“A Change Is Gonna Come” is a song by American singer-songwriter Sam Cooke. It initially appeared on Cooke’s album Ain’t That Good News, released mid-February 1964 by RCA Victor; a slightly edited version of the recording was released as a single in December, 1964. Produced by Hugo and Luigi and arranged and conducted by Rene […]
Like A Rolling Stone (4)
“Like a Rolling Stone” is a song by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released in July 1965, by Colimbia Records. Its confrontational lyrics originated in an extended piece of verse Dylan wrote in June 1965, when he returned exhausted from a grueling tour of England. Dylan distilled this draft into four verses and a chorus. “Like […]
Smells Like Teen Spirit (5)
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” is a song by American band Nirvana. It is the opening track and lead single from the band’s second album, Nevermind (1991), released on DGC Records. The unexpected success of the song propelled Nevermind to the top of several albums charts at the start of 1992, an event often marked as […]
What’s Goin’ On (6)
“What’s Going On” is a song by American singer-songwriter Marvin Gaye, released in 1971 on the Motown subsidiary Tamla. The song was composed by Renaldo “Obie” Benson, Al Cleveland, and Gaye and produced by Gaye himself. The song marked Gaye’s departure from the Motown Sound towards more personal material. Later topping the Hot Soul Singles […]
Strawberry Fields Forever (7)
“Strawberry Fields Forever” is a song by the Beatles, written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon-McCartney. It was released in February 1967 as a double A-side single with “Penny Lane”. It represented a departure from the group’s previous singles and a novel listening experience for the contemporary pop audience. While the song initially divided […]
Get Ur Freak On – 8
“Get Ur Freak On” is a song by American rapper Missy Elliot. It was written and produced by Elliott and Timbaland for her third studio album Miss E… So Addictive (2001). Based on heavy bhangra elements, a popular music and dance form from the Punjab state of India, the song features a six-note base that […]
Dreams (9)
“Dreams” is a song by British-American band Fleetwood Mac from their eleventh studio album, Rumours (1977). In the United States, “Dreams” was released as the second single from Rumours on 24 March 1977, while in the United Kingdom, the song was released as the third single in June 1977. A stage performance of “Dreams” was […]
Norma Waterson
I have set aside the series on the top songs on the 500 Best Songs of All Time for today to mark the passing of one of the seminal figures in English Folk Music. Waterson was born in Hull, and, after being orphaned at an early age, was brought up there, with her brother Mike […]