Poldo's Music Trivia II

OK, girls and boys, back to the 70s: Based on a line from Shakespeare's "King Lear", this '74 pop/soul/funk classic was THE first musical performance on Saturday Night Live. Co-written by the singer/keyboardist and Bruce Fisher, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The lyrics imply that he can only be in a relationship with a woman if she has money (what a nice guy!). Song? Singer/co-writer/keyboardist? Answer: "Nothing From Nothing" by Billy Preston. Billy left us in '06 at the age of 59 and has often been referred to as "The Fifth Beatle" (as opposed to Eddie Murphy!). He is the only person ever to receive co-artist credit on a No. 1 Beatles single - "Get Back" by "The Beatles with Billy Preston". BTW, we just watched a 2024 Netflix film "Saturday Night" about the events leading up to the first SNL show in '75. Very entertaining! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b3b_HcdKL0 https://www.youtube.com...

OK, boys and girls, more 80s one-hit wonders (easy!): This 1981 Call/Keller composition reached #1 on Mainstream Rock Tracks and #4 on Billboard Hot 100 in '82. Just in case Leonard, Sheldon, Raj and Howard are reading this, the number involved is a prime and one of a prime pair. It has been offered on eBay several times with different area codes. Artist? Song? Answer: "867-5309/Jenny" by Tommy Tutone. In case the ol' math is a little rusty, a prime is a whole number greater than 1 that cannot be exactly divided by any whole number other than itself and 1. See, it comes right back - NOT!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WTdTwcmxyo

OK, boys and girls, back to the 30s: Trombonist Earle Hagen and crooner Dick Rogers co-wrote this 1939 jazz classic as a tribute to Duke Ellington and Johnny Hodges. Evokes feelings of the night (hint, hint!) and is inspired by it. It was first recorded that same year by The Ray Noble Orchestra, of which both of them were members. The Viscounts took it to #52 on Billboard in '59 and again to #39 in '66. It is perhaps best known as the theme for TV's "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer" and "The New Mike Hammer" masterfully performed by Bud Shank on the alto sax. Memorable "velvet" vocal version by Mel Torme in '63. Covered by, among many others, Mantovani, Herbie Mann and Quincy Jones. KILLER guitar versions by virtuosi The Ventures and Brian Setzer. Song? Answer: "Harlem Nocturne". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ehv5ZCHsJI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfAv8yAaHps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDWtESy4fOs https...

OK, girls and boys, back to the 30s: It was 1932 and Mexican tunesmith Lorenzo Barcelata was paid 10,000 pesos by a friend to write a song for his wife (what a romantic guy!). His publisher liked the romantic ballad and renamed it after one of his girlfriends (!). English lyrics by Bob Russell as "Yours is My Heart". Jimmy Dorsey's Orchestra with Bob Eberly on lead vocals topped the charts with it in 1941. The B-side, "Green Eyes", was also hit #1, a very rare occurrence. It was a hit as well for Lawrence Welk and Nat "King" Cole, among many others. Los Indios Tabajaras' '58 instrumental version was a worldwide sensation. Song? Answer: "Maria Elena". My maternal grandmother "Abue" (Fe Davila Ortiz Juncos) had the most beautiful green eyes. I remember her telling me that my maternal grandfather Eloy Juncos, whom I never met, used to serenade her with the Spanish version of "Green Eyes", "Aquellos Oj...

OK, girls and boys, let's go down South: This Chicano singer/guitarist from Dallas hit #1 in 36 countries and #3 in the US with a Pete Seeger/Lee Hays composition out of his debut album in the early 60s. Gibson released two of his signature model guitars between '64 and '71 and these are highly sought-after by collectors today. Appeared in "The Dirty Dozen" in 1967. He left us in 2020 at the age of 83. Singer? Hit? Answer" "If I Had a Hammer" by Trini Lopez. Other hits included his renditions of "La Bamba" and "Lemon Tree". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp1z8EzZ5Hs

OK, boys and girls, back to the 80s: It was 1982 and, as disco was fading, New Wave was coming to be. Canadian singer/songwriter Ivan Doroschuk had just been thrown out of a dance club by a bouncer for "pogoing and slamdancing" out of concern for the safety (hint, hint!) of other dancers on the floor. He penned this New Wave-synth-pop classic and recorded it with his band. Seminal video starring him and Louise Court as "Jenny". #3 Billboard Hot 100, #1 Cashbox. Many thought the song was about safe sex, others thought it was anti-nuke. Doroschuk himself said that it was a protest song about intrusive bouncers and a call for freedom of expression. Classic parody by "Weird" Al - "The Brady Bunch". Featured on "Glee". Song? Band? Answer: "The Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats. The identity of "Jenny" in the video was not revealed until many years later. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QDKLglEP5Y https://...

OK, girls and boys, back to the aughts: It was 2009 and this 18-year-old Halifax, UK native struggling singer/songwriter/guitarist played a gig at a local homeless shelter. There he met a "lady of the night" and crack cocaine addict named Angel (hint, hint!). Her life story inspired him to pen this seminal poignant indie folk ballad which he released in 2011 as the lead single for his debut album. A difficult subject shrouded under a melodic canopy. Six-times Platinum, it propelled him to global acclaim and won him the Grammy for Song of the Year. Artist? Song? Answer: "The A Team" by Ed Sheeran. The title refers to crack cocaine, considered a Class A drug in the UK. Killer cover version by gifted vocalist Dr. Sarah Falcon and The Remains with my dear friend and colleague Dr. Harry Hoffman on guitar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAWcs5H-qgQ