In her 2020 memoir, Mariah Carey revealed that "Honey" is about her fling with New York Yankees superstar Derek Jeter. She and her husband, Tommy Mottola, were in the midst of a breakup.
"Babylon," in David Gray's song, refers to London, which was once known as the "modern-day Babylon."
New Order got the title for "Blue Monday" from an illustration that read "Goodbye Blue Monday" in the Kurt Vonnegut book Breakfast Of Champions. The image refers to the invention of the washing machine improving housewives' lives.
The Spacehog song "In The Meantime" samples an obscure recording of telephone noise, which is used at the beginning of the song.
Ronnie Spector nailed the vocal for The Ronettes song "(Walking) In the Rain" on the first take - unheard of in the perfectionist producer Phil Spector's world.
Vincent Price did the spooky narration on "Thriller." He was paid a flat fee of $20,000, turning down a percentage of the royalties that would have paid him far more.
P.F. was a teenager writing hits and playing on tracks for Jan & Dean when he wrote a #1 hit that got him blackballed.
A founding member of the band War, Harold gives a first-person account of one of the most important periods in music history.
A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.
Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.
Songs that seem to glorify violence against women are often misinterpreted - but not always.
Collaborating with T Bone Burnett, Leslie Phillips changed her name and left her Christian label behind - Robert Plant, who recorded one of her songs on Raising Sand, is a fan.