American Songwriter

On This Day in 1983, Billy Joel Accomplished a Career First (And Only) With a “Joke” Song That Helped Vindicate This 1960s Doo-Wop Group

Billy Joel scored his only No. 1 hit in the U.K. with "Uptown Girl", a song he wrote as a "joke" at his own expense about his dating history.
American Songwriter

On This Day in 1988, The Beach Boys Went No. 1 With a Divisive Track That Has a Strange and Grim History

On November 5, 1988, wintertime was creeping ever closer to the United States, and, consequently, The Beach Boys were enjoying a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with one of the most divisive tracks ...