April 26, 2004

Back By Popular Demand

Here's another 70's quiz, song title and artist please. (Songs identified in the comments have been italicized. All Done!) Thanks to Russ, mikeski, Man United, MJ, Kerry, RC and Jeff for playing. I've interspersed a few more comments below.

If you want to see more of these quizzes, let me know. The quizzes can definitely get tougher the further I drift from Billboard, by the way.

I was a dreamer with only words to trade (Neil Diamond, "Longfellow Serenade") There's something suggestive about this song, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Funny what passes for rock & roll!

Fly me away to the bright side of the moon and meet me on the other side (Gary Wright, "Dream Weaver") There were large quantities of drugs being consumed in the '70s, and it was the root cause of a lot of bad poetry and even worse popular music.

Before her love I was cruel and mean, I had a hole in the place where my heart should have been (The Raspberries (featuring Eric Freakin' Carmen), "Go All The Way") The third element of the holy trinity makes it's appearance.

Won't you lay me down in tall grass and let me do my stuff (Fleetwood Mac, "Second Hand News") And again.

And the unsung Western hero killed an Indian or three and made his name in Hollywood to set the white man free (Jethro Tull, "Hymn 43") In the great book of numerology, this entry comes right after the answer to life, the universe, and everything. The original heavy metal band, or at least that's what Ian Anderson said.

Least I don't need to beg or borrow, yes I'm livin' at a pace that kills (Van Halen, "Runnin' With The Devil") Some of you have to be kickin' yourself for not getting this one.

Why are you in such a hurry to be lonely one more night? (Doobie Brothers or Carly Simon, "It Keeps You Runnin'") Michael McDonald and Carly Simon wrote this and "You Belong to Me" and so their respective versions appeared on their respective albums almost concurrently.

"Hey momma, hey let me check your oil all right?" (Little Feat, "Fat Man In The Bathtub") Let no one say the 70's lacked great music again.

But I'm still an embryo with a long, long way to go (Helen Reddy, "I Am Woman") Fortunately, I was able to exercise my choice and change stations whenever this song came on. More deep irony here.

Can't you see that it's late; no you can't have a drink. Oh! All right then, but wait just a bit. (Gilbert O'Sullivan, "Claire") Now here's a song I can't imagine ever being broadcast today -- not even by Michael Jackson.

Sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking when I hear the silly things that you say. (Elvis Costello, "Alison") Has Elvis figured out who he is yet?

Doesn't mean that much to me to mean that much to you. (Neil Young, "Old Man") Survivor.

Hands on the plow and my feets in the ghetto (Aerosmith, "Last Child") I'm surprised this one lasted as long as it did unanswered.

Love can be a sweet thing, I just don't understand. I made a game of loving and now I hold the losing hand. (J. Geils Band, "I Musta Got Lost") Rock & Roll, and Magic Dick.

Never seen a day break leaning on my pillow in the morning light. (Pilot, "Magic) Ho ho ho, it's Time-Life Music and ex-MTV DJs bringing you the swingin' seventies!

And though my lack of education hasn't hurt me none, I can read the writing on the wall (Paul Simon, "Kodachrome") Can you believe Kodak sued Rhymin' Simon over the use of their trademark, until someone suggested it was the best, and cheapest, advertising they'd ever get?

Ouga chaka ouga ouga ouga chaka ouga ouga ouga chaka ouga ouga (Blue Suede, "Hoooked on a Feeling") This always reminds me of dentists' offices. Don't ask.

The radio's playing some forgotten song, Brenda Lee's “Coming on Strong” (Golden Earring, "Radar Love") Sung phonetically by non-English speakers if I remember correctly.

Jimmy Dean (David Essex, "Rock On") James Dean.

You’re dirty sweet and you’re my girl (T-Rex, "Bang A Gong") Who needs TV...? Say, that's another quiz question, isn't it?

He ain't sophisticated, nor well-educated, after all the hours he wasted, still he needs time. (Supertramp, "Rudy") Yea, I grew up listening to Supertramp and my kids are growing up listening to Moby. I win.

Posted by Charles Austin at April 26, 2004 11:50 PM
Comments
Never seen a day break leaning on my pillow in the morning light.

Pilot, "Magic"

Ouga chaka ouga ouga ouga chaka ouga ouga ouga chaka ouga ouga

Blue Suede, "Hoooked on a Feeling"

And to think I grew up in the '70s.... I ought to know this stuff. But perhaps it's best I don't.

Posted by: Russ at 01:06 AM

"Won't you lay me down in tall grass and let me do my stuff"

Fleetwood Mac - "Second Hand News"

---

"Least I don't need to beg or borrow, yes I'm livin' at a pace that kills"

Van Halen - "Runnin' With The Devil" ("I live my life like there's...no TOmorrOW." Heh.)

--

"Sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking when I hear the silly things that you say."

Elvis Costello - "Alison"

---

"And though my lack of education hasn't hurt me none, I can read the writing on the wall"

Paul Simon - "Kodachrome"

Posted by: mikeski at 11:16 AM

"Doesn't mean that much to me to mean that much to you..."

Neil Young -- "Old Man" from Harvest

Posted by: Man United at 12:00 PM

You’re dirty sweet and you’re my girl

T-Rex, "Bang A Gong"


Jimmy Dean

Essex, "Rock On"


The radio's playing some forgotten song, Brenda Lee's “Coming on Strong”

Golden Earring, "Radar Love"


Fly me away to the bright side of the moon and meet me on the other side

Gary Wright, "Dream Weaver"


Posted by: MJ at 03:15 PM

"Hands on the plow and my feets in the ghetto" -- Aerosmith, "Last Child"

Posted by: Kerry at 10:38 PM

"I was a dreamer with only words to trade"
Neil Diamond - Longfellow Serenade (I'm somewhat ashamed that I knew this one...)

"Before her love I was cruel and mean, I had a hole in the place where my heart should have been"
The Raspberries (featuring Eric Freakin' Carmen) - Go All The Way

"Hey momma, hey let me check your oil all right?"
Little Feat - Fat Man In The Bathtub... NOW we're talkin'!

"But I'm still an embryo with a long, long way to go"
I Am Woman - Helen Reddy

"Love can be a sweet thing, I just don't understand. I made a game of loving and now I hold the losing hand."
J. Geils Band - I Musta Got Lost

Defending My Title,

Posted by: RC at 05:14 PM

He ain't sophisticated - Supertramp (Rudy)
Why are you in such a hurry -- Doobie Bros (It keeps you runnin)
And the unsung western hero -- Jethro Tull (Hymn 47?)

What am I missing?

Posted by: Jeff G at 07:47 PM

Oh, Bad Finger? Gilbert O'Sullivan? Somebody who sounds like Paul McCartney...?

Not "Alone Again Naturally." The other one.

Posted by: Jeff G at 07:55 PM

Unsung western hero: Jethro Tull, from Aqualung.
Hymn 47 or something like that.

Posted by: Ken Guyette at 09:14 PM

I missed this one. Do another?

Posted by: michele at 09:37 PM

Fun contest, but . . . aaaarugh! Now I have earworms!

Posted by: Mike at 11:20 AM

Yea, me too. I don't mind the Little Feat and Jethro Tull earworms too much, but Helen Reddy I can do without.

Posted by: charles austin at 12:36 PM