The first version of The Beatles "Helter Skelter" was a 27 minute jam, so you can imagine what Ringo was going through pounding away all that time. To convince the guys that he needed a break, he screamed, "I've got blisters on my fingers!" This was included on the fadeout.
Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of Kiss wrote "Rock And Roll All Nite" as a "rallying cry for all of our fans." In later years, members of Kiss wrote songs separately.
Neil Young was married when he wrote "Cinnamon Girl," which clearly was not about his wife. He had a hard time explaining it to her.
MC Skat Kat was created for the remix of "Opposites Attract," which was released as the last single from her Forever Your Girl album. The team that created the Kat also did a-ha's "Take On Me" video.
The songwriting team Leiber and Stoller wrote "Hound Dog" for a blues singer named Big Mama Thronton, who first recorded the song in 1953. Elvis covered it in 1956, and it became his biggest hit.
Sarah McLachlan wrote "Angel" about the Smashing Pumpkins touring keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin, who overdosed on heroin and died in 1996.
"Mony Mony." "Crimson and Clover." "Draggin' The Line." The hits kept coming for Tommy James, and in a plot line fit for a movie, his record company was controlled by the mafia.
Billie Jean, Delilah, Sara, Laura and Sharona - do you know who the girls in the songs really are?
The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.
A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.
Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.
Joe talks about the challenges of of making a Duke Ellington tribute album, and tells the stories behind some of his hits.
