*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
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 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

*This American band's first album came out in 1972 and the track we'll enjoy was also the band's very first single.  It turned into a huge hit in both the U.S. and U.K. and earned the group some great press coverage.  The band's sound was very unusual to anything else released around the time and when asked to describe it, they called it 'smart rock'.  The song didn't seem to make literal sense, but was known for creating an undeniable groove, a mood, a vibe.  Name the band...
 
*This artist's album that preceded his 1977 album that we'll dip into acknowledged a certain creative desperation that probably narrowed his commercial appeal.  So on the next album, he wrote and recorded more of a concept album about being on the road, an effort that actually did raise the appeal factor.  Some of the songs were actually recorded on the road stages and some even recorded on the bus or in the hotel.  Born to a father in the service in Heidelberg, Germany, the family then moved to California, the state this artist claims as home.  Name the artist and extra credit for the name of the album...
 
*We all remember the movie, Good Morning Vietnam, based on the life of Adrian Cronauer.  The most requested song on Armed Forces Radio when he was in Vietnam came from this band which was released in 1965,
Name the song and the British band that recorded it.
 
*Abandoning overt progressive sound...thereby leaving behind the operas and extended instrumental section, but not the organ solos, this band became a mainstream rock band with the release of their 4th album in 1977.  Despite his efforts to democratize the group, (he invited all of the bandmembers to write and sing throughout the album), this band still feels very much like the frontman's baby...primarily because the songs that really truly work on the album are the ones that he wrote and sang.  Name the American band that was formed in 1973 and extra credit for the name of the founder...
 
BATTLE OF THE BANDS
September by Earth, Wind & Fire  vs Work To Do by Average White Band
 
ANSWERS
1. Steely Dan
2. Jackson Browne
3. We Gotta Get Out of This Place, The Animals
4. Utopia, Todd Rungren
Earth, Wind & Fire won the battle with 54% of the votes

* This fantastic artist released his debut album in 1973.  His 2nd album truly expanded the folk-rock approach to strains of jazz, among other styles just 8 months later...that same year.  With his chief musical lieutenant and keyboard player they created a street-life mosaic of suburban society that owed much in its outlook to Van Morrison's romanticization of Belfast in his album, Astral Weeks.  In the final analysis, it is largely considered to be one of the all-time great rock and roll albums..  Name the artist and extra credit for the name of the album...
 
*A quintessential and prolific Americana singer/songwriter throughout his career, he told romantic stories of an already vanished and still disappearing America, its people, landscapes and history.  He was a key member of a 3 person group from 1961-1967 and when they broke up...his solo career ensued.  Name the artist and extra credit for the name of his earlier group....
 
*We'll play a song from 1992 that references an object in the title that is quite and notably important to this artist.  Whether or not it was purposeful (methinks it probably was), but this object shows up in no less than 28 of the artist's songs.  This multi-talented musician played all of the following on the track we'll enjoy...guitar, banjo, piano, pump organ, vibes and of course handled the vocals.  Name the artist and extra credit for the name of the song...
 
*This British band toured America in 1971 and actually wrote and recorded this song (a big hit for them) during that tour.  They were not well known in the U.S. at the time and the band's leader wanted to change that by coming up with something that would strike to the heart of America.  The song is all about sex, but with imagery so comically vague it would be hard for even the most prudish listeners to take offense.  As it turns out, the biggest suggestion of the intended theme is in the title.  Name the band and extra credit for the song title..
 
BATTLE OF THE BANDS
Fields Of Gold by Sting  vs Harvest Moon by Neil Young
 
ANSWERS
1. Bruce Springsteen, The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle
2. John Stewart, Kingston Trio
3.Neil Young, Harvest Moon
4. T. Rex, Bang A Gong (Get It On)
Sting won the battle by two votes

Jeff Weigl Beats Working Friday @ 4pm

This Little Girl by Gary U.S. Bonds
 The next song was born of a collaboration between Gary U.S. Bonds and Bruce Springsteen after the two spent a few hours commiserating about their stalled careers.
Springsteen wrote this song for Bonds and a thank you, Bonds gave Bruce a ’63 Chevy Impala. 
 
Wild Thing by The Troggs
That was written by a songwriter named Chip Taylor and he has made a lot of money from the royalties from different artists, TV shows and movies all using the song. 
Unfortunately, he has gambled most of it away as he has been kicked out of every casino in Las Vegas for card counting. 

What's Love Got to Do with It           Tina Turner 
The song is more about physical attraction without any emotional attachment. Originally Tina Turner hated the song and balked at recording it. She deferred to her manager who was engineering a comeback for her.  At his bidding, she got into character and sold the song. 
At the 1985 Grammys, it won for Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Female Vocal Performance.
​ 
Question      The Moody Blues
 The Moody Blues guitarist Justin Hayward wrote the song to reflect the thoughts of many young people who were questioning the war in Vietnam.
He said "We'd achieved great success in the United States, and we were mixing with these people and seeing how different the problems were for them. I was just expressing my frustration around that, around the problems of anti-war and things that really concerned them, and for their own future. How that would morally be a dilemma for them and that kind of stuff. After a decade of peace and love, it still seemed we hadn't made a difference in 1970. That was the theme of the song.
And then the slow part of the song is really a reflection of that and not feeling defeated, but almost a quiet reflection of it, and mixing with a bit of a love song, as well."