End of the Line by The Traveling Wilburys (1989)
The Traveling Wilburys were one of the most talent-packed supergroups in Rock & Roll History:
George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne & drummer Jim Keltner.
Sadly, the irony came with Roy, whose career was revitalized by the group, only to reach the end of his line before he could truly enjoy it. He passed away before he could even appear in the video.
In a touching tribute, the video below features an empty rocking chair, a portrait of Roy and ghostly flickering lights that all appear during his solo. Check it out!
The message of the song is also ironic in this case: No matter where you are on your journey to the End of the Line, it's all right--because you still have something to say.
The song reached #2 on Billboard's Rock Chart, and remains a lasting tribute to everyone involved."
Rest in music, Roy Orbison, George Harrison & Tom P:etty.
https://youtu.be/UMVjToYOjbM
Straight On by Heart (1978)
Over the years, Heart's 1978 album "Dog and Butterfly" has become iconic, and one of the main reasons why is the album's first single release: "Straight On."
Of course, the collective talents of the Wilson Sisters, Ann & Nancy, (with co-writer Sue Ennis)'are what made "Straight On" such a "Great Song!"
It's a rockin' but slightly funky nod to disco that featured high-soaring vocals, a steady beat, and alternating guitar riffs, with gambling metaphors peppered throughout the lyrics.
Ann Wilson called it "Heart's first dance song." Everybody else called it...a hit!
"Straight On" charted at #14 on Canada's Top 40, and #15 in the US on Billboard's Hot 100.
Since then, the song has become a classic oldie on radio stations everywhere...proving that when you lay all the cards on the table, (gambling metaphor intended), "Straight On" is a "Great Song of '78! "
https://youtu.be/xy0uvAouAfo
Sloop John B. by The Beach Boys (1966)
It was a Bahamian folk song that was first published in 1916 as "The John B. Sails.
"It's also been known as"The Wreck of the John B."...but we all know it as "Sloop John B." from the Beach Boys' legendary "Pet Sounds" album of 1966.
Al Jardine was a huge folk music fan, and played The Kingston Trio's version of the song for Brian Wilson...hoping he'd agree to have the Boys record their own version. Brian, however, was NOT a fan...but Al kept bugging him until he agreed.
He then sat down, put on his genius hat, and created a masterpiece: part sea shanty and part 60s-style wall-of sound pop with new chord progressions and lyric changes. Less than 24 hours later, the song was complete.
That's right--from Al's pitch to Brian's completed masterpiece in less than a day. Now THAT is genius!
Of course, Al was hoping he'd get to sing lead, but Brian actually auditioned every one in the group...and settled on himself and Mike Love. Of course, Al was disappointed...but quickly realized it was the right move...especially after "Sloop John B." climbed to #3 on the Hot 100...and became one of the Beach Boys most enduring hits. In fact, for decades, Rolling Stone Magazine included the song on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of all time!
https://youtu.be/nSAoEf1Ib58
The Power of Love by Huey Lewis & The News (1984)
Let's start at the beginning:
Producer Steven Spielberg,screenwriter Bob Gale, and director Robert Zemeckis asked Huey Lewis to write the theme song for a movie you may have heard of called "Back to the Future."
BUT HUEY TURNED THEM DOWN!
He was flattered,of course, but had no idea how to write for film, and no interest in writing a song by that name. Great Scott—as Doc Brown would say!
Luckily, Mr. Zemeckis had a counter offer: Huey could write any song he wanted with no restrictions.
Huey then agreed to submit the next song he wrote, which turned out to be "The Power of Love!"
You may not have noticed, but although the song appears in all 3 "Back to the Future" films, the lyrics do not mention any of the storylines!
And here's a Fun Fact for ya: In the first film, When Marty McFly tries to audition with the song for the "Battle of the Bands, he's shot down for being
"TOO DARN LOUD" by a judge played by...Huey Lewis!
As a single from the "Back to the Future" Soundtrack, The Power of Love" powered its way up the charts in 18 countries, climbing to #1 in Australia, Japan, Canada...and here in The US, where it topped both the Hot 100 and Rock Chart!
"The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News: a "Great Song of 1985, 1955 , 2015, and 1885!
https://youtu.be/VBWGqXgZytw
I Wanna Be With You by The Raspberries (1972)
In the case of "I Wanna Be With You," however, Record World said it peaked at #7, Cashbox had it at #10, and Billboard had it down at #16.
To give you an idea on how differently each magazine looked at the song, Cashbox called it "Beatle-esque." (which is Accurate... Billboard called it a "strong rock ballad," with no mention of the Fab Four, (Also Accurate...and Record World said nothing, but rated it higher than the other two.
But ultimately, it didn't really matter which magazine did or said what..."People loved I Wanna Be with You"...and made it a ""Raspberry Flavored" Great Song of 1972."
https://youtu.be/TL7na7qOVrY
Wedding Bell Blues by The Fifth Dimension (1968)
It was common knowledge back in '68 that group members Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. were engaged, making the "Marry me Bill" theme of the song accurate...but only on the surface.... because Billy Davis wasn't the real "Bill!"
"Wedding Bell Blues" was written by the extremely talented Laura Nyro...when she was just 18-years-old.
It wasn't autobiographical...but there were some definite family ties involved.
According to Laura's cousin Alan Merrill, his mom (Laura's Aunt) was having a passionate and public affair with an actor named Bill Carter, who was married to an heiress. The resulting newspaper scandal was so huge, the Merrills left the country to live in Europe.
But back to the song: Laura's''s original version of Wedding Bell Blues" stalled out at #103--just below the Hot 100...but The Fifth Dimension's cover version TOPPED the Hot 100 AND Adult Contemporary Charts. "Wedding Bell Blues" was a Great Song of 1968...and now--as Paul Harvey would say: " you know the rest of the story!"
https://youtu.be/uiQjJraovrI
I Can't Drive 55 by Sammy Hagar (1984)
Some of us are certainly old enough remember the National Maximum Speed Limit law, signed in 1974 by President Nixon.
Due to an oil embargo, the maximum speed limit was set at 55 for passenger vehicles on all highways nationwide (although some states ignored it). The law actually stayed in effect until 1995.
In 1984, Sammy Hagar wrote “I Can't Drive 55" after he was ticketed late one night for going 62 MPH on a nearly deserted highway near his home in upstate New York.
When he finally got home at 4am, he picked up his guitar and "speedily" poured his frustration into writing the song.
Then, when making the video, Sammy being Sammy , went all out with a ridiculous scenario that involved a car chase...and a courtroom trial that were way over the top--but, of course, it became an MTV favorite.
Check it out below!
And, for the record, the song reached #9 on Billboard's Rock Chart.
I Can't Drive 55" by Sammy Hagar puttin' pedal to the metal on a Great Song of 1984!
https://youtu.be/RvV3nn_de2k
The Rapper by The Jaggerz (1970)
Long time music fans may remember Donnie Iris as a member of the group Wild Cherry, who “Played That Funky Music” back in the mid 70s...or maybe as a solo artist with the sonG “Ah, Leah” in the early '80s. (“
But before all that, he fronted a group called the Jaggerz. In 1970, they released “The Rapper:” a song that Donnie wrote about smooth talking men who preyed on unsuspecting women.
For all you youngsters out there—as Ed Sullivan used to say, The Rapper” had nothing to do with today's definition of “rapping.” Back then, “rap” was a slang term about having a conversation with someone.
For (Example: “Hey, let's rap about life for a while.”)
Man, I feel old explaining that!
Anyway, the song reached #2 on Billboard's Hot 100, and might have made it to #1 if the timing had been a little bit better. It had the unfortunate problem of reaching #2 when Simon & Garfunkel were holding down #1 with “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
The Jaggerz ended up being a one-hit wonder, but that one hit was a “Great Song of 1970!
https://youtu.be/-fYV3dJp-k4
In the Year 2525 by Zager & Evans (1969)
"In the Year 25-25 by Denny Zager & Rick Evans: ...is arguably the most famous one hit wonder of all time.
Rick Evans wrote the song about the journey of man over a 10,000-year span: from 25-25 to 85-10...predicting the course of human events, and ending with the extinction of all mankind.'
With that in mind, the song was subtitled "Exordium & Terminus," which is a fancy way of saying "Beginning & End in Latin."
"In the Year 25-25: spent 6 weeks at the top of Billboard's Hot 100 & Adult Contemporary Charts...coincidentlyreaching #1 the week before man landed on the moon. It also topped the charts in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and West Germany.
Over the years, the song has been covered at least 60 times in 7 languages, and has been used in a number of TV Shows including “Futurama”...and films like “Alien 3.”
"In the Year 25-25" may be a one hit wonder...but in the year 20-26, It's still a Great Song of the '60s.
https://youtu.be/zKQfxi8V5FA
Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi (1986)
t happens more than you might think: An artist has to be talked into a song that he or she feels is not "good enough to be good,"much less "great."
"Livin' on a Prayer" is a prime example. IT's one of the best-selling singles of all time—but it was almost scrapped by Jon Bon Jovi until Richie Sambora stepped in.
After Jon voiced his dissatisfaction with the initial take, Richie, who co-wrote the song with Jon and Desmond Child, convinced him the song would be great with a little tinkering. So they reworked it with a new bassline, some different drum fills and a talk box.
The new version was deemed good enough to add to the 1986 album "Slippery When Wet," and when it was released as a single, it took off like a rocket!
"Livin' on a Prayer" was a top 10 hit in 14 countries, reaching #1 in New Zealand, Norway, The UK, Canada, and here in The US, where it topped Billboard's Rock Chart and Hot 100. The video was an MTV favorite, and worldwide, it sold more than 8 million copies!
And here's a Fun Fact for you: The song tells the story f Tommy and Gina, two kids working to make it on their own despite constant hardships...and was based on Desmond and an old girlfriend of his named Gina. He was a cab driver, and she was a singing waitress who worked in a diner. Obviously, record buyers could relate to the story.
So thanks in a major way to Richie Sambora, (and Desmond Child) “Livin' on a Prayer” became a Great Song of 1986.
https://youtu.be/lDK9QqIzhwk