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Behind the Meaning of “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” by Dolly...
Several artists have delivered renditions of Kitty Wells’ “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels,” but it’s hard to beat out Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Tammy Wynette’s version. That trio of...
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R&B Classic “Hold On, I’m Comin’” Had a Surprisingly Potty-Mouthed Origin Story
Sam & Dave’s 1966 single “Hold On, I’m Comin’” is as iconic of a soul track as they come, cementing itself into the midcentury musical canon with its distinctive horn intro and catchy hooks that...
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How Bruce Hornsby Helped Huey Lewis and the News Land Their Third No. 1...
During their 1980s heyday, Huey Lewis and the News had a long run of hits, starting with 1982’s “Do You Believe in Love,” which hit No. 7 in America, and running through to 1991’s “It Hit Me Like a...
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The Story Behind “My Best Friend’s Girl” by The Cars and the One Simple Lyric...
The lines were blurred during the post-punk era in music. Bands like the New York Dolls, The Velvet Underground, and The Stooges created exciting new music. British bands like the Sex Pistols, The...
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Why The Mamas & The Papas Hated Their Biggest Hit, “Monday, Monday”
Writing a hit record is like catching lightning in a bottle, and sometimes, you don’t know that you caught it until after the fact. Such was the case for The Mamas & The Papas in 1966, who spent...
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The Story Behind “Well Alright” by Johnny Cash and the Close Collaborators...
Johnny Cash’s posthumous new song “Well Alright” follows the late singer in a charming tale of falling in love in a laundromat. Cash’s new album Songwriter is due on June 28. The album collects demos...
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The Classic Ballad The Everly Brothers Never Released as a Single That Turned...
Before Nazareth had a hit with their Hair of the Dog title track, the Scottish rockers reached the top 10 internationally with “Love Hurts.” The cover of the Everly Brothers‘ 1960 song, “Love Hurts”...
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Behind the Meaning of “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” by Ariana...
Ariana Grande previewed her album, Eternal Sunshine, with “we can’t be friends (wait for your love).” While the beat of this song is dance-able, the lyrics are thought provoking and introspective....
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The Story Behind “Idiot Wind” by Bob Dylan and Why He Wanted It to Be Like a...
Bob Dylan took an eight-year break from touring between 1966 and 1974. The news of his Tour ’74 caused ripples all around the world. He was reconnected with The Band, and they performed 40 arena shows...
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The Self-Destructive Madness that Inspired “2 Minutes to Midnight” by Iron...
There was plenty of apocalyptic and nuclear war imagery proliferating throughout pop culture and art during the 1980s. It was easy to see why with the Cold War in full swing and the two major...
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The Generational Evolution of “I Hear You Knocking” by Dave Edmunds
A recurring theme can be used in songs for generations. Knocking on a door is such a simple action, yet it’s been sung about for years. In 1928, James “Boodle It” Wiggins recorded a song called “Keep...
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Behind the Meaning of Reba McEntire’s Newest Single, “I Can’t”
Reba McEntire debuted a new song on The Voice titled “I Can’t.” The western-themed song sees McEntire become overwhelmed with emotion. I can’t throw you a line right now / I’m too busy tryin’ to live,...
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The Story Behind Aerosmith’s Signature Tune “Sweet Emotion” and the Bass Riff...
Bassist Tom Hamilton developed a bass riff after listening to “Rice Pudding” by Jeff Beck while he was in high school. As Aerosmith were recording Toys in the Attic, producer Jack Douglas asked if any...
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The Story Behind the “Sassy” Persona Maggie Rogers Adopts on “So Sick of...
Maggie Rogers’ earliest hits were typically songs that held a great deal of meaning for her personally. “Alaska” is about Rogers discovering a sense of groundedness while hiking. “Light On” was about...
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The Meaning Behind “Big Love” by Fleetwood Mac, a Song Left Behind by Lindsey...
When folks heard “Big Love” by Fleetwood Mac in 1987, they likely assumed that it was business as usual for the mega-successful band. Little did most know that the author and singer of the song,...
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The Meaning Behind “Please Mr. Please” by Olivia Newton-John and How It Was...
Before she toggled between acting and singing, and seemed to have major hits with everything she touched in the late ’70s and early ’80s, Olivia Newton-John enjoyed outstanding success as a crossover...
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The Story Behind “Talk Talk” by Talk Talk and How the Group Came to Be Purely...
Ah, the ‘80s. There were the Technicolor music videos, big hair, and bold fashion that were common in the music industry, moreso during the latter half of the decade. Then there was another very fun...
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Patsy Montana’s 1935 Hit “I Wanna Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart” Made Her the...
Shortly after Rubye Rose Blevins, later known as Patsy Montana, connected with the Prairie Ramblers in the early 1930s—the band that would back her on most of her hit recordings, and became regulars...
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The Initial Concession and Ultimate Triumph of “Bring Me to Life” By Evanescence
When Arkansas band Evanescence originally signed with Wind-up Records in 2001, they were sent to Los Angeles for a couple of years to work on their material, hone their chops, and develop something...
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The Meaning Behind “Head Games” by Foreigner and How a Band in Flux Still...
The fellows in Foreigner recently received the news the band has been inducted into the latest class of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Their consistency helped them rise to that hallowed level, as...
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