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"Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend" by Lobo.

OK, boys and girls, back to the 70s: Roland Kent LaVoie joined The Rumours with the late great Gram Parsons in 1961. He adopted his stage name in '71. He hit the singles charts 14 times over a 4 year period in the early 70s. This 1972 tune about being in love with someone you can never have (and her having no clue!) peaked at #8 Pop and #1 Adult Contemporary. Stage name? Song? Answer: "Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend" by Lobo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qcia2VhGsY&list=RD8Qcia2VhGsY&start_radio=1
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"Music Box Dancer" by Frank Mills.

OK, girls and boys, more 70s one-hit wonders: This 1978 international megahit was written and recorded by a Canadian pianist in '74. Described as "bubblegum pop", the piano with disco accompaniment instrumental peaked at #3 in the U.S. and consistently charted in the Top 10 throughout Europe and Asia. Hit? Artist? Answer: "Music Box Dancer" by Frank Mills. I'm sure Bill Murray's Nick The Lounge Singer would have been more than glad to add lyrics, just like he did with the Star Wars Theme ("Star Wars/Nothing but Star Wars/Give me those Star Wars/Don't let them end!"). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gMZ6QWv62s&list=RD8gMZ6QWv62s&start_radio=1
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"Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" by The Casinos.

OK, girls and boys, more 60s one-hit wonders: This John Loudermilk/Phil Langley doo-wop classic was released in 1967 and peaked at #6 Pop. The original group consisted of 9 men and it took them 9 years to crack the Top Ten. Langley was 15 at the time - inspired by a teenage breakup. Sold it for $1,500! Top 10 Country covers by Eddy Arnold and Neal McCoy. Song? Group? Answer: "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" by The Casinos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT9Xs42n4kg&list=RDPT9Xs42n4kg&start_radio=1
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"Pictures Of Matchstick Men" by Status Quo.

OK, girls and boys, more 60s one-hit wonders: Starting out as The Spectres in the early 60s, this British boogie-rock band had 60 chart hits in the UK, more than any other group. Their only U.S. hit (#12) was a 1968 Francis Rossi composition which he wrote in the "loo" to get away from his family. Described as "bubblegum psychedelia", it was inspired by the paintings of L. S. Lowry. The original mono version includes the signature wah-wah guitar whereas the stereo version doesn't. Group? Song? Answer: "Pictures Of Matchstick Men" by Status Quo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UODwwcs71rI&list=RDUODwwcs71rI&start_radio=1
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"People" by Barbra Streisand.

OK, girls and boys, back to the 60s: Jules Styne and Bob Merrill penned this "special love song" in 30 minutes in 1962 for the stage version of "Funny Girl"('64) starring Barbra Streisand (like buttah, I'm getting a little verklempt, talk amongst yourselves...). It almost didn't make the script until Streisand finally belted it out on stage and the rest, as they say, is Broadway history. It became her signature song and her 1st Top 40 hit, peaking at #5. Styne and Merrill were Tony-nominated for it. Streisand shared the '68 Best Actress Oscar with Katharine Hepburn ("The Lion In Winter") for her role in the film version. Covered by Dionne, Aretha, Ella and Perry, among many others. The Supremes' version featured Florence on lead vocals - one of their very few recordings to do so. Song? Answer: "People" by Barbra Streisand. Dang, can she sing, dahlin'! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPlQ6EtArSc&list=RDfPlQ6EtArSc...
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"Be Bop A Lula" by Gene Vincent.

OK, girls and boys, back to the 50s: This young sailor met Don Graves while they were both patients at a Naval Hospital in 1954. He wrote the melody and Don the lyrics inspired by the newspaper comic Little Lulu. The sailor's eventual manager, Bill "Sheriff Tex" Davis, bought out Graves' songwriting credits for $25 (!). He recorded this rockabilly classic in '56 with his group the Blue Caps, named after Ike's golf headwear. It peaked at #7 Pop, #8 R&B and #5 C&W. Covered by Jerry Lee Lewis, The Beatles and The Everly Brothers (#74 in '60). #102 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. THE first record Paul McCartney ever bought AND THE first song he ever heard John Lennon sing. Song? Artist? "Be Bop A Lula" by Gene Vincent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWFlLYZm0tA&list=RDZWFlLYZm0tA&start_radio=1
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"When We Was Fab" by George Harrison.

OK, boys and girls, more Mop Tops: This George Harrison/Jeff Lynne composition speaks of the days of Beatlemania. This was George's 18th solo single. #23 U.S. and #25 U.K. in 1987. The single's cover art contains Klaus Voormann's 1966 line drawing of George from "Revolver", as well as an "updated" version. He wore his original Sgt. Pepper uniform for the video 20 years later - admittedly "a little tight around the middle"! Song? Answer: "When We Was Fab" by George Harrison. I still miss George. He wes FAB, indeed! He singlehandedly taught my generation how to play the rock guitar! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVu6nPTVbBQ&list=RDAVu6nPTVbBQ&start_radio=1
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