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Song of the Day #5,615: ‘ Keep On Truckin’ (Part 1)’ – Eddie Kendricks

The week of November 17, 1973, saw former Temptations member Eddie Kendricks in his second week at #1 with ‘Keep On Truckin’ (Part 1),’ an abbreviated version of an 8-minute album track.

Kendricks had left The Temptations on bad terms two years earlier, and received some musical shade from his former band through a song called ‘Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are).’ This song, his only solo #1, gave him some measure of revenge. Kendricks even name-drops his former band during the song’s final verses.

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Song of the Day #5,614: ‘Deep Purple’ – Nino Tempo & April Stevens

Throwing back to the week of November 16, 1963, we find Nino Temple and April Stevens atop the Billboard Hot 100 with their recording of ‘Deep Purple.’

The original version of this song was composed by pianist Peter DeRose in the 1920s. It was recorded as an instrumental by many artists in subsequent decades (here’s a version with DeRose himself on piano). In 1938, lyricist Mitchell Parish added words to the composition, and it was reimagined as a doo-wop track.

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Song of the Day #5,613: ‘Fortress Around Your Heart’ – Sting

Continuing a countdown of my favorite albums of 1985…

#6 – The Dream of the Blue Turtles – Sting

Now I’m getting to the 1985 albums I know by heart, starting with Sting’s debut solo record.

Released two years after the blockbuster success of The Police’s Synchronicity, and the band’s subsequent breakup, this album proved that their former frontman could be a major star on his own.

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Song of the Day #5,612: ‘Take Me Home’ – Phil Collins

Continuing a countdown of my favorite albums of 1985…

#7 – No Jacket Required – Phil Collins

The albums I’ve featured this week aren’t records I know by heart. I don’t have a deep enough stable of 1985 releases among my personal favorites.

But each of them has an overall sound and perspective that speaks to me, and three or four songs I really love. Today’s selection is a another great example.

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Song of the Day #5,611: ‘Cloudbusting’ – Kate Bush

Continuing a countdown of my favorite albums of 1985…

#8 – Hounds of Love – Kate Bush

English singer-songwriter Kate Bush’s fifth studio release, Hounds of Love, was her biggest success and is widely considered her best album. It sits squarely in her avant-garde, art pop comfort zone while remaining accessible to mainstream audiences.

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