Every iconic song or act has a starting point, but the journey to the top is rarely a straight line. In Music Origins, we go behind the scenes to uncover the roots of the music you love. From the unexpected early recordings of legendary artists to the bizarre historical accidents that turned forgotten tracks into global hits, we explore the foundations, evolutions, and hidden legacies that shaped music history
Before you hit play on Darius Rucker’s massive country hit, you might be surprised to learn that this simple little ditty has a history far deeper than its 2013 chart-topping run. While Rucker took “Wagon Wheel” to the top of the Billboard Hot Country charts and snagged a Grammy for it, the song’s journey from … Read more
Song: Runaway (1984) Artist: Bon Jovi Album: Bon Jovi (Mercury) Writers: Jon Bon Jovi, George Karak The first major US hit for Bon Jovi was Runaway, from their self-titled debut album, in 1984. It reached no. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in April 1984, spending 13 weeks on the chart. Although the album … Read more
When you hear Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You by Led Zeppelin, you may not realize that the song started out as a folk song. This in itself is not surprising since Led Zeppelin was heavily influenced by folk. Songs like Black Mountain Side, Ramble On, The Battle of Evermore, and Going to California, among others, exemplify this influence. … Read more
Song: Don’t Give Up on Us (1976) Artist: David Soul Label: Private Stock Records Writer: Tony Macaulay Growing up in the seventies, I just loved the now-legendary TV cop show Starsky & Hutch. No wonder, as the show was pretty much made for teens. I don’t know what I’d think of it now as most … 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
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: More Than a Feeling Artist: Boston Album: Boston Writer: Tom Scholz Boston’s first big hit came on their self-titled debut album in 1976. Actually, it’s a bit of a misleading question because the album was one of the best-selling rock debut albums of all time and had three hit singles, one after the other. … Read more