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The Neil Young Song Emmylou Harris Adored Above All
Emmylou Harris has been very complimentary of her folk music peer, Neil Young, but to Harris, one of his songs stands above the rest. The post The Neil Young Song Emmylou Harris Adored Above All...
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The Story Behind the Song That Was Too Difficult for the Beatles to Pull Off...
"I had this idea of being an aspiring writer, and I imagined writing a letter to the publishing company to extol my own virtues and to sell myself," said Paul McCartney. The post The Story Behind the...
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How a Bus Trip to Graceland Inspired This Sultry One-Hit Wonder
The story behind how a bus trip to Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, inspired this sultry one hit wonder from 1989. The post How a Bus Trip to Graceland Inspired This Sultry One-Hit Wonder appeared...
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Without This Beatles B-Side, ‘Revolver’ Might Have Never Been the Same
Without this Beatles B-side from May 1966, their following record, 'Revolver,' might have never been the same. The post Without This Beatles B-Side, ‘Revolver’ Might Have Never Been the Same appeared...
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The Doors Used This Classic Western Ballad for “Riders on the Storm,” and I...
The Doors used this classic Western song to create their 1971 smash hit, "Riders on the Storm," the last song Jim Morrison ever recorded. The post The Doors Used This Classic Western Ballad for “Riders...
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“Stop Right There”: Lindsey Buckingham’s Reaction to Dixie Chicks’...
Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham had strong opinions about the effects of the Dixie Chicks cover of "Landslide." The post “Stop Right There”: Lindsey Buckingham’s Reaction to Dixie Chicks’...
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How Chris Stapleton and Carlos Santana Wrote “Joy” From Miles and Miles Apart
The story behind How Chris Stapleton and Carlos Santana collaborated, wrote, and recorded "Joy" from miles and miles apart. The post How Chris Stapleton and Carlos Santana Wrote “Joy” From Miles and...
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The Story and Meaning Behind “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” the Smash Hit That...
It's never wise to completely count out talented musicians, even if they seem to be slumping, feuding, or suffering from the fickle winds of popular taste. Yes, the '70s prog-rock mainstays, were doing...
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The Story and Meaning Behind “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” the...
The lead actor of the film for which it was intended didn't like the song at all. Neither did the first artist approached to sing it. Radio stations initially balked at the finished product, what with...
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The George Harrison-Penned Beatles Track That George Martin Hated So Much, He...
The Beatles producer George Martin hated one 'Sgt. Pepper'-era track from George Harrison so much that he cut it from the record completely. The post The George Harrison-Penned Beatles Track That...
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The Meaning Behind “The Warrior” by Scandal and Patty Smyth’s Connection to...
With her band Scandal, Patty Smyth became known for the hit single “The Warrior.” Scandal broke up following their 1984 tour, but their anthem remains a touchstone for ’80s pop rock. The post The...
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The Story and Meaning Behind “Sad Eyes,” the Winning Weeper by Robert John
A couple of decades after first hitting the charts as a teen, Robert John made an unexpected comeback with the 1979 single "Sad Eyes." You can probably tell from the title that it's a bit of a weeper,...
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Yacht Rock Essentials: “99,” the Subtly Sci-Fi Sleeper From Toto
Toto enjoyed the big career blast-off in 1979 with a Top-10 self-titled debut album and a Top-5 lead single ("Hold the Line"). Then there was the massive Toto IV in 1982, which churned out big hits and...
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Sharon Van Etten Searches for Compassion on “Southern Life (What It Must Be...
On “Southern Life (What It Must Be Like)” Sharon Van Etten gives another taste of her new band and upcoming album. Accompanied by drummer Jorge Balbi, bassist Devra Hoff, and multi-instrumentalist...
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It Came From the British Invasion: “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” by...
The similarities they shared with The Beatles meant Gerry and the Pacemakers were always going to be performing under a pretty big shadow. It's to their everlasting credit they managed to carve out...
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The Soldiers’ Song That Reunited Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham in 2011
"I feel like we're closer than we've been in 30 years," said Lindsey Buckingham to Stevie Nicks when they collaborated on her 2011 single. The post The Soldiers’ Song That Reunited Stevie Nicks and...
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The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” Has Long Been Subject of Controversy,...
Controversy has surrounded the Pogues' "Fairytale of New York" for decades, and songwriter Shane MacGowan said that was the whole point. The post The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” Has Long Been...
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The Original Lyrics to “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Are...
If it wasn't for Judy Garland, the lyrics to "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" would be surprisingly dark. The post The Original Lyrics to “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Are...
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The Historical Connection Between Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” and Two...
Christmas songs and war don't often go hand in hand, but Bing Crosby's beloved "White Christmas" is a notable exception. The post The Historical Connection Between Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” and...
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The Story Behind the ‘Saturday Night Live’ Holiday Classic “I Wish It Was...
"We just did it as a goof and then it was like 'Oh my God, it took off,'" said Jimmy Fallon of the 2000 'SNL' skit that turned into a hit. The post The Story Behind the ‘Saturday Night Live’ Holiday...
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