Songwriting Magazines

BOSTON – NOVEMBER 02: Musician James Taylor performs during the “Election Night 2004 With John Kerry and John Edwards” event November 2, 2004 in Boston. (Photo by Stephen Chernin/Getty Images) These are four successful pop artists, who also managed to be nominated for a CMA Award for a country song. The post 4 Surprising Pop Artists Who Were Nominated for a CMA Award appeared first on American Songwriter.

Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage These live performances from the early to mid 1970s are, dare we say it, even better than the songs’ studio versions. The post 4 Iconic Live Performances From the Early 1970s That Are Even Better Than the Album Versions appeared first on American Songwriter.

Stan Getz (left) and Astrud Gilberto are the Go Go set in a scene from the film ‘Get Yourself A College Girl’, 1964. Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Some songs from the 1960s were just perfect. Indeed, these are three one-hit wonders from the 1960s you’d never change the radio dial for. The post 3 One-Hit Wonders From the 1960s You’d Never Skip on the Radio appeared first on American Songwriter.

Otis Redding performing at the Monterey Pop Festival, 1967 Otis Redding recorded a song in 1967 that was poised to change his career. Tragedy changed the story, but not the song’s impact. The post Remember When Otis Redding Recorded His Signature Song Shortly Before His Death in 1967? appeared first on American Songwriter.

UNITED KINGDOM – JANUARY 01: WEMBLEY ARENA Photo of Billy Joe SHAVER (Photo by David Redfern/Redferns) Billy Joe Shaver, who wrote hits for Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, would have turned 87 years old today. The post Born 87 Years Ago Today to a Single Mom in Texas, the Hard-Living Outlaw Poet Willie Nelson Once Called the “Greatest Living Songwriter” appeared first on American Songwriter.

American pop singer Johnny Nash, performing in London, circa 1975. (Photo by Fotos International/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Johnny Nash made history with this song, which is the only No. 1 single he had throughout his entire career. The post Johnny Nash Made History With This Song (At It Was Shockingly His Only No. 1 Single) appeared first on American Songwriter.

Taylor Dayne performs at Club USA, New York, New York, July 20, 1993. (Photo by Steve Eichner/Getty Images) These pop hits were all over the radio in 1993; today, they’ve been forgotten by many listeners. That should change, because these songs are stellar. The post 4 Forgotten Pop Hits From 1993 That Still Sound Fresh Today appeared first on American Songwriter.

MIDNIGHT SPECIAL — Episode 27 — Aired 7/27/73 — Pictured: (l-r) Maury Muehleisen and Jim Croce perform — Photo by: Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank Here are a few folky songs from the 70s that will make you want to fall in love again, whatever that means to you. The post 4 Folk Love Songs That Make Every 70s Kid Nostalgic appeared first on American Songwriter.

Wings’ Paul McCartney. More than just another piece of music Revisit the story of Paul McCartney and Wings’ most earnest and heartfelt song ever, which also happened to be a response to backlash. The post The Story Behind Paul McCartney and Wings’ Most Unfiltered and Earnest Song Ever appeared first on American Songwriter.

January 1967: British rock group The Rolling Stones; from left to right, Brian Jones (1942 – 1969), Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) The 1960s is worth remembering. These are three songs from the 1960s that will turn you into a classic rock fan. The post 3 Songs From the 1960s That Will Turn You Into a Classic Rock Fan appeared first on American Songwriter.

Rose Maddox One hundred one years ago today, the artist who helped create rockabilly and blazed a trail for women in country music was born. The post Born 101 Years Ago in Alabama, the “Queen of Hillbilly Swing” Who Sang Her Way Out of Poverty and Paved the Way for Women in Country Music appeared first on American Songwriter.

Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images If you identify as a baby boomer, then chances are, you can still sing these iconic Top 40 hits from 1969 by heart. The post 4 Top 40 Hits From 1969 That Every Baby Boomer Can Still Sing by Heart appeared first on American Songwriter.

UNITED STATES – JUNE 01: Photo of Jimmy PAGE and Robert PLANT and LED ZEPPELIN; L-R. Robert Plant, Jimmy Page performing live onstage (Photo by Robert Knight Archive/Redferns) Robert Plant admits he was in a very bad mood when he wrote what remains a Led Zeppelin classic song today. The post Robert Plant Was in a “Very Bad Mood” When He Wrote Led Zeppelin’s Biggest Hit appeared first on American Songwriter.

Donald Fagen, (Steely Dan). Pullitzer Hotel, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 10th December 1982, (photo Rob Verhorst/Redferns) Donald Fagen needed a challenge after the end of Steely Dan. His first solo album provided that and then some. The post Remembering When Donald Fagen Brought Some “Steely” Resolve to His First Solo Album in 1982 appeared first on American Songwriter.

Rick Springfield at the Holiday Star Theater in Merilville, Indiana, November 18, 1981. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) If you’re an 80s kid, you probably remember riding the bus to school; but do you remember these hit songs you listened to on your cassette player? The post 4 Songs From 1981 Every 80s Kid Heard While Riding the Bus to School Each Morning appeared first on American Songwriter.

From Tears For Fears to Art Of Noise, here are a few iconic 80s songs that used the Fairlight CMI, one of the earliest DAWs. The post 3 Songs That Used the Fairlight CMI: The DAW That Helped Compose the 80s’ Most Dynamic Tracks appeared first on American Songwriter.

James Taylor These pop songs were secret thank-you notes to other people. Revisit these legendary hits with that in mind. The post 3 Pop Songs That Were Secret Thank-You Notes appeared first on American Songwriter.

Jo Dee Messina on 9/15/98 in Chicago, Il. (Photo by Paul Natkin/WireImage) These are four of the best country songs that came out in 1998, which every 90s kid likely still knows by heart today. The post 4 Country Songs From 1998 That Every 90s Kid Still Knows by Heart Today appeared first on American Songwriter.

UNSPECIFIED – JANUARY 01: Photo of Buck Owens (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Don Rich—renowned fiddler, guitarist, and bandleader of Buck Owens’ Buckaroos—would have celebrated his 85th birthday today. The post Born 85 Years Ago Today in Washington’s Capital City, the Bakersfield Sound Pioneer Who Became Buck Owens’ Right-Hand Man appeared first on American Songwriter.

American singer Debbie Harry performing with Blondie at the Dr. Pepper Central Park Music Festival at Wollman Rink in Central Park, New York City, 9th July 1979. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) The year 1979 was a solid one for music, and many a teen listener blasted some of those year-specific hit songs in their very first car. The post 3 Songs From 1979 That Teens Couldn’t Stop Playing in Their First Car appeared first on American Songwriter.