*A long-standing band that has been around for 5 decades plus, brought in an 18 year old guitarist in 1968.  He was full of ideas and concepts that helped move the band out the blues an into the rock music mainstream.  The band and that artist revealed...unless you don't already know...
*This long-term Canadian singer-songwriter was the subject of some very bizarre rumors back in 2010 when micro-bloggers posted a message of his death, when he was actually still alive...and still living today.  Who is the artist?  We'll play an excellent 'deep cut' this evening...
 
*A great UK artist, but a long-term resident of the US, had a bout with throat cancer, successful surgery, but actually lost his voice for almost 9 full months in the year, 2000.  Name the artist.
 
*This band's first concept album has a tune sequence that loosely follows the story of a dreamer trying to escape reality.  Using mixed metaphors and characters from Robin Hood to William Tell to Lancelot to the Wizard Of Oz, the band struck big time with it in the early 70's.  Who was the band and name that album.
 
Battle Of The Bands! You Really Got Me by Kinks  vs  My Back Pages by Byrds

1.Fleetwood Mac,  Danny Kirwin  2.Gordon Lightfoot
3. Rod Stewart   4. El Dorado by Electric Light Orchestra 
The Kinks won the Battle by a 2 votes

My research this week has uncovered some very entertaining facts that should make for great fun during the show.  I reviewed the Inside The Gates Radio more prominent musicians and wanted to see where some of them stacked up in terms of their rank in the pecking order of all-time best selling artists.  Reviewing the top 50 of all time...there were more than a few surprises.
Where do you think these artists and/or groups ranked in the Top 50?  (Units Sold)                     
Eagles    #4                                         Bob Seger  #31
Queen  #47                                        Led Zeppelin #5
Fleetwood Mac  #21                        Bob Dylan  #45
The Beatles  #1                                 Chicago  #38
Eric Clapton     #37                          The Rolling Stones  #13

​*This artist opened for the Rolling Stones way back in 1963.  During an interview in 2000, he spoke about how his years of substance abuse had affected his voice, one bad habit of which was smoking 40 cigarettes each day.  No falsetto for him (or us, from him)  Who was the artist?
 
*We'll play a song by this band that was had a gospel influence courtesy of the bands love of Aretha Franklin.  The lyrics reflect a man calling out to God, asking why he works so hard, but simply can't find love.  By the end of the song he decides the singer decides he will not accept defeat!  Name the artist/band and the song!
 
*Carrie Fisher's fame-charmed life inevitably brought her into rock circles.  She married a famous artist in 1983 and then quickly divorced the following Summer.  The song by her ex is what you'll hear tonight.  Any guesses on the artist and the song?
 
*This great song was written (by a very noteworthy songwriting team) for and originally recorded by this group in 1960 made it all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The song was notable for being the first song by a black, all-girl group to reach #1 in the US.  Who was the group and what was the song also recorded by the songwriter almost 11 years. later?
 
 
 
Battle Of The Bands! Don’t Get Me Wrong by The Pretenders  vs  Nights in White Satin by The Moody Blues

​1.Fever by Joe Cocker   2.Somebody to Love by Queen
3. She Moves On by Paul Simon    4. Will you Still Love Me Tomorrow by The Shirelles
Listeners picked The Moody Blues in the Battle of the Bands

*Were you an Elvis fan?  We go to this artist's song that makes reference to many of his songs in this cut...Heartbreak Hotel, Love Me Tender, Don't Be Cruel, and on and on.  The artist is not from the US, but has had incredible success here and worldwide actually.  Name the artist and the song.
 
*This group's song to be played this evening is a Southern expression meaning 'at my wit's end!'  Who was the band and what is the song...(Hint...the band started in Georgia)
 
*What was supposed to be a song about Los Angeles as a theme for the 1984 Olympics, which were held there, this artist instead wrote a 'tongue-in-cheek homage' to the car-cruising, sun-worshipping Los Angeles culture...something that LA officials didn't think was the image they wished to convey.  Who was the artist and what was the song?  You'll hear it this evening.
 
*The title for this Cream album was inspired by a roadie who often road his 10-speed bicycle.  We'll go to a cut on this great album (Name the album) that appears to be about a woman doing significant harm to what's inside of you.  (Name the song)...
  
Battle Of The Artists! Roll of the Dice by Bruce Springsteen vs  I Won’t Back Down by Tom Petty

​
1.Calling Elvis Dire Straits   2.Losing My Religion by R.E.M.
3. I Love L.A. by Randy Newman    4. Album is Disreali Gears  Song is Strange Brew
Listeners picked Tom Petty in the Battle of the Artists

1.This band broke up late in the year of 1967, shortly after recording this album.  The album sold poorly, but a single released from it became a huge hit in the US, even though the group had disbanded and couldn't support it
Any guesses who the group and what that song might be?
 
2.This American 'arena rock' band started in the late 60's with their 1st album released in 1969.  It didn't sell well at the time, but their 1st single released from it got some traction.  Their 2nd album, however, took them to new heights, even dragging up sales of their 1st album.  We'll go to that 1st single this evening...
 
3.The 23rd studio album of this legendary artist had a significant list of contributors on the album.  We're going to dip into one of the songs from that album...one that is played in the end credits of the 1992 action film, Lethal Weapon 3. 
 
4.This famous artist had a long solo career, but also a short tenure in what today, might be called, a 'supergroup'
But back in the early days of his popularity, he had a couple of famous acts open for him.  One performer that did just that was Elvis Presley.  The other famous group opened for and toured with him in 1963.  Name the headliner and the opening group...
 
Battle Of The Artists! My Thanksgiving by Don Henley vs The Allnighter by Glenn Frey
 

​
1.Time of the Season The Zombies Rolling Stones   2.On Time Grand Funk Railroad
3.Runaway Train Elton John with Eric Clapton    4. Move on Down the Line Roy Orbison Opener The Beatles
Listeners picked Don Henley by 1 vote in the Battle of the Artists

 

​1.It became common practice for companies to use rock music in advertising campaigns and this was one of the leading songs to hold such a distinction.  Microsoft paid $10 Million for the use of this one..
 
2.Father Edward Flanagan founded Boys Town in Omaha, NE in 1917.  The motto of Boys Town became a title for a song that was originally offered (and turned down) by Joe Cocker.  Another group made it one of their biggest hits ever..
 
3.This artist was bemoaning how difficult his life was while getting treatment for drug addiction and bulimia in 1990.  To get out of his bubble, he started doing things by himself...making his own phone calls, booking his own hotel rooms and got a dog to take care of...He wrote a song about it.  Who was the artist and song?
 
4.This artist got the inspiration for a new album a few days after the 9/11 attacks, when a stranger in a car stopped next to him, rolled down his window and said, "We need you now!"  Who was the artist and album?
 
Battle Of The Bands! Fooling Yourself by Styx  vs  Delta Lady by Joe Cocker
 

1.Start Me Up Rolling Stones   2.He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother Hollies
3.Simple Life  Elton John    4.The Rising  Bruce Springsteen
Listeners picked Joe Cocker by 1 vote in the Battle of the Bands