Poldo's Music Trivia II

This one is dedicated to our dear granddaughter Myla Fay, who will be turning 4 (hint, hint!) this year. OK, girls and boys, back to the 60s: Malvina Reynolds, Alan Greene and Harry Belafonte penned this classic nostalgic folk ballad - unabashedly emotional and sentimental about the innocence of childhood. First recorded by Belafonte in '59, it went unnoticed as a B-Side. It was popularized by Dick and Dee Dee in 1963, peaking at #15 on Adult Contemporary and #27 on Billboard. In the 60s, it was the backgound music to one of the most successful TV ads ever. Covered by, among many others, The Kingston Trio, The Brothers Four, Jimmie Rodgers and even Homer Simpson(!). By far, my favorite version is by the late great Nanci Griffith with Chet Atkins on his sweet nylon-string guitar, from her 1993 masterful "Other Voices, Other Rooms" album. Song? TV commercial? Answer: "Turn Around". Many people assumed that Ed Ames was the voice in the memorable 60s Kod...

OK, girls and boys, back to the 70s: This self-taught singer/songwriter/guitarist from Philly started out playing coffeehouses in the early 70s (hey, I was there then doing the same thing!). At one point he lived next door to Daryl Hall. His biggest hit was recorded in '73 but, because of a contract dispute, Art Garfunkel covered it in '74, making Billboard's Top 40. A beautiful but sad ballad about lost love. The original version only reached #58. Artist? Song? Answer: "Second Avenue" by Tim Moore. He was very popular in Philly when I lived there in the 70s. It really is a wonderful tune. I have yet to decide which version I like best. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWbZ4iWWAAQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umbFpK4DxcI

OK, boys and girls, back to the 70s: This Alabama native singer/songwriter was born blind. His biggest hit was a 1970 (great year!) classic soul ballad written by General Johnson and Ron Dunbar as a country tune first recorded by The Chairmen of the Board. In the tune, an Alabama boy born and raised in poverty is forced to take responsibility for his family from his dying father. #4 U.S., #2 UK, Certified Gold and won the Grammy for Best R&B Song in 1971. Artist? Song? Answer: "Patches" by Clarence Carter. Not to be confused with Dickey Lee's 1962 "Patches" written by Mann and Kobler. Carter's other hits include "Slip Away" ('68) and, of course, the naughty naughty "Strokin'" ('86). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvfsfS6NVUc

OK, girls and boys, back to the 70s: This prolific Brill Building composer/lyricist/singer/pianist left us in '97 after a battle with ovarian cancer. She was a classmate of Janis Ian at NYC's High School of Music and Art. Her songs were extensively covered by the likes of Peter, Paul & Mary, The 5th Dimension, Blood, Sweat & Tears and Barbra Streisand, just to name a few. Ironically, her ONLY charting single as a solo artist (#92 in '70) was her version of a Gerry Goffin/Carole King '62 tune 1st recorded by The Drifters. Artist? Song? Answer: "Up on the Roof" by Laura Nyro. Incredible songwriter - "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoned Soul Picnic", "And When I Die", "Eli's Coming", "Stoney End", ....! As with so many others, she left us too soon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTNjX7l7-go

OK, boys and girls, back ot the 50s: This 1950 rhythm and blues classic was written and first recorded in Chicago by Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup. It's been referred to as "the most upbeat song about getting your heart smashed". Elvis released the definitive version in '56 as the B-side to "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You" with Scotty Moore on guitar, Bill Black on upright bass, D. J. Fontana on drums and Shorty Long (oxymoron?) on piano. Dynamite 1970 version by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Song? Answer: "My Baby Left Me". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q2enkV1hus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NWMk1tZAIg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0996JsTpDk

OK, girls and boys, more 60s: This R&B singer from Philly is considered by many to be the first Black female teen idol. At age 17 she collaborated with Chubby Checker on a #3 hit. Next day she recorded her smash hit which launched a dance craze - fueled by numerous appearances on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. She got her stage name from her nickname AND her favorite singing key. Artist? Smash hit? Follow-up lesser hit? Answer: Dee Dee Sharp (nee Diane LaRue). Smash hit: "Mashed Potato Time", #2 Billboard Hot 100, Certified Gold. She then had a lesser hit with the racy and suggestive "Gravy (For My Mashed Potato(e)s)" (where's Dan Quayle when we need him?!). The attire de rigueur for guys to do the dance was tight black puddlejumper pants (brincacharcos o tubos!) showing white socks and pointy Italian patent leather shoes (cool!). She collaborated with Chubby Checker on "Slow Twistin'". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51eJ3-h8...

OK, girls and boys, back to the 80s: This iconic singer/songwriter from Peoria, IL penned and recorded a poignant autobiographical ballad in 1980 about a chance encounter with an old flame at a convenience store while visiting his hometown for the Holidays. It peaked at #9 on Billboard's Hot 100. The melody is loosely based on Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" and the final notes, which invoke the title, are played on solo sax. Over the years, it has received extensive air play during the December festivities. Song? Singer/songwriter? Answer: "Same Old Lang Syne" by Dan Fogelberg. After Fogelberg's death the dedicatee, Jill Anderson Grenlich, revealed herself in an article in a Peoria paper. They had dated in high school. He took two poetic licences - her eyes were green instead of blue and her husband was a teacher, not an architect (they had since divorced). Dan Fogelberg left us on December 16, 2007. That same night we had an open mic at the ...