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

Ray Charles’ ‘What’d I Say’: An Accidental Classic

A consummate, road-tested professional, Charles sat down at his Wurlitzer electric piano and improvised a blues-based boogie-woogie riff.

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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

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The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

Remember Nelson? Twin Brothers Now Well Into Their 50s

Less than 5 years after the untimely death of their father, Ricky Nelson, Gunnar and Matthew were on top of the music world themselves

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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.

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The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

‘Paradise By the Dashboard Light’: Was Phil Rizzuto In On the Joke?

In interviews 30 years apart, with radio legend Dennis Elsas, Meat Loaf tells the inside story of the recording session with the beloved Yankees broadcaster

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The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

Once Upon a Time: Mark Lindsay on the Raiders’ ‘Good Thing’

The group’s lead vocalist talks about writing the hit single with producer Terry Melcher, the wild story of the Los Angeles home they lived in and the Tarantino movie

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The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

Sonny & Cher: ‘The Beat Goes On’ (& On & On)…

A breakdown of the way things used to be vs. the inevitable winds of change, it gave them their third major hit. But some things, it seemed, never changed

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The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

Harry Chapin Inspiration for ‘Taxi’

‘Cat’s in the Cradle’ may have been Harry Chapin’s biggest hit, but ‘Taxi’ resonated with listeners, perhaps due to its real-life connection.

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The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

Medley Mania of 1981-82: ‘Stars on 45,’ The Beatles & More

A Dutch novelty act released a single that was a medley of songs, backed by a disco beat. The worldwide #1 hit spawned other singles from actual superstars

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The Scene: How the Song Came to Be

Queen’s Homage to Space Exploration, “’39”

The band’s guitarist, Brian May, can do many things well, one of which is to write songs. This one, about time travel, presaged his PhD in astrophysics

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