How a Real Dixie Band Inspired Dire Straits’ ‘Sultans of Swing’How a Real Dixie Band Inspired Dire Straits’ ‘Sultans of Swing’Mark Knopfler stepped into a London pub one evening and discovered the subject of a hit song. Allison RappAllison Rapp
50 Years Ago: Funkadelic Serves Up a Hot ‘Cosmic Slop’50 Years Ago: Funkadelic Serves Up a Hot ‘Cosmic Slop’George Clinton's band fit a broad vision into shorter songs, coming up with a classic.Rob SmithRob Smith
45 Years Ago: The Rolling Stones Embrace Disco on ‘Miss You’45 Years Ago: The Rolling Stones Embrace Disco on ‘Miss You’Keyboardist Billy Preston had a hand in crafting the hit 1978 single. Allison RappAllison Rapp
40 Years Ago: The Fixx Looks Inward on Breakthrough ‘Saved by Zero’40 Years Ago: The Fixx Looks Inward on Breakthrough ‘Saved by Zero’Singer Cy Curnin was in a contemplative mood as his group began to emerge from college radio.Nick DeRisoNick DeRiso
Pink Floyd's 'Money' at 50Pink Floyd's 'Money' at 50The song's sound effects required hours of painstaking editing. Gary GraffGary Graff
'Spirit in the Night' Turns 50'Spirit in the Night' Turns 50Columbia Records president Clive Davis told the burgeoning singer-songwriter he needed a hit for his debut.Allison RappAllison Rapp
'Runnin' With the Devil' Turns 45'Runnin' With the Devil' Turns 45Band's first original single pointed to a huge shift in music, even if it didn't chart very high.Corey IrwinCorey Irwin
Pink Floyd's 'Not Now John' at 40Pink Floyd's 'Not Now John' at 40More than a half dozen F-bombs littered the original album version.Nick DeRisoNick DeRiso
How a Minor Name Tweak Transformed Aerosmith’s ‘Rag Doll’How a Minor Name Tweak Transformed Aerosmith’s ‘Rag Doll’Blustery, New Orleans-influenced rocker became their third Top 20 'Permanent Vacation' hit.Bryan RolliBryan Rolli
Bob Seger's 'Still the Same' at 45Bob Seger's 'Still the Same' at 45Singer was inspired by the "type A personalities" he'd met in Los Angeles. Gary GraffGary Graff