Posts by Alby

Billie Holiday co-wrote this with Arthur Herzog Jr. -- each claimed the other's contribution was minimal -- and recorded it three different times. Hundreds of others have covered it, usually…

As in most songwriting partnerships with a strict division of labor, Squeeze songs always begin with Chris Difford's lyrics. "I always write to Chris's lyrics," Glenn Tilbrook told Songfacts. "And…

Guest post by Nathan Arizona If somebody had told me Gene Pitney was not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I’d have believed it but I wouldn’t have…

Mickey Dolenz is the last surviving Monkee, and he's not Monkeeing around. He has sued the FBI to gain access to its file on the Monkees. Yes, J. Edgar Hoover's…

Let's squeeze in a last bit of Carolina beach music before the summer's over. This 1967 tune was the closest regional star Clifford Curry, once known as the King of…

Delco native Joey DeFrancesco, widely recognized as the top jazz organist of his generation, died last week. He was only 51, but released nearly 40 albums of his own and…

You surely know this cover version of the song, credited to the McCoys. You probably haven't heard the original by the Vibrations, titled "My Girl Sloopy," though it reached No.…

A footnote to "Sara Smile" by Hall and Oates, the song I wrote about a few days ago: Its B-side was another tune from the duo's Silver Album, a reggae-flavored…

Guest post by Nathan Arizona If you have anything bad to say about Isaac Hayes' “Shaft,” there can be only one response: Shut yo mouth. We’re talking ’bout Shaft. John…