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"(Meet Me at) Midnight Mary" by Joey Powers.

OK, girls and boys, more 60s one-hit wonders: Washington, PA native Joseph S. Ruggiero's only hit came in early 1964, just before four blokes from Liverpool took over. Written by Artie Wayne and Ben Raleigh in less than two hours, it was originally intended for The Everly Brothers but they passed on it. First recorded by Jerry Cole. Artie Wayne had started dating Jamela, the daughter of a deposed Iranian general exiled to the U.S. He was a very authoritarian man, so they could only meet secretly late at night and this inspired the song. She broke off the relationship out of concern for his safety. It evokes Jimmie Rodgers' "Secretly". Peaked at #10 on Billboard's Hot 100. Jerry Landis (aka Paul Simon) and Jim (Roger) McGuinn played in the album. Song? Ruggiero's stage name? Answer: "(Meet Me at) Midnight Mary" by Joey Powers. I was only 12 when it came out but I distinctly remember listening to it on the radio and admiring Jeannie Thoma...
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"Beyond the Sea" by Bobby Darin.

OK, girls and boys, back to the 50s: Charles Trenet and Albert Lasry penned "La Mer" in 1946. It became a pop standard with English lyrics by Jack Lawrence. Charted for Benny Goodman and Roger Williams in '48 and '55 respectively. "A romantic tale of an (oceangoing) lover and a land-locked lover waiting on a golden shore for his return." The "definitive" version came in '59 by DA MAN Bobby Darin, peaking at #6. Kevin Spacey's '04 Darin biopic shares the song's title. Song? Answer: "Beyond the Sea" by Bobby Darin. THE koolest kat ever to walk the face of the earth, in my humble opinion. When you think Bobby Darin you DON'T think Kevin Spacey but he's such a doggone good actor that he pulls it off in "Beyond The Sea". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8OlDPqYBLw&list=RDm8OlDPqYBLw&start_radio=1
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"Games People Play" by The Spinners.

OK, girls and boys, back to the 70s: Subtitled "They Just Can't Stop It", this classic Philly-soul 1975 Jefferson/Hawes/Simmons composition was a smash crossover hit for a vocal quintet from Detroit which formed in 1954. Recorded at Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studios with lead vocals by Bobby Smith in conversation format with Evette Benton. Accompanied by house band MFSB with background vocals by Sweethearts of Sigma. Trademark bass vocal delivery of "12:45" by Pervis Jackson. Based on the 1964 book by Dr. Eric Berne "The Psychology of Human Relationships", as it pertains to interpersonal manipulation. The song speaks of the emotional distress caused by lovers who cannot be straightforward with each other. #1 Hot Soul Singles, #5 Billboard Hot 100, Certified Gold. Group? Song? Answer: "Games People Play" by The Spinners. It came out between my sophomore and junior years of med school in Philly, where it became extremely popula...
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"Flowers On the Wall" by The Statler Brothers.

OK, boys and girls, back to the 60s: This Staunton, VA country/folk quartet started out in 1955 as Four Star Quartet and then The Kingsmen. In 1963, after rock band The Kingsmen had a massive hit with "Louie, Louie", they once again changed their name. By far, their biggest and most iconic hit was a 1965/66 quasi-autobiographic country/folk tune penned by their tenor, Lew DeWitt, who spent some time in a mental institution. A tongue-in-cheek post-breakup song about a man trying to convince his ex and himself that he's enjoying life, while spiraling into loneliness and despair. #2 Billboard Hot Country for four weeks, #4 Billboard Hot 100, #116 among Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time. Part of the "Pulp Fiction" and "Die Hard" soundtracks and parodied by The Muppets. Quartet? Song? Answer: "Flowers On the Wall" by The Statler Brothers. The first time I heard this song was in 1967, while attending the World Ja...
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"Poetry Man" by Phoebe Snow.

OK, girls and boys, more 70s one-hit wonders: The only charting hit for this New York City native came in 1974 with a soft jazz/blues ballad which she also composed. Based on an affair she had in her younger years with a married man. It was rumored that it was about Jackson Browne, for whom she opened on stage for a few years, but this was denied by both parties. Many people thought that she was African-Amrican because of her curly hair and her soulful four-octave contralto but she was 100% Jewish. #5 Billboard Hot 100, #1 Adult Contemporary. Grammy-nominated for Best New Artist in 1975. She ended her solo career to take care of her congenitally brain-damaged daughter. She left us in 2011 at age 60. Artist? Song? Answer: "Poetry Man" by Phoebe Snow. She wrote the song in one hour! Sang backup for Paul Simon in "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTd1iktPJZ8&list=RDQTd1iktPJZ8&start_radio=1
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"Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

OK, boys and girls, back to the 70s: This Jacksonville, FL band started out in 1964 as My Backyard. By far, their biggest hit was a 1974 Southern-rock anthem which popularized and helped define the genre. Written in response to Neil Young's (NOT my favorite, let's just leave it at that!) "Southern Man" and "Alabama" (hint, hint!). With very strong political overtones defending the South, it became their signature tune. Composed by Ed King, Gary Rossington and Ronnie Van Zant - King and Rossington penned the seminal guitar lines. #8 Billboard's Hot 100, Grammy Hall of Fame 2009, CMT's "#1 Southern Rock Song". The Band was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. Unfortunately, the entire original lineup either died or was severely injured during a 1977 plane crash. It inspired a 2002 Reese Witherspoon rom-com. ...and, of course, who can forget Forrest Gump reminiscing about his beloved Jenny with this song in the backg...
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"The Captain of Her Heart" by Double.

OK, girls and boys, more 80s one-hit wonders: This 1985 Felix Haug/Kurt Maloo Euro-pop ballad was recorded by a Swiss duo, becoming a massive global hit for them. A woman decides to stop waiting for her gone, dominating lover to return and finds the strength to move on with her life. #16 Billboard Hot 100, # 8 UK. Memorable sax work by Christian Ostermeier. The first Swiss act to break into the U.S. Top 40. Duo? Song? Answer: "The Captain of Her Heart" by Double. Yacht-rock at its best! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBlx1JffMQ4&list=RDlBlx1JffMQ4&start_radio=1
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