How the Song Came to Be
The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

ELO’s ‘Don’t Bring Me Down… Bruce!’

Most classic rock acts have a misheard lyric. It goes with the territory. So what did Jeff Lynne do when concert audiences started singing along to his big hit?

Read More
The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

Shining a Light on the Origin and Impact of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’

“I said to Leonard, ‘This is the one. This is what we’ve been waiting for. This might be your best record.'”—Producer/songwriter/performer John Lissauer

Read More
The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

The Glory of ‘Gloria’: Behind the Resilient Van Morrison Rock ’n’ Roll Anthem

One of the most beloved and oft-covered songs in the garage-rock canon started life as a single’s B-side. We take a look at the wonders of ‘G-L-O-R-I-A.’

Read More
The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

When Motown Went to ‘War’—The Edwin Starr #1 Hit

When Motown’s chief was reluctant to release an antiwar song by the Temptations as a single, another singer stepped in to re-record it. It went to #1.

Read More
The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

Gordon Lightfoot’s Tale of a Ship’s Crew and Its Captain

The singer-songwriter had a string of big hits including 1976’s “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” based on a true story of a doomed freighter.

Read More
The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

The Beatles’ Forgotten Top 20 Hit: A ‘Sweet’ Story

A top 20 hit in the U.S., yet it has received virtually no radio airplay in decades and is almost never mentioned in accounts of the band’s early days.

Read More
The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!

It was bizarre but an instant smash hit. Then there was a backlash. Read the strange tale of Napoleon XIV and hear the song that drove people mad.

Read More
The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

The Beatles’ “I’m Down”: The Overlooked McCartney Song You Need to Get Into Your Life

Paul loved Little Richard’s singing, and used to cover his songs with the band. Then he decided to write his own tune in Richard’s style…

Read More
The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

Zager & Evans’ ‘In the Year 2525’: The Gloomiest #1?

It was, to be sure, one of the bleakest songs ever to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. And then the duo never charted again.

Read More
The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

Pilot’s ‘Magic’ Trick: Never Believe It’s Not So

The Scottish band’s one great hit was the type that you might not hear for years, but when you do, it’s instantly familiar.

Read More