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Classic Blue
''Classic Blue'' is the fourth solo studio album by The Moody Blues member Justin Hayward. ''Classic Blue'' was released in 1989 by Trax Music (later re-released on Castle Music Records in 1994), and features Mike Batt, who also produced the album, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The album includes cover versions of many hit songs, such as The Beatles' " Blackbird", and Led Zeppelin's " Stairway to Heaven." It also includes a re-recorded version of "Forever Autumn," a song from ''Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds'', in which Hayward originally sang lead vocals. Track listing # "The Tracks of My Tears" ( Smokey Robinson, Marv Tarplin, Warren Moore)– 3:23 # "MacArthur Park" (Jimmy Webb) – 7:16 # " Blackbird" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 2:31 # "Vincent" (Don McLean) – 4:53 # "God Only Knows" ( Brian Wilson, Tony Asher) – 3:34 # " Bright Eyes" (Mike Batt) – 3:53 # "A Whiter Shade of Pale" (Keith Reid, Gary Brooker) – 4:28 # " Scarboro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century as individual 78 rpm records collected in a bound book resembling a photograph album; this format evolved after 1948 into single vinyl long-playing (LP) records played at rpm. The album was the dominant form of recorded music expression and consumption from the mid-1960s to the early 21st century, a period known as the album era. Vinyl LPs are still issued, though album sales in the 21st-century have mostly focused on CD and MP3 formats. The 8-track tape was the first tape format widely used alongside vinyl from 1965 until being phased out by 1983 and was gradually supplanted by the cassette tape during the 1970s and early 1980s; the popularity of the cassette reached its peak during the late 1980s, sharply declined during the 1990s and had largely disappeared ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Tracks Of My Tears
"The Tracks of My Tears" is a song written by Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, and Marv Tarplin. It is a multiple award-winning 1965 hit R&B song originally recorded by their group, The Miracles, on Motown's Tamla label. The Miracles' million-selling original version has been inducted into The Grammy Hall of Fame, has been ranked by the Recording Industry Association of America and The National Endowment for the Arts at 127 in its list of the "Songs of the Century" – the 365 Greatest Songs of the 20th Century, and has been selected by ''Rolling Stone'' as No. 50 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time", among many other awards. In 2021, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked The Miracles' original recording of "The Tracks of My Tears" as "The Greatest Motown Song of All Time." The Miracles original version Background "The Tracks of My Tears" was written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson (lead vocalist), Pete Moore (bass vocalist), and Marv Tarplin (guitarist). In the five-LP p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bright Eyes (Art Garfunkel Song)
"Bright Eyes" is a song written by British songwriter Mike Batt and performed by Art Garfunkel. It was written for the soundtrack of the 1978 British animated adventure drama film ''Watership Down''. Rearranged as a pop song from its original form in the film, the track appears on British and European versions of Garfunkel's 1979 '' Fate for Breakfast'' and on the US versions of his 1981 album '' Scissors Cut''. "Bright Eyes" topped the UK Singles Chart for six weeks and became Britain's biggest-selling single of 1979, selling over a million copies. Richard Adams, author of the original novel, is reported to have hated the song. A cover of the song was later used in the ''Watership Down'' television series explicitly as its theme song. Background The song was written, produced and arranged by Mike Batt for ''Watership Down'', with original director John Hubley requesting a song about death. It plays when the rabbit Hazel, the lead character in the film, almost dies after be ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tony Asher
Anthony D. Asher (born May 2, 1939) is an English-American songwriter and advertising copywriter who is best known for his collaborations with Brian Wilson (of the Beach Boys) and Roger Nichols in the 1960s. Asher co-wrote eight songs on the Beach Boys' 1966 album ''Pet Sounds'', including the singles "God Only Knows", " Wouldn't It Be Nice", and " Caroline, No". According to Asher, he mainly served as a lyricist for Wilson's songs, but in some cases also contributed musical ideas. Asher also composed jingles, such as Mattel's slogan "You can tell it's Mattel—it's swell!", and contributed songs to ''The Partridge Family''. Background Tony Asher was born in London on May 2, 1939, the son of American actress Laura La Plante and film producer Irving Asher. He and his mother moved to Los Angeles before he was six months old, while Irving remained in England to serve in the US Army during World War II. As a child, Asher played piano and composed. He graduated from UCLA with a degr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often Brian Wilson is a genius, called a genius for his novel approaches to pop music, pop composition, extraordinary musical aptitude, and mastery of recording techniques, he is widely acknowledged as one of the most innovative and significant songwriters of the 20th century. His best-known work is distinguished for its high production values, complex harmony, harmonies and orchestrations, vocal harmony, layered vocals, and introspective or ingenuous themes. Wilson is also known for his formerly high-ranged singing and for his lifelong struggles with Mental disorder, mental illness. Raised in Hawthorne, California, Wilson's formative influences included George Gershwin, the Four Freshmen, Phil Spector, and Burt Bacharach. In 1961, he began his professional career as a member of the Beach Boys, serving as the band's songwriter, producer, co-le ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
God Only Knows
"God Only Knows" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1966 album '' Pet Sounds''. Written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher, it is a Baroque-style love song distinguished for its harmonic innovation and its subversion of typical pop music formula. It is often praised as one of the greatest songs ever written and as the Beach Boys' finest record. The song's musical sophistication is demonstrated by its three contrapuntal vocal parts and weak tonal center (competing between the keys of E and A). Lyrically, the words are expressed from the perspective of a narrator who asserts that life without their lover could only be fathomed by God—an entity that had been considered taboo to name in the title or lyric of a pop song. It marked a departure for Wilson, who attributed the impetus for the song to Asher's affinity for standards such as " Stella by Starlight". Some commentators interpret "God Only Knows" as promoting suicidal ideations, although such an interp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Don McLean
Donald McLean III (born October 2, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known for his 1971 hit song " American Pie", an eight-and-a-half-minute folk rock "cultural touchstone" about the loss of innocence of the early rock and roll generation. His other hit singles include "Vincent" (about Vincent van Gogh), "Dreidel", and " Wonderful Baby"; as well as his renditions of Roy Orbison's " Crying" and the Skyliners' " Since I Don't Have You". McLean's composition " And I Love You So" has been recorded by Elvis Presley, Perry Como, Helen Reddy, Glen Campbell, and others. In 2000, Madonna had a hit with a rendition of "American Pie". In 2004, McLean was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In January 2018, BMI certified that "American Pie" and "Vincent" had reached five million and three million airplays respectively. On Nov 22nd 2022 in Nashville, TN McLean was inducted into Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. Musical roots McLean's grandfather an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vincent (Don McLean Song)
"Vincent" is a song by Don McLean written as a tribute to Vincent van Gogh. It is often erroneously titled after its opening refrain, "Starry, Starry Night", a reference to Van Gogh's 1889 painting ''The Starry Night''. McLean wrote the lyrics in 1971 after reading a book about the life of Van Gogh. It was released on McLean's 1971 '' American Pie'' album; the following year, the song topped the UK Singles Chart for two weeks, and peaked at No. 12 in the United States, where it also hit No. 2 on the Easy Listening chart. ''Billboard'' ranked it as the No. 94 song for 1972. The song makes use mainly of the guitar, but also includes the accordion, marimba, and strings. In July 2020, the original handwritten lyrics went up for sale for $1.5 million. Production McLean said the following about the genesis of the song: Critical reception ''The Telegraph'' wrote: "With its bittersweet palette of major and minor chords, "Vincent"'s soothing melody is one of high emotion recollect ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. One of the most successful composers and performers of all time, McCartney is known for his melodic approach to bass-playing, versatile and wide tenor vocal range, and musical eclecticism, exploring styles ranging from pre–rock and roll pop to classical and electronica. His songwriting partnership with Lennon remains the most successful in history. Born in Liverpool, McCartney taught himself piano, guitar and songwriting as a teenager, having been influenced by his father, a jazz player, and rock and roll performers such as Little Richard and Buddy Holly. He began his career when he joined Lennon's skiffle group, the Quarrymen, in 1957, which evolved into the Beatles in 1960. Sometimes called "the cute Beatle", McCartney later involv ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Lennon
John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Lennon's work was characterised by the rebellious nature and acerbic wit of his music, writing and drawings, on film, and in interviews. His songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney remains the most successful in history. Born in Liverpool, Lennon became involved in the skiffle craze as a teenager. In 1956, he formed The Quarrymen, which evolved into the Beatles in 1960. Sometimes called "the smart Beatle", he was initially the group's de facto leader, a role gradually ceded to McCartney. Lennon soon expanded his work into other media by participating in numerous films, including ''How I Won the War'', and authoring ''In His Own Write'' and ''A Spaniard in the Works'', both collections of nonsense writings and line drawi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jimmy Webb
Jimmy Layne Webb (born August 15, 1946) is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He has written numerous platinum-selling songs, including " Up, Up and Away", " By the Time I Get to Phoenix", " MacArthur Park", " Wichita Lineman", " Worst That Could Happen", "Galveston" and " All I Know". He had successful collaborations with Glen Campbell, Michael Feinstein, Linda Ronstadt, the 5th Dimension, the Supremes, Art Garfunkel and Richard Harris. Webb was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1990. He received the National Academy of Songwriters Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993, the Songwriters Hall of Fame Johnny Mercer Award in 2003, the ASCAP "Voice of Music" Award in 2006 and the Ivor Novello Special International Award in 2012. According to BMI, his song "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" was the third most performed song in the 50 years between 1940 and 1990. Webb is the only artist ever to receive Grammy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
MacArthur Park (song)
"MacArthur Park" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Jimmy Webb that was recorded first by Irish actor and singer Richard Harris in 1968. Harris's version peaked at number two on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart and number four on the UK Singles Chart. "MacArthur Park" was subsequently covered by numerous artists, including a 1969 Grammy-winning version by country music singer Waylon Jennings and a number one ''Billboard'' Hot 100 disco arrangement by Donna Summer in 1978.Boucher, Geoff"'MacArthur Park' Jimmy Webb , 1968" ''Los Angeles Times'', June 10, 2007. Retrieved June 1, 2015 In 1967, producer Bones Howe had asked Webb to create a pop song with different movements and changing time signatures. Webb delivered "MacArthur Park" to Howe with "everything he wanted", but Howe did not care for the ambitious arrangement and unorthodox lyrics and the song was rejected by the group The Association, for whom it had been intended. Jimmy Webb songwriting Composition "MacAr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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