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The moral dilemma of an extramarital affair

Insomnia caused by romantic troubles

Cher emerged in the 1960s alongside Sonny Bono before developing a solo recording career across folk-pop, rock, disco and electronic dance music. Her contralto voice links otherwise different records, from Gypsys,...

The band's experience in the desert

The pain of a lover's absence

The complexities of adult relationships

O'Sullivan's feelings of loneliness and abandonment

Don McLean began as a folk performer, including work supporting Pete Seeger's Hudson River cleanup efforts. Tapestry introduced his album career in 1970, followed by American Pie in 1971. His repertoire includes the...

Simon's relationship with Cat Stevens

The Detroit Emeralds developed from a vocal group built around the Tilmon brothers, passing through the Emeralds name before adopting the Detroit identity. Recordings for Ric-Tic included Show Time, and a later move...

A cautionary tale about casual relationships

Betrayal in relationships and society

Marc Bolan's love of wordplay and rock and roll

Lightfoot's feelings for his wife

The simple pleasures of a weekend

The movie of the same name about a boy and his rat

The wonder of falling in love

Racial harmony and integration

Melanie developed a singing and songwriting career around a distinctive voice and a blend of folk, rock and playful pop. Her appearance at Woodstock in 1969 helped bring her to a wider audience. Candles in the Rain...

A fictional story about a barmaid in a harbor town

The intensity of passionate love

A train journey from Chicago to New Orleans

A woman who steals other women's men

A humorous take on folk remedies

The fall of the Spanish Empire

Elton described wanting to capture the sound of nostalgic rock and roll, naming the Beach Boys, Eddie Cochran and earlier pop hits as touchstones. The recording features him on piano and Farfisa organ. It was already...

A child's plea to a father leaving the family

The joy of carefree celebration

The monotony of daily life

Day by Day belongs to the original Godspell song program, with music and new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. The off-Broadway recording features Robin Lamont and the Godspell ensemble. It is distinct from the later...

Franklin's relationship with her future husband

The cycle of addictive behavior

The loss of innocence and disillusionment

The pain of being forgotten by a former lover

Relaxation and summer fun

Being overwhelmed by love

A satirical take on political campaigns

The universal experience of heartbreak

David Gates' tribute to his late father

The complexities of family relationships

A character from the film "Super Fly"

Nelson's experience at a rock and roll revival concert

A new dance craze

Teenage romance and desire

Celebration of life and positivity

Young's back problems and desire for a simpler life

Originally recorded by Rundgren's band Nazz in 1968 Rundgren's highest-charting single

A celebration of love and altered states

Encouragement to stay strong in difficult times

The contrast between rural and city life

A cover of a classic car song

Mouth & MacNeal was a Dutch pop partnership assembled by producer Hans van Hemert in 1971. It joined the rock background of Willem Duyn, known as Big Mouth, with singer Maggie MacNeal's classical training. Hey You...

The Carpenters were the sibling partnership of Richard and Karen Carpenter, born in Connecticut and raised partly in Downey, California. Richard played piano and Karen drums in their early trio before both worked in...

The Women's Liberation Movement

Nash's optimistic outlook after eye surgery

A playful song about romantic pursuit

I Saw the Light opens Todd Rundgren's 1972 album Something/Anything?. The original Bearsville recording credits Rundgren as writer and vocalist. Its placement at the beginning of that large studio program provides a...

Young love and desire

The Hillside Singers was a studio vocal group assembled by producer Al Ham for a Coca-Cola advertising project. Its singers included Mary Mayo, Lorri Ham and the Shaw brothers. The product-free recording I'd Like to...

A Coca-Cola commercial jingle

Loyalty in a relationship

The Civil Rights Movement and spiritual themes

Green's enduring feelings for an ex-lover

The pain of prolonged solitude

A plea for understanding in a relationship

Finding solace in nature during heartbreak

The struggle to make it in Hollywood

Lennon's insecurities in his relationship with Yoko Ono

Apollo 100 was a British instrumental group assembled by arranger Tom Parker. Its musicians included drummer Clem Cattini, guitarists Vic Flick and Zed Jenkins, percussionist Jim Lawless and bassist Brian Odgers. The...

Latin and funk music fusion

Charley Pride grew up in Sledge, Mississippi, listening to country music on the Grand Ole Opry. He pursued baseball before his singing brought him to Nashville and RCA Records. His warm baritone became familiar...

Withers' childhood experiences in a close-knit community

The power of enduring love

The unifying power of music

A playful song about a mischievous character

A fictional story about a FBI raid on a speakeasy

Gratitude for a loving relationship

The mental state of a woman obsessed with lost love

A story of an extramarital affair

A cover of the Allman Brothers Band song about perseverance

Cat Stevens moved from the arranged pop of Matthew & Son toward the intimate acoustic sound of Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat. Producer Paul Samwell-Smith and guitarist Alun Davies helped develop...

The name of a chicken and egg dish at a Chinese restaurant

The allure of a free-spirited woman

Chuck Berry helped shape rock and roll by combining blues and R&B with country storytelling. His electric guitar vocabulary and energetic stagecraft influenced the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix. His...

Three Dog Night built its identity around the contrasting lead voices of Danny Hutton, Cory Wells and Chuck Negron, supported by a full instrumental band. The group's repertoire brought contemporary songwriters into...

The simple joy of being with someone you love

The pain of losing a loved one

A man trying to contact his ex-girlfriend through an operator

An experimental instrumental with a space-age sound

The song appeared on All Directions. Motown credits Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong and arranger Paul Riser in its account of the record's Grammy success.

The simple joys of childhood

Originally about drug use, reinterpreted as a celebration of life

The Isley Brothers began as a gospel-based family vocal group near Cincinnati before Shout brought wider recognition in 1959. Their sound expanded through soul, rock, R&B and funk. The 1973 album 3+3 marked the...

An electronic cover of Gershon Kingsley's instrumental

The strength found in romantic love

The rarity of true love

Young, innocent love

A tribute to the healing power of music

Ray Bradbury's short story "The Rocket Man"

A cover of Bobby Day's 1958 hit

A drive through Scotland's countryside

The fast-paced nature of modern life

A Fourth of July celebration in Central Park

The joy of summer vacation

An instrumental inspired by astrology

A cover of a 1960 song about summer romance

The dangers of drug addiction

A cover of Charlie Chaplin's song about optimism

A fire at the Montreux Casino

The universal nature of sad songs

Springfield's spiritual beliefs

The hope of rekindling a relationship

A parody of Bob Dylan's paranoia

The optimism of youth

A protest against political corruption

The loneliness of a groupie waiting for a rock star

This recording is associated with Talking Book in Motown's account of Wonder's early-1970s creative expansion. The album setting is documented; it is not proof of a particular real-life romantic subject.

A true story about a failed relationship

Criticism of empty political rhetoric

Another astrologically-themed instrumental

A fictional story about a chance encounter with an ex-lover

Marc Bolan's playful wordplay

The character from "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory"

A love song written by Ewan MacColl for Peggy Seeger

Fargo's joy in her marriage and career

Iggy Pop and American culture

A cover of The Tokens' version of a Zulu folk song

A cover of a French song about lost love

The legend of voodoo practitioner Marie Laveau

The challenges of maintaining balance in life

The point of no return in a relationship

A humorous take on prehistoric life

Gambling and unstable relationships

A dysfunctional but passionate relationship

The freedom of the open road

Don McLean began as a folk performer, including work supporting Pete Seeger's Hudson River cleanup efforts. Tapestry introduced his album career in 1970, followed by American Pie in 1971. His repertoire includes the...

The glam rock fashion scene

The characters of Andy Warhol's Factory

The power of love to overcome obstacles

The romance of a rainy day walk

The romance of a rainy day walk

The search for love in a troubled world

A traditional Irish folk song

Keith Richards' feelings about leaving his newborn son for tour

The legend of voodoo practitioner Marie Laveau

A cover of Badfinger's song about heartbreak

Devotion to a loved one

A fictional story about a pool hall hustler

Mitchell's attempt to write a hit single

Subject of the song remains a mystery, with many speculating about its inspiration Features backing vocals by Mick Jagger