"Kashmir" is the only Led Zeppelin song to use outside musicians, as it needed strings and horns.
Part of Elton John's '80s resurgence was "Sad Songs (Say So Much)," which got a lot of exposure in commercials for Sasson jeans, reworked as "Sasson Says So Much." This was Elton's idea - he even got Sasson to sponsor his American tour.
"All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey was the first ringtone certified Gold.
At the end of "Radar Love," the driver dies in a crash but maintains a psychic bond with the woman he was racing to see. The song's lyricist was inspired by stories of extrasensory perception (ESP).
Dexys Midnight Runners' "Come on Eileen" is based on a real girl called Eileen that the band's Kevin Rowland had a relationship with in his early teenage years.
"Today" by Smashing Pumpkins is sarcastic in the line "today is the greatest day." Lead singer Billy Corgan wrote it about the crippling depression he was battling following the band's first big tour.
Was Janet secretly married at 18? Did she gain 60 pounds for a movie role that went to Mariah Carey? See what you know about Ms. Jackson.
The writer of "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Polk Salad Annie" explains how he cooks up his Louisiana swamp rock.
Even before Soundgarden wrote a song about him, Artis was the most famous spoon player of all time. So why has he always been broke?
Richie talks about the impact of "Amazed," and how his 4-year-old son inspired another Lonestar hit.
Tim and his brother Richard are the Furs' foundation; Tim explains how they write and tells the story of "Pretty In Pink."
It took him seven years to recover from his American hit "Fool (If You Think It's Over)," but Chris Rea became one of the top singer-songwriters in his native UK.