Looking through the ol’ vinyl collection, it’s time to play one of my favorite games, “Who’s that song about?”
“How Long” by Ace
It may surprise you to learn that some songs we thought were about boy-girl break-ups, were about something else entirely. In that great 1975 hit “How Long (Has This Been Going On)” by Ace, lead singer Paul Carrack makes you think that a girl was cheating on him. Truth is, the song was written in response to a band member who was leaving the group.
“A Boy Named Sue” by Johnny Cash
In the summer of 1969, Johnny Cash scored his biggest hit, and that’s saying something for a guy who did “Ring of Fire” and “I Walk the Line.” Was there really a boy named Sue?
Judge Sue Hicks
It turns out, there was, and he was a Tennessee Judge! Read all about it here, and enjoy the song all over again.
“Moonlight Feels Right” by Starbuck
One of the great summer songs of all time is Starbuck’s 1976 hit “Moonlight Feels Right.” My friend Bruce Blackman of Atlanta wrote it, formed the band, and still performs it today. He wrote it about a girl named Peggy, and they’re still married today. There’s a cool story about how they met and fell in love, and you can read it here:
“Rings” by Cymarron
“Ring, ring, telephone ring, baby come on in, got James Taylor on the stereo…” In 1971, one-hit wonder group Cymarron sang a love song that was inspired by a real life wedding on the beach. The story behind the song is here:
“Midnight Train to Georgia” by Gladys Knight & the Pips
This is one of the most-played radio hits of the past half-century. Gladys Knight’s most popular song came out in 1973, and it seems like I’ve heard it every day since then. I don’t mind. I always pretend I’m a Pip, singing background while Gladys belts out “I got to go, I got to go!” in the fade-out. So who’s this about?
Farrah Fawcett
Believe it or not, the most popular poster girl of the 70s: a real angel. And she wasn’t on the midnight train to Georgia, she was on the midnight train to Texas. How did her story become a hit record? Read about it here, and then sing along with Gladys and her cousins.
