The Texas songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker wrote "Mr. Bojangles" after a weekend in jail where a fellow inmate told him his life story.
"London Calling" by The Clash was written amid widespread fears that the Thames River was going to flood the city.
The CCR song "Run Through the Jungle" is about gun control.
"Who Let The Dogs Out" won a Grammy. It took the award for Best Dance Recording in 2000.
In the UK, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" returns to the chart every Halloween, a tradition started in 2007.
Arizona DJ Guy Zapoleon played UB40's "Red Red Wine" four years after it was released as part of a feature on songs that should have been hits. Listeners started requesting the tune and within weeks it was topping the Hot 100.
In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.
The revered singer-songwriter talks inspiration and explains why she put a mahout in "Drop the Pilot."
Many actors have attempted music, but only a few have managed a hit. Do you know which of these thespians charted?
The former Dead Kennedys frontman on the past, present and future of the band, what music makes us "pliant and stupid," and what he learned from Alice Cooper.
Ian talks about his 3 or 4 blatant attempts to write a pop song, and also the ones he most connected with, including "Locomotive Breath."
The man who created Yacht Rock with "Sailing" wrote one of his biggest hits while on acid.
