John Cougar: 'Jack & Diane'

Classic Tracks

But for the timely intervention of Mick Ronson, John Cougar’s celebrated portrait of small-town American life might never have existed at all, let alone topped the Billboard Hot 100.

The Orb: ‘Little Fluffy Clouds’

Classic Tracks

Dr Alex Paterson tells us how the Orb’s cavalier sampling and devil‑may‑care attitude towards copyright took ambient house from the chill‑out room to the top of the charts.

Marvin Gaye 'What's Going On?'

Classic Tracks

As the ’60s came to a close, Marvin Gaye was forced to ask some serious questions about the world as he found it; the result was the sublimely soulful piece of social commentary, ‘What’s Going On’.

Jerry Lee Lewis: ‘Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On’

Classic Tracks

Jerry Lee Lewis’s raucous piano playing is the stuff of rock & roll legend, but his discovery and signing to Sun Records was the result of a series of lucky chances. Engineer Jack Clement tells us the story...

Metallica 'One' | Classic Tracks

Producer: Flemming Rasmussen • Engineer: Flemming Rasmussen

...And Justice For All marked a turning point for Metallica — one that would launch the cult band into the mainstream. The man at the controls, Flemming Rasmussen, tells us how it happened.

THE UNDERTONES: 'Teenage Kicks'

Classic Tracks

'Teenage Kicks' was the punk-pop gem that, with a little help from John Peel, kick-started the Undertones' career.

A-ha 'Take On Me' | Classic Tracks

Producer: Alan Tarney • Engineer: Gerry Kitchingham

'Take On Me' was a huge hit, but its birth was a difficult one, taking three years, three versions and a pioneering video to finally give A-ha their first chart success.

Green Day: 'Basket Case' | Classic Tracks

Producers: Green Day, Rob Cavallo • Engineers: Neill King, Jerry Finn

'Do you have the time to listen to me whine?' asked Green Day in the opening lines of their song 'Basket Case'. For 16 million people, the answer was apparently 'yes'...