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This is the original version of "Only the Good Die Young" in all that reggae splendour it was written to express. Billy Joel's self-taught drummer Liberty DeVitto was fed up with the musical style at the time and according to Billy "literally throws his

Husband and wife, Art and Dotty Todd were first to record "Chanson d'Amour (Song Of Love)" (Wayne Shanklin) as a demo in 1958. The demo was released as the single and hit the top ten at number six. The Manhattan Transfer (Tim Hauser, Laurel Masse, Janis

Studio singer Tom Bahler worked with Elvis Presley, Neil Diamond, Diana Ross, Sonny And Cher, B.J. Thomas, Quincy Jones, Barbra Streisand, Billy Joel, once dated Karen Carpenter and was the associate producer of "We Are the World". Tom composed "She's

"Hello It's Me" was first recorded in 1968 by Nazz (Todd Rundgren, Thom Mooney, Carson Van Osten and Robert Antoni) for their self-titled first album. The single featuring lead vocal by Robert "Stewkey`Antoni was originally a B side. According to

This is composer Martha Sharp's version of "Single Girl" from her 1973 album "Anywoman". Often her surname is spelled with an extra "e" at the end. Martha also wrote the Bobby Vee hit "Come Back When You Grow Up". Backup singer on the Percy Sledge hit

Martha Sharp wrote "Born A Woman". This is her version from her 1973 Monument release "Anywoman". Years later Martha discovered country great Randy Travis when he was cooking catfish and washing dishes in a Nashville restaurant and signed him to Warner

During the fifties Dick Holler had a group called "The Rockets" that at one time included Jimmy Clanton, Johnny Rivers and Doctor John. It was Dick who composed "Snoopy vs the Red Baron" and "Abraham. Martin And John". This is from the 1970 album "Someday

Paul McCartney recorded "Maybe I'm Amazed" (McCartney) on his first solo album "McCartney" in 1970. Paul played all the instruments and dedicated it to his wife Linda who helped him get through the breakup of the Beatles. Wings (Paul and Linda

Buffalo Springfield (Stephen Stills, Bruce Palmer, Richie Furay, Dewey Martin and Neil Young) issued "Sit Down, I Think I Love You" (Stephen Stills) on their 1966 self-titled debut album. Stephen Stills composed the song before the group was organized

The first to sing "Hello Dolly" (Jerry Herman) was Carol Channing in the 1964 Broadway musical of the same name. Ethel Merman and Mary Martin turned down the role of Dolly Levi. "Hello Dolly" ran for 2,844 performances making it the longest running

Sammy Hagar released "I've Done Everything For You" (Hagar) in 1978 from the live album "All Night Long". Although it was issued as a single, the song didn't chart. "The Red Rocker" spent a decade as lead singer with Van Halen and is a member of the Rock

Jennifer Rush (Heidi Stern) introduced "The Power Of Love " (Mende - DeRouge - Rush - Applegate) on her 1984 self-titled album. The single peaked at the top of the charts in the U.K., Canada, Australia, Norway and many European countries. When it was

This is the Paul McCartney demo of "A World Without Love" (Lennon - McCartney). Paul McCartney wrote the song when he was sixteen and living with girlfriend Jane Asher, and sharing a room with Peter's sister. Peter and Jane were child actors who appeared

The Beatles "Ticket To Ride" (Lennon - McCartney) was released in 1965 and hit the top of the charts in most of the free world countries. The single, arguably it was actually written by John Lennon, ended up on the album "Help!" The Carpenters first

Here is the demo of "Strawberry Fields Forever" (Lennon - McCartney) by John Lennon reminiscing on the Salvation Army children's home, Strawberry Field. This is the first track intended for the legendary 1967 album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club

The Persuaders (Douglas Scott, Joey Coleman, Richard Gant and Thomas Lee Hill) recorded "Some Guys Have All the Luck" (Jeff Fortgang) in 1973 and peaked at number thirty-nine. The composer and Yale graduate now works in the Boston area concentrating on

"Midnight Special" is a traditional American South folk song originated by prisoners. In 1926 Dave Cutrell recorded the first vinyl version titled "Pistol Pete's Midnight Special" in St. Louis with McGuinty's Oklahoma Cow Boy Band. Lead Belly (Huddie

"Whispering" (Rose - M. Schonberger - J. Schonberger) was published as sheet music in 1920. Paul Whiteman's Ambassador Orchestra recorded the same year reaching the number one chart spot. The brother and sister duo of Nino Tempo (LoTempio) and April

"No Matter What Shape's (Your Stomach's In)" (Burland - Granville - Sascha) was originally the Alka Seltzer jingle. Although the composers are listed it's generally agreed that the writer is Lou Bideu aka Lew Bedell (Bedinsky) aka Billy Joe Hunter of

Native Americans Redbone (Lolly Vegas and his brother Pat Vegas, Tony Bellamy and Pete DePoe) fame finally released "Niki Hokey" (L. Vegas - P. Vegas - J. Ford) on their self-titled 1970 album. P.J. Proby (James Smith) had success with "Niki Hoeky" in

Ellie Geenwich wrote some of the most enduring songs of a generation along with her husband Jeff Barry. The list would include "And Then he Kissed Me" (Spector - Greenwich - Barry) as heard on the 1973 album "Let It Be Written, Let It Be Sung". The

This is composer Ellie Greenwich with her splendid version of "Today I Met The Boy I'm Gonna Marry" (Greenwich - Powers - Spector). This is from the1973 album "Let It Be Written, Let It Be Sung". The Phil Spector production and Darlene Love (Wright)

Yet another musician from Lubbock, Texas, Don Bowman wrote "Wildwood Weed" (Bowman) found on his 1964 album "Our Man In Trouble". The ex Mr. Bobbie Gentry, Jim Stafford was once in a high school band with Gram Parsons of The Byrds, Bobby Braddock

In 1963 "Just One Look" (Doris Troy - Gregory Carroll) was recorded in ten minutes as a demo by "one hit wonder" Doris Troy aka Doris Payne (Higginsen). It was issued unchanged by Atlantic records. The single reached number ten on Billboard. Doris became

Charlie Gracie (Graci) recorded the original "Ninety-Nine Ways" (Charlie Gracie) as the B side of "Butterfly" in 1957. A major movie star of the fifties and former figure skater Tab Hunter (Arthur Kelm) covered "Ninety-Nine Ways" the same year and got

"Brother Louie" (Errol Brown - Tony Wilson) originated with members of Hot Chocolate (Errol Brown, Patrick Olive, Larry Ferguson, Tony Wilson, Ian King and Harvey Hinsley) in 1973. The top ten hit U.K. single was produced by Mickie Most (Michael Hayes).

Composer Carole King covered "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" (Goffin - King) in 1971 on her incredible "Tapestry" album. James Taylor and Joni Mitchell are signing backup. Although the song was written with the Shirelles in mind it was first offered to Johnny

This is the original version of "It Hurts To Be In Love" (Miller - Greenfield) as recorded by Neil Sedaka in 1964. RCA Victor rejected the demo because it wasn't recorded on their premises as was part of Neil's contract. Later that year Neil recorded

Franke and the Knockouts hit with "Sweetheart" in 1981 but that was it until he was requested to write some tunes for the movie "Dirty Dancing". He composed the lyric and teamed with John DeNicola and Don Markowitz to write the music for "(I've Had) The

Franke and the Knockouts (Franke Previte, Bill Elworthy, Leigh Foxx, Tommy Ayers, Bobby Messano and Tico Torres) with the original "Hungry Eyes" (F. Previte - J. DeNicola) featured in the motion picture "Dirty Dancing". This was issued on the 1984 album