Welcome to Johnny K's Way Back Play Backs and join the groovy adventure with Johnny K as he jumps in his "Way Back Machine" and takes a trip back to yesteryear.
This is a place where great moments in music and pop culture are celebrated and remembered.
So pull up a beanbag chair, turn on your lava lamp and take a trip back to a groovier time!
June 8: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #56 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American new wave band The B-52s with "Rock Lobster" (1978)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by band members Fred Schneider and the late Ricky Wilson (1953 - 1885), "Rock Lobster" was the band's first single to appear on the Billboard Hot 100. The song became one of their signature tunes and it helped launch the band's mainstream success. The song's lyrics include nonsensical lines about a beach party and excited rants about real or imagined marine animals, accompanied by absurd, fictional noises attributed to them; the chorus consists of the words "Rock Lobster!" repeated over and over on top of a keyboard line. In spring 1980, John Lennon, whose post-Beatles music career had been on hiatus for nearly 5 years while he helped raise his son Sean, was prompted to record again after hearing "Rock Lobster"
June 7: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series called "Totally Tubular Tuesdays" with the grooviest hits of that decade known as the 1980s; peaking at #4 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac with "Hold Me" (1982)
June 6: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American singer, activist and politician C. W. McCall with "Convoy" (1975)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by McCall and Chip Davis, the song consists of three types of interspersed dialog: a simulated CB conversation with CB slang, the narration of the story, and the chorus. It is about a fictitious trucker rebellion that drives from the west to the east coast of the United States without stopping. What they are protesting against (other than the 55 mph speed limit, then recently introduced in response to the 1973 oil crisis) is shown by lines such as "we tore up all of our swindle sheets" (CB slang for log sheets used to record driving hours; the term referenced the practice of falsifying entries to show that drivers were getting proper sleep when, in reality, the drivers were driving more than the prescribed number of hours before mandatory rest in order to shorten trip time) and "left 'em settin' on the scales" (CB slang for Department of Transportation weigh stations on Interstates and highways to verify the weight of the truck and the drivers' hours of working through log books). The song also refers to toll roads: "We just ain't a-gonna pay no toll." Also the "hammer" is the accelerator pedal; putting it down fed more diesel fuel to the engine, therefore breaking the speed limit.
June 5: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #16 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American Muppet character and television personality Ernie, voiced by the late Jim Henson (1936 - 1990) with "Rubber Duckie" (1970)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Named after Ernie's toy, a rubber duck affectionately named Rubber Duckie, the song became a surprise mainstream hit in September 1970. Ernie debuted what is considered his his signature song on episode #0078 (originally aired February 25, 1970) on Sesame Street (1969 - present), the long-running American children's television series on which he continues to appear as part of the ensemble cast that includes his on-screen/off-screen partner and pigeon aficionado, Bert. "Rubber Duckie" was even nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording for Children (1970), but it lost to The Sesame Street Book & Record, which, ironically, also contains the song.
June 4: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #4 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American family music group The Osmonds with "Down by the Lazy River" (1972)
June 3: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series called "Fast-Forward Fridays" with the grooviest hits of that decade known as the 1990s; peaking at #16 on U.S. Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks chart (#10 on Canadian Singles chart) here is Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip with "Courage (for Hugh MacLennan)" (1993)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: The song's bracketed title references the late author Hugh MacLennan (1907 - 1990), particularly his 1959 novel The Watch That Ends the Night, whose title refers to a line in Isaac Watts' interpretation of Psalm 90, which is paraphrased in the song's lyrics.
June 2: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #3 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart (#20 on U.K. Singles chart) here is British rock band Ace with "How Long" (1974)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Although widely interpreted as being about adultery, the song was in fact composed by Ace lead singer Paul Carrack upon discovering that bassist Terry Comer had been secretly working with the British group Sutherland Brothers and Quiver. Comer returned to Ace in time to play on the song.
June 1: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #8 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is Scottish-born singer-songwriter and folk-rock musician Al Stewart with "Year of the Cat" (1976)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Co-written by Stewart and English musician the late Peter Wood (1950 - 1993), "Year of the Cat" is a narrative song written in the second person whose protagonist, a tourist, is visiting an exotic market when a mysterious silk-clad woman appears and takes him away for a gauzy romantic adventure. On wakening the next day beside her, the tourist realizes, with equanimity, that his tour bus has left without him and he has lost his ticket. The Cat is one of the twelve signs of the Vietnamese zodiac; it corresponds to that of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac. At the time of the song's release, the most recent Year of the Rabbit had been February 11, 1975 to January 30, 1976 and thus, the song was recorded in the Vietnamese Year of the Cat.
Welcome to Johnny K's Way Back Play Backs and join the groovy adventure with Johnny K as he jumps in his "Way Back Machine" and takes a trip back to yesteryear.
This is a place where great moments in music and pop culture are celebrated and remembered.
So pull up a beanbag chair, turn on your lava lamp and take a trip back to a groovier time!
May 31: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series called "Totally Tubular Tuesdays" with the grooviest hits of that decade known as the 1980s; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American hard rock band Van Halen with "Jump" (1983)
May 30: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American folk singer-songwriter Melanie with "Brand New Key" (1971)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by Melanie, the novelty song is sung from the viewpoint of a girl with roller skates trying to attract the attention of a boy. Many listeners detect sexual innuendo in the lyrics, with the key in its lock thought to symbolize sexual intercourse; Melanie has acknowledged the possibility of detecting sexual innuendo in the song, without confirming or denying the intent. "Brand New Key" was Melanie's greatest success and was produced by her husband, Peter Schekeryk.
May 29: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly
chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #2 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100
chart here is American singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer and
actor the late Michael Jackson (1958 - 2009) with "Rockin' Robin" (1972)
March 28: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly
chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100
chart here is American R&B/soul family musical act Gladys Knight
& The Pips with "Midnight Train to Georgia" (1973)
Johnny K's
Fun Facts: Written by American singer-songwriter Jim Weatherly, the
theme of the song is how romantic love can conquer differences in
background. The song has become Knight's signature song.
May 27: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series called
"Fast-Forward Fridays" with the grooviest hits of that decade known as
the 1990s; peaking at #2 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is
American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actress, author and
poet Jewel with "You Were Meant for Me" (1996)
Johnny K's Fun
Facts: Written by Jewel and American singer-songwriter and guitarist
Steve Poltz, the song relates the singer's incomprehension of a failed
relationship, and her inadequate
attempts at moving on with her life. In the music video Jewel and Poltz
appeared together in numerous scenes, most of them depicting how both
of them wants to be together but always separated. Poltz later
referenced the record in his song 'Happier Hour' through the lyrics "Did
I ever tell you I wrote a hit with Jewel? I was truly meant for you and
you were truly meant for me."
May 26: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American music group Exile with "Kiss You All Over" (1978)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Originating as a rock and roll group as far back as 1963 under the name The Exiles, the band changed musical styles throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s and shortened their name to Exile in 1973. Written by Australian record producer and songwriter Mike Chapman and English songwriter and record producer Nicky Chinn, who together were a major force in the British pop music industry in the 1970s, "Kiss You All Over" proved to be Exile's only big hit in the pop rock market. The band moved into Country music following the synth-pop success of "Kiss You All Over"
May 25: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly
chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100
chart here is American pop singer B. J. Thomas with "Raindrops Keep
Fallin' on My Head" (1969)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by Hal
David and Burt Bacharach for the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the
Sundance Kid, the song was recorded by Thomas in seven takes, after
Bacharach expressed dissatisfaction with the first six. American
singer-songwriter and comedian Ray Stevens was first offered the
opportunity to record it for the film, but turned it down.
May 24: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series called "Totally Tubular Tuesdays" with the grooviest hits of that decade known as the 1980s; peaking at #4 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart (#8 on U.K. Singles chart) here is British music duo Eurythmics with "Here Comes the Rain Again" (1984)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by group members Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart and produced by Stewart, the single became Eurythmics' fifth Top 10 hit in the U.K. and was the duo's second top ten hit in the United States. The music video, featuring both Lennox and Stewart, was directed by Stewart, John Gerschfield and Jon Roseman, and released in December 1983, a month before the single came out. The video opens with a passing aerial shot of The Old Man of Hoy on the Island of Hoy in the Orkney Islands before transitioning to Lennox walking along the rocky shore and cliff top. She later explores a derelict cottage while wearing a nightgown and holding a lantern. Stewart stalks her with a video camera. In many scenes the two are filmed separately, then superimposed into the same frame. The result is that the viewer may perceive one as being a ghost in the world of the other.
May 23: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #2 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American vocal and instrumental duo the Carpenters with "Rainy Days and Mondays" (1971)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by then-fairly unknown composers Roger Nichols and Paul Williams, the song was released as the first track on the album Carpenters (1971), popularly known as the Tan Album, with instrumental backing by L.A. session musicians from the Wrecking Crew. Australian singer, songwriter and actress Olivia Newton-John, one of Karen Carpenter's best friends recorded a cover version of this song on her album Indigo: Women of Song as a tribute to Karen, who died at age 32 from heart failure caused by complications related to anorexia nervosa in 1983.
May 22: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American singer and songwriter the late Eddie Rabbitt (1941 - 1998) with "I Love a Rainy Night" (1980)
May 21: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly
chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #3 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100
chart here is American rock band Chicago with "Saturday in the Park"
(1972)
May 20: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series called "Fast-Forward Fridays" with the grooviest hits of that decade known as the 1990s; peaking at #33 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American singer and actress Cher with "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" (1990)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written and composed by American songwriter Rudy Clark the song was made famous by the 1964 release by the late Betty Everett (1939 - 2001) and became an international hit once again when Cher's remake was cut for the soundtrack of her 1990 film Mermaids in which it played under the closing credits. Although it only peaked at #33 on the Billboard Hot 100, it hit #1 in the United Kingdom, where it remained for five weeks, selling a total of 520,000 copies, making it one of the biggest-selling singles by a female artist in Britain in the 1990s. The original video for "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)" was made to promote the movie Mermaids. The video features Cher with Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci, who played her daughters in the film. Cher turns 70 today (born May 20, 1946).
May 19: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #3 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American musician and actor the late Elvis Presley (1935 - 1977) with "In the Ghetto" (1969)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by country music singer, songwriter, and actor Mac Davis and originally titled "The Vicious Circle" the song became a major comeback hit for Presley as it was his first Top 10 hit in the US in four years. It is a narrative of generational poverty: a boy is born to a mother who already has more children than she can feed in the ghetto of Chicago. The boy grows up hungry, steals and fights, purchases a gun and steals a car, attempts to run, but is shot and killed just as his own child is born. The song implies that the newborn will meet the same fate, continuing the cycle of poverty and violence.
May 18: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #9 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart (#1 on U.K. Singles chart) here is British rock band Queen with "Bohemian Rhapsody" (1975)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by Queen frontman the late Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) at his London home, the song features styles of progressive rock, symphonic rock, hard rock and heavy metal. It was the most expensive single ever made at the time of its release. Although critical reaction was initially mixed, "Bohemian Rhapsody" remains one of Queen's most popular songs and is frequently placed on modern lists of the greatest songs of all time. The single was accompanied by a promotional video, which many scholars consider ground-breaking. The song enjoyed renewed popularity in 1992 as part of the soundtrack to the film Wayne's World.
May 17: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series called "Totally Tubular Tuesdays" with the grooviest hits of that decade known as the 1980s; peaking at #2 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is Australian soft rock duo Air Supply with "All Out of Love" (1980)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by Air Supply singer/guitarist Graham Russell and American record producer Clive Davis, the pop ballad deals with the unrequited love of a singer who feels lost without the object of his affection. In their native Australia, Air Supply released this song in 1978, but for the 1980 international release with Arista Records, Clive Davis (thus giving him song-writing credit) ordered some changes to the song. A big change was in the original line, "I'm all out of love, I want to arrest you." which is an Australian term to get someone's attention. Davis, figuring it would be lost on American audiences had the line changed to "I'm all out of love, I'm so lost without you.."
May 16: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American singer-songwriter and guitarist James Taylor with "You've Got a Friend" (1971)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by American composer and singer-songwriter Carole King, the song drew inspiration from a line in Taylor's earlier song "Fire and Rain" (1970) that "I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend." Both artists recorded the song simultaneously in 1971 with shared musicians as a single and were included on King's album, Tapestry, as well as Taylor's album, Mud Slide Slim. During the recording process, Taylor also offered to his Apple Records labelmate Mary Hopkin a chance to record the song, which she turned down, a decision she later said she strongly regretted.
May 15: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart (#1 on U.K. Singles chart) here is English rock band The Beatles with "Hey Jude" (1968)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by Paul McCartney and credited to the songwriting partnership of Lennon–McCartney, the ballad evolved from "Hey Jules", a song McCartney wrote to comfort John Lennon's son, Julian, during his parents' divorce (in early 1968 Lennon and his wife Cynthia separated because of Lennon's affair with Yoko Ono). Although McCartney originally wrote "Hey Jude" for Julian, Lennon thought it had actually been written for him. More than seven minutes in length, it was at the time the longest single ever to top the British charts.
May 14: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #9 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart (#3 on U.K. Singles chart) here is British pop rock group The Hollies with "Carrie Anne" (1967)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by Hollies' members Allan Clarke, Graham Nash (who would leave the Hollies to supply the Nash in the folk-rock supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young), and Tony Hicks, the song was written during a concert the group did with Tom Jones. According to Nash, he had written the song for English singer, songwriter and actress, Marianne Faithfull, but was "too shy" to use her real name. Canadian actress Carrie-Anne Moss was named (by her mother) in honor of the song, which was released three months before her birth.
May 13: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series called "Fast-Forward Fridays" with the grooviest hits of that decade known as the 1990s; peaking at #38 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart (#8 on Canadian Singles chart) here is Canadian pop and country singer-songwriter and occasional actress k.d. lang with "Constant Craving" (1992)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by lang and Ben Mink, the song provided lang with mainstream success and is often considered her signature song. The music video was filmed in black-and-white. It presents a fanciful recreation of the premiere of Samuel Beckett's play Waiting for Godot in Paris (1953). lang received a writing credit for the Rolling Stones song, "Anybody Seen My Baby?" (1997), whose chorus sounds strikingly similar to "Constant Craving". Mick Jagger and Keith Richards claimed to have never heard the song before and when they discovered the similarity prior to the song's release, were flummoxed as to how the songs could be so similar. Jagger then soon discovered his daughter listening to a recording of "Constant Craving" on her stereo and realized he had heard the song before many times but only subliminally. The two gave Lang credit, along with Mink, to avoid any possible lawsuits. Afterwards, lang said she was "completely honoured and flattered" to receive the songwriting credit.
May 11: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #18 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American folk singer-songwriter Arlo Guthrie with "City of New Orleans" (1972)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by American folk music singer-songwriter the late Steve Goodman (1948 - 1984), the lyrics tell the story of a train ride from Chicago to New Orleans on the Illinois Central Railroad's City of New Orleans in bittersweet and nostalgic terms. Goodman, who first recorded the song in 1971, got the idea while traveling on the Illinois Central line for a visit to his wife's family. While at the Quiet Knight bar in Chicago, Goodman saw Arlo Guthrie and asked to be allowed to play a song for him. Guthrie grudgingly agreed on the condition that if Goodman would buy him a beer, Guthrie would listen to him play for as long as it took to drink the beer. Goodman played "City of New Orleans," which Guthrie liked enough that he asked to record it. The song is now more closely associated with him, although Goodman continued to perform it until his death in 1984.
May 10: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series called "Totally Tubular Tuesdays" with the grooviest hits of that decade known as the 1980s; reaching at #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is British new wave band Culture Club with "Karma Chameleon" (1983)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: According to Culture Club frontman Boy George the lyrics suggest the terrible fear of alienation that people have, the fear of standing up for one thing. He has stated, "It's about trying to suck up to everybody. Basically, if you aren't true, if you don't act like you feel, then you get Karma-justice, that's nature's way of paying you back." Filmed at Desborough Island in Weybridge during the summer of 1983, the music video is set in Mississippi in 1870 and depicts a large group of people in late 1800s dress, including some dressed in red, gold, and green (as Boy George sings in the song). Boy George is dressed in what would be known as his signature look: colourful costume, fingerless gloves, long braids, and a black derby. A pickpocket and jewellery thief is seen wandering through the crowd, stealing from unsuspecting folks. The band and other people board a riverboat, The Chameleon, as Boy George continues to sing. The thief is discovered cheating at cards, and is forced to return his ill-gotten gains and walk the plank at the points of ladies' parasols. As the video ends, day has turned to evening and the party continues on the boat as it cruises down the river. The song was originally to be called "Cameo Chameleon"
May 9: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly
chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #4 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100
chart here is American folk rock vocal group The Mamas & the Papas
with "California Dreamin'" (1965)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written
by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips in 1963 while living in New York,
the song was inspired by a dream John was having and he woke Michelle
to help compose the lyrics. The lyrics of the song express the
narrator's longing for the warmth of Los Angeles during a cold winter
in New York City. Michelle enjoyed visiting churches, and she and John
visited St. Patrick's Cathedral, which inspired the second verse of
"California Dreamin’" ("Stopped into a church..."). John hated the
verse, as he was turned off to churches by unpleasant memories of
parochial school, but he couldn't think of anything better so he left it
in. The song became a signpost of the California Myth, an idyllic
narrative inspired by the state's beach culture, and the arrival of the
nascent counterculture era.
May 8: Today's "Way Back Play Back" is dedicated to my mom and all moms on
this Mother's Day; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is
American rock band Three Dog Night with "Mama Told Me (Not to Come)"
(1970)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by American
singer-songwriter Randy Newman, the song was inspired by Newman's own
lighthearted reflection on the Los Angeles music scene of the late
1960s. The lyrics suggest the narrator is a sheltered and
extraordinarily straight-laced young
man, who recounts what is presumably his first "wild" party in the big
city and is shocked and appalled by cigarette-smoking, whiskey-drinking,
and loud music and in the chorus of the song the narrator recalls that
his "mama told [him] not to come." The first recording of "Mama Told Me
Not to Come" was cut by Eric Burdon & The Animals in 1966 however
the most popular version is that of Three Dog Night.
May 7: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #13 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American folk-rock trio the Stone Poneys with "Different Drum" (1967)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by American musician and member of the Monkees, Mike Nesmith, the song was originally recorded by the northern bluegrass band the Greenbriar Boys in 1965 before becoming the first hit single for a young and up-and-coming singer named Linda Ronstadt who was a member of the Stone Poneys. This cover version flips the gender references in Nesmith's original lyric, replacing "girl" with "boy" when describing her lover, but still referring to him being "pretty". Although credited to the Stone Poneys, Ronstadt was the only member of the trio who actually performed on the record.
May 6: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series called "Fast-Forward Fridays" with the grooviest hits of that decade known as the 1990s; peaking at #8 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart (#2 on U.K. Singles chart) here is English rock band Oasis with "Wonderwall" (1995)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by Oasis lead guitarist, co-lead vocalist and principal songwriter Noel Gallagher, the song was originally believed to be written for Gallagher's then-girlfriend (later wife) Meg Matthews however after they divorced, it was revealed that the song was actually about an imaginary friend who's gonna come and save you from yourself. Considered one of the band's most popular songs, "Wonderwall" features Gallagher's brother Liam as lead singer.
May 5: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart (#1 on Canadian Singles chart) here is Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot with "Sundown" (1974)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by Lightfoot, the song's lyrics describe a troubled romantic relationship, with the narrator recounting an affair with a "hard-loving woman [who's] got me feeling mean". There are rumours that "Sundown" was inspired by Lightfoot's then girlfriend, Cathy Smith, later more infamously known for her involvement in the 1982 drug-related death of actor John Belushi. Lightfoot has commented in interviews that Smith was "the one woman in my life who most hurt me." Smith became an employee and then mistress of Lightfoot in the early to mid-1970s. The Smith-Lightfoot affair was volatile and eventually Smith left Lightfoot and returned to the late Levon Helm of The Band with whom she had been involved prior to Lightfoot. Smith has been connected to The Band's famous song, "The Weight" (1968).
May 4: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American record producer and musician Meco with "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" (1977)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Dedicated to Star Wars fans who celebrate the franchise by wishing each other a galaxy far, far away-themed greeting: “May the fourth be with you,” Meco's disco version of the Star Wars theme is to date it is the biggest-selling instrumental single in the history of recorded music, having sold two million units, being the only one ever to be certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. After seeing the soon-to-be blockbuster several times within the first few days of its release, Meco got the idea to make a disco version of the score by American composer John Williams and contacted American record executive Neil Bogart at Casablanca Records to pitch the project. Only after both the picture itself as well as the original score had become huge hits did Bogart agree to help Meco realize his idea. In a matter of just three weeks they arranged and recorded the album, Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk, and although the album was nominated for "Best Instrumental Pop performer" in 1977, the award ultimately went to John Williams for the original soundtrack album.
May 3: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series called "Totally Tubular Tuesdays" with the grooviest hits of that decade known as the 1980s; reaching at #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is English pop rock band The Escape Club with "Wild, Wild West" (1988)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by The Escape Club, the song gives the band the distinction of being the only British artist to have a #1 hit in the U.S. while never charting in the UK. The song's distinctive video received a lot of MTV airplay however it was banned from being used in their homeland for being allegedly sexist and offensive.
May 2: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is Swedish rock band Blue Swede with "Hooked on a Feeling" (1974)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by Mark James and originally performed by American pop singer B. J. Thomas (1968), the newly formed Blue Swede garnered international success with the release of their cover version of the song. The group based its rendition of the song on a 1971 version released by British pop eccentric Jonathan King, which created the "ooga-chaka ooga-chaka" introduction. Their version of the song also tweaked the lyrics to avoid a drug reference.
May 1: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking #3 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American rock band The Monkees with "Pleasant Valley Sunday" (1967)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by the then husband-and-wige songwriting team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King, the song was inspired by a street named Pleasant Valley Way, in West Orange, New Jersey where they were living at the time. The road follows a valley through several communities among the Watchung Mountains. The lyrics were a social commentary on status symbols, creature comforts, life in suburbia and "keeping up with the Joneses". The song has been regarded as an understated comment on consumerism while maintaining a relentlessly driving pop beat. The Monkees recorded the most successful version of the song and it became on of their most successful singles.
Welcome to Johnny K's Way Back Play Backs and join the groovy adventure with Johnny K as he jumps in his "Way Back Machine" and takes a trip back to yesteryear.
This is a place where great moments in music and pop culture are celebrated and remembered.
So pull up a beanbag chair, turn on your lava lamp and take a trip back to a groovier time!
April 2016 April 30: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking #6 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American rock and roll-based band Kenny Rogers and The First Edition with "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" (1969)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by American country music singer and songwriter Mel Tillis about a paralyzed veteran of a "crazy Asian war" (which given the time of its release and widely assumed but never explicitly stated to be the Vietnam War) who either lies helplessly in bed or sits helplessly in his wheelchair as his wife gets ready to go out for the evening without him; he believes she is going in search of a lover, and as he hears the door slam behind her, he pleads for her to reconsider. Tillis drew inspiration for the song from a couple who lived near his family in Florida; the man was wounded in Germany in World War II and sent to recuperate in England. There he married a nurse who took care of him at the hospital and the two moved to Florida shortly afterward, but he had periodic return trips to the hospital as problems with his wounds kept flaring up. Apparently his wife saw another man as the veteran lay in the hospital and the man killed her in a murder-suicide. In the song, the man says he would kill her if he could move to get his gun. Originally recorded in 1967 by American country music artist, the late Johnny Darrell (1940 - 1997), Kenny Rogers and The First Edition recorded their version of the song, with Rogers singing the lead, in a single take.
April 29: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series called "Fast-Forward Fridays" with the grooviest hits of that decade known as the 1990s; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 Airplay chart here is American rock band The Wallflowers with "One Headlight" (1997)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by The Wallflowers' lead singer Jakob Dylan, the lyrics tell a fragmentary story about a former friend and her death, and the singer's emotions in the aftermath. The use of strong words and images and the incomplete story have resulted in many different interpretations of the song, which include suicide, drug abuse, death of a lover, death of one's mother, having breast cancer and/or depression. Dylan has said that the song is about "the death of ideas" and that the many metaphors and images in the lyrics were not meant to be taken literally. Dylan explains that he and the band had very little support when they were putting together the record, hence the shout-out "c'mon try a little." The last two lines of the chorus "we can drive it home / with one headlight" are a reference to how the band were able to get through with their ideas despite being hindered (i.e. with one headlight) by the lack of support.
April 28: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American pop music duo Sonny & Cher with "I Got You Babe" (1965)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by the late Sonny Bono (1935 - 1998) who, at the time was a songwriter and record producer for Phil Spector, wrote the lyrics to and composed the music of the song for himself and his then-roommate, Cher, late at night in their basement. Contrary to popular belief, Sonny & Cher were not married at the time of the son's release however they wed in 1969. Session drummer Hal Blaine played drums for the song with other members of The Wrecking Crew, the de facto house band for Spector and sometimes credited as the Phil Spector Wall of Sound Orchestra, supplying instrumental support. "I Got You Babe" became the duo's biggest single, their signature song, and a defining recording of the early hippie countercultural movement. In 2011, the song was named as one of the greatest duets of all times by both Billboard and Rolling Stone magazine.
April 27: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; here is English singer, songwriter, actor and record producer, the late David Bowie (1947 - 2016) and English singer, songwriter and actress, Marianne Faithfull, with "I Got You Babe" (1973)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Recorded for American television on October 19, 1973 at the Marquee Club in London, producer Burt Sugarman had approached Bowie about appearing on his late-night NBC program The Midnight Special; Bowie agreed to appear on the show after being granted complete artistic control for a one-hour special. Faithfull was invited to appear on the show as one of the back-up acts, along with The Troggs and the “flamenco rock” group Carmen. At the very end of the evening, Bowie and Faithfull appeared onstage together; he in a red PVC outfit with black ostrich plumes which he called it his “Angel of Death” costume and she in a nun’s habit that was, by more than one account, open in the back. Bowie’s duet with Faithfull turned out to be the very last appearance of Ziggy Stardust, his flamboyant and androgynous alter ego.
April 26: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series called "Totally Tubular Tuesdays" with the grooviest hits of that decade known as the 1980s; peaking at #28 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart (#1 on UK Singles chart) here is British reggae/pop band UB40 and American musician Chrissie Hynde with "I Got You Babe" (1985)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by the late Sonny Bono (1935 - 1998), this version was released twenty years after it was first recorded by Bono and his then roommate Cherilyn Sarkisian as the folk rock duo Sonny & Cher in August 1965. The cover version appeared on UB40's studio album Baggariddim as well as it also appeared on the Pretenders' (the English-American rock band fronted by Hynde) 1987 compilation album The Singles.
April 25: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking #42 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart (#10 on UK Singles chart) here is American rock band Heart with "Dreamboat Annie" (1976)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by sisters Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson, "Dreamboat Annie" is markedly softer in sound than the other singles Heart had released previously, the song was also Heart's first entry onto the U.S. Adult Contemporary singles chart. "Dreamboat Annie" is the title track from their debut album of the same name and was released as its third single in 1976. The song had originally appeared as the B-side to Heart's debut single "Crazy on You" earlier that year. At the time of the album's release, Heart's record label bought a full-page ad in Rolling Stone mocked up like a National Enquirer front page. The ad used a photo similar to the one on the Dreamboat Annie album cover, showing Ann and Nancy back to back with bare shoulders. The caption under the photo read "It Was Only Our First Time". The band had not been consulted and was furious with the double meaning of the caption. Not long after the ad appeared, a radio promoter asked Ann about her lover; he was referring to Nancy, thus implying that the sisters were incestuous lesbian lovers. The encounter infuriated Ann who went back to her hotel and penned the words to what became Heart's signature song, "Barracuda" (1977).
April 24: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking #4 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American singer, actress and TV-show host Dionne Warwick with "I Say a Little Prayer" (1967)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by American composer, songwriter and record producer, Burt Bacharach, and American lyricist, Hal David, for Warwick the lyrics were intended to convey a woman's concern for her man who's serving in the Vietnam War. Although Bacharach's recordings with Warwick typically took no more than three takes (often only taking one), Bacharach did ten takes on "I Say a Little Prayer" and still disliked the completed track feeling it rushed. The song was intended B-side of the newly recorded track "(Theme from) Valley of the Dolls". However, the brisk sound of "I Say a Little Prayer" which Bacharach disliked proved to be the comeback sound for Warwick as "I Say a Little Prayer" became the original favored side. "(Theme from) Valley of the Dolls" would become a hit subsequent to the success of "I Say a Little Prayer" reaching #2 in February 1968.
April 23: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart (#10 on UK Singles chart) here is English pianist, singer-songwriter and composer Elton John with "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (1975)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written primarily by the late John Lennon (1940 - 1980) and credited to Lennon–McCartney, John's version of the Beatles' 1967 psychedelic-themed "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" gave him the distinction of being the second of only two artists to have a Beatles' cover reach #1; the late Joe Cocker (1944 - 2014) was the first to do so when his cover of "With a Little Help From My Friends" reached #1 on the UK singles chart in 1968. John's version featured backing vocals and guitar by Lennon under the pseudonym Dr. Winston O'Boogie (Winston being Lennon's middle name). In introducing "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", John has said he believes it to be "one of the best songs ever written."
April 22: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series called "Fast-Forward Fridays" with the grooviest hits of that decade known as the 1990s; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and actor, the late Prince (1958 - 2016) and The New Power Generation with "Cream" (1991)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by Prince, who has stated that he wrote the song while standing in front of a mirror, the song hit #1 for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in November, 1991, keeping "Can't Stop This Thing We Started" by Canadian singer-songwriter and musician Bryan Adams from reaching the top spot. The song featured Prince's new backing band The New Power Generation, which he debuted in 1991. "Cream" gave Prince his fifth US #1 single.
April 21: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American pop/rock singer, pianist, composer and record producer Neil Sedaka with "Bad Blood" (1975)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by Sedaka and Phil Cody, the song held the top position on the Billboard chart for three weeks. Elton John provided uncredited backing vocals for the song, and was the most successful individual commercial release in Sedaka's career. "Bad Blood" was replaced at the #1 spot by John's single, "Island Girl".
April 20: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking #3 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart (#2 on UK Singles chart) here is British soul band Hot Chocolate with "You Sexy Thing" (1975)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by Hot Chocolate's lead singer Errol Brown, "You Sexy Thing" became the group's best-known song. In the UK the song was poised for the #1 spot, but was beaten to it by Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." The song went on to gain lasting notability by being featured in many hit films, such as 1997's The Full Monty which attributed it to be the only song to enter the UK Top Ten in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
April 19: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series called "Totally Tubular Tuesdays" with the grooviest hits of that decade known as the 1980s; peaking at #2 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart (#1 on UK Singles chart) here is English singer and songwriter, the late John Lennon (1940 - 1980) with "Woman" (1981)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by Lennon, "Woman" was the first Lennon single issued after his death (December 8, 1980) and is an ode to his wife Yoko Ono and to all women. The track begins with Lennon whispering, "For the other half of the sky ...", a paraphrase of a Chinese proverb, once used by Chinese Communist revolutionary Mao Zedong (1945 - 1976). In 1965, Lennon's then-songwriting partner and fellow Beatle band mate, Paul McCartney, had written a different song entitled "Woman" for British pop duo Peter & Gordon using a pseudonym. Thus, both Lennon and McCartney have individual credit for writing different charting songs with the same title. "Woman" is dedicated to a very dear friend who passed away on this day in 1997.
April 18: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking #2 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American singer-songwriter, actor, activist and humanitarian, the late John Denver (1943 - 1997) with "Take Me Home, Country Roads" (1971)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by Denver along with Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert (Danoff and Nivert made up half of the Starland Vocal Band, known for the 1976 hit, "Afternoon Delight"), the song drew inspiration from a roadtrip taken by Danoff and Nivert where, to pass the time, Danoff had made up a ballad about the little winding roads they were taking. Later, he changed the story to fit that of an artist friend, who used to write to him about the splendors of the West Virginia countryside. "Take Me Home, Country Roads" received an enthusiastic response from West Virginians. The song is the theme song of West Virginia University and has been performed at every home football pre-game show since 1972. Since March 2014 it became the official state anthem of West Virginia.
April 13: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking #25 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American pianist, singer-songwriter and composer Billy Joel with "Piano Man" (1973)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: "Piano Man" is a fictionalized retelling of Joel's experience as a piano-lounge singer, performing under the name Bill Martin, for six months in 1972 at the now defunct Executive Room bar in Los Angeles. Joel has stated that all of the characters depicted in the song were based on real people. "John at the bar" was really the bartender who worked during Joel's shift at the piano bar. "Paul is a real estate novelist" refers to a real estate agent named Paul who would sit at the bar each night working on what he believed would be the next great American novel. "The waitress is practicing politics" refers to Joel's first wife Elizabeth Weber, with whom he moved to Los Angeles from New York in 1972 and who worked at The Executive Room as a waitress while Joel played the piano. A video promo for this song was shot in 1977 depicting Joel as a bar act (Bill Martin) performing the song, and shows a typical American bar as a setting. A new video was shot in 1985, with new extras, and was more or less the same as the original. "Piano Man" was Joel's first major hit and is regarded as his signature song.
April 12: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series called "Totally Tubular Tuesdays" with the grooviest hits of that decade known as the 1980s; peaking at #7 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is English-born American singer, rapper and actor Young M.C. with "Bust a Move" (1989)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: The song is built on a sample of "Found a Child" (1970) by American horn rock group Ballin' Jack. The drums, produced by a Linn drum, are sampled from the song “Radio-Activity” by RoyalCash. The breakdown segment contains a combination of beats sampled from the songs "Scorpio" (1971) by Dennis Coffey and the Detroit Guitar Band, and "Daytime Hustler" (1972) by Bette Midler. "Bust a Move" also featured guest vocals by Crystal Blake and bass guitar by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, both of whom also appeared in the video.
April 11: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking #13 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist Patti Smith (credited as The Patti Smith Group) with "Because the Night" (1978)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Co-written by Smith and Bruce Springsteen, the song was originally recorded by Springsteen during sessions for his Darkness on the Edge of Town album. He was not satisfied with it and later declared he already knew he wasn't going to finish it since it was just another love song so it was given to Smith who was working on the album Easter in the studio next door. Smith recast it, only retaining the chorus "Because the night belongs to lovers", and it was included on Easter, becoming the first single released from that album. It remains one of the best known songs of Smith's catalog.
April 10: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking #8 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American progressive rock group Styx with "Come Sail Away" (1977)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by Styx member Dennis DeYoung (vocals and keyboards), "Come Sail Away" combines a plaintive, ballad-like opening section (including piano and synthesizer interludes) with a bombastic, guitar-heavy second half. DeYoung has revealed that he was depressed when he wrote the track after Styx's fifth and sixth albums, Equinox and Crystal Ball, sold fewer units than expected after the success of the single "Lady" (1975). "Come Sail Away" is one of the biggest hits of Styx's career.
April 9: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking #10 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American folk rock duo Brewer & Shipley with "One Toke Over the Line" (1971)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by singer-songwriters Mike Brewer and Tom Shipley the song garnered notice from then Vice President, the late Spiro Agnew (under President Richard Nixon) for what he saw as its subversiveness. Ironically, the song was performed (by Gail Farrell and Dick Dale) on The Lawrence Welk Show, a television program known for its conservative, family-oriented format, which billed it a "modern spiritual." At the conclusion of the performance of the song, Welk remarked, without any hint of irony, "There you've heard a modern spiritual by Gail and Dale."
April 8: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series called "Fast-Forward Fridays" with the grooviest hits of that decade known as the 1990s; peaking at #23 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American swing and jump blues band The Brian Setzer Orchestra with "Jump, Jive an' Wail" (1998)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Originally performed by American singer, actor, songwriter and trumpeter, the late Louis Prima (1910 - 1978), the song had a resurgence in popularity during the Swing revival in the late 1990s; first due to a television commercial for The Gap featuring the original Prima recording and khaki-clad dancers doing the Lindy Hop and then with Setzer's cover 1998. The song remains one of Prima's signature songs.
April 7: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American rock and roll group Tommy James and the Shondells with "Crimson and Clover" (1968)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by the duo of band leader Tommy James and drummer Peter Lucia Jr., it was intended as a change in direction of the group's sound and composition. Following the release of "Mony Mony" (1966), James wanted to change direction of the group's sound, and began producing his own material. The title, "Crimson and Clover", was decided before a song had been written for it. The combination of unknown meaning came to James as he was waking up, comprising his favorite color – crimson – and his favorite flower – clover. A song to fit the phrase was written by James and bassist Mike Vale, but was scrapped however his collaboration with Lucia was more successful. The song was recorded in late 1968 in about 5 hours and is one of the earliest songs recorded on 16-track equipment. James played most of the instruments, while Vale played bass and Lucia played drums. The song contains a tremolo effect on the guitar, set so that it vibrated in time with the song's rhythm. Near the end of the recording, the band had an idea of utilizing the tremolo effect with vocals. To achieve this, the voice microphone was plugged into an Ampeg guitar amplifier with tremolo turned on, and the output from the amplifier was recorded while James sang "Crimson and clover, over and over".
April 6: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; reaching #1 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart (#5 on UK Singles chart) here is English rock band The Rolling Stones with "Angie" (1973)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, "Angie" is an acoustic-guitar-driven ballad which tells of the end of a romance. The song's distinctive piano accompaniment was played by Nicky Hopkins, a Rolling Stones recording-session regular while the strings on the piece were arranged by Nicky Harrison. An unusual feature of the original recording is that Jagger's vocal guide track (made before the final vocals were performed) is faintly audible throughout the song (an effect sometimes called a "ghost vocal"). Inspiration for the song has drawn many speculations including David Bowie's first wife Angela, the actress Angie Dickinson, Keith Richards' newborn daughter Dandelion Angela and others although Richards has said that he had chosen the name at random when writing the song. Two music videos were shot to promote the song.
April 5: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series called "Totally Tubular Tuesdays" with the grooviest hits of that decade known as the 1980s; peaking at #5 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American singer-songwriter Pat Benatar with "We Belong" (1984)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by songwriting team David Eric Lowen and Dan Navarro, "We Belong" was made popular by Benatar and released as the lead single from her sixth studio album, Tropico (1984). It matched the success of "Love Is a Battlefield" (also peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1983) which is known as Benatar's signature song and it earned Benatar a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
April 4: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #16 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American singer-songwriter and guitarist, the late Richie Havens (1941 - 2013) with "Here Comes the Sun" (1971)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by English guitarist, singer and songwriter, the late George Harrison (1943 - 2001), was first released on the Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road and is one of Harrison's best-known compositions from the Beatles era. The song was written at the country house of his friend Eric Clapton, where Harrison had chosen to play truant for the day, to avoid attending a meeting at the Beatles' Apple Corps organization. The lyrics reflect the composer's relief at both the arrival of spring and the temporary respite he was experiencing from the band's business affairs.
April 3: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #22 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is American singer-songwriter and musician Neil Diamond with "Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show" (1969)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: Written by Diamond, the song tells the story of Brother Love, an evangelist who travels from town to town preaching. In the middle of the song, Diamond gives a sermon in typical evangelical style. Some evangelical groups in the American South encouraged the boycotting of this song and of Diamond as they thought that this song denigrated and insulted evangelists and the evangelical movement. When Diamond explained in an interview that it was, contrary to their understanding of it, a celebration of Gospel music and the evangelical style of preaching and worship, the controversy subsided.
April 2: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues a series featuring randomly chosen hits from yesteryear; peaking at #2 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart (#1 on UK Singles chart) here is Welsh folk singer Mary Hopkin with "Those Were the Days" (1968)
Johnny K's Fun Facts: On most recordings of the song, American musician and playwright Eugene Raskin is credited as the sole writer even though he wrote only the later English lyric (which is not an English translation of the Russian lyric based on the Russian romance song "Dorogoi dlinnoyu" composed by Boris Fomin with words by the poet Konstantin Podrevsky) and not the music. In the early 1960s Raskin, with his wife Francesca, played folk music around Greenwich Village in New York. Raskin, who had grown up hearing the song, wrote with his wife a new English lyric to the old Russian music and then copyrighted both music and lyric in his own name. Hopkin's recording was produced by Paul McCartney with an arrangement by Richard Hewson. Hopkin was one of the first musicians to sign to The Beatles' Apple label.
April 1: Today's "Way Back Play Back" continues with a series called
"Fast-Forward Fridays" with the grooviest hits of that decade known as
the 1990s; peaking at #29 on U.S. Billboard's Hot 100 chart here is
American rock band R.E.M. with "Everybody Hurts" (1993) Johnny
K's Fun Facts: Much of the song was written by drummer Bill Berry,
although as R.E.M. shares songwriting credits among its members, it is
unknown how much he actually wrote. Ironically, Berry did not drum on
the song; a Univox drum machine took his place. Berry was responsible
for the sampling of the drum pattern on the track. The string
arrangement was written by Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones. In the
video for the song, directed by Jake Scott and filmed along the double
deck portions of I-10 near the I-35 Interchange in Downtown San Antonio,
Texas, the band is stuck in a traffic jam. It shows the people in other
cars and subtitles of their thoughts appear on screen. At the end, all
the people leave their cars and walk instead; then they vanish. The
video was heavily inspired by the traffic jam in the opening dream
sequence of Fellini's 8½, a 1963 Italian comedy-drama.
