Poldo's Music Trivia II

OK, girls and boys, back to the 50s: This 1958 Gordy/Gordy/Davis R&B classic was first recorded by Detroit native "Mr. Excitement" in '59. It topped the R&B/Soul charts and peaked at #7 on Billboard's Hot 100. Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and is ranked #308 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In September of 1975, while performing at the Latin Casino in NJ, the artist suffered a stroke and collapsed on stage as he sang this song right after delivering "...my heart is crying.". Song? Artist? Answer: "Lonely Teardrops" by Jackie Wilson. Was he cool or what?! AND he COULD dance - SO SMOOTH!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nEfuE8Pw4U

OK, boys and girs, back to the 80s: This Canadian singer/songwriter/poet wrote and recorded this anthem in 1984. At first, his producers did not want it released. Recorded in C, it details the chord progression in the 1st verse (C-F-G-Am-F). It has become his most-covered song with excellent versions by Rufus Wainwright, k.d.lang and Jeff Buckley (#1 Hot Digital Charts). Song? Composer? Answer: "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen. For many years, his most-covered song was "Suzanne" but "Hallelujah" has surpassed it. k.d.lang did a beautiful rendition during the 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Vancouver. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrLk4vdY28Q&list=RDYrLk4vdY28Q&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcOQSk_cMO0&list=RDtcOQSk_cMO0&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AWFf7EAc4&list=RDy8AWFf7EAc4&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQK4YfiPj1Q&list=RDLQK4YfiPj1Q&start_radio=1

OK. girls and boys, back to the 70s: This Doug Fieger composition was inspired by a 16-year-old girl who is now a very successful realtor in Beverly Hills. It was the debut single for his band, spending 6 weeks at #1 on Billboard in 1979 and was ranked #1 on Billboard's Top Pop Singles for that year. RIAA Certified Gold. It was on Dubya's iPod in 2005! Band? Song? Answer: "My Sharona" by The Knack. Sharona Alperin was only 16 at the time. Fieger pursued her for a year, even though she had a boyfriend. He left us in 2010 at age 57. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbr60I0u2Ng&list=RDbbr60I0u2Ng&start_radio=1

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' ...