Song Anatomy of the Day

Writers: Don Henley Producers: Bill Szymczyk Recorded: March-October, 1976 Released: May 3, 1977 Players: Don Henley–vocals, drums Glenn Frey–guitar, piano, vocals Joe Walsh–guitar, vocals Randy Meisner–bass, vocals Don Felder–guitar, vocals Album: Hotel California (Elektra, 1976) Along with Warren Zevon’s self-titled sophomore effort, Hotel California became a symbol of the seedier side of the Los Angeles…

Writer: Kevin Cronin Producers: Kevin Cronin, Gary Richrath, and Kevin Beamish Recorded: Spring and summer 1980 Released: Fall 1980 Players: Kevin Cronin–vocals, guitar Gary Richrath–guitar Neal Doughty–keyboards Bruce Hall–bass, vocals Alan Gratzer–drums Album: Hi-Infidelity (Epic, 1980) Coming nearly 14 years into REO Speedwagon’s career, “Keep On Loving You” was not only the band’s first Number…

Writers: Elton John and Bernie Taupin Producer: Gus Dudgeon Recorded: June 1972 at Strawberry Studios, France Released: January 12, 1973 Players: Elton John–vocals, piano, mellotron Davey Johnstone–acoustic guitar, banjo Dee Murray–bass Nigel Olsson–drums Ken Scott–synthesizer Album: Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano Player (MCA, 1973) The second single from Elton John’s Don’t Shoot Me,…

Writer: Robert Johnson Producer: Felix Pappalardi Recorded: March 1968 at the Fillmore West, San Francisco Released: August 1968 Players: Eric Clapton — vocals, guitar Jack Bruce — bass Ginger Baker — drums Album: Wheels Of Fire (Atco) Cream formed in July 1966. Singer-guitarist Eric Clapton had recently finished with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. Singer-bassist Jack Bruce…

Writer: Phil Lynott Producer: John Alcock Recorded: 1976 in Ramport Studios, Battersea, London Released: April 1976 Players: Phil Lynott — bass, vocals Brian Robertson — guitar Scott Gorham – guitar Brian Downey – drums Album: Jailbreak (Mercury, 1976) Thin Lizzy’s U.K. label, Vertigo, originally felt that the Jailbreak album did not contain anything good enough…

Writers: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards Producer: Andrew Loog Oldham Recorded: December 1965 at RCA Studios, Hollywood Released: February 1966 Players: Mick Jagger — vocals Keith Richards — guitar, vocals Brian Jones — guitar Bill Wyman — bass Charlie Watts — drums Album: Big Hits (High Tide And Green Grass) (London, 1966) The song “19th…

Writer: George Harrison Producer: George Martin Recorded: July and August 1969 at Abbey Road studios in London Released: October 6th, 1969 Players: George Harrison — vocals, guitar, synthesizer Paul McCartney — bass, vocals John Lennon — vocals Ringo Starr — drums, vocals Album: Abbey Road (Apple, 1969) One of the two hits George Harrison wrote…

Writers: Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Jim Vallance, and Holly Knight Producer: Bruce Fairbairn Recorded: Spring 1987 at Little Mountain Sound Studios, Vancouver, British Columbia Released: August 1987 Players: Steven Tyler—vocals Joe Perry–guitar Brad Whitford–guitar Tom Hamilton–bass Joey Kramer–drums Jim Vallance–organ Tom Kennlyside–tenor saxophone Ian Putz–baritone saxophone Bob Rogers–trombone Henry Christian and Bruce Fairbairn–trumpet Album: Permanent…

Writer: Rod Stewart Producer: Tom Dowd Recorded: Fall 1975 to early 1976 in Los Angeles Released: Summer 1976 Players: Rod Stewart—vocals Steve Cropper–guitar Donald “Duck” Dunn–bass David Foster–keyboards John Jarvis–keyboards Al Jackson–drums Joe Lala–percussion Plas Johnson–saxophone Album: A Night On The Town (Warner Bros., 1976) Released as a single in the fall of 1976, “Tonight’s…

Writers: Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Desmond Child Producer: Bruce Fairbairn Recorded: March-May 1987 at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, B.C., Canada Released: August 1987 Players: Steven Tyler – vocals Joe Perry — guitar Brad Whitford — guitar Tom Hamilton — bass Joey Kramer — drums The Marguerita Horns — Tom Keenlyside, Ian Putz,…