Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Traffic’s “Dear Mr. Fantasy”
Although Steve Winwood was just shy of 19 when he formed the group Traffic in the spring of 1967, he was already a veteran...
Classic-Tracks
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Classic Tracks: The Grateful Dead’s “Touch of Grey”
In the summer of 1987, the Grateful Dead made it into the Top 10 with the only hit single of their 30-year career: “Touch...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s “Ohio”
When the National Guard was deployed against US citizens, killing four and injured nine others protesting at Kent State in 1970, CSN&Y's swift response...
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Classic Tracks: Jackson Browne’s “Late For The Sky”
Browne and the late legendary engineer Al Schmitt look back at the masterful title track of 1974's "Late For The Sky."
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Classic Tracks: Joe Walsh’s “Life’s Been Good”
Producer/engineer Bill Szymczyk talks about the recording of Joe Walsh’s 1978 hit, “Life’s Been Good”
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Brownsville Station’s “Smokin’ in the Boys Room”
When it came out in late 1973, "Smokin' in the Boys Room" immediately became the rallying anthem for many high school students.
2014
Classic Tracks: Liz Phair’s “Supernova”
Building on the success of her debut album, Exile in Guyville, Liz Phair came back with a rockin' ode to her boyfriend, "Supernova."
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Traveling Wilburys’ “Handle With Care”
The Traveling Wilburys were perhaps popular music's most unusual George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison wrote all the material
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away”
Take a deep dive into the recording of the Dobie Gray classic, oft-covered 1973 hit “Drift Away.”
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Classic Tracks: The Average White Band’s “Pick Up the Pieces”
There was something audacious about it: a group from Scotland calling itself The Average White Band. If the funk don't fly, then the honky...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Supertramp’s “The Logical Song”
"When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful..." That's the memorable opening to "The Logical Song" by Supertramp.
2014
Classic Tracks: Midnight Oil’s “Beds Are Burning”
Midnight Oil's “Beds Are Burning” was powerful on every level: musically, politically, sonically, even visually.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: “This Love,” Maroon 5
The band’s breakout hit in the summer of 2002, produced by Matt Wallace, nearly had a very different sound.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today”
He Stopped Loving Her Today: It's the saddest song, and the most mournful voice, and the most histrionic production and the cruelest punchline in...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way”
“Walk This Way” likely would not have come to be if Aerosmith hadn’t gotten itchy in the studio and decided to go to the...
2013
Classic Tracks: Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers’ “Tomorrow People”
Two albums into his career, Ziggy Marley took a gamble on working with a producer team that had never made records for anyone other...
2013
Classic Track: Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Pride and Joy”
The story of the recording of this Classic Track begins far from Texas, in Switzerland at the Montreux Jazz Festival in July 1982.
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Classic Tracks: Oingo Boingo’s “Just Another Day”
Oingo Boingo's new wave classic “Just Another Day” turns out to be more timeless than one might have imagined in 1985.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Peter Frampton’s “Do You Feel Like We Do”
The epic live single is a 1970s touchstone—which presented challenges for Peter Frampton and Chuck Ainlay when they brought it into the modern-day Dolby...
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Classic Tracks: Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild”
The road to becoming a rock 'n' roll icon is stranger for some than others. Take John Kay the voice and face of the...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Hall & Oates “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)”
"Remember the old Roland CompuRhythm box? I turned to the Rock and Roll 1 preset, sat down at a Korg organ that happened...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son”
Engineer Russ Gary talks about the recording of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son” in 1969.
2012
Classic Tracks: Eddie Money, “Two Tickets to Paradise”
Eddie Money burst onto the scene at an interesting time, with New Wave, Blue Collar Rock, Country Rock and more all in full-flower. Money...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Cheap Trick’s “Surrender”
Formed in 1974 by four musicians from Rockford, Ill., Cheap Trick possessed experience, musical chops and most of all, songs.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Joni Mitchell’s “Free Man in Paris”
1974 found Joni Mitchell in complete control of her music and sound
2019
Classic Tracks: Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart”
Was Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” really an example of 1980s audio excess? Here's how the #1 hit was built.
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Classic Tracks: Love’s “My Little Red Book”
A look back at the first charting single from Love.
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Classic Tracks: Bush’s “Glycerine”
Frontman Gavin Rossdale and the production team of Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley weigh in on the creation of a grunge-era classic.
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Classic Tracks: Booker T. & The MG’s’ “Time Is Tight”
A simple, four-chord tune laid to tape with no overdubs, "Time Is TIght" is a consummate work of soul minimalism.
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Classic Tracks: Chubby Checker’s “The Twist”
There have been dance fads as long as people have danced to novelty records -- but few have had the enduring appeal of Chubby...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: B.B. King’s “The Thrill Is Gone”
It was the last track of the last session of the album...and it was the perfect way to end it.
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Classic Tracks: Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say”
Ray Charles' best-known hit was first improvised on-stage to fill time at the end of a gig...and became legendary.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On”
"Let's Get It On" embraces love and lust, the spiritual and the carnal fused together in an uplifting union. Recording it was not as...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: David Bowie’s “Five Years,” “Soul Love” & “Moonage Daydream”
The Ziggy Stardust album kicked off with a bang while also cementing David Bowie's career thanks to its tryptich of classic tracks.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold”
By the time Neil Young rolled into Nashville to begin recording his Harvest album, he had already enjoyed several different careers as a musician.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: The Doors’ “Riders on the Storm”
“When we first recorded ‘Riders on the Storm,’ it was a nice, light song—but when we got into mixing it is when it all...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want To Have Fun”
Cyndi Lauper didn't want to record "Girls Just Want To Have Fun," but producer Rick Chertoff was sure it was a hit.
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Del Shannon’s “Runaway”
A look at the writing and recording of Del Shannon’s Number One hit from 1961, “Runaway”
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Culture Club’s “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me”
The third time was the charm when Culture Club hit the studio with producer Steve Levine in the summer of 1982; the result was...
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Classic Tracks: Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.”
While it wasn't a hit when first released, Randy Newman's sardonic "I Love L.A." has become an unofficial theme song for the City of...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Weird Al Yankovic’s “Eat It”
If Michael Jackson's "Beat It" is a classic, it stands to reason that Weird Al's parody, "Eat It" is one too—though it is entirely...
Classic-Tracks
Classic Tracks: Joni Mitchell’s “Help Me”
Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark is exceptional among her greatest records as it has her one Top-10 pop hit, “Help Me.”