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The Doors (Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek and John Desmore) self-titled debut album featured their biggest selling song "Light My Fire" (The Doors) which was released as the edited single heard here. The album version was seven mibutes. This

Here's a post of a tune that was uploaded earlier. The information may be conflicting but it is compelling. According to Wikipedia "Tonight You Belong To Me" (Rose - David) was first recorded by vaudevillian Irving (Isadore) Kaufman in 1926. Some

Roy Orbison's "Crying" (Orbison - Melson) featured his usual session musicians including Bob Moore on bass, Floyd Cramer on piano and Buddy Harman on drums with the addition of composer Boudleaux Bryant, Harold Bradley and/or Scotty Moore on guitar. This

This is Brook Benton's original 1958 demo of "A Lover's Question" (Brook Benton - Jimmy T. Williams). Atlantic liked this arrangement so much they used the same musicians and the same bass singer for the hit, also on their label. Clyde McPhatter's

"Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter" (Peacock) was first sung by accomplished actor Tom Courtney on a 1963 British television show called "The Lads". Sir Tom has appeared in motion pictures "Billy Liar", "Doctor Zhivago", "The Loneliness of the Long

The Sons of the Pioneers (Bob Nolan, Lloyd Perryman, Hugh Farr and Tim Spencer) recorded "Cool Water" (Bob Nolan) in 1941 and peaked in the top ten on the Country chart. It was written by group member Winnipeg's Bob Nolan in 1936, Bob also composed

In 1968 South Africa's Hugh Masekela released the album "The Promise of a Future" and from it the single "Grazing in the Grass" (P. Hou). The trumpeter topped the Billboard Top One Hundred. The vocal version by The Friends of Distinction (Harry Elston,

Songwriter Dennis Lambert with his in concert version of "One Tin Soldier" recorded at Joe's Pub in New York City. Calgary`s Original Caste (Bruce and Dixie Lee Innes, Bliss Mackie and Graham Bruce) recorded "One Tin Soldier" (Dennis Lambert - Brian

Leon Payne composed and recorded "I Love You Because" and in 1949 it peaked at the top of the Country chart. His wife Myrtie died in 2008 and "I Love You Because" was played at her funeral.service. "I Love You Because" became a standard when it was

"Cotton's Theme" (Barry De Vorzon - Perry Botkin Jr.) was featued in the 1971 motion picture "Bless the Beasts and Children" as simple background music. Two years later Perry Botkin Jr. rearranged the music as the theme for the CBS television soap opera

The George Harrison composition "Here Comes the Sun" was heard first on the Beatles 1969 album "Abbey Road". According to Songfacts: "He wrote this in Eric Clapton's garden using one of Clapton's acoustic guitars. When the Beatles manager, Brian Epstein,

Johnny Russell co-wrote "Act Naturally" (Russell - Morrison) in 1961. According to Wikipedia "By 1963, Russell was writing with a woman named Voni Morrison, who also worked with Bakersfield, California-based singer Buck Owens. After Russell played "Act

Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini wrote "Moon River" especially for Audrey Hepburn's vocal talents in the 1961 film "Breakfast at Tiffany's". An album version by Mr. Mancini and his chorus was released as a single and peaked at number eleven on the

This track is from Jackie DeShannon's 1968 album "Laurel Canyon". Tom Calder, Marianne Faithfull's former manager gave an interview to Mojo Magazine in 2008 saying the song was written in L.A. when he was with Jimmy Page who had an affair with Jackie.

Hank Williams wrote most of his recording material but it was Dock "Curley" Williams who composed "Half As Much" (C. Williams). This is the original 78 r.p.m. vinyl with the Drifting Cowboys that hit the Billboard top ten Country chart in 1952. Rosemary

(Paul) Simon and (Art) Garfunkel's first recording of "Mrs. Robinson" (Paul Simon) was for the 1967 movie soundtrack of "The Graduate". At this point there is only a resemblance to what would become a great song. One of my personal favourtites "Punkey's

Juilliard graduate Tito (Ernesto) Puente The wrote "Oye Como Va" in 1962 for the album "El Reyo Bravo". Mongo Santamaria and Ray Beretto were once in his band. The Santana cover comes from the 1970 album "Abraxas" and peaked at number thirteen on the Top

The Hearbeats (James Sheppard, Albert Crump, Robbie Tatum, Vernon Sievers and Wally Roker) recorded "A Thousand Miles Away" (James Sheppard - William Miller) as a B side on the Hull label in 1956. The doo-wop group peaked at number five on the R&B

"Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing " is a film from 1955 starring William Holden and the beautiful Jennifer Jones. Noted composers Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster wrote the music while Alfred Newman's Orchestra supplied the score. The motion picture won

The song "One Day At a Time" (Wilkin - Kristofferson) has been recorded by literally hundreds of artists. Kris Kristofferson said he was barely "in the room" when Marijohn Wilkin wrote the tune. It was composed in 1973 by the lady who co-authored

The Italian song "Gli Occhi Miei" (My Eyes) (Donida - Mogul) was performed by singer/actor Dino (Eugenio Zambelli) at the 1968 San Remo Festival. Tom Jones recorded "Help Yourself" (Donida - Fishman) in 1968 and reached the top ten virtually all over the

"Pretend" (Lew Douglas - Cliff Parman - Frank Levere) was composed in 1952. The same year big-band leader and trumpeter Ralph Marterie and has orchestra recorded the instrumental. Nat King Cole peaked at number three with "Pretend" (Dan Belloc - Lew

"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (Goffin - King - Wexler) was finally recorded by Carole King (Kleine) on her incredible 1971 album "Tapestry". Peaking at number eight on Billboard's Top One Hundred and number two R&B "(You Make Me Feel

When Huey Smith turned twenty-one he became the piano player for Little Richard's band. He played keyboards on the original "I Hear You Knocking" by Smiley Lewis. "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" (J. Vincent - Huey Smith) was recorded by Huey

U.K. singer/composer Gary Benson (Harry Hyams) wrote "Let Her In" in 1975. Television and movie star, actor, dancer and singer John Travolta's cover of "Let Her In" was from his 1976 self-titled album. The single raeched the top ten on the pop chart and

"Hear Anita Bryant In Your Home" is the album, the opening track is the single "Paper Roses" (Fred Splielman - Janice Torre). The single, her most successful, peaked at number five in 1960 for the former Miss Oklahoma, Anita Bryant. It was "The Southern

Otis Williams and His Group (The Charms) (details elsewhere in this blog) inrtoduced "Gum Drops" (Rudy Toombs) in 1955. "Gum Drop" by The Crew Cuts (Rudi Maugen, John Perkins, Pat Barrett and Ray Perkins) with David Carroll's Orchestra hit the top ten

"Sh-Boom (Life Could Be a Dream)" (James Keyes - Claude Feaster - Carl Feaster - Floyd F. McRae - James Edwards) was composed and released by The Chords in 1954. This hit the top ten pop and R&B charts. The Crew Cuts (details elsewhere) cover of

"Little Old Wine Drinker Me" (Hank Mills - Dick Jennings) was first recorded by Grand Ole Opry member Charlie Walker. This is on his 1966 album "Wine, Women and Walker". Actor, director, composer and singer Robert Mitchum's 1967 album "That Man, Robert

MacArthur Park was named after General Douglas MacArthur. The former Westlake Park is now designated as an Historic Cultural Monument in Los Angeles. Jimmy Webb composed "MacArthur Park" in 1967 as part of a cantata. He took the entire effort to The

Songwriter Rudy Toombs was hired by Atlantic Records to write funny up-tempo R&B novelty songs. Tne label was looking for true life representations that were also funny. In "One Mint Julep" the idea was a young black man getting "tipsy" enjoying mint

In 1949 a lute player from Crete named Giorgis Koutsourelis recorded "Kritiko Syrtaki" with vocals by Christos Koroniotakis. This was the inspiration for the second part of Mikis Theodorakis' hit "Zorba's Dance" Anthony Quinn's memorable steps with Alan

"Silver Threads and Golden Needles" (Jack Rhodes - Dick Reynolds) was recorded by Wanda Jackson in 1956. According to Wanda she was the first female to put "glamor into country music". The Springfields (Mary and brother Dion O'Brien aka Dusty and Tom

Teddy Pendergrass sings lead with Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes (Teddy Pendergrass, Bernard Wilson, Lawrence Brown, Harold Melvin and Lloyd Parks) original 1975 release of "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Gamble - Huff - Gilbert). This is an edit of the six

Dave Thomas' (Doug McKenzie on SCTV) younger brother Ian Thomas issued the album and the single "The Runner" in 1981. Manfred Mann's Earth Band (Manfred Mann, Mick Rogers, Chris Thomposon, Trevor Rabin and John Lingwood) aka Manfred Mann aka Manfred Mann

"For You" (Johnny Burke - Al Dubin) appeared in the 1930 "all talking picture" and historical operetta "Captain of the Guard" as sung by Broadway star, actor, singer John Boles. John's career included silent films opposite Gloria Swanson then he went on

The wonderful Melanie (Safka) composed "Whay Have They Done To My Song Ma" and it was issued in 1971 but made little action on the charts. The successful cover called "Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma" came form Australia's New Seekers (Eve Graham,

"I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing (in perfect harmony)" was a jingle for Coca-Cola written by Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway aka David and Jonathan as recording artists. Roger Cook sang this live at a TED presentation in Nashville. The studio jingle

It didn't chart for Merry Clayton who backed Bobby Darin on "You're the Reason I'm Living" but Merry was the first to record "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss) (Rudy Clark) in 1963. The tune had been rejected by The Shirelles. Bobby Darin who owned

The spiritual "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore" was noted in the 1867 publication "Slave Songs of the United States". Tony Saletan adapted the song in the version known today. He also uncovered "Kumbaya". Tony taught "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore" to Pete

"Rock On" (David Essex) was recorded in 1973 as a single sung by England's David Essex (Cook). The single reached Billboard's top five and made him a one-hit wonder in the U.S. although he had genuine hits elsewhere. "Rock On" was the title of his debut

Frankie Randall (Lisbona) sang "All" (Oliviero - Jessel - Grudeff - Fidenco) as the theme for the 1965 Italian motion picture "Una Moglie Americana" released to the English world as "Run For Your Wife". This is also a track on Frankie's album "At It

When Sam Cooke exited the building after his last recording session in late 1964, one of the results iof the day's efforts was "Shake" (Cooke). RCA released the tune just eleven days after the singer's death. Bobby Womack played guitar on the single that

Sam Cooke co-wrote and recorded "Only Sixteen" (Barbara Campbell) in 1959. Barbara Campbell is the maiden name of Barbara Cooke, Sam's wife and an alias for the writing team of Sam Cooke, Lou Adler and Herb Alpert combined. This hit Billboard's top thirty

"(Remember Me) I'm the One Who Loves You" was issued as the B side of a Stuart Hamblen (details elsewwhere) release for the actor, singer, composer. The single peaked at number two on the Country chart in 1950. Jimmy Bowen's production of Dean Martin's

In 1954 "This Ole House" was recorded by it's composer, Stuart Hamblen. According to Wikipedia "Hamblen was supposedly out on a hunting expedition when he and his fellow hunter, actor John Wayne, came across a hut in the mountains. Inside was the body of

Shirley Ellis (O'Garra) gave us well constructed novelty tunes "The Name Game", "The Clapping Song" and "The Nitty Gritty" (Lincoln Chase). This peaked at number eight on the pop chart and number four R&B in 1963. "The Real Nitty Gritty" by Gladys

In the sixties Rod Argent founded The Zombies and in the seventies the band Argent (Rod Argent, Russ Ballard, Jim Rodford and Bob Henrit). "Liar" (R. Ballard) was a track on their 1970 self-titled debut album. Details on the group Three Dog Night are

Kathryn Grayson (Hedrick) and Mario Lanza (Alfred Cocozza) sang the Academy Award nominated "Be My Love" (Sammy Kahn - Nicholas Brodsky) in the 1950 film "The Toast of New Orleans". The two starred in the movie along with David Niven. "Mona Lisa" won that

"Lisboa Antiga" (Portela - Galhardo - Vale) is a 1937 Portuguese song place on vinyl by Lisbon native Herminia Silva. Nat King Cole's manager heard a version of the tune played by an orchestra while in Mexico and brought it to the attention of Nelson

There was a time from 1969 to whenever that, when you went into a bar, restaurant, gin mill, tap room, bistro, nightclub, public house, tavern, cafe, watering hole, saloon, entertainment venue, beverage room or favourite spot, you were sure to hear "Proud

The much underrated Johnny Darrell (Eddie White) was first to record "With Pen In Hand" (Bobby Goldsboro) and reached number three on the Country chart in 1968. Bobby Goldsboro wrote "With Pen In Hand" and it spent a few weeks on the lower level of the

Larry John McNally grew up in Bangor, Maine when Motown ruled the radio. He composed and recorded "The Motown Song" (McNally) for the movie soundtrack of "Quicksilver: starring Kevin Bacon in 1986. From the 1991 album "Vagabond Heart" comes the Rod

Jack Tempchin sang his composition "Peaceful Easy Feeling" at coffee shops in his hometown including the non-profit Acoustic Music San Diego stage. Jack also composed what became a hit for Johnny Rivers "Swaying to the Music (Slow Dancing". Later Jack

The husband and wife team of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil composed "We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place" with the Righteous Brothers in mind. It's hard to miss the connection when you listen to this tune. Here is Barry Mann's take on what is now a classic.