Poldo's Music Trivia II

OK, girls and boys, back to the 60s: Inspired by Puccini's aria "Un bel di, vedremo" from "Madama Butterfly", this 1963 Gerry Goffin/Carole King pop classic was originally intended for Little Eva. It was instead recorded by a girl group which got its start at James Monroe High School in The Bronx in 1960. A girl has a crush on a boy who is not interested in her and she eagerly awaits for him to fall for her. The group had just had another "fine" hit (hint, hint!). Carole King plays the signature impellent piano on the recording. Top 5 Billboard, #6 R&B. #460 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. A Carole King '80 cover hit #12 and was her last Top 40 tune. Song? Group? For extra credit, name the group's other "fine" hit. Answer: "One Fine Day" by The Chiffons. Extra credit: "He's So Fine". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvyOqKhKWQ4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJ

OK, boys and girls, short and sweet: Name the most-played song of the 20th century. Answer: "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' " by The Righteous Brothers (1964) written by Phil Spector, Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOnYY9Mw2Fg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFT0jGibz80

OK, girls and boys, more 70s one-hit wonders: After watching "Bonnie and Clyde" this Canadian singer/songwriter composed, produced, arranged and performed his only hit in 1970 (our high school graduation year!). A letter to his wife apologizing for leaving her and their child to go on the lam after killing a man who offended her. #1 Cashbox, #5 Billboard, Top 10 UK and Canada. Many radio stations removed the sirens in the beginning and middle of the song as drivers complained that they thought they were being chased by the police (!). Song? Artist? Answer: "Indiana Wants Me" by R. Dean Taylor. Dang, that's a sad tune but I loved it the first time I heard it and I still do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p3OfHP5Hmo

OK, girls and boys, more 50s one-hit wonders: This Gary, Indiana doo-wop/R&B quintet started out as Pookie Hudson and The Hudsonaires while its members were still in high school. They changed their name shortly after graduation. Their one hit was a '53 Thornton James "Pookie" Hudson/Calvin Carter composition released in '54 which peaked at #24 Pop and at #5 R&B. The McGuire Sisters' "white" cover version sold even better. First successful midwestern R&B group, first vocal group to incorporate tap into their routine and first vocal group to give the lead singer his own microphone. Famous doo-wop bass line intro. Used by Sha Na Na as the closing number during their 70's TV show. Part of the "American Graffiti" and "3 Men And A Baby" soundtracks. Members of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. "Pookie" died of cancer in Des Moines in '07. Group? Hit? Answer: "Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite" by The Spanie

OK, boys and girls, more Fabdom: This track from "Rubber Soul" was only the 6th Harrison tune recorded by The Beatles at the time. Sung by George, it is about not buying into rumo(u)rs. Years later, during an interview, George said that he had no recollection as to what inspired the song but he suspected it might have been the government. Part of it was used in the "Yellow Submarine" movie 2 years later. Macca lays down 2 (!) bass lines - a "conventional" one and the trademark "fuzz bass" which dominates the song using a Vox Tone Bender fuzzbox. Answer: "Think For Yourself". "Rubber Soul", in my book, was The Beatles' opus magnum. Those Vox fuzzboxes were built like tanks! Alejandro "Champi" Herrero, the bassist in our band in H.S. got one and, needless to say, for weeks all we heard was "Think For Yourself" (where are you, Champi?). He used to call it "el fussitone" - that's fuzztone en

OK, girls and boys, back to the 60s: Composed and produced by Tom Springfield, this 1964 pop/folk classic was the first single for a quartet from Melbourne formed in '62. Two acoustic guitars, upright bass as well as piano, tambourine and crystalline vocals by the late great Judith Durham. The second best-selling UK single in '65. #4 Pop, #2 Easy Listening in the US. The group outsold The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in '65/'66! The first Australian pop group to achieve success in the US and the UK. Song? Group? Answer: The Seekers' "I'll Never Find Another You". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZf41UudAbI

OK, girls and boys, back to the 50s: This 1952 dance craze originated at Balboa High School in San Francisco. A novelty dance classic, it features a conga-style line loosely based upon the 19th century Finnish "Jenka" and/or the German "Schottische" or "Rhinelander". First recorded by Ray Anthony and His Orchestra with vocals by JoAnn Greer and The Skyliners. Song? For extra credit name the flip-side. Yesterday's answer: "The Bunny Hop". Flip side: "The Hokey Pokey". Of course now with CDs and iTunes there's no "flip-side" or "Side A/B"! (Se acuerdan de Papa Candito tocando el "Bunny Hop"?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmC1KyxhEJU

OK, girls and boys, more traditional folk: This North Carolina native taught herself to play on her brother's guitar left-handed and "upside-down". At age 12 in 1907 she wrote her best-known tune inspired by the railroads rolling by her town. A folk classic, it was first recorded by Ramblin' Jack Elliott in '57 and by Mike Seeger, for whom she used to work as a housekeeper, in '58. She won a Grammy at age 93! Popularized during the 60s folk revival - famously covered by Peter, Paul and Mary. Artist? Song? Answer: Elizabeth "Libba" Cotten's "Freight Train". "Libba" Cotten's original lyrics ask for her to be buried at the end of Chestnut Street - PP&M changed it to Bleecker Street. I've always admired left-handed guitarists who play "upside-down", strung right-handed. Always the same story - grew up in a household with only one guitar and, of course, the owner wouldn't allow it to be strung left-hande

OK, boys and girls, naughty, naughty (couldn't help myself!): Popular Seattle radio personality Bob Rivers parodied Hootie & The Blowfish's '95 #6 hit "Only Wanna Be With You" as part of his "Twisted Tunes" series on KISW. A sad tale about a man's "shortcomings". Parody song? Answer: "Three Inch Tool" by Bob Rivers. Stop reading right now if you're easily offended!!! http://new.music.yahoo.com/bob-rivers/tracks/three-inch-tool--1617396 http://www.leoslyrics.com/listlyrics.php?hid=Wh6z2jcN180%3D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln6WQqRDrCo Little me, my nuts are as small as pearls, You like to laugh at me because I'm hung just like a squirrel. Sometimes it bugs me, I'm not a bigger guy, When I was a baby it was exactly the same size. But there's nothing I can do, cause I only got a 3 inch tool. Come home with me, have a cocktail at my place, I gotta tell you before we get past 2nd base. In my pants, ain&

OK, back to the 00s (no excuses, Gina!): This British singer/songwriter wrote her '06 autobiographic opus in 5 minutes during a walk with her producer. It deals with her personal demons of drugs and alcohol and her refusal to seek help, as recommended by her then-agent Simon Fuller. Includes references to Ray Charles and Donny Hathaway, two of her influences. Won the Ivor Novello Award in '07 for Best Contemporary Song and Grammys in '08 for Song Of The Year, Record Of The Year and Female Pop Vocal Performance as well as Best New Artist. Artist? Song? Answer: "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse. A little rough around the edges and, unfortunately, self-destructive but, doggone it, KILLER contralto! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LTPRJqt2z4

OK, girls and boys, back to the 50s: This Brooklyn-based R&B/doo-wop group was formed in '57 by former members of The Chesters and The Duponts. Their original name was changed by Alan Freed to include the lead singer's nickname. Their first recording under their new name came in '58 with a Bradford/Lewis composition. An instant hit, it peaked at #4, was their first million-seller and is considered a doo-wop classic. Covered by Sha Na Na in "Grease" and Kylie Minogue's version was an international hit in '89/'90. Group? Song? Answer: "Tears On My Pillow" by Little Anthony and The Imperials. Originally The Imperials, Alan Freed dubbed them Little Anthony and The Imperials while introducing this song on the airwaves. We saw Sha Na Na doing it live at the Valley Forge Music Fair many years ago (Andy Kaufman was their opening act!). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we2kmO24rgE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIROYkwRUVY http://www.youtube.com/w

OK, girls and boys, back to '52 (great year!): This popular Brazilian tune was written by Valdir Azevedo with added lyrics by Jack Lawrence. Azevedo was a choro composer/conductor and a master of the cavaquinho. This was the 1st of Percy Faith's 3 #1 hits (the other 2 were "Theme From Moulin Rouge" ('53) and "Theme From 'A Summer Place'" ('60)). Perez Prado, Stan Kenton and Dinah Shore also recorded popular covers. Answer: "Delicado". I've been listening to this song literally since I was born - my Dad used to love it and would play it all the time on the ol' Bogen Hi-Fi. It means "delicate". I've always loved that song and it reminds me of my Dad, may he rest in peace, every time I listen to it. Amplified harpsichord played by Stan Freeman. http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DdcNlyzynz_k&h=f07a5

OK, girls and boys, more 80s one-hit wonders: Jerry Bruckheimer contacted electronic music whiz Giorgio Moroder and asked him to write a love theme for a little jet plane movie he was working on. Moroder met mechanic Tom Whitlock when he fixed the brakes on his Ferrari and found out he was also a lyricist. He gave Whitlock the melody he had just composed and Tom wrote the lyrics on the drive home from the garage. The result was a 1986 power ballad performed by an L.A. new-wave band with Terri Nunn on lead vocals. #1 on Billboard, their only hit. It won the Academy Award and the Golden Globe for Best Original Song. Song? Band? Movie? Answer: "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin from "Top Gun". "Hey Goose, you big stud - take me to bed or lose me forever!". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx51eegLTY8

OK, girls and boys, more 90s one-hit wonders: In 1985 this struggling singer/songwriter found himself experiencing writer's block. He traveled to the birthplace of the Delta blues and rock and roll looking for inspiration as that's where his favorite music came from. He describes himself as a "Jewish gospel music lover". For him it was one of those spiritual awakening life-changing trips where you come back a different person than when you left. The experience inspired his only hit, an autobiographic soft-rock classic that peaked at #13 U.S. and #3 in Canada in 1991. Grammy for Best New artist. Cher released a dynamite cover in 1995. Song? Artist? Answer: "Walking In Memphis" by Marc Cohn. Not a big fan of Cher without Sonny but I have to admit that her version is as good or even better than the original. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgRafRp-P-o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOJTKpzqk6M

OK, boys and girls, more 80s one-hit wonders: This sad but impactful 1989 soft-rock ballad was co-written by Genesis guitarist Mike Rutherford and B. A. Robertson after both of their fathers died one soon after the other. A son's regret about unresolved conflicts. Addresses difficult issues regarding life and death. The group's only #1 hit. It won the Ivor Novello Award for "Best Song, Musically and Lyrically" and received several Grammy nominations. Lead vocals by Paul Carrack. Song? Group? Kleenex? Answer: "The Living Years" by Mike and The Mechanics. Breathtaking video - those were the times when MTV actually played music videos! To this day I still get choked up every time I hear it - you know me, I'm a sensitive new-age guy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hr64MxYpgk

OK, girls and boys, more 60s one-hit wonders (MORE COWBELL!): This Philemon Hou composition was first recorded by a South African trumpeter. It hit #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 in '68 - one of very few instrumentals to do so. A '69 vocal cover by Friends Of Distinction also made the Top 10 in '69. Song? Trumpeter? More cowbell? Answer: "Grazing In The Grass" by Hugh Masekela. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxXZF60EPdM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjYrski71II

OK, boys and girls, back to the 60s: This '65 Jagger/Richards collaboration was The Rolling Stones' 3rd UK #1 single and their 1st original composition to reach #1 (2 wks.). "A stern warning to a girl". "Play With Fire" was the B-side. The distinctive opening riff, pervasive throughout the song, was played by Brian Jones on his trademark British-made white Vox Mark III (teardrop) with Keith Richards playing chords and the solo. Based upon a '55 The Staples Singers gospel tune. Recorded in 1 day with Phil Spector co-producing and thus the classic "Wall Of Sound". A staple of the Stones' concert repertoire until '67 - they "revived" it in '97 for their "Bridges Of Babylon" tour. Covered by The Who in '67 to raise bail money for Jagger and Richards, in jail on drug charges (imagine that - gotta love those bad boys!). Answer: "The Last Time" by the Rolling Stones. One of my fave early Stones tunes. Th

OK, girls and boys a little more Country comin' your way: This singer/songwriter's 1st #1 Country hit was a collaboration with Don Schlitz inspired by a 70's Geritol TV commercial in which a husband extols his wife's energy, attributes and accomplishments. A 36-year-old homemaker who has dedicated her life to her husband and children decides to do something for herself. Grammy-nominated for Record of the Year in '93. The video is a live performance from a "Women Of Country" special with backup vocals from Emmylou Harris, Kathy Mattea, Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood, Suzy Bogguss and Pam Tillis (man, with that backup even I would sound good!). HUGE standing "O" when she did it at the Grammys. Artist? Song? Answer: "He Thinks He'll Keep Her" by Mary Chapin Carpenter. Powerful tune! Check out MCC's little Rickenbacker and John Jennings' KILLER guitar work. I discovered her by accident while channel-surfing in the late 80s o

OK, girls and boys, back to The Man: The centerpiece of Leonard Cohen's 1992 "The Future" is a profoundly moving song of hope - acutely aware of flaws and that perfection does not exist. It traces the cycle of decay and regeneration. We learn to appreciate the good that rises from adversity. Featured in the "Natural Born Killers" soundtrack. In the 2006 Cohen tribute "I'm Your Man" his "angels", Julie Christensen and Perla  Batalla , performed a masterful version for the ages. Answer: "Anthem" by Leonard Cohen. The word "genius" falls short when describing Leonard Cohen."Ring the bells that still can ring, forget your perfect offering, there is a crack, a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." Pure delight in Cohen's face from backstage as he proudly listens to his "angels" Julie and Perla sing his opus. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e39UmEnqY8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b

OK, boys and girls, more 50s romantic one-hit wonders on Valentine's Day: Bob Crewe was riding on a train in Philly in '57 when he saw a couple embracing through a window shade. He took the idea to his co-writer Frank Slay and the rest, as they say, is doo-wop history. It became the only hit for a Brooklyn-based vocal quartet (#3 - sold over one million copies and was Certified Gold). Legend goes that a local DJ fell asleep while premiering the record and it played on the radio repeatedly for many hours. A minor hit (#60) for Canada's The Diamonds shortly thereafter. Herman's Hermits took it to #5 in '65 - their 3rd US hit. The Beatles' "No Reply" is said to have been inspired by this song. Sha Na Na played it at Woodstock. Part of the "Jersey Boys" soundtrack. Song? Group? Answer: "Silhouettes" by the Rays. The doo-wop group The Silhouettes, as in "Get A Job", took their name from this song. I rode many a train in Phill

OK, girls and boys, a little more 60s romance:   This 1966 C. Carson Parks (Van Dyke's brother) composition about the unpredictability of love was first recorded by him and his wife Gaile Foote as Carson and Gaile.  It was brought to Frank Sinatra's attention by his producer Lee Hazlewood and he immediately asked to record it with his daughter Nancy. The entire song was sung in two-part harmony on purpose so it wouldn't sound "kinky or incestuous".  To this day it remains the first and only father-daughter duet to top the charts.  Four weeks at #1 on Billboard and nine weeks on Easy Listening.  It was Frank's last Top 20 hit.  Sweet nylon-string guitar by Al Casey and, of course, Hal Blaine on drums and Carol Kaye on bass.  Notable cover versions include Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell in '67, Mama Cass Elliot and John Davidson in '70, Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman in '01 and Michael Bublé and Reese Witherspoon in '13.  Beautiful rendition by

OK, girls and boys, back to the 60s: Toni Wine was only 17 and in high school when she co-wrote this '65 pop ballad with Carole Bayer Sager (22 at the time) in 20 minutes. Influenced by the Rondo Movement of  Muzio   Clementi's  Sonatina in G major, op.36 no. 5. First recorded by Diane and  Annita . The  Mindbenders' cover later on that year was their first hit after Wayne  Fontana  left the group - Eric Stewart is on lead vocals. It peaked at #2 in the U.S. and the UK. Phil Collins' '88 rendition topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic. Answer: "A Groovy Kind of Love".  Bayer Sager had just graduated from NYU and was teaching English. One of the first songs to include the newly-minted term "groovy". Los Wellingtons, a very popular 60s rock band from San Juan, used to do a pretty respectable version. http://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=9B8k3 wzHUvE http://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v= HsC _ SARyPzk http://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v= EUZhytfGQpw htt

OK, girls and boys, a little history coming your way: The first time the term " doo -wop" appeared in print was in the Chicago Defender in '61. D.J. Gus  Gossert  is widely credited with coining the phrase. Early " doo -wop" variation uses include "Good Loving" by the Clovers ('53), "Never" by The  Dundees  aka The  Calvanes  ('54) and "Mary Lee" by the Rainbows ('55). Name the first two songs to actually use " doo -wop" in their refrains. Answer: Andrew Jones' "When You Dance" by The Turbans and Fred  Perris ' "In the Still of the Night" by  The Five Satins. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YVO8OxBipU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBT3oDMCWpI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3RomfvH1sQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G_r0leVIZc

OK, boys and girls, back to the 70s :  This '73 Paul Simon anthem about the American experience - hopes and aspirations - peaked at #35. Based upon J.S. Bach's "St. Matthew Passion", in turn inspired by an earlier Hans  Hassler  piece. Covered by, among many others, Willie Nelson, Dave Matthews, Indigo Girls and masterfully by the late Eva  Cassidy . By far my favorite Simon solo song! Answer:  Paul Simon's "American Tune". That song has very special meaning for me as I came to the mainland in '73 - to this day I can't play it without getting all choked up (you know me, I'm a sensitive guy!). Paul Simon - American Tune (1975) (youtube.com) Eva Cassidy - American Tune (youtube.com)

OK, girls and boys, back to the 70s: This poignant '75 Paul Simon composition reunited him with Art Garfunkel in the recording studio for the first time since their breakup in 1970. It debuted during the 2 nd  episode of  SNL  which Simon hosted with Garfunkel as a guest. Appeared on each of the artists' solo albums from that year. Paul wrote the tune "for Artie" about his strict Jewish upbringing and his desire to leave his birthplace as a "nasty song because he had been singing too many sweet songs". Art plays the piano at the beginning and there are no solos - all two-part harmonies. Peaked at #9. Answer:  "My Little Town" by Simon and Garfunkel.  One of my greatest musical memories was seeing S&G live in St. Paul some years ago. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, they bring the  Everly  Brothers onstage and do 4 songs together - no words can describe it!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxuEr_p8Z4o

OK, back to the 60s and get yourself a box of Kleenex:  Named by CNN in '06 "The Worst Song Of All Time", this Bobby Russell tear- jerker  about a young husband who loses his wife topped the Pop, Adult Contemporary and Country charts in '68. It became the signature song for a Floridian whose career started out as a guitarist for Roy Orbison in the early 60's. Recorded in one take (!), it was #1 the week when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was  assassinated  in Memphis. Song? Artist? Answer: "Honey" by Bobby  Goldsboro . Oh now, just a little sappy,  that's  all! You know me, I'm a sensitive new-age guy - NOT! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59BZxgohr9g

OK, boys and girls, more 70s one-hit wonders:  The only hit for this British musician, recording engineer and record producer came in 1972 with a "retro"-sounding tune composed by his wife Eileen Sylvia.  #1 Cashbox, #3 Billboard, #4 U.K.  His unique voice evokes the 30s pop sound.  Rich backing strings and a memorable tenor sax solo by Frank Hardcastle, with whom he served as an RAF glider pilot in WWII.  He engineered, along with Sir George Martin, all of The Beatles' recordings (over 100 songs) until and including "Rubber Soul" in '65.  He also produced three Pink Floyd albums.  Covered by Mama Cass Elliot ('72), Liza Minnelli ('73) and sung by Archie and Edith.  Singer?  Song? Answer:  "Oh Babe, What Would You Say?" by Norman "Hurricane" Smith.   I first heard it in '72 as a pre-med at UPR. One of those very few songs that I liked the first time I heard it. There's a certain "je ne sais quoi" about it. I smil

OK, boys and girls, back to the 40s: Jimmy  Van Heusen  got the inspiration for this pop standard from a rebuke by Bing Crosby to one of his children while having dinner at Crosby's home. He co-wrote it with Johnny Burke for the '44 movie "Going My Way". It topped the charts and won the Oscar for Best Original Song. The Williams Brothers Quartet, including a young Andy Williams, sang backup for Bing on the original recording. It also appeared in a Little Lulu cartoon. Covered by Sinatra in'64 and by Tony Bennett in '98. Grammy Hall Of Fame in '02. Answer: "Swinging on A Star". " Songwriter Jimmy Van  Heusen  was at Crosby’s house one evening for dinner and to discuss a song for the upcoming movie "Going My Way". During the meal one of the children began complaining about how he  didn ’t want to go to school the next day. Crosby turned to his son and said to him, “If you don’t go to school, you might grow up to be a mule. Do you wan

OK, girls and boys, more Kingdom: This '69 Mac Davis composition was originally titled "The Vicious Circle" and it was Elvis' first recording to carry a socially-conscious message. Tackling generational poverty, it signaled a major comeback for The King with his 1st Top 10 hit in 4 years, peaking at #3. It also marked the 1st time he recorded in Memphis since '56. Lisa Marie Presley recorded a virtual duet with her father in 2007 - it topped  iTunes  sales and part of the proceeds went to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Answer: "In the Ghetto" by Elvis Presley. Thank you, thank you very much...! http://www.youtube.com/wat​ch?v=2Ox1Tore9nw http://www.youtube.com/wat​ch?v=yWg2vLEyRZc