Poldo's Music Trivia II

OK, girls and boys, back to the 60s: Bonny ("Sir Mack") Rice penned and first recorded this 1965 funk/soul classic (#15 R&B) inspired by Della Reese and renamed, as suggested by Aretha Franklin. Wilson Pickett's '66 version peaked at #6 R&B. A girl lives the wild life in her sports car. #434 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The Young Rascals also covered it that same year. Part of "The Commitments" and "Miss Congeniality" soundtracks. Song? Answer: "Mustang Sally". I'm partial to The Young Rascals' version. Sally's Mustang was a '65 when Pickett sang it but was "updated" to a '66 by The Young Rascals. The working title was "Mustang Mama" and was changed at Aretha Franklin's recommendation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuX6i-4rVKU&list=RDFuX6i-4rVKU&start_radio=1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16u6w0cjjrU&list=RD16u6w0cjjrU&start_radio=1 https:...

OK, boys and girls, more Fabdom: This 1966 Macca composition from "Revolver" was inspired by The Lovin' Spoonful's "Daydream" and "Do You Believe In Magic?". It "radiates optimism and good vibes". Only Sir Paul and Sir Ringo play instruments - John and George add background vocals and handclaps. Used as wake-up music during many space shuttle missions and in various TV commercials. Song? Answer: "Good Day Sunshine" by The Beatles. Macca played it live to the crew of the International Space Station in 2005 - the 1st ever live concert link-up to space. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9ncBUcInTM&list=RDR9ncBUcInTM&start_radio=1

OK, this one's for the birthday girl (82 today - EASY!): This singer/songwriter, well-known for her morbid stage fright, wrote and performed her biggest career hit in late 1972, a month after marrying James Taylor. It is about a self-absorbed lover. #1 for 3 weeks in '73. #72 on Billboard's Greatest Songs of All Time. Artist? Song? Answer: "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon. After many years and much speculation, she finally confirmed it was about Warren Beatty. "Carly Simon has had such a hard time with stage fright that she has at times poked herself in the hand with safety pins. On one memorable occasion that she recounted to John Lahr of The New Yorker, she asked her entire band's horn section to spank her just before the curtain rose." Other notable victims of severe stage fright: Streisand, Olivier, Bocelli, Renee Fleming, Rod Stewart and, my favorite, Carl Wilson from the Beach Boys - many times his brothers had to push him on stage! h...

OK, boys and girls, more 70s one-hit-wonders: This Spanish singer/composer/actor from Granada was one of the pioneers of Spanish rock & roll. His only charting hit, an adaptation of the final movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, came in 1970, at the height of the "Symphonic Rock" era. It peaked at #14 on Billboard's Hot 100 and was Certified Gold by the RIAA. His career was sidetracked when jailed for hashish possession after a concert. Artist? Hit? Answer: Miguel Rios' "A Song Of Joy" ("Himno a la Alegria"). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5udsZiIKpE0&list=RD5udsZiIKpE0&start_radio=1

OK, girls and boys, coming at ya from farm (hint, hint!) country: Children's music singer/songwriter Barry Louis Polisar composed and first recorded this catchy, lilting 1977 tune. Featured in the opening credits of the 2007 film "Juno". It was "rediscovered" and recorded under a new title by Caroline Says, becoming the background music for a 2025 Lay's Potato Chips Super Bowl commercial that captured the hearts of the nation and placed the spotlight on agriculture. Speaks of the deep-rooted traditions and noble hard work of the American farming family. Inspired by real-life 5th generation Wisconsin potato farmer Jeremie Pavelski and his kin, especially his 7-year-old daughter. Killer acoustic guitar work on the commercial evocative of the late-great John Prine's trademark fingerstyle picking. Original song? Lay's commercial version? Answer: "All I Want Is You" by Barry Louis Polisar. "The Little Farmer" by Caroline Say...

OK, girls and boys, back to the 60s: This 1966 Paul Simon composition from "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme" was THE first Simon & Garfunkel single release NOT to become a hit (#25). Paul Simon attributed this to its "heaviness". It speaks of failed communication between two lovers - frozen and lifeless, growing apart. The slow disintegration of a relationship - as far apart as the poets each one of them fancy. Song? Answer: "The Dangling Conversation" by Simon and Garfunkel. A masterpiece! Those young Fordham Jesuit scholastic English teachers used to LOVE to make us analyze it in high school. "And you read your Emily Dickinson and I my Robert Frost...". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nntOYUODSV0

OK, girls and boys, back to the 50s: The biggest hit (#2) for this Cuban-American female vocal trio came in 1954 with a romantic and suggestive jazz ballad penned by Gene DePaul and Sammy Cahn. Influenced by The Andrews Sisters, protegees of Carmen Miranda and accompanied by Skip Martin's Orchestra. The singer asks a lover for lessons in "affection". Killer version by Al Jarreau (#70) in '81. Trio? Song? Answer: "Teach Me Tonight" by The DeCastro Sisters. Pretty risque lyrics for those days! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnMhUb5Ce1w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdQC59WYfYM