Classic Hits History

WATCH: What Makes This Song Great? Van Halen’s “Running With the Devil” – Rick Beato

04/19/2018
0 comment

Have you ever wanted to understand what really makes a great song? What it takes to put everything together just right to get that incredible sound? I’ve wanted a number of this guy’s videos and Rick Beato is the real deal!  Here’s more from his Facebook page biography: Rick Beato is a musician, teacher, and father of three. Rick has worked as a writer/producer with various bands in the rock…

Read More >>

WATCH: The Making of 10cc’s “I’m Not in Love” – 1975

03/05/2018
0 comment

What can I say about this incredible song? Some in the music business call “I’m Not In Love” by 10cc “…one of the great multi-track hits of all time …” right up there with Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”  I’m not sure I would go that far, but I remember quite clearly when the song came out in the summer of 1975 and thinking at the time–and still do–that this song just…

Read More >>

LISTEN: Ronnie Van Zant Records “Free Bird” Demo & Launches Southern Rock! 1968 or 1970?

03/04/2018
0 comment

Southern rock fans know–and frequently pay homage to–Lynyrd Skynyrd’s classic “Free Bird” which was released in 1974 on the band’s debut album, Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd that went on to become one of the all time classics. Earlier this week, someone sent me a link to an early demo version of the song, claiming to be recorded in 1970 by Ronnie Van Zant and the band. (You’ll notice a slight variation on…

Read More >>

WATCH: Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” synced up with “The Wizard of Oz!”

Wizard of Pink Floyd mash up
03/01/2018
0 comment

UPDATED: We now have a new video link from YouTube, as the old one was taken down. Enjoy! So, who hasn’t heard that there’s an eerie coincident between the 1939 classic film “The Wizard of Oz” and Pink Floyd’s classic album “Dark Side of the Moon?”  That if you start the album at just the right place all sorts of movie scenes and musical cues line up? And yet, like…

Read More >>

WATCH: Is this Bon Scott’s Final Recorded Performance With AC/DC? Feb. 7, 1980 – Top of the Pops

02/28/2018
0 comment

We’ve been doing some digging into some old AC/DC videos and came across this one that claims to be the last recorded VIDEO of AC/DC’s original front man, Bon Scott, who died suddenly 12 days after this video on Britain’s popular “Top of the Pops” television show on February 7, 1980 after a night of heavy drinking. According to reports, Scott was known for having a drink or two, so…

Read More >>

WATCH: The Doobie Brothers sing “What a Fool Believes” at the 22nd Grammy Awards – It Won Song of the Year!

02/26/2018
0 comment

Great band, great year and a great song! All that, and they got to not only perform it LIVE on the 22nd Annual Grammy Awards on February 27, 1980, but they also knocked it out of the park AND went on to win the Grammy for “Song of the Year!” Not bad! “What a Fool Believes”  was written by Michael McDonald and none other than Kenny Loggins, but the best-known…

Read More >>

WATCH: Eagles perform “New Kid in Town” LIVE -1977

02/26/2018
0 comment

Wish we knew more about this clip, other than it features The Eagles back in 1977 performing their third #1 single, “New Kid in Town”, and it was the first single off their monster album, Hotel California.  It was written by Don Henley, Glenn Frey and J.D. Souther and went on to become a number-one hit in the US and won the Grammy Award for Best Vocal Arrangement for Two…

Read More >>

WATCH: Rolling Stones perform “Satisfaction” on Ed Sullivan Show – 1965

06/06/2017
0 comment

At one time, EVERY band wanted to perform on the Ed Sullivan Show, including the Rolling Stones, back in the day.  The Stones opened their February 13, 1966 appearance with their iconic “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.” The song which is ranked #2 in Rolling Stone magazine’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time,” was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and went on to become the Stones first #1 hit…

Read More >>

WATCH: Thin Lizzy – The Boys are Back in Town – LIVE 1978

06/02/2017
0 comment

On this day (June 2) in 1978, the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy released the live double album ‘Live And Dangerous’. It was recorded in London in 1976, and Philadelphia and Toronto in 1977, with some post-production work in Paris. It was also the last Thin Lizzy album to feature guitarist Brian Robertson. The biggest hit from the album was “The Boys Are Back in Town” which has become popular…

Read More >>