Well, we're almost at the end of 2011. A new year will soon be upon us. I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday to all those readers who doesn't celebrate Christmas.
This week I thought we'd ask about some of the classic Christmas/Holiday songs of the past 50 years or so and since most of these songs still get played on the radio during this time of year, they're fairly easy questions.
Hopefully everyone's in a holiday mood, so let's have a holly, jolly fun time.
QUESTIONS
1. Elvis Presley took this 'Blue' song to # 1 for two weeks on the Christmas singles chart in 1964. It comes back every year and is one of the top songs of the season. Can you name thhis holiday tune?
2. They're starring in a movie right now, but back in December of 1958, this group of 'furry little animals' had the # 1 song on the singles chart. Who are they and what was their # 1 Christmas hit?
3. Brenda Mae Tarpley was 16 when her 'dynamite' Christmas song hit # 14 on the Pop singles chart and we've been 'rockin' to that holiday hit every year since. Can you guess the song as well as the name Brenda Mae changed to? (HINT: She also scored a dozen Top ten hits throughout her career which began in the 1950's. In 1960, she hit # 1 twice.)
4. In 1984, a group of rock and pop stars from England and Ireland got together in a London studio and recorded a charity Christmas single that raised millions for African famine relief. What was the name of the song and the group of stars who recorded it?
5. He's a huge movie star these days, although his most recent film was severly panned by many critics. Several of his movies have grossed over one hundred million dollars each. Before moving to Hollywood, he was a TV cast member on one of NBC TV's longest running series, which is where he performed his only holiday hit, which reached the Top 10 in 1995. WHo is this performer and what was his holiday hit?
ANSWERS
1. 'The King' of rock'n'roll saw his recording of "Blue Christmas" hit the top of the Christmas singles chart in December of 1964.
2. The Chipmunks were the creation of Ross Bagdasarian, who used the stage name David Seville. Simon, Alvin and Theodore were named after executives at Liberty Records in Hollywood, where Ross aka David recorded. The chipmunk 'sound'was created by recording the background musicians at normal speed, then playing the tape at a slower speed while David / Ross recorded his 'chipmunk' vocals at normal speed. The tape was then brought back to regular speed and while the music sounded normal, the voices were sped up, thus 'chipmunky' and The Chipmunk Song" was born. There latest movie, "Chipwrecked" is in theatres now.
3. The song was "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" as sung by Brenda Lee, the former Brenda Mae Tarpley. Brenda was born on December 11, 1944 in Lithonia, Georgia. She signed with Decca Records in 1956 and first hit the charts the following year when she was only 13 years old. Her nickname back then was 'Little Miss Dynamite'. In 1960, her two # 1 hits were: "I'm Sorry" and "I Want To Be Wanted". In 1964, Brenda took another holiday song, "Jingle Bell Rock" to # 8 on the Christmas singles chart.
4. All those stars, which included Paul mcCartney, Phil Collins, Sting, Bono and George Michael, going under the name Band Aid recorded "Do They Know It's Christmas" at the Sarm West Studios in the Notting Hill district of London in November of 1984. "Do They Know It's Christmas" had been written by Bob Geldof of The Boomtown Rats and Midge Ure of Ultravox and when it was released, sold a million copies in its first week. The single raised millions for African famine relief efforts.
5. That would be Adam Sandler, who was a cast member on "Saturday Night Live" from 1990 to 1995, which was where he performed "The Chanukah Song". Some of Adam's hit movies include "Happy Gilmour", "The Wedding Singer", "Mr. Deeds", "50 First Dates" and "You Don't Mess With The Zohan". His current film, "Jack and Jill" is not getting good reviews from film critics.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Rolling Stone Rock Trivia
Rolling Stone Magazine has been around since 1967. It's still an important magazine for breaking political stories and for its profiles of, and interviews with, rock musicians. The magazine has gone through several changes over the decades, but continues to be very successful. Many now world famous individuals started with Rolling Stone, including photographer Annie Leibowitz; Writer Hunter S. Thompson was a major political writer for Rolling Stone (Johnny Depp's latest movie "The Rum Diary" was an adaptation of a novel written by the late gonzo journalist). Cameron Crowe, wrote and directed "Almost Famous" about his time as a Rolling Stone jornalist. Crowe also directed the films "Jerry Maguire", "Elizabethtown", "Vanilla Sky" and 2011's "We Bought A Zoo" starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson. Joe Eszterhas was a longtime featured writer for Rolling Stone. His movie writing credits include "Flashdance", "Basic Instinct", "Nowhere To Run', "Showgirls" and his latest, "Lust", due to be released in 2012. Recently, the company published a book of trivia titled "Rolling Stone Rock Trivia". It's 120 pages with hundreds of questions spanning six decades of rock history. It's available at your favourite book or magazine store right now. This time out, I thought we'd quiz you with questions about Rolling Stone Magazine itself. They're all fairly easy, so give them a whirl.
QUESTIONS:
1. Which member of The Beatles was the first to have his picture featured on Rolling Stone Issue # 1?
2. Rolling Stone Magazine recently published a list of the Top 100 Guitarists of All Time. Who made # 1 on the list? (HINT: and not by the skin of his teeth either).
3. Who was the co-founder of Rolling Stone Magazine? He's still listed today as editor and publisher.
4. In What city did Rolling Stone originate? (HINT: It was the home to Flower Power and the hippie movement).
5. It was considered an important milestone in your career to be featured on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine. One band, who at that point had NOT made the cover, recorded a hit song about it that debuted on the charts in late 1972. Can you name the song and the group?
ANSWERS:
1. Rolling Stone used a film still of John Lennon in his uniform as "Sergeant Gripweed" from Richard Lester's 1966 movie, How I Won The War" on the cover of Issue # 1 dated November 9, 1967. One of the most iconic Rolling Stone covers features a naked John Lennon wrapped around his wife Yoko Ono, who was clothed, for the issue dated January 22, 1981, a month and several weeks after Lennon had been shot and killed in New York City.
2. The # 1 Guitarist, according to the guitarists Rolling Stone Magazine polled, was Jimi Hendrix, who occasionally would play his guitar with his teeth. The rest of the Top Ten included Eric Clapton (#2), Jimmy Page (#3), Keith Richards (#4), Jeff Beck (#5), B.B. King (#6), Chuck Berry (#7), Eddie Van Halen (#8), Duane Allman (#9) and Pete Townshend (#10).
3. A young Jann Wenner (pronounced 'yawn') borrowed several thousand dollars from his family and founded Straight Arrow Publishers Inc with Rolling Stone Magazine as its first (and for many years, it's Only) publication. Jazz and pop music critic and writer Ralph J. Gleason was the co-founder. Gleason died in 1975. The company is now called Wenner Media Inc. and along with Rolling Stone Magazine, publishes US Weekly and Men's Journal magazines.
4. These days, Rolling Stone Magazine's headquarters are in New York City, but back in 1967, Jann Wenner and company launched the magazine from San Francisco. They moved to New York in 1977. Jann Wenner had been born in New York in January of 1946, but his family moved to San Francisco while Jann was still an infant.
5. Who could forget the lyrics to that 1973 Dr. Hook hit "The Cover of the Rolling Stone", a song written by humourist Shel Silverstein, a longtime contributor to Playboy Magazine. The song made it as far as # 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and Dr. Hook, although in caricature form, did make the cover of Rolling Stone on March 29, 1973. The cover copy read "What's-Their-Names Make The Cover".
QUESTIONS:
1. Which member of The Beatles was the first to have his picture featured on Rolling Stone Issue # 1?
2. Rolling Stone Magazine recently published a list of the Top 100 Guitarists of All Time. Who made # 1 on the list? (HINT: and not by the skin of his teeth either).
3. Who was the co-founder of Rolling Stone Magazine? He's still listed today as editor and publisher.
4. In What city did Rolling Stone originate? (HINT: It was the home to Flower Power and the hippie movement).
5. It was considered an important milestone in your career to be featured on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine. One band, who at that point had NOT made the cover, recorded a hit song about it that debuted on the charts in late 1972. Can you name the song and the group?
ANSWERS:
1. Rolling Stone used a film still of John Lennon in his uniform as "Sergeant Gripweed" from Richard Lester's 1966 movie, How I Won The War" on the cover of Issue # 1 dated November 9, 1967. One of the most iconic Rolling Stone covers features a naked John Lennon wrapped around his wife Yoko Ono, who was clothed, for the issue dated January 22, 1981, a month and several weeks after Lennon had been shot and killed in New York City.
2. The # 1 Guitarist, according to the guitarists Rolling Stone Magazine polled, was Jimi Hendrix, who occasionally would play his guitar with his teeth. The rest of the Top Ten included Eric Clapton (#2), Jimmy Page (#3), Keith Richards (#4), Jeff Beck (#5), B.B. King (#6), Chuck Berry (#7), Eddie Van Halen (#8), Duane Allman (#9) and Pete Townshend (#10).
3. A young Jann Wenner (pronounced 'yawn') borrowed several thousand dollars from his family and founded Straight Arrow Publishers Inc with Rolling Stone Magazine as its first (and for many years, it's Only) publication. Jazz and pop music critic and writer Ralph J. Gleason was the co-founder. Gleason died in 1975. The company is now called Wenner Media Inc. and along with Rolling Stone Magazine, publishes US Weekly and Men's Journal magazines.
4. These days, Rolling Stone Magazine's headquarters are in New York City, but back in 1967, Jann Wenner and company launched the magazine from San Francisco. They moved to New York in 1977. Jann Wenner had been born in New York in January of 1946, but his family moved to San Francisco while Jann was still an infant.
5. Who could forget the lyrics to that 1973 Dr. Hook hit "The Cover of the Rolling Stone", a song written by humourist Shel Silverstein, a longtime contributor to Playboy Magazine. The song made it as far as # 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and Dr. Hook, although in caricature form, did make the cover of Rolling Stone on March 29, 1973. The cover copy read "What's-Their-Names Make The Cover".
Friday, November 18, 2011
NEIL YOUNG
Neil Young celebrated his 66th birthday on November 12. So, for this episode of our trivia quiz, our questions are all about Neil. For the record, Neil Young was born in Toronto, Ontario, (Canada for those reading out of the country). When his parents split up, he moved to Winnipeg with his mother, which is where he began his music career in earnest. He later returned to Toronto, then to Los Angeles and world wide stardom. Hey, even if you're not a died-in-the-wool Neil Young fan, this quiz will be fun and if you know your music, relatively easy.
Here we go.
QUESTIONS:
1. Neil Young first came to international fame as a member of Buffalo Springfield, but before that, he was in a Toronto group with Rick James (Yes, the Motown "Superfreak" himself). What was the name of this Canadian band?
2. Buffalo Springfield's first Top 10 hit on the charts was 1967's "For What It's Worth (Hey What's That Sound)". The original members of Buffalo Springfield were Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Richie Furay, Dewey Martin and Bruce Palmer. Palmer was replaced by Jim Messina after 2 albums. When the band broke up in 1968, Stills and Young became part of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Richie Furay and Jim Messina co-founded a folk/rock group that charted 13 hits between 1970 and 1989, although they only ever had 2 Top 20 hits. "Crazy", huh? Two of this groups' members later left to join The Eagles. Can you name this folk rock band?
3. Which southern U.S. rockers recorded a Top 10 hit in response to several of Neil's songs about the south?
4. Neil never really forgot his roots in Canada and has written several songs that mention his home and native land. We're looking for two specific songs. Can you name either one?
5. Neil's father was also famous, although he didn't write songs. What did he do for a living?
ANSWERS
1. The Mynah Birds was the groups' name. RIck James went on to success at Motown; Neil Young drove down to Los Angeles in a hearse, which is where he connected with Stephen Stills on the Sunset strip. The rest is music history.
2. Poco was the name of the group. Their biggest hit was 1979's "Crazy Love" which made it to # 17 on Billboards' Hot 100 chart. Two Poco members, Randy Meisner and Timothy B. Schmidt, who were in the band at different times, both ended up as members of The Eagles.
3. Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote and recorded "Sweet Home Alabama" in answer to Neil's "Alabama" and "Southern Man". In "Sweet Home Alabama", the lyrics say, "Well I heard Mr. Young sing about her. Well, I heard ole Neil put her down. Well, I hope Neil Young will remember. A southern man don't need him around nyhow." "Sweet Home Alabama" hit its peak spot, # 8 in the fall of 1974.
4. "Helpless" is one. Those lyrics are: "There's a town in north Ontario..." The town Neil's refering to is Omemee, near Peterborough. The second song we were looking for is "Journey Through The Past". Those lyrics are: "Now I'm going back to Canada. On a journey through the past. And I won't be back until February comes."
5. Scott Young was a Canadian journalist, sports writer and novelist. Scott moved to Toronto in 1941, where he worked for the Canadian Press. After World War II, Scott joined Macleans Magazine, but left in 1948 to write fiction. He later worked for the Globe and Mail newspaper as well as The Toronto Telegram, where he was Sports Editor. Scott Young is inseveral Halls of Fame and in 1993, the Scott Young Public School was named in his honour in Omemee. Scott Young passed
away at 87 in 2004.
Here we go.
QUESTIONS:
1. Neil Young first came to international fame as a member of Buffalo Springfield, but before that, he was in a Toronto group with Rick James (Yes, the Motown "Superfreak" himself). What was the name of this Canadian band?
2. Buffalo Springfield's first Top 10 hit on the charts was 1967's "For What It's Worth (Hey What's That Sound)". The original members of Buffalo Springfield were Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Richie Furay, Dewey Martin and Bruce Palmer. Palmer was replaced by Jim Messina after 2 albums. When the band broke up in 1968, Stills and Young became part of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Richie Furay and Jim Messina co-founded a folk/rock group that charted 13 hits between 1970 and 1989, although they only ever had 2 Top 20 hits. "Crazy", huh? Two of this groups' members later left to join The Eagles. Can you name this folk rock band?
3. Which southern U.S. rockers recorded a Top 10 hit in response to several of Neil's songs about the south?
4. Neil never really forgot his roots in Canada and has written several songs that mention his home and native land. We're looking for two specific songs. Can you name either one?
5. Neil's father was also famous, although he didn't write songs. What did he do for a living?
ANSWERS
1. The Mynah Birds was the groups' name. RIck James went on to success at Motown; Neil Young drove down to Los Angeles in a hearse, which is where he connected with Stephen Stills on the Sunset strip. The rest is music history.
2. Poco was the name of the group. Their biggest hit was 1979's "Crazy Love" which made it to # 17 on Billboards' Hot 100 chart. Two Poco members, Randy Meisner and Timothy B. Schmidt, who were in the band at different times, both ended up as members of The Eagles.
3. Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote and recorded "Sweet Home Alabama" in answer to Neil's "Alabama" and "Southern Man". In "Sweet Home Alabama", the lyrics say, "Well I heard Mr. Young sing about her. Well, I heard ole Neil put her down. Well, I hope Neil Young will remember. A southern man don't need him around nyhow." "Sweet Home Alabama" hit its peak spot, # 8 in the fall of 1974.
4. "Helpless" is one. Those lyrics are: "There's a town in north Ontario..." The town Neil's refering to is Omemee, near Peterborough. The second song we were looking for is "Journey Through The Past". Those lyrics are: "Now I'm going back to Canada. On a journey through the past. And I won't be back until February comes."
5. Scott Young was a Canadian journalist, sports writer and novelist. Scott moved to Toronto in 1941, where he worked for the Canadian Press. After World War II, Scott joined Macleans Magazine, but left in 1948 to write fiction. He later worked for the Globe and Mail newspaper as well as The Toronto Telegram, where he was Sports Editor. Scott Young is inseveral Halls of Fame and in 1993, the Scott Young Public School was named in his honour in Omemee. Scott Young passed
away at 87 in 2004.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
The # 1 Albums of 1981
With just two months to go before we wrap up 2011, this time we're travelling back 30 years to the # 1 albums of 1981. Since these albums were all # 1, they should be easy to identify...and that's exactly what you have to do. Follow the clues and answer which # 1 album from 1981 we're looking for.
Here we go.
QUESTIONS
1. This album was # 1 for the first 6 weeks of 1981 and had been at the top of the album chart for the final week of 1980 as well. The album was recorded by a famous married couple and had only been released late in 1980. Sadly, there is a tragedy surrounding one of these artists, who was living in New York at the time. Can you name the artist and the album?
2. In mid September of 1981, an album from 5 British rockers jumped to # 1 after debuting the week before at # 8. This group had 8 previous # 1 albums, their first happened in 1965 and this one from '81 was their last # 1 album although they continued to tour and record. Some of their later albums did make the Top 5, one in 1995 went all the way to # 2, but they never had another # 1 album. Can you name this 'greatest rock'n'roll band in the world' and their 1981 album?
3. In August of '81, this groups' album went to # 1, replacing Pat Benatar's "Precious Time" album. It stayed at the top for 2 weeks before being knocked off by Stevie Nicks' "Bella Donna" album. Then it returned to # 1 for 5 more weeks starting the week of November 21, 1981. This album kept "Ghost In The Machine" by The Police out of the # 1 spot. This group has sold 70 million albums and had 16 Top 30 hits, including "Waiting For A Girl Like You", "Juke Box Hero" and "Urgent", all of which came from this 1981 album. The lead singer was an American from Rochester, New York while the co-founding guitar player was originally from England. Fourteen years later, the lead singer left and had a successful solo career before returning to the group, although he left again in 2003. This group is still touring, so the question is: can you name the group and name the # 1 album? (HINT: The album title was actually a number).
4. This was the most successful album of 1981 staying at # 1 for 15 weeks. This album, which sold 10 million copies, first hit # 1 the week of February 21st and stayed on top for 6 weeks before being toppled by "Paradise Theatre" by Styx. The album returned to # 1 two weeks later (the week of April 18th), and remained for 3 weeks before being knocked off, once again, by "Paradise Theatre". The following week, May 16th, they took over the # 1 spot and fought it out for 6 more weeks until the week of June 27th when Kim Carnes' "Mistaken Identity" album captured the top position. This was the groups'ONLY # 1 album. Their name came from a fire truck manufactured by the man who also launched the Oldsmobile. What's the name of the group and their # 1 album?
5. This artist has written several # 1 country hits over the years, but her only # 1 pop single happened in 1981, in fact it was on her only # 1 album from the same year. Ironically, this artist DIDN'T write her # 1 hit, which went on to win Grammy Awards for Record and Song of the Year. She's written songs recorded by Barbra Streisand and Kenny Rogers and later worked with him on several hit songs. She was a former member of The New Christy Minstrels, which is where she met her husband, Dave Ellingson (yeah that one won't help you at all). So who is this accomplished singer, songwriter? (HINT: Don't be 'Mistaken' about her 'Eyes').
ANSWERS
1. The album was "Double Fantasy" from John Lennon & Yoko Ono. Lennon was fatally shot on the evening of December 8, 1980 as the duo returned home to the Dakota after completing mixing a song of Yoko's at a New York recording studio. Lennons' two previous # 1 albums were in 1974 with "Walls and Bridges" and "Imagine" in 1971.
2. The 5 British musicians should have given it away. So should 'the greatest rock 'n roll band in the world' clue. It was The Rolling Stones with their 1981 # 1 album, "Tattoo You". Their previous #1 albums were: 1965's "Out of Our Heads", "Sticky Fingers" in 1971, "Exile On Main Street" in '72. In '73, it was "Goat's Head Soup" followed by "It's Only Rock 'N Roll" in ';74. Two years later in '76 came "Black And Blue", then "Some Girls" in 78. It was another two years in 1980 before "Emotional Rescue" became their latest # 1 album followed by '81's "Tattoo You".
3. Foreigner was the group we were looking for. Their '81 album was titled "4". The group was founded in 1976 by Brits Mick Jones and Ian McDonald along with American singer Lou Gramm. Gramm left in 1990, returned in '92, then left for good in 2003. Jones is the only original member still with the group "4" was Foreigner's only # 1 album, although they came close on a number of occasions (1978's "Double Vision" made it to # 3). Foreigner is currently touring and for those in the Southern Ontario area, they will be playing Casino Rama in Orillia the nights of December 2 and 3rd, then it's on to Phoenix, Denver, Chicago, Cleveland etc until early March of 2012. Their official website is foreigneronline.com.
4. This 15 week # 1 champion was "Hi Infidelity" by REO Speedwagon. The band formed in 1967 and built their reputation during the 1970's, culminating with this album in 1981. Their debut album "REO Speedwagon" was released in 1971. 2011 is the 30th anniversary of "Hi Infidelity" and this past June, the group played a Milwaukee summer fest.
5. Kim Carnes took "Bette Davis Eyes" (written by Jackie DeShannon and Donna Weiss) to # 1 for 9 weeks in the late spring of 1981. The year before, she had two Top 10 hits, including a # 4 success with "Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer", a duet with Kenny Rogers and a # 10 hit with her cover of the Smokey Robinson song, "More Love". The album that "Bette Davis Eyes" was on, "Mistaken Identity" hit # 1 on the album chart for 4 weeks starting the week of June 27, 1981. "Bette Davis Eyes" is song # 268 on the "Songs of the Century" list, compiled by the Recording Industry of America and the National Endowment For The Arts. Kim never again had a # 1 single or album, but her current album is called "Chasin' Wild Trains". She lives in Nashville these days and her official website is kimcarnes.com.
Here we go.
QUESTIONS
1. This album was # 1 for the first 6 weeks of 1981 and had been at the top of the album chart for the final week of 1980 as well. The album was recorded by a famous married couple and had only been released late in 1980. Sadly, there is a tragedy surrounding one of these artists, who was living in New York at the time. Can you name the artist and the album?
2. In mid September of 1981, an album from 5 British rockers jumped to # 1 after debuting the week before at # 8. This group had 8 previous # 1 albums, their first happened in 1965 and this one from '81 was their last # 1 album although they continued to tour and record. Some of their later albums did make the Top 5, one in 1995 went all the way to # 2, but they never had another # 1 album. Can you name this 'greatest rock'n'roll band in the world' and their 1981 album?
3. In August of '81, this groups' album went to # 1, replacing Pat Benatar's "Precious Time" album. It stayed at the top for 2 weeks before being knocked off by Stevie Nicks' "Bella Donna" album. Then it returned to # 1 for 5 more weeks starting the week of November 21, 1981. This album kept "Ghost In The Machine" by The Police out of the # 1 spot. This group has sold 70 million albums and had 16 Top 30 hits, including "Waiting For A Girl Like You", "Juke Box Hero" and "Urgent", all of which came from this 1981 album. The lead singer was an American from Rochester, New York while the co-founding guitar player was originally from England. Fourteen years later, the lead singer left and had a successful solo career before returning to the group, although he left again in 2003. This group is still touring, so the question is: can you name the group and name the # 1 album? (HINT: The album title was actually a number).
4. This was the most successful album of 1981 staying at # 1 for 15 weeks. This album, which sold 10 million copies, first hit # 1 the week of February 21st and stayed on top for 6 weeks before being toppled by "Paradise Theatre" by Styx. The album returned to # 1 two weeks later (the week of April 18th), and remained for 3 weeks before being knocked off, once again, by "Paradise Theatre". The following week, May 16th, they took over the # 1 spot and fought it out for 6 more weeks until the week of June 27th when Kim Carnes' "Mistaken Identity" album captured the top position. This was the groups'ONLY # 1 album. Their name came from a fire truck manufactured by the man who also launched the Oldsmobile. What's the name of the group and their # 1 album?
5. This artist has written several # 1 country hits over the years, but her only # 1 pop single happened in 1981, in fact it was on her only # 1 album from the same year. Ironically, this artist DIDN'T write her # 1 hit, which went on to win Grammy Awards for Record and Song of the Year. She's written songs recorded by Barbra Streisand and Kenny Rogers and later worked with him on several hit songs. She was a former member of The New Christy Minstrels, which is where she met her husband, Dave Ellingson (yeah that one won't help you at all). So who is this accomplished singer, songwriter? (HINT: Don't be 'Mistaken' about her 'Eyes').
ANSWERS
1. The album was "Double Fantasy" from John Lennon & Yoko Ono. Lennon was fatally shot on the evening of December 8, 1980 as the duo returned home to the Dakota after completing mixing a song of Yoko's at a New York recording studio. Lennons' two previous # 1 albums were in 1974 with "Walls and Bridges" and "Imagine" in 1971.
2. The 5 British musicians should have given it away. So should 'the greatest rock 'n roll band in the world' clue. It was The Rolling Stones with their 1981 # 1 album, "Tattoo You". Their previous #1 albums were: 1965's "Out of Our Heads", "Sticky Fingers" in 1971, "Exile On Main Street" in '72. In '73, it was "Goat's Head Soup" followed by "It's Only Rock 'N Roll" in ';74. Two years later in '76 came "Black And Blue", then "Some Girls" in 78. It was another two years in 1980 before "Emotional Rescue" became their latest # 1 album followed by '81's "Tattoo You".
3. Foreigner was the group we were looking for. Their '81 album was titled "4". The group was founded in 1976 by Brits Mick Jones and Ian McDonald along with American singer Lou Gramm. Gramm left in 1990, returned in '92, then left for good in 2003. Jones is the only original member still with the group "4" was Foreigner's only # 1 album, although they came close on a number of occasions (1978's "Double Vision" made it to # 3). Foreigner is currently touring and for those in the Southern Ontario area, they will be playing Casino Rama in Orillia the nights of December 2 and 3rd, then it's on to Phoenix, Denver, Chicago, Cleveland etc until early March of 2012. Their official website is foreigneronline.com.
4. This 15 week # 1 champion was "Hi Infidelity" by REO Speedwagon. The band formed in 1967 and built their reputation during the 1970's, culminating with this album in 1981. Their debut album "REO Speedwagon" was released in 1971. 2011 is the 30th anniversary of "Hi Infidelity" and this past June, the group played a Milwaukee summer fest.
5. Kim Carnes took "Bette Davis Eyes" (written by Jackie DeShannon and Donna Weiss) to # 1 for 9 weeks in the late spring of 1981. The year before, she had two Top 10 hits, including a # 4 success with "Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer", a duet with Kenny Rogers and a # 10 hit with her cover of the Smokey Robinson song, "More Love". The album that "Bette Davis Eyes" was on, "Mistaken Identity" hit # 1 on the album chart for 4 weeks starting the week of June 27, 1981. "Bette Davis Eyes" is song # 268 on the "Songs of the Century" list, compiled by the Recording Industry of America and the National Endowment For The Arts. Kim never again had a # 1 single or album, but her current album is called "Chasin' Wild Trains". She lives in Nashville these days and her official website is kimcarnes.com.
Monday, October 17, 2011
SHINE ON, SHINE ON HARVEST MOON
Well here we are, in the second half of October already. Traditionally, it's harvest season, so in honour of the time of year, this time we've got questions about 'moon'songs such as Neil Young's "Harvest Moon" (although that won't be one of the questions) or the famous jazz song from the 1930's "Moon Over Miami" (although we won't be going THAT far back). How about "Moondance" from Van Morrison or Ozzy Osbourne's "Bark At The Moon". Pink Floyds' most famous album was "Dark Side of The Moon". So, the title of the song in question may have the word 'moon' in it, or it could be in the name of a group or solo artist, but all of these songs/artists were/had major hits. To help you out, I'll even give you the decade and sometimes the exact year the song or group/artist came from. Alright, if you're ready, let's get to it.
QUESTIONS:
1. This group from the 1950's was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. One of the members went on to become a major player with Motown Records. They were an R&B group originally from Louisville, Kentucky who charted 4 hits in the latter half of the 1950's. Three of the 4 songs made it into the Top 30. Even though they didn't have one song with 'moon'in the title, it is in the groups' name. Who is this legendary group?
2. In 1961, "Blue Moon" by The Marcels wasn't the ONLY Top 20 song with the word 'moon' in the title. There was another one, by a doo wop group from Queens, New York, who only ever charted one Top 10 song. They did chart 3 other times, but never higher than 74 other than this one. This 'moon' song was originally released in 1959, but nothing happened and the group broke up. The song was re-released in 1960 and zoomed up to # 3 the following year. The groups name is a style of women's pants. There you should have it now. Can you name the song and the group?
3. Your first hint is: this song was a hit in the early 1960's for TWO artists; and the second hint is: Holly Golightly. If you know your songs, that should be enough. But just in case it isn't, it was the featured song in a very successful '60's movie whose title is about a meal you eat in the morning and a very famous New York jewellery store (although they have branches in most major cities these days). Now do you have the title?
4. This 'moon' song was written and recorded years before the 1999 movie about the life of comedian/actor Andy Kaufman starring comedian/actor Jim Carrey. The group that had the hit recently announced their break up. So what's the name of the song and the group?
5. The year is 1976, right in the heart of disco mania, but this song was totally different and really stood out. It used marimbas as a lead instrument. This groups' debut single zoomed all the way up to # 3. The band was formed in Atlanta, Georgia, but that won't help you much. If you think of that expensive coffee chain that's on practically every street corner, take off the 's' at the end and you'll have the name of the group, but what's the name of this 'moon'hit?
ANSWERS
1. We were looking for The Moonglows, who scored with Top Ten hits, "Sincerely" (# 20 in 1955); "See Saw" (# 25 in 1956); and "Ten Commandments of Love" (# 22 in 1958). "Ten Commandments of Love" was released as Harvey Fuqua and The Moonglows and featured Marvin Gaye, but Marvin wasn't the only future Motown superstar from The Moonglows. Harvey Fuqua went on become a successful producer at Motown as well as head of their Artist Development Department.
2. That would be "There's A Moon Out Tonight" by the Capris, which hit # 3 in 1961
3. The song was "Moon River" and it was the featured song in the Audrey hepburn, George Peppard, Mickey Rooney film, "Breakfast At Tiffany's". "Moon River" was a # 11 hit in 1961 for both Jerry Butler and the songs' composer, Henry Mancini.
4. REM wrote and recorded the song "Man On The Moon (Automatic For The People)" that was used in the Andy Kaufman biography, "Man On The Moon". The REM song went as far as # 13 hit in 1993.
5. The group was called Starbuck and their hit "Moonlight Feels Right" went to # 3 on Billboards' Hot 100 chart in 1976.
QUESTIONS:
1. This group from the 1950's was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. One of the members went on to become a major player with Motown Records. They were an R&B group originally from Louisville, Kentucky who charted 4 hits in the latter half of the 1950's. Three of the 4 songs made it into the Top 30. Even though they didn't have one song with 'moon'in the title, it is in the groups' name. Who is this legendary group?
2. In 1961, "Blue Moon" by The Marcels wasn't the ONLY Top 20 song with the word 'moon' in the title. There was another one, by a doo wop group from Queens, New York, who only ever charted one Top 10 song. They did chart 3 other times, but never higher than 74 other than this one. This 'moon' song was originally released in 1959, but nothing happened and the group broke up. The song was re-released in 1960 and zoomed up to # 3 the following year. The groups name is a style of women's pants. There you should have it now. Can you name the song and the group?
3. Your first hint is: this song was a hit in the early 1960's for TWO artists; and the second hint is: Holly Golightly. If you know your songs, that should be enough. But just in case it isn't, it was the featured song in a very successful '60's movie whose title is about a meal you eat in the morning and a very famous New York jewellery store (although they have branches in most major cities these days). Now do you have the title?
4. This 'moon' song was written and recorded years before the 1999 movie about the life of comedian/actor Andy Kaufman starring comedian/actor Jim Carrey. The group that had the hit recently announced their break up. So what's the name of the song and the group?
5. The year is 1976, right in the heart of disco mania, but this song was totally different and really stood out. It used marimbas as a lead instrument. This groups' debut single zoomed all the way up to # 3. The band was formed in Atlanta, Georgia, but that won't help you much. If you think of that expensive coffee chain that's on practically every street corner, take off the 's' at the end and you'll have the name of the group, but what's the name of this 'moon'hit?
ANSWERS
1. We were looking for The Moonglows, who scored with Top Ten hits, "Sincerely" (# 20 in 1955); "See Saw" (# 25 in 1956); and "Ten Commandments of Love" (# 22 in 1958). "Ten Commandments of Love" was released as Harvey Fuqua and The Moonglows and featured Marvin Gaye, but Marvin wasn't the only future Motown superstar from The Moonglows. Harvey Fuqua went on become a successful producer at Motown as well as head of their Artist Development Department.
2. That would be "There's A Moon Out Tonight" by the Capris, which hit # 3 in 1961
3. The song was "Moon River" and it was the featured song in the Audrey hepburn, George Peppard, Mickey Rooney film, "Breakfast At Tiffany's". "Moon River" was a # 11 hit in 1961 for both Jerry Butler and the songs' composer, Henry Mancini.
4. REM wrote and recorded the song "Man On The Moon (Automatic For The People)" that was used in the Andy Kaufman biography, "Man On The Moon". The REM song went as far as # 13 hit in 1993.
5. The group was called Starbuck and their hit "Moonlight Feels Right" went to # 3 on Billboards' Hot 100 chart in 1976.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
NAME THAT 80's TUNE
Well, we've had excellent response with lyrics from the 1960's and '70's that this time, we're moving on into the 1980's.
It was a decade with a lot of great hits and hitmakers, including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Madonna, Wham!, Queen and more Michael Jackson.
Ok, here's the premise. There are 5 separate lyrics listed below. You have to guess the song. Pretty easy right? AND all of these songs were bona fide number one hits. So, as auctioneer Dan says on the TV series "Storage Wars", "If you're ready to go, I'm ready to do, let's go."
QUESTIONS:
1. These lyrics come from a 1986 song. "You can't sleep, you can't eat. There's no doubt, you're in deep. Your throat is tight, you can't breathe. Another kiss is all you need." Can you name the song those lyrics come from? HINT: The writer, who's also the singer, is no longer with us.
2. 1980 was the year that these lyrics were in a number one song. "We don't need no education. We dont need no thought control. No dark sarcasm in the classroom. Teachers leave them kids alone." C'mon, if you don't get this one, what were you listening to back in 1980? Name this song if you can.
3. These are some of my favourite lyrics of all time. "Once upon a time I was falling in love, now I'm only falling apart."
Can you name the song those lyrics came from? The year was 1983 and this singer had quit her job in a candy store to sing in nighclubs in her native Wales. OK, I'm sure that didn't help you much, but at least you now know it's a female who sang the song, although she DID NOT write it and she came from Wales. Can you name the song?
4. The song these lyrics come from was number one for 3 weeks in the spring of 1987. Here are the lyrics: "My hands are tied. My body bruised. She's got me with...Nothing to win and...Nothing left to lose." The song comes from one of the biggest bands in the world. They're still touring the world today, that is, when their lead singer isn't out saving the world. Can U name this song?
5. Our last lyric comes from 1985. Duran Duran were big that year. So was Phil Collins and Tears For Fears. None of those had anything to do with this song. The lyrics are: "Now that ain't working, that's the way you do it. Let me tell you them guys ain't dumb. Maybe get a blister on your little finger. Maybe get a blister on your thumb." If you think financially, you might be on the right track. What song do these lyrics come from?
ANSWERS:
1. The song is "Addicted To Love", written and sung by the late Robert Palmer, who died on September 26th, 2003. "Addicted To Love" was number one for the week of May 3rd,1986 and was produced by Bernard Edwards, who along with partner Nile Rodgers created the 70's hit group Chic.
2. Pink Floyds' "Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)" is the song we were looking for. It was number one for 4 weeks starting in March of 1980. The song, as well as the album "The Wall", were produced by Canadian Bob Ezrin, who also was the man-in-the-control-room for hits by KISS and Alice Cooper.
3. It's "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" sung by Bonnie Tyler, who many people said sounded like a female Rod Stewart. Although Bonnie's from Wales, the song was written by American Jim Steinman, who also had a lot of success with Meatloaf. Remember "Paradise By The Dashboard Lights", "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad" and "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)?" Jim Steinman wrote them all.
4. That would be "With Or Without You" from U2. The song came from U2's "Joshua Tree" album and was written by all four members of U2. The album was co-produced by Brian Eno and Canadian Daniel Lanois.
5. Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits wrote it based on an actual conversation he overheard in a New York City appliance store.
"Money For Nothing" was number one for 3 weeks starting the week of September 21st, 1985. The song featured Sting singing "I Want My MTV" to the tune of The Police hit "Don't Stand So Close To Me", so Sting and Mark Knopfler are listed as co-writers of "Money For Nothing" because of that.
It was a decade with a lot of great hits and hitmakers, including Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie, Madonna, Wham!, Queen and more Michael Jackson.
Ok, here's the premise. There are 5 separate lyrics listed below. You have to guess the song. Pretty easy right? AND all of these songs were bona fide number one hits. So, as auctioneer Dan says on the TV series "Storage Wars", "If you're ready to go, I'm ready to do, let's go."
QUESTIONS:
1. These lyrics come from a 1986 song. "You can't sleep, you can't eat. There's no doubt, you're in deep. Your throat is tight, you can't breathe. Another kiss is all you need." Can you name the song those lyrics come from? HINT: The writer, who's also the singer, is no longer with us.
2. 1980 was the year that these lyrics were in a number one song. "We don't need no education. We dont need no thought control. No dark sarcasm in the classroom. Teachers leave them kids alone." C'mon, if you don't get this one, what were you listening to back in 1980? Name this song if you can.
3. These are some of my favourite lyrics of all time. "Once upon a time I was falling in love, now I'm only falling apart."
Can you name the song those lyrics came from? The year was 1983 and this singer had quit her job in a candy store to sing in nighclubs in her native Wales. OK, I'm sure that didn't help you much, but at least you now know it's a female who sang the song, although she DID NOT write it and she came from Wales. Can you name the song?
4. The song these lyrics come from was number one for 3 weeks in the spring of 1987. Here are the lyrics: "My hands are tied. My body bruised. She's got me with...Nothing to win and...Nothing left to lose." The song comes from one of the biggest bands in the world. They're still touring the world today, that is, when their lead singer isn't out saving the world. Can U name this song?
5. Our last lyric comes from 1985. Duran Duran were big that year. So was Phil Collins and Tears For Fears. None of those had anything to do with this song. The lyrics are: "Now that ain't working, that's the way you do it. Let me tell you them guys ain't dumb. Maybe get a blister on your little finger. Maybe get a blister on your thumb." If you think financially, you might be on the right track. What song do these lyrics come from?
ANSWERS:
1. The song is "Addicted To Love", written and sung by the late Robert Palmer, who died on September 26th, 2003. "Addicted To Love" was number one for the week of May 3rd,1986 and was produced by Bernard Edwards, who along with partner Nile Rodgers created the 70's hit group Chic.
2. Pink Floyds' "Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)" is the song we were looking for. It was number one for 4 weeks starting in March of 1980. The song, as well as the album "The Wall", were produced by Canadian Bob Ezrin, who also was the man-in-the-control-room for hits by KISS and Alice Cooper.
3. It's "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" sung by Bonnie Tyler, who many people said sounded like a female Rod Stewart. Although Bonnie's from Wales, the song was written by American Jim Steinman, who also had a lot of success with Meatloaf. Remember "Paradise By The Dashboard Lights", "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad" and "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)?" Jim Steinman wrote them all.
4. That would be "With Or Without You" from U2. The song came from U2's "Joshua Tree" album and was written by all four members of U2. The album was co-produced by Brian Eno and Canadian Daniel Lanois.
5. Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits wrote it based on an actual conversation he overheard in a New York City appliance store.
"Money For Nothing" was number one for 3 weeks starting the week of September 21st, 1985. The song featured Sting singing "I Want My MTV" to the tune of The Police hit "Don't Stand So Close To Me", so Sting and Mark Knopfler are listed as co-writers of "Money For Nothing" because of that.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
NAME THAT 70's TUNE
Last time we gave you lyrics from 1960'hits and you had to guess the name of the song. This time we're back with lyrics from the 1970's. I'll make it a little easier in that ALL of these lyrics came from # 1 hits. So if you've been listening to the radio anytime in the past 40 years, you've probably heard these songs dozens of times.
So let's get started.
QUESTIONS:
1. The lyric is: "I'm looking at my girlfriend, she's passed out on the floor. I seen so many things I ain't never seen before." Can you name the song these lyrics come from?
2. This lyric goes: "I feel like this is the beginning, 'though I've loved you for a million years. And if I thought our love was ending, I'd find myself drowning in my own tears". What's the title of that 1973 # 1 hit?
3. The lyric is: "And I know what a scene you were learning in. Was there something that made you come back again?" Time to name that tune if you can.
4. OK, here's an easy one, can you name the song these lyrics come from: "Someone left the cake out in the rain. I don't think that I can take it, 'cause it took so long to bake it and I'll never have that recipe again."
5. Get your thinking caps on brothers (HINT HINT): "Well I built me a raft and she's ready for floatin', Ol' Mississippi, she's calling my name. Catfish are jumpin'. That paddle wheels thumpin'". What song do those lyrics come from, brother?
ANSWERS
1. "Mama Told Me Not To Come" is the song. Three Dog Night is the group that made it a hit. It climbed to # 1 on July 11, 1970 and remained there for 2 weeks. The song was written by singer/songwriter/actor Hoyt Axton. You might remember him as the not-so-successful inventor dad in the 1984 movie "Gremlins". Hoyt's mother, Mae Axton, co-wrote Elvis Presley's first
# 1 hit for RCA Victor Records in 1956, "Heartbreak Hotel".
2. Stevie Wonder wrote it, sang it and took "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" to # 1 for the week of May 19, 1973.
3. It was a number one hit for the week of May 8, 1976. John Sebastian, formerly of The Lovin' Spoonful, wrote and sang "Welcome Back", and it was the theme song for Gabe Kaplan's hit TV show, "Welcome Back Kotter". The series also starred a young actor by the name of John Travolta.
4. This one was actually a hit twice. "MacArthur Park", written by Jimmy Webb, first hit the charts in 1968 with actor Richard Harris singing. That made it to # 2 on the singles chart. In 1978, Donna SUmmer re-did the song with a disco beat and took it all the way to # 1 in November of 1978. It remained # 1 for 3 weeks.
5. "Black Water" by The Doobie Brothers is the song we were looking for. It was # 1 for the week of March 15, 1975 and was originally released as the 'B' side of a 45 rpm single with "Another Park, Another Sunday" as the 'A' side. That's the song the record company thought would be a hit. It wasn't. A DJ in the southern U.S. flipped the 45 over and the rest is record history.
So let's get started.
QUESTIONS:
1. The lyric is: "I'm looking at my girlfriend, she's passed out on the floor. I seen so many things I ain't never seen before." Can you name the song these lyrics come from?
2. This lyric goes: "I feel like this is the beginning, 'though I've loved you for a million years. And if I thought our love was ending, I'd find myself drowning in my own tears". What's the title of that 1973 # 1 hit?
3. The lyric is: "And I know what a scene you were learning in. Was there something that made you come back again?" Time to name that tune if you can.
4. OK, here's an easy one, can you name the song these lyrics come from: "Someone left the cake out in the rain. I don't think that I can take it, 'cause it took so long to bake it and I'll never have that recipe again."
5. Get your thinking caps on brothers (HINT HINT): "Well I built me a raft and she's ready for floatin', Ol' Mississippi, she's calling my name. Catfish are jumpin'. That paddle wheels thumpin'". What song do those lyrics come from, brother?
ANSWERS
1. "Mama Told Me Not To Come" is the song. Three Dog Night is the group that made it a hit. It climbed to # 1 on July 11, 1970 and remained there for 2 weeks. The song was written by singer/songwriter/actor Hoyt Axton. You might remember him as the not-so-successful inventor dad in the 1984 movie "Gremlins". Hoyt's mother, Mae Axton, co-wrote Elvis Presley's first
# 1 hit for RCA Victor Records in 1956, "Heartbreak Hotel".
2. Stevie Wonder wrote it, sang it and took "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" to # 1 for the week of May 19, 1973.
3. It was a number one hit for the week of May 8, 1976. John Sebastian, formerly of The Lovin' Spoonful, wrote and sang "Welcome Back", and it was the theme song for Gabe Kaplan's hit TV show, "Welcome Back Kotter". The series also starred a young actor by the name of John Travolta.
4. This one was actually a hit twice. "MacArthur Park", written by Jimmy Webb, first hit the charts in 1968 with actor Richard Harris singing. That made it to # 2 on the singles chart. In 1978, Donna SUmmer re-did the song with a disco beat and took it all the way to # 1 in November of 1978. It remained # 1 for 3 weeks.
5. "Black Water" by The Doobie Brothers is the song we were looking for. It was # 1 for the week of March 15, 1975 and was originally released as the 'B' side of a 45 rpm single with "Another Park, Another Sunday" as the 'A' side. That's the song the record company thought would be a hit. It wasn't. A DJ in the southern U.S. flipped the 45 over and the rest is record history.
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