How the Song Came to Be
Ray Charles: ‘What’d I Say’—An Accidental Classic
A consummate, road-tested professional, he sat down at his Wurlitzer electric piano and improvised a blues-based boogie-woogie riff.
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‘Dueling Banjos’ From ‘Deliverance’: An Unlikely Hit
The song, featured prominently in the 1972 thriller, was used without the permission of its composer. There’s actually only one banjo used.
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The Beatles’ ‘I Saw Her Standing There’: Way Beyond Compare
The song is an endless (and endlessly relatable) story, but also a finite one in that it takes place in less than three minutes.
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Dion’s Moving ‘Abraham, Martin and John’
Tension was in the air in 1968 and rock music reflected the turmoil. Then came a voice from the past, gently singing of non-violence and hope.
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‘Billy Jack’: One Tin Soldier Rides Away
The movie, directed, written and starring Tom Laughlin, had a long journey on its way to the screen. Its memorable song was recorded – and charted – multiple times.
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Elvis Presley’s Inspiring ‘If I Can Dream’: Behind the Song
There are many goosebump-inducing scenes in Elvis, the sensational 2022 biopic. One such chapter is his 1968 comeback TV special, and its culminating moment.
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Carly Simon’s Breakthrough to Superstardom: ‘You’re So Vain’
Watch the singer-songwriter perform a previously unheard verse of her huge 1972 hit from a ‘Carly Simon No Secrets’ classic albums special.
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The Gentrys’ ‘Keep on Dancing’: Behind the ’60s Garage Classic
The Memphis septet took an obscure R&B tune and turned it into a top 5 rocker in 1965. The story behind the recording—and the band—is fascinating.
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A-Ha’s ‘Take On Me’ MTV Unplugged Transforms the Song
A song you’ve heard countless times; its 1985 video has an astonishing number of views on YouTube. A touching acoustic version transforms the song.
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The Crazy World of Arthur Brown’s Incendiary ‘Fire’
He took the title of his one hit seriously, even putting flaming items on his head while he performed. But he never made the charts again after his 1968 smash.
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