*The 1st half of the 1970's was the heyday of introspective songwriting and close-harmony singing. This band lay at the commercial end of this movement, releasing a string of singles that earned significant radio play for years. The members of the band all met in the school they attended. Name the band...
*Although musically this song is quite a jangly and catchy track, its lyrical theme is actually pretty dark. The concept is quite serious...it's all about people that crave power, about warfare and the misery it causes. It was even darker prior to the re-write of the title phrase, but got a bit more positive with the new lyrics. Name the band and extra credit for the name of the song from 1985... *The story behind this 1967 track was the fact that the co-writer band members realized as musicians, that their busy schedules were extremely tight and that they could only see their significant others on a certain day of the week. The track was presented to the executives at Atlantic Records, who were not impressed. But influential DJ at the time, Murray the K, heard it, loved it and it got recorded. Name the band and extra credit for the name of the song.... *This great artist reached her commercial high point with the release of this album in 1974, a remarkably deft fusion of folk, pop and jazz...her best-selling work to date. A number of tracks on the album explored the roles of honesty and trust in relationships, romantic and otherwise. This track tends to be fraught with worry and self-doubt in direct opposition to the music, which is smart and smooth from start to finish. Name the legendary California artist and some serious extra credit for the name of the song we'll enjoy later today... BATTLE OF THE BANDS Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears vs Imaginary Lover by Atlanta Rhythm Section ANSWERS 1. America 2. Tears for Fears, Everybody Wants to Rule the World 3. The Rascals, Groovin’ 4. Joni Mitchell, Same Situation Battle of the Bands : Tears for Fears won with 54% of votes
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*Described as a more radio-friendly version of Lynyrd Skynyrd or The Allman Brothers, this Southern band hit the upper reaches of the charts during the late 70's. Starting in the early 70's and created from the remnants of two groups, they were a studio house band that elevated their game and popularity. 3 albums in the first 3 years did little for them, but in 1976 they started anew and had a breakout album in 1978. Name the band...
*This legendary artist got his start as a DJ on a Memphis radio station. He played a 1951 track often...the subject of which was about moving on from a relationship gone bad. The DJ turned musician would go on to play and record this song more than a few times over the next 2 decades. That said he didn't ever feel great about any of those efforts. A producer he hooked up with later suggested he record the song with strings. He did and that was the version that became a huge hit. Name the artist and extra credit for the name of the track... *We'll go back to 1964 for a track about a guy who goes to Mexico and enjoys the company of a young lady whose boyfriend, Jose, is one bad dude. The story ends with our character escaping out the window, lucky to live to tell the tale. The songwriting team of Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart wrote the song for this band. Name the band and extra credit for the name of the song.... *The characters of this popular track from 1977 are all cronies of the infamous Andy Warhol Factory, as was the artist who recorded it. The track was worded so straight folks could miss out on the implications of the lyrics without being offended, while very much leaning in appeal to the gay community. Name the artist and extra credit for the name of the track... BATTLE OF THE BANDS Hello It’s Me by Todd Rundgren vs Hold On by Santana ANSWERS 1. Atlanta Rhythm Section 2. B. B. King, The Thrill is Gone 3. Come A Little Bit Closer, Jay & the Americans 4. Lou Reed, Walk On The Wild Side Battle of the Bands : Santana won with 52% of votes *Very few rock & roll songs rival the sexual excitement and anticipation of this track originally recorded in 1965. It is a classic 3-chord rocker that became a garage rock anthem, one that would be covered by a number of great bands including The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and Patti Smith. The original version finds the lead vocalist doing his best Howlin' Wolf growl as he identifies the source of his lust. Name the band and extra credit for the name of the song...
*The opening line of this song from 1982 makes it seem like it is going to be a love song to the woman identified in the title. However, a few lines into the track we learn that she's a heartbreaker. By the end of the song, we learn that she's been gone for nearly a year, leaving the poor guy a wreck. Keyboardist and founding member of the band actually thought the song might impress the girl who was the object of his desire. Name the band and the song... *From the outset, this artist was extremely hard to pigeonhole into any one category. Was he country, blues or perhaps even retro-jazz? To him and fans it really didn't matter. His 1989 album almost certainly sidelined any career aspirations as a mainstream country artist, but probably openly invited and created an even broader fan base. This album shows vocals full of subtle nuance along with a brilliant band. Name the artist and extra credit for the name of the album... *Born in Southern Mississippi and raised in Alabama, this artist moved to Nashville to try and make it in country music in the late 60's. Since then his easygoing Gulf Coast persona has built not only a great catalogue of music, but a truly diversified business empire. Name the artist... BATTLE OF THE BANDS Happy Together by The Turtles vs You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice by Lovin’ Spoonful ANSWERS 1. Gloria, Them (Van Morrison) 2. Toto, Rosanna 3. Lyle Lovett, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band 4. Jimmy Buffett Battle of the Bands : The Turtles won with 51% of votes *We'll play a track that was written by Paul Williams...(you know the mimi-me from Smokey and The Bandit). He wrote many songs, more than a few recorded by this monster band from the late 60's, forward. We'll play a track from their 1971 album, that album being the band's 7th gold album in 3 years. The tour this band did in support of the album proved that large concert venues like Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium were quite doable, basically giving birth to the era of stadium rock. Name the band...
*This bandmember and songwriter wrote a track we'll enjoy...both music and lyrics...the latter inspired by the saying, 'The South Will Rise Again', something he first heard while visiting the South. This led him to research the Civil War. The song created a fictional main character that navigated (as a Virginia train worker) a narrative from the War throughout the song. Name the band and extra credit for the song name... *Having stretched your musical mind...I offer you a slow pitch to knock out of the park. This terrific album from 1974 sports a cover reminiscent of a scene from the movie, The Wizard Of Oz. Name the band that did the album and extra credit for the name of the album... And then truly look forward to enjoying the track we'll share... *Singer/songwriter royalty released an album in 1975 with a repudiation of his incredible backing band of the recent past. It. finds the artist, in a way, retreating to the past...a largely quiet, acoustic-based album. It is the sound of a terrific artist returning to his musical strengths while navigating a very personal traumatic situation, the breakdown of his marriage. Of whom...do I speak? Name the artist... BATTLE OF THE BANDS Moondance by Van Morrison vs Moonshadow by Cat Stevens ANSWERS 1. Three Dog Night 2. The Band, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down 3. Electric Light Orchestra, Eldorado 4. Bob Dylan Battle of the Bands : Van Morrison won with 52% of votes *The 1980's started off hot for this great artist with a million-selling album, but despite the success, the singer was having financial woes. It might have led to a decision not to enlist a stable of musicians for the next album, opting instead to play all the instruments including piano, drums, harmonica, Fender Rhodes and synthesizers. A single from the album hit #1 on the R&B chart. Name the artist...
*We'll play a track that remains a major theme in this artist's arsenal...Is it better to see the world through the harsh lens of reality or just leave the rose-colored glasses active. This particular track asks if it was unwise to leave his eyes open for so long, as he now has to contend with the results, including the fears. Name the artist and extra credit for the name of the track from back in the early 70's... *In the year 2000, a very special musical collaboration took place between two incredible artists, one the age of 74, the other, 55. The younger of the two organized and arranged the session, using many of his regular musicians, picking the songs and co-producing the album. Name the artists... *A 20th century popular music career unlike any other, took this artist from harmonizing doo wop on the streets of the Bronx to baring his soul on a series of singer/songwriter albums in the 70's, spending his later years bringing his blues into the 21st century. From hits in the late 50's to 2021 and a great album with some outstanding guest soloists, this artist has done it all. Name the artist... BATTLE OF THE BANDS Middle Of The Road by The Pretenders vs Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) by Annie Lennox ANSWERS 1. Stevie Wonder 2. Jackson Browne, Doctor My Eyes 3. B.B. King and Eric Clapton 4. Dion DiMucci Battle of the Bands : Annie Lennox won with 52% of votes Jeff Weigl Beats Working Friday @ 4pm
Savoy Truffle by The Beatles George Harrison wrote that song to tease his friend Eric Clapton, who had a sweet tooth, and loved chocolate. After having his mouth worked on, Clapton’s Dentist told him he was through with candy. Many of the lines in the song came from a variety of candies in a box of Mackintosh’s Good News chocolates, including cream tangerine and ginger sling. Rock and Roll Never Forgets by Bob Seger Bob Seger wrote the song when he was 31, and his career was just starting to take off. He called this song an honest appraisal of where he was at in that moment. He’s telling his mature fans they can still get out there and take in some live music. You might need to leave before the encore so you can get back for the babysitter, but you can still pull it off, because rock and roll never forgets. Hercules by Elton John That fun track is an early Elton John / Bernie Taupin collaboration, which appears to be based on the old joke about the wimp who has sand kicked in his face at the beach by a muscle man, who then walks off with his girlfriend. (Roamin' Thro' the Gloamin' With) 40,000 Headman by Traffic The song, written by Steve Winwood, and Traffic drummer Jim Capaldi, has the protagonist of the song, a profane demi-god, follow the eponymous headmen across the sea, on foot, to a hidden cave where they have stored up a large treasure. Taking as much as he can carry, he travels to a shrine only to find that the headmen have followed him; they open fire, wounding the protagonist but not killing him, and he decides to flee. The dream-like story seems to start and end with his confrontation with the headmen, as if he's experiencing his life in a closed loop. I Don’t Like Mondays The Boomtown Rats The Boomtown Rats are an Irish band, hailing from Dublin, where they formed in 1975. The band, including lead singer Bob Geldof were touring, and in Atlanta when they heard about a 16 year old girl who opened fire on her school and when asked why she did it, she said “I just don’t like Mondays.” When Geldof heard about the shooting, he composed the song on the spot. The song was a #1 hit in 32 different countries. Mendocino Sir Douglas Quintet This song was inspired by a vacation lead singer Doug Sahm took, to the town of Mendocino on the coast of California. Even though he was from Texas, and living in California, the band tried to pass off as Brits and tie in with the British invasion, thus the band name, the Sir Douglas Quintet. Living For The City The song is one of Stevie Wonder's social commentary songs, telling of a young kid from Mississippi who moves to New York City. In Mississippi, he dealt with many hardships, but was surrounded by caring people. In New York City, he is quickly taken advantage of and is caught with drugs. His dreams are destroyed when he is sentenced to 10 years in jail. (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone The Monkees This next track was written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart and had intended it to be recorded by Paul Revere and The Raiders, but instead it was recorded by The Monkees. The song is about a girl who walks all over a guy, but now he's decides he's not going to take it any more, telling her, "I'm not your steppin' stone." He's wise to the fact that she's just using him to boost her status. Monkees drummer Mickey Dolenz sings lead on this, and was the only Monkee to perform on the song, as early in their career, the Monkees used session musicians to record their songs. *One of this band's guitarist wrote this track, as he took the title from a 1951 Hank Williams song. He was also the lead singer of the song and described it as mostly autobiographical, telling the story of a guy whose travels take him to many places, and who takes life as it comes. Growing up his father was in construction and the family moved all over Florida further giving credence to the story of this track. Name the band and the song
*The fourth album by this great artist in 1975 didn't continue the personal, confessional vein of previous albums. He used a stellar backup band augmented by such guests as Graham Nash and David Crosby, David Sanborn, Randy Newman and Lowell George. Name the artist. *This band, before they became the famous group most people know them as, was a backup band for a former NFL football player who was trying to become a soul singer. We'll play a song by them from 1970 with their new lead singer just on board. Name the band and extra credit for the name of the lead singer... *There is a rumor that this song gets its theme from George Orwell's 1984, which revolves around a dystopian future where citizens are constantly monitored, The group has never supported such a rumor. One they do support is that the basic message of the song is that of somebody dumping a lover, while asserting that they know too well how the reaction will be. Name the band and extra credit for name of the song... BATTLE OF THE BANDS Graceland by Paul Simon vs How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) by James Taylor ANSWERS 1. Allman Brothers, Ramblin’ Man (Dickey Betts Wrote It) 2. James Taylor 3. War, Eric Burdon 4. The Alan Parsons Project, Eye In The Sky Battle of the Bands : James Taylor won with 53% of votes *We'll go back to a fantastic 1994 solo album by this artist for a track with a general musical feel and mood that is a striking reflection of Buffalo Springfield's work, most notably Stephen Stills "Go And Say Goodbye". Sure the melody is different but the chord progression and overall vibe is strikingly similar and beautiful. The song is aptly named considering the lyrics...it's not just about a relationship but of life's road and challenges.
This artist is no longer with us (since 2017)...but you certainly know him. Name the artist and extra credit for the name of the album and the song... *A track written and released by this band's lead guitarist in 1976 is rumored to be about suicide, but it actually deals with the inevitability of death and the belief that we should not be afraid of it. The artist was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat causing him to think about his morality, but is still with us today at the ripe young age of 75. Name the band, the lead guitarist and the name of the song... *This band's #1 hit from 1967 was written by a friend of the band from Chicago (the city, not the band). Although the band did have 5 charting hits (they all uniquely happened in the same year 1967) the track we'll enjoy turned out to be their only #1. But with all those charting hits that year, Billboard Magazine declared them 'the most listened to band of the year'! Shortly thereafter, they fell off the musical map. Name the band and extra credit for the name of the #1 hit... *For a musician known to strive for authenticity, this artist has always been curiously obsessed with appearances, seemingly as interested in sartorial details and hairstyles every bit as much as perfect guitar licks. It' difficult to find two photographs of him from the 1960s and early '70s that appear to be the same person. His solo career saw him switching his looks frequently. A 2001 solo album featured a picture of him as a child. Name the artist... BATTLE OF THE BANDS Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen vs Peace Of Mind by Boston ANSWERS 1. Tom Petty, Wildflowers, Time to Move On 2. Blue Oyster Cult, Donald Roeser, (Don’t Fear) The Reaper 3. Buckinghams, Kind of a Drag 4. Eric Clapton Battle of the Bands : Boston won with 52% of votes Jeff Weigl Beats Working Friday @ 4pm
Shock The Monkey by Peter Gabriel This track is sometimes mistaken for shock therapy, or an animal rights song, but it is neither. Peter Gabriel said it’s a love song that examines how jealousy can release one’ basic instincts. Bits and Pieces by The Dave Clark Five When the band was touring to promote the album, some theatre owners would not let them play the song because they were worried fans would jump up and down in time to the beat and damage the venue. Riders on The Storm by The Doors This was the last song Jim Morrison recorded. The song evolved from a jam session when the band was messing around with “Ghost Riders in the Sky” and Jim Morrison had the idea to alter the title to Riders on the Storm. Getting Better by The Beatles The music was mainly written by Paul McCartney, but the lyrics were co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Although it’s overall an optimistic song, there are parts that are quite dark; those came from John. He admitted that when he was younger, he was a hitter. He said he couldn’t express himself and would fight men and hit women. He further said that is why he came to regret his violence and become such an advocate for peace. My Favorite Mistake by Sheryl Crow There have been many rumors about who that song is about, but Sheryl Crow said it is not about one person in particular, but a composite of guys she went out who weren’t good for her. She was linked with many stars, including Kid Rock, Lance Armstrong, Jakob Dylan, Owen Wilson and Eric Clapton. Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over) by The Four Tops That song is about being lost in love. In the song, The Four Tops lead vocalist Levi Stubbs sings about hearing his neighbors' voices coming through his thin apartment walls. The neighbors are talking about how his woman doesn't love him anymore; he is knocked out by the news and asks to be woken up when the nightmare is over. Happy Jack by The Who That song is the first top 40 hit by The Who. The song features Roger Daltrey sharing lead vocals with John Entwistle and Pete Townshend. At the end of the song, you can hear Pete Townshend shouting “I Saw You” as he had noticed Keith Moon trying to join in. The band had banished him from the studio while they recorded their vocals as Keith Moon had a habit of making the other members laugh. *The history of this track goes all the way back to the artist, Screamin' Jay Hawkins in 1957. He wrote the ballad lamenting the loss of a girlfriend he wanted back. It was originally a much slower song, thus the ballad status. Ther version we'll play comes from a great band in 1968 who covered it on their eponymous album and then performed it at Woodstock in 1969. Name the band that covered it and extra credit for the name of the song....
*A song we'll enjoy is about an unconditional love where you are determined to stick it out through good times and bad. It's a very popular wedding song. The singer/artist wrote the lyrics, but the music was written by Al Jackson, Jr. (a legendary soul drummer) and Willie Mitchell (the artist's producer). Justin Timberlake idolized the artist and actually sang the song with him at the 2009 Grammy Awards. Name the artist and the song... *At the close of the 70's, this group began inching toward a sleek, modern sound, partially inspired by the thriving punk and new wave scene and partially inspired by one of the member's solo debut album. Two consecutive albums by the group in '79 and '80 found them sketching out their pop/soul/new wave fusion sound that propelled them to greatness. While the band formed in the early 70's and had released 7 albums before 1979, they gained new legendary status after these 2 albums. Name the group. *People and things mentioned in this song...Mott The Hoople, Life, Monopoly, Twister, Risk, checkers, chess, twenty-one, Elvis Presley, Moses, Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. The song came out in 1992. Name the song and the group that performed it... BATTLE OF THE BANDS Let’s Stay Together by Al Green vs Chain Of Fools by Aretha Franklin ANSWERS 1. Credence Clearwater Revival, I Put A Spell On You 2. Al Green, Let’s Stay Together 3. Hall & Oates 4. Man on the Moon, R. E. M. Battle of the Bands : Aretha Franklin ran away to an easy win with 57% of votes |
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