It’s time for some “music in the key of B” – but don’t worry, none of these great songs are in “b flat!”
You know the drill: for this list of ten songs, all must begin with the letter “B” – except I don’t count the word “the” which you will see in one case here…ready to go?
10 – “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were the biggest selling duo of the 60’s, with a blend of folk pop that led to massive hits like “Mrs. Robinson” and “Sounds Of Silence.”
That all led to their biggest selling – and last – album!
The album is a masterpiece, released in 1970, and it includes such classics as “The Boxer”, “Cecilia” and of course, the title track.
When you’re weary
Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I’ll dry them all
I’m on your side
Oh, when times get rough
And friends just can’t be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Here is the duo performing the song live:
So why was this their last album? Well, another song on the album tells the story of Paul’s frustration with Garfunkel when Art went off to make a film – and it led to their breakup!
See the whole story here:
Now onto a massive hit single from a former Eagle and current Heartbreaker!
9 – “The Boys Of Summer”
After the Eagles broke up, Don Henley found himself with a solo career – although as he stated in the “History Of The Eagles” documentary, he loved being in a band.
So he enlisted the help of Mike Campbell, member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and they released this gorgeous ode to summer…
Nobody on the road
Nobody on the beach
I feel it in the air
The summer’s out of reach
Empty lake, empty streets
The sun goes down alone
I’m driving by your house
Though I know you’re not home
But I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin’ in the sun
You got your hair combed back and your sunglasses on, baby
And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone
Here is the official music video:
After more than twenty years broken up, the Eagles re-formed and released this double album:
The album includes the hits “How Long” and “Busy Being Fabulous” – click here for a deep dive into this terrific swan song:
The next song was one of two “B” songs I could have included from the same album…the other being “Beat It!”
8 – “Billie Jean”
Yes, both of those classic Michael Jackson songs were on one of the best selling albums of all time – “Thriller!”
Here is the story behind the song:
According to Jackson’s biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli, “Billie Jean” was inspired by letters Jackson received in 1981 from a woman claiming he was the father of one of her twins. Jackson, who regularly received letters of this kind, had never met the woman and ignored those claims.
Here is the official music video for this classic song with an infectious beat:
Our next “song with a B” is one of Kelly Clarkson’s most personal efforts:
7 – “Breakaway”
This Grammy winning song is one that she felt spoke to her, and while she is a prolific songwriter, this was actually written by Matthew Gerrard, Bridget Benenate, and Avril Lavigne, and was originally intended for Lavigne’s debut studio album, Let Go (2002).
As Kelly openly discusses on her daytime talk show, she dreamed of finding success in the world, and these lyrics must have really spoken to her:
Grew up in a small town
And when the rain would fall down
I’d just stare out my window
Dreaming of what could be
And if I’d end up happy
I would pray
Trying hard to reach out
But when I tried to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me
Wanted to belong here
But something felt so wrong here
So I prayed (I would pray)
I could breakaway
I’ll spread my wings and I’ll learn how to fly
I’ll do what it takes ’til I touch the sky
And I’ll make a wish, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway
Here is the music video:
I have shared many Kelly Clarkson performances from her talk show, which recently won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Talk Show for the 3rd year in a row!
She is also performing in Las Vegas and Atlantic City soon, here’s how great she is live, performing her two smash hits “Stronger” and “Since You Been Gone!”
Next up is the first smash hit single from one of rock’s most iconic Artists….
6 – “Breakdown”
Tom Petty’s debut album is terrific, and this song captured the raw energy of the band.
He wrote of love and longing – always with a bit of an attitude!
It’s alright if you love me
It’s alright if you don’t
I’m not afraid of you running away, honey
I get the feeling you won’t
You see, there is no sense in pretending
Your eyes give you away
Something inside you is feeling like I do
We’ve said all there is to say
Baby
Break down, go ahead and give it to me
Break down, honey, take me through the night (baby, break down)
Break down, now I’m standin’ here, can’t you see?
Break down, it’s alright
It’s alright
It’s alright
Here is a performance of the song early in the band’s career:
Up next is arguably Paul McCartney’s greatest masterpiece – an album that almost didn’t happen!
The front cover, with Actors James Coburn and Christopher Lee included, captured the chaos behind the making of the album!
5 – “Band On The Run”
McCartney took his new band Wings to Nigeria to record the album, and it was. a disaster…two band members left, the studio was of poor quality and conditions in Nigeria were terrible – at one point the McCartneys were robbed at knifepoint, losing a bag of song lyrics and demo tapes. McCartney finally returned to England to finish the album in London.
And of course, it was a masterpiece, with smash hits “Jet”, “Bluebird” and the title track:
Well, the rain exploded with a mighty crash
As we fell into the sun
And the first one said to the second one there
I hope you’re having fun
Band on the run, band on the run
And the jailer man and sailor Sam
Were searching every one
For the band on the run
Band on the run
Here is the song is all of its glory:
There is so much to love about this album, and so many stories to tell – click here to find out which song Dustin Hoffman challenged Paul to write based on an iconic Artist’s last words!
One of modern music’s greatest stars has had a strong of massive albums and is now an acclaimed Actress as well!
4 – “Bad Romance”
Perhaps it was inevitable for Lady Gaga to become a movie star – after all, her music videos are so cinematic!
While this song is powerful, catchy pop, what everyone remembers is this classic opening refrain:
Rah, rah-ah-ah-ah
Roma, roma-ma
Gaga, ooh-la-la
Want your bad romance
Here is the terrific music video:
I have a soft spot for a trio of brothers who found themselves three of the biggest selling Artists of the 70’s:
3 – “Baby As You Turn Away”
The Brothers Gibb were better known as The Bee Gees, and this gorgeous ballad is on their smash hit album “Main Course”.
The song has an absolutely gorgeous chorus:
But baby, as you turn away
I will always think of what we had together
Baby, this is just your way of breaking my heart
And it’s easier to say goodbye
Making me fall, making me try
Try to make you stay as you turn away
Here is an audio-only clip, worth listening to!
They became superstars when they recorded some songs for the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack, which became the biggest selling album of all time!
So why did they decide to star in the very ill-advised musical based on The Beatles “Sgt. Peppers” album?
Well, read here to find out!
Next I have the most iconic song from one of the music’s greatest Artists ever:
2 – “Born To Run”
After two modest selling albums, Bruce Springsteen landed not he cover of Time magazine and was announced as the future of music – and they were right!
He wrote songs about everyday people who were desperate to break away from the drudgery of their lives:
In the day we sweat it out on the streets
Of a runaway American dream
At night we ride through the mansions of glory
In suicide machines
Sprung from cages on Highway 9
Chrome wheeled, fuel injected, and steppin’ out over the line
Oh, baby this town rips the bones from your back
It’s a death trap, it’s a suicide rap
We gotta get out while we’re young
‘Cause tramps like us, baby, we were born to run
Here’s an incredible live version:
Springsteen continues to release incredible music – here is a look at his album “Western Stars”:
Well, if you know me at all you knew this was going to be on the list and at #1!
1 – “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Brilliant. Operatic. Genre-bending. And a falsetto that has to be heard to believe!
Yes, Freddie Mercury was an incredible performer, and songs like “We Are The Champions” are iconic – but this is the greatest of them all!
Here’s one snipped of lyrics from this sprawling epic, when the song segues into a mini-opera!
I see a little silhouetto of a man
Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?
Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very frightening me
(Galileo) Galileo, (Galileo) Galileo, Galileo Figaro, magnifico
But I’m just a poor boy, nobody loves me
He’s just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life from this monstrosity!
Here is the music video – enjoy the majesty!
This band is so beloved – and for good reason! Clcik here to see some of their greatest songs!
And of course, one of Queen’s greatest songs was co-written with this guy!
“Under Pressure!”
Just had to share this story with you as well.
David Bowie’s collaboration with Queen on the classic hit “Under Pressure” was a story of wine-quelled madness, which you can read about here:
There’s “the B list” for you – if you missed “the A list”, check it out here – there are two different Elvises on the list!
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Categories: 70's Music, Art, Classic Rock, Music, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities
johnrieber 
Gosh, this post must have taken some time to put together, John. It is very comprehensive. I always feel sad when I see pictures of a young Michael Jackson – so tragic what happened to him. It is better not to achieve such high levels of fame. So many singers from my childhood and teen years are now dead.
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Yes Robbie, I work in the entertainment industry and there are far too many stories of success ruining someone’s life…so much excess and the fall from grace is so difficult to manage for so many…thank you for your comment!
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You would see it up close and personal.
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What a great collection of B songs! My favorites are Kelly’s “Breakaway”, Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”, and Bruce’s “Born to Run”, but gotta love the Bee Gees.
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A great line up of songs here! Thanks.
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Thank you for reading and commmenitn g- hope all is well!
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I listen to music most nights, but I did find it an odd coincidence that three of the songs on your list are ones I just listened to last night (Born to Run, Boys of Summer and Breakdown). I like your style, John.
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Great minds perhaps? Thanks for reading and commenting, it is much appreciated!
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A great set of songs, John, seven of which were on albums I owned back in the day 😊
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Clive, my wife bought me a terrific turntable for the 150+ albums I still have!
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I had to leave my collection of more than 700 behind when I left home for the divorce, as I had no room for them. One of the side effects of divorce that doesn’t get mentioned often!
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Sorry to hear that…I proudly showed up the gorgeous turntable my wife got me as a gift, part of a beautiful piece of furniture, and one friend said: “wait. You lugged 150 albums around for twenty years?????” Well, that was another way to look at it!
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I really regret having to give mine up, and can understand why you love your turntable so much. That friend has no soul!
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New York has a lot of used record stores and I’ve been on a journey to try new genres as well as classic old jazz and soul…so much fun!
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I used to love the used record stores when I was in my teens. Best bargain was getting The Band’s first album, Music From Big Pink, for less than the price of a single. Played it to death!
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Thanks for the trip down the memory lane, John.
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Indeed! I’d add Bennie and the Jets, mostly because it’s so much fun to sing, even (especially? 😁) if you’re not a 100% about the lyrics, I’ve heard so many different versions people think are true, it’s both hilarious and creative!
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That’s a great one! I have an Elton song in the “C” list coming next week but I could add him to literally every letter he was so brilliant. Thanks for the comment!
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Bohemian Rhapsody was a game-changer in pop music. One of the first songs of that length ever to be played on the radio, and an enduring classic becuase of its unique construction and unusual style. I really cannot think of another modern record to compare, and would have to go back to 1924, and the Paul Whiteman Orchestra with Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody In Blue’, which of course was wholly instrumental.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks for that insight Pete…it’s one of my favorite songs of all time, and it is a timeless classic…love that Gershwin reference! Cheers! Going to a NY restaurant tonight that was Sinatra’s favorite – will be sharing!
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