What makes a song a hit song? The short answer is that it's a song that sells a lot of records. What makes it sell has a lot to do with marketing and timing and luck, and a little something to do with songwriting, performance, and recording. The only reasons to want to have a hit song are fame and fortune and everything that goes with that.

What makes a song a great song? All the songs I've chosen to list from 1962 are what I consider great songs. They may also be hits, big or small, and they did get their shot on the radio. But the reason they made it that far was because they had something going on that was interesting.

It seems to me that if there's anything worth pursuing in this world, along with peace, love, and understanding, it's got to be something like trying to make great songs.

you make me