*** music trivia ***

[Roy Tucker]

160. It's August of 1970 and Deep Purple have arrived in the US to kick off their first tour of America. The tour was scheduled to launch from San Antonio. But there's a problem---a BIG problem. With this being the band's first ever show in the U.S. , they had been advised to get flu shots, which they did. But lead guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore, fell ill just prior to the gig as a result of a bad reaction to the flu shot. He was unable to perform. The band , not wanting to cancel the show, asked a young 18 year-old local guitarist to fill in for Blackmore.

The young long-haired, heavy metal -lovin' axeman was one of the hottest young guitarists in the area and was a huge Blackmore and Deep Purple fan. He was already familiar with most of the band's catalog, so the band decided to roll with him as Blackmore's replacement at lead guitar. The young musician, who played in a covers band called Flash, had the blessing of everyone except for Deep Purple front man, Ian Gillian, who was against the idea. Anyway, the show went on. Before the band left town, the young guitarist got to meet his hero, Ritchie Blackmore , at the airport. Ritchie thanked the young guitarist for filling in for him.

Oddly, over the many years since the first ever U.S. show for the band , the band members of Deep Purple have been reluctant to acknowledge what happened on that night in late August of 1970 in San Antonio. The late keyboardist for the band, Jon Lord, when asked about it, flat out denied that it ever took place, saying ... "it never happened, ever." But it did. Another local guitarist whose band opened for Deep Purple that night has confirmed that Blackmore was ill and the 18 year-old from San Antonio filled in for Ritchie.

I wonder how familiar Deep Purple was with the young hippie that became lead guitarist for the band for a single night back in 1970? From what I hear, they knew the kid was a big fan who was familiar with a lot of their music and was one of the hottest young blues guitarists in the area. I wonder if they knew the kid had opened for Led Zepplin just a year prior to the San Antonio show. In fact, he had even purchased Jimmy Page's amp head and cabinet for $700.

Who was the lead guitarist, and Blackmore replacement, for Deep Purple on August 28, 1970 in San Antonio--- their first ever live show in the U.S. ???

I know this one. It was Christopher Cross which is really weird.

I saw Deep Purple a year later on a twin bill with Rod Stewart. Good show. I liked Deep Purple more but that was just that I liked wild showoff guitar at that time. I started liking Rod Stewart more with Every Picture Tells a Story.

[texasdave]

I know this one. It was Christopher Cross which is really weird.

I saw Deep Purple a year later on a twin bill with Rod Stewart. Good show. I liked Deep Purple more but that was just that I liked wild showoff guitar at that time. I started liking Rod Stewart more with Every Picture Tells a Story.

You could have given me a thousand guesses and I never would have said Christopher Cross. I would have offered up Kris Kross before I got to CC.

[Roy Tucker]

You could have given me a thousand guesses and I never would have said Christopher Cross. I would have offered up Kris Kross before I got to CC.

I read this somewhere and it stuck in my head because I had a reaction like yours. Like, whaaat? I’d like to hear a recording of it.

[texasdave]

I guess CC really did have some serious guitar chops. This is from Wiki:

Although best known for his vocals and songwriting, Cross is also a skilled guitarist. Donald ***en and Walter Becker of Steely Dan invited Cross to play on their albums, but Cross declined because "he was so intimidated, afraid to do it."[13] Cross also substituted for Ritchie Blackmore during a Deep Purple concert in 1970 when Blackmore fell ill

[Ky Fried Redleg]

CC and his Austin-based band ,[Flash, opened for Led Zepplin in 1969, about a year before Chris filled in for Deep Purple:

[Ky Fried Redleg]

161. Between 1972 and 1986, what band had more combined Top 40 hits(47) in the US and UK than any other band in the world. During their 13-year active period within that timeframe, they amassed 27 UK Top 40 singles and 20 US Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hits. This same band holds the record for the most Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hits (20) without ever reaching a number-one single in the US.

Name the band. Are you a fan?

[texasdave]

ELO'S album - Eldorado - is one of the finest pieces of music ever put to plastic.

[Ky Fried Redleg]

ELO'S album - Eldorado - is one of the finest pieces of music ever put to plastic.

Mr. Lynne knew how to make him some music. One of the best ever. "Genius" is a WAY overused descriptor but in Jeff Lynne's case, it's wholly appropriate.

[Roy Tucker]

Eldorado is when ELO got my attention. Before that, I thought they were just a Beatles “Strawberry Fields Forever” era ripoff.

[texasdave]

Eldorado is when ELO got my attention. Before that, I thought they were just a Beatles “Strawberry Fields Forever” era ripoff.

For me, it was their cover of the Chuck Berry song "Roll Over Beethoven".

[Ky Fried Redleg]

162. About 58 years ago, the writers of this song were sitting in the singer's apartment at 888 Eighth Avenue(can't get anymore "8" than that) in Manhattan , working on a song. They were struggling to come up with a girl's name to fit the music. Then, the singer/songwriter looked out of the window of his apartment and caught sight of the Mutual of New York insurance building at 1740 Broadway and the four big illuminated letters sitting atop the building. They now had their inspiration for the song, which went all the way to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It went to #1 in the UK, becoming the singer's only top 20 hit there. Not bad for a song intended as just a nonsensical party anthem.

Fast forward almost twenty years. A young English rocker who had gained notoriety in the punk movement in Great Britain, covered the song in 1981, and then again in 1987. His live 1987 cover of his '81 cover of the original '68 song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Oddly enough(and this is VERY odd), the song that the '87 cover replaced at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 was also a cover of a song by the same original artist , who took that song to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 early in 1967.

It is the first and only time in history that back-to back #1 songs were both cover songs of the same original artist. Can you name both songs and the artist who originally took the songs into the top 5 nearly 60 years ago. I'm a big fan of this guy's music.

[texasdave]

Mutual Of New York = MONY. That was written by Tommy James and the Shondells. The cover artist in question is Mr. Snarl Himself, Billy Idol. Idol was in the punk band Generation X. The other Tommy James cover was "I think we're alone now' by Debbie Gibson.

[Ky Fried Redleg]

Mutual Of New York = MONY. That was written by Tommy James and the Shondells. The cover artist in question is Mr. Snarl Himself, Billy Idol. Idol was in the punk band Generation X. The other Tommy James cover was "I think we're alone now' by Debbie Gibson.

Tiffany.

[Ky Fried Redleg]

162. About 58 years ago, the writers of this song were sitting in the singer's apartment at 888 Eighth Avenue(can't get anymore "8" than that) in Manhattan , working on a song. They were struggling to come up with a girl's name to fit the music. Then, the singer/songwriter looked out of the window of his apartment and caught sight of the Mutual of New York insurance building at 1740 Broadway and the four big illuminated letters sitting atop the building. They now had their inspiration for the song, which went all the way to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It went to #1 in the UK, becoming the singer's only top 20 hit there. Not bad for a song intended as just a nonsensical party anthem.

Fast forward almost twenty years. A young English rocker who had gained notoriety in the punk movement in Great Britain, covered the song in 1981, and then again in 1987. His live 1987 cover of his '81 cover of the original '68 song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Oddly enough(and this is VERY odd), the song that the '87 cover replaced at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 was also a cover of a song by the same original artist , who took that song to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 early in 1967.

It is the first and only time in history that back-to back #1 songs were both cover songs of the same original artist. Can you name both songs and the artist who originally took the songs into the top 5 nearly 60 years ago. I'm a big fan of this guy's music.

#3 in 1968 / #1 in 1987(Billy Idol)




# 4 in 1967 / #1 in 1987 (Tiffany)

[texasdave]

Tiffany.

I knew that. 40 years ago. I bought a Best Of Tommy James and the Shondells out a bargain bin once. He had a lot of good songs. Best 99 cents that I ever spent. Or close to it.