Clowns to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right

Stuck in the Middle With You, Stealers Wheel

Song: Stuck in the Middle With You (1972) Artist: Stealers Wheel Album: Stealers Wheel (A&M) You may know the song Stuck in the Middle with You from the ear-slicing scene in Reservoir Dogs (1993). It was the only big hit by the Scottish folk-rock band Stealers Wheel, in 1973, appearing on their self-titled album Stealers Wheel, climbing … Read more

What Was the First Album to Be Released on Compact Disc?

First album released on CD

Artist: Bill Joel Album: 52nd Street (1978, released on CD, 1982) The journey toward the CD began in the early 1970s when Sony and Phillips began working on an optical disc with digitally encoded sound that could be read by laser. Before the compact disc, it was all vinyl and cassette tape. It was even … Read more

What Men at Work Song Was Accused of Being Ripped Off From Kookaburra?

Men at Work band

Song: Down Under (1982) Artist: Men At Work Album: Business As Usual (CBS) Men At Work’s Down Under is probably the most iconic Australian pop song of all time, and many consider it to be something of an unofficial Australian National Anthem. Unfortunately, the song is forever muddied by a court case that accused the band … Read more

What 1966 Song Gave The Lovin’ Spoonful Their Name?

Song: Coffee Blues (1966) Artist: Mississippi John Hurt In the song Coffee Blues, the legendary blues artist Mississippi John Hurt, in his usual good-natured way, talks about wanting a spoonful of something. He claims, in the beginning, that it’s Maxwell House coffee (he calls it Maxwell’s House), his favorite coffee that really is good to the last … Read more

What Song Was the Scorpions’ First Major U.S. Hit?

Scorpions band portrait

Song: No One Like You Album: Blackout (1982) Label: Mercury Although the album Blackout was not the Scorpions’ first album to break in America, it offered up their first major hit: No One Like You. Scorpions had already had album success with 1979’s Lovedrive (1979), which featured guitar work from both original guitarist Michael Schenker, Rudolph … Read more