Author: Michael Rays

Michael Rays is a guitar gadfly, author, tennis nut, amateur psychoanalyst, wannabe statistician and the world’s first rocksolographer. He searches for interesting guitar and music topics lying in plain sight, and he searches for food the same way. He lives in Billings, Montana, where he runs an advertising agency.

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The Big Guitar Songs, 1955 to 1974

“Rock Around the Clock,” “Theme from ‘Shaft’,” “ I Feel Fine” – these are just some of the giant guitar hits that give us what we want: more guitar!

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Guitar Trends in Number One Songs, 1955 to 1974

1964 saw the “guitar scores” double thanks to contributions from The Beach Boys, The Beatles, and The Animals among others.

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1968: The Year The Supremes Out-Guitared The Beatles

If you compare “Hey Jude” and “Love Child,” The Supremes’ number comes out ahead in at least one regard.

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The Great Guitar Drought of 1960-1963

Hit songs in the 1950s had plenty of guitar. The early 1960s? Not so much. But a few artists did carry the torch until the Beatles arrived.

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The Radio Edit Hall of Shame

Time constraints or not, some radio edits to classic rock and pop songs just feel wrong. Here is a list of some of the worst.