April 21, 2005

I Was 70's When 70's Wasn't Cool

Time to lighten' up a bit so here's another 70's music quiz, to help once again dispel the notion that the 70's were a vast musical wasteland. Name the artist and the song title in the comments. As they are guessed, I will change the font color to red, while an asterisk will mean we have a partial answer. Full answers will be below the fold as they are discovered.

And Sweet Jane by Lou Reed closes it out Saturday at 1300 CDT.

Daddy's rifle in my hand felt reassurin'.

I said, "I'm so happy I could die," She said, "Drop dead," then left with another guy.

Then that low down Southern whiskey began to fog my mind...

Under my boots and around my toes, the frost that bit the ground below...

He ain’t sophisticated, nor well-educated, after all the hours he wasted, still he needs time. He needs time, he needs time for livin'. He needs time, for someone just to see him.

We may lose and we may win, though we will never be here again.

I said, "Wait a minute, mister, I didn't even kiss her. Don't want no trouble with you."

I can see the sunset in your eyes, brown and grey and blue besides.

Looking on, she sings the songs. The words she knows, the tunes she hums.

Little girls love to listen to him sing and tell sweet lies.

And all my friends turned out to be insurance salesmen.

Ringing no change in his double-sewn seams in his post-war-babe gloom.

You know that I care what happens to you, and I know that you care for me.

No bullet can stop us now, we neither beg nor we won't bow. Neither can be bought nor sold. We all defend the right, Jah - Jah children must unite.

Some people like to go out dancing, other people they got to work, just watch me now! And there’s even some evil mothers, well they’re gonna tell you that everything is just dirt. Y’know that, women, never really faint, and that villains always blink their eyes, woo!

I kiss her for the first time and then I take her home. I’m invited in for coffee and I give the dog a bone.

I was a high school loser never made it with a lady...

Are you a lucky little lady in the City of Light?

Whatever happened to all this season’s losers of the year?

So you think you can love me and leave me to die?

It's breaking my heart you're leaving, baby I'm grieving.

Why are you in such a hurry to be lonely one more night? I know what it means to hide your heart from a long time ago...

Vengeance from the grave kills the people he once saved.

I'm young I know but even so, I know a thing or two I've learned from you.

People stop and stare, I can't see their faces, only the shadows of their eyes. I'm going where the sun keeps shining through the pouring rain.


Daddy's rifle in my hand felt reassurin'. -- Michele nailed it with Neil Young and "Powderfinger."

I said, "I'm so happy I could die," She said, "Drop dead," then left with another guy. -- Michele guessed correctly with Elvis Costello, but the title remained elusive until Kerry came up with "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes."

Then that low down Southern whiskey began to fog my mind... -- Michele named the tune, "Dixie Chicken", and Marc named the band, Little Feat.

Under my boots and around my toes, the frost that bit the ground below... -- Michele also "wasted" her youth listening to Frank Zappa do "Yellow Snow".

He ain’t sophisticated, nor well-educated, after all the hours he wasted, still he needs time. He needs time, he needs time for livin'. He needs time, for someone just to see him. -- Kitekatz comes through with "Rudy" by Supertramp. When I did this almost one year ago, I included the same lyrics. So, pay attention!

We may lose and we may win, though we will never be here again. -- Partial credit to Kevin. It is "Take It Easy", but I was looking for Jackson Browne instead of the Eagles who covered it. Kerry brings up an interesting point about Glenn Frey as a co-writer. I knew that Jackson and the Eagles and a whole bunch of other folks all hung around together during this time, but I had always thought that JB got the song-writing credits until now. Learn something new every day, Incidentally, this same sort of situation happened with another song in this list (fourth from the bottom) that has so far been unidentified, where two artists co-wrote it and then recorded and released it indepedently. In fact, they did it for two songs but only one is listed here. Double bonus credit if you can name them and the songs.

I said, "Wait a minute, mister, I didn't even kiss her. Don't want no trouble with you." -- Full marks to Kevin for "Gimme Three Steps" by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

I can see the sunset in your eyes, brown and grey and blue besides. -- Michele's on a roll with Peter Frampton singing "Baby I Love Your Way."

Looking on, she sings the songs. The words she knows, the tunes she hums. -- Tanya wins for "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John (and Bernie Taupin).

Little girls love to listen to him sing and tell sweet lies. -- Dr. Weevil knows his stuff, but y'all already knew that. Most of us are more familiar with The New Riders of the Purple Sage, but the original version of "Panama Red" was by Old and In the Way, as Grunter noted. I think I gotta go buy this CD now.

And all my friends turned out to be insurance salesmen. -- Kerry knew this was John Prine and "Illegal Smile." I think that's a good thing.

Ringing no change in his double-sewn seams in his post-war-babe gloom. -- Why does it seem that so few people remember Jethro Tull these days? Fortunately, Kerry does and knew that this was "Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll, Too Young to Die."

You know that I care what happens to you, and I know that you care for me. -- Same thing with Pink Floyd, while Michele hesitatingly guessed who it was, Kerry knew it was Pink Floyd and "Pigs on the Wing, Part 2."

No bullet can stop us now, we neither beg nor we won't bow. Neither can be bought nor sold. We all defend the right, Jah - Jah children must unite. -- Kitekatz comes through again with Bob Marley and the Wailers doing "Jammin'".

Some people like to go out dancing, other people they got to work, just watch me now! And there’s even some evil mothers, well they’re gonna tell you that everything is just dirt. Y’know that, women, never really faint, and that villains always blink their eyes, woo! -- Nash Kato gets the last remaining song with Lou Reed and "Sweet Jane."

I kiss her for the first time and then I take her home. I’m invited in for coffee and I give the dog a bone. -- Michele knows all the cool songs, especially "Cool for Cats" by Squeeze.

I was a high school loser never made it with a lady... -- Kevin wins with "Walk This Way" and Aerosmith.

Are you a lucky little lady in the City of Light? -- Kevin's mojo's risin' with "L.A. Woman" by The Doors.

Whatever happened to all this season’s losers of the year? -- Check out your next high school reunion, Michele knew this was "Surrender" by Cheap Trick.

So you think you can love me and leave me to die? -- It's tought to come up with any phrase in this song that doesn't just give it away, as Kevin knew when he wrote "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen.

It's breaking my heart you're leaving, baby I'm grieving. -- Kevin again with Cat Steven's "Wild World." If you're lucky you haven't heard the recent cover by someone who sings flat and wrings all the joy and pleasant melodies from this tune.

Why are you in such a hurry to be lonely one more night? I know what it means to hide your heart from a long time ago... -- Ken Summers knew this was "It Keep's You Runnin'" by the Doobie Brothers. This song was also released concurrently by Carly Simon. They each also had 'You Belong To Me" on "Living on the Fault Line" and "Boys in the Trees" respectively.

Vengeance from the grave kills the people he once saved. -- I knew that Michele would get this one, "Ironman" by Black Sabbath.

I'm young I know but even so, I know a thing or two I've learned from you. -- Ah, teen angst, Michele says "Love Hurts" by Nazareth. Have you ever heard Jim Capaldi's version of this? Don't.

People stop and stare, I can't see their faces, only the shadows of their eyes. I'm going where the sun keeps shining through the pouring rain. -- Michele had the name of the song with "Everbody's Talkin'" followed by kitekatz and Ken Summers, and kitekatz had Harry Nilsson first.

Posted by Charles Austin at April 21, 2005 11:07 PM
Comments

"We may lose and we may win, though we will never be here again." -- Eagles, Take It Easy

"I said, "Wait a minute, mister, I didn't even kiss her. Don't want no trouble with you." " -- Lynyrd Skynyrd, Three Steps

"I was a high school loser never made it with a lady..." -- Aerosmith, Walk This Way

"Are you a lucky little lady in the City of Light?" -- Doors, LA Woman

"So you think you can love me and leave me to die?" -- Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody


Posted by: Kevin Murphy at 09:06 AM

"It's breaking my heart you're leaving, baby I'm grieving." -- Cat Stevens, Wild World

I knew I knew it, it took me a couple of minutes to remember it.

Posted by: Kevin Murphy at 09:17 AM

I got all the same ones that Kevin got in his first comment (but not the second comment).

Some of the rest are familar, but the only one I know for sure is "Looking on, she sings the songs. The words she knows, the tunes she hums" is Hold Me Closer Tiny Dancer.

Posted by: Tanya at 10:18 AM

Daddy's rifle in my hand felt reassurin' - Neil Young, Powderfinger

I said, "I'm so happy I could die," She said, "Drop dead," then left with another guy. Hmmm...Elvis Costello?

Then that low down Southern whiskey began to fog my mind... WOO! Dixie Chicken!

Under my boots and around my toes, the frost that bit the ground below... - Zappa, Yellow Snow

I can see the sunset in your eyes, brown and grey and blue besides. - Frampton, Baby I Love Your Way

You know that I care what happens to you, and I know that you care for me. Umm..Pink Floyd, I think.


I kiss her for the first time and then I take her home. .I’m invited in for coffee and I give the dog a bone. Squeeze - Cool for Cats (My favorite Squeeze song)


Whatever happened to all this season’s losers of the year? - Cheap Trick, Surrender

Vengeance from the grave kills the people he once saved. - Black Sabbath, Iron Man

I'm young I know but even so, I know a thing or two I've learned from you. - Nazareth, Love Hurts

People stop and stare, I can't see their faces, only the shadows of their eyes. Everybody's Talkin' - can't remember the artist.

(We must have had very similar record collections)

Posted by: michele at 10:33 AM

I knew you'd rescue us, Michele. :o)

Posted by: Tanya at 10:48 AM

I said, "I'm so happy I could die," She said, "Drop dead," then left with another guy. * - I'll guess the song is "Allison".

Is Dixie Chicken from Little Feat?

No bullet can stop us now, we neither beg nor we won't bow. - I'll guess Thin Lizzie. I have "The Boys Are Back In Town" buzzing around my brain and can't get it out, but I don't think that's it.

I would have guessed on a few others if I had seen them sooner. Once you get a song in your head it's difficult to focus on another one. Or maybe it's just another sign of creepy old age.

Posted by: MarcV at 01:51 PM

It pays to be first.

Posted by: Kevin Murphy at 02:15 PM

"I said, "I'm so happy I could die," She said, "Drop dead," then left with another guy." - Elvis Costello, (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes.

"And all my friends turned out to be insurance salesmen." - John Prine, Illegal Smile.

"Ringing no change in his double-sewn seams in his post-war-babe gloom." - Jethro Tull, Too Old to Rock 'n'Roll.


Posted by: Kerry at 03:17 PM

"You know that I care what happens to you, and I know that you care for me." - Pink Floyd, Pigs on the Wing pt. 2

Posted by: Kerry at 03:23 PM

We may lose and we may win, though we will never be here again. -- Partial credit to Kevin. It is "Take It Easy", but I was looking for Jackson Browne instead of the Eagles who covered it.

Technically, Glenn Frey wrote the middle verse about the girl in a flatbed Ford, and they came out about the same time (1972). So I'm not sure who covered whom.

Posted by: Kerry at 03:28 PM

"Little girls love to listen to him sing and tell sweet lies."

'Panama Red', from "Old and in the Way", by Jerry Garcia and friends. Best album he ever did, too, by far. Should have stuck with the bluegrass.

Posted by: Dr. Weevil at 04:39 PM

I kiss her for the first time and then I take her home. I’m invited in for coffee and I give the dog a bone.

Cool For Cats - Squeeze (or UK Squeeze)

Posted by: kitekatz at 11:29 AM

I said, "I'm so happy I could die," She said, "Drop dead," then left with another guy.

Elvis Costello - Red Shoes

Posted by: kitekatz at 11:32 AM

We may lose and we may win, though we will never be here again.

Eagles - Take It Easy

Posted by: kitekatz at 11:35 AM

So you think you can love me and leave me to die?

Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody

Posted by: kitekatz at 11:37 AM

He ain’t sophisticated, nor well-educated, after all the hours he wasted, still he needs time.
Supertramp - Rudy

No bullet can stop us now, we neither beg nor we won't bow.
Bob Marley - Jamming

People stop and stare, I can't see their faces, only the shadows of their eyes.
Harry Nilsson - Everybody's Talking

Posted by: kitekatz at 11:49 AM

". . . he needs time for livin' . . " is from Supertramp's Rudy.

Posted by: mitch at 12:21 PM

"Everybody's talkin'" is Harry Nilssen. You now have a complete answer on it

Posted by: Ken Summers at 12:51 PM

"Why are you in such a hurry to be lonely one more night? I know what it means to hide your heart from a long time ago..."

"It keeps you runnin'" by the Doobie Brothers, but I don't know who wrote it.

Posted by: Ken Summers at 12:55 PM

"Some people like to go out dancing, other people they got to work, just watch me now! And there’s even some evil mothers, well they’re gonna tell you that everything is just dirt. Y’know that, women, never really faint, and that villains always blink their eyes, woo!"

Sweet Jane, The Velvet Underground

Posted by: Nash Kato at 01:58 PM

Oops, forgot to identify the songwriter: Lou Reed. This song was also covered by the Cowboy Junkies a few years ago for the Natural Born Killers soundtrack. It's a rather lethargic rendition of the original, but I liked it anyway.

On a creepier note, I was actually listening to Harry Nilsson's "Everyboby's Talkin" when I landed on this page.

Posted by: Nash Kato at 02:06 PM

Actually, the Cowboy Junkies' version pre-dates Natural Born Killers--it's off their second album, The Trinity Sessions--but Oliver Stone did recycle it on his soundtrack.

Incidentally, Nash, you aren't the only one to like the CJs version; Lou Reed said it was superior to his own. However, he also said the same thing about Duran Duran's cover of "Perfect Day" (no, I'm not kidding).

Posted by: Jarz at 02:23 PM

Peter Rowan wrote Panama Red. Old and in the Way was the band, not Jerry Garcia and Friends. Rowan has put it out solo.

Posted by: Grunter at 03:20 AM

Thanks for the correction. I've updated the post.

Posted by: charles austin at 09:08 AM

"Love Hurts" was originally recorded by the Everly Brothers for their 1960 album, "A Date With the Everly Brothers." The writer was Boudeleaux Bryant.

Posted by: Eugene Dillenburg at 01:39 PM

Everybody's Talking was written and originally recorded by Fred Neil.
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:81867ur070j3
Nilsson wasn't a prolific songwriter. He covered everybody.

For a real treat, listen to Bill Withers' cover of the song from his first album. Short, but oh so sweet.
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:34rz287c058a

Posted by: Kevin Bowman at 01:57 PM