Behind The Song Archives - American Songwriter

Menu

The Kinks posing outside

Why The Kinks Worried That Their No. 1 Song Signaled the End of Their Hipness Back in 1966

Brian Jones and Mick Jagger singing

The 1966 Rolling Stones Hit Born Out of Boredom That Helped Them Catch Up to Their “Rival” Band

UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1970: Photo of Ozark Mountain Daredevils Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

How a Producer’s Suggestion Unlocked the Potential of The Ozark Mountain Daredevils’ Biggest Hit in 1975

A High School Poem Inspired What Became Charlie Daniels’ Biggest Hit

A High School Poem Inspired What Became Charlie Daniels’ Biggest Hit in 1979

(AUSTRALIA OUT) Ex Moving Pictures frontman Alex Smith, front, Charlie Cole, behind him, and Dave Carter, in the Bondi Junction loungeroom where Smith penned his songs, 27 July 2005. SMH Picture by SAHLAN HAYES (Photo by Fairfax Media via Getty Images/Fairfax Media via Getty Images via Getty Images)

How the Aussie Band Moving Pictures Nearly Overlooked Their Biggest Hit

More stories

Brian Wilson Wrote This Beach Boys Track for Another Band After Falling in Love With Their 1963 Hit (But His Co-Writer Convinced Him To Keep It)

May 13, 2026, 8:20 am
This 1975 Rock Hit Was This Band’s Successful Attempt to Not Become a One-Hit Wonder

May 12, 2026, 6:19 pm
The Truth Behind That Unusual Flute Sound in the Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever”
“We Weren’t Strong Enough”: How a James Brown Hit Got Its Signature Feel Because the Band Was So Tired

May 11, 2026, 12:30 pm
The 1973 Song Stevie Nicks Wrote About Lindsey Buckingham Being a “Difficult Artist” To Work With

May 11, 2026, 10:30 am
Bruce Springsteen Was Just 24 Years Old When He Wrote His First Big Hit in 1975

May 11, 2026, 10:00 am
“People Are Becoming Weirder”: The Kinks’ Dave Davies Pushes Back on Controversy Surrounding This 1970 Classic

May 10, 2026, 5:00 pm
David Bowie’s Most Famous Character Made an Unlikely Comeback in This 80s Synth-Pop Hit

May 10, 2026, 9:30 am
4 Comments

Lynyrd Skynyrd Called This 1974 Hit Their Version of The Allman Brothers’ “Ramblin’ Man”
Paul Simon Says Writing This Song Was One of the Most “Shocking Moments” of His Career

May 9, 2026, 2:00 pm
Louis Armstrong’s Record Label Tried To Stop What Became His Biggest Hit in 1967

May 9, 2026, 2:00 pm
How a Canine’s Timely Appearance Led to Lobo’s First Hit in 1971

May 9, 2026, 8:00 am

Congratulations. You've reached the end of the internet.

Explore American Songwriter

Close