Beastie Boys | Licensed to Ill (album) The Joke Nobody Got Licensed to Ill was a satirical album everyone took at face value, an inside joke that went Diamond and outsold every rap record before it, cobbled together from borrowed parts and happy accidents. “There were tons of guys singing along to ‘Fight for Your […]
Licensed to Ill Was Never Supposed to Work Read More »
AC/DC | Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap Dial 36-24-36 A couple in Illinois got hundreds of prank calls because fans misheard a lyric, the opening act of a song that outlived its own rejection and the man who sang it. In 1981, Norman and Marilyn White of Libertyville, Illinois had a problem. Their phone wouldn’t
The Song Atlantic Rejected and Death Made Famous Read More »
Phil Collins | In the Air Tonight The Wait The most famous drum moment in pop history works because of three and a half minutes of near-silence before it, a song built entirely out of what’s missing. You already know what’s coming. That’s the whole point. Put on “In the Air Tonight” right now, the
The Sound of Nothing: How Absence Built a Classic Read More »
Leonard Cohen | Hallelujah The Floor of the Royalton Leonard Cohen spent five years writing Hallelujah, banging his head on a hotel floor in despair, and then his label rejected it. How it got from there to everywhere is one of popular music’s strangest accidents. Here’s the image. It’s sometime in the early 1980s, and
80 Verses, One Rejection, and a Slow Miracle Read More »
Prince | Purple Rain The Song That Scared Stevie Nicks Prince sent Stevie Nicks a ten-minute instrumental cassette hoping she’d write lyrics for it. She sent it back, saying it scared her, that it was too much for one person. She turned out to be right, but not in the way either of them expected.
Prince Wrote a Country Song. It Became Purple Rain. Read More »
The Police | Every Breath You Take The Most Dangerous Love Song “Every Breath You Take” is the most-played song in radio history and one of the most misunderstood, a surveillance anthem routinely mistaken for a wedding ballad by the millions who love it most. Imagine telling Sting that you played his song at your
The Police Were Falling Apart. Then Came the Riff. Read More »
Michael Jackson | Billie Jean You Already Know This Song Bruce Swedien said you can identify “Billie Jean” from three or four drum hits. But a song that sounds like pure instinct was actually ground out through months of obsessive, contentious work, ninety-one mixes, fights over the title, an intro nobody could agree on. Every
91 Mixes and They Picked Number Two Read More »
Bon Jovi | Bad Medicine Bon Jovi: Rock Icons with a Flair for Storytelling Explore the rise of Bon Jovi in the 1980s, their creative process, and how “Bad Medicine” exemplifies their signature style and impact on rock music. “Bad Medicine,” a standout track from Bon Jovi’s celebrated album New Jersey, holds a distinct place
Rock Legends and Anthems: Unpacking Bon Jovi’s “Bad Medicine” Read More »
Rush | Tom Sawyer Exploring the Sonic Universe of Rush Rush, renowned for their intricate compositions and introspective lyrics, marked a defining moment in their career with the release of “Tom Sawyer.” This song encapsulates the band’s unique storytelling ability and musical innovation, showcasing their rise to prominence in the progressive rock scene. Canadian rock
Unraveling “Tom Sawyer”: Rush’s Iconic Anthem and its Lasting Legacy Read More »
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band | Fishin’ in the Dark Exploring the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: A Journey Through Time Delve into the rich history and profound impact of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, as they crafted their timeless hit, ‘Fishin’ in the Dark’. “Fishin’ in the Dark” by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is more
