Released 50 years ago, “Sail On, Sailor” was a highlight of a Beach Boys era marked by seismic change, both musically and visually. It wouldn’t last.

The Vincent Meissner Trio found a perfect moment that covers youth and European, turning a brisk cover of “Young Folks” into an appealing jazz song.

In the age-old question of Beatles or Rolling Stones, I’ve spent much of my life quite firmly in the Beatles camp. Then everything changed.

Secret, secret – I’ve got a secret: Styx’s “Mr. Roboto” arrived 40 years ago today as a nonsensical band-busting hit. I turn it up every time.

A swampy alternate version of Walter Becker’s twangy delight “Cringemaker” bowed for the occasion of his 73rd birthday. Check it out at Walter Becker Media.

He departed much too early, but fortunately Donny Hathaway left us with several memorable songs – including this one.

Animal Logic’s “Can You Tell Me” is an effective tease of things to come, and a welcome return from Deborah Holland, Stanley Clarke and Stewart Copeland.

Here is a light-hearted new Christmas ditty from the 1957 Tail-Fin Fiasco, based on a John Hughes short story that gave rise to the classic film ‘Christmas Vacation.’

Country songs were seldom this brazen, especially those recorded by its female stars – and many radio stations banned Loretta Lynn’s “The Pill.”

Fun, convincing and powerful, Susie Blue and the Lonesome Fellas make Halloween – or at least Halloween-inspired music – bearable for me.