On Jan. 10, 1956, Elvis Presley went into Nashville’s RCA Studio to record “Heartbreak Hotel” which went on to become his first #1 hit.
“Heartbreak Hotel”
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Behind the Song
“Mercedes Benz”
It’s Thursday, Oct. 1, 1970 at the Sunset Sound recording studio in Los Angeles. Janis Joplin asks producer Paul Rothchild to roll tape. She has a song she’d like to sing.
“The Girl From Ipanema”
The story behind “The Girl From Ipanema,” the second-most recorded song in history by composer Antonio Carlos Jobim and the poet Vinícius de Moraes.
“Our House”
Here is the story—in Graham Nash’s own words—behind the classic “Our House,” one of the sweetest love songs ever written while he was living with Joni Mitchell.
“Okie From Muskogee”
Merle Haggard recalls the inspiration behind his polarizing 1969 anthem, “Okie From Muskogee”
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
The story behind Bob Mays’ beloved Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, a story written to comfort his daughter and was turned into a best-selling Christmas song.
“The Christmas Song”
“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire …”The story behind Mel Torme’s writing “The Christmas Song” during a sweltering summer day.
“What’s Going On”
The story behind Marvin Gaye’s enduring classic, “What’s Going On.”
“The Lion Sleeps Tonight”
Wimoweh. For the last 50 years, that happy little word has been a universally recognized shorthand for the song known as “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” But its history is anything but happy.
Neil Young’s “Ohio”
On May 4, 1970, a student protest at Kent State left four students dead, one paralyzed and eight others wounded. Neil Young, affected by Life Magazine’s coverage, wrote this song in a few hours.
“Mardi Gras Mambo” and “Iko Iko”
Mardi Gras and music go together like red beans and rice and coffee and beignets. Here’s the story behind two songs that are Fat Tuesday favorites: “Iko Iko” and “Mardi Gras Mambo.”
“Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane”
In Feb. 1967 the Beatles released a double-A side single of “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane” which opened the doors to the wonders of Sgt. Pepper. Here’s the story.
