Poldo's Music Trivia II

OK, boys and girls, back to the 80s: This singer/songwriter/guitarist was the first artist to win all 4 General Field Grammys ("The Big Four") in one night - Record, Album and Song of the Year, as well as Best New Artist. He won 5 Grammys that night. He also won an Oscar and a Golden Globe. (Norah Jones came oh so close in 2003!) Artist? Answer: Christopher Cross. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJS1rFQBhyU&list=RDDJS1rFQBhyU&start_radio=1

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' ...

OK, girls and boys, more jingle-jangle: This 1964 Dylan opus was heavily influenced by Rimbaud's poetry and was called by Paul Williams "Dylan's Sermon On The Mount". It expresses his solidarity with the downtrodden and the oppressed as he and his companion watch a thunderstorm from shelter. It marks Dylan's transition from his "protest" period to a "born-again pacifist moral poet". The Byrds' ethereal version on their first studio album adds another layer of meaning as McGuinn's 12-string Rickenbacker sound evokes the song's title. Song? Answer: "Chimes of Freedom". A classic! To this day (since '65!), it is absolutely impossiible for me (or any other Byrds nut!) to sit down with a 12-string and not play "Chimes Of Freedom". Crosby's high harmonies are ANGELIC! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrtFg6gJ6Cc&list=RDyrtFg6gJ6Cc&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDOHhx_dk1g&list=RD...

OK, boys and girls, back to the 60s: This "cross between psychedelia and early heavy-metal" band from NYC cut 5 albums between 1967 and 1969. They started out as Rick Martin and The Snowmen and later evolved into The Pigeons. Heavily influenced by The Young Rascals, they recorded excellent covers of Beatles and Cher songs. Their biggest hit was a Supremes cover featured during the final episode of "The Sopranos". Group? Biggest hit? Answer: Vanilla Fudge. "You Keep Me Hangin' On". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dJO47d26kc&list=RD3dJO47d26kc&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, more 60s one-hit wonders: Singer/songwriter Gene Thomas met young vocalist Debbe Neville in Nashville. They were signed by Acuff-Rose Music to record under the TRX label. Their one hit was a 1968 Thomas composition that sold over a million copies, was awarded a Gold Record and peaked at #18. A dialogue between a woman warning her beau about his reputation as a heartbreaker and the man triying to prove his sincere love. Very pleasant pop/country harmonies. Song? Duo? Answer: "Playboy" by Gene and Debbe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDlxq0pCiCc&list=RDeDlxq0pCiCc&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, more 60s one-hit wonders: This beat/pop band from North London formed in 1963. They had a female drummer, Honey Lantree, very rare in those days. Their only hit was a Howard/Blaikley collaboration - it reached #1 in the UK, Australia and Canada and #5 in the U.S. Group? Hit? Answer: "Have I the Right?" by The Honeycombs. I remember watching them doing "Have I the Right" on "Shindig" - mighty cool! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZUWHfI6EuE&list=RD2ZUWHfI6EuE&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, more 70s one-hit wonders: Husband-and-wife singer/songwriter duo John Carter/Gillian Shakespeare wrote their major hit in 1974 in southwest London, far away from any shore. They recruited lead vocalist Tony Burrows ("Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)", "Gimme Dat Ding", "United We Stand") and Chas Miller to form a pop studio-based group. Riding the wave of 60s nostalgia and with Brian Wilson-esque rich harmonies, it peaked at #4 in the US and at #13 in the UK. Group? Song? For extra credit, name Carter's 1965 hit. Answer: "Beach Baby" by The First Class. Extra credit: "Tossing and Turning". A little bubblegummy but I always liked "Beach Baby". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeGPpwFpIAA&list=RDoeGPpwFpIAA&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAkIbLSYOBI&list=RDbAkIbLSYOBI&start_radio=1

OK, boys and girls, a little "exotica" this morning: This popular Greek "orphan" song's title loosely translates into "Egyptian girl". Introduced by Michalis Patrinos in 1927, it was then "adopted" by Nick Roubanis in 1941, crediting himself with the song. A classic surf-guitar version was recorded by Dick Dale in 1962 and covered by the Beach Boys in '63. In '94 it became the "theme" for "Pulp Fiction". Tune? Answer: "Misirlou" by Dick Dale and His Del-Tones. Originally titled "Miserlou". It's even on Guitar Hero II! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIU0RMV_II8&list=RDZIU0RMV_II8&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aKTHBzgKg8&list=RD5aKTHBzgKg8&start_radio=1S

OK, boys and girls, a toughie this morning: Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, this dramatic tenor was the first Puerto Rican to gain international fame in the musical arts. He was also the first singer to record an entire opera - "Pagliacci" in 1912. He was dubbed "The King of Tenors and The Tenor of Kings". He was "black-balled" from the Metropolitan Opera House by Enrico Caruso, a major shareholder and influential figure at The Met, because of professional jealousy and fear of competition. This, along with WWI, caused him to lose his fortune. He returned to Puerto Rico, where he taught singing and ran a music school with his sister. He also did some professional boxing on the side! Tenor? Answer: Antonio Paoli (1871-1946). He was also very influential in the creation of the prestigious Conservatory of Music in San Juan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnFXJOg9Xxg&list=RDqnFXJOg9Xxg&start_radio=1

OK, boys and girls, back to the 30s: This classic 1935 "arrabalero" tango was penned by its singer with lyrics by Alfredo Le Pera. A compulsive gambler compares his penchant for horse-racing with his attraction to women. The melody is based on Mozart's Rondo in C Major for Violin and Orcherstra K. 373. Al Pacino danced to it on "Scent of a Woman" and Schwarzenegger in "True Lies". Answer: "Por Una Cabeza" by Carlos Gardel. The tango scene in "Scent of a Woman", when Pacino dances with Gabrielle Anwar, is one of my favorite movie clips ever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2zTd_YwTvo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ1aTPM-dyE&list=RDSJ1aTPM-dyE&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPlv1QKiUwg

OK, girls and boys, more 60s one-hit wonders: This instrumental band's only hit peaked at #3 in February of 1966. It was "lifted" off a popular Alka-Seltzer commercial. In the 70s, the band "evolved" into Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds (as in "Don't Pull Your Love" and "Fallin' In Love"). Hit? Group? Answer: "No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)" by The T-Bones. The Ventures also did a wonderful cover version (dang, those Mosrites sound so sweet!). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfdL62ss-vQ&list=RDxfdL62ss-vQ&start_radio=1

OK, boys and girls, back to the 70s: John Paul Jones set out to write "a song that people couldn't 'groove' or dance to". Inspired by Muddy Waters' "Electric Mud" and by the call-and-response between the singer and the band in Fleetwood Mac's "Oh, Well" ('69) this heavy-metal classic peaked at #15 in '71 and is #294 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All time. The title comes from a Labrador Retriever roaming around the recording studio and has nothing to do with the rest of the song. Jimmy Page's guitar work consists of 4 overdubbed Gibson Les Paul tracks. The high A towards the end is Robert Plant's highest note ever recorded (ouch!). Song? Group? Answer: "Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin. In my book, Zeppelin DEFINES Heavy Metal - that's where the genre was born and ended - no other metal act can touch them! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tlSx0jkuLM&list=RD6tlSx0jkuLM&start_radio=1