Eric Troy 
Song: Red, Red Wine (1968) Artist: Neil Diamond Album: Just For You (Bang) Writer: Neil Diamond In 1988 UB40, a group from Birmingham UK had a no. 1 hit with a song called Red, Red Wine, done in a reggae style (they were not the first, see below). Although UB40 has plenty of original material, their hit-making … Read more
Song: Fire (1987) Artist: Bruce Springsteen Writer: Bruce Springsteen Album: Live: 1975-85 Label: Columbia I’m driving in my car, I turn on the radio… It may be hard to believe, but there was a time when not everything the Boss did rose to the top of the heap. While clawing his way to the top … Read more
Grateful Dead may be the most well-known failure in the music business. That is, if you measure success by top 40 hits, which the band obviously never did. But, I think it’s safe to say that most people assume that they have, of course, had a number of hit songs. After all, they made more … Read more
It may be hard to believe, but No Doubt’s huge hit It’s My Life was recorded almost twenty years after the original. The song was written by Tim Friese-Greene and Mark Hollis and released in 1984 by Mark Hollis’ so-called synth-pop group Talk Talk. It reached no. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May, … Read more
Song: Eve of Destruction (1965) Artist: Barry McQuire Album: Barry McGuire Featuring Eve of Destruction Writers: P.F. Sloan, Steve Barri It would be understandable if many folks figured that Eve of Destruction was a Dylan tune or at least a cover of a Dylan tune. It was originally written by P. F. Sloan (Philip “Flip” Sloan) … Read more
Song: Heart and Soul (1981) Artist: Exile Album: Heart and Soul Writers: Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn Label: Warner Curb Records Heart and Soul is undoubtedly one of the most infectious songs from a group known for infectious rock/pop songs, Huey Lewis and the News. I am a huge News fan and always have been. … Read more
You probably know Alone as one of the most famous songs by Heart, and for good reason. But it was actually written and recorded by a little-known group called i-Ten in 1983. Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, the founding members of the band, named after the interstate, ‘wrote the song as a power ballad’ for … Read more