Poldo's Music Trivia II

OK, girls and boys, back to the 60s: It was 1962 and Chuck Berry was in federal prison for a violation of the Mann Act. It was there that he wrote an R&B classic which he released in 1964. A story about a teenage couple - Pierre and his young bride. It peaked at #14. Iconic piano work by the late great Johnnie Johnson, Berry's go-to keyboardist. The piano line is highly evocative of Mitchell Torok's 1953 "Caribbean". Emmylou Harris' 1977 version, featuring Ricky Skaggs on fiddle, went to #6 on the Country charts. John Prine covered it in 1975. ...and, of course, who can forget the "Twist Contest" at Jack Rabbit Slim's from 1994's "Pulp Fiction" featuring Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman)?! Travolta improvised his signature dance moves on the spot. Song? Answer: "You Never Can Tell" by Chuck Berry aka "C'est la Vie" and "Teenage Wedding". Johnnie Johnson was ind...

OK, boys and girls, back to the aughts (the 19-aughts, that is!): Subtitled "Lippen Schweigen", "Lips are Silent" or "Love Unspoken", this soaring, iconic vocal and instrumental theme runs through the entire Viennese operetta of the same title. Composed in 1905 as part of "Die Lustige Witwe" by Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár, it is a sweeping love duet which captures the romantic tension between wealthy Hanna Glawari and Count Danilo. It is often associated with the vocal theme "I Love You So". Song? Answer: "The Merry Widow Waltz" by Franz Lehár. A few years ago, we had the privilege of visiting the Opera Houses in Vienna and in Budapest. Both are breathtaking! Man, they take their music seriously, which I loved. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5KefBimuDg&list=RDx5KefBimuDg&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELufSzviGoU&list=RDELufSzviGoU&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watc...

OK, girls and boys, back to the 70s: Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn wrote this memorable pop ballad as the love theme for the 1972 film "The Poseidon Adventure". A song of hope; surviving a major crisis, holding on through hard times and believing that a better day is ahead. In the film it was sung by the character Nonnie, played and dubbed by Carol Lynley but actually vocalized by Renée Armand. It won the Oscar for Best Original Song. A young Youngstown, OH native was "discoverd" by 20th Century Records while touring the Midwest with her folk band Sweet Rain. Riding the tune's success, she recorded it and was quickly released as a single. It topped Billboard's Hot 100 for two weeks in 1973, was Certified Gold and became her signature song. She became the go-to singer for disaster movies, which were very popular in those days. She famously played Sister Angelina in both "Airplane!" movies. Song? Singer? Answer: "The Morning After...

OK, boys and girls, back to the 70s: Based on a poem written by his wife Sandy, as well as classic nursery rhyme imagery, this 1974 Harry Chapin folk-rock classic became his signature song and was his only #1 hit. The fleeting and delicate nature of youth. Quasi-autobiographic, as his father, jazz drummer Jim Chapin, was absent during a significant part of Harry's childhood due to his own music career. A father's regret over missing out on his child's upbringing, leading to a distent relationship as the child grows. It reflects his own fears of being absent during his own son Josh's early years because of his demanding touring and recording schedules. Grammy-nominated in 1974 and inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011. Song? Answer: "Cat's in the Cradle" by Harry Chapin. Harry Chapin was a masterful storyteller. His songs were deeply narrative and focused on the quiet struggles and dashed hopes of ordinary people. By far, my favorite one...