MIX Means Variety » Behind The Music

The Beatles' Take Over America [VIDEO]

Rick Andrews — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:00:34 +0000

It was 46 years ago today that the Beatles' took over the music charts and, as far as I know, it's an achievement that has NEVER happened again.

The Beatles had made their first U.S. appearance barely two months before and "Beatlemania" was sweeping the nation.

BTM: My Sharona [VIDEO]

Rick Andrews — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:00:23 +0000

They were the fresh-faced power pop group who dressed in the black-and-white style of the early Beatles. As a matter of fact, they were hailed (early in their careers) as the NEXT Beatles. Their album, "Get The Knack," was recorded in just eleven days for a budget of $18,000 and would make the history books for being the fastest selling debut album of all-time.

But, let's find out the story of "My Sharona" as we go "Behind The Music."

Behind The Music: It's Really A Protest Song, Really [VIDEO]

Rick Andrews — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:00:18 +0000
“Electric Avenue” Eddie Grant Through the years there have been a lot of “happy,” “peppy” songs on the radio that, in reality, have been cleverly disguised protest songs. One of those came from a reggae singer born in Plaisance, Guyana. First off, Electric Avenue is an actual place located in the London.The Brixton Market is [...]

Behind The Music: Sister Christy? [VIDEO]

Rick Andrews — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:35:25 +0000
Sister Christian-Night Ranger This was written by drummer Kelly Keagy for his 16-year old sister. Kelly’s sister, Christy, was in high school and was just like your typical teenage girl; hanging out with her friends on the main street of a small Oregon town. While spending some time with her and her friends, Keagy realized [...]

Behind The Music:13 Years To #1 [VIDEO]

Rick Andrews — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:00:29 +0000
Tina Turner had her first big hit in 1971 with her then husband Ike. They peaked at #4 with a cover version of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary”. After years of spousal abuse and splitting with Ike in the mid 70′s, Tina’s career would go into limbo. It would take another 13 years before Tina [...]

Behind The Music: McCartney, Paul McCartney [VIDEO]

Rick Andrews — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 13:00:00 +0000
Paul McCartney was approached by the James Bond people to write the title song for the then upcoming 007 flick “Live and Let Die”. Paul normally writes his words and music first, before putting a title to his work, so this would be something new to him. He would have to write the song around [...]

Behind The Music: Inspired By A Bank [VIDEO]

Rick Andrews — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 13:49:27 +0000
Tommy James & The Shondells took their song “Mony Mony” all the way to #3 on the charts in June 1968. James was looking for a song that that had a catching melody, like “Bonie Maronie”. The writing team had so far come up with nothing. They wanted it to be a girl’s name that [...]

Behind The Music: A Song About Stalking [VIDEO]

Rick Andrews — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:38:30 +0000
“Every Breath You Take” The Police Sting once said, “I do my best work when I’m in Pain and turmoil.” This was one of his best songs ever and he did it sitting at the desk of James Bond author Ian Flemming. Sting had just come to the end of his seven-year marriage and his [...]