In this show we touch upon different styles, like the Wall of Sound, a popular music production technique, developed in the 1960s by Phil Spector and the Phillysound a genre of the seventies soul music.
| TITLE | ARTIST | COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|
| I’ll Be There for You | The Rembrandts | Written in 1994 by Friends creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, as well as composer Michael Skloff and songwriter Allee Willis, the lyrics focus on Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), whose life is turned upside down after she abandons her fiancé, Barry, at the altar. The Friends theme song is generally seen as a memorable anthem about the hardships of adulthood and the restorative powers of friendship. |
| (Theme From) The Monkees | The Monkees | In 1966, The Monkees, a made-for-TV band, performed their own theme song of their TV series. “(Theme from) The Monkees” is a 1966 pop rock song, written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart as the signature tune for the TV series The Monkees. The TV comedy series The Monkees was inspired by “Catch Us If You Can” by The Dave Clark Five (DC5) and “A Hard Day’s Night” by the Beatles. In 1967, the Monkees (also referred to as the Pre-Fab Four) outsold both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones combined. |
| Can’t Buy Me Love | The Beatles | “Can’t Buy Me Love” is a song by the Beatles that was released in March 1964 and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The song was included on the group’s album A Hard Day’s Night and was featured in a scene in Richard Lester’s film of the same title. “Can’t Buy Me Love” supposedly written by Paul McCartney as a humorous reply to John Lennon’s performances of “Money”, while the Beatles were performing a series of shows at the Olympia Theater in Paris. |
| Glad All Over | The Dave Clark Five | “Glad All Over” is a 1965 song from The Dave Clark Five, written by group’s drummer Dave Clark and guitarist Lenny Davidson. In 1964, the Dave Clark Five with their Tottenham Sound roots helped spearhead the British invasion of popular rock n’ roll in the United States (along with the Beatles). The Dave Clark Five was the first band to have their own private plane, which bore the DC5 insignia that the group later was fondly referred to, for shorthand. They are referred to as DCQ = “Dave Clark Quintet” (1957 to 1962), DC5 = Dave Clark Five (1962 to 1970) and DC&F = Dave Clark & Friends (1970 to 1973). |
| TSOP | MFSB | TSOP was the theme song for the American musical television program Soul Train. “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)” is a 1974 hit recording by MFSB (“Mother Father Sister Brother”) featuring vocals by The Three Degrees. It is written by Gamble and Huff, the fathers of the typical Philadelphia sound (a.k.a. Philly soul). |
| Dirty Ol’ Man | The Three Degrees | The Three Degrees with “Dirty Ol’ Man” written by Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, a powerful anthem of resistance against unwanted advances and the objectification of women. |
| Ma Quale Idea | Pino D’Angio | “Ma quale idea” by Pino D’Angiò in 1980 is a humorous take on falling in love and making advances towards someone. The chorus of the song, “Che idea, Ma quale idea? Non vedi che lei non ci sta?” (“What an idea, what an idea? Don’t you see she doesn’t want it?”) serves as a reminder that a person has to respect the wishes of someone who has decided not to pursue a relationship with them. ‘No is no, no?’ Pino D’Aangio (born Giuseppe Chierchia in Pompei on August 14, 1952 ) used the base line of “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now”. |
| Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now | McFadden & Whitehead | In 1978 ‘McFadden & Whitehead’ released “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” later consider as “the new black national anthem”. The disco funk song is credited to Jerry Cohen, Gene McFadden and John Whitehead. |
| Back Stabbers | The O’Jays | Gene McFadden and John Whitehead wrote this song along with Leon Huff (playing also the piano intro), who along with Kenny Gamble produced the track and released it on their Philadelphia International label. The song was inspired by problems Whitehead faced with his family and friends. The O’Jays were formed in 1958 and named after Cleveland DJ Eddie O’Jay. |
| Redondo Beach | Patti Smith | One afternoon Patti Smith had a rare argument with her sister Linda and she left. Worried about her sister, who had not returned, Smith went to Coney Island and after sunrise had drafted the text. Patti Smith, who considered herself more as a poet and performer rather than a musician in any way, had published the lyrics as a poem entitled ‘Radando Beach’ in her 1972 book, Kodak, before turning them into a song for her debut album “Horses”. Guitarist Lenny Kaye and keyboard player Richard Sohl, came up with the reggae arrangement. As stated by Patti Smith: “Redondo Beach is a beach where women love other women.” In 1975, Patti Smith released one of punk rock’s most influential records: Horses. Smith was a longtime roommate of Robert Mapplethorpe and a frequent subject in his photography, including a stark, iconic photograph that appears on the cover of her first album, Horses. Mapplethorpe’s work inspired KT Tunstall for her song ‘Sunddenly I See”. |
| Suddenly I See | KT Tunstall | “Suddenly I See” is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall. The song is a tribute to “female power”, inspired by and about American singer and songwriter Patti Smith. As described in the lyrics, KT Tunstall was inspired to a career in music through looking at a black and white picture of a woman. Admiring her strength and accomplishments, she suddenly realised what she wanted to do with her life. Tunstall stated in an interview that the song was “about Robert Mapplethorpe’s photograph of Patti Smith on the cover of Horses”. The album cover for Horses (1975) also inspired Tunstall’s album cover for Eye to the Telescope. “Suddenly I See” became a popular hit and was played during the opening credits of the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada. It also featured in Blind Dating, Ugly Betty, Grey’s Anatomy and Love, Rosie; Thrillville, and as a campaign song on the Hillary Clinton 2008 presidential campaign. Norwegian Spam wanted to use this song in one of their commercials. Tunstall – a vegetarian – was amused by the situation but did not grant them permission to use the song. |
| What’s Up | 4 Non Blondes | “What’s Up” not the App but the 1992 song by the authentic female rock band ‘4 Non Blondes’ or should we say one of the first openly lesbian groups? Frontwoman Linda Perry wrote the song at age 24. Especially European non-English speaking people could easily relate to the song because of the simple lyrics. |
| Karma Chameleon | Boy George & Culture Club | Best known for his soulful voice and his androgynous appearance, Boy George has been the lead singer of the pop band Culture Club since the group’s formation in 1981. His gender bending appearance of the New Romantic movement. Boy George’s band Culture Club, which formed in 1981, produced a sound that combined elements of Motown, Philly soul, reggae and lovers rock. Singer-songwriter Jimmy Jones claimed his 1959 hit “Handy Man” was plagiarizes. In 1981, Blitz Club regular Boy George occasionally sang with the group Bow Wow Wow, performing under the stage name Lieutenant Lush with the group. The New Romantic movement, where both sexes often dressed in androgynous clothing and wore cosmetics such as eyeliner and lipstick, partly derived from earlier punk fashions was heavily influenced by former glam rock stars of the 1970s like David Bowie, Marc Bolan and Roxy Music. The emergence of the New Romantic movement into the mainstream coincided with Vivienne Westwood’s unveiling of her “pirate collection”, which was promoted by Bow Wow Wow and Adam and the Ants, who were managed by her then-partner Malcolm McLaren. |
| Because of You | Gustaph | The Belgian Boy George: Gustaph will represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest this year in Liverpool with “Because of You”. Born as Stef Caers in Leuven on 5 July 1980, Gustaph performed as a backing vocalist at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018 and 2021. From top to bottom he will be dressed by ‘Antwerp Six’ fashion designer Walter Van Beirendonck. So, the “W” on Gustaph’s shoes or clothes do not refer to “Waterloo” but Walter. |
| Waterloo | ABBA | ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 for Sweden with “Waterloo”. The song was written by Benny Andersson Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson. The 19th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest took place in Brighton, United Kingdom after Luxembourg, having won in both 1972 and 1973, declined to host it for a second successive year on the grounds of expense. The song differed from the standard “dramatic ballad” tradition of the Eurovision Song Contest by its flavour and rhythm, as well as by its performance. ABBA gave the audience something that had rarely been seen before in Eurovision: flashy costumes (including silver platform boots), plus a catchy uptempo song and even simple choreography. The song’s production style was influenced by Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound” and in particular “See My Baby Jive”, by English glam rock band Wizzard. |
| See My Baby Jive | Wizzard | “See My Baby Jive” by Wizzard from 1973 is written by frontman Roy Wood as a faithful and affectionate tribute to the Phil Spector generated ‘Wall of Sound’. The song inspired the writers of ABBA’s hit “Waterloo” the following year. |
| To Know Him Is to Love Him | Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris | In 1989 Phil Spector won the BMI Country Song of the Year award for his composition “To Know Him Is To Love Him” recorded by Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt performing under their collective group name “Trio.” Phil Spector wrote the song, inspired by words on his father’s tombstone, “To Know Him Was to Love Him.” It was first recorded by the only vocal group of which he was a member, the Teddy Bears. Phil Spector was one of the most distinctive producers in the history of popular music, the originator of the famous “Wall of Sound” production technique and a pioneer of the 1960s’ girl group sound. |
| I Will Always Love You | Dolly Parton | Dolly Parton wrote “I Will Always Love You” in 1967 to show her appreciation for the time she had co-hosted Porter Wagoner’s TV show. Over time she composed three different versions of the song and it was covered by many artists, such as Linda Ronstadt. |
| Blue Bayou | Linda Ronstadt | “Blue Bayou” was originally recorded by Roy Orbison on his legendary 1963 album “In Dreams” and covered by Linda Ronstadt on her 1977 album “Simple Dreams”. Linda Ronstadt is a year older than Emmylou Harris and they’ve been friends since the early ’70s. In 1999 they recorded an album together in the Arizona Inn hotel in Tucson, Ronstadt’s hometown. |
| You Never Can Tell | Emmylou Harris | In 1977, Emmylou Harris, who mainly sees herself as a discoverer and interpreter of other artists’ songs, had a Top 10 Country hit with her version of Chuck Berry’s “You Never Can Tell” which she renamed “(You Never Can Tell) C’est La Vie.” |
| Johnny B. Goode | Chuck Berry | “Johnny B. Goode” is Chuck Berry’s life story, although he was from St. Louis, not Louisiana and knew how to read and write very well. “Johnny” was inspired by Johnnie Johnson, whose band he played with (the Johnnie Johnson Trio), collaborated on many of Berry’s songs and was his regular piano player. “Goode” was from the street in St. Louis where he grew up (he lived at 2520 Goode Avenue). The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Sex Pistols and the Grateful Dead are among the many artists who covered the song. |
| Great Balls Of Fire | Jerry Lee Lewis | “Great Balls of Fire” is a 1957 popular song recorded by American rock and roll musician Jerry Lee Lewis on Sun Records and featured in the 1957 movie Jamboree. It was written by Otis Blackwell and Jack Hammer. “A person tells at least a little bit about himself in any song he cuts,” Jerry Lee Lewis said once. |
| Il jouait du piano debout | France Gall | The song “Il jouait du piano debout”, brilliantly performed by Berger’s wife France Gall, refers to Jerry Lee Lewis and his particular way to play piano. According to Berger the ways Jerry Lee Lewis plays piano is a symbol of the right to be different. |
| El Hombre Del Piano | Ana Belén & Víctor Manuel | Singer actress Ana Belén interpreted Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” in Spanish in 2008. Billy Joel worked at the Executive Room bar in Los Angeles from 1972 to 1973 as a piano player using the name “Bill Martin” (Joel’s full name is William Martin Joel). Ana Belén’s husband, Victor Manuel, adapted the lyrics with a quiet distinct view and changed the point of view of the piano player as an observer of his clients to a third person talking about the piano player. |
| Que Le Han Hecho A Mi Canción, Mamá? | Jeanette | Melanie Safka’s “What Have They Done To My Song, Ma” covered by Spanish singer Jeanette and released on her 1973 album “Palabras, promesas…”. Jeanette’s (born Janette Anne Dimech on 10 October 1951) father was Belgian and French spoken (born in Belgian Congo) and her mother was from Tenerife. Janette Anne Dimech was born in the UK, grew up in the US and worked in France. Hence her perfect English and French accents. |
| Lay Down (Candles In The Rain) | Melanie | “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)” written and performed by Melanie Safka in 1970 in collaboration with the Edwin Hawkins Singers, who had reached the national Top Ten the previous year with “Oh Happy Day”. The song describes here feelings at her Woodstock performance in August 1969, overlooking the sea of people in the audience. |
| Oh happy day | The Edwin Hawkins Singers | The gospel style arrangement of the hymn “Oh, Happy Day” by The Edwin Hawkins Singers has influences of Sérgio Mendes and James Brown. George Harrison has stated the song was a primary inspiration in the writing of his 1970 international hit single “My Sweet Lord”. |
| My Sweet Lord | George Harrison | George Harrison wrote “My Sweet Lord” in praise of the Hindu god Krishna, with help of Billy Preston in 1970. He intended to offer it to Edwin Hawkins but eventually decided to record it with Billy Preston. |
| That’s the Way God Planned It | Billy Preston | “That’s the Way God Planned It” is one of Billy Preston’s best-known songs. Preston performed it at the Concert for Bangladesh in August 1971 backed by George Harrison and Eric Clapton. Preston stated he was inspired by Paul McCartney’s composition “Let It Be” for writing the song. |
| Let It Be | The Beatles | “Let it Be”, a Lennon–McCartney ballad by The Beatles released in 1970 with Billy Preston on Hammond organ. Paul McCartney was inspired by a dream about his mother telling him “It will be all right, just let it be.” The Album “Let it Be” was produced by Phil Spector, which gave the song a different sound than its single version, produced by George Martin. George Martin wanted printing in the album cover credits “produced by George Martin, over produced by Phil Spector”! |
Sources
The information sources of the song facts include, but are not limited to, Wikipedia, songfacts.com, discogs.com, secondhandsongs.com, YouTube and artists’ related websites.
