Let It Be was released by the Beatles on May 8, 1970 on the band’s own label, Apple Records. Originally recored in January 1969, before Abbey Road, it was temporarily shelved as the Beatles were not happy with the album. It was later ‘re-produced’ by Phil Spector, and released after the group announced they were […]

“Rollin’ Stone” is a blues song written in 1948 by Muddy Waters. The song was based on Mississippi blues singer Robert Petway’s song “Catfish Blues.” It was the first single released on Chicago blues and rock label Chess Records; it later provided the Rolling Stones with their name, and was an influence on Bob Dylan’s […]

There have been many memorable moments – notorious and controversial — at MTV’s Video Music Awards since they started in 1984. Madonna’s performance at the first annual MTV Video Music Awards is considered to be the singer’s first of many controversial incidents over her twenty-five-year career. She took the stage to sing “Like a Virgin” […]

U2’s debut album was released in October 1980. Recorded in Dublin and produced by long time producer Steve Lillywhite, From the album’s driving and anthemic lead off song (and the album’s biggest hit single) “I Will Follow” every song on their debut sounded huge, with layers of guitars swirling around Bono’s passionate singing. It was […]

Perhaps it’s not surprising that the first CD release was of classical music. Classical enthusiasts had more audiophiles in their numbers than pop fans in 1982, when the Dutch company Phillips developed the CD as we know it now. They marketed it following a five hundred day “crash program” to get a pressing plant up […]

“Hey Jude” was the first song released by The Beatles on their own Apple label in 1968. It was credited to “Lennon/McCartney” as many Beatles songs were, even if they had been written just by John Lennon or just Paul McCartney. “Hey Jude” was written by McCartney. It was apparently written to Lennon’s son Julian […]

Stax Records, a name which is synonymous with Southern soul music, began as Satellite Records in Memphis in 1959. Founded by Jim Stewart, a former country fiddler, and Estelle Axton, whose son Charles “Packy” Axton was a saxophonist with the original Mar-Keys, the company had its first Top Ten hit in 1961 with “Gee Whiz” […]

Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff were both performing artists themselves early in their careers, but they made their mark as music producers. Before founding Philadelphia International Records in 1971, they had written some hit songs, including “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” which was a hit for Dionne Warwick’s sister Dee Dee Warwick, and later […]

Released in February of 1972, Harvest is Neil Young’s most popular album, in which he delves into a full country sound at times and is backed by the London Symphony Orchestra at others. The album reached #1 on the Billboard Charts and the songs “Old Man” hit #31 on the Hot 100 and Heart of […]

During the Who’s early days, Pete Townshend became known for his eccentric stage style, often interrupting concerts with lengthy introductions of songs, swinging his right arm against the guitar strings windmill-style, and sometimes smashing his guitar on stage. The first incident of his legendary guitar-smashing, which occurred in the mid-60s, was brought about because Townshend […]