The Chordettes – Lollipop & Mr. Sandman
If you were to bottle the sound of mid-1950s American pop—its feather-light harmonies, clean studio sheen, and wink-and-smile innocence—you’d likely…
Jerry Lee Lewis – ”Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”
Jerry Lee Lewis’s “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” is one of those rare recordings that still sounds combustible the moment…
The Shirelles – Baby It’s You
When people talk about early-1960s pop perfection, they often reach for sweeping generalities: “girl-group shimmer,” “Brill Building craft,” “downtown New…
The Four Tops – It’s The Same Old Song
To talk about “It’s the Same Old Song” is to talk about speed meeting craft. In July 1965, after the…
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Born On The Bayou
Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Born on the Bayou” opens the 1969 album Bayou Country with a slow-boiling swagger that helped define…
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Lodi
Introduction: A road-weary postcard from the American West “Lodi” is one of those rare songs that transforms a dot on…
Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time
When Cyndi Lauper released “Time After Time” as the second single from her debut album She’s So Unusual in March…
Survivor – Eye Of The Tiger
A quick origin story “Eye of the Tiger” wasn’t an accident waiting to happen; it was a brief waiting to…
Depeche Mode – People Are People
Depeche Mode’s “People Are People” is one of those rare singles that captures a particular cultural mood and packages it…
Jan Hammer – Crockett’s Theme
A theme that became a character Some television music becomes background—pleasant, functional, forgotten as soon as the next scene fades.…