Sound + Vision | The Blog

  • Asia : DON'T CRY

    by Frank Shankly
    Formed in London in 1981, Asia was an '80s rock supergroup. The most commercially successful lineup was its original, which consisted of four membe...

  • Jerry Lee Lewis : I'M LEFT, YOU'RE RIGHT, SHE'S GONE

    by Frank Shankly
    Although Jerry Lee had scored 14 Top Ten country hits since 1968 (including four number ones), The Killer had never been asked to perform at the ha...

  • Chuck Berry : MAYBELLENE

    by Frank Shankly
    In 1955, Berry brought a recording of IDA MAY to Chess Records. Basically, Chuck had adapted the song from Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys' Wester...

  • Poco : SHOOT FOR THE MOON

    by Frank Shankly
    Brimming with four–part harmonies, SHOOT FOR THE MOON is a 1982 song written by Rusty Young. It was the second of three Poco singles released from ...

  • Sheena Easton : FOR YOUR EYES ONLY

    by Frank Shankly
    We're not sure how much of a distinction this is, but Sheena Easton is the only artist who sang a James Bond song to appear in the film's opening c...

  • Blondie : DREAMING

    by Frank Shankly
    Written by guitarist Chris Stein and singer Debbie Harry, released in 1979, Blondie’s DREAMING was clearly inspired by ABBA's DANCING QUEEN. The so...

  • Bangles : ETERNAL FLAME

    by Frank Shankly
    In Bangles’ ETERNAL FLAME, the eternal flame metaphor was suggested by two eternal flames: one at the gravesite of Elvis Presley at Graceland, wher...

  • Eric Clapton : HELLO OLD FRIEND

    by Frank Shankly
    Eric Clapton’s HELLO OLD FRIEND was released in October 1976 as the first of two singles from Clapton's 1976 studio album "No Reason to Cry." Placi...

  • Joan Jett & The Blackhearts’ I LOVE ROCK 'N ROLL

    by Frank Shankly
    I LOVE ROCK ’N ROLL was originally recorded and released by The Arrows in 1975 on Rak Records, featuring Alan Merrill on lead vox and guitar, with ...

  • The Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs of Johnnie Taylor

    by Frank Shankly
    Three things to know about Johnnie Taylor: 1. When Sam Cooke left the Soul Stirrers, Johnnie was chosen to be his replacement. But after an auto ac...

  • Vonda Van Dyke’s DAY BY DAY

    by Frank Shankly
    Vonda Van Dyke was Miss America 1965. That same year, she starred in the B-movie Teenage Diary. Here is a great review of the film, "...a color Chr...

  • C.B. Victoria’s COME AND SEE MY MAN

    by Frank Shankly
    In 1965, young Canadian emigre Edwin Coppard joined The Deacons, which evolved into the Hollywood Shockers. Eventually, they shortened their name t...