Poldo's Music Trivia II

OK, boys and girls, back to the 70s: The first #1 single for this San Jose, CA band came in 1975 with a Louisiana-swamp roots rock tune penned, played and sung by Patrick Simmons, their lead guitarist. Inspired by Mark Twain's writings about the Mighty Mississippi. KILLER fiddle work and a cappella vocals. Curiously, neither one of the band's two #1 hits in the 70s was written or sung by Tom Johnston, their lead vocalist and main songwriter. Band? Song? For extra credit name their other #1 hit from the 70s. Answer: "Black Water" by The Doobie Brothers. "What a Fool Believes" was written by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins. Great memories from Phi Chi Medical Fraternity in '75 - seems like every stereo in the house was playing "Black Water" simultaneously! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4oZCtfmh44&list=RDm4oZCtfmh44&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKYQNtF11eg&list=RDqKYQNtF11eg&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, more 60s one-hit wonders: An L.A. garage band recorded this rock standard in 1965 after hearing The Byrds' yet unrecorded version live at Ciro's with David Crosby on lead vocals. It is the story of a man on the run headed down to Mexico after shooting his unfaithful wife (!). Theirs was the first recorded version, reaching #31 on Billboard in '66. Hendrix's rendition was the final song at Woodstock. Group? Song? Answer: "Hey Joe" by The Leaves. I heard The Byrds (my all-time favorite band!) do "Hey Joe" live in 1967 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan. MEMORABLE concert! They had just released "5D" and, unfortunately, Gene Clark had recently left the group. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWv03Wgz0PQ&list=RDKWv03Wgz0PQ&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVFGwJ7S2EQ&list=RDAVFGwJ7S2EQ&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUPifXX0foU&list=RDgUPifXX0foU&start_radio=1

OK, boys and girls, back to the Winter Olympics and Paralympics: This 1969 Burt Bacharach vocalese/scat a capella classic was part of the legendary "Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid" soundtrack. When it became clear they have to flee, they head for Bolivia (hint, hint!), along with Etta Place, in search of a more successful criminal career. It was performed by The Ron Hicklin Singers, an L.A.-based ensemble of studio vocalists. It is now the background music for the "a little coffee goes a long way" Starbucks TV commercial, being aired during the Winter Olympics and Paralympics. Tune? Answer: "South American Getaway". "...pad a dap a dapadda, doob be doobee doop, pum… pum… pum… padadappada..." The Ron Hicklin Singers were the vocal equivalent of The Wrecking Crew. They were the real backup singers to The Partridge Family. They also recorded the backing vocals to "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Theme", Richard Harris' ...

OK, girls and boys, more jingle-jangle: This 1964 Dylan opus was heavily influenced by Rimbaud's poetry and was called by Paul Williams "Dylan's Sermon On The Mount". It expresses his solidarity with the downtrodden and the oppressed as he and his companion watch a thunderstorm from shelter. It marks Dylan's transition from his "protest" period to a "born-again pacifist moral poet". The Byrds' ethereal version on their first studio album adds another layer of meaning as McGuinn's 12-string Rickenbacker sound evokes the song's title. Song? Answer: "Chimes of Freedom". A classic! To this day (since '65!), it is absolutely impossiible for me (or any other Byrds nut!) to sit down with a 12-string and not play "Chimes Of Freedom". Crosby's high harmonies are ANGELIC! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrtFg6gJ6Cc&list=RDyrtFg6gJ6Cc&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDOHhx_dk1g&list=RD...

OK, boys and girls, back to the 60s: This "cross between psychedelia and early heavy-metal" band from NYC cut 5 albums between 1967 and 1969. They started out as Rick Martin and The Snowmen and later evolved into The Pigeons. Heavily influenced by The Young Rascals, they recorded excellent covers of Beatles and Cher songs. Their biggest hit was a Supremes cover featured during the final episode of "The Sopranos". Group? Biggest hit? Answer: Vanilla Fudge. "You Keep Me Hangin' On". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dJO47d26kc&list=RD3dJO47d26kc&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, more 60s one-hit wonders: Singer/songwriter Gene Thomas met young vocalist Debbe Neville in Nashville. They were signed by Acuff-Rose Music to record under the TRX label. Their one hit was a 1968 Thomas composition that sold over a million copies, was awarded a Gold Record and peaked at #18. A dialogue between a woman warning her beau about his reputation as a heartbreaker and the man triying to prove his sincere love. Very pleasant pop/country harmonies. Song? Duo? Answer: "Playboy" by Gene and Debbe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDlxq0pCiCc&list=RDeDlxq0pCiCc&start_radio=1