Michael Jackson - "She's Out of My Life" (1980)

I had practically forgotten about this song but I wrote about it in my old diary journals from 1986 after a girl I dated (Anne Alberti) did something rude to me. I wanted to deliver a Christmas gift to her and she asked me 'NOT TO COME TO HER HOUSE' because she was expecting someone else (another boyfriend). And so, this song was so pertinent for me 'at the time'. "She's Out of My Life" is a song written by musical artist Tom Bahler. Although it has been claimed that Bahler wrote the song about Karen Carpenter, Bahler stated, "The fact is, I had already written that song by the time Karen and I became romantic. That song was written more about Rhonda Rivera. Rhonda and I had been together for two years, and it was after we broke up that I started dating Karen." The song has been recorded by a variety of artists, including: Michael Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Ginuwine, 98°, Jon Lee, Barbara Mandrell, Nina, Willie Nelson, Josh Groban and Karel Gott (Czech Album: I Love You For Sentimental Reasons, performed in English). The song became famous as the fourth single to be released by singer Michael Jackson from his successful Off the Wall album in 1979. It was the first time a solo artist had achieved four top ten hits from one album. Unlike the album's previous singles (which were all dance-oriented funk/disco songs), the "She's Out of My Life" song was an emotional ballad. Jackson's vocals on the record were considered by critics to be some of his best.

The Foundations - "Build Me Up Buttercup" (1968)

The Foundations were a British soul band, active from 1967 to 1970. The group, made up of West Indians, White British, and a Sri Lankan, are best known for their two biggest hits, "Baby Now That I've Found You" (a Number One hit in the UK Singles Chart and Canada, and subsequently Top 10 in the US), written by Tony Macaulay and John MacLeod; and "Build Me Up Buttercup" (a number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 in Canada), co-written by Macaulay with Mike d'Abo, at the time the lead vocalist with Manfred Mann. The group was the first multi-racial group to have a number 1 hit in the UK in the 1960s.

"Build Me Up Buttercup" is the name of a song written by Mike d'Abo and Tony Macaulay, and released by The Foundations with Colin Young singing the lead vocals in 1968. This was the third major hit for The Foundations. Colin Young replaced Clem Curtis in 1968 and this was the first Foundations hit that he sang on. It reached number 2 on the UK charts and number 3 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for 11 weeks.

It was re-recorded in or around the late 1980s when original Foundations members Clem Curtis and Alan Warner teamed up to recut this as well as other hits of The Foundations.

In 2003, Colin Young recorded an updated version of the song backed by a choir of policemen from the Surrey police force. The proceeds from the sale of the CD go to Milly's Fund. The fund is a trust set up in memory of murdered school girl Amanda Dowler. Apparently the song was a favourite of hers. The song was used in the 1983 film Luggage of the Gods!, and featured again in movies twice in the 1990s and once in 2007.

It was covered by rock band The Goops in 1995 for the soundtrack of Mallrats, with the music video featuring View Askewniverse characters Jay and Silent Bob. Three years later, it was included (as its original version) in the 1998 film There's Something about Mary. The actors of the film also made a video for the song, with all the main actors miming to the words in character.

Stealers Wheel - "Stuck In The Middle With You" (1972)

Today, December 9, 2011 I was editing this photo that I took in ROME, ITALY. The photo caption that came to my mind was 'Stuck In The Middle With You' which made me think of this tune. "Stuck in the Middle with You"(sometimes known as "Stuck in the Middle") is a song written by Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan and originally performed by their band Stealers Wheel. The song was inspired by a real occasion when the record company and producers were conducting business across Rafferty and Egan at a restaurant table. "Stuck in the Middle" was released on Stealers Wheel's 1972 self-titled debut album. Gerry Rafferty provided the lead vocals, with Joe Egan singing harmony. The song was conceived initially by the band members as a parody of Bob Dylan's distinctive lyrical style and paranoia. The band was surprised by the single's chart success. The single sold over one million copies, eventually peaking in 1973 at #6 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and #8 in the UK Singles Chart. It was produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

The House of Love - "I Don't Know Why I Love You"

From 1989, this "I Don't Know Why I Love You" came my way yesterday and I recalled how much I LOVE IT. The House of Love is an English alternative rock band. Formed in 1986, the band rose to prominence in the UK as a leading indie rock band in 1988 and split up in 1993, eventually reforming a decade later in 2003. The band is best known for its detailed psychedelic guitar sound and for the successful singles "Shine On", "Christine" and "Destroy the Heart". The best-known members of The House of Love are singer/songwriter/guitarist Guy Chadwick and lead guitarist/backing singer Terry Bickers, who were the creative core of the original band until an acrimonious split in 1989 and who reformed the band together in 2003.

Lobo - "I'd Love You To Want Me" (1972)

"I'd Love You to Want Me" is the title of a popular song from 1972 by Roland Kent Lavoie, who performed using the stage name Lobo. Lavoie wrote the song, which appears on his album Of a Simple Man.

Released as a single in the fall of 1972, "I'd Love You to Want Me" was the singer's highest charting hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it spent two weeks at number two in November of that year. It was kept from the top spot by Johnny Nash's hit song, "I Can See Clearly Now".

The song also spent one week at number one on the Billboard easy listening chart, Lavoie's second of four songs to achieve this feat. When originally released in the United Kingdom in 1972, the song failed to reach the UK Singles Chart; however, a re-release of the single in 1974 peaked at #5.

The song also topped music charts in Australia (Kent Music Report, two weeks), Canada (RPM Magazine, one week) and Germany (Media Control Charts, 13 weeks).

Styx - "Come Sail Away" (1977)

"Come Sail Away" is a song by American progressive rock group Styx, featured on the band's seventh album The Grand Illusion (1977). Upon its release as the lead single from the album, "Come Sail Away" charted at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100, and helped The Grand Illusion achieve multi-platinum sales in 1978. It is one of the biggest hits of Styx' career.

Musically, "Come Sail Away" combines a plaintive, ballad-like opening section (including piano and synthesizer interludes) with a bombastic, guitar-heavy second half. In the middle of the second half of the album version is a minute-long synthesizer instrumental.

Styx member Dennis DeYoung revealed on In the Studio with Redbeard (which devoted an entire episode to the making of The Grand Illusion), that he was depressed when he wrote the track after Styx's first two A&M offerings, Equinox and Crystal Ball, sold fewer units than expected after the success of the single "Lady".

The track became the regular closing track during the band's live set before the encore, and DeYoung now closes nearly all of his live concert performances with a rendition.

Al Wilson - "Show and Tell" (1973)

"Show and Tell" is a popular song written by Jerry Fuller and first recorded by Johnny Mathis in 1972.

A 1973 recording of the song by Al Wilson reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week on January 19, 1974, which sold over two million copies and was named a Cashbox Magazine Number One Single of the Year.  Wilson's version also made number ten on the Hot Soul Singles chart.

Peabo Bryson had a number one R&B hit with his version of the song in 1989. Bryson's version did not chart on the Hot 100.

The song is often played by Paul Schaffer and The CBS Orchestra on The Late Show with David Letterman for the segment "Show & Tell".

Crosby, Stills and Nash - "Teach Your Children" (1970)

"Teach Your Children" is a song by Graham Nash. Although it was written when Nash was a member of The Hollies, it was never recorded by that group, and first appeared on the album Déjà Vu by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young released in 1970.  The recording features Jerry Garcia on pedal steel guitar. Garcia had made an arrangement so if that he played pecal steel on Teach Your Children that CSNY would teach Bob Weir. Released as a single, the song peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts that year.

The song was also used in the 1971 comedy film Melody.

Nash, who is also a photographer and collector of photographs, has stated in an interview that the immediate inspiration for the song came from a famous photograph by Diane Arbus, "Child with Toy Hand Grenade in Central Park." The image, which depicts a child with an angry expression holding the toy weapon, prompted Nash to reflect on the societal implications of messages given to children about war and other issues.

In 1984, Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale used the song in a campaign commercial on arms control.

In 1994, Crosby, Stills & Nash re-recorded the song with guest vocals from country music artists Suzy Bogguss, Alison Krauss and Kathy Mattea, crediting the recording to "The Red Hots". This version was included on the album Red Hot + Country, a release by the Red Hot Organization benefiting AIDS awareness. The Red Hots' version of the song spent one week on the Hot Country Songs charts in October 1994, peaking at #75. The song was performed by Michael and Dwight on the 2006 Office episode "Take Your Daughter to Work Day".

Robert Palmer - "Bad Case of Loving You" (1979)

"Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)" is a 1978 song recorded by Robert Palmer and written by Moon Martin. The song appeared on Palmer's 1979 album Secrets and was a hit, reaching #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Canadian RPM chart in 1979. It was remixed with heavier guitars and drums for the greatest hits collection Addictions: Volume 1.

The song was featured in the season 2 Scrubs episode My First Step, when Julie Keaton (Heather Locklear) was first introduced to the show.

A sample of the song is used as the theme song for the show The Doctors.

The song was also was also featured in the Indonesian sitcom My Many Wives.

The song was also used in an advertising campaign for reruns of the medical drama House M.D. on the station USA.

The song was also used in the 1997 movie Romy & Michele's High School Reunion.

The song was also used in the 2002 South Korean film Chingu.

The song was also used during the end credits of an episode of the U.S. version of Queer as Folk (Season 1, Episode 9).

The song was also used in 2005 movie Just Like Heaven. Billy Gibbons collaborating with Les Paul performed "Bad Case of Lovin' You" for his 'Les Paul & Friends' album. Jason Greeley sang the song on Top Five night of season two of Canadian Idol.

The song was also played prior to the start of a home game Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Roy Halladay pitched as his entry music.

The chorus of the song served as an allusion to his nickname, "Doc" Halladay.

The song is also played during the end credits of the 1992 horror movie Dr. Giggles.

In the 1980s, the song was used promoting Dr. Pepper in its commercials.

The Kinks - "Lola" (1970)

"Lola" is a song written by Ray Davies and performed by The Kinks which details a romantic encounter between a young man and a transvestite he meets in a club in Soho, London.

Released in June 1970, in the UK on the 12th and in the USA on the 28th, the single was taken from the album Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One and reached #2 in the UK charts and #9 in the US. It was ranked 422nd on the List of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and its C-D-E power riff is recognized among the famous riffs of rock.

In the book The Kinks: The Official Biography, Davies says that he was inspired to write this song after the band manager Robert Wace had spent the night dancing with a transvestite.
Davies said, “ In his apartment, Robert had been dancing with this black woman, and he said, 'I'm really onto a thing here.'
And it was okay until we left at six in the morning and then I said, 'Have you seen the stubble?'
He said 'Yeah,' but he was too pissed [i.e., drunk] to care, I think. ”

In his autobiography, Dave Davies mentions that he came up with the music for what would become Lola.  After Dave had shown his brother the music, Ray came up with the lyrics. Dave goes on to claim his brother took all the credit for the song.

The original song recorded in stereo had the word "Coca-Cola" in the lyrics, but because of BBC Radio's policy against product placement, Ray was forced to make a six thousand mile round-trip flight from New York to London — interrupting the band's American tour — to change those words to the generic "cherry cola" for the single release.

The success of the single had important ramifications for the band's career at a critical time, allowing them to negotiate a new contract with RCA Records, construct their own London Studio, and assume more creative and managerial control.

The Raspberries - "Go All The Way" (1972)

"Go All the Way" is a hit single by Raspberries, released in July 1972. It was written by band leader Eric Carmen, who also provided lead vocals, and co-written by Wally Bryson. The song reached the Top 5 on three principal U.S. charts, #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, #4 on Cashbox and #3 on Record World. The tune sold more than 1.3 million copies and earned the band their first Gold Record Award. It was their second single release, their all-time biggest U.S. hit, and appeared on their debut LP, Raspberries.

The repeat of the words "Come On", in the bridge or middle section, is loosely based on the "Come On's" that the Beatles did in the song "Please Please Me".

Because of its sexually suggestive lyrics, considered risque for the day, the song was banned by the BBC.

The tune ranked at #33 on Billboard's Top 100 Singles of 1972 year-end list (#39 on Cashbox's year-end best-sellers countdown). In 1989, Spin magazine named "Go All The Way" to its list of the "100 Greatest Singles Of All Time", ranking it at #91. "Go All The Way" appeared in Blender magazine's July 2006 issue as one of its "Greatest Songs Ever".

Director Cameron Crowe, a Raspberries fan, used the song in his 2000 film Almost Famous.

Matthew Sweet and Bangles member Susanna Hoffs included a faithful rendition of the song in their 2009 collaboration Under the Covers, Vol. 2.

Matthew Duffy - "Until The End" (2005)

"Until the End" Music and Lyrics: Matthew Duffy & Neil Krin Performed: Matthew Duffy & Neil Krin for SEASON ONE of the TV Series "DANTE'S COVE". Dante's Cove is an American LGBT-oriented supernatural soap opera. The series airs on here!, an American gay-oriented network, and on Gay.com. Created by Michael Costanza and directed by Sam Irvin, Dante's Cove combines elements of the horror and soap opera genres in telling the story of Kevin (Gregory Michael) and Toby (Charlie David), a young couple seeking to be together and overcome the dark mystical forces that conspire to separate them. The show debuted in 2005 to a mixed critical reception. The third season ended on December 21, 2007. here! announced that a fourth season would be in production in the fall of 2009; however, production has not commenced. On June 6, 2011, here! announced an eight episode season of 30 minute episodes to begin airing in Fall 2011 under the title Dante's Cove: Book of Tresum.

Special AKA - "Free Nelson Mandela" (1984)

In the mid-1980's I was an avid bicyclist and in the San Francisco Bay Area region I would hear this song play via my SONY headphones and start pedaling 'like there was no tomorrow'. A classic favorite for me.

"Nelson Mandela" (known in some versions as "Free Nelson Mandela") is a song written by Jerry Dammers and performed by his Coventry-based band The Special A.K.A. - with lead vocal by Stan Campbell - released on the single Nelson Mandela / Break Down The Door in 1984 as a protest against the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela. Unlike most protest songs, the track is upbeat and celebratory, drawing on musical influences from South Africa.

The song reached No.9 in the UK charts and was immensely popular in Africa. Dammers told the Radio Times about the song: "I knew very little about Mandela until I went to an anti-apartheid concert in London in 1983, which gave me the idea for "Nelson Mandela", I never knew how much impact the song would have; it was a hit around the world, and it got back into South Africa and was played at sporting events and ANC rallies-it became an anthem." Stan Campbell left the band right after the recording of the song and the release of the video for the song, and had to be co-erced into rejoining briefly for a live appearance on the BBC TV show Top of the Pops in 1984.

Following that one TV appearance, Campbell left for good. In 1984 the students' union at Wadham College, Oxford passed a motion to end every college "bop" (dance) with the song. The tradition continues despite his release.

A Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute remake released in 1988 featured Elvis Costello, Dave Wakeling, Ranking Roger and Lynval Golding on backing vocals. At the Nelson Mandela 90th Birthday Tribute in London's Hyde Park in June 2008, the song was performed as the show's finale, with Amy Winehouse on lead vocals. However, careful listening to the soundtrack revealed that, instead of "Free Nelson Mandela", she at times sang "Free Blakey, My Fella" (a reference to her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, a former drug dealer imprisoned for assault).

The song was featured on Peter Kay's spoof television programme Britain's Got the Pop Factor. In 2010, the New Statesman listed it as one of the “Top 20 Political Songs”.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (born 18 July 1918) served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC).

In 1962 he was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, and sentenced to life in prison. Mandela served 27 years in prison, spending many of these years on Robben Island. Following his release from prison on 11 February 1990, Mandela led his party in the negotiations that led to multi-racial democracy in 1994. As president from 1994 to 1999, he frequently gave priority to reconciliation, while introducing policies aimed at combating poverty and inequality in South Africa.

In South Africa, Mandela is often known as Madiba, his Xhosa clan name; or as tata (Xhosa: father). Mandela has received more than 250 awards over four decades, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize. In July 2001 Mandela was diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer. He was treated with a seven-week course of radiation.

In 2003 Mandela's death was incorrectly announced by CNN when his pre-written obituary (along with those of several other famous figures) was inadvertently published on CNN's web site due to a fault in password protection. In 2007 a fringe right-wing group distributed hoax email and SMS messages claiming that the authorities had covered up Mandela's death and that white South Africans would be massacred after his funeral. Mandela was on holiday in Mozambique at the time.

In June 2004, at age 85, Mandela announced that he would be retiring from public life. His health had been declining, and he wanted to enjoy more time with his family. Mandela said that he did not intend to hide away totally from the public, but wanted to be in a position "of calling you to ask whether I would be welcome, rather than being called upon to do things and participate in events. My appeal therefore is: Don't call me, I will call you." Since 2003, he has appeared in public less often and has been less vocal on topical issues. He is white-haired and walks slowly with the support of a stick.

There are reports that he may be suffering from age-related dementia. Mandela's 90th birthday was marked across the country on 18 July 2008, with the main celebrations held at his home town of Qunu. A concert in his honour was also held in Hyde Park, London. In a speech to mark his birthday, Mandela called for the rich people to help poor people across the world. Despite maintaining a low-profile during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Mandela made a rare public appearance during the closing ceremony, where he received a "rapturous reception."

In January 2011, he was admitted to the private Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, for what were at the time described as "routine tests" by his foundation, leading to intense media speculation about the health condition of the increasingly frail Mandela. It later emerged that he had been suffering from a respiratory infection, which had responded well to treatment. He was discharged after two and a half days in hospital in a stable condition, and returned to his Houghton, Johannesburg home in an ambulance.

General Public - "Tenderness" (1984)

"Tenderness" is a song by General Public from their 1984 album All the Rage, produced by I.R.S. Records. The song's lyrics tell about a man who really needs tenderness to feel like a man. It was one of the band's first singles. The single cover of the extended versions has a sentence reading "words like conviction can turn into a sentence".

It was used towards the end of the films Weird Science and Clueless, and featured on both soundtracks.

American mixed martial artist and former UFC fighter Dave Kaplan used the song as his entrance theme at TUF 8 Finale in 2008. It was also used in the 2011 film Just Go with It, in the movie and in the trailer as a mash-up along with Umbrella by Rihanna (which was also heard in the movie).

Part of the instrumental was used in Target commercials in 2010-2011

Morris Albert - "Feelings" (1974)

"Feelings" is a song based on a melody composed by Loulou Gasté and made famous by Morris Albert, who recorded it as a single released in 1974 that later appeared as the title track of his 1975 debut album. The song's lyrics, recognizable by their "whoa whoa whoa" chorus, concern the singer's inability to "forget my feelings of love". Albert's original recording of the song was very successful, performing well internationally.

"Feelings" peaked at #6 on the pop and #2 on the Adult Contemporary charts in America. Over the next few years "Feelings" was performed by many other vocalists including Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, José José, Caetano Veloso, Frank Sinatra, Engelbert Humperdinck, Shirley Bassey, Glen Campbell, The O'Jays, Sarah Vaughan, Walter Jackson, Sergey Penkin, Dobie Gray and Johnny Mathis. It was also recorded by numerous easy listening bandleaders and ensembles such as Percy Faith, Ferrante & Teicher, 101 Strings and Herb Ohta whose ukelele rendition was recorded with Andre Popp's orchestra for A&M Records.

In more recent years "Feelings" has been best known as a target of parody and ridicule for embodying what are perceived by many as the most insipid lyrical and musical qualities of 1970s "soft rock" music. It appears frequently on lists of "the worst songs ever" and was included on the 1998 Rhino Records compilation album '70s Party Killers.

Because of stylistic similarities "Feelings" is sometimes mistakenly associated with Barry Manilow, though Manilow has never recorded the song.

Lucille Ball - "Hey! Look Me Over" (1960)

"Hey, Look Me Over", a song from the musical Wildcat, whose tune was adapted into one of Louisiana State University's school songs, "Hey, Fightin’ Tigers". Wildcat is a musical with a book by N. Richard Nash, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, and music by Cy Coleman. The original production opened on Broadway in 1960, starring a 48-year-old Lucille Ball in her only Broadway show.

Daft Punk - Derezzed [Avicii Vocal Remix] (2011)

Daft Punk did the song Derezzed for the movie TRON. Can't say that I'm a fan, and I didn't much care for the original version of the song. It simply lacked vocals to back up a pretty hot track, but Avicii to the rescue. If you're into House, you know Avicii has been simply tearing up the scene this year. The song Levels has been this years mega-hit, and I can't stop listening. This remix of Derezzed is no exception, and the bar has been set once again!

Carl Douglas - "Kung Fu Fighting" (1974)

"Kung Fu Fighting" is a disco song written by Carl Douglas, published by Edition Carren / SMV Schacht Musikverlage GmbH & Co. KG and produced by Biddu. It was released as a single in 1974, at the cusp of a chopsocky film craze, and eventually rose to the top of the British and American charts, in addition to reaching number one on the Soul Singles chart. It received a Gold certification from the RIAA in 1974, won the 1974 Grammy Award for Best Selling Single, and popularized disco music. It eventually went on to sell eleven million records worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time. The song uses the quintessential Oriental riff, a short musical phrase that is used to signify Chinese culture. Kung Fu Fighting was rated number 100 in VH1's 100 Greatest one-hit wonders, and number 1 in the UK Channel 4's Top 10 One Hit Wonders list in 2000, the same channel's 50 Greatest One Hit Wonders poll in 2006 and Bring Back ... the one-hit Wonders, for which Carl Douglas performed the song in a live concert.

Nolan Strong & The Diablos - "The Wind" (1954)

Nolan Strong & The Diablos were a Detroit-based R&B and doo-wop vocal group best known for its hit songs "The Wind" and "Mind Over Matter." The group was one of the most popular, pre-Motown, R&B acts in Detroit during the mid 1950s, through the early 1960s. Nolan Strong (1934–1977), the lead vocalist, had an ethereally high tenor. Strong's smooth voice, influenced mainly by Clyde McPhatter was, in turn, a primary influence on a young Smokey Robinson. The group, along with label-mates Andre Williams and Nathaniel Mayer, recorded for Fortune Records, a small label in Detroit starting in 1954, and ending somewhere around 1973. Strong has also been an influence on rock and roll bands. In December 2009 Lou Reed, of the influential '60s band The Velvet Underground, told Rolling Stone Magazine editor David Fricke, "If I could really sing, I’d be Nolan Strong" - during an interview at the New York Public Library. The Diablos were inducted into the United In Group Harmony Hall of Fame in 2003. In March 2008 the group was inducted into the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame of America. In 2007, The Metro Times listed "The Wind" at #11 in The 100 Greatest Detroit Songs list - which was the November 11th cover story. In September 2010 Daddy Rockin Strong: A Tribute to Nolan Strong & The Diablos LP was released by The Wind Records, with distribution by Norton Records. The album features 13 new Diablos covers by a cast of rock and roll, punk and garage rock bands. It features The Dirtbombs, Reigning Sound, Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby and Mark Sultan, among others. "The Wind" is a 1954 doo-wop classic by the pre-Motown Detroit R&B group Nolan Strong & The Diablos. The song appears originally on the group's second 45rpm single, "The Wind / Baby Be Mine," (Fortune Records #511) The song has a unique, reverb-heavy sound and is centered around the high ethereal lead tenor voice of the band's leader, Nolan Strong. In 2007, The Metro Times listed "The Wind" at #11 in The 100 Greatest Detroit Songs list - which was the November 11th cover story. "The Wind" was the group's only national hit, though most of the group's other hits were huge local successes in Detroit, including "Mind Over Matter" (Fortune #546, 1962), which went to #1 on local radio station play lists in 1962.

David Archuleta - "To Be With You" (2008)

David James Archuleta (born December 28, 1990) is an American pop singer-songwriter. At ten years old he won the children's division of the Utah Talent Competition leading to other television singing appearances. When he was twelve years old, Archuleta became the Junior Vocal Champion on Star Search 2. In 2007, at sixteen years old, he became one of the youngest contestants on the seventh season of American Idol. In May 2008 he finished as the runner-up, receiving 44 percent of over 97 million votes. In August 2008 Archuleta released "Crush," the first single from his self-titled debut album. The album, released two months later, debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart; it has sold over 750,000 copies in the U.S. and over 900,000 Worldwide. In October 2010 he released a third album, The Other Side of Down featuring lead single "Something 'Bout Love".

The Beatles - "Love Me Do" (1962)

I find it so wonderful how these 'three' words (LOVE ME DO) can make such a magical hit song. "Love Me Do" is an early Lennon/McCartney song, principally written by Paul McCartney in 1958–1959 while playing truant from school at age 16. John Lennon wrote the middle eight.

The song was The Beatles' first single, backed by "P.S. I Love You" and released on 5 October 1962. When the single was originally released in the United Kingdom, it peaked at number seventeen; in 1982 it was re-issued and reached number four. In the United States the single was a number one hit in 1964.

"Love Me Do" is intrinsically a song based around two simple chords: G7 and C, before moving to D for its middle eight. It first profiles Lennon playing a bluesy dry "dockside harmonica" riff , then features Lennon and McCartney on joint lead vocals, including Everly Brothers style harmonising during the beseeching "please" before McCartney sings the unaccompanied vocal line on the song's title phrase. Lennon had previously sung the title sections, but this change in arrangement was made in the studio under the direction of producer George Martin when he realised that the harmonica part encroached on the vocal (Lennon needed to begin playing the harmonica again on the same beat as the "do" of "love me do" although, according to Ian MacDonald, for the earlier 6 June audition the harmonica was overdubbed, allowing Lennon to sing the title phrase unhindered).

This is illustrative of the time constraints on this particular session - their first recording session proper; as for instance, when a similar situation later occurred on the "Please Please Me" single session, the harmonica was superimposed afterwards using tape-to-tape overdubbing. Described by MacDonald as "standing out like a bare brick wall in a suburban sitting-room", "Love Me Do" with its stark "blunt working class northerness" rang "the first faint chime of a revolutionary bell" compared to the standard tin pan alley productions occupying the charts at the time.

"Love Me Do" was recorded by the Beatles on three different occasions with three different drummers:

The Uptones - Out To Sea (1984)

The Uptones formed in Berkeley, California while band members Eric Dinwiddie (aka, "Din"), Paul Jackson, Ben Eastwood and Charles Stella were attending Berkeley High School and Cazadero Performing Arts Camp. They were originally inspired to start a ska band in 1981 after attending an English Beat show in San Francisco. The Uptones were heavily influenced by the English 2 Tone sound, as well as the British mod scene, punk rock, and the original Jamaican ska sound from the late 1950s. "OUT TO SEA" by The Uptones is part of the long-out-of-print LP from "The Quake FM99 presents: Rock of '84" which featured 10 tracks by some of the best San Francisco Bay Area bands.

The Human League - "Human" (1986)

"Human" is a song recorded by British synthpop band The Human League. It was released as the first single from their 1986 album Crash. The track was written and produced by US producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. In 1985 the recording sessions for the Human League's fifth album were not going well; and the band did not like the results which was causing internal conflict. Virgin Records executives, worried by the lack of progress from their at-the-time most-profitable signing, suggested the band accept an offer to work with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis who already had material to work with; and had expressed an interest in the band from their U.S. releases. Jam and Lewis had recently emerged as in-demand talent due to their success with Janet Jackson and her Control album. Of the ten songs on Crash, Jam and Lewis wrote three, "Human" being one of them. It is a mid-tempo ballad which lyrically is an exchange between a man and a woman in a relationship who have reunited after a separation. In the first two verses Philip Oakey is apologizing to his partner for being unfaithful during her absence, and in the song's breakdown Joanne Catherall's spoken-word confession reveals that she too was unfaithful. The song's title is derived from the chorus, in which both parties in the relationship explain that they are "only human" and "born to make mistakes". "Human" became the second million-selling number-one single for The Human League on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (after "Don't You Want Me") and their second chart-topper on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart (after "(Keep Feeling) Fascination"). Jam and Lewis' R&B-based production was also popular on American urban radio, bringing the Human League into the top ten of the U.S. R&B chart for the first time. In the UK, where R&B was less popular "Human" peaked at number eight in the UK singles chart. However, it did hit #1 in 76 other countries making the single one of the biggest worldwide hits of the 1980s. It was a welcome success for the Human League, who were starting to suffer from creative stagnation and a slight decline in fortunes after a hugely successful start to the 1980s. The song was revived and remixed by U.S. producers Joel Dickinson & John Michael in 2010. This new club remix incorporated elements from Coldplay's hit, Viva La Vida. It was a favorite among NYC dj's including Junior Vasquez.

Ray Charles - "Hit The Road Jack" (1961)

"Hit the Road Jack" is a song written by rhythm and bluesman Percy Mayfield and first recorded in 1960 as an a capella demo sent to Art Rupe, available on the Memory Pain CD vol. 2, Specialty Records SPCD-7027-2.

It became famous after it was recorded by singer-pianist Ray Charles. It hit number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, beginning on Monday, October 9, 1961.

The song was also number one on the R&B Sides chart for five weeks, becoming Ray Charles' sixth number one on that chart. The song is ranked #377 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Elton John - "Crocodile Rock" (1972)

"Crocodile Rock" is a song written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and recorded in June 1972 at the Strawberry Studios, Château d'Hérouville in France. It was released on 27 October 1972 in the UK and 20 November 1972 in the US, as a pre-release single from his forthcoming 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, and became his first U.S. number-one single, reaching the top spot on 3 February 1973, and stayed there for three weeks.

In the U.S. it was certified Gold on 2/5/1973 and Platinum on 9/13/1995 by the R.I.A.A.   In Canada, it topped the chart as well, remaining at No.1 on the RPM 100 national singles chart for four weeks from 17 February – 10 March.  It was the first song released as a single on the MCA label (catalogue #40000) after MCA dissolved its Uni, Decca, Kapp and Coral labels. (John had previously been with the Uni label.)

"Crocodile Rock" is dominated by a Farfisa organ, played by John with a carnival-like sound and honky-tonk rhythm, while the lyrics take a nostalgic look at early rock 'n' roll, and a relationship with a woman named Suzy, which the writer instantly associates with the music of the era.  Regular Elton John band members, such as Davey Johnstone and Nigel Olsson, are among the song's performers. Like "Tennessee Waltz", "Crocodile Rock" is a self-referential song, i.e. a song about the song itself, although Ken Mackintosh had a popular song in 1955 called the "Crocodile Crawl", following up his successful song "The Creep" from 1954, so it may also be paying homage to Britain's skiffle and postwar jazz era of music.

The song was inspired by John's discovery of leading Australian band Daddy Cool and their hit single "Eagle Rock", which was the most successful Australian single of the early 1970s remaining at No.1 for a record of 10 weeks.  John heard the song and the group on his 1972 Australian tour and was greatly impressed by it.  The cover of John's 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (the album on which "Crocodile Rock" is included) features a photo of John's lyricist Bernie Taupin wearing a "Daddy Who?" promotional badge. The song also appears to have been strongly influenced by songs from the late 50s-early 60s ("when Rock was young"), including Del Shannon's 1962 "Cry Myself to Sleep" and "Little Darlin'", most famously recorded in 1957 by The Diamonds (originally recorded by The Gladiolas.) The chorus resembles "Speedy Gonzales" by Pat Boone. While there was no actual "Crocodile Rock", there was a dance called The Alligator.

Aqua - "Barbie Girl" (1997)

"Barbie Girl" is a song by the Danish-Norwegian dance-pop group Aqua, who released the song in 1997 as their third single overall, and the first United Kingdom release. The song is included on the album Aquarium and was written by Claus Norreen and Søren Nystrøm Rasted after the group saw an exhibit on kitsch culture. The song topped the charts worldwide, particularly in European countries such as the UK, where it was a number-one hit for three weeks. It was also on top of the charts in Australia for the same length of time, and debuted and peaked at No. 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on 6 September 1997 and It remains Aqua's biggest hit single in the US to date, and their only one to reach the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Billy Idol - "Dancing With Myself" (1981)

"Dancing with Myself" is a song by the band Generation X. The song was first released as a single and a 12" in 1980 and, a few weeks after the single release, was included on the band's last album - 1981's Kiss Me Deadly. It would become the group's most well-known song, but did not enjoy much success upon its initial release.

In 1981, Billy Idol remixed and re-released "Dancing with Myself" as a solo single, toning down its crunchy guitar sound and giving the song an overall brighter, poppier finish. Two versions were issued - the 3:20 single version (which was later included on Idol's 11 of the Best compilation), and the 4:50 extended version that appeared on Idol's Don't Stop EP. Idol plays "Dancing with Myself" at most of his concerts, always introducing the song as having been originally written and recorded by Generation X. Since its release, the song has become something of a sports anthem.

William Michael Albert Broad (born 30 November 1955), better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. He first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X.  He then embarked on a successful solo career, aided by a series of stylish music videos, making him one of the first MTV stars.  Idol continues to tour with guitarist Steve Stevens and has a worldwide fan base.

"DANCING WITH MYSELF" is featured in 1987 film Can't Buy Me Love. It is featured in 2006 film Flushed Away. It is featured in 2008 advertisement for the French health insurance company La Mutuelle Générale. Cover version by The Donnas is featured in 2004 film Mean Girls. It is featured in 1998 film Gia,starring Angelina Jolie. It is sung by Gonzo in an episode of Muppets Tonight. It is featured in TV show Gossip Girl. It is featured in 2009 music video game Guitar Hero 5. It is featured in TV show "Castle",in episode "Famous Last Words". Artie from TV show Glee sings the Nouvelle Vague version of the song in the ninth episode,"Wheels". It is featured in 69th episode of Season 3 of Everybody Hates Chris. It is closing song of an Ugly Betty episode ("Plus None", Episode 5 of Season 4). It is featured in 2009 movie,The Men Who Stare at Goats. Nouvelle Vague version was used as the theme song for the first season of LA Ink. It is heard in the background of the King of the Hill episode "Just Another Manic Kahn-Day" (aired 5/6/10). It is featured in TV show "Chuck",in episode "Chuck versus the Beard." Episode of Beavis & Butt-Head shows the duo critiquing the music video for Dancing with Myself,comparing it to masturbation ("Playing with myself"). Punk Rock band Green Day covered Dancing With Myself on their 2009 - 2010 world tour, usually followed after the song Scattered.

Elvis Presley - "Love Me Tender" (1956)

"Love Me Tender" is a song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by Elvis Presley Music, adapted from the tune of "Aura Lee" (or "Aura Lea"), a sentimental Civil War ballad. "Aura Lee" was published in 1861 with music by George R. Poulton and words by W.W. Fosdick, and this Civil War song later became popular with college glee clubs and barbershop quartets. It was also sung at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. Elvis Presley performed "Love Me Tender" on The Ed Sullivan Show on September 9, 1956, shortly before the single's release and about a month before the movie, Love Me Tender, was released, for which the song was originally recorded. On the following day, RCA received 1 million advance orders, making it a gold record before it was even released. The studio, 20th Century Fox, originally wanted to call the movie The Reno Brothers but instead re-titled it Love Me Tender to capitalize on the song's popularity. Movie producer Hal Wallis would not allow Presley's regular band (Scotty Moore, Bill Black, and D.J. Fontana) to play on the soundtrack. Instead, The Ken Darby Trio provided the musical backing with Red Robinson on drums, Charles Prescott on bass, Vita Mumolo on guitar, and Jon Dodson on background vocals, with Presley providing only lead vocals. The song is credited to Presley and Vera Matson because of the publishing agreement reached for the assignment of royalties, but the principal writer of the lyrics was Ken Darby (Matson's husband). The song was published by Elvis Presley Music. Darby also adapted the Civil War tune, which was in the public domain. When asked why he credited his wife as co-songwriter along with Presley, Darby responded, "Because she didn't write it either." The song hit #1 on the Billboard charts the week ending November 3, 1956, remaining in the position for 5 weeks and reached no. 11 on the charts in the UK. "Love Me Tender" also reached number three for three weeks on the R&B chart. It was also an achievement as "Love Me Tender" succeeded another Presley single, "Hound Dog/Don't Be Cruel" at #1. This occurrence marked two important events in Billboard history. During this time, Elvis accomplished another record at the time; the longest consecutive stay at number one by a single artist, sixteen weeks, though this was tied by Boyz II Men in 1994 and stood for eight years until being surpassed by R&B singer Usher in 2004 who spent 19 weeks at the top of the charts.

Nat King Cole - "Smile" (1954)

Nathaniel Adams Coles (March 17, 1919 – February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres. He was one of the first black Americans to host a television variety show, and has maintained worldwide popularity since his death. Nathaniel Adams Coles was born in Montgomery, Alabama, on Saint Patrick's Day in 1919[1] (some sources erroneously list his birth year as 1916 or 1917). At the age of 4,[2] his family moved to Chicago, Illinois. There his father, Edward Coles, became a Baptist minister. Cole learned to play the organ from his mother, Perlina Coles, the church organist. His first performance, at age four, was of "Yes! We Have No Bananas". He began formal lessons at the age of 12, eventually learning not only jazz and gospel music but also European classical music, performing, as he said, "from Johann Sebastian Bach to Sergei Rachmaninoff". Throughout the 1950s, Cole continued to rack up hit after hit, including "Smile", "Pretend", "A Blossom Fell", and "If I May". His pop hits were collaborations with well-known arrangers and conductors of the day, including Nelson Riddle, Gordon Jenkins, and Ralph Carmichael. Riddle arranged several of Cole's 1950s albums, including his first 10-inch long-play album, his 1953 Nat King Cole Sings For Two In Love. In 1955, his single "Darling Je Vous Aime Beaucoup" reached #7 on the Billboard chart. Jenkins arranged Love Is the Thing, which hit #1 on the album charts in April 1957. "Smile" is a song based on an instrumental theme used in the soundtrack for the 1936 Charlie Chaplin movie Modern Times. Chaplin composed the music, while John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons added the lyrics and title in 1954. In the lyrics, the singer is telling the listener to cheer up and that there is always a bright tomorrow, just as long as they smile. "Smile" has become a popular standard since its original use in Chaplin's film.

Norah Jones - "Don't Know Why" (2002)

Norah Jones (born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar on March 30, 1979) is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress. In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies. The record earned Jones five Grammy Awards, including the Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist. Her subsequent studio albums, Feels Like Home, released in 2004, Not Too Late, released in 2007, the same year she made her film debut in My Blueberry Nights, and her 2009 release The Fall, all gained Platinum status after selling over a million copies and were generally well received by critics. Jones has won nine Grammy Awards and was Billboard magazine's 60th-best-selling music artist of the 2000–2009 decade. Throughout her career, Jones has won numerous awards and has sold over 37 million albums worldwide. Billboard magazine named her the top Jazz artist of the 2000–2009 decade, establishing herself as one of the best-selling artists of her time. "Don't Know Why" is a jazz song written by Jesse Harris and originally appears on his 1999 album, Jesse Harris & the Ferdinandos. It was the second single by Norah Jones from her breakthrough 2002 album Come Away with Me. Although Jones's version only peaked at number thirty on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, it was a critical success for her that helped established her as a respected new artist, and subsequently her album sold extremely well. The single went on to win three Grammy Awards in 2003 for "Record of the Year", "Song of the Year", and "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance". It remains Jones's biggest hit single in the USA to date, and her only one to reach the Top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100 and the single was a hit internationally where Top 10 in several countries. The song charted at 459 in Blender magazine's 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born.

UB40 - "Red Red Wine" (1983)

"Red Red Wine" is a song written and originally recorded by Neil Diamond. It has been covered by Tony Tribe, Jimmy James & the Vagabonds, and more famously by British reggae group UB40, whose version topped the U.S. and UK singles charts. Contrary to popular belief, Bob Marley did not record this song, ever. In the song, the singer finds drinking red wine is the only way to forget a lost love. Labour of Love is the reggae album by UB40, the band's fourth studio album. It was originally released on 1 September 1983 and included the hits, "Red, Red Wine" (UK #1, US #1), "Cherry Oh Baby" (UK #12), "Many Rivers to Cross" (UK #16), and "Please Don't Make Me Cry" (UK #10). The entire album consists of cover versions of songs originally released by the group's musical idols. The most notable track is the cover of Neil Diamond's "Red, Red Wine," which reached #1 in the United Kingdom upon its release. The song was re-released in the United States in 1988, where it also topped the chart. The album and 12" version included a toasted verse by Astro, later copied by Neil Diamond in his live performances. The album reached #1 in the UK and #8 in the United States. With the inclusion of the new version of "Red, Red Wine," the album regained popularity in 1988 and climbed to #15 in the U.S.

Thompson Twins - "Lies" (1983)

The Thompson Twins were a British pop group that were formed in April 1977 and disbanded in May 1993. They achieved considerable popularity in the mid 1980s, scoring a string of hits in the United Kingdom, the United States and around the globe. The band was named after the two bumbling detectives Thomson and Thompson in Hergé's comic strip, The Adventures of Tintin. A predominantly synthpop trio, they were joined on stage at Live Aid by Madonna and were at the forefront of the so-called Second British Invasion. In 1977, the original Thompson Twins line-up consisted of Tom Bailey (born 18 January 1954, Halifax, Yorkshire on bass and vocals, Pete Dodd on guitar and vocals, John Roog on guitar, and Jon Podgorski (known as "Pod") on drums. Dodd and Roog first met when they were both 13 years old. Arriving in London with very little money, they lived as squatters in Lillieshall Road, London. Future Thompson Twins member Alannah Currie lived in another squat in the same street — which is how she met Bailey. It was in this ramshackle and run-down house that they found an illegal way of "borrowing" electricity from the house next door. Bailey described themselves (laughingly) as spongers (meaning that they were on the dole—unemployed) back then, as they were living on very little and scavenging everything they could lay their hands on. He even said that the only instruments they had were bought, or had been stolen or borrowed. Dodd managed to get a council flat not far away. Their roadie at that time was John Hade, who lived in the same house, and who later became their manager. As Podgorski had decided to stay in the north, the group auditioned for drummers at the Point Studio in Victoria, London. Andrew Edge joined them on drums for less than one year, and went on to join Savage Progress, who later toured with the Thompson Twins as their support act on the 1984 UK tour. The band broke into the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at the beginning of 1983 with "Lies" and "Love On Your Side", which became the band's first UK Top 10 single.

Rod Stewart - "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" (1978)

"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" is a 1978 hit song for Rod Stewart. It was written by Stewart and Carmine Appice, and produced by Tom Dowd. "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" spent one week at the top of the British charts in December 1978 and four weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, starting 10 February 1979. It also topped the charts in Australia for two weeks. Royalties from the song were donated to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Stewart performed the song at the Music for UNICEF Concert at the United Nations General Assembly in January 1979. The song was criticized by many in the rock press as a betrayal of Stewart's blues-oriented rock roots due to its disco-like arrangement, but Stewart and others were quick to point out that other widely respected artists, such as Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones, had also released disco-flavoured songs. It was also alleged that Stewart created the song through partial musical plagiarism. Carmine Appice, who played drums on this song told Songfacts: "This was a story of a guy meeting a chick in a club. At that time, that was a cool saying. If you listen to the lyrics, 'She sits alone, waiting for suggestions, he's so nervous...' it's the feelings of what was going on in a dance club. The guy sees a chick he digs, she's nervous and he's nervous and she's alone and doesn't know what's going on, then they end up at his place having sex, and then she's gone." In 2004 Rolling Stone ranked the song #301 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Chubby Checker - "The Twist" (1960)

The Twist's original inspiration came from the African American plantation dance called "wringin' and twistin," which has been traced back to the 1890s. However, its original aesthetic origins, such as the use of pelvic movement and the shuffling foot movement, can be traced all the way back to West Africa. Throughout the 20th Century, the dance evolved until emerging to a mass audience in the 1960s. The use of the name "twist" for dancing goes back to the nineteenth century. According to Marshall and Jean Stearns in Jazz Dance, a pelvic dance motion called the twist came to America from the Congo during slavery. One of the hit songs of early blackface minstrelsy was banjo player Joel Walker Sweeney's "Grape Vine Twist". Sweeney had learned his banjo playing and repertoire from enslaved African Americans around his native Appomattox, Virginia. One of the early black dance crazes of the early twentieth century was the Mess Around, described by songwriter Perry Bradford in his 1912 hit "Messin' Around" as: "Now anybody can learn the knack, put your hands on your hips and bend your back; stand in one spot nice and tight, and twist around, twist around with all of your might." But the twist at this point was basically grinding the hips. In his "Winin' Boy Blues" in the late 1930s, Jelly Roll Morton sang, "Mama, mama, look at sis, she's out on the levee doing the double twist." In the 1953 song "Let the Boogie Wooie Roll," Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters sang, "When she looked at me her eyes just shined like gold, and when she did the twist she bopped me to my soul." But the simple dance that we now know as the Twist seems to have come from Chubby Checker in his preparation to debut the song to a national audience on August 6, 1960, on The Dick Clark Show, a Saturday night program that, unlike disc jockey Clark's daytime American Bandstand, was a stage show with a sitting audience. Dick Clark was a powerhouse in music at the time, thanks to American Bandstand, which ran five times a week in the afternoons, showcasing local dancers and visiting performers who lip-synched along with their recordings. Clark saw the song's potential when he heard Hank Ballard's original version, but Ballard and his group, whose greatest hit had been "Work With Me Annie" in 1954, was considered too raunchy to appeal to Clark's teenage audience. He urged Philadelphia record label Cameo/Parkway to record a new version of “The Twist” with young, wholesome Chubby Checker, who had displayed his talent for copying other artists on an earlier novelty hit “The Class.” Released in summer 1960, Checker’s rendition of “The Twist” became number one on the singles chart in the USA in 1960 and then again in 1962.

John Denver - "Rocky Mountain High" (1972)

"Rocky Mountain High" is a folk-rock song written by John Denver and Mike Taylor about Colorado, and is one of the two official state songs of Colorado. Recorded by Denver, it went to number nine on the US Hot 100 in 1973. The song also made #3 on the Easy Listening chart, and was played by some country music stations. Denver told concert audiences in the mid-1970s that the song took him an unusually long nine months to write. "Rocky Mountain High" is primarily inspired by John Denver's move to Aspen, Colorado, United States three years earlier and his love for the state. The seventh stanza makes a reference to destruction of the mountains' beauty by commercial tourism. The song was considered a major piece of 1970s pop culture, and became a well-associated piece of Colorado history. The song briefly became controversial that year when the U.S. Federal Communications Commission was permitted by a legal ruling to censor music deemed to promote drug abuse. Numerous radio stations cautiously banned the song until Denver publicly explained that the "high" was his innocent description of the sense of peace he found in the Rockies. In 1985, Denver testified before Congress in the Parents Music Resource Center hearings about his experience: This was obviously done by people who had never seen or been to the Rocky Mountains, and also had never experienced the elation, celebration of life, or the joy in living that one feels when he observes something as wondrous as the Perseid meteor shower on a moonless, cloudless night, when there are so many stars that you have a shadow from the starlight, and you are out camping with your friends, your best friends, and introducing them to one of nature's most spectacular light shows for the first time.

Neil Diamond - Shilo (1967)

"Shilo" is a song written and recorded by Neil Diamond. It was originally recorded in 1967 for Bang Records, but Diamond and Bang founder Bert Berns disagreed over Diamond's career path. The singer wanted to move away from his early teen-oriented pop type of recordings that Berns favored, which led to Berns' refusal to release the more introspective "Shilo" as a single, even though Diamond felt it was part of his development as an artist. "Shilo" was instead relegated to an album track on 1967's Just for You. Shortly after what was said to be a "tense" confrontation with Berns, Diamond departed Bang for Uni Records in 1968. Diamond went into a commercial slump, without hits. But by January 1970, his career had rebounded with "Sweet Caroline" and "Holly Holy" on Uni/MCA Records. Bang Records finally released "Shilo" as a single, albeit with a new backing track recorded to make it sound fresher and more like Diamond's current style. This reached number 24 on the U.S. pop singles chart in spring 1970, inspiring Bang to release a new Neil Diamond compilation album that year titled Shilo.

The Jackson Five - "One More Chance" (1970)

The B-side of the 45 record of I'll Be There was "One More Chance". "I'll Be There" was a soul song written by Berry Gordy, Bob West, Hal Davis, and Willie Hutch, which resulted in two U.S. #1 hit singles: the original 1970 recording by American vocal quintet The Jackson 5 and a 1992 live version by American R&B singers Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz. The Jackson 5 (also spelled The Jackson Five, or The Jackson 5ive), later known as The Jacksons, were an African American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana. Founding group members Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael formed the group after performing in an early incarnation called The Jackson Brothers, which originally consisted of a trio of the three older brothers. Active from 1964 to 1990, the Jacksons played from a repertoire of R&B, soul, pop and later disco. During their six-and-a-half-year Motown tenure, The Jackson 5 were one of the biggest pop-music phenomena of the 1970s, and the band served as the launching pad for the solo careers of their lead singers Jermaine and Michael, the latter brother later transforming his early Motown solo fame into greater success as an adult artist.

Julie Andrews, Irwin Kostal - "The Sound Of Music" (1965)

I took a hike in the Napa Valley hills on this day (September 28, 2011) and this song came to mind. “The Sound of Music” is the title song from The Sound of Music, composed by Richard Rodgers to lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It was originally sung by Mary Martin in the 1959 stage musical of the same name. It was sung by Julie Andrews in the 1965 film, with a reprise by the Von Trapp family later in the film. The song introduces the character Maria, a young novice in an Austrian abbey. The song was ranked tenth in the American Film Institute's list of the 100 Greatest Songs in Movie History. The stage version of the song has a four-line vocal prelude ("My day in the hills has come to an end I know...) followed by the familiar "The hills are alive with the sound of music..." The film soundtrack and the soundtrack album have two different instrumental preludes to "The hills are alive..." both of which contain portions of the original vocal prelude. The cast album to the 1998 Broadway revival contains the four-line prelude as well as the instrumental prelude present in the film version. This version is also the same key as the film version.

Ivri Lider - "The Man I Love" (2006; orig from 1924)

"The Man I Love" is a popular standard, with music by George Gershwin and lyrics by his brother Ira. Originally part of the 1924 score for the Gershwin government satire Lady, Be Good as "The Girl I Love", the song was deleted from the show as well as from both the 1927 anti-war satire Strike Up the Band (where it first appeared as "The Man I Love") and 1928 Ziegfeld hit Rosalie after tryouts. As with many standards of the era, it has become more famous as an independent popular song than as one from a Broadway musical. Popular torch singer Helen Morgan first made the song into a big success. The best-known recording over the years of the crooner Vaughn De Leath (1894–1943) was perhaps the version of "The Man I Love" she sang with Paul Whiteman's Concert Orchestra for Columbia. Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, and Lena Horne recorded versions of this song, as did Ella Fitzgerald for Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook (1959). On this version, Ira Gershwin commented, "I didn't realize our songs were so good until Ella sang them". Hazel O'Connor recorded a version for her Smile album in 1984. The singer and actress Peg La Centra doubles Ida Lupino in the movie The Man I Love when Ida Lupino's character Petey Brown sings The Man I Love. Liza Minnelli (who is Ira Gershwin's god-daughter) performed the song in the 1977 film New York, New York. Cher recorded the song for her album Bittersweet White Light (1973). Diane Schuur recorded the song for her album In Tribute (1992). Barbra Streisand recorded the song for her album Back to Broadway (1993). In 1995, Tony Bennett recorded the song for his MTV Unplugged performance with lyrics revised by Ira Gershwin as "The Girl I Love". In 2000, the song was recorded by Omara Portuondo in the album Bueno Vista Social Club presents: Omara Portuondo, under the title El Hombre que yo Amé (The Man I Love). In 2006, Israeli musician Ivri Lider recorded a version of "The Man I Love" as a part of the soundtrack from the movie THE BUBBLE. Ivri Lider, born 10 February, 1974, is an Israeli pop rock singer-songwriter. He is one of the biggest-selling contemporary artists in Israeli music, and has won the Male Singer of the Year honor from major Israeli national and local radio stations since entering the Israeli music scene in the late 1990s. In 2008, Malian musician Rokia Traoré recorded the song for her album Tchamanché. She had previously performed it in 2005 as a duet with Dianne Reeves. In April 2011, Edna Goren, the First Lady of Jazz in Israel, performed the song in a jazz concert at "Club Hed" in Tel Aviv, with new Hebrew lyrics by Chaim Keinan. Django Reinhardt also played a version of this song. As Omara Portuondo , who named it "El Hombre Que Yo Amé". The song also appeared on Vassilikos's first solo album Vintage.

The Andrews Sisters - "In The Mood" (1937)

"In the Mood" is a big band era #1 hit recorded by American bandleader Glenn Miller. Joe Garland and Andy Razaf arranged "In the Mood" in 1937-1939 using a previously existing main theme composed by Glenn Miller before the start of the 1930s. Miller's "In the Mood" did not top the charts until 1940 and one year later was featured in the movie Sun Valley Serenade. "In the Mood" opens with a now-famous sax section theme based on repeated arpeggios that are rhythmically displaced; trumpets and trombones add accent riffs. The arrangement has two solo sections; a "tenor fight" solo—in the most famous recording, between Tex Beneke and Al Klink—and a 16-bar trumpet solo. The arrangement is also famous for its ending: a coda that climbs triumphantly, then sounds a simple sustained unison tonic pitch with rim shot. The Andrews Sisters were a prolific and highly successful close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras, consisting of three actual sisters: LaVerne, Maxene and Patty – LaVerne Sophia, contralto and redhead (July 6, 1911 – May 8, 1967); Maxene Angelyn, soprano and brunette (January 3, 1916 – October 21, 1995); and Patricia Marie "Patty" Andrews, mezzo-soprano, lead singer, and blonde (born February 16, 1918). Their harmonies and songs are still influential today, and have been covered by entertainers such as Bette Midler, the Puppini Sisters and Christina Aguilera. Throughout their long career, the sisters sold well over 75 million records (the last official count released by MCA Records in the mid-1970s). The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998. Their hit "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" can be considered an early example of rhythm and blues or jump blues.

djisar's Top 10 House Hits of 2011

Here rounds off my list of the 2011 best electro and progressive house tracks. I spent a good amount of deliberation on this list; I hope you all enjoy!


Honorable Mention #2) Britney Spears - I Wanna Go (DJ Frank E & Alex Dreamz Remix)





Honorable Mention #1) Calvin Harris - Feel So Close (Nero Remix)

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#10) Kaskade ft. Mindy Gledhill - Eyes





#9) Kaskade - Turn It Down





#8) Alex Metric & Steve Angello - Open Your Eyes ft. Ian Brown





#7) Nero - Me & You (Dirtyphonics Remix)





#6) Kelly Osbourne - One word (Chris Cox Remix)





#5) Morgan Page, Sultan + Ned Shepard, and BT - In the Air feat. Angela McCluskey





#4) Calvin Harris - Bounce feat. Kelis





#3) Avicii - Levels





#2) Benny Benassi ft. Gary Go - Cinema (Skrillex Remix)





#1) Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks (The Knocks Remix)

Ruby and The Romantics - Our Day Will Come (1963)

"Our Day Will Come" is a popular song composed by Bob Hilliard and Mort Garson which was a #1 hit in 1963 for Ruby & The Romantics. The song's composers were hoping to place "Our Day Will Come" with an established easy listening act and only agreed to let the new R&B group Ruby & the Romantics record the song after Kapp Records A&R director Al Stanton promised that if the Ruby & the Romantics' single failed Kapp would record the song with Jack Jones. Stanton cut two versions of "Our Day Will Come" with Ruby & the Romantics, one with a mid-tempo arrangement and the other in a bossa nova style; the latter version, featuring a classic Hammond organ solo, was selected for release as a single in December 1962 to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March. A #1 R&B hit, "Our Day Will Come" was also a chart item in Australia (#11) and the UK (#38).

Three Dog Night - 'Joy To The World' (1971)

"Joy to the World" is a song written by Hoyt Axton, and made famous by the band Three Dog Night. The song is also popularly known by its opening words, "Jeremiah was a bullfrog". Three Dog Night originally released the song on their fourth studio album, Naturally in November 1970 (see 1970 in music) and subsequently released an edited-version of the song as a single in February 1971. The song, which has been descibed by members of Three Dog Night as a "kid's song" and a "silly song", topped the main singles charts in North America, was certified gold by the RIAA, and has since been covered by multiple artists. Some of the words are nonsensical. Axton wanted to convince his record producers to record a new melody he had written and the producers asked him to sing any words to the tune. A member of Three Dog Night said that the original lyrics to the song was "Jeremiah was a prophet" but "no one liked that". When Hoyt Axton performed the song to the group, two of the three main vocalists – Danny Hutton and Cory Wells – rejected the song, but Chuck Negron felt that the band needed a "silly song" to help bring the band back together as a working unit. Chuck also feels that the song "wasn't even close to our best record, but it might have been one of our most honest." The song was recorded by Three Dog Night at American Recording Company, produced by Richard Podolor, and engineered by Bill Cooper. Unlike most Three Dog Night songs recorded at that point, instead of having just the three main vocalists singing harmony, the song was recorded with all seven members of the band singing.

Tommy James and The Shondells - I Think We're Alone Now (1967)

"I Think We're Alone Now" is a song written by Ritchie Cordell. It was initially a 1967 hit for the American recording artists Tommy James & the Shondells, reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song has since been covered several times by other artists. In 1987, a version of the song by Tiffany reached #1 on the charts of various countries including the U.S., the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. Other cover versions have also charted as well, including those by The Rubinoos (#45 US, 1977) and Girls Aloud (#4 UK, 2006).

The Four Tops - Baby I Need Your Loving (1964)

"Baby I Need Your Loving" is a 1964 hit single recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song was the group's first Motown single and their first pop Top 20 hit, making it to number eleven on the Billboard Hot 100 in the fall of 1964.

It was also their first million-selling hit single. British group The Fourmost released their version of this song, reaching #24 in November 1964. A surviving episode of the trendy '60's TV music series Ready Steady Go! shows them performing the song. The song was recorded by Johnny Rivers in 1967. His version, titled "Baby I Need Your Lovin'", was released as a single, and became a number-three hit on the Billboard pop chart. O.C. Smith covered it and took it to #52 in 1970, and yet again by Eric Carmen in 1979, who took it to #62.

Sandie Shaw has also recorded a version, as did Carl Carlton (1982), Gene Pitney, and British pop group Dreamhouse (1998). Rolling Stone ranked The Four Tops' original version of the song at #390 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2000, Westlife performed the song for the medley part of their Where the Dreams Come True Tour.

Patti Lupone - Don't Cry For Me Argentina (1976)

"Don't Cry for Me Argentina" is the best-known song from the 1978 musical Evita with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Sung by the title character Eva Perón, it was titled “It's Only Your Lover Returning” before Rice settled on the eventual name. It appears early in the second act as Evita addresses the crowd from the balcony of the Casa Rosada and features a sweeping melody tied to broad emotional themes of regret and defiance, characteristic of Lloyd Webber’s most popular songs. The musical Evita began as an album, before being adapted for the stage.

The song was first offered to singer Elkie Brooks who turned it down. Julie Covington sang “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” for the original 1976 studio release. The single reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart in February 1977 for a week, selling almost a million copies in the United Kingdom.

Due to concerns that the song might not have commercial appeal in its original form, Covington recorded a version with alternative lines; however, in the end the original version was released for the single. The B-side was "Rainbow High".

When Madonna covered “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina”, this song did not appear as a B side for the same song, but for "You Must Love Me" instead.

When Covington chose not to take the stage role, Elaine Paige was cast as Eva in the London production.  In the United States, the song is also closely linked with Patti LuPone, who performed the role of "Eva" in the original Broadway production of the show.

During the 1982 Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina, the song was sometimes played sarcastically by British regimental bands as they deployed to the Falklands. At the same time the Covington recording was banned from play on the BBC.