James Taylor plays the guitar. It’s been covered over 300 times, but our favorite - hands down - is Prince’s version, which can be found on the 2007 album, A Tribute to Joni Mitchell.

12. Black Crow - from Hejira

Black Crow is from Joni Mitchell's 1976 album, Hejira. The album was inspired by a cross-country car trip she took from Maine to LA. The song, Black Crow, is about the difficulty Mitchell had when she left her second home in British Columbia's Sunshine Coast. Commercially, the album didn't perform well, but it's still one of our favorites here at Vinyl.

13. The Magdalene Laundries - from Turbulent Indigo

The Magdalene Laundries is from Joni Mitchell's album, Turbulent Indigo. For the cover, Joni took inspiration from V incent van Gogh and painted a self portrait. Released in 1994, the album won a Grammy and is her most-successful since the 1970s. The Magdalene Laundries is about the suffering of Irish woman in the Magdalene Asylum.

14. River - from Blue

Though never released as a single, River is one of Joni Mitchell's most popular songs. From the 1971 album Blue, River was inspired by Joni's breakup with Graham Nash. The piano solo borrows from Jingle Bells, and it's often been called a Christmas song. There are over 400 recordings, placing it second to Both Sides Now for most covers.

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Featured Artist: Queen

6/25/2018

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Kneel for Queen, one of the greatest bands of all time.

Formed in London in 1970, Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon came to international fame in 1974.

Pioneers of the music video and ultimate charity concert performances, Queen created some of the most memorable, universal, and best-selling songs the world has ever known.

Though we could show favor for this music royalty for a month of Sundays, we'll do our best to pay homage with 14 must-have Queen hits.

Flash was written by Brian May and recorded by Queen for the 1980 film, Flash Gordon. There are two versions of the song. Flash's Theme is from the album and includes dialogue from the beginning of the movie. The single version features excerpts from the entire film and can be found on Queen's 1981 Greatest Hits album.

Written by John Deacon, Another One Bites the Dust is from The Game (1980). Inspired by Chic's Good Times, the song is Queen's best-selling single. When released, evangelical critics claimed it promoted smoking marijuana when played backwards. Today, since the bassline has nearly 110 beats per minute, it's been used to teach proper CPR in the UK.

From Sheer Heart Attack (1974), Killer Queen was written by Freddie Mercury and was Queen's first international hit. It landed at No. 2 in the UK and No. 12 in the US. The song's about a high-class call girl and falsely attributes the phrase "Let them eat cake" to Marie Antoinette. Mercury used a grand and upright piano to create a Vaudeville sound.

Written by Brian May, Fat Bottomed Girls is from Queen's 1978 album, Jazz. It was released as a double A-side with Bicycle Race, and the music video was filmed at the Dallas Convention Center. Each song references the other, with Fat Bottomed Girls reaching No. 11 on the UK charts and No. 24 on Billboard Hot 100.

Freddie Mercury wrote Crazy Little Thing Called Love in 1979. Released as a single from Queen's 1980 album, The Game, it became their first No. 1 hit on Billboard Hot 100. In interviews, Mercury said he had written the tune for Elvis Presley in about five minutes, and it marked the first song he played the guitar for during live performances.

I Want to Break Free was written by John Deacon and released in 1984 from Queen's album, The Works. The music video was a spoof of the British soap opera, Coronation Street, where the members of the band dressed as female characters. In the UK, viewers understood the joke, but in the US, it was not well received.

Somebody to Love was written by Freddie Mercury and included on Queen's 1976 album, A Day at the Races. It uses similar techniques to their hit Bohemian Rhapsody, only with an infused gospel sound instead of opera. The song questions God's role in a life without love, and Mercury was influenced by Aretha Franklin when he wrote it.

Written by Freddie Mercury, Play the Game is the lead track on Queen's 1980 alum, The Game. It opens with overlapping sounds from an Oberheim synthesizer, marking the band's acceptance of electronic instruments in an otherwise "no synth" stance on their sound. The album cover and music video are the first time Mercury appeared with a mustache.

We Will Rock You was written by Brian May and included on Queen's 1977 album, News of the World. Meant to be played before We Are the Champions, together, they have become a staple at sporting events and one of the greatest songs of all-time. We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2009.

Also from the 1977 album, News of the World, We Are the Champions was written by Freddie Mercury and is considered one of Queen's most popular songs. It's meant to be played after We Will Rock You. Together, they were the last songs the band played at the charity concert Live Aid in 1985, one of Mercury's greatest live performances.

Written by drummer Roger Taylor, Radio Ga Ga is from the 1984 Queen album, The Works. The song hit No. 1 in 19 countries and landed at No. 2 in the UK and No. 16 in the US on Billboard Hot 100. It discusses the issue of video killing radio and was performed at every concert from 1984 until Freddie Mercury’s death.

You're My Best Friend was written by bassist, John Deacon and released from Queen's 1975 album, A Night at the Opera. Deacon had written the song for his wife, and it was originally recorded with a Wurlitzer electric piano. Freddie Mercury hated playing the Wurlitzer, opting to use a grand piano instead during live performances of the song.

Inspired by the 1978 Tour de France, Bicycle Race is from Queen's album, Jazz. Written by Freddie Mercury, it released with Fat Bottomed Girls. The music video was banned in several countries because it showed nude models racing bikes around Wimbledon Stadium. Despite the lyrics, Mercury didn't like bike riding, but he was a Star Wars fan.

Freddie Mercury wrote Bohemian Rhapsody for Queen's 1975 album, A Night at the Opera. They made a promotional video for the song, which is considered revolutionary today. The video was created because the lyrics were too awkward to lip-sync during live performances on TV shows like the BBC's Top of the Pops.

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Featured Artist: Fleetwood Mac

4/9/2018

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If you don’t know who Fleetwood Mac is, that travesty can easily be rendered. If you know who they are but don’t have them in your playlist, we’re speechless.

For those who don’t know Fleetwood Mac, we’re not going to waste time with historical happenings and the large list of former group members. We’ll cut to the chase.

Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, and Stevie Nicks are Fleetwood Mac, one of the greatest bands of all time.

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Monday Morning is the first track from Fleetwood Mac's 1975 multi-platinum selling album, Fleetwood Mac. Lindsey Buckingham originally wrote the song for Buckingham Nicks (1973), the only album produced from when he and Stevie Nicks performed as a duo before joining Fleetwood Mac. Monday Morning was released as the B-side for Say You Love Me in 1976.

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Tusk is from Fleetwood Mac’s 1979 album, Tusk. Originally recorded with the USC Marching Band, the song has set a record for highest number of musicians performing on a single. Tusk started as a rehearsal riff that Lindsey Buckingham used for sound checks. Mick Fleetwood was the one who suggested that they use it for the title track of the album, which was untitled at the time.

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Big Love is from Fleetwood Mac’s 1987 album, Tango in the Night. It was released as the album’s first single and hit No. 5 in the US. It was written by Lindsey Buckingham and originally intended for his third solo album. After he left Fleetwood Mac in 1987, on solo tours, he performed a guitar-only version, which he also performed with Fleetwood Mac on the live album, The Dance (1997).

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Written by Stevie Nicks, Gypsy is from Fleetwood Mac’s Mirage album (1982). Intended for her solo album, Bella Donna (1981), the song’s a nostalgic look at her life before Fleetwood Mac, when she and Lindsey Buckingham lived together. After Stevie’s best friend Robin Snyder Anderson died of leukemia, it took on new meaning for Nicks as a tribute to someone’s passing.

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Dreams is from Fleetwood Mac's eleventh studio album, Rumours (1977). Written by Stevie Nicks about a tumultuous time in the band's history, Dreams became Fleetwood Mac's only No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100. She recorded it alone in Sly Stone, of Sly and the Family Stone's recording booth. The Corrs recorded a version for Legacy: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac's Rumours (1998).

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Another great hit from Fleetwood Mac's 1977 album, Rumours, Don't Stop was written by Christine McVie about her separation from John McVie. With Gold Dust Woman as the B-side, Don't Stop was released in March 1977. It peaked at No. 3 on Billboard Hot 100. Bill Clinton used the song in his first presidential campaign, most notably at the 1992 Democratic National Convention, then again in 2000.

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Landslide is from Fleetwood Mac’s 1975 album, Fleetwood Mac. Stevie Nicks wrote it after Buckingham Nicks was dropped from Polydor Records, when she and Lindsey Buckingham were fighting and Nicks was considering going back to school. Landslide is one of the band’s most covered songs. The Dixie Chicks, Smashing Pumpkins, andcast of Glee, to name a few, have all released a version.

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Featured Artist: Erykah Badu

2/26/2018

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Born Erica Abi Wright in Dallas, Texas on Feb. 26, 1971, Erykah Badu is the Queen of Neo Soul.

At the age of 4, she got her first glimpse at stardom when she sang and danced at the Dallas Theater Center and The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL).

She changed the spelling of her name when she was 14 and adopted Badu as a surname. The term “kah” signifies the inner self, and Badu is her favorite jazz scat sound.

Badu’s professional career took off when she opened for D’Angelo in 1994 in Fort Worth. Soon after, she signed to Kedar Entertainment and released her first album, Baduizm, in 1997.

Often compared to Billie Holiday, Erykah Badu has busted her ass to earn the title of Queen of Neo Soul. She is a singer-songwriter, mother, record producer, disc jockey, activist, artist, actress, doula, holistic healer, and quite possibly one of the coolest people we have ever seen in real life.

This week we pay tribute to this amazing talent with seven of our favorite Badu jams.

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Erykah Badu’s Southern Girl features Rahzel, a former member of The Roots who also produced the song. It was released in 1999 and hit No. 24 on Billboard R&B Singles and No. 76 on Hot 100. It was also included on the soundtrack for the 2001 movie, Pootie Tang.

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Appletree is the third and last single from Erykah Badu’s album, Baduizm (1997). In the US, it was released as a radio promo and hit No. 67 on Billboard Hot R&B. In the UK, it was released as a single and hit 47 on their charts. She included the song, as Apple Tree, on her 1997 Live album.

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Honey is the lead single from Erykah Badu’s 2007 album, New Amerykah Part One (4th World War). The song was produced by 9th Wonder and samples Nancy Wilson’s 1978 song, I’m In Love. Honey hit No. 22 on Billboard Hot R&B and No. 88 on Billboard Hot 100.

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Back in the Day, sometimes referred to as "Puff,” is from Erykah Badu's 2003 album, Worldwide Underground. Badu has said that writing and recording for the album took place following a long bout of writer's block. Back in the Day peaked at No. 62 on Billboard Hot R&B.

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Bag Lady is the first single released from Erykah Badu's 2000 album, Mama's Gun. The song hit No 1. on Billboard Hot R&B charts and No. 6 on Billboard Hot 100. It earned Badu two Grammy nominations and is Motown's last No. 1 hit on the R&B charts under the original record label name.

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Written by Erykah Badu and James Poyser, Window Seat is the lead single from Badu's 2010 album, New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh). The song hit No. 16 on Billboard Hot R&B, but it is more popular for its controversial video in which Badu appears naked on the streets of Dallas.

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Contrary to popular belief, Tyrone was not included on Erykah Badu’s 1997 debut album, Baduizm. The song was originally released as the lead single from her 1997 Live album. It earned Badu a Grammy nomination and has been referenced in movies and other artists’ songs.

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Featured Artist: Sam Cooke

1/15/2018

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Sam Cooke was born Samuel Cook on Jan. 22, 1931 in Clarksdale, Mississippi. His family moved to Chicago in 1933 where he started his singing career at the age of six with his siblings in a group called the Singing Children.

At 14, he became the lead singer of Highway QC’s, but it was in 1950, when he took over as lead singer for the Soul Stirrers, that his career took off. He is often credited with bringing gospel music to the attention of younger crowds, particularly girls.

He launched his solo career in 1956 under the alias Dale Cook as to not alienate his gospel base, but by 1957, he added an “e” to his last name to signify a new start to his life, and the hits started rolling in.

In 1961, Cooke created his own record label, SAR Records, and was one of the first black performers to manage their own musical careers.

Cooke was married twice. His first wife, Dolores Elizabeth Milligan Cook, died in a car accident in 1959. Though they were divorced, Cooke paid for the funeral expenses. In addition to fathering at least three children out of wedlock, he also had three children with his second wife, Barbara Campbell Cooke. Their youngest child, Vincent, drowned in the family pool when he was 2 years-old.

Cooke died at the age of 33 on Dec. 11, 1964. He was shot in the chest and killed at the Hacienda Motel in LA by Bertha Franklin, the motel’s manager. Though his death was ruled a justifiable homicide, the circumstances surrounding the events of that night have been called into question by Cooke’s friends and family.

Despite the shadows cast by the manner in which he died, Sam Cooke is the King of Soul. With 30 US Top 40 hits between 1957 and 1964, plus three more posthumously, his contributions to music gave rise to greats like Aretha Franklin, Bobby Womack, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye and put Otis Redding and James Brown on the map. This week we pay tribute to his work with seven of our favorite Sam Cooke hits.

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Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come has been preserved in the Library of Congress and has become an anthem for civil rights. Released in 1964 from the album, Ain't That Good News, the song was inspired by personal events when he and his entourage were turned away from a whites-only motel in Shreveport, Louisiana, only to be arrested for disturbing the peace after they arrived at another hotel.

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Chain Gang was released in 1960 from Swing Low. It peaked at No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B Sides and at No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was Sam Cooke’s first single for RCA Victor and his second-biggest hit in the US. It was inspired after a chance meeting Cooke had with prisoners on a highway while on tour. He felt bad for the men and gave them several cartons of cigarettes.

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Cupid was released on May 16, 1961. Sam Cooke’s producers had asked him to write a song for a girl they had seen on a Perry Como TV show, but once they heard Cupid, they changed their minds. During recording, it was Cooke’s idea to drop in the sound of an arrow being fired. The single combines Latin, R&B, jazz, and pop elements, making it quite possibly one of the best pop songs ever recorded.

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You Send Me was written and recorded by Sam Cooke. It was released as his debut single by Keen Records on Sept. 7, 1957, with Summertime as the B-side. You Send Me was Cooke’s first single outside the gospel genre, and it landed at the top spot on Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B Sides. Cooke gave the writing credits to his brother, L.C. Cook, because he didn’t want his publisher to profit from the song.

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Twistin' the Night Away was written and recorded by Sam Cooke for his 1962 album, Twistin' the Night Away. Recorded with The Wrecking Crew, Twistin' the Night Away landed at No. 9 on Billboard Hot 100 and took the top spot on Hot R&B Sides. Rod Stewart recorded the song for his 1972 album, Never a Dull Moment and again for the 1987 movie, Innerspace, which also features Cooke's song, Cupid. Both of Stewart's versions landed on Billboard Hot 100.

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(What a) Wonderful World, sometimes Wonderful World, was written and recorded by Sam Cooke in an impromptu recording session. Released in 1960, it would be Cooke's last release with Keen Records. It hit No. 12 on Billboard Hot 100. Herman and the Hermits covered the song in 1965 and their version landed at No. 4. There's no footage of Cooke singing the song live despite ABKCO founder, Allen Klei n offering a $10,000 reward to anyone who could find one.

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Sam Cooke wrote and recorded Meet Me at Mary's Place in 1964 for the album, Ain't That Good News. It was the A-side for his cover of the Pete Seeger and Lee Hays song, If I Had a Hammer. Though the Ain't That Good News album was well-received, neither Meet Me at Mary's Place nor If I Had a Hammer charted for Cooke. Regardless of the lack of commercial success, Meet Me at Mary's Place is one of our favorite Sam Cooke songs of all-time.

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Featured Artist: The Judds

11/20/2017

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Mother and daughter duo, Naomi and Wynonna, are The Judds. One of the most successful acts in country music, the Ashland, Kentucky natives have won five Grammy Awards, eight CMA Awards, and had 25 singles on the country charts between 1983 and 2000, 14 of which hit number one and another six made the top ten. This week we're honoring this dynamic duo with a seven-song tribute that will have you singing, “Mama, we're crazy…we're crazy over Wynonna and Naomi.”

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Mama He's Crazy was recorded by The Judds and released as the second single from the 1983 EP, Wynonna & Naomi, and again on their 1984 debut album, Why Not Me. The song marked the duo's second hit on the country charts and their first number one. The song was so successful, Pinkard & Bowden released a parody called Mama She's Lazy that went to 39 on the country charts.

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Rockin' With the Rhythm of the Rain was written by Brent Maher and Don Schlitz. Recorded by The Judds and released as the third single from the 1985 album, Rockin' with the Rhythm, the song marked their seventh number one country hit and spent twelve weeks on the charts. It was one of four number one hits from that album, and Billboard named it the Top Country Album of 1986.

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Why Not Me was the first single and title track of The Judds first studio album, Why Not Me. Released in 1984, the song was their second number one and spent fifteen weeks on the country charts. One of four number one hits from that album, Why Not Me won a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with a Vocal in 1986, as did Mama He's Crazy in 1985.

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Written by Naomi Judd, Paul Overstreet, and John Jarvis, Love Can Build a Bridge was recorded by The Judds and released in 1990 as the second single and title track from their album, Love Can Build a Bridge. The song was later covered by Children for Rwanda as a charity single for Save the Children and by a 10-year-old Britney Spears in 1991 on Star Search.

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Girls' Night Out was the second single and third number one hit from The Judds 1984 album, Why Not Me. Released in 1985 and written by Brent Maher and Jeffrey Bullock, Girls' Night Out spent one week at the top spot and another fourteen weeks on the country charts. It is one of our favorites here at Vinyl.

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Written by John Jarvis, Naomi Judd, and Craig Bickhardt, Cadillac Red is from The Judds' 1989 album, River of Time. Though two of the songs from that album hit number one, Cadillac Red was not released as a single. River of Time was the second to last studio album The Judds would ever make.

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Written by Paul Kennerley, Have Mercy was recorded by The Judds for their 1985 album, Rockin' with the Rhythm. The song was the first to be released from that album and became the duo's fifth number one single on the country charts.

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Featured Artist: Tom Petty

10/16/2017

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Born on Oct. 20, 1950 in Gainesville, Florida, Thomas Earl Petty was a singer, songwriter, producer, actor, and musician. In addition to having a successful solo career, he was also the lead singer of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and a member and co-founder of the supergroup the Travelling Wilburys. Heavily influenced by Elvis Presley and the Beatles, he sold more than 80 million records worldwide, making him one of the greatest-selling artists of all-time.

Fresh off a 2017 reunion tour with the Heartbreakers that kicked off in Oklahoma City on April 20 and ended Sept. 25 at the Hollywood Bowl, it would seem that Tom Petty had no intentions of backing down from writing, producing, and performing music, but on Oct. 2, he was found unconscious, in full cardiac arrest, at his home in California. He died later that evening at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica. He was 67 years old. This week we pay tribute to a great talent that will certainly be missed but never forgotten.

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I Won't Back Down was the lead single for Tom Petty's debut solo album, Full Moon Fever. Released in April 1989, the song reached the twelfth spot on Billboard Hot 100. Jeff Lynne co-wrote the song, and George Harrison sang and played guitar for the recording session. In January 2015, Petty and Lynne were given co-writing credits for Sam Smith's Stay With Me for its likeness to I Won't Back Down.

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Written by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, Learning to Fly is from Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker's 1991 album, Into the Great Wide Open. The song only reached twenty-eight on Billboard Hot 100 but stayed at the top spot Billboard Hot Rock Tracks for six weeks. It's been covered by Bonnie Tyler, Lady Antebellum, and the Weepies, and is the official song of the US Air Force Academy's skydiving team, Wings of Blue.

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American Girl is the second single released from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers self-titled debut album. Though it was released in 1977, the song didn't chart until it was re-released in 1994. It's been used in numerous TV shows and movies and has been covered by a ton of artists. Currently, Rolling Stone has it ranked at #76 on their 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time.

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Don’t Do Me Like That was written by Tom Petty and recorded by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in 1979 as the lead single for the album, Damn the Torpedoes. Petty almost gave the song to the J. Geils Band but was talked out of it by producer Jimmy lovine. The song was the band’s first top 10 hit, landing at number 10 on Billboard Hot 100.

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Free Fallin’ is from Tom Petty's debut solo album, Full Moon Fever. It was released in October 1989 and peaked at #7 on Billboard Hot 100. It is Petty’s longest-charting single and is ranked among Rolling Stone‘s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It was used in the movie Jerry Maguire and the TV show The Sopranos. After Petty’s death, Free Fallin’ hit #2 on Spotify Global Viral 50.

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Written by Tom Petty and recorded while he was working on Wildflowers, Mary Jane’s Last Dance was first released in 1993 on Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ compilation album, Greatest Hits. The song climbed to #14 on Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band’s first Top 20 in the 1990s. It was originally titled Indiana Girl and opened with “hey, Indiana girl, go out and find the world,” but Petty didn’t feel right about the lyrics, so he changed it.

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Into the Great Wide Open is from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ eighth studio album, Into the Great Wide Open (1991). The album was produced by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne after the success of Petty’s Full Moon Fever. The song was the third single released and peaked at #92 on Billboard Hot 100. The music video starred Johnny Depp, Gabrielle Anwar, and Faye Dunaway.

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Featured Artist: The Monkees

9/11/2017

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Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork were The Monkees, a band formed in 1965 for an NBC TV show about a band aspiring to be The Beatles but failing miserably. At the peak of their career in 1967, The Monkees were outselling The Beatles and The Rolling Stones combined. Irony? Not sure.

What we do know: The Monkees is one of our favorite bands of all-time. If you’ve never thought of them as one of the greatest, here are seven gems that will make a believer out of you.

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Written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone was first recorded by Paul Revere and The Raiders in 1966 for the album, Midnight Ride, but it became popular when T he Monkees released it from the album More of the Monkees as a B-side to I'm a Believer. With Micky Dolenz singing lead vocals, Steppin' Stone landed at #20 on the US charts and became the band's first B-side hit.

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A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You was written by Neil Diamond and recorded by The Monkees as the follow-up song to the smash hit, I'm a Believer. Released in 1967, it was the first time Davy Jones sang lead vocals for a single. The song hit the top spot on several charts but narrowly missed on Billboard Hot 100, landing at No. 2. The B-side was Michael Nesmith's The Girl I Knew Somewhere, which landed at #39.

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The Monkees released Daydream Believer from the 1968 album, The Birds, The Bees, & The Monkees. All four Monkees appear on the track with Davy Jones on lead vocals, Peter Tork on piano, Michael Nesmith on lead guitar, and Micky Dolenz provided back-up vocals. The song landed at the top of Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for four weeks. It was the band's last number one hit in the U.S.

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Written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, Pleasant Valley Sunday was recorded by the Monkees in 1967 and lwas included on Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, & Jones Ltd. Micky Dolenz sang lead vocals and was the only Monkee not playing an instrument on the track. In 1986, MTV aired episodes of The Monkees in a series called Pleasant Valley Sunday, sparking another wave of Monkeemania.

SONG OF THE friDAY

With Micky Dolenz singing lead vocals, Last Train to Clarksville was The Monkees' debut single. Released in 1966, it hit the top of Billboard Hot 100 and was compared to The Beatles' Paperback Writer. It was featured in seven episodes of The Monkees, the most for any Monkees' song. The lyrics are about a soldier. Though the band wasn't political, it was a subtle statement about the Vietnam War.

SONG OF THE saturDAY

Valleri was written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart for the Monkees to record in 1966. The original recording was featured on The Monkees TV show in 1967, but after fighting for creative control and winning, the band re-recorded the song and included it on the 1968 album, The Birds, The Bees, and The Monkees. Their version landed at No. 3 on Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 in Canada.

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I'm a Beliver was written by Neil Diamond and first recorded by the Monkees in 1966 for More of the Monkees. With lead vocals by Micky Dolenz, the song hit No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there seven weeks. The song went gold two days after its release and is one of fewer than forty singles to have sold over 10 million physical copies worldwide. It appeared on four consecutive episodes of The Monkees and many consider it one of the greatest songs of all-time.

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Featured Artist: Glen Campbell

8/14/2017

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In honor of his recent passing, we're paying tribute to Glen Campbell. A singer, songwriter, actor, and TV host, his influence on the world was legendary. During his 50-year career in the star-spangled rodeo, this rhinestone cowboy released more than 70 albums, won ten Grammys, earned an Academy Award nomination, and was a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee. There will be no compromisin' this week as we shine the lights on our favorite Glen Campbell songs.

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Written by Jimmy Webb, Wichita Lineman has been covered by many people, but Glen Campbell made it famous. Released in 1968 on the album of the same name, Wichita Lineman landed on the U.S. pop, country, and adult contemporary charts. The song was inspired by telephone linemen working in rural Oklahoma, and Rolling Stone has ranked it 195 on their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

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Southern Nights was written by Allen Toussaint and recorded, with modified lyrics, by Glen Campbell for the 1977 album of the same name. In the US, the song hit the top of Billboard's Hot 100, Adult Contemporary, and Hot Country charts. The song features a catchy guitar riff that Campbell learned from friend, Jerry Reed, and has always been one of our favorites Glen Campbell tunes.

SONG OF THE wednesDAY

Try a Little Kindness was written by Curt Sapaugh and Bobby Austin. It was first recorded by Glen Campbell in 1968 and was released on the album of the same name. The song hit No. 2 on the country charts, No. 1 on Adult Contemporary, and No. 23 on Billboard Hot 100. It's a catchy song with an excellent moral message. Whatever you're doing today, stop, take a cue from Mr. Campbell, and try a little kindness. It goes a long way.

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Gentle on My Mind was written by John Hartford. Glen Campbell's cover was the only single release from the 1968 album of the same name. Both Hartford and Campbell won two Grammy Awards for the song that year, and Campbell's version put him on the map. He used it as the opening theme to his TV variety show, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour from 1969 - 1972 on CBS. The song has gotten over 5 million plays on the radio since its release.

SONG OF THE friDAY

Galveston was written by Jimmy Webb and recorded and released by Glen Campbell in 1969 for the album of the same name. Campbell's version landed on the charts in three categories when released. Today, it is ranked eighth among CMT's 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music and is the official anthem for Galveston Island and the city of Galveston, Texas.

SONG OF THE saturDAY

By the Time I Get to Phoenix was also written by Jimmy Webb and recorded by Glen Campbell in 1967 and released on the album of the same name. The song was originally recorded by Johnny Rivers in 1965, but Campbell's version topped the charts and won two Grammy Awards. He recorded a medley duet of the song with Anne Murray in 1971. Frank Sinatra called it the best torch song ever written.

SONG OF THE sunDAY

Released in 1975, Rhinestone Cowboy was a smash hit. Written by Larry Weiss, Rhinestone Cowboy was recorded by Glen Campbell and released on the album of the same name. The song hit number one on both the country and Hot 100 charts. After Campbell's death, it resurfaced on the digital charts making it Campbell's signature song.

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Featured Artist: George Michael

6/19/2017

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Born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in London on June 25, 1963, there has never been another artist quite like George Michael.

Up to the time of his death, he had sold more than 115 million records worldwide. Over the course of his career, he had eight songs hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and he’s been ranked 40th on their list of Greatest Hot 100 Artists of All Time.

He was nominated for eight Grammys and won two, is among the best-selling British acts of all time, and was a philanthropist for HIV/AIDs research and the fight to end world hunger.

George Michael died on Dec. 25, 2016. He was found by his partner on Christmas morning at his home in Goring-on-Thames. The exact cause of death was inclusive. After further tests, an autopsy attributed it to natural causes.

At age 53, George Michael left us too soon, but he made a huge mark on this world. In honor of his upcoming birthday, we’re taking some time to celebrate the music he created. RIP, George Michael, you’ll forever have a top spot on our Best Artists Ever playlist.

Too Funky - from Red Hot + Dance

George Michael's song Too Funky was released in 1992 on the charity album Red Hot + Dance. It was Michael's final single for Sony Music before taking steps to extricate himself from the contract. Originally intended for the album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, Michael donated Too Funky, along with two others, to the project Red Hot + Dance, which raised money for AIDs awareness. It later appeared on his1998 collection, Ladies & Gentleman: The Best of George Michael.

Monkey - from Faith

Monkey is from George Michael's 1988 debut solo album, Faith. Monkey reached No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 and was Michael's first chart-topper on the US Hot Dance Club Play. The song became his sixth solo number one and the fourth from the Faith album. George Michael is one of three artists (Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston are the other two) who had four or more consecutive number one singles during the 1987–88 era, from one album.

I Want Your Sex - from Faith

I Want Your Sex was released in June 1987 as the first single for the album, Faith and the third hit for the Beverly Hills Cop II soundtrack. Despite censorship and airplay issues due to the sexual nature of the song, it reached No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100. American Top 40 host, Casey Kasem refused to say the title, referring to it as "the new single by George Michael." Though it was one of Michael's biggest hits, he never performed the song after the Faith World Tour.

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - from Make It Big

Written and produced by George Michael, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go was released on Wham!'s 1984 album, Make It Big. The inspiration came when Wham! partner, Andrew Ridgeley had wrote his parents a note to "wake me up before you go" but accidentally put two "ups" so he added two "gos". The song became the band's first US and UK number one hit. Since, it has been certified platinum and was voted as the13th favorite 1980s hit by the British public.

Freedom! '90 - from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1

Freedom! ‘90 was released in 1990 from George Michael’s album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. The “90” was added to prevent confusion with Wham!’s song, Freedom. George Michael didn’t appear in the Freedom! ‘90 video. Inspired by Peter Lindbergh’s January 1990 British Vogue cover, Michael asked Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Tatjana Patitz, Christy Turlington, and Cindy Crawford to lip sync the song in his place. In retrospect, the video is darkly profound.

Amazing - from Patience

Amazing was released in 2004 and included on the album, Patience. The song is about Michael's former partner, Kenny Goss. When released, it landed in the top spot on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs in the US, debuted at the fourth slot on the UK charts, and was No. 1 in Italy and Spain. In our opinion, Amazing is one of George Michael's most underrated songs. It's a subtle tune, but the more you listen to it, the more it grows on you. It's simply amazing.

Praying for Time - from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1

Praying for Time is from George Michael's 1990 album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. It was Michael's ninth number one, after spending one week at the top of Billboard Hot 100. It would also go on to be his his last solo to top the charts. Praying for Time is a somber reflection of social injustice, and it was Michael's first politically-charged song since his Wham! days.

Outside - from Ladies & Gentleman

Outside was released as the lead single on George Michael's 1998 greatest hits compilation album, Ladies & Gentleman. The song was his first single after being arrested for engaging in a lewd act in Beverly Hills, which forced Michael to reveal his sexuality publicly. Outside openly discusses his community service and the reasons he had the affair.

Careless Whisper - from Make It Big

Careless Whisper was George Michael's debut solo single, though he was still performing with the band Wham!. It was released in July 1984 and is often credited as being by Wham! featuring George Michael due it being included on the album, Make It Big. The song was co-written by Andrew Ridgeley and hit number one in nearly 25 countries and sold over 6 million copies worldwide.

Star People '97 - from Older

Star People '97 was the fifth single from George Michael's 1997 album, Older. The song hit the top spot on the US Dance Club songs. The album version is called Star People, but for the radio single, "97" was added because the single is a remix of the original. The song is about materialism and uses part of The Gap Band's 1980 hit Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me).

Father Figure - from Faith

Father Figure is the fourth single from George Michael's 1987 album, Faith. Released in 1988, the song hit number one on Billboard Hot 100 but only 11 in the UK, marking the first time Michael didn't reach the Top 10 in his home country. It was a staple at Michael's concerts, and though it didn't hit the top spot when released, it is now one of the most frequently-played songs on the radio in the UK.

Waiting for That Day - Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1

Waiting for That Day is from George Michael's album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. Released in 1990 as the second single to the album, Waiting for That Day became Michael's first single in the US to not make the Top 10. The chords and rhythm are similar to The Rolling Stones' You Can't Always Get What You Want, and Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have co-writing credits for the song.

Fastlove - from Older

Fastlove is from George Michael's 1996 album, Older. Older was Michael's first studio album following a six-year hiatus. Though Fastlove didn't chart in the US, the song marked Michael's last number one single in the UK before his death. The song is an upbeat tune about the need for gratification and fulfillment without commitment and is his seventh most-downloaded track in the UK.

Faith - from Faith

Faith was the second single from George Michael's 1987 album, Faith. The song reached number one on Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for four weeks. It was also deemed by Billboard to be the number one song of the year in the US in 1988. It helped make him an icon and no George Michael tribute is complete without it. The song's simple and one of our favorites of all-time.

BONUS TRACK

Last Christmas - Wham!

Written by George Michael and recorded by Wham!, Last Christmas hit No. 2 for UK's top Christmas song of 1984, knocked out of No. 1 by Band Aid project's Do They Know It's Christmas?. Michael was involved with Band Aid and Wham! donated all proceeds from Last Christmas, with its B-side Everything She Wants, to help end the Ethiopian famine.

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