Song: Ring My Bell (1979) Artist: Anita Ward Label: Juana Records Songwriter: Frederick Knight Yes, some people think that the hit disco song Ring My Bell was recorded by Blondie and sung by the great Debra Harry. In fact, if you search for “blondie ring my bell lyrics” you will get a result that lists … Read more
The answer is a resounding NO! The Kinks and specifically Dave Davies of the Davie brothers did not invent the concept of guitar distortion. The fact is that guitarists have been intentionally overloading their amps to create distortion for pretty much as long as amplifiers have been around. The Kinks happened on a sound that … Read more
Song: Bull Doze Blues (1928) Artist: Henry Thomas, aka Ragtime Texas Label: Vocalion Records Canned Heat had a smash hit with their 1968 song ‘Going Up the Country.’ Few know that their song was actually a reprocessed version of a much earlier blues song by Henry Thomas, aka Texas Ragtime called Bull Doze Blues, recorded … Read more
Song: House of the Rising Sun (1964) Artist: The Animals Label: Columbia Writer: Traditional (arrangement by The Animals, et al.) House of the Rising Sun Original? The tune most identified with the animals was not written entirely by them and yet was not a cover. House of the Rising Sun, also known as Rising Sun … Read more
Song: American Girl (1976) Artist: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Album: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Shelter) Writer: Tom Petty Although American Girl never charted in the U.S. the first time it was released in 1976, it has become one of the favorite Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers songs of all time. It is considered … Read more
Song: I Love Rock ‘n Roll (1982) Artist: Joan Jett & the Blackhearts Album: I Love Rock ‘n Roll (Boardwalk) Writers: Jake Hooker, Alan Merrill Joan Jett has had a storied career. Before she was the frontman of her own band, she was a part of the band The Runaways, famous for such songs as “Cherry … Read more
Song: Wagon Wheel (2004) Artists: Old Crow Medicine Show Albums: Troubles Up and Down the Road, O.C.M.S. Writers: Bob Dylan, Ketch Secor In 2014, Darius Rucker, the singer of Hootie and the Blowfish, won a Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance for his recording of the song Wagon Wheel. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country chart, … Read more