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Song of the Day #4,461: ‘Thank You Girl’ – The Beatles

‘Thank You Girl’ was released as the B-side to The Beatles’ ‘From Me To You’ in the United Kingdom and ‘Do You Want To Know a Secret’ in the United States. Originally intended as a single but later relegated to also-ran status, it’s a great example of the band’s earliest pop phase.

I’m always amazed that within four years of lightweight fare like this, the band had released Rubber Soul, Revolver, and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, three albums that changed the face of popular music forever.

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Song of the Day #4,460: ‘Shout’ – Tears For Fears

‘Shout’ is the opening track of Tears for Fears’ 1985 album Songs From the Big Chair, the New Wave band’s most successful release.

In addition to this track, which hit #1 in the United States, the album featured ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’ (another #1 hit) and ‘Head Over Heels,’ which peaked at #3 in the U.S. Interestingly, none of these songs reached the top spot in the band’s native England.

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Song of the Day #4,459: ‘Brenda’s Got a Baby’ – Tupac Shakur

Tupac Shakur recorded for just five years, but the influence and popularity he demonstrated in that short time was enough to make him a first ballot inductee in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Tupac is one of seven rap acts in the Rock Hall, and the best-selling artist of them all. Next year, Eminem and Jay-Z will be eligible for inclusion, and I’ll be surprised if they don’t make it in on their first shot, given their massive sales and influence.

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Song of the Day #4,458: ‘Alive’ – Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam is the first of two 2017 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees who made it during their first year of eligibility.

Regardless of your opinion of grunge — I’m generally not a fan — it’s hard to argue with Pearl Jam making it into the Hall on the first ballot. They are pioneers in one of the last major movements in rock-n-roll history. Along with Nirvana (first ballot inductees in 2014), they defined the grunge era for a whole generation of bands.

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Song of the Day #4,457: ‘Wheel in the Sky’ – Journey

It took 16 years between Journey’s first eligibility for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and their eventual induction in 2017.

Such disrespect for a band that released six straight multi-Platinum albums between 1978 and 1986 and recorded some of the most iconic power pop songs of the era. Hell, ‘Don’t Stop Believin’‘ alone should have landed them in the Hall at the first opportunity.

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