One Liners, Couplets And A Challenge To All Users Quiz

Answer: Cheap Trick-"Hot Love"

From Cheap Trick's self titled debut album from 1977. As far as hard rock/hard pop (and back then they genuinely were more rock than pop) debut albums go... did it ever get better than that record? Not for me it did not. And as the original vinyl pressings were labeled 'Side 1' and 'Side A' I just always assumed "Hot Love" was the opening track. And I do not care what sort of historical revisionism has been done in the cd era with them now claiming "Elo Kiddies" was REALLY the opening track. For decades my playing this album with "Hot Love" first made it THE PERFECT record.

When I saw them play it live a ways back on the tour where they were playing their albums in their entirety I heard them do it reversed (well - reversed for ME) starting with what I always thought would have been 'side 2' ("Elo Kiddies"). OOOOOH let me tell ya: what a perfect lesson in how utterly crucial song order choices can be! When you play the side with "Hot Love" first you have an exciting hard rock masterpiece. When you play it starting with the "Elo Kiddies" side the album really starts to drag in points! NOT a masterpiece any longer! Don't try this at home kids...

Answer: Leonard Cohen-"So Long Marianne"

Leonard how some of us do truly miss thee. A beautiful track from Leonard's debut album 'Songs Of Leonard Cohen' from 1967. You either love or hate Leonard Cohen (and he'll even write an album about that as well ;-) ). But as a lyricist it has rarely gotten any better than him. And as a singer... again: he falls into the same category as Bob Dylan in that you either love his voice or hate it.

But never be too quick to knock him as a singer. His phrasing was something many a singer could take lessons from.

The way he phrases the above line (especially on some later period live versions from the seventies and eighties) falls into the realm of vocal genius. As an aside: he was also one of the single most charming and kind "celebrities" I have ever met in my life. What a great man Leonard was.

Answer: ? & The Mysterians-"96 Tears"

I just realized: the four songs listed here... These are essentially my entire reasons for being a little kid who LIKED music to becoming an absolute raging music maniac (which is especially interesting as I HATED music until 1965 after I was struck with a bout of measles, with only two records to keep me company and from going bored out of my mind, made music something I wanted to hear more of. Those two albums btw were Trini Lopez "Live At PJ's" and a box set of "Madame Butterfly"). 1966's "96 Tears" quite simply blew my mind as a wee six year old.

Anyways... when "96 Tears" was FIRST issued in April of 1966, it was as the B-side for "Midnight Hour", but when ? was doing promo for the single on radio stations he requested that the DJ's play the B-Side instead! Sooooooo... The song then came to the attention of a certain Neal Bogart. (You know? The same Neal Bogart who started Casablanca Records and brought you Kiss, Donna Summer and The Village People in the Seventies? Yeah. That Neal Bogart.) He purchased the rights to "96 Tears" and come October 1966 "96 Tears" went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100!

Answer: Cramps-"Human Fly"

A 1978 highlight with a line that never fails to amuse me (Ok: I am easily amused). The legendary Cramps. Originally released as their second single in 1978 single ("Domino" was the B Side) and later issued on their 1979 'Gravest Hits' mini LP.

Answer: Cast Of West Side Story-"Gee Officer Krupke"

"Gee Officer Krupke" from 1961's "West Side Story". And if I may say so: from the single greatest piece of music ever written by an American. If you are not a fan of the music for "West Side Story" we quite simply could never be friends. It's THAT simple.

Initially conceived by Arthur Laurents in 1949, the project was aborted until 1955 when Arthur Laurents and Leonard Bernstein, who were working independently in Hollywood at that point, conferred about the project. And the rest, as they say, is history. What I would really like to know: who in the heck are these "they" of which so many people speak, anyway?

Answer: The Sex Pistols-"Bodies"

The Sex Pistols "Bodies". From their endlessly influential and important 1977 'Never Mind The Bollocks...' album. It is with great sadness that I say that the line I REALLY wanted to use in the quiz would have been the line immediately preceding the above used line, but there is no way in aitch e double hockey sticks that any moderator here would ever allow that one to slip past their eagle eyes. So instead you get the follow up line. That is what we in the quizzin' industry call 'life'.

Answer: Mungo Jerry-"In The Summertime"

I shall never apologize for my love of Mungo Jerry. "In The Summertime" was one of the most massive hits from 1970. To Americans Mungo Jerry are thought of as a one hit wonder. Don't kid yourself. They had many more hits in the rest of the world (including the utterly wonderful "Lady Rose") and a version of the band (basically Ray Dorset and whoever he has in the band at the moment) continues to tour with great success to this day.

On a related note: a few months ago out of the blue it occurred to me that the line I chose for the song here is very similar to a line from the George Gershwin song "Summertime": "Oh, Your daddy's rich, And your mamma's good lookin'". Now my girlfriend might beg to differ about that, but I am standing my ground on this one! Btw: if you have four minutes and want a good laugh go to you tube and search for this: Musicless Musicvideo / MUNGO JERRY - "In The Summertime".

Answer: The Beach Boys-"Friends"

Sorry but I HAD to include this: my single favorite line of lyrics ever written in a rock song. Written by the undisputed genius of pop, Brian Wilson (along with his brother Carl), the track 'Friends' is the title track off of their great and vastly overlooked 1968 release. The track was even released as a single in both the UK and the USA and went into the Top 50 in both countries.

Answer: Kate Smith-"That's Why Darkies Were Born"

Uh... yeah. This song really does exist. And I'll admit I am only familiar with this song via the Lol Coxhill cover version (and that WAS the version I was actually going to reference here, although I can probably count the number of users of this site on one hand who would even know who Lol Coxhill even is). Then, in a fit of kindness, I looked around online and found that KATE SMITH did a version of this song in 1931 and actually had a huge hit with it. It was written by Ray Henderson and Lew Brown in 1931 and was one of the TOP TEN HITS of that year! Ok granted 'Top 10 in 1931' probably does not translate into 'Michael Jackson Thriller in 1982' types of units sold, but still... And if you think I am yankin' your chain do a little bit of online research and see for yourself. Me? Yank YOUR chain? Quel scandale!

Allow me to be perfectly clear about something here: While I am about as politically correct as a can of beets I despise racism and people who are racist of any creed or color. I have ended lifelong friendships over that. As I said above: I first heard this song via jazz and prog musician Lol Coxhill's utterly brilliant 'Ear Of Beholder' album when I was ten years old (you want a good time: go check out his version of "I Am The Walrus" on that album and see if it does not have you either rolling on the floor with laughter or wanting to smash your stereo out of sheer annoyance) and did not even know what racism actually was. Once I did realize that this song was not exactly kosher I still liked it but I questioned him doing it. Then when I met him in the mid seventies (well before there was such a thing as political correctness) I asked him about the song and he said something along the lines of "Yes. It is offensive. But it is also a good song. And back in the late 1800s/early 1900s minstrel shows (as part of travelling Medicine Shows) were the live events of the era and the direct predecessors of Jazz, Blues and Rock concerts and those were shows with white people in blackface imitating black people (Note: if anybody is interested there is a GREAT 2 cd set with a phenomenal 72 page booklet that came out in 1996 that documents this time in music - Bob Dylan played large chunks of it on his "Good Time Radio Hour" while that was airing. It is entitled "Good For What Ails You, Music of the Medicine Shows 1926 - 1937" I cannot recommend this cd highly enough). To me that is about as racist as it gets. But as a jazz musician I also have to accept that the roots of what I and every other jazz or blues or even rock musician does, regardless of if they are black or white, all but stem from those shows as well, like it or not". Again: this is from a memory of a discussion I had over 40 years ago.

It is what it is and I am not trying to be flippant about it. Like it or not it IS a part of this country's musical heritage.

Answer: Brian Eno-"Baby's On Fire"

One of the best albums from 1974 was Brian Eno's debut solo album entitled 'Here Come The Warm Jets'. And one of the highlights from that album was a little ditty entitled "Baby's On Fire". Which contained the immortal lyrics quoted above. Ahhh how I do wish that Brian would record and release just one more album of SONGS (as opposed to multi hour concept pieces) in my (or his) life time!

Answer: The Mumps-"Crocodile Tears"

1977. The Mumps. "Crocodile Tears". Was there ANY better an opening line on a song that year? I don't think so. Fronted by the amazing Lance Loud the Mumps were one of the best live bands I ever saw in my life. This great song was released as a single on Bomp Records in 1977. It did not chart. Anywhere. Sadly.

Answer: Bee Gees-"New York Mining Disaster 1941"

Are you familiar with the first (as far as the USA and UK are concerned) Bee Gees album? 'The Bee Gees 1st"? Do you love great slightly psych tinged pop music? Then why aren't you familiar with it? Released in 1967 virtually simultaneously with another album you might have heard of entitled 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' it unfortunately kind of got lost in the hub bub surrounding THAT classic (and what album released around that same time did not get caught up in its wake?).

The album is a classic, packed with GREAT songs. "Red Chair Fade Away", "Please Read Me", "Holiday", "Cucumber Castle", "I Can't See Nobody", "To Love Somebody", "Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You" and this classic: "New York Mining Disaster 1941". Unlike "Sgt Pepper" (I am thinking of the excruciating "When I'm 64" in particular) the first UK/US Bee Gees album is all killer, no filler.

Answer: Glen Campbell-"Wichita Lineman"

Quite possibly the greatest pop song ever written. Jimmy Webb wrote it and Glen had a hit with it in 1968. It went to number three in the US pop charts in 1968. But it went to number ONE in the Canadian pop charts. Where music consumers are obviously a lot smarter than they are in the USA. Again: quite possibly the greatest pop song ever written.

There is NOTHING more about this song that you NEED to know.

Answer: Barbra Streisand-"Stoney End"

A very early Laura Nyro composition. It originally appeared on her 1967 "More Than Just A New Discovery" solo album (and it might well have been written much earlier than that). Then it was covered by Peggy Lipton in 1968, but that version did not even enter the Hot 100 charts. Finally Barbra Streisand had a hit with it in 1970 and took it into the Top Ten.

Answer: The Chiffons-"He's So Fine"

"He's So Fine" is a song written in 1962 by Ronald Mack. The Chiffons recorded it in December 1962 and took it all the way to number one in March of 1963.

In 1971 a lawsuit was brought against George Harrison by Bright Tunes Music Corporation for his song "My Sweet Lord" alleging plagiarism. In 1981, after a bizarre series of events put into place by George Harrison's manager (and Bright Tunes owner) Allen Klein, the suit was settled (in Kleins's and Bright Tunes' favor).

Answer: Allman Brothers-"Whipping Post"

Is there a living born and bred American over the age of 40 that does NOT know this song? "Freebird", "Whipping Post" and "High Tides & Green Grass" are like the Father, Son and Holy Ghost of Southern Rock!

Originally recorded in 1969 for the Allman Brothers' self titled first album it was the version recorded live at the Fillmore East in 1970 that got heaps of radio airplay on FM radio and turned this song into the classic it has since become.

Answer: Ian Dury & The Blockheads-"Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick"

Originally released as a single in November of 1978 (and eventually included with Ian's 1979 'Do It Yourself' album). In the UK it eventually reached number one on the British charts in the final week of January of 1979 after the Village People's "YMCA" finally conceded the top spot after hogging it for over three weeks! In the USA it did about as well as anything that genius singer/songwriter Ian Dury ever did: Nothing whatsoever! SHAME on all Americans! God will judge all of us for this crime against culture some day.

Answer: Bob Dylan-"Idiot Wind"

Bob Dylan wrote many a great put down line. And in his top three "Idiot Wind" shines brightly and fiercely. One of the standout tracks on his killer 'Blood On The Tracks' album from 1975 the song "Idiot Wind" showcases every single thing that Dylan fans love about their idol: GREAT lyrics, a great song with good hooks and strong, passionate vocals.

This song is just a winner on every level.

Answer: The Who-"Dogs"

Alrighty then. EVERY single one of these lyric quizzes on here seems to have a song by the Who on it. So I present to you my personal all time favorite Who song: "Dogs". In many countries "Call Me Lightning" was the B Side. In some it was "Dogs (Part 2)". "Dogs (Part 2" eventually also became the B Side to a song some of you might know entitled "Pinball Wizard". "Dogs (Part 2)" was an instrumental btw. It did not see much action chartwise regardless of what the B Side was. From the 1968 single and also included with the greatest Who album most people do not own: the perfect 'Direct Hits'. Hey: it was either this or me being a smartass and giving you "Wasp Man" by The Who (of which the entirety of the lyrics consist of basically "Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" repeated over and over again.

You're Welcome.

Answer: Led Zeppelin-"Hey Hey What Can I Do"

And another band that pops up on most of these quizzes. One of my all time Zep faves. Originally released on the B Side of the "Immigrant Song" single, I discovered it vis the great Atlantic sampler entitled "The New Age Of Atlantic" (a 1972 album which also introduced me to Yes, Jonathon Edwards, Cactus, Loudon Wainwright III and the J Geils Band). Easily one of the catchiest tracks the mighty Zep ever recorded. Back in the Seventies this was the great lost Zep track and kind of hard to find. However, in the cd era it has since been reissued on album via the expanded version of 'Coda', 'The Complete Studio Recordings' box set etc. Every now and again something positive comes out of the invention of cd's...

Answer: Rod Stewart-"Mandolin Wind"

Ok be honest: aren't those some of the best lyrics you have ever read? Rod oh Rod! I ask you this as a person who thinks that the compilation of all of your Mercury recordings entitled "Reasons To Believe" is the single most essential rock album purchase released by any modern day singer ever, but dear sweet Rod: What in the heck went wrong? I understand you wanted to be famous. I understand you wanted to sell millions of records. But you could have done it and stayed true to your muse! I promise you that you could have! Never has so much god given talent been so horribly wasted! Please Rod: show us you've still got what it takes and give us just ONE more album the way you used to make them. JUST ONE. I'll be your best friend.

"Mandolin Wind" was released as a single. However I cannot find ANY chart info about it online and I am pretty darn sure it was a pretty successful single! Go figure. It was issued as a single in 1971 in any case and it did well enough to be included on his 1973 'Sing It Again' best of compilation!

Oh yeah: "Mandolin Wind". From 1971's absolutely flawless 'Every Picture Tells A Story' album.

Answer: Love-"7 And 7 Is"

It is interesting to me to see just how long it took for Love to finally get their due. I was lucky. I grew up in Los Angeles in the mid 60s and I got to hear their stuff on the radio when it was released. And then after moving to Europe in the 70s (where they were respected) I got to hear some of their later output via samplers (such as the glorious "Singing Cowboy" and "August"). "7 & 7 Is" shall always remain a very fondly remembered part of my childhood musical upbringing. And the album it was from, 'Da Capo", was amongst the first 15 albums I ever owned and to this day it remains a treasured part of my record collection.

"7 And 7 Is" was issued as a single in July of 1966 and went to number 33 on the Billboard charts in 1966. It became the band's highest ever charting single!

Answer: Van Morrison-"Brown Eyed Girl"

So you're asking me: 'what's up with all of the nonsense lyrics?" You did not seriously think I was not going to have some fun with this quiz, did you? From Van's first solo album: 1967's GREAT 'Blowin' Your Mind' (and YES: 'Blowin' Your Mind' is, in fact, one of my all time top three favorite Van albums. Right up there with 'St Dominic's Preview' and 'Common One'. Van can hate that album all he wants. I love it and I have ever since I bought my first copy of it when I was mere days past my eighth birthday - I made my mother get it for me as a belated birthday present a week after my birthday when it was finally issued at the end of March in 1967). To this day it is quite possibly my most played Van Morrison LP.

"Brown Eyed Girl" was released as a single in June 1967 and it peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 later that year.

Answer: David Cassidy-"Rock Me Baby"

I make ZERO apologies about my love for David Cassidy as a solo artist. Note that I specifically said "as a solo artist" I am NOT a fan of the Partridge Family as a recording act. I'm gonna hep y'all to something here: all you record collectors looking for lost great pop albums from the 70s. Do yourself a huge favor and the next time you see David's 1975 album: "The Higher They Climb The harder They Fall" grab it and listen to it. You can thank me afterwards via pm here.

"Rock Me Baby" was issued as a single in 1972. It went into the Top 20. How high did it go? Apparently this must be top secret information based on the non existence of any such available information on the internet!

Answer: Eric Burdon & War-"Spill The Wine"

The great 1970 single from the great 1970 LP "Eric Burdon Declares War". Eric Burdon. One of the most under rated major 60s UK music celebrities. The Animals: Great. The New Animals: Even better. But who on earth would have (or even could have) conceived what the man was going to do next when the New Animals split up. Eric Burdon and War were pretty much unprecedented and completely unexpected. And what a killer combo they were (and what a killer band War remained after they split from Burdon). Give Eric a ton of credit for discovering these guys. And give him even more credit for following his muse with them for two albums (three if you count the later seventies previously unissued live album) of early seventies major funk magic.