Minneapolis in Purple Light
Prince endures because his records still do what great radio should do: surprise you, move you, and light up the…
YOUR HOME FOR THE MUSIC AND MEMORIES THAT NEVER GET OLD
Latest From Classic Gold
No Time — the hit that caught The Guess Who in full flight
Why does “No Time” still sound so good on classic hits radio? Because The Guess Who packed urgency, melody, and…
That Voice Never Whispered
The casual fan hears the polish; the real magic is the grit, gospel fire, and emotional precision inside Alexander O’Neal’s…
Why Cecilia Still Sounds Like Trouble
Why does “Cecilia” still light up classic hits radio after all these years? Because Simon & Garfunkel turned a loose,…
Sunshine on the Dial — Bobby Bloom’s Montego Bay
As “Montego Bay” climbed into the American Top 10 in 1970, radio listeners were getting a three-minute holiday every time…
How Close To You Became Magic
Here’s what made Close to You such a radio treasure: a patiently waiting Bacharach-David song, Karen Carpenter’s unforgettable voice, and…
Detroit, a Wedding Ring, and Three Minutes of Heartbreak
As the single climbed the charts in 1970, listeners were singing along to a bright, elegant chorus before fully realising…
A Vancouver Studio, a Lonely Question, and a Surprise No. 1
Why does this gentle, questioning ballad still stop classic hits listeners in their tracks? “Which Way You Goin’ Billy?” turned…
How A-ha Turned Synth-Pop into Something Timeless
A-ha arrived in the 1980s with one of pop’s most unforgettable breakthroughs, but their story reaches far beyond a single…
Top 10 Classic Songs This Week
- 1. Everything She Wants – Wham!
- 2. Crazy for You – Madonna
- 3. One More Night – Phil Collins
- 4. Don't You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds
- 5. Rhythm of the Night – DeBarge
- 6. We Are the World – USA for Africa
- 7. Lovergirl – Teena Marie
- 8. Obsession – Animotion
- 9. A View to a Kill – Duran Duran
- 10. Suddenly – Billy Ocean
Today in Music History
May 21
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1966
#1 Hit The Mamas & the Papas hit No. 1
On May 21, "Monday, Monday" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the group's only US chart-topper.
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1971
Release Marvin Gaye releases What's Going On
Motown released Marvin Gaye's landmark album "What's Going On" on May 21, a defining soul record of the era.
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1971
Milestone The Rolling Stones launch own label
The Rolling Stones Records label made its debut on May 21, marking the band's move to greater business independence.
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1983
#1 Hit David Bowie tops UK chart
On May 21, "Let's Dance" reached No. 1 in the UK, giving David Bowie one of his biggest international hit singles.
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1988
#1 Hit Prince scores No. 1 with Kiss
On May 21, Prince's "Kiss" was at No. 1 on the US chart, a major hit from the album "Parade".
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1991
Release R.E.M. release Out of Time
R.E.M. released "Out of Time" on May 21, featuring "Losing My Religion" and expanding the band's global audience.
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1991
Release Crowded House issue Woodface
Crowded House released "Woodface" on May 21, the album that included the hit single "Weather with You".
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1996
Release Soundgarden release Down on the Upside
Soundgarden released "Down on the Upside" on May 21, their final studio album before the band's 1997 breakup.
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1996
Release The Fugees release The Score
The Fugees released "The Score" in the US on May 21, and it became one of the decade's biggest hip-hop albums.
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2000
In Memoriam Barbara Cartland dies at 98
Songwriter and novelist Barbara Cartland died on May 21; she co-wrote songs recorded by artists including Gracie Fields.
Retro Living
Channel 5 at Midnight — Why Kojak Still Pops Off the Screen
Why does Kojak still matter on classic hits radio? Because Telly Savalas brought the same unmistakable cool as a great…
Sunset Boulevard, Feathered Hair, and a Ringing Telephone
Why does Charlie’s Angels still click with classic hits audiences? Because it bottles the same glamorous late-1970s energy as the…
Johnny Carson still owns the late-night hour
Here’s what made Johnny Carson impossible to turn off: flawless timing, effortless charm and a late-night world that felt both…
Ten 80s Radio Giants That Never Get Old
These 80s radio staples still sound like pure electricity.
Prairie Lights, Sunday Nights
The living room lamp is on, the theme music rises, and a little frontier town appears on the screen. Little…
By the Power of Grayskull
Loud, colourful, and unexpectedly heartfelt, He-Man still swings like a champion of 1980s television.
Classic Gold Trivia
Today's spotlight year: 1999
Which teen pop singer released the debut album …Baby One More Time in 1999?
Britney Spears released …Baby One More Time in 1999. The album became one of the year's biggest pop successes and helped define the teen pop boom.
Which animated TV series created by Matt Groening premiered in 1999?
Futurama premiered in 1999. The science-fiction animated comedy debuted on Fox and introduced viewers to Fry, Leela, and Bender.
Which science-fiction film starring Keanu Reeves became a major cultural phenomenon in 1999?
The Matrix was released in 1999. Its bullet-time visual effects and cyberpunk story made it one of the year's most influential films.
Which handheld virtual pet craze returned in 1999 with the launch of Pokémon-related games and merchandise becoming even bigger worldwide?
Pokémon became an even bigger global pop-culture phenomenon in 1999. Pokémon Red and Blue launched in North America in 1998, but 1999 saw the franchise explode further through the TV series, trading cards, toys, and Pokémon: The First Movie.
Which golfer won the Masters Tournament in 1999 for his second green jacket?
José María Olazábal won the Masters in 1999. It was his second Masters victory, following his first win in 1994.
