*One of the most excellent stars of the rock & roll era, this artist evaded easy categorization throughout an epic career, operating as one the artsiest within the mainstream and the most accessible musician on the fringe.  Was 13 years old when he began performing and started by learning to play the saxophone.  Name the artist...
 
*This band started a record company in 1967 with a plan that all the members had a chance to produce outside artists.  The first group signed was Redwood, a group formed by friend (Danny Hutton) of one such band member.  Hutton, who, up until that time, was best known for the 1965 hit, 'Roses And Rainbows'.  Redwood would go on to change their name to Three Dog Night.  2 years later, the song was resurrected by the band who owned the studio and released with a new title.  Name the band and extra credit for the new name of the song...
 
*This quite successful American band's first single was released in 1973.  Their manager had them share a house with full concentration efforts dictated to write songs for their first album..  One such song had been worked off and on for about 6 years as the band's leader chose to write it in bits and pieces.  The rest of the band finally helped him put it together.  Name the band and extra credit for the name of the track...
 
*After spending the better part of the 1980's as a solo acoustic troubadour, this artist landed a contract for a solo album with Arista records at the turn of the 1990's.  He enlisted some powerful artists to assist...Tom Petty, Mike Campbell, David Crosby and Chris Hillman.  The album turned out to be a big success and sounds even a bit like a Tom Petty offering.  Name the artist...
 
BATTLE OF THE BANDS
Slip Slidin’ Away by Paul Simon vs If I Ever Lose My Faith by Sting
 
ANSWERS
1. David Bowie
2. Beach Boys, Darlin’
3. Aerosmith, Dream On
4. Roger McGuinn
Battle of the Bands : Paul Simon won with 51% of votes

*We'll play a track from 1979 with lyrics all about how the innocence and wonder of childhood can quickly give way to worry and cynicism as children are taught to be responsible adults.  It makes the point that logic can restrict creativity and passion.  The keyboard player of the band that recorded the track thought it quite relevant back when he wrote it, but thinks it is even more so today. Being in boarding school for 10 years promoted such feelings.  Name the British band and extra credit for the name of the track...
 
*Peter Frampton's first group was called The Herd, which coincidentally was the first name taken by this band back in the mid-60's.  That name did not last very long as they chose a new one based on some equipment they observed doing local road repairs.  Name the band...
 
*This duo of artists were both from Texas.  Both artists were at one time, members of the band, The Champs (remember the Tequila song?) in the late 50's/early 60's.  When that band dissolved in 1965 they worked with several other artists, including Gene Vincent.  In 1969, they released their first album as a duo.  Name the group...
 
*This 1972 album was the body of work by which most of their fans began discovering the group and the album has retained its freshness over the decades.  The entire band was attuned to the slightly heavier and more Southern style they wanted to work toward on this collection of tracks.  This was the band's second album and not only was it a huge financial success, as any platinum record would be, but it was considered artistically impeccable.  It was pretty close in style and sound at various points to what the Eagles were doing during the same period.  The band did however, throw a bit of jazz, R&B, country, folk and bluegrass elements in for good measure.  Name the band...still very active today...
 
BATTLE OF THE BANDS
Sandman by America vs Summer Breeze by Seals & Croft
 
ANSWERS
1. Supertramp, The Logical Song
 
2. Buffalo Springfield
 
3. Seals & Croft
 
4. Doobie Brothers
 
Battle of the Bands : Seals & Croft won with 54% of votes

*The song, I Found You, was recorded and released in 1962 by Yvonne Fair.  She had a most popular artist at the time who produced the record with her.  Her producer then took the song and put his signature spin on it  with a new title when he recorded and released it 2 years later.  It is a great example of a funk song with lyrics supporting the intended groove.  Name the artist and extra credit for the title of the track...
 
*This artist was a huge part of a 60's band and then embarked on a solo career when that band broke up.  Following a couple of early folk records and a 1972 solo album, he released this track and album a year later.  He assembled a versatile backup band using piano, violin and horns to accompany his tenor voice in arrangements that recalled some of the early work of Van Morrison.  No surprise there as this artist and Morrison utilized some of the same backup musicians.  Name the artist...
 
*Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues has a personal favorite of all Moody's songs he's written.  He loves performing it and while it didn't chart as well as others, there was a reason.  It was not a massive hit due to its length of 6 minutes and the fact that no one ever did a successful edit on it.  He incorporated similar elements to the track that he employed on the great song, Your Wildest Dreams.  Name the song...
 
*The lead character on this song is an aspiring actress who is breaking into the business.  It's told from the perspective of her ex-boyfriend, whom she ditched because he couldn't advance her career.  Despite the song, released in 1977 on an album with only 7 tracks, the writer wants us to imagine that the song and its events take place at a seedy photo shoot in Los Angeles in the 1950's.  The title of the track is the name of the character...with no other significance other than the fact that the name fit!  Name the band and the song...

BATTLE OF THE BANDS
Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright) by Rod Stewart vs Mainstreet by Bob Seger
 
ANSWERS:
1. James Brown, I Got You (I Feel Good) 
2.  Jesse Colin Young
3. I Know You’re Out there Somewhere
4. Steely Dan, Peg
 
Battle of the Bands : Bob Seger won with 54% of votes

*Utilizing the producing talents of Jeff Lynne for a half decade, this artist decided it was time to strip things back for a 1994 album.  He engaged Def Jam founder, Rick Rubin for this album and put together a team of musicians anchored by a couple of his notable bandmates from his past, achieving a sound that was lean and graceful.  Name the born in Florida artist...
 
*The lyrics of this 1970 track suggest that the person singing is lost and feels like an outsider in their own life.  The song can be interpreted as a call for help or guidance during a time of confusion and is intended to be positive and uplifting.  The track actually speaks of the desire to be taken to someone to find guidance and direction.  Name the artist who actually lived sometimes in the very conditions he sang about...
 
*The 1971 demo version of this track featured Flo and Eddie (most notable from their stint with The Turtles) on backing vocals and is one of this band's earliest songs.  The better-known version kicks off side 2 of the band's exceptional 1975 album as a jazzier, more Latin-flavored vein.  The chorus sounds a bit like it belongs on some old puppy love single from 1963.  Name the band and extra credit for the name of the track.
 
*This excellent ballad from 1973 was written by the band's lead singer/guitarist and is open to interpretation and the writer prefers it that way.  He simply and politely refuses to tell us who or what the song is about.  The "you" in the song (and title) could be a literal person, but it could be the demands of touring....the road can be draining, but the shows, exhilarating.  Name the band and extra credit for the name of the track.  Good luck on this one, as I know these are all a bit tough...
 
BATTLE OF THE BANDS
No Time by Guess Who vs Looking out My Back Door by John Fogerty
 
ANSWERS
1. Tom Petty 
2.  Elton John
3. Steely Dan, Everyone’s Gone to the Movies
4. Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Still … You Turn Me On
 
Battle of the Bands : John Fogerty won with 51% of votes

*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

*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
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*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
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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.