Instagram story viewer> @poptimemachine> Posts

Pop Time Machine

@poptimemachine

141.8K

followers

2722

following

Stressful day? Pause for a 2 minute music therapy break. 70s/80s music will restore you.
“I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.” -Dylan

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA • LIVIN’ THING • 1977

“Livin’ Thing” is a song written by Jeff Lynne and performed by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It appears on ELO’s 1976 album “A New World Record.”

It was a major transatlantic hit upon its release in 1976. It performed exceptionally well globally, securing top positions in several major music markets:
* UK Singles Chart: Reached #4
* US Billboard Hot 100: Peaked at #13
* US Cash Box Top 100: Hit #10
* Australia: Reached #2
* Canada (Top Singles): Hit #8
* Europe: Reached 1 in South Africa, 4 in the Netherlands and New Zealand, and 5 in Germany.

What is the Meaning of “Livin’ Thing”?
Some have looked for deep mystical meaning in the lyrics. You needn’t look too much into it, because Lynne simply meant that love is a “Livin’ Thing.” Now that you know what the “it” is in the line It’s a livin’ thing, you can appreciate what Lynne was doing with the lyrics here. He presents the ups and downs of love in the verses, with the watery metaphors signifying the way a relationship can take you on a journey (and occasionally make you a little seasick). (Source: americansongwriter.com).

ELO is an English rock band, the brainchild of Jeff Lynne, formed in 1970, out of Birmingham. Lynne was a major Beatles fan, and as you will see, the influence of The Beatles on this band is unmistakable. His goal was the fusion of contemporary rock and pop music together with a backdrop of classical overtones. Examples of his vision might be the Beatles’ songs, Yesterday and Eleanor Rigby, which were recorded with only acoustic guitar and a classical string quartet.

ELO sold over 50 million albums in 11 years. They accumulated twenty-seven top 40 songs on the UK Singles Chart, and fifteen top 20 songs on the US Billboard Hot 100.

(PopTimeMachine is doing a survey of the transitional music year 1977. Post Number 20)
——————
Disclaimer: We do not own rights to the audio/video. All credit to original artists — used here for promotional purposes only.

elo livinthing 70spop baroquepop taken in Brea, California by @poptimemachine

33k

889

5 months ago

OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN • CLIFF RICHARD • SUDDENLY • 1980

“Suddenly” is a duet performed by Olivia Newton-John and Cliff Richard from the soundtrack “Xanadu,” and is the love theme from the 1980 film of the same name.

“Suddenly” peaked at # 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Chart, 46 years ago. The record also reached # 4 on the US Adult Contemporary Chart.

#olivianewtonjohn #cliffrichard #suddenly xanadu 80spop 80sfilms by @poptimemachine

25k

746

7 months ago

ROBERT DUVALL • LEFT US YESTERDAY AT 95

My favorite actor of all time — Robert Duvall, has ended his journey on this earth. At age 95.

Hollywood icon Robert Duvall has died ... the actor passed away at his home Sunday at the age of 95, according to his wife.

In a Monday morning Facebook post, Robert’s wife Luciana wrote ... “Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time. Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort.”

She added ... “His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court. For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented.”

In a career that spanned 7 decades, Robert had iconic roles in films such as “The Godfather,” “Apocalypse Now,” “The Godfather Part II,” “The Conversation,” “Network,” and “The Natural” ... among a myriad of others.

Robert won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as a former country music star in the 1983 classic “Tender Mercies.”
(Source: TMZ)

#robertduvall #thegodfather #apocalypsenow #thegreatsantini #thejudge taken in Brea, California by @poptimemachine

494k

6k

8 months ago

JUICE NEWTON • ANGEL OF THE MORNING • 1981

(This Month PopTimeMachine is hanging out in the classic hit-filled music year 1981 — when the 80s sound launched. This is Entry # 13.)

“ANGEL OF THE MORNING” became the 25th most popular song of 1981, according to Billboard’s Year End Hot 100.

This was the highest-charting and best-selling version of this song in the U.S. It was recorded and released in 1981 by country-rock singer Juice Newton for her album Juice. The original had been a hit for Merrilee Rush in 1968.

Newton’s version reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 22 on the Billboard country music chart, and spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in April 1981. More than 1 million units of Newton’s single were sold in the United States.

MTV: Notably, Newton’s video for “Angel of the Morning” was the first country music video aired on MTV, debuting the day the network launched, in 1981.

“Angel of the Morning” gave Newton the first of two huge international hits in 1981, the 2nd being “Queen of Hearts.”
——————
MORE TRIVIA ABOUT THE RECORD
An Accidental Hit: Newton admitted she never would have thought to record the track herself. Capitol Records promo executive Steve Meyer played it for her and convinced her it would be a major radio hit. Turns out he was right.

Rejected for Being Too Risqué: The song—which deals with a morning-after farewell from a one-night stand—was originally offered to Connie Francis decades earlier, who turned it down because she felt the lyrics were too scandalous for her wholesome image.

——————
We do not own rights to the audio/video. All credit to original artists — used here for promotional purposes only. taken in Brea, California by @poptimemachine

342

8

18 hours ago

RICHARD CARPENTER • HAPPY 80th BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday Richard Carpenter
(Born October 15, 1946) TURNS 80 TODAY

Though Karen Carpenter receives most of the praise and focus, it is significant to take note of the musical genius behind her success, her brother Richard. He is truly the creative force behind the Carpenters’ unique sound.

Richard Carpenter isn’t just a casual pop song writer, or organizer of a teen garage band. He is a studied, accomplished keyboardist and record producer at a very early age. He commented in an interview that when he was 3 or 4, he recalls noticing the complex harmonies (and what he would later learn was overdubbing) which he heard at times on the radio. An example was his reference to 50s duo Les Paul and Mary Ford. He would later come to master the technique and take it to a whole new level with sister Karen, creating and recording as many as 12 simultaneous harmony parts in a single song.

Richard was in the same league as a Henry Mancini or Burt Bacharach, when he was only in his 20s. Few who are doing Top 40 pop music can compare with his skill at finding great songs to record, or his visionary sense of sound production.

He sought to emulate the rich harmonic sounds exemplified by groups like The Beach Boys and The Mamas and The Papas. That and Karen’s vocal gift from God seems to explain what would become 18 number 1 hit records for the Carpenters.

Richard is married to Mary Rudolph since 1984, and they have five children together (Mindi, Tracy, Kristi, Collin, and Taylor).
——————
We do not own rights to the audio/video. All credit to original artists — used here for promotional purposes only. taken in Brea, California by @poptimemachine

50

6

3 days ago

PHIL COLLINS • AGAINST ALL ODDS • 1984

“Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” was written, composed, and performed by English singer and songwriter Phil Collins for the 1984 film “Against All Odds.”

It became a massive commercial hit, reaching Number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 (where it stayed for three weeks) and serving as Collins’s first solo number-one single. It also peaked at Number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and hit Number 1 in Canada, Ireland, and Norway.

The power ballad won the 1985 Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male. It also earned nominations for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

Legacy: It established Collins as a dominant solo pop/adult-contemporary force outside of Genesis and was later covered successfully by artists like Mariah Carey and Westlife.

Phil Collins has sold over 150 million records worldwide as a solo artist, with his 1985 album No Jacket Required leading his sales with over 25 million copies. Along with his work in Genesis, he is one of only three artists to sell over 100 million albums both as a solo artist and as a band member.

——————
We do not own rights to the audio/video. All credit to original artists — used here for promotional purposes only. taken in Brea, California by @poptimemachine

8k

183

4 days ago

JOHN DENVER • 29 YEARS AGO TODAY • WE LOST HIM • OCTOBER 12, 1997

John Denver was an American singer-songwriter, record producer, actor, activist, and humanitarian, whose greatest commercial success was as a solo singer. Starting in 1971, when his song Take Me Home Country Roads went up the charts to # 2, he became very popular. In fact, he was one of the most popular acoustic artists of the decade and one of its best-selling artists.

Denver was killed on October 12, 1997, when the handmade, experimental airplane he was flying ran out of gas and crashed off the coast of Monterey Bay, California. The 53 year old star had scored 15 songs on Billboard’s Top 40 Pop chart, ten of which reached number one.

It was an age of acoustic guitar artists (Denver, James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot, Jim Croce, Cat Stevens, America, etc.). By 1974, John Denver was one of America’s best-selling performers. He had 33 albums and singles that were certified Gold and Platinum. And he sold more than 33 million records.

——————
Disclaimer: We do not own rights to the audio/video. All credit to original artists — used here for promotional purposes only. taken in Brea, California by @poptimemachine

14k

377

6 days ago

CARPENTERS • MONDAYS WITH KAREN • ONE LOVE • 1971/1974

MONDAYS WITH KAREN
Today’s Feature: “ONE LOVE”
1974 Single / From their Album:
“CARPENTERS” (The Tan Album)

Released: Springtime 1974
(It was the Side B paired with “I Won’t
Last a Day Without You” - Side A)
The 45 Record charted at #11

* Chart Performance: “One Love” was never released as a standalone A-side single, so it did not chart individually on the Billboard Hot 100.
* Album Success: The parent album, Carpenters, performed very well, peaking at No. 2 on the US Billboard 200 and eventually achieving 4x Platinum certification.
* B-Side Release: The song later gained wider visibility when it was released as the B-side to their hit single “I Won’t Last a Day Without You” on March 25, 1974.

——————
MORE ABOUT THE SONG
The Carpenters’ gentle ballad “One Love” was composed by Richard Carpenter with lyrics by John Bettis.
Origins and Early Life as “Candy”
* Disneyland Job: Richard Carpenter and John Bettis wrote the track in the late 1960s while they were both working jobs at Disneyland.
* Original Title: The song originally had the working title “Candy” and was inspired by a teenage crush Richard had on a waitress working at the park.
* Fired from the Park: Richard and John were eventually fired from their Disneyland positions after playing contemporary pop songs on the job instead of the required turn-of-the-century standards.
* Rewritten as “One Love”: The original composition was later reworked and rewritten into the track that became “One Love”.

Consider the meaningful lyrics:
“Few are the choices we are given
The sands of time pass quickly by…”
“One dream of my young life
Now stands holding out his hand to me
Now I can’t help but believe
That my whole life will be
Spent in ONE LOVE.”  
——————
Disclaimer: We do not own rights to the audio/video. All credit to original artists — used here for promotional purposes only. taken in Brea, California by @poptimemachine

310

10

6 days ago

CREEDENCE (CCR) • WHO’LL STOP THE RAIN? • 1970

In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked this song No. 188 on its “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list. It peaked at No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 on March 10, 1970.

“Who’ll Stop the Rain” is a song written by John Fogerty and originally recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival for their 1970 album Cosmo’s Factory. Backed with “Travelin’ Band,” it was one of three double-sided singles from that album to reach the top five on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and the first of two to reach the No. 2 spot on the American charts, alongside “Lookin’ Out My Back Door”/“Long As I Can See the Light.”

Fogerty wrote the track after returning from the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in August 1969. While widely interpreted as an anti-Vietnam War protest anthem or a commentary on the political unrest at the end of the 60s, Fogerty intended the rain as a broader metaphor for the confusion, feeling of helplessness, and overwhelming social storms of the era.

Any #1s for CCR? No. Although they topped some international charts and local radio countdowns, CCR has the dubious distinction of having had five number-two singles without ever having had a number one on the Hot 100, the most of any group. Nine of their singles reached the Billboard Top Ten, but none quite cleared the wall for a Homer.

It’s interesting trivia I suppose, but in no way diminishes the unparalleled impact they had on the cultural shift and musical legacy of the 60s/70s counterculture. They were a huge part of the soundtrack for the baby boom generation.
——————
Disclaimer: We do not own rights to the audio/video. All credit to original artists — used here for promotional purposes only. taken in Brea, California by @poptimemachine

805

26

7 days ago

FOREIGNER • URGENT • 1981

The song “Urgent” was performed by the rock band Foreigner (released in 1981 from the album 4). It written by Mick Jones and Lou Gramm.
Chart Performance
* US Billboard Hot 100: Peaked at No. 4 (spending 23 weeks on the chart).
* US Billboard Mainstream Rock / Rock Tracks: Reached No. 1 (holding the spot for four weeks).
* Canada (RPM Top Singles): Reached No. 1.
* South Africa: Reached No. 1.

The Motown Sax Legend: The iconic, blazing saxophone solo on the track was played by Junior Walker (from Junior Walker & the All-Stars). Producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange wanted a “Junior Walker-style” sax. While taking a break at the recording studio, band members read in The Village Voice that Walker was performing just blocks away, tracked him down, and invited him to the studio.

ABOUT THE BAND
Foreigner is a British-American rock band formed in New York City in 1976 by English musician Mick Jones and American vocalist Lou Gramm, along with several other original members.

Core Identity & Sound
* Origins: Named because the lineup was evenly split with three British members and three American members.
* Musical Style: A blend of hard rock, soft rock, and arena-ready adult-oriented rock (AOR) defined by driving guitar riffs and soaring power ballads.
* Commercial Success: Sold more than 80 million records worldwide (with nearly 38 million in the U.S.), earning induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024.
——————
Disclaimer: We do not own rights to the audio/video. All credit to original artists — used here for promotional purposes only. taken in Brea, California by @poptimemachine

113

9

10 days ago

CLASSIC DUETS • 80s • LINDA RONSTADT • AARON NEVILLE • DON’T KNOW MUCH • 1989

Promotional music video of the Ronstadt album “Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind.” Ronstadt and Neville sing, playing a couple remembering old times and facing their present.

The Ronstadt/Neville duet peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989, blocked by Phil Collins’ “Another Day in Paradise.”  
Today’s duet comes from two of the most unusual and engaging voices in the history of American popular music. “Don’t Know Much” tells the story of a couple in middle age who look back over the years, trying to understand what love really is — yet also knowing they’ve found it. The song is beautiful and powerful as written, but in the voices of Aaron Neville and Linda Ronstadt, it reaches the sublime.

Life leaves no one unscathed. And that’s true for the lovers in this song. The lyrics speak of “so many questions still left unanswered.” We get evocative details of uncertainty, aging, and heartache.

The chorus, however, serves as a powerful rejoinder. It explains that we don’t have to have everything figured out; it even suggests that’s an impossible goal. But that doesn’t mean we can’t find love and hope.

——————
Disclaimer: We do not own rights to the audio/video. All credit to original artists — used here for promotional purposes only.

#lindaronstadt #aaronneville #dontknowmuch #80spop #80sduets taken in Brea, California by @poptimemachine

463

29

11 days ago

ABBA • THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL • 1980-1981

“The Winner Takes It All” is a song recorded by Swedish music group ABBA, released on July 21, 1980 as the lead single from the group’s seventh studio album, Super Trouper (1980).

In the U.S., “The Winner Takes It All” spent a total of 26 weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, running from its debut on November 22, 1980, through April 11, 1981, peaking at No. 8, where it held for 2weeks. 26 weeks total on the Hot 100 — that’s half a year!

Penned by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, it is a ballad in the key of G-flat major featuring Agnetha Fältskog on lead vocals, reflecting on the end of a relationship. Although Ulvaeus has denied the song being about his divorce from Fältskog, he has stated the song is about the experience of a divorce.

Continuing ABBA’s streak of successful singles, “The Winner Takes It All” topped the charts in the United Kingdom, where it became their eighth number one hit, as well as in Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The single became ABBA’s fourth and final top ten chart hit in the United States, peaking at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has since become one of the group’s most enduring hits.

#abba #thewinnertakesitall #80spop taken in Brea, California by @poptimemachine

550

23

16 days ago