Poldo's Music Trivia II

Another suggestion from Judy Delucca (man, she's putting me to work!). OK, girls and boys, back to the 90s: One-half of this Swedish duo, Per Gessle wrote this power ballad in '87 but it sat "gathering dust" until it was unearthed two years later when they were contacted to provide a song for the 1990 Gere/Roberts film "Pretty Woman". The movie propelled it to #1 in the U.S. and quite a few other countries. A lonely cold winter day after a breakup. The group's 3rd #1 U.S. single (they subsequently had one more U.S. #1). The #2 selling single of 1990 after "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips. Duo? Hit? For extra credit, other 3 #1 hits? Answer: "It Must Have Been Love" by Roxette. Other 3 U.S. #1 hits: "The Look" ('89), "Listen To your Heart" ('89) and "Joyride" ('91). Anyone who plays a Rickenbacker is OK in my book! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2C5TjS2sh4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlVI7Z

This one is a suggestion from Judy Delucca after she heard it on Sirius XM. OK, girls and boys, more 70s one-hit wonders: These two blue-eyed soul keyboardists from Alabama reunited in L.A. in the 70s as a songwriting team. Their credits include, among others, "I Keep Forgettin' " for Michael McDonald. Their only hit came in '77, topping the Cashbox charts and peaking at #9 on Billboard. Recorded at the noted Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Alabama. They opened for Fleetwood Mac during their Rumours Tour to promote their record. Kenny Loggins sings background vocals. Duo? Song? Answer: "Smoke From A Distant Fire" by the Sanford-Townsend Band. Always liked the vocals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlczHHBqRFI

OK, girls and boys, more 80s TWO-hit wonders: This Palmar/Skill/Marinos '79/'80 power pop/new wave classic was one of only two hits for a Detroit-based band. A catchy and timeless tune, it peaked at #49 on Billboard's Hot 100. The unmistakable guitar riff was based on Neil Diamond;s "Cherry, Cherry". One of the most popular rock anthems of all time, has been used extensively in TV commercials. The memorable signature guitar lick which runs through most of the song is an E to Esus4/A/D/A mixolydian chord progression. The video was fimed at University of Michigan's Dearborn Rec. Center. Song? Group? For extra credit, name their other hit. Answer: "What I Like About You" by The Romantics. Other hit - "Talking in Your Sleep" (#3 Billboard 1983). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqnw5IfbZOU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmGMzyajA2U

OK, girls and boys, more 80s: This powerful '88 folk-pop ballad won the "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" Grammy that year for its composer and singer. Peaking at #6 on Billboard. At #165, it is the highest-ranked composition performed and written by a female among Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs. A song of hope, it is about "... a relationship that doesn't work out because it's starting from the wrong place". Song? Artist? Answer: "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman. One of those few songs that I loved the first time I heard it. Luke Combs' 2023 cover made Chapman the first Black woman and first Black songwriter to win a well-deserved Country Music Award. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIOAlaACuv4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvCcN4URNmQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEqb6xbeuCo

This one was a suggestion from Judy Delucca. It came out when she was a gyn O.R. nurse and I was a first-year ENT resident at Jefferson in Philly. OK, girls and boys, more 70s one-hit wonders: Prolific pop/country songwriter penned this classic 1978 soft rock ballad about a heartbroken man in a failing relationship. It was the only major hit for pop/country singer/songwriter Michael Johnson. #1 Easy Listening, #12 Hot 100. It is still frequently played on adult contemporary satellite radio. One of the first music videos shown on MTV (1981). Johnson cut his teeth in The New Society with Randy Sparks. Subsequently he joined The Chad Mitchell Trio, where he became good friends with John Denver. They created the short-lived Denver, Boise and Johnson trio. He left us in 2017 at age 72. Song? Answer: "Bluer Than Blue" by Michael Johnson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3ZThfylM6I

OK, girls and boys, more 70s one-hit wonders: Nick Lowe co-wrote his only solo U.S. hit in '79 with former bandmate Ian Gomm. Based upon a line that Hamlet delivered to his mother (Act 3, scene 4), it peaked at #12 both in the U.S. and the U.K. One of the first music videos shown on MTV. Song? Answer: "Cruel To Be Kind" by Nick Lowe. Remember when they used to play music videos on MTV, VH1 and CMT - not no mo'?! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0l3QWUXVho

OK, boys and girls, back to the 60s: The late great Teddy Randazzo co-wrote this soulful 1965 ballad with Bobby Weinstein, Bobby Hart (as in Boyce & Hart) and Little Anthony as a follow-up to "Going Out Of My Head". A man feels intense pain when he sees his old flame. #10 Pop, #5 R&B. The Lettermen took it to #12 in '69 and Linda Ronstadt to #8 in '80. Song? Answer: "Hurt So Bad" by Little Anthony and The Imperials. Teddy Randazzo gave us "Goin' Out Of My Head", "It's Gonna Take A Miracle", "Runaround" and his own "One More Chance" among many others. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSF2oLgyV5M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1ss30d_nWE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lXj4QBew-I

OK, girls and boys, back to the 30s: Kern and Fields wrote this romantic ballad for the film "Swing Time" in which Fred Astaire sings it to Ginger Rogers. It won the '36 Oscar for Best Original Song. The Lettermen's first hit, reaching #13 in '61. Memorable covers by Sinatra, Fitzgerald and Bennett. Featured on the "Father Of The Bride" soundtrack. Song? Answer: "The Way You Look Tonight". Call me a dinosaur but songs like these deserve an Oscar as opposed to '06 "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp" (what happened?!). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIW_Ah0wg-w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSsTguCePLk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkJz4t3-LCA

OK, girls and boys, more 70s: Arguably about a stalker, this '75 Bee Gees smash hit introduced Barry Gibb's trademark falsetto, becoming the forerunner of their "new sound" during the Disco era and a turning point in the group's history. Their producer asked him, "Can you scream in tune?" and the rest, as they say, is the sound of the 70's! It peaked at #7. Song? Answer: "Nights On Broadway" by The Bee Gees. Check out the '97 video "One Night Only" recorded live at the MGM Grand in Vegas - The Bee Gees at their best! It saddens me that, out of the four brothers, only Barry is still with us. Dang, I'm getting the itch to go back to Broadway - maybe next spring... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNz-iR_f2QI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmpupP1G5Xg

OK, girls and boys, more 60s: This Mann/Weil classic was written in collaboration with Leiber & Stoller and the title refers to their address - "The Brill Building Sound". First recorded by The Cookies but first released by The Crystals. The Drifters took it to #9 in '63. Lead vocals by Rudy Lewis and lead guitar by a young Phil Spector. George Benson's '78 cover went to #7 and won him a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance. Song? Answer: "On Broadway" . Great tune - a chord change in every verse. "...but they're dead wrong, I know they are, 'cause I can play this here guitar..." I LOVE that line! One of Rudy's last recordings before his untimely death. Covered by Sinatra, Tom Jones, Bobby Darin, James Taylor, Sly and even AC/DC. Part of the "American Beauty" and "All that Jazz" soundtracks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPYRtjxYEH8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4OA0OW8cgA

OK, boys and girls, back to the 60s: Folkie Al Jardine learned this traditional West Indies tune about a sponger boat that sank in the Bahamas in the early 1900's via The Weavers, The Kingston Trio and Johnny Cash. Took a little persuading but he convinced Brian Wilson to arrange and produce it, becoming the fastest-selling Beach Boys recording ever and the biggest commercial hit from "Pet Sounds". It peaked at #3 and ranks #271 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It plays in the background as Lieutenant Dan delivers his famous "welcome to Vietnam" lecture to Forrest and Bubba. Answer: "Sloop John B" by The Beach Boys. The a capella chorus towards the end ranks as one of my all-time favorite musical passages ever! Brian's genius! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSAoEf1Ib58