Sting: Fortress Around Your Heart (1985)

Using Medieval imagery, Sting translates his personal pain emanating from a divorce to a pop hit. He said the song is about "appeasement" and "trying to build a bridge between individuals."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qcVtEy6G1Q

Def Leppard: Rock Rock (Til You Drop) (1983)

This song is just a jam. Def Leppard rocking out at their first peak.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpgUJLKC5tc

Eric Clapton: Forever Man (1985)

Classic mid-80s Clapton. The record company complained his album Behind the Sun did not have enough singles. Enter this track...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt2qBm4qS4w

Keith Richards: Trouble (2015)

In 2015, Keith Richards released his first album in 23 years. The lead single was a solid bluesy number.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_btCZWi1jkg

Sting: Russians (1985)

Sting attacks the Cold War in "Russians." He criticizes both American and Soviet leadership in the anti-war piece. At the same time, Sting seems to lay more of the blame on the Soviets. At the time, people had grown more worried about the threat of nuclear annihilation as American rhetoric and Soviet military action heated up worldwide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHylQRVN2Qs

1964 in Music

British invasion began in earnest. Beatlemania exploded in America. They arrived at Kennedy Airport to screaming throngs and then appeared on Ed Sullivan three times in February. Meanwhile, Elvis transitioned to motion pictures and enters into a musical wilderness. Meanwhile, the Rolling Stones released their debut album. Pete Townshend accidentally broke his first guitar and created a sensation. The Kinks made their American debut. On the American side, Bob Dylan releases his anthem "The Times They Are-A Changing", Simon and Garfunkel record for Columbia, The Supremes score five straight number ones, and Sam Cooke is murdered.

#1 song:
I Wanna Hold Your Hand by The Beatles.

Important recordings:
All Day and All of the Night by The Kinks
Can't Buy Me Love by The Beatles
Dancing in the Streets by Martha and the Vandellas
Goldfinger by Shirley Bassey
Hello, Dolly! by Louis Armstrong
I Get Around by The Beach Boys
The Way You Do The Things You Do by The Temptations
Twist and Shout by The Beatles
A World Without Love by Peter and Gordon
You Really Got Me by The Kinks
She Loves You by The Beatles
A Hard Day's Night by The Beatles

Other notable hits:
As Tears Go By by Marianne Faithfull
Come See About Me by The Supremes
Do Wah Diddy Diddy by Manfred Mann
Gloria by Them
I'm Into Something Good by Herman's Hermits
Little Red Rooster by The Rolling Stones
My Guy by Mary Wells
Rag Doll by The Four Seasons
She's Not There by The Zombies
Tobacco Road by The Nashville Teens
Glad All Over by The Dave Clark Five

Bruce Springsteen: Out in the Street (1980)

"Out in the Street" combines the downbeat aspects of The River with its more upbeat pop sensibilities. On one hand, the main character is a hard working blue collar man in a bleak world. On the other, he is completely free and never more alive than when he is out in the street.

Studio:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8yphj2hUI8

Live:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgt_rZFQHjo

Lou Reed: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2015

Official Site: http://www.loureed.com/inmemoriam/

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/lou-reed/bio/

After the Velvet Underground disbanded, Lou Reed went on a solo career that lasted decades. His albums Transformer, Berlin, and New York are all classics.

Walk on the Wild Side (1972): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KaWSOlASWc

Satellite of Love (1973): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH2EgYq_NCY

Vicious (1973): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIdc0NGumVc

Sally Can't Dance (1974): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taHz5E7bCWY

Street Hassle (1978): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2532gJcCsA

No Money Down (1986): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiyX70ZqsVQ

Dirty Blvd (1989): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z3TPwOT31g

Sword of Damocles (1992): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWm_RzQuWhk

Perfect Day (1997): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYEC4TZsy-Y

Tranquilize w/The Killers (2007): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVNGY1pInfI

The View w/Metallica (2011):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJlU_9Vyvqs

Green Day: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2015

Official Site: http://www.greenday.com/

Rock Hall Bio: https://rockhall.com/inductees/nominees/green-day/

Green Day formed in 1986. The current lineup came together when Tre Cool joined the band in 1990. They released a couple of albums on an independent label. They signed a big label deal and broke out in 1994.

Longview (1994): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42BBdzzgPNM

Welcome to Paradise (1994): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR7R9Kuw2fY

Basket Case (1994): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUTGr5t3MoY

When I Come Around (1994): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8dh9gDzmz8

Geek Stink Breath (1995): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr2T-Rcgq1c

Good Riddance (1997): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnQ8N1KacJc

Minority (2000): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDBlqu6KF4k

Warning (2000): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eebfMFzJHNs

In 2004, critics began comparing them to The Clash and The Who.

American Idiot (2004): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee_uujKuJMI

Boulevard of Broken Dreams (2004): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Soa3gO7tL-c

Holiday (2005): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1OqtIqzScI

Wake Me Up When September Ends (2005): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU9JoFKlaZ0

Working Class Hero (2007): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPPgeDhGzKY

Know Your Enemy (2009): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IclmVdWNbI

21 Guns (2009): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r00ikilDxW4

Oh Love (2012): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWwMqa-_210

X-Kid (2013):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVmpURJEZRY