In the summer of 1966, songwriter Johnny Mercer had his final Top 40 American hit with Frank Sinatra’s version of his song “Summer Wind.” That same summer, young songwriter Carole Bayer had her first ...

The band that recorded it had just lost its lead singer. Meanwhile, those responsible for it were just starting their careers, with the lyricist still in her teens. And it hit not only once, but twice ...

This culture has a very odd relationship to the past, which it generally regards as an obsolete version of the present — and really obsolete version of the future. Nowhere is that oddness more evident ...