Poldo's Music Trivia II

OK, girls and boys, more big-hair 80s: This Jim Steinman/Dean Pitchford composition was first recorded by Bonnie Tyler in 1984 for the "Footloose" soundtrack. It peaked at #34 US and #2 UK. The classic opening couplet is a modern example of the nostalgic literary ubi sunt motif. Also part of the "Shrek 2" and "Short Circuit 2" soundtracks. Masterfully covered by Joss Stone. Song? Answer: "Holding Out for a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler. "Where have all the good men gone and where are all the gods?/ Where's the street-wise Hercules to fight the rising odds?" is popularly considered a nostalgic yearning for the unreachable or for what is gone. Ubi sunt (literally "where are...") is a phrase taken from the Latin Ubi sunt qui ante nos fuerunt?, meaning "Where are those who were before us?"

Yo, how you doin'? This 60s-70s musical icon and Rock & Roll Hall-of-Famer ALSO played Rusty Millio in The Sopranos. Answer: Frankie Valli.

OK, boys and girls, back to Philly: This 70s-80s duo met in 1967 at the elevator of the Adelphi Ballroom in Philly while trying to escape gunfire during a "Battle of the Bands". They were both students at Temple. Duo? Answer: Hall and Oates (Daryl Hall and John Oates). Man, talk about a hit-making machine! Unfortunately, the ol' guys have had some bitter legal battles and both say they will never perform together again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYEpFJhuu1E&list=RDdYEpFJhuu1E&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, back to the 70s: The chorus to "O Holy Night" was sung by a baritone with cello accompaniment as a contrapuntal theme in this poignant 1973 song. Song? Artist? Answer: "Mr. Tanner" by Harry Chapin. In my humble opinion, his best song ever. Baritone: Big John Wallace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upZB5VlbC6o&list=RDupZB5VlbC6o&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, more 50s one-hit wonders: John Phillip Baptiste co-wrote this classic romantic 1959 ballad with George Khoury while working as a bellboy in Louisiana trying to tell his then-girlfriend how much he loved her. #1 R&B, #2 Billboard Hot 100. He received only $6,800 in royalties for the song! A hit for The Honeydrippers in '84 and for Del Shannon in '81 (#33). Tom Waits' version is part of the soundtrack of the Al Pacino/Ellen Barkin '89 movie of the same name. Featured in the "Juno" soundtrack in '07. Artist? Song? Answer: "Sea Of Love" by Phil Phillips and The Twilights. Baptiste recorded as Phil Phillips and "The Twilights" was an ensemble of session musicians out of Khoury's studio. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrkNRcyvtF4&list=RDlrkNRcyvtF4&start_radio=1

OK, boys and girls, more 60s one-hit wonders: English singer Graham Pulleyblank's only hit came in 1968 with a bubbly Albert Hammond/Mike Hazelwood country-pop composition about Cupid. #2 UK, #16 Billboard Hot 100, #11 Country, Certified Gold Disc. Then session musician Jimmy Page played guitar during the recording. Unfortunately, the artist spent 3 years in prison after stabbing an actor in 1970 during a brawl at a West End pub in London. Song? Artist's stage name? Answer: "Little Arrows" by Leapy Lee. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQHuAX5h5XA&list=RDQQHuAX5h5XA&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, back to the 30s: This 1933 Kern/Harbach show-tune collaboration was written for the operetta "Roberta". A torch song about the pain of unrequited or lost love. Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra's version topped the charts in '34. Irene Dunne sang it in the '35 film adaptation. Masterfully covered by, among many others, Nat "King" Cole in '46. The "definitive" version is by The Platters ('58), topping the Pop charts and peaking at #3 R&B. Featured in "American Graffiti" ('73) and Holden Caufield listened to it while on the carousel in "The Catcher in the Rye". Song? Answer: "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes". Nobody did it like The Platters! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfBboBz3yoc&list=RDvfBboBz3yoc&start_radio=1

OK, boys and girls, back to the 70s: This 1971 Harry Nilsson composition was the 3rd single release from "Nilsson Schmilsson" in '72, peaking at #8 on Billboard. A novelty calypso number, it features 3 characters - the narrator, his sister and the doctor - all sung by him in different voices. The entire song is played in 1 chord - C7. Featured in Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs" and sung by Kermit the Frog on "The Muppets". When asked in a 1968 press conference whom his favorite American artist was, John Lennon answered without hesitation, "Nilsson". Best friends with Monkee Mickey Dolenz until Nilsson's death in '94. Song? Answer: "Coconut" by Harry Nilsson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsSuueEGQSM&list=RDTsSuueEGQSM&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, back to the 60s: This 1969 hit for The Hollies (#3 UK, #7 US) takes its name from the inscription at the gate at Boys Town in Omaha, NE. Song? Answer: "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" by The Hollies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl5vi9ir49g&list=RDJl5vi9ir49g&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, back to the late 70s/early 80s: The lead singer and lead guitarist for this British rock band (18 years together) was a journalist for the Yorkshire Evening Post and a part-time teacher. A friend of Pick Withers, their original drummer, seeing their financial plight, suggested the band's name. Artist? Band? Answer: Mark Knopfler/Dire Straits. One of my guitar heroes. His unique fingerstyle picking is beyond belief - he anchors his pinky and ring finger to the pickguard and his thumb is usually straight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeZBPZkrVl4&list=RDzeZBPZkrVl4&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0ffIJ7ZO4U&list=RDh0ffIJ7ZO4U&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, back to the 60s: This Philly-born Grammy winner and Rock & Roll Hall-of-Fame member was the self-proclaimed "King of Rock 'N Soul". His biggest hit was a collaboration with Berns and Wexler which he first recorded in 1964 - #429 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All-Time. "Extolling the virtues of the one you love". Covered by Jerry Garcia, The Rolling Stones ('65), Led Zeppelin, Wilson Pickett ('67) and, most famously, by The Blues Brothers in their movie ('80). A bare-chested Patrick Swayze danced with Jennifer Grey to his "Cry to Me" in "Dirty Dancing". He appeared on "Emeril Live", making his signature Turkey Delight sandwich (BAM!). Artist? Biggest hit? Answer: "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" by Solomon Burke. Ultra-kool kat. NOBODY did it like Jake and Elwood, though - (...four fried chickens and a Coke/some dry white toast...). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OKAlB...

OK, boys and girls, back to the 60s: This romantic 1962 ballad (#3 in the US and the UK) by Peter Udell and Gary Geld is considered by many to be "the #1 make-out song of all time". Originally recorded in 1960 by The Four Voices. Song? Singer? Answer: "Sealed With a Kiss" by Brian Hyland. Masterfully covered by The Four Bitchin' Babes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsvTtp-n_a0&list=RDqsvTtp-n_a0&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCRU-rm2lkE&list=RDDCRU-rm2lkE&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKGk9qg9A9k&list=RDnKGk9qg9A9k&start_radio=1

OK, boys and girls, back to the 80s: John Lennon wrote this soft-rock classic in 1980 to account for his "househusband" period between '75 and '80, when he completely abandoned music to be with Yoko and to raise Sean. Released posthumously in '81, the 3rd and final single from "Double Fantasy" - #10 US, #30 UK. A hammered dulcimer plays along with the piano. Song? Answer: "Watching the Wheels" by John Lennon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVXR2LYeFBI&list=RDuVXR2LYeFBI&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, more Fabdom: This Macca composition is THE only Beatles tune in which Linda McCartney sang AND also their first release in the Soviet Union (1972). Song? Answer: "Let It Be" by The Beatles. Inspired by Paul's mother, Mary, who died when he was fourteen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGj85pVzRJs&list=RDCGj85pVzRJs&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, more Mop Tops: This 1964 Lennon composition was inspired by Dylan, whom the blokes had just met. Recorded at Abbey Road Studio in 3 takes as part of the "A Hard Day's Night" soundtrack - it was the B-side to the title track in the US, where it peaked at #53. Trademark Lennon harmonica intro. Harrison debuts his just-acquired Rickenbacker 360/12 electric guitar. A poignant song of regret after failing to recognize a partner's signals of disinterest. Song? Answer: "I Should Have Known Better" by The Beatles. One of my Beatles faves. Bittersweet, though, as I was listening to it in 1964 when I received the news that my best childhood friend, Jose Luis Capacete, had passed away. I still think of him every time I hear it. Sweet because my guitar hero Roger McGuinn bought his first Rickenbacker after watching Harrison play his on "A Hard Day's Night"...and the rest is jingle-jangle history! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

OK, boys and girls, more 60s one hit-wonders: This group from Madrid, Spain (there is also a Madrid, Iowa!) charted at #2 in the UK and #4 in the US in July, 1966 - the 1st Spanish band to accomplish this. Their German lead singer could not speak English, singing the lyrics phonetically. Group? Song? Answer: "Black is Black" by Los Bravos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkgyV_tTQfQ&list=RDLkgyV_tTQfQ&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, a little (hint, hint!) early 60s for you today: This singer worked as a babysitter for Carole King and Gerry Goffin. Impressed by her voice and dance style, they wrote a song for her - cut as a demo (originally meant to be recorded by Dee-Dee Sharp). The demo was released "as is" and it reached #1 in 1962! Singer? Song? Answer: "The Loco-Motion" by Little Eva. Although deemed by many to be a "one-hit wonder", she also recorded that timeless Thanksgiving classic "Let's Turkey Trot"! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ecskjqanyM&list=RD2ecskjqanyM&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKRmoIDLxNU&list=RDSKRmoIDLxNU&start_radio=1

OK, Boomers, an easy one on a sunny and windy Sunday morning: The members of this "very well connected" 60s trio were not quite 15 when they landed two hits on the Top 40. Group? Two hits? Answer: Dino, Desi and Billy. Dean "Dino" Martin, Desi Arnaz Jr. and Billy Hinsche. "I'm a Fool" and "Not the Lovin' Kind". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceHTUIalAFw&list=RDceHTUIalAFw&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HulEcqDiwQg&list=RDHulEcqDiwQg&start_radio=1

OK, boys and girls, back to the 60s: John Traynor was the original lead singer (1961-63) for this Queens-based doo-wop/pop-rock band. On 2/11/64, in Washington, D.C., they opened for The Beatles on the first stop of their first U.S. tour. Group? Answer: Jay and The Americans. John "Jay" Traynor sang lead vocals on their first hit, "She Cried" (#5). Replaced by David Blatt ("Jay Black"). Traynor left us in 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBpm8tITIiE&list=RDsBpm8tITIiE&start_radio=1

OK, boys and girls, back to the 60s: This "mysterious" band from Birmingham, UK formed in 1964. Their original lead singer left in '66 and eventually joined Wings in '71 as a founding member. Band? Original lead singer? Subsequent lead singer? Answer: The Moody Blues. Brian Frederick Hines (aka Denny Laine) left us in 2023. Justin Hayward. We've had the privilege of seeing them twice with full orchestra - beyond sublime! Unfortunately, Ray Thomas, Mike Pinder, Graeme Edge and Clint Warwick have also joined that big ol' rock band in heaven. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2L3UzM_FfE&list=RDV2L3UzM_FfE&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K2b5S3bafM&list=RD0K2b5S3bafM&start_radio=1