Poldo's Music Trivia II

OK, boys and girls, back to the 40s: This multi-Grammy nominated American male vocal quartet started out in 1948 in Indianapolis as "Hal's Harmonizers" in the barbershop tradition. Through many incarnations, they still perform over 100 shows per year. They have strongly influenced The Lettermen, The Four Seasons, ABBA and The Manhattan Transfer. Brian Wilson attributed The Beach Boys' early success to their harmonic patterns. Quartet? Answer: The Four Fresnmen. Great harmonies! In their 78 years together, they've recorded 49 albums. The early Beach Boys recorded a wonderful live version of "Graduation Day" in "Beach Boys in Concert" and they always dedicated their a capella rendition of "In My Room" to The Four Freshmen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHiPm0R9bjc&list=RDNHiPm0R9bjc&start_radio=1

OK, boys and girls, back to the 40s: This French pop classic was written in 1947 by Betti and Homez, with English lyrics by Jerry Seelen. First recorded by chanteuse Angele Durand. Joe Loss and His Orchestra released an instrumental version in 1950. Danny Kaye also covered it that same year with subsequent versions by Louis Armstrong and Yves Montand. Popularized by Eartha Kitt (#11) and by Johnny Desmond (#25) in '54. Conway Twitty did a Country version in '60. It celebrates the simple, profound joy and sweetness of romantic love. Song? English title? Answer: "C'est Si Bon" ("It's So Good"). Hard to think of "C'est Si Bon" and/or "La Vie En Rose" without thinking of Paris, oui, oui! BTW, if you haven't seen Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris", it is not to be missed! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWCo5ex40IQ&list=RDNWCo5ex40IQ&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, a little birthday trivia today (1/15/29 - easy!): This classic 1968 Holler/Gernhard folk-rock collaboration reached #4 in the U.S. pop singles charts, #1 in Canada and #8 in easy-listening. RIAA certified gold and #248 in RIAA's Songs of the Century. A tribute to the memory of four assassinated Americans. Song? Artist? Answer: "Abraham, Martin and John" by Dion DiMucci. One of those few tunes that I fell in love with the first time I heard it in '68. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5hFMy4pTrs&list=RDa5hFMy4pTrs&start_radio=1

OK, boys and girls, back to the 1600s: This 17th century English organist and Baroque composer of sacred and laic music was strongly influenced by his French and Italian contemporaries. He is buried at Westminster Abbey next to the organ. Arguably "his" best-known piece, a popular wedding processional, was incorrectly attributed to him for many years. It was, in fact, written around 1700 by British composer Jeremiah Clarke as "The Prince Of Denmark's March". According to Pete Townsend, his vocal and instrumental harmonies greatly influenced The Who's music. Wendy Carlos' Moog version of another one of his compositions served as the opening theme for Kubrik's "A Clockwork Orange" ('71). Composer? Best-known wedding processional NOT written by him? Answer: "Trumpet Voluntary" by Henry Purcell (not really!). When we got married in 1977, we were not given a choice regarding the wedding music. The Pastor "picked" for u...

OK, girls and boys, back to the 60s: Lamont Dozier was only 12-years-old when he was smitten by an Italian girl from the neighborhood. Unfortunately for him, even at that early age, she was attracting quite a bit of attention from the other boys. This eventually inspired him to pen this classic 1967 four-on-the floor stomper, hard-driving rocker for The Four Tops from their "Reach Out" album on the Motown label. Killer bass line by James Jamerson from The Funk Brothers. #4 Billboard Hot 100, #8 Cash Box, #3 R&B. Signature "false ending" where the instruments stop and the backup singers hold a chord until Levi Stubbs shouts out the girl's name. Song? Answer: "Bernadette" by The Four Tops. In 1967, at age 15, I had the privilege of attending the Boy Scouts' World Jamboree at Farragut State Park in Idaho, along with seven other scouts from Puerto Rico. It was an experience to last a lifetime! As part of the pre-jamboree, we spent a cou...

OK, boys and girls, back to the 60s: This mid-60s (1962-68) British rock/blues band had the distinction of having started the careers of three of rock's greatest guitarists (#4, 9 and 14 in Rolling Stone's Top 100 Guitarists list). Band? Guitarists? Answer: Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck.

OK, girls and boys, back to the 50s: This romantic Cartey/Joyner ballad was first recorded in 1956 by Ric Cartey and The Jiva-Tones. Three versions were released the following year: Tab Hunter and Sonny James topped the charts with theirs and The Crew-Cuts took it to #17. The Rolling Stones (!) covered it in '64 under "Bo & Peep" and Donny Osmond's '73 version topped the charts in the UK and peaked at #25 in the US. A celebration of naive but deep romantic feelings at an early age. Song? Answer: "Young Love" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU_8D5jBqd0&list=RDpU_8D5jBqd0&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrWiRo92tIA&list=RDOrWiRo92tIA&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jTzdh5KyXY&list=RD1jTzdh5KyXY&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, back to the 60s: Joe South ("Games People Play", "Rose Garden", "Walk a Mile in My Shoes"...) penned this poignant 1965 pop ballad. A bittersweet reflection on the sadness felt when an old flame is gone, even though the change brings that person happiness. First recorded in 1965 by Billy Joe Royal as a follow-up to his massive hit "Down in the Boondocks", it reached #14 on Billboard's Hot 100. Covered by Donny Osmond in '71 (#9 on Billboard). Linda Ronstadt's 1982 version was produced by Peter Asher and, propelled by a very popular music video, was a crossover hit for her on the Pop, Country and Easy-listening charts. Song? Answer: "I Knew You When" by Billy Joe Royal. Billy Joe Royal left us in 2015 at age 73 and Joe South in 2012 at age 72. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9rIdwv87J4&list=RDN9rIdwv87J4&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlvvO7C93_8&list=RDhlvvO7C93_8&...

OK, girls and boys, back to the 60s: There were only two British groups to have a #1 single in 1964 without a Lennon-McCartney song. Groups? Songs? For extra credit: Another British group (other than The Beatles) had a #1 hit that same year BUT it WAS written by Lennon-McCartney. Group? Song? Answers: "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" by Manfred Mann and "The House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals. Extra credit: "A World Without Love" by Peter and Gordon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc0x7xOap4I&list=RDUc0x7xOap4I&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-43lLKaqBQ&list=RD4-43lLKaqBQ&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdx6lLvvRyg&list=RDTdx6lLvvRyg&start_radio=1

OK, boys and girls, more 80s "quasi" one-hit wonders: This artist's "almost" one hit came in 1984 with an Ulvaeus/Andersson/Rice composition originally written for "Chess", a concept album and musical. It compares the decadent nightlife of an Asian capital with a game of chess. The rap very appropriately mentions "King" Yul Brynner. Anders Glenmark provides the chorus. Intricate Jethro Tull-esque flute solo. #1 in 4 countries, #3 US & Canada and #12 UK. Last show-tune to chart in the Top 5. Artist? Song? Answer: "One Night in Bangkok" by Murray Head. He's an "almost" one-hit wonder as, in 1971, he hit the charts at #14 with his version of "Superstar" from the musical. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgc_LRjlbTU&list=RDrgc_LRjlbTU&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKicGSYSwKY&list=RDSKicGSYSwKY&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, back to the 70s: It took the composer just one hour on the piano to write this folk-rock classic about his brief affair with Joni Mitchell. It reached #30 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1970. Song? Composer? Group? Answer: "Our House" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Graham Nash composed it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aunVlekXjkE&list=RDaunVlekXjkE&start_radio=1

OK, boys and girls, more 60s one-hit wonders: This Canadian TV and film actor topped the charts in 1964 on both Billboard Contemporary Adult and Hot 100 with this western-themed and mostly spoken song. Artist? Song? Answer: "Ringo" by Lorne Greene (yes, as in Ben Cartwright!). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1PZ3hSNFhk&list=RDD1PZ3hSNFhk&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, back to the 60s: Born Clive Powell, this British singer/keyboardist/guitarist started out with The Dominoes at age 15. He joined Billy Fury's backup band at 17, until Fury let them go to pursue a solo career. He then became the band's front man - at one point a young Cat Stevens sat in with them. In 1965 they released a cover of a Grant/Patrick/Hendricks Latin soul number originally performed by Mongo Santamaria in '63. Their version topped the UK charts in '65 dethroning The Beatles, earning them a Gold Record and peaking at #21 in the U.S. Band? Song? For extra credit, name their other hit. Answer: "Yeh, Yeh" by Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames. Their other big hit was Murray/Callander's "The Ballad of Bonnie & Clyde" in '68 which topped the UK charts and peaked at #7 in the US. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf-cCL3TOCo&list=RDjf-cCL3TOCo&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i8mTAsv5cA&list...

OK, boys and girle, more British Invasion: 1.) Before adopting their geeky keyboardist's name as their own (born Michael Lubowitz), what was this British Invasion blues/beatnik-edged pop band's original name? 2.) Name their 1st Top 5 hit in the UK. 3.) When Tom McGuinness switched from bass to guitar, who filled in for him temporarily on bass? 4.) After leaving the band in '66, the original singer starred in a movie in '67 - name it. 5.) Name their last #1 UK hit before splitting in '69. Answers: 1.) The Mann-Hugg Blues Brothers. 2.) "5-4-3-2-1" 3.) Jack Bruce. 4.) "Privilege" (Paul Jones). 5.) "The Mighty Quinn".

OK, girls and boys, more 60s one-hit wonders: This 1960 #1 hit about a comic strip character was recorded by a band "that never was" - session musicians paid $25 each. Written by Dallas Frazier ("There Goes My Everything" and "Elvira"). Both Norm Davis and Gary Paxton claim to have recordrd the lead vocals. Group? Song? "Alley Oop" by The Hollywood Argyles. Just like Gary Puckett and The Union Gap and The Alan Parsons Project, one of those groups "that never was". Groups of session musicians brought together specifically to record an album or a song and do so under a "band name" but never tour or constitute a bona-fide group. Covered by The Beach Boys on their "Beach Boys Party!" album. Alley Oop was called Trucutu in Spanish-language newspapers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcNSGFeUIV0&list=RDvcNSGFeUIV0&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MRGHWXuPfA&list=RD3MRGHWXuPfA&start_r...

OK, boys and girls, back to the 70s: This band from Queens was formed in 1974 and is considered to be the first punk-rock group. The three original members have passed on. Even though none of them were related, they shared a pseudo-surname inspired by an early McCartney pseudonym. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Band? Answer: The Ramones. You know me, I have a soft spot in my heart for Mosrites and Johnny Ramone's white Mark II was mighty nice! Early on, Sir Paul used the pseudonym Paul Ramon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=268C3N2dDYk&list=RD268C3N2dDYk&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, more 80s one-hit wonders: This Hawaiian singer/songwriter of Portuguese extraction is strictly considered to be an "80s one-hit wonder" as a soloist, even though he topped the charts in '90 with "She Ain't Worth It", a duet with Bobby Brown. His solo hit was a Goffin/Masser composition originally recorded by George Benson in '84. At seventeen, he won a local talent competition with his version of the song which he recorded on a small indie label, catching the attention of mainland DJs. Peaked at #12 US in '87-'88 and topped the charts in the UK. He also recorded it in Spanish, even though it was Argentinian Sergio Denis' cover that became extremely popular in Latin America. His two children are named Chord and Lyric (?!) Singer? Song? Answer: "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" by Glenn Medeiros. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUg5aEy-8CQ&list=RDmUg5aEy-8CQ&start_radio=1