[Steely Tom]

The piano intro is played by Wrecking Crew member Larry Knechtel, who also played the guitar licks in Bread's Guitar Man. He played piano in numerous other hit songs, including Wedding Bell Blues by The 5th Dimension.

[bigbob]

And they put Hal Blaine’s drum kit in font of an elevator shaft to get just the right sound on “The Boxer”. No triggers, no auto tune…just instruments and ears.

[xoxox]

I happen to think (as of this writing and for the last several years) that Wedding Bell Blues is one of the best written pop songs ever, if not the best. The way the melody carries the lyric is astounding to me.

I also amuse myself wondering if someone dare Laura Nyro [RIP] to write a song about someone named “Bill,” and she went at it head-on.

When a perfect pop song finds the perfect arrangement, and the perfect singer in Marilyn McCoo, it can still give a listener shivers and fascinations decades on.

Oh, I wanted to mention “Mother and Child Reunion.” The other best song evah. Absolutely astounding sentiment delivered in the most unique and gripping fashion.