The Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody is a soaring, or as Billboard put it in 2007, towering song. Few know that it was not an original. In fact, the song was over ten years old when The Righteous Brothers recorded it. It was originally written by written by Alex North and Hy Zaret, penned penned for … Read more
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was, same as it ever was…. You may find yourself wondering what that catchy but weird song is called where the guy says same as it ever was over and over. Then again, you may find yourself behind the wheel of an exceedingly small automobile but you probably … Read more
Song: It Never Rains in Southern California (1972) Artist: Albert Hammond Album: It Never Rains In Southern California (Mums) Writers: Albert Hammond, Mike Hazelwood It Never Rains in Southern California, believe it or not, was written by an Englishman in rainy London. I wouldn’t have pegged it as a number a hit in the U.S., … Read more
Juice Newton had a big ‘crossover’ country-pop hit with Angel of the Morning in 1981 but the song has actually been covered by many artists, including Olivia Newton-John. The first person to sing the song, in 1967 was actually a singer named Evie Sands who recorded a number of songs by songwriter/producer Chip Taylor and … Read more
Song: Don’t Know Much (1980, 1989) Artist: Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville Album: Cry Like a Rainstorm – Howl Like the Wind Writers: Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Tom Snow Don’t Know Much is perhaps one of the most famous duets ever recorded. Like many such songs, though, it was not written as a duet. It was first … Read more
There are many ways to start a band. One way, apparently, is to decide you’re a good-looking guy with talent and place an ad in a paper looking for other guys with the same qualifications. This is how the band Kajagoogoo began. Kajagoogoo means ‘good-looking guys’ in baby talk. The band started a bit of … Read more
Don’t you tell me no…Soul, I hear you calling…Oh, baby please give a little respect to me.. If it’s not the repeated refrain, “that you gimme no,” it’s the refrain “don’t you tell me no” that people remember most about this song. The song is actually called A Little Respect and there is not a moment … Read more