Swedish pop sensation ABBA scored a global smash with the irresistible “Take a Chance On Me” in 1977. The track features an inventive a cappella opening with all four group members contributing vocals. Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson’s rhythmic vocals provide a solid foundation for Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad's soaring harmonies. It gives the feeling of a vocal carousel. “Take A Chance On Me” is one of ABBA’s biggest hits. It topped the charts in the UK, Belgium, Austria, Mexico and Ireland. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. and charted in the top 10 in many other countries.
Take A Chance On Me is available at Amazon
Paperback Writer – The Beatles (1966)
The Beatles open their chart-topping hit “Paperback Writer” with a fantastic a cappella vocal arrangement, featuring harmonies from Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison. The creative intro showcases the legendary band’s impressive vocal talent and McCartney’s stellar songwriting abilities. The song also features two more great a cappella breaks. It was released in 1966 as the A-side of the Beatles’ eleventh single. Its B-side is the Lennon-penned “Rain.” “Paperback Writer” topped the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK singles chart. It also topped the charts in several other countries. Paperback Writer is available at Amazon
My Radio Sure Sounds Good To Me – Larry Graham & Graham Central Station (1978)
This energetic, upbeat track kicks off with a cool doo-wop-style a cappella intro. Larry Graham's deep baritone nicely complements his wife Tina’s sweet honey-soaked vocals and keyboardist Robert “Butch” Sam's rich harmonies. “My Radio Sure Sound’s Good To Me” was the title track of the band’s sixth studio album, released in 1978. It peaked at #18 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart, making it the band’s last top-20 hit on the Billboard charts. My Radio Sure Sounds Good To Me is available at Amazon
Speechless - Michael Jackson (2001)
This beautiful underappreciated ballad opens and closes with a luminous a cappella vocal from Michael Jackson. The song boasts one of his most tender and heartfelt vocal performances. And the bookend a cappella vocals add a sense of wistfulness to the track. “Speechless” was written, produced and arranged solely by Michael. It’s a track from his tenth and final studio album Invincible, released on October 30, 2001. The song also features Andraé Crouch and his gospel choir on backing vocals.
Speechless is available at Amazon
Fat Bottomed Girls - Queen (1978)
Queen launch their rock ode to ample-rumped lassies with an exhilarating a cappella performance of the chorus. This early booty anthem is done in the legendary band’s inimitable epic fashion. And Freddie Mercury, Brian May and Roger Taylor’s harmonies are flawless. “Fat Bottom Girls” was written by May and is featured on Queen’s platinum-selling seventh studio album Jazz (1978). It was released as a double A-sided single with “Bicycle Race.” It peaked at #1 on the UK singles charts and #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. It made the top ten in several other countries. The track has sold 600,000 copies in the UK and two million copies in the U.S. Fat Bottomed Girls is available at Amazon
Let’s Get It Started - Black Eyed Peas (2004)
Singer-songwriter Fergie opens this rousing 2004 party anthem with a dynamic a cappella vocal run. It’s followed by an infectiously funky bass line, and the party’s on! This track is one of the most fun and exciting pop-rap releases of the noughties. In addition to Fergie’s impressive vocals, it features some sweet bars from will.i.a.m, Taboo and apl.de.ap. “Let’s Get It Started” was a single from the group’s double-platinum third album Elephunk (2003). The song peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #11 on the UK charts. It charted in the top ten in France, the Czech Republic, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The mega-hit has sold more than three million copies worldwide and landed the group a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards (2005). Let's Get Started available at Amazon
Delta Dawn - Tanya Tucker (1972)
A 13-year-old Tanya Tucker and vocal quartet the Jordanaires open “Delta Dawn” with a stirring a cappella vocal performance of the chorus. The young future country queen scored a top ten hit on the country charts with her powerful rendition of this classic about a faded Southern Belle haunted by the memory of a past lover. The song, co-written by musician/songwriters Larry Collins and Alex Harvey, was the title track of Tucker’s 1972 debut album. She released it as a single in April of ‘72. It peaked at #6 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and #72 on the Billboard Hot 100. And it rose to #3 on Canadian RPM Country Tracks. It garnered Tucker a Grammy nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Female at the 15th Annual Grammy Awards in 1973.
“Delta Dawn” was also covered by Bette Midler and Helen Reddy. Midler’s cover of the song was included on her debut album The Devine Miss M, released on November 7, 1972. Helen Reddy’s rendition of the song was a huge hit and topped the Billboard Hot 100 in ‘73. Alex Harvey’s original version of the song was released in ‘71. Tucker’s rendition is probably the best-known version of this classic.
Delta Dawn is available at Amazon
7 - Prince & The New Power Generation (1992)
Prince opens “7” with a fantastic multitracked a cappella vocal. The song is a brilliant mélange of rock, funk, pop, Middle Eastern and psychedelia. The hypnotic groove features sitars, acoustic guitars and a funky beat, which is augmented by a sample from Lowell Fulson’s 1967 hit “Tramp.” “7” has a mystical quality, and its cryptic lyrics are open to interpretation. The song could be referring to the seven deadly sins of Christian theology. Or it might be about the seven names of God in the Old Testament. Another theory is that the song is about the evils of the record industry. J.D.Steele, musician/songwriter and frequent Prince collaborator, was an MC at Celebration 2019, an event that honored the life and legacy of the late Minneapolis-born music legend. At the event, he said that Prince personally told him that “7” was about the eventual fall of all the seven major record labels, and today there are only three left.
“7” was the third single from Prince and the New Power Generation’s 1992 Love Symbol album. It peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #8 on Billboard’s Dance Singles chart. It reached #27 on the charts in the UK and rose to #12 in New Zealand and Canada. It also saw solid chart action in several other countries. The music video for “7” was nominated for an MTV Music Award for Best R&B Video in 1993 but lost to En Vogue’s “Free Your Mind.” Love Symbol Album available at Amazon
Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) - Soul II Soul (1989)
Singer-songwriter Caron Wheeler’s soothing a cappella effectively sets the mood for this smooth slice of soul. In May of 1989, this infectious groove by British R&B group Soul II Soul entered the airwaves like a warm spring breeze and was quickly embraced by music lovers worldwide. The track, which features the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra, creates a relaxed, chill vibe but also can get butts shaking on the dance floor. The song is about Wheeler’s near-death experience and how she felt like she was brought back to life for a positive purpose.
“Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)” topped the UK charts for four weeks and peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. It took the top spot on Billboard’s R&B and Dance Club charts. And it landed in the top ten in many other countries. A host of noted music critics praised the song, and it has appeared on many greatest songs of all-time lists, including those of well-known publications such as Rolling Stone, Billboard, Slant, Pitchfork and The Guardian. The song went platinum in the U.S. (a million copies sold), gold in Canada (50,000 copies sold), silver in the UK (600,00 copies sold) and gold in Sweden (25,000 copies sold). And it earned Soul II Soul a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1990.
Back To Life (However Do You Want Me) is available at Amazon
I Get Around - The Beach Boys (1964)
The Beach Boys display their stellar harmonic skills at the a cappella intro of “I Get Around.” This 1964 rock classic is masterfully composed and boasts an inventive vocal arrangement. The song effectively captures the energy and excitement of Southern California’s crusin’ culture. It’s one of the most iconic car songs of the rock era. The vocals for the a cappella opening were provided by all five group members: Mike Love, Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Al Jardine and Dennis Wilson. The song was co-written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, who sang lead vocals.
“I Get Around” was released in May 1964 with “Don’t Worry Baby” as its B-side. It was the opening track for the Beach Boys’ sixth studio album All Summer Long (July 1964). The song topped the Billboard Hot 100. It was the group’s first #1 on the U.S. charts. It peaked at #7 in the UK, #3 in New Zealand and #1 in Canada. I Get Around is available at Amazon
Free Nelson Mandela - The Specials (1984)
British ska revival band the Specials kick off their 1984 anti-apartheid protest anthem “Free Nelson Mandela” with an impassioned a cappella vocal featuring singers Caron Wheeler, Claudia Fontaine and Naomi Thompson. The song is a powerful rallying cry for justice and the demand for the release of imprisoned South African anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela. It’s one of the most iconic anti-apartheid songs of all time and has been blasted at tons of protest rallies and events around the world. The song has a surprisingly celebratory tone for such a serious subject matter. It features an infectious upbeat ska groove with festive horns, energetic keyboards, soulful bass and Stan Campbell’s spirited lead vocals.
“Free Nelson Mandela” was written by the group’s founding member and keyboard player Jerry Dammers and produced by Elvis Costello. The song topped the charts in New Zealand and peaked at #9 in the UK. It also made the top ten on the charts in Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands. The B-side of the record is “Breaking Down The Door.” Free Nelson Mandela is available at Amazon
Road To Nowhere - Talking Heads (1985)
Talking Heads launch their 1985 song “Road To Nowhere” with a fantastic gospel-laced a cappella chorus, which features vocals from band members David Byrne, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison. It also includes vocal contributions from singers Lani Groves, Erin Dickens, Diva Gray, Gordon Grody and Kurt Yahjian. The legendary new wave band adds some Louisiana Zydeco flavor to their sound on this irresistible upbeat track. The song takes an optimistic view of a grim future. Byrne explained the meaning of “Road To Nowhere” in the liner notes of Once In a Lifetime: The Best of Talking Heads: "I wanted to write a song that presented a resigned, even joyful look at doom. At our deaths and at the apocalypse... (always looming, folks).”
“Road To Nowhere” was the second single from the band’s sixth studio album Little Creatures (1985). It peaked at #25 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks and #6 on the singles charts in the UK, Germany and South Africa. And it reached #5 on the charts in New Zealand. Road To Nowhere available at Amazon
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen (1975)
Queen’s 1975 magnum opus “Bohemian Rhapsody” has one of the most iconic a cappella intros ever committed to wax. The epic intro features a multitracked five-part harmony from Freddie Mercury. Brian May and Roger Taylor later contribute their vocal talents to the operatic sections of the song, with Taylor ably handling all of the high falsetto parts. "Bohemian Rhapsody" is an imaginative amalgam of hard rock, opera, heavy metal and pop. Much like a classical piece, the six-minute track is constructed in several sections: an intro, a ballad segment, an operatic passage, a hard rock section, and a coda. “Bohemian Rhapsody” had a huge cultural impact and is widely considered one of the greatest songs of all time.
Many music critics and scholars have attempted to uncover its true meaning and have written extensively on it. However, Freddie Mercury, the song’s writer, simply said it’s about relationships but refused to elaborate any further.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” was the first single from Queen’s multiplatinum fourth studio album A Night at the Opera (1975). The song topped the UK charts for nine weeks–plus an additional five weeks following Mercury’s death in 1991. It’s the UK’s third best-selling single of all time. The song also topped the charts in seven other countries and made the top in many others. And it peaked at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. Bohemian Rhapsody available at Amazon
Thunder - Prince & The New Power Generation (1992)
Prince opened his thirteenth studio album Diamonds and Pearls with “Thunder,” an electrifying fusion of funk, rock and Middle Eastern styles. He kicks off the song with a powerful multitracked a cappella vocal of the chorus. The song bears Prince’s singular sonic stamp, featuring mystical sitars, blazing rock guitars, a fearsome beat and dramatic vocals. Some have theorized that “Thunder” is about Prince pulling The Black Album (1987) in the eleventh hour due to his sudden belief that it was “evil” and replacing it with Lovesexy–and that the song ultimately boils down to the age-old struggle between "good and evil."
“Thunder” was the sixth and final single release from Diamonds and Pearl. It was released on June 15, 1992 in the UK only. It peaked at #28 on the UK singles chart and #6 on the UK Dance chart. And it rose to #3 on the charts in Ireland. Prince played all the instruments on “Thunder” as well as handled all the vocals–lead and background.
Nowhere Man - The Beatles (1965)
The Beatles’ song “Nowhere Man” begins with a sensational three-part harmony sung a cappella by John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison. This Lennon-penned track is one of the first Beatles songs that's completely unrelated to love or romance. It’s about a lost, directionless man who has no opinion or worldview. The song has a “falling” melody, which was a common feature in many of Lennon’s compositions. This gives it kind of a somber feel.
“Nowhere Man” was a track on the Beatles’ sixth studio album Rubber Soul, released on December 3, 1965. However, the song didn’t appear on the U.S. and Canadian versions of Rubber Soul. Instead, it was issued to those countries as a single A-side in February of 1966. It would later appear on the album Yesterday and Today, released on June 15, 1966. This collection was only released in the U.S. and Canada. Also, “Nowhere Man” was never released as a single in the UK.
“Nowhere Man” peaked at #1 on US Record World Top Pops and reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It topped the charts in Australia and Canada. And it peaked at #8 in Austria, #12 in Belgium, #4 in Rhodesia and #6 in Finland. Nowhere Man available at Amazon
Who’s Lovin’ You - The Jackson 5 (1969)
An 11-year-old Michael Jackson stunned millions of television viewers with a soul-stirring a cappella run to kick off the Jackson 5’s historic live performance of “Who’s Lovin’ You” on The Ed Sullivan Show, originally aired on December 14, 1969. The Gary, Indiana-born prodigy left many a jaw on the floor with his incredible vocal performance. The Jackson 5’s set on the legendary television variety show also included their smash “I Want You Back” and a cover of Sly & The Family Stone’s “Stand!” The Ed Sullivan performance helped the already hot young group further expand their rapidly growing fanbase.
The Jackson 5’s remake of the Smokey Robinson-penned “Who’s Lovin’ You” was released as the B-side of their classic “I Want You Back,” released in October 1969. “I Want You Back” topped the pop and R&B charts in the U.S. It peaked at #2 in the UK, #12 in New Zealand, #6 in Ireland and #2 in Canada.
Who's Lovin' You is available at Amazon
Happy Anniversary - Little River Band (1977)
Australian rock outfit Little River Band launched their hit “Happy Anniversary” in style with an impeccable a cappella performance of the song’s chorus. The band members who contributed to the vocal intro were Glenn Shorrock, Beeb Birtles and Graeham Goble. The percolating track boasts a funky slap bass line from George McCardle and a superb guitar solo from David Briggs. “Happy Anniversary” was co-written by Briggs and Birtles. The bittersweet track is about a relationship that’s ended and how the former couple is coping with the aftermath. The song’s narrator reminisces about his ex-lover and commemorates the anniversary of their breakup. He expresses his happiness that she’s found someone new and reflects on the good and bad times that the two had together. He reveals that he’s learned some valuable hard lessons from the breakup that will be helpful in his future relationships.
“Happy Anniversary” was the fourth single from Little River Band’s third studio album Diamantina Cocktail (1977). The song was released in December 1977. It peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100. Happy Aniversary available at Amazon
You Can’t Always Get What You Want - The Rolling Stones (1969)
The Rolling Stones’ classic “You Can't Always Get What You Want” boasts one of the most audacious intros ever featured on a rock song. It opens with the London Bach Choir singing the first verse and the chorus. The choir’s 60 voices were double-tracked to make it sound like there were even more singers. This grand intro effectively sets the song’s epic tone. Following the intro, the song switches to an acoustic guitar accompanied by a lone French horn, giving it a wide-open frontier feel. During this section, Mick Jagger somberly repeats the first verse and then goes into the chorus. After that, the song jumps into a rousing rock groove, replete with bluesy guitar licks and jumpin’ piano and organ. Singers Madeline Bell, Nanette Workman and Doris Troy enhance the track considerably with their soulful, gospel-laced background vocals.
Although “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” is credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, it was primarily Jagger’s creation. “[It] was something I just played on the acoustic guitar–one of those bedroom songs,” Jagger recalled in the 2003 book According to the Rolling Stones.
The song’s meaning is open to multiple interpretations. Some have said it’s about the idealism and optimism of the ‘60s youth culture being replaced with a pervasive sense of disillusionment as the decade drew to a close–marking the end of the utopian dream of the baby-boomer generation who were forced to face the harsh reality that the party was over. The song also addresses some major ‘60s issues such as drugs, love and politics.
“You Can’t Alway Get What You Want” was originally released as the B-side of “Honky Tonk Woman” in July 1969. It was also included on the Rolling Stones’ landmark multiplatinum-selling album Let It Bleed, released in November 1969. London Records reissued the song in April 1973. It peaked at #42 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #34 on the Cashbox Top 100 Singles chart. It rose to #68 on Canada’s singles chart and reached #4 on the charts in Belgium. The song has since been included on several Rolling Stones compilation albums.
It’s one of the Stones’ most popular and highly regarded tracks, appearing on many greatest-songs-of-all-time lists. It was also featured prominently in a scene from the 1983 comedy-drama The Big Chill.
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