Poldo's Music Trivia II

OK, boys and girls, back to the 60s: A 19-year-old British folk guitarist dedicated this 1961 acoustic fingerstyle blues/folk classic to his then girlfriend. Well-known for its challenging descending bass line. This piece heavily influenced the 60s British folk revival. He's also credited for popularizing the DADGAD alternate tuning. Paul Simon's version on the 1966 "Sounds Of Silence" album is Simon and Garfunkel's ONLY instrumental studio recording. Artist? Song? Answer: "Anji" by Davey Graham. Another one of those tests of manhood in the 60s - you HAD to be able to play "Anji" if you were worth anything as a guitarist. I was awed when I watched Paul Simon and his brother Eddie play it on the Kraft Music Hall in 1968. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnJ_SGX4u0w&list=RDQnJ_SGX4u0w&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JxMHL9h-W0&list=RD1JxMHL9h-W0&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q0szRvtT4M&list=RD1Q...

50 (!) years ago today "Lola" by The Kinks was released. The Davies brothers have declared it #LolaDay today. I'll never forget the first time my friends and I heard the song. We had just graduated from high school. It came on the radio - we looked at each other in disbelief - did we just hear what we heard?! VERY racy for 1970 but we LOVED it! There is something so unorthodox, unapologetic and poetically blunt about The Kinks' music. The predecessors to punk. Untamed yet melodic, introspective, witty and observational in the most creative, captivating way. Nothing gives you a more vivid picture of parts of British culture than diving into a Kinks album. We came up with an even edgier Spanish version but I'll keep it to myself......

OK, girls and boys, back to the 70s: This "anthem of resilience" was written by Marvin Hamlisch, with lyrics by Edward Kleban, for the 1975 Broadway musical "A Chorus Line" and, together with "One", quickly became its showstoppers. Not a love (hint, hint!) song in the romantic sense, but rather about a passion for performing and the sacrifices made for it. In the original Broadway production it was sung by the character Diana Morales but, in the 1985 movie adaptation, it was performed by Cassie Ferguson. Covered by, among many others, Eydie Gorme, Aretha, Bing, Robert Goulet, Lea Michele and Josh Groban. Song? Answer: "What I Did for Love" from "A Chorus Line". I will forever be grateful to that wonderful musical. It was 1981, the day before I took my ENT specialty boards. I was staying at the Palmer House Hotel, where the boards are given once a year. Judy went to New Orleans with her nursing school classmates. I was the onl...

OK, girls and boys, back to the 50s: This iconic 1951 chanson was written by Hubert Giraud, with lyrics by Jean Drejac, for the film of the same name. A love letter to the City of Lights and "a warning to unsuspecting strangers to protect their hearts in The City of Love". First recorded by Jean Brettoniere. Edith Piaf's 1954 and Yves Montands 1964 renditions helped make the song synonymous with the French capital. English lyrics were added by Kim Gannon. Andy Williams' recording was perhaps the most popular version in the U.S. Song? Answer: "Under Paris Skies" ("Sous le Ciel de Paris"). Of course, I'm just a little biased towards Edith Piaf's version since I grew up listening to it on my dad's ol' Bogen hi-fi. That accordion is hypnotizing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC06NyI6KKU&list=RDSC06NyI6KKU&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LACZU05vmbk&list=RDLACZU05vmbk&start_radio=1 https://www.yout...

I posted this on Facebook on June 4th, 2016 - the day after The Greatest left us. Even though it is not music trivia, I wanted to keep it for posterity. MUHAMMAD ALI – A FEW PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS He was undoubtedly THE GREATEST athlete of our generation. So many fond memories of this giant of his sport. I remember my father’s excitement when he won the Light Heavyweight Gold Medal at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. Fast-forward to 1964 – I was a patient at Hospital del Maestro being treated for meningitis. In my room there was a coin-fed tiny little TV set. My dad, my dear uncle Jorge (Tio Gol) Juncos and I watched, to the tune of many quarters, as a young Cassius Clay pulverized Sonny Liston to become World Champion. A few years later I had the privilege of seeing him in person! My dad took me to Hiram Bithorn Stadium to a Chegui Torres fight. As part of the pre-fight card Ali fought an exhibition round against a sparring partner. I will never forget that moment for as long as...

OK, back to the 60s: This 1969 Peter Green composition was Fleetwood Mac's only chart hit before Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined in '74. It's stop-and-go technique was copied by Led Zeppelin in "Black Dog". The Rockets' cover was a Top 40 hit in '79. Song? Answer: "Oh Well" by Fleetwood Mac. My, how their sound changed once Stevie and Lindsey joined - and the rest, as they say, is rock & roll history! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b19PcuJsQbA&list=RDb19PcuJsQbA&start_radio=1