'Georgia on my mind' - Alicia Keys & Jamie Foxx

On the 27th of December 1981, American composer, pianist, singer, actor, and bandleader Hoagy Carmichael died aged 82. Composer of 'Georgia On My Mind', (covered by many acts including Ray Charles), 'Star Dust' and 'Lazy River'.http://www.thisdayinmusic.com
Watch the video of 'Georgia on my mind'

"Georgia on My Mind" is a song written in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael (music) and Stuart Gorrell (lyrics). It is the official state song of the U.S. state of Georgia. Gorrell wrote the lyrics for Hoagy's sister, Georgia Carmichael ^[1]. However, the lyrics of the song are ambiguous enough to refer either to the state or to a woman named "Georgia". Carmichael's 1965 autobiography,Sometimes I Wonder, records the origin: a friend, saxophonist and bandleader Frankie Trumbauer, suggested: "Why don't you write a song called 'Georgia?' Nobody lost much writing about the South." Thus, the song is universally believed to have been written about the state.

The song was first recorded on September 15, 1930 in New York by Hoagy Carmichael and His Orchestra with Bix Beiderbecke on muted cornet and Hoagy Carmichael on vocals. The recording was part of Bix Beiderbecke's last recording session. The recording was released as Victor 23013 with "One Night in Havana".

Frankie Trumbauer had the first major hit recording in 1931 when his recording made the top ten on the charts. Trumbauer had suggested that Carmichael compose the song.

Ray Charles, a native of Georgia, recorded it in 1960 on the album The Genius Hits the Road. It became Georgia's state song in 1979. Inspired by this blues version, Willie Nelson formally introduced the song to country audiences in 1978 as a #1 Country/Western hit.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_on_My_Mind

'

Other arms reach out to me

Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you

I said Georgia,
Ooh Georgia, no peace I find
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind'

'You Know I'm No Good' - Amy Winehouse'

On the 26th of December 2007, Amy Winehouse's second album ‘Back to Black’ was named as the biggest-selling album of the year. Released at the end of 2006 the album had now sold more than 1.5m copies in the UK, achieving five platinum sales awards, Winehouse was also nominated for six Grammys including song of the year. http://www.thisdayinmusic.com
Watch the video of - 'You know I'm no good'

You Know I'm No Good" is the second single from Amy Winehouse's second studio album,Back to Black (2006). The track follows in the footsteps of Winehouse's previous singles of a mix of jazz and R&B with her soulful, raspy vocals and this time hip hop-inspired beats over it. Recorded solo, and then again with guest vocals from Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah, the original appeared on Winehouse's album, and the version featuring Ghostface Killah appears on his album, More Fish.

Arctic Monkeys covered this song on Jo Whiley's Live Lounge on BBC Radio 1 in their second appearance there, along with their single at the time, "Brianstorm". In the summer of 2007, "You Know I'm No Good" was also incorporated into ads for AMC's TV drama Mad Men, as well as the opening to ITV's Secret Diary of a Call Girl. On the recap of The Best Songs of 2007 byEntertainment Weekly magazine, this song ranked at number two.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Know_I'm_No_Good

'Meet you downstairs in the bar and hurt,

Your rolled up sleeves in your skull t-shirt,
You say "what did you do with him today?",
And sniffed me out like I was Tanqueray,
'Cause you're my fella, my guy,
Hand me your stella and fly,
By the time I'm out the door,
You tear men down like Roger Moore,

I cheated myself,
Like I knew I would,
I told you I was trouble,
You know that I'm no good'

"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" - John Lennon

On the 25th of December 1971 John Lennon was at number 2 on the UK singles charts with 'Happy Christmas {War is over}, it peaked at number3 in the US.
Watch the video of 'Happy Christmas [War is over]

"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" is a song written by John Lennon, released as a single in 1971 by John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and the Plastic Ono Band on Apple Records, catalogue Apple 1842 in the US, and Apple R5970 in the UK. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on theBritish singles chart. The song's first appearance on album was the 1975 compilation Shaved Fish. Although ostensibly a protest song about the Vietnam War, it has become a Christmas standard and has appeared on several Christmas albums.
The lyric is based on a campaign in late 1969 by Lennon and Ono, who rented billboards and posters in eleven cities around the world that read: "WAR IS OVER! (If You Want It) Happy Christmas from John and Yoko". The cities included New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Rome,Athens, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Helsinki. At the time of the song's release, the US was deeply entrenched in the unpopular Vietnam War. The line "War is over, if you want it, war is over, now!", as sung by the background vocals, was taken directly from the billboards.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Xmas_(War_Is_Over)
'and so this is Christmas
for weak and for strong
the rich and the poor ones
the road is so long 

So happy Christmas
for black and for white
for the yellow and red ones
let's all stop the fight'

'Better Man' - Pearl Jam

On the 24th of December 1994, Pearl Jam went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Vitalogy'.http://www.thisdayinmusic.com
Watch the video of 'Better Man'
"Better Man" (sometimes written as "Betterman") is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. Written by vocalist Eddie Vedder, "Better Man" is the eleventh track on the band's third studio album, Vitalogy (1994). Despite the lack of a commercial single release, the song managed to reach the top of the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, where it spent a total of eight weeks at number one. The song was included on Pearl Jam's 2004 greatest hits album,rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991–2003).
"Better Man" was written by vocalist Eddie Vedder when he was in high school. He said, "I wrote "Better Man" before I could drink—legally—on a four-track in my old apartment."^[1] In another interview, Vedder stated, "Sometimes I think of how far I've come from the teenager sitting on the bed in San Diego writing "Better Man" and wondering if anyone would ever even hear it."^[2] He first performed it with a San Diego, California-based group called Bad Radio. Vedder later recorded it with Pearl Jam, although Pearl Jam was initially reluctant to record it and had initially rejected it from Vs. due to its accessibility.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Man
'Waitin', watchin' the clock, it's four o'clock, it's got to stop
Tell him, take no more, she practices her speech
As he opens the door, she rolls over...
Pretends to sleep as he looks her over

She lies and says she's in love with him, can't find a better man...
She dreams in color, she dreams in red, can't find a better man...
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man
Can't find a better man'

'If I were a Carpenter' - Robert Plant

The 23rd  of December 1941, Born on this day, Tim Hardin, US singer, songwriter, (1967 UK No.50 single 'Hang On To A Dream'). Wrote 'Reason To Believe' and 'If I Were A Carpenter.' Died of a heroin overdose on 29th December 1980.http://www.thisdayinmusic.com
Watch the video - If I were a Carpenter - Robert Plant
Timothy James "Tim" Hardin (December 23, 1941 – December 29, 1980)^[1] was an Americanfolk musician and composer. He wrote the Top 40 hits "If I Were a Carpenter", covered by, among others, Joan Baez, Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, and Robert Plant, and "Reason to Believe", covered by many, including Rod Stewart, as well as his own recordingcareer.
"If I Were A Carpenter" {Has been covered by} - Wes Carr, Stan Webb's Chicken Shack, Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash and June Carter, The Four Tops, Leon Russell, Rod Stewart, Doc Watson, Joan Baez (as "If You Were a Carpenter"), The Nice, Small Faces, Robert Plant, Leonard Nimoy,John Holt, Bob Seger, Leslie West, and Ramblin' Jack Elliot.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Hardin
'I were a carpenter, and you were a Lady
Would you marry me anyway?
Would you have my baby?
If a tinker were my trade, would you still find me
Carryin' the pots I made, followin' behind me?
Save my love through loneliness
Save my love through sorrow
I give you my only-ness
Give my your tomorrow'

'London Calling' - The Clash

On the 22nd of December 2002, Former Clash singer and guitarist Joe Strummer (John Graham Mellor) died of a suspected heart attack aged 50. Scored the 1979 UK No. 11 single 'London Calling', 1982 US No. 8 single 'Rock The Casbah, 1991 UK No.1 single 'Should I Stay Or Should I Go', first released 1982, plus 15 other UK Top 40 singles. The Clash's London Calling album was voted best album of the 1980s by Rolling Stone magazine. Strummer was also a member of the The Mescaleros. http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/
Watch the video of 'London Calling'
"London Calling" is a song by the British punk rock band The Clash. It was released as a single from the band's 1979 double album London Calling. This apocalyptic, politically charged rant features the band's famous combination of reggae basslines and punk electric guitar and vocals.

The song was written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones. The title alludes to the BBC World Service's station identification: "This is London calling ...", that was used during World War II, often in broadcasts to occupied countries.^[1][4]

The lyrics reflect the concern felt by Strummer about world events with the reference to "a nuclear error" to the incident at Three Mile Island, which occurred earlier in 1979. Joe Strummer has said: "We felt that we were struggling about to slip down a slope or something, grasping with our fingernails. And there was no one there to help us."http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Calling_(song)

'London calling to the faraway towns

Now that war is declared-and battle come down
London calling to the underworld
Come out of the cupboard, all you boys and girls
London calling, now don't look at us
All that phoney Beatlemania has bitten the dust
London calling, see we ain't got no swing
'Cept for the ring of that truncheon thing'

'My Hometown' - Bruce Springsteen

On the 21st of December 1985, Bruce Springsteen's album, ‘Born in the USA’ passed Michael Jackson's ‘Thriller’ to become the second longest-lasting LP on the Billboard US Top 10. It stayed there for 79 weeks. Only ‘The Sound of Music’ with Julie Andrews lasted longer at 109 weeks.http://www.thisdayinmusic..com
Watch Springsteen perform - 'My Hometown'
"My Hometown" is a single by Bruce Springsteen off his Born in the U.S.A. album, that was the record-tying seventh and last top 10 single to come from it, peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. It also topped the U.S. adult contemporary chart, making the song Springsteen's only #1 song on this chart to date.^[1] The song is a synthesizer-based, low-tempo number that features Springsteen on vocals.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Hometown
'I was eight years old and running with a dime in my hand

Into the bus stop to pick up a paper for my old man
I'd sit on his lap in that big old Buick and steer as we drove through town
He'd tousle my hair and say son take a good look around,this is your hometown
This is your hometown'

'Gimme Shelter' - The Rolling Stones

On the 20th of December 1969, The Rolling Stones went to No.1 on the UK album chart with their 10th release 'Let It Bleed', featuring 'Midnight Rambler', 'You Can't Always Get What You Want,' and Gimme Shelter.'http://www.thisdayinmusic.com
Listen to 'Gimme Shelter'
"Gimme Shelter" is a song by English rock band, The Rolling Stones. It first appeared as the opening track on the band's 1969 album Let It Bleed. Although the first word was spelled "Gimmie" on that album, subsequent recordings by the band and other musicians have made "Gimme" the customary spelling. They first played "Gimme Shelter" live in 1969 at Pop Go the Sixties. "Gimme Shelter" was placed at #38 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimme_Shelter

'Yeah, a storm is threatening
My very life today
If I don't get some shelter
Lord, I'm gonna fade away

War, children, yeah, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
War, children, yeah, it's just a shot away
It's just a shot away, hey, yeah'

'Your Song' - Three Dog Night

On the 19th of December 1970, Elton John's first US hit, ‘Your Song’ entered the Billboard Hot 100, where it went on to reach number eight. The Hollies had been offered the song and Three Dog Night had already recorded a version which was included on their ‘It Ain't Easy’ album.http://www.thisdayinmusic.com
Listen to 'Your Song' - Three Dog Night

"Your Song" is a ballad composed and performed by English musician Elton John with lyrics by his long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin. It appeared on John's self-titled second album in 1970.

The song was released in the U.S. in October 1970 as the B-side to "Take Me to the Pilot". Both received airplay, but "Your Song" was preferred by disc jockeys and replaced "Take Me to the Pilot" as the A-side, eventually making the top ten on both the UK and U.S. charts.

"Your Song" is a soft blend of two different styles: folk and jazz: "I hope you don't mind / I hope you don't mind / That I've put down in words / How wonderful life is while you're in the world." The instrumental focus is on John's Leon Russell-influenced piano work, along with acoustic guitar,Paul Buckmaster's string accompaniment, and a shuffling rhythm section.

The lyrics express the romantic thoughts of an innocent. Taupin offers a straightforward love-song lyric at the beginning: "It's a little bit funny this feeling inside / I'm not one of those who can easily hide / I don't have much money but boy if I did / I'd buy a big house where we both could live." At times the self-deprecating narrator stumbles to get out his feelings, which despite being a melodramatic device, Allmusic calls "effective and sweet":^[2] "So excuse me forgetting but these things I do / You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue / Anyway the thing is what I really mean / Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen / And you can tell everybody this is your song / It may be quite simple but now that it's done..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Your_Song

Three Dog Night is an American rock band best known for their music from 1968 to 1975. As of 2010, they are still recording and making live appearances.

'Fairytale of New York' - The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl

On the 18th of December 2000, UK singer, songwriter Kirsty MacColl was killed in a boating accident off the coast of Mexico when a speedboat hit her. MacColl was aged 41.http://www.thisdayinmusic.com
Watch 'Fairytale of New York'
"Fairytale of New York" is a song by Irish rock group The Pogues, released in 1987 and featuring the late British singer Kirsty MacColl. The song is an Irish folk style ballad, written byJem Finer and Shane MacGowan, and featured on The Pogues' album If I Should Fall from Grace with God. The song features string arrangements by Fiachra Trench. It is frequently voted the Number One Best Christmas song of all time in various television, radio and magazine related polls in Ireland and the UK.
'They've got cars big as bars
They've got rivers of gold
But the wind goes right through you
It's no place for the old
When you first took my hand
On a cold Christmas Eve
You promised me
Broadway was waiting for me'

'Radio Radio' Elvis Costelloe

On the 17th of December 1977, deputising for The Sex Pistols on NBC- TVs 'Saturday Night Live', Elvis Costello stops his performance of 'Less Than Zero', saying ' there's no reason to do this', and launches into 'Radio Radio' which he'd been told not to perform.http://www.thisdayinmusic.com
Watch the video 'Radio Radio'
"Radio Radio" was a single by Elvis Costello and The Attractions released in the UK in October 1978. The song had already appeared on the US version of their second album, This Year's Model, released earlier that year. The song is a protest song concerning the commercialization of radio broadcasts and the power wielded by the recording studios and radio companies who decided what songs were heard over the airwaves, especially the more politically explicit side of punk rock. The lyrics claim, "You better shut up or get cut out/They don't wanna hear about it/It's only inches on the reel-to-reel" and "They don't give you any choice 'cause they think that it's treason," a veiled reference to the Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Radio
'I was tuning in the shine on the light night dial
Doing anything my radio advised
With every one of those late night stations
Playing songs bringing tears to my eyes
I was seriously thinking about hiding the receiver
When the switch broke 'cause it's old
They're saying things that I can hardly believe
They really think we're getting out of control'

'Down on the corner' - Creedence Clearwater Revival

On the 16th of December 1970, five singles and five albums by Credence Clearwater Revival were certified gold in the US. The singles were: ‘Down on the Corner’, ‘Lookin out My Back Door’, ‘Travelin' Band’, ‘Bad Moon Rising’ and ‘Up around the Bend’. The LPs were ‘Cosmo's Factory’, ‘Willy and the Poor Boys’, ‘Green River’, ‘Bayou Country’ and ‘Credence Clearwater Revival’.http://www.thisdayinmusic.com
Watch CCR perform 'Down on the corner'

"Down on the Corner" is a song by the American band Creedence Clearwater Revival. It appeared on their fourth studio album, Willy and the Poor Boys (1969). The song chronicles the tale of the fictional band Willy and the Poor Boys, and how they play on street corners to cheer people up and ask for nickels. The song spent fifteen weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached a peak of number three on the chart^[1]. Incidentally, the B-side, "Fortunate Son" reached number fourteen on the same chart during the same period^[2].

The song makes reference to a gut bass in the line "Blinky thumps the gut bass and solos for a while".^[3]. In a 1969 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, the band performed the song as Willy and the Poor Boys. Stu Cook played a gut bass, which mimicked the appearance the band as they appear on the album cover.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_on_the_Corner

'Early in the evenin' just about supper time,

Over by the courthouse they're starting to unwind.
Four kids on the corner trying to bring you up.
Willy picks a tune out and he blows it on the harp.'