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"Sam Stone" by John Prine.

OK, boys and girls, back to the 70s: This Maywood, IL-born singer/songwriter/guitarist worked as a postman for 5 years before joining the Army. He was "discovered" by Roger Ebert and Kris Kristofferson while playing folk clubs in Chicago. A 1971 song about a drug-addicted Vietnam Vet with a Purple Heart succumbing to an overdose was a biting reminder of the heroin addiction problem among Vietnam Vets. Artist? Song? Answer: "Sam Stone" by John Prine. "There's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes...". Sad but masterful song. We had the privilege of seeing him twice on stage - two of the best concerts ever. His appearances on "Austin City Limits" are legendary. Very dexterous fingerstyle picker! He survived two cancers only to die from COVID-19 in 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLVWEYUqGew&list=RDOLVWEYUqGew&start_radio=1
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"I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor.

OK, girls and boys, back to the 70s: This 1978 Perren/Fekaris disco anthem is a classic example of diatonic circle chord progression, "traveling" counterclockwise from Am to Fmaj7. Discovering inner strength and empowerment after a bad breakup. As opposed to most disco hits, it was recorded without background vocals and with minimal electronic engineering. First and ONLY song to win the Grammy for Best Disco Recording ('79-'80). RIAA Certified Double-Platinum, spent 3 weeks at #1, named "the greatest dance song of all time" by VH1 and is ranked #492 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Artist? Song? Answer: "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor. Only one Grammy for Best Disco Recording was ever awarded - dang! Polyester lives on!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dYWe1c3OyU&list=RD6dYWe1c3OyU&start_radio=1
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"Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" by The Beatles.

OK, boys and girls, more Mop-Tops: This 1965 Lennon composition featured on "Rubber Soul" is the first example of a rock band incorporating a sitar, played by Harrison. Lennon sings lead vocals and it is one of the very few Beatles songs written in triple meter. Inspired by either journalist Maureen Cleave or by Sonny Drake, wife of The Beatles' photographer - we'll never know... Other than for Shawn Colvin's "Sunny Came Home", arguably the most famous song about arson. Song? Answer: "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" by The Beatles. "Rubber Soul" has always been my favorite Beatles album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_V6y1ZCg_8&list=RDY_V6y1ZCg_8&start_radio=1
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"Rhinestone Cowboy" by Glen Campbell.

OK, boys and girls, back to the 70s: Brooklynite Larry Weiss penned this crossover classic in 1974 inspired by his childhood hero, Hopalong Cassidy. About a veteran performer who has more than paid his dues but is still surviving. When Glen Campbell heard it he deemed it to be quasi-biographic and immediately recorded it. It topped Billboard's Hot 100, Hot Country and Hot Adult Contemporary charts in '75 - a feat not accomplished since '61. Inspired a (bad!) Sylvester Stallone/Dolly Parton movie in '84. Song? Answer: "Rhinestone Cowboy". Sometimes we forget what an INCREDIBLE guitarist Glen Campbell was! He left us in 2017 at the age of 81. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3nd2TxMKIY&list=RDF3nd2TxMKIY&start_radio=1
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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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