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: Babara Ann (1961) Artist: The Regents Writer: Fred Fassert Label: Cousins Records Barbara Ann is one of the most recognizable Beach Boys songs. It may even be the song many think of when they think of the Beach Boys, although purists might object. But Babara Ann wasn’t original to the group. It was first … Read more
Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede is one of the popular tracks from the soundtrack of Guardians of the Galaxy (some of them here). But, the arrangement, with its ooga-chaka ooga-chaka refrain, is quite a bit different than the original. he song was written by Mark James, who, in the 1960s was a writer, and a very talented … Read more
Tommy James credits the 1968 song Crimson and Clover for allowing the band to pivot from a singles-oriented AM radio band to FM radio progressive album-oriented rock. Without this change, he is sure, the band’s career would have been over, as the single-dominated music industry had changed almost overnight to one driven by album sales. … Read more
Song: Red, Red Wine (1968) Artist: Neil Diamond Album: Just For You (Bang) Writer: Neil Diamond In 1988 UB40, a group from Birmingham UK had a no. 1 hit with a song called Red, Red Wine, done in a reggae style (they were not the first, see below). Although UB40 has plenty of original material, their hit-making … 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: Me and Bobby McGee (1969) Artist: Roger Miller Writers: Kris Kristofferson, Fred Foster Me and Bobby McGee has certainly made the rounds. It has been recorded or performed so many times by so many musicians to try to list them all would just invite endless corrections and offers of the “best” version. Sorry, no, … Read more