Listen To The Music

Written for Song Lyric Sunday –
“Buy-A-Musical Instrument Day”
This is my response to the challenge.

This week at Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday, the theme is “Buy-A-Musical Instrument Day”. Our challenge is to write about a song that expresses an appreciation for music, singing, or listening to the radio. My goal while writing this week’s blog was to feature songs for each of the three categories in Jim’s theme. Let’s get started!

When people talk about the vibrant folk music scene in the 1960s in New York City’s Greenwich Village, it is impossible not to mention the iconic trio of Peter, Paul, and Mary. Born in the late 1930s, all three members of the group …. Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey, and Mary Travers …. bridged traditional folk roots with socially conscious pop, championing the Civil Rights Movement and popularizing the songs of Bob Dylan. The trio was awarded five Grammys and produced numerous gold and platinum records over a span of five decades. Some of their notable hits include “If I had a Hammer”, “Blowing in the Wind”, “Puff the Magic Dragon”, and “Leaving on a Jet Plane”, which was written by John Denver and became (unbelievably) the group’s only #1 single. Beyond their music, the trio is deeply celebrated for its commitment to social justice, most notably performing their iconic “If I had a Hammer” at the historic 1963 March on Washington.

“I Dig Rock and Roll Music” by Peter, Paul and Mary peaked at #9 on the Billboard charts. Co-written in 1967 by Paul Stookey, the song is both an upbeat tribute to their music contemporaries and a gentle, tongue-in-cheek parody of the folk rock movement. The lyrics imitate the vocal styles and aesthetics of three major 1960s acts …. The Mamas and The Papas, Donovan, and The Beatles. The song was one of the hardest-driving, pop/rock-influenced tracks of the trio’s career and was featured on their 1967 album, Album 1700, becoming an AM radio staple. It served as an upbeat, optimistic reflection of how the music scene was rapidly expanding during the “Summer of Love”, while also addressing the grim realities of the era.

This is “I Dig Rock and Roll Music” by Peter, Paul & Mary

Up next is the group Autograph, an American glam metal band formed in Pasadena California in 1983. After recording a demo, they caught the attention of David Lee Roth, who invited them to open for Van Halen on their 1984 tour. Autograph is best known for their 1984 hit single “Turn Up the Radio”, which propelled their gold-certified debut album Sign In Please to massive commercial success. Two more albums followed, but changing musical trends and a lack of label support led to the disbanding of the group in 1989. They reformed in the early 2000s and again in 2013, performing and releasing new music to this day.

“Turn Up the Radio”, the signature hit by Autograph, became a major 80s staple and regular MTV fixture, peaking at #29 on the US Billboard Hot 100; it remains a defining anthem of 80s hard rock. Record label RCA initially did not want “Turn Up the Radio” on Autograph’s debut album, claiming it had no commercial value. The band firmly insisted on its inclusion, ultimately proving the label wrong. Guitarist Steve Lynch received high praise for his playing in the song, winning “Guitar Solo of the Year” from Guitar Player magazine in 1985. The track has enjoyed a long pop-culture shelf life and was ranked #93 on VH1’s Top 100 Hard Rock Songs. “Turn Up the Radio” was immortalized for later generations in the extremely popular 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The music video received a heavy rotation on MTV, which helped enormously with the single’s sales.

This is “Turn Up The Radio” by Autograph

The Mamas & The Papas were a defining American-Canadian folk-rock group that revolutionized the 1960s counterculture scene. Known for their lush, four-part harmonies and cascading pop arrangements, they produced iconic hits like “California Dreamin'” and “Monday, Monday” before their tumultuous personal lives ultimately led to the band’s breakup. The group consisted of four distinct personalities who bridged the gap between the acoustic folk scene and the emerging electric pop beat: John Phillips (songwriter, guitarist and leader of the group); Michelle Phillips (John’s wife, whose airy vocals and striking image became an integral part of the groups sound and aesthetic); Denny Doherty (a golden-voiced Canadian tenor who provided much of the lead vocal power); Cass Elliott, a.k.a. Mama Cass (a powerhouse contralto vocalist with magnetic stage presence). Between 1965 and 1968, they achieved, enormous commercial success, releasing major hits such as “I Saw Her Again” and “Creeque Alley”, and selling nearly 40 million records worldwide. Despite their sunny on-stage image, the band was plagued by intense, personal drama; combined with drug use, the stability of the group was fractured. They officially disbanded in 1968, reuniting briefly in 1971, fulfilling contractual obligations with their final album, People Like Us. The band was inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame in 1998, cementing their status as pioneers of the 1960s folk rock sound.

“Creeque Alley” is an autobiographical 1967 hit single written by John and Michelle Phillips chronicling The Mamas & The Papas’ journey to fame. It cleverly name-drops prominent folk-rock artists and details the band’s formation before they struck gold in Southern California. The song gets its title from Creeque’s Alley, a real life alley on the docks of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, although the name of the song is not featured in the lyrics. The pre-fame band members lived there, surviving on folk music gigs, and basically trying to figure out their futures while waiting for their big break. The lyrics read like a map of the 1960s Greenwich Village folk scene, tracing the paths of various musicians before they found success, including The Mugwumps, The Journeymen, Roger McGuinn (The Byrds), John Sebastian & Zal Yanovsky (Lovin’ Spoonful), and Barry Maguire.

This is “Creeque Alley” by the Mamas & the Papas

My last featured song and artist need no introduction or explanation, and I believe I would be remiss not to include this beloved bonus track.

This is “Piano Man” by Billy Joel

Buy-A-Musical Instrument Day

Big thanks to Jim Adams for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday this week and every week. Be sure to follow his link and check out his site.

Thanks for stopping by and listening to some great music. I hope you enjoyed the theme for this week as well as the information and songs I featured.

That’s all she wrote, kids. See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2026

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