1970s FM Radio Music, Part VIII Quiz

Answer: Pass

George Harrison's popular album "All Things Must Pass" was released in late 1970. This triple album set featured such outstanding musicians as Eric Clapton, Alan White, and Gary Brooker. The song "What Is Life" appeared on side two of the first disc of "All Things Must Pass." Harrison sang these words from the song's chorus: "Tell me, what is my life without your love / Tell me, who am I without you by my side..."

Answer: Bad Company

The dynamic rock band Bad Company enjoyed international success throughout the 1970s with a string of hard-driving songs. The song "Rock Steady" appeared on the group's debut album and featured musicians Paul Rodgers, Simon Kirke, Boz Burrell, and Mick Ralphs in outstanding form. Rodgers sang the following words:

"When my love gets a little too heavy
Rock steady!
She's mine and I got to get ready..."

Answer: Roy Orbison

Superstar singer Linda Ronstadt included the Roy Orbison song "Blue Bayou" on her 1977 album "Simple Dreams." Orbison recorded this tune in 1963 as part of the Texan's "In Dreams" album. Ronstadt captured the plaintiff mood of the lyrics with her powerful singing voice, and "Blue Bayou" became successful on both AM and FM radio stations across the USA. Ronstadt sang these lyrics:

"I'm going back someday, come what may, to Blue Bayou
Where the folks are fine, and the world is mine on Blue Bayou..."

Gene Pitney was born in Connecticut, Elvis Presley hailed from Mississippi, and Ricky Nelson was born in New Jersey.

Answer: Wild

Kiss recorded the tune "Rock and Roll All Nite" as part of a 1975 album entitled "Dressed to Kill." It was the live version of this song, however, that became popular on AM and FM radio stations across the USA. The New York band Kiss featured such prominent musicians as Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.

The band thundered out the lyrics, "You drive us wild, we'll drive you crazy!" The group also sang, "I wanna rock and roll all nite and party everyday!"

Answer: Empty

Jackson Browne was born in Germany, but he grew up in California. The song "Running on Empty" was released in 1977 as part of a live album, and it became one of Browne's most popular songs on FM radio. The song's lyrics suggested a man who was unsure of his life and of his future. Browne sang these words:

"In '69 I was twenty-one, and I called the road my own
I don't know when that road turned onto the road I'm on
Running on empty..."

Answer: A hundred billion

The Police's song "Message in a Bottle" was released in the fall of 1979 and became a major hit in the UK. American FM radio stations warmed up to this track in the early 1980s. Sting sang these lyrics from the song's third verse:

"Woke up this morning, don't believe what I saw
Hundred billion bottles washed up on the shore
Seems I'm not alone in being alone..."

Answer: The Joker

The Steve Miller Band released the song "The Joker" in 1973. This tune became popular on both AM and FM radio stations around the world mainly because of its catchy chorus and slide guitar "whistle" sound. Miller sang these words:

"I'm a joker, I'm a smoker
I'm a midnight toker
I sure don't want to hurt no one..."

By the way, does any quiz taker out there know what the expression "pompatus of love" means? :)

Answer: Commander Cody

Commander Cody (George Frayne) and His Lost Planet Airmen hailed from Michigan and specialized in playing country, blues, and rockabilly music. In 1972, the band received considerable airplay on FM radio stations with a remake of a song called "Hot Rod Lincoln." Commander talked/sang at breakneck speed about a young daredevil with a penchant for driving fast and accumulating speeding tickets. Commander Cody sang these words:

"My pappy said, 'Son, you're gonna drive me to drinkin'
If you don't stop drivin' that Hot Rod Lincoln!'"

Answer: Can't You See

The Marshall Tucker Band hailed from Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Toy Caldwell and his Southern mates produced some high-voltage country rock during the 1970s. The popular song "Can't You See" was included on the group's debut album in 1973. This tune's lyrics told the sad tale of a man who was ready to "cash in his chips" because of abuse from a mean woman. "Can't You See" featured the fine work of flute player Jerry Eubanks. Caldwell sang, "Can't you see, can't you see / What that woman, she been doin' to me?"

Answer: Pure Prairie League

The song "Amie" was recorded by the Ohio-based band Pure Prairie League in the early 1970s. This tune featured some excellent vocal harmonies and acoustic guitar work. "Amie" was included on Pure Prairie League's second album, "Bustin Out." Pure Prairie League's lineup included such musicians as Craig Fuller (vocals, guitar), George Ed Powell (guitar, vocals), and John David Call (steel guitar). The group sang these words from the chorus of "Amie":

"Amie, what you wanna do?
I think I could stay with you
For a while, maybe longer if I do..."

The other bands listed in this question all hailed from California.