Articles and Interviews

“Falling Slowly”

Glen Hansard formulated a simple stairstep guitar progression and an opening line: “I don’t know you, but I want you” for “Falling Slowly,” the Oscar-winning song for the film “Once.”

“Happy Birthday to You” began its life in 1893. Written by two sisters, Mildred and Patty Hill, it was originally entitled “Good Morning to All,” and intended as a classroom greeting from teachers to students.

“Love Is All Around”

“Love Is All Around” became 56 seconds of TV theme song history for songwriter Sonny Curtis who wrote and performed it for The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”

“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” coupled Blue Oyster Cult’s mysticism with a beautiful melody, lush harmonies and one of the coolest guitar riffs of the ‘70s.

“Only the Good Die Young”

“When I wrote ‘Only the Good Die Young,’ the point of the song wasn’t so much anti-Catholic as pro-lust,” Billy Joel said.

“Picture Book”

I always knew that song would have its day,” Ray Davies says of 1968’s “Picture Book.” “Sometimes you just know. It was never a hit, but it’s become a hit in another way.”

“The Andy Griffith Show” Theme

The Andy Griffith Show‘s theme song, “The Fishin’ Hole,” was written by Earle Hagen and Herbert Spencer with (rarely heard) lyrics by Everett Sloane.

“The Highwayman”

Jimmy Webb tells the story behind the writing of “The Highwayman” which became a hit for the super group of Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.

“Bohemian Rhapsody”

It’s a testament to Freddie Mercury’s adeptness as a songwriter and Queen’s musicianship that the disparate parts of “Bohemian Rhapsody” add up to such a glorious sum.