Classic Tracks

Sinéad O’Connor ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’

Recording Sinéad O’Connor’s breakthrough hit was easy in some ways, but difficult in others — for example, all compression was forbidden...

Petula Clark ‘Downtown’

Classic Tracks

The single ‘Downtown’ gave Petula Clark a worldwide hit and rejuvenated her career. Presiding over the session was engineer Ray Prickett, who tells us how it happened...

The Buggles 'Video Killed The Radio Star'

Classic Tracks

The Buggles' JG Ballard-inspired 'Video Killed The Radio Star' hit the number one spot in no fewer than 16 different countries, and confirmed Trevor Horn in his career as a producer in the process.

The Specials ‘Ghost Town’

Classic Tracks

The haunting dub of ‘Ghost Town’ perfectly captured the mood of its time, and spent three weeks at the top of the British charts during the turbulent summer of 1981.

Elton John: 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road'

Classic Tracks

Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road has proved to be one of his most popular and enduring works. The man at the controls, David Hentschel, tells us how it came to be.

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'...

Elvis Costello & The Attractions 'Oliver's Army' | Classic Tracks

Producer: Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello • Engineer: Roger Bechirian

A song named for Christmas-cancelling regicide Oliver Cromwell may seem like an unlikely hit, but the infectious ebullience of 'Oliver's Army' provided Elvis Costello with his biggest-selling single...

Pet Shop Boys 'It's A Sin' | Classic Tracks

Producer: Julian Mendelsohn • Engineers: Julian Mendelsohn, Stephen Hague

Protests against Catholicism have taken many forms, Martin Luther nailing his objections to the cathedral door, but the Pet Shop Boys chose to make theirs in disco...

Talking Heads ‘Road To Nowhere’ | Classic Tracks

Producer: Talking Heads • Engineer: Eric Thorngren

As the first issue of SOS hit the shops in October 1985, Talking Heads were already climbing towards their highest UK chart position. The song was ‘Road To Nowhere’. Engineer Eric Thorngren tells the story of its recording.

The Eagles ‘Hotel California’ | Classic Tracks

Producer: Bill Szymczyk

1977's Hotel California saw The Eagles abandon their country origins in favour of full-blown rock & roll, and made them one of the biggest-selling groups in the world. Producer Bill Szymczyk tells SOS how it happened.

Crosby, Stills & Nash ‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes’ | Classic Tracks

Producers: David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash • Engineer: Bill Halverson

As the ’60s drew to a close, David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash came together to form a new group, the unique sound of which was perfectly demonstrated by their first recording, ‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes’.

Human League ‘Don’t You Want Me’ | Classic Tracks

Producer: Martin Rushent • Engineer: Martin Rushent

When producer Martin Rushent took the Human League’s leaden new song and turned it into pop gold, the band hated it — but that didn’t stop it from being a number one hit on both sides of the Atlantic...

Tommy James & The Shondells ‘Crimson & Clover’ | Classic Tracks

Producer: Tommy James • Engineer: Bruce Staple

In 1968, Tommy James made a dramatic stylistic turnaround, swapping bubblegum pop for full-blown psychedelic rock. The result was the superlative single ‘Crimson & Clover’.