The first rap song to make the Hot 100 was "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang in 1979. At the time, many considered rap a fad that would soon pass.
Robert Plant's "Heaven Knows" is a satirical look at the '80s, when style seemed to trump substance.
Producer Bob Ezrin convinced Pink Floyd to put a disco beat and children's chorus on "Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)," which started out as a short interstitial for their album The Wall.
Rascal Flatts is one of those bands whose most famous song is a cover. "Life Is A Highway," which they recorded for the movie Cars in 2006, was written and originally released by Tom Cochrane in 1991.
Tom Cochrane wrote "Life Is A Highway" to pull himself out of a funk following an exhausting humanitarian trip to Africa.
"Closing Time" by Semisonic was written by the lead singer when his wife was pregnant. Some of the lyrics are about being born.
How well do you know your David Bowie lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.
Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.
The "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" singer makes a habit of playing with the best in the business.
Kristian talks songwriting technique, like how the chorus should redefine the story, and how to write a song backwards.
Inspired by his dear friend, "Seasons in the Sun" paid for Terry's boat, which led him away from music and into a battle with Canadian paper mills.
From the cowbell on "Mississippi Queen" to recording with The Who when they got the wrong Felix, stories from one of rock's master craftsmen.