In the days of pre-internet music consumption, soundtracks were a hugely important vehicle for new artists to get noticed. A relative unknown could piggyback their material onto an album with more established acts, with a major motion picture to help sell it. When hip-hop culture spilled over into film in the 80s, the best hip-hop soundtracks not only shaped the …

Perhaps mindful that their adoption of funk and disco tropes had perplexed some of their British and American fans, Queen’s eleventh album was a return to fundamentals – it was a rock album, although they didn’t entirely discard the grooves that had graced both The Game and Hot Space. Their new album’s title hinted at something more familiar: The Works …

Little Richard burst onto the emerging rock‘n’roll scene in the new year of 1956 with “Tutti-Frutti,” the American Top 20 hit that lit the fuse for an explosive follow-up. One of the great double-sided hits of the era, “Long Tall Sally,” backed with “Slippin’ and Slidin’ (Peepin’ and Hidin’),” was released on February 27 that year. Like its predecessor, the …

History records 1961 as the year of Willie Nelson’s great breakthrough as a songwriter (albeit years before he had consistent success as an artist), when Patsy Cline charted with his classic “Crazy.” That song peaked in the country and pop Top 10 in early 1962, but it’s less widely remembered that Nelson already had a long-running country chart-topper to his …

Dexter Gordon wasn’t hard to miss. Standing at a very conspicuous 6′ 6″ tall, the legendary American tenor saxophonist brought a literal meaning to the term “jazz giant.” But despite his imposing physique, he was a gentle man who spoke in a soft, melodious baritone voice. His saxophone sound, however, mirrored his stature; big and powerful with a commanding presence …

Recorded between May and October 1970, George Harrison’s “What Is Life” became the second single to be released from All Things Must Pass. It entered the US Hot 100 on February 27, 1971, and went on to become George’s second Top 10 hit in America. In the UK, “What Is Life” was issued as the B-side of “My Sweet Lord.” …

You could pick any year from the heyday of Motown and call it a classic, but today we’re making the case for 1965. It was the era of the Supremes’ “Stop! In The Name Of Love,” the Four Tops’ “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch),” Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t That Peculiar,” the Miracles’ “Ooo Baby Baby” and “The Tracks …

Princess Love and Ray J may finally be done….or are they? Monday marks the couple’s fourth divorce attempt as records show that Love filed for divorce Monday in L.A. County. Love also shared a lengthy statement with her Instagram followers: Dear friends and family, It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of our decision to divorce.After much …

All hail Queen Bey as she once again presides over the Billboard Hot 100. Beyoncé has taken over the top spot on the single’s chart with “Texas Hold ‘Em.” The single is the ninth chart-topper for Beyoncé, her most recent being “Break My Soul” in 2022. According to Luminate, “Texas Hold ‘Em” saw significant growth in various metrics during the …

When it comes to R&B, artists like Jon B. remind us that the genre is far from dead, it’s alive now more than ever.  With a career spanning three decades, Jon B. is best known for his timeless hits such as “They Don’t Know,” “Are U Still Down?”, “I Do,” and many more. With endless plaques to his name, the …