Category: Rock and Roll

  • Roy Orbison – California Blue

    Roy Orbison – California Blue

    About The Song “California Blue” is a song written by Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne, and Tom Petty.  According to The Authorized Roy Orbison, Orbison recorded the song in April 1988 at Mike Campbell’s garage in Los Angeles. “California Blue” was released as a single from Orbison’s 22nd studio album, Mystery Girl, in July 1989,…

  • Bee Gees – Too Much Heaven

    Bee Gees – Too Much Heaven

    About The Song –  In this song, the Bee Gees find a new way to express their abiding love, telling the lady that nobody gets too much heaven, so they should be together always. –  The Bee Gees donated royalties from this song, estimated to be at least $7 million, to UNICEF. Along with…

  • Roy Orbison – Only the Lonely

    Roy Orbison – Only the Lonely

    About The Song The song was written by Orbison and Joe Melson, and it was originally released in 1960. It was Orbison’s first major hit, and it reached number one on the charts in the United States and the United Kingdom. The song’s lyrics tell the story of a man who is heartbroken after…

  • Dean Martin – Sway

    Dean Martin – Sway

    – This song is about dancing, and being infatuated with your dance partner – Martin sings that when they sway together on the dance floor she is all he sees.- About The Song – This song was written in 1953 as “Quien Sera” by the Mexican bandleader Pablo Beltran Ruiz. Norman Gimbel, who also…

  • Johnny Cash – Ring of Fire

    Johnny Cash – Ring of Fire

    About The Song Singer-songwriter June Carter was married when she co-wrote “Ring of Fire” in 1962. So was Johnny Cash — though not to each other. But this paean to submitting to the throes of all-consuming passion was to ignite their love, and become one of the most lauded songs in country music history.…

  • All Shook Up – Elvis Presley’s longest running #1 single

    All Shook Up – Elvis Presley’s longest running #1 single

    About The Song Elvis recorded “All Shook Up” at Radio Recorders in Hollywood on January 12, 1957. In a 1991 interview, Otis Blackwell said that on this song, as on “Don’t Be Cruel,” Presley copied Blackwell’s vocal style on the demo. It’s hard to judge the validity of his claim without hearing Blackwell’s demo,…

  • The Righteous Brothers – Unchained Melody

    The Righteous Brothers – Unchained Melody

    About The Song In 1954, Alex North composed the score for the prison film “Unchained.” North was asked to write a song based on the movie, and he asked his friend Hy Zaret to write the lyrics. Zaret declined the opportunity, reportedly saying he was busy painting his house at the time. North’s persuasion…

  • Don Williams – You’re My Best Friend

    Don Williams – You’re My Best Friend

    – “You’re My Best Friend” is a song written by Wayland Holyfield, and recorded by American country music artist Don Williams. It was released in April 1975 as the first single and title track from the album You’re My Best Friend. About The Song – The song was Williams’ second No. 1 hit on…

  • Merle Haggard – Sing Me Back Home

    Merle Haggard – Sing Me Back Home

    Merle Haggard was the genius behind the prison song, “Sing Me Back Home”. It was released in November 1967 as the first single and title track from the album Sing Me Back Home. It was Haggard’s third number one hit. The single spent two weeks at number one and a total of 17 weeks…

  • The Beatles – Hey Jude

    The Beatles – Hey Jude

    About The Song “Hey Jude” was officially released in August of 1968 during a period of personal turmoil for the band. Lennon had just left his wife, Cynthia Powell, for Yoko Ono who he would later marry in 1969, which caused upheaval within the Beatles as well as Lennon’s family. McCartney, witnessing this emotional…