*** music trivia ***

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ky Fried Redleg

151. This British R&B and Soul singer was born in Wembley, England to Guyanese parents. Before her pop success, she was a West End performer in London, appearing in productions of Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Godspell. Her first hit was a Motown-inspired song that was famously written in seven minutes by two guys while enroute to a hospital where one of the writers' wives was giving birth .

The singer who was offered the song had to be convinced to record it. She couldn't stand the song at first. Didn't think it was any good at all. She finally agreed to record it, but only if it was released under a pseudonym, That's right, she disliked the song much that she didn't even want it connected to her real name. LOL She also wanted the staggering sum of around $45 US dollars. So yeah, she wasn't impressed by this song, and didn't think it had any chance of success. Boy, was she wrong!

She eventually agreed to have the song released under her real name and she was convinced to take a royalty payment, instead of a small flat fee( that decision was worth millions) . The song peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976 and was a staple on the charts throughout the spring of '76. The song was prominently featured in the 1977 movie, Slapshot.

The artist remained a one-hit wonder for around three years when she struck gold again in 1979 with a song that was co-written by the same woman who co-wrote "September"(Earth, Wind & Fire) and the theme to the television series "Friends." The song peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1979 and sat atop the Adult Contemporary chart for seven non-consecutive weeks. The song was pretty much autobiographical for the writer, as she was going through a painful breakup at the time she penned the song. She was inspired by the Samantha Sang song, entitled "Emotion," and wanted to write something along the same lines.

About her second big hit song, the singer would describe it as , "[a] sweet, simple little song", adding that its being chosen as a single was a decision with which she had disagreed.

All I can say is that this lady had very little faith in either of her big hits becoming successful. Fortunately for her and her bank account , she listened to the people around her.


Can you name this singer and her two big top 5 hits from 1976 and 1979 ?

---

#2 in 1976:

https://youtu.be/dANdPhs3Ilo?list=RDdANdPhs3Ilo



#5 in 1979:


Maxine is a gorgeous woman with a divine instrument of a voice. She is still gorgeous today and still sings amazing.

https://youtu.be/VqoawK1bQIM

152. Primarily known for his success in the 1970's , this singer first charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at age 12, when he was known as Bobby Pedrick, Jr. His song, "White Bucks and Saddle Shoes" peaked at #74. But his first major chart success came in 1972 when he peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 with a cover of a song by a prominent 60's doo-wop band. His biggest smash was yet to come , however. After his chart success in '72, he became frustrated with the music industry and left the music business to work in construction in New Jersey. After years of doing construction, he was encouraged to get back in to making music.

In 1979, he worked for months on a song with producer George Tobin. The song, inspired by Dobby Bose's "My Angel Baby," told of a man tenderly breaking the news to a temporary lover that he was ending their affair because his main lover was returning home. You feel me, guys? We've been there, haven't we?

The song became the singer's biggest hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100 late in 1979 and knocking the biggest hit of the year from it's six-week reign at the top of the chart.

There were two Billboard records set with this song in '79. It was the song which took the longest time from when it debuted to when it reached #1(20 weeks) . The song also marked the longest time that had elapsed between when a singer first debuted on the Billboard charts to when this song hit the chart( 20 years, 11 months). I think Tina Turner later broke that record, and then Brenda Lee in 2023.

Also, this dude, in my opinion, had the only falsetto in the 70's that rivaled that of Barry Gibb, and he put it to good use in this #1 song.


Can you name this singer, his big #1 song, and the #1 song of 1979 that he knocked out of the top spot after its six week run there? For bonus points what was his top 5 song in 1972, which was a cover of a #1 hit by prominent sixties doo-wop band?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ky Fried Redleg

152. Primarily known for his success in the 1970's , this singer first charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at age 12, when he was known as Bobby Pedrick, Jr. His song, "White Bucks and Saddle Shoes" peaked at #74. But his first major chart success came in 1972 when he peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 with a cover of a song by the doo-wop band, The Tokens . His biggest smash was yet to come , however. After his chart success in '72, he became frustrated with the music industry and left the music business to work in construction in New Jersey. After years of doing construction, he was encouraged to get back in to making music.

In 1979, he worked for months on a song with producer George Tobin. The song, inspired by Dobby Bose's "My Angel Baby," told of a man tenderly breaking the news to a temporary lover that he was ending their affair because his main lover was returning home. You feel me, guys? We've been there, haven't we?

The song became the singer's biggest hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100 late in 1979 and knocking the biggest hit of the year from it's six-week reign at the top of the chart.

There were two Billboard records set with this song in '79. It was the song which took the longest time from when it debuted to when it reached #1(20 weeks) . The song also marked the longest time that elapsed between when a singer first debuted on the Billboard charts to when this song hit the chart( 20 years, 11 months).

Also, this dude, in my opinion, had the only falsetto in the 70's that rivaled that of Barry Gibb, and he put it to good use in this #1 song.


Can you name this singer, his big #1 song, and the #1 song of 1979 that he knocked out of the top spot after its six week run there?

---

The song is Sad Eyes by Robert John. If I am not mistaken, his earlier hit - a cover, as you mentioned - was The Lion Sleeps Tonight.

I am far less confident about the smash hit that Sad Eyes dethroned as # 1, but I do remember the following song spending several weeks, if not months, in heavy, heavy airplay around the time, so I will go with The Knack’s My Sharona.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Here’s a fairly easy trivia question. During the Michael McDonald era, the Doobie Brothers produced two Top 30 hits in which McDonald either didn’t sing lead or sang co-lead. Can you name the songs?

Here are some hints: 1)One is the long-forgotten third single from the Minute by Minute Album. Patrick Simmons sings lead here. 2)The other proved to be the band’s last hit of the McDonald era. McDonald sang co-lead with Saxophone player Cornelius Bumpas (R.I.P).


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ky Fried Redleg

152. Primarily known for his success in the 1970's , this singer first charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at age 12, when he was known as Bobby Pedrick, Jr. His song, "White Bucks and Saddle Shoes" peaked at #74. But his first major chart success came in 1972 when he peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 with a cover of a song by a prominent 60's doo-wop band. His biggest smash was yet to come , however. After his chart success in '72, he became frustrated with the music industry and left the music business to work in construction in New Jersey. After years of doing construction, he was encouraged to get back in to making music.

In 1979, he worked for months on a song with producer George Tobin. The song, inspired by Dobby Bose's "My Angel Baby," told of a man tenderly breaking the news to a temporary lover that he was ending their affair because his main lover was returning home. You feel me, guys? We've been there, haven't we?

The song became the singer's biggest hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100 late in 1979 and knocking the biggest hit of the year from it's six-week reign at the top of the chart.

There were two Billboard records set with this song in '79. It was the song which took the longest time from when it debuted to when it reached #1(20 weeks) . The song also marked the longest time that had elapsed between when a singer first debuted on the Billboard charts to when this song hit the chart( 20 years, 11 months). I think Tina Turner later broke that record, and then Brenda Lee in 2023.

Also, this dude, in my opinion, had the only falsetto in the 70's that rivaled that of Barry Gibb, and he put it to good use in this #1 song.


Can you name this singer, his big #1 song, and the #1 song of 1979 that he knocked out of the top spot after its six week run there? For bonus points what was his top 5 song in 1972, which was a cover of a #1 hit by prominent sixties doo-wop band?

---

#1 in 1979:


https://youtu.be/Xq0KPEIhuHg?list=RDXq0KPEIhuHg




#3 in 1972 :


https://youtu.be/6n0uVCWqsZs?list=RD6n0uVCWqsZs




Dethroned by "Sad Eyes" :


https://youtu.be/bbr60I0u2Ng?list=RDbbr60I0u2Ng

https://youtu.be/EcB01L0A3nA?list=RDEcB01L0A3nA


https://youtu.be/WwxAKJX9jdw?list=RDWwxAKJX9jdw

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by texasdave

https://youtu.be/EcB01L0A3nA?list=RDEcB01L0A3nA


https://youtu.be/WwxAKJX9jdw?list=RDWwxAKJX9jdw

---

The first one’s correct. The second one is actually the follow-up single to Real Love. You’ll get this…


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Let's try this one. https://youtu.be/2QRBCyuO40k?list=RD2QRBCyuO40k

I really liked the original iteration of the Doobie Bros, but never got into the Michael McDonald era. China Grove, Long Train Running, Listen to the Music, Black Water etc. was the group's high point, IMO. In fact, Another Park, Another Sunday is probably my favorite Doobie song.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by texasdave

I really liked the original iteration of the Doobie Bros, but never got into the Michael McDonald era. China Grove, Long Train Running, Listen to the Music, Black Water etc. was the group's high point, IMO. In fact, Another Park, Another Sunday is probably my favorite Doobie song.

---

That was probably the best example of a change in lead vocalist following the predecessor’s departure from the band leading to a drastically different sound, but also an additional relatively sustained level of commercial success for a band. The late Brian Howe replacing Paul Rodgers in Bad Company is another, though, in that case, the band wanted to forge their own identity as a new band with a new name. Alas, the record company wouldn’t allow it.

But back to the Doobies, I, too, love Another Park, Another Sunday and I am still surprised it wasn’t a bigger pop hit than it was, even though it remains a classic rock radio staple. As for the McDonald era, Dependin’ On You, the Kenny Loggins-penned What A Fool Believes and It Keeps You Runnin’ are the only tracks from that era that haven’t reached take them or leave them status with me.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by texasdave

I really liked the original iteration of the Doobie Bros, but never got into the Michael McDonald era. China Grove, Long Train Running, Listen to the Music, Black Water etc. was the group's high point, IMO. In fact, Another Park, Another Sunday is probably my favorite Doobie song.

---

tdave,

I came here to explicitly post exactly what you said above. Definitely preferred the pre-McDonald Doobies. Even though they had a good measure of success with MM, I never felt like he was a good fit for the band. Also, weirdly enough, I was gonna ask you and Rev and Roy your thoughts on "Another Park, Another Sunday." So strange! I LOVE that song ! Should have been a top 10 song. It's one of the Doobies' best , imo. I wonder if it hadn't been yanked from the radio, would it have been a top 10 song?


https://youtu.be/8xUBoG7uGho?list=RD8xUBoG7uGho

I’m a “Black Water” fan for the Doobs. Nice piece of music combining different melodies and times unlike other Doobie Bros songs of that era. Broke out of the boogie mold of that era.

153. Do you mind if we go back to the disco era for a moment. I know, I know, some of that sucked pretty bad but it was still better than anything out today. Don't try to pretend that you didn't hit the dance floor and get your groove on to some of that s##t back in the latter part of the seventies. We were all guilty. ABBA's "Dancing Queen" was our guilty pleasure.

This question concerns a song that became one of the last big hits of the pure disco era. It reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of '79. The song was originally written for an 11-year old(remember Stacy Lattisaw ?/ "Love on a Two-Way Street), with the lyrics being about talking on the telephone. But when little Stacy switched record labels, the song was offered to someone else. That someone else was a Memphis-born singer who took the song to the top of the charts.

Now, mind you, this was not exactly the same song offered to little Stacy Lattisaw. The lyrics of the song were re-worked to reflect more mature themes. It went from a teeny-bopper tune about chatting on the phone to a sultry disco classic with sexual double entendres. There was some minor controversy because of the implied sexual content(Tipper Gore's head wanted to explode).

The song was the singer's one and only hit. It was not only #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 but it also topped the Soul Singles and Disco charts , as well as the UK Singles Chart, Canadian, and Spanish charts. The singer was nominated for a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance(losing to Dionne Warwick).

So, why am I talking about a disco song from 1979? Well, one, because that's what I like to do ---talk about songs that were popular in an era that loved and grew up in. But why this particular song? It just so happens that this song started trending on Tik Tok early in March of this year and the # of streams exploded, seeing an increase of 277% for the week ending March 5 alone. Since going viral on Tik Tok in early March , the song experienced a massive resurgence, reaching No. 1 on both the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales in March of this year, and peaking at #5 on the the general Billboard Digital Song Sales chart?

Why the sudden resurgence in interest for 47 year-old disco song? Well, this is where it gets really interesting.

The viral sensation of the song recently on Tik Tok was driven by a Gen Z trend claiming the song acts as an "abundance frequency" or "matrix hack" to manifest wealth and financial luck. Social media users, particularly on TikTok, have dubbed the song a "money manifestation" anthem, with claims that listening to it helps attract prosperity. The song is widely used as the background track for TikTok videos showcasing financial gains, manifesting, or "wealthy lifestyles," with hashtags such as #WealthyWednesdays and #AbundanceFrequency. You've heard of the "Law of Attraction", haven't you?

Those who believe this crock of s##t argue that the song is secretly tuned to 432 Hz, often referred to in online communities as a healing or manifestation frequency. The standard, most common frequency for tuning instruments in modern music is A4 = 440 Hz, often referred to as concert pitch or standard tuning. It is used in over 90% of music. 432 Hz is a common alternative considered by some to be in harmony with nature and 8 Hz Schumann resonance. There have been many articles written that have debated the health effects of 440Hz vs 432 Hz. in music.

The story doesn't end here. There are stories (myths) going around that all casinos in Las Vegas have banned this 1979 song from their playlists because it is bringing gamblers an overabundance of good luck and winnings, far exceeding what is normal. Do casinos even have playlists? And, if so, are they published ? How would anyone even know this? I call bulls##t .

The only thing this particular song ever did for me is it got me laid once. So... come to think about, maybe there is something to this manifestation of good fortune thing.

Long live the Law of Attraction.


Can you name the song?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvEcIeWhjyU&list=RDAvEcIeWhjyU&start_radio =1

I got out of the Air Force in May of 1979 and reconnected with a blue-eyed, blonde-haired acquaintance, one of the few of my horde that still lived in the old neighborhood when I got back. She loved this song. I didn't. It turned out to be a very short, but sweet, reconnection.

154. This band, originally known as the Iveys when they formed back in 1961, renamed themselves in '69 after signing with the Beatles' Apple Records. They took their new name from the working title for the Beatles' 1967 song, "With a Little Help From My Friends." They had four consecutive worldwide hits from 1970-1972. One was written and produced by Paul McCartney; one was produced by George Harrison; a third was produced by Todd Rundgren.

Another well known 1970 song of this band become a #1 song for another artist in 1972 and a #1 hit in the UK for Mariah Carey in 1994. Yet another one of the band's songs was featured in the finale of the American television series Breaking Bad, reviving its popularity amongst a new generation of listeners.

Sadly, the band is known as much for heartbreaking tragedy as it is for the fine music it produced. Two of the band's founding members both committed suicide , eight years apart, as a result of depression over financial struggles , resulting from being cheated out of their money by a ruthless and crooked management team. Both men hanged themselves. The first bandmember to die was only 27 and was awaiting the birth of his daughter. He was facing bankruptcy after the band's manager had run off with the band's money and his record label had terminated the band's contract. He hanged himself in his garage and left a note suicide note calling the unscrupulous manager " a soulless bastard."

Eight years later, following a bitter argument with a fellow bandmate over record royalties, the band's bassist hanged himself in his garden. Word is, he was never able to come to terms with the suicide death of his fellow bandmate eight years earlier. Pretty sad stuff. This band made some good music.

You know the name of this band, don't you? Name them.

For bonus points, who was the artist that took their 1970 song to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks early in 1972? The song was co-written by the two guys who committed suicide years later.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ky Fried Redleg

154. This band, originally known as the Iveys when they formed back in 1961, renamed themselves in '68 after the working title for the Beatles' 1967 song, "With a Little Help From My Friends." They had four consecutive worldwide hits from 1970-1972. One was written and produced by Paul McCartney; one was produced by George Harrison; a third was produced by Todd Rundgren.

Another well known 1970 song of this band become a #1 song for another artist in 1972 and a #1 hit in the UK for Mariah Carey in 1994. Yet another one of the band's songs was featured in the finale of the American television series Breaking Bad, reviving its popularity amongst a new generation of listeners.

Sadly, the band is known as much for heartbreaking tragedy as it is for the fine music it produced. Two of the band's founding members both committed suicide , eight years apart, as a result of depression over financial struggles , resulting from being cheated out of their money by a ruthless and crooked management team. Both men hanged themselves. The first bandmember to die was only 27 and was awaiting the birth of his daughter. He was facing bankruptcy after the band's manager had run off with the band's money and his record label had terminated the band's contract. He hanged himself in his garage and left a note suicide note calling the unscrupulous manager " a soulless bastard."

Eight years later, following a bitter argument with a fellow bandmate over record royalties, hangthe band's bassist hanged himself in his garden. Word is, he was never able to come to terms with the suicide death of his fellow bandmate eight years earlier. Pretty sad stuff. This band made some good music.

You know the band, don't you?

---

They were awesome….Badfinger.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ky Fried Redleg

tdave,

I came here to explicitly post exactly what you said above. Definitely preferred the pre-McDonald Doobies. Even though they had a good measure of success with MM, I never felt like he was a good fit for the band. Also, weirdly enough, I was gonna ask you and Rev and Roy your thoughts on "Another Park, Another Sunday." So strange! I LOVE that song ! Should have been a top 10 song. It's one of the Doobies' best , imo. I wonder if it hadn't been yanked from the radio, would it have been a top 10 song?


https://youtu.be/8xUBoG7uGho?list=RD8xUBoG7uGho

---

I really enjoy all of the backstories for bands/tracks. I had no idea Another Park, Another Sunday was yanked from radio stations. I had to look it up and it seemed pretty lame to have done so due to the line about ‘Radio bringing me down’. It’s also interesting that Black Water was the original B-Side.

As an aside, given Billboard did not begin charting Top Rock Tracks from AOR Radio Stations until mid-March of 1981, you have to believe Another Park, Another Sunday would have been a Top 10 Rock Track had the chart existed in 1974. You also have to believe several now-classic Doobie Brothers’ tracks would have reached #1 on such a chart. We’ll never know, but it’s fun to think about.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Revering4Blue

I really enjoy all of the backstories for bands/tracks. I had no idea Another Park, Another Sunday was yanked from radio stations. I had to look it up and it seemed pretty lame to have done so due to the line about ‘Radio bringing me down’. It’s also interesting that Black Water was the original B-Side.

As an aside, given Billboard did not begin charting Top Rock Tracks from AOR Radio Stations until mid-March of 1981, you have to believe Another Park, Another Sunday would have been a Top 10 Rock Track had the chart existed in 1974. You also have to believe several now-classic Doobie Brothers’ tracks would have reached #1 on such a chart. We’ll never know, but it’s fun to think about.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

---

I agree with you. Very, very lame to pull the plug on "APAS" for that line. I imagine it offended the sensibilities of some people in radio. Ridiculous. I spoke about that in post #526 of this thread when I writing the trivia for "Black Water," the original B-side of "Another Park, Another Sunday." I'm like you, I enjoy pondering the incidents that inspired some of our favorite songs and also what events might have kept some songs from becoming even bigger hits on the charts.