Posts From Greg Brodsky

The Number One Singles of 1968: Those Were the Days

Five songs stayed at the top for 4 weeks or more. And thus, only 23 singles reached #1 in the U.S. that year. Ironically, 1968’s biggest was also its worst.

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When the Rolling Stones Performed on NYC’s Fifth Ave.

To promote their 1975 Made in the Shade tour, the band pulled off a stunt for the ages, playing live on a flatbed truck. Those were the days…

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The Zombies’ Unusual Path of Their ‘Odessey & Oracle’ LP

Our interview with the band’s Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone, and musician Al Kooper, who knew a hit when he heard one in “Time of the Season.”

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How the Rolling Stones’ ‘Steel Wheels’ Conquered Rock Radio (And the Birth of the Promo 12″ Single)

Columbia Records exec Paul Rappaport shares a story from his 2025 book, Gliders Over Hollywood: Airships, Airplay, and The Art of Rock Promotion.

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When Tom Petty Presaged the #MeToo Movement

One of the great American rock songwriters of his generation wrote and recorded a song with lyrics that seem to have anticipated the awareness campaign by decades.

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10 Classic Singles That Never Charted in the U.S.

There are plenty of classic tracks that most people would assume were pop hits. Despite their failure on the chart, many are considered among the artists’ signature songs.

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Bob Dylan ‘Nashville Skyline’ Cover: The Inside Story

Elliott Landy talks about the magic hour of light and serendipity of his photo. “[Bob] stopped at the coat rack and grabbed a hat. ‘Do you think we could use this?’”

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10 Re-Released Songs That Became Hits

Sometimes the timing just wasn’t right. When these classic rock songs first went to radio they flopped. The stars were aligned the second time.

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When We Were ‘Hooked on’ Blue Swede

The 1974 single, with the introductory chant of “ooga chaka,” topped the success of B.J. Thomas’ earlier hit, but was based on a very different version

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Danny Kortchmar on Playing With Carole, James, Jackson, & Don

Our interview with “Kootch” about his “new” band and of his phenomenal legacy as a session musician, songwriter and producer.

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