Song: The Joker (1973) Artist: Steve Miller Band Album: The Joker (Capitol) Steve Miller’s lyric on The Joker, the pompatus of love, really stands out. I’ve already explained where he got that from. No, it was not original to him. Many people, including myself, also love the line from The Joker, “You’re the cutest thing … Read more
Song: Got My Mind Set On You (1987) Artist: George Harrison Album: Cloud Nine Label: Dark Horse Writer: Rudy Clark George Harrison had a number one hit with Got My Mind Set on You in January of 1988. It was his last number one hit and the only one he didn’t write himself. The song … Read more
Kate Bush’s extraordinary ‘comeback’ is all over the internet. Her 1985 song Running Up That Hill, from the album Hounds Of Love is enjoying new sales and is a big streaming hit, due to its use in Season 4 of Stranger Things. It already reached no. 1 in the UK after its peak at no. … Read more
Song: Sanford and Son Theme (The Streetbeater) (1972/1973) Artist: Quincy Jones Album: You’ve Got It Bad Girl Label: A&M Composer: Quincy Jones Sanford and Son is one of the greatest American television shows of all time. I’m still amazed that Redd Fox was only 49 years old when the show started. He so successfully portrayed … Read more
Song: Creep (1992) Artist: Radiohead Album: Pablo Honey Label: Parlophone / Capitol Writer: Thom Yorke, Mike Hazlewood, Albert Hammond The controversy surrounding the supposed lawsuit between the band Radiohead and Lana Dal Rey over their 1992 hit song Creep goes to show us that you just can’t write something brand new. No matter how much … Read more
Song: Tainted Love (1981) Artist: Soft Cell Album: Non-Stop Erotic Caberet Label: Some Bizzare/ Sire/ Warner Bros. Records Writer: Ed Cobb When Tainted Love was first released in 1964 as the B-side of a record called ‘My Bad Boy’s Comin’ Home’ it was a total commercial failure. No, you are not experiencing a senior moment. … Read more
Song: Unchained Melody (1965) Artist: The Righteous Brothers Label: Philles Writers: Alex North, Hyman Zaret 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. … Read more