“Let It Be,” the Beatles’ sweeping 1970 single, came to Paul McCartney in a dream. The term “Mother Mary” is literal in the song, referring to the bassist’s mother, Mary McCartney, who died of cancer when her son was 14. The Fab Four were in turmoil during recording sessions for 1968’s The White Album, and […] The post One of The Beatles’ Biggest Hits Is Getting a New Visual—Nearly 55 Years Later appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more

Sixty years ago, on May 9, 1964, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong made chart history when his version of “Hello, Dolly!” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The legendary jazz trumpeter was 62 years old when his song topped the Hot 100, making him the oldest person ever to accomplish the feat at the time. […] The post Remember When: Louis Armstrong Became the Oldest Person to Top the ‘Billboard’ Hot 100, and Ended The Beatles’ Historic Streak appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more

In April, Post Malone joined the country star Morgan Wallen at Stagecoach 2024 to perform their much-anticipated new song “I Had Some Help.” Fresh off his Taylor Swift collaboration “Fortnight,” Malone had previously teased the track on social media. The pop star, born Austin Post, is famous for shape-shifting between genres, and his turn to […] The post The Meaning Behind the New Post Malone-Morgan Wallen Smash Hit “I Had Some Help” appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more

The Killers‘ 2003 single “Mr. Brightside” is already the longest-running Top 100 hit in the U.K., but now it has unseated Oasis’ “Wonderwall” as the biggest single that never hit No. 1. Currently, “Mr. Brightside” is on its 408th week on the U.K. Top 100 chart, sitting at No. 71. “Mr. Brightside” has more than […] The post The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” Named Biggest UK Song to Never Hit No. 1, Unseats Oasis’ “Wonderwall” appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more

Jan. 30, 1969 was the end of an era. Rock icons The Beatles gathered on the rooftop of Apple Corps — the multimedia company they founded — and treated bewildered Londoners to performances of their biggest hits. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr played for 42 minutes before the police shut them […] The post The Historic Beatles Moment That Almost Didn’t Happen: “Yeah, Not Today” appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more

Bon Jovi’s comeback anthem “It’s My Life” recalls their biggest hit from 14 years earlier. Following Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora’s solo albums, the New Jersey group returned in 2000 with Crush. Bon Jovi and Sambora collaborated with Max Martin, the Swedish hitmaker responsible for the sound of modern pop music. Martin, too, once […] The post The Comeback Anthem for a Band that Never Really Went Away: The Meaning Behind “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more

As quickly as Marianne Faithfull emerged as a star in 1965 with her rendition of “As Tears Go By,” she disappeared from the spotlight. On the heels of her first single, which was written by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham, Faithfull would reach the Billboard Hot 100 four more […] The post Behind the Album: How Marianne Faithfull Remade Her Legacy with ‘Broken English’ appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more

Richie Furay, the sweet-voiced singer, songwriter, and guitarist who co-founded the pioneering country/folk/rock group’s Buffalo Springfield and Poco, celebrated his 80th birthday on May 9, 2024. Furay made important vocal and songwriting contributions to both bands, and he later enjoyed success as part of the supergroup The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band and as a solo artist. [Buy […] The post 5 Great Songs by Buffalo Springfield/Poco Co-Founder Richie Furay appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more

You’ve been getting along for a while with that cluttered desk, discount speaker set, and budget interface that records one instrument at a time. But you’re not making rap songs with beat loops anymore. Your goals have officially outgrown your setup, and you need to make the jump into something bigger. For most people, this […] The post Focusrite Clarett+ 8Pre Review: A Step Up for Home (and Pro) Engineers appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more

Jelly Roll is still riding the wave of his debut country album Whitsitt Chapel. However, the CMA New Artist of the Year isn’t one to rest on his laurels. He’s currently gearing up to start the next chapter of his career with some new music. Recently, he took to social media to share a clip […] The post “Are You Talking About Me Sir?” Jelly Roll Teases New Music That Has Bunnie Xo’s Attention appeared first on American Songwriter ..read more