The Songfactor's Choice Top Ten Facts

[OLD 55]

Very comprehensive Ray. I like the 'Timeline'.

As for the lyrics, I didn't know them. My Wife is much better on lyrics than me ( NOT AC/DC ones). Of course I know every word of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'", THE Greatest song of the Rock Era.

[edna]

I'd rather listen to the Album and read a book, thanks edna.

I do all that: I listen to the album, I read a book and sometimes, I watch the dvd...

[Rayzor]

Very comprehensive Ray. I like the 'Timeline'.

As for the lyrics, I only knew the chorus. My Wife is much better on lyrics than me. Of course I know every word of great songs like "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'".

Anytime SF needs AC/DC lyrics or facts just ask. I've been following their career since I can remember. As for the timeline, I knew most of the facts and the website I used to confirm what I knew just happened to be set up that way. Lucky hit!

[Farin]

^ I don't think you need to wait till somebody asks for them...

just add any facts for any songs you know...

the more the better, right?

[Lucky]

Since I Fell For You ~ Lenny Welch

allmusic.com says:

Usually a throwback adult pop singer, Lenny Welch earned his biggest hit by injecting a little spirit — somewhere between Johnnie Ray and soul music — with his cover of the Buddy Johnson nugget "Since I Fell for You." Passionate but never histrionic (it's a very controlled performance), Welch hit that difficult middle ground for a number four hit in 1963 for the Cadence label. One year later, the follow-up "Ebb Tide" also managed the Top 40.

[katie_sane]

The Songfactor's Choice Top Ten #57

TWO songs this week:

Surrender - Cheap Trick (1979)

Albatross - Fleetwood Mac (1969)

If you have any info on any of the songs mentioned anywhere in this thread, please feel free to post your knowledge here. Submissions on songs will be collated and sent to the main site and you will receive credit for your contribution.

The Songfish thanks you.

[edna]

From wikipedia:

"Surrender"

Cheap Trick

"Surrender" is a Cheap Trick song originally released on 30 January 1978 on the album Heaven Tonight. It also prominently featured on the live album At Budokan. It is a late 1970s teen anthem, describing the relations between the baby boomer narrator and his G.I. generation parents. The narrator describes how his parents are weirder and hipper than many children would believe. For example, the narrator describes how he discovers his parents "rolling on the couch" and listening to his KISS records late at night.

Cheap Trick still performs this song to this day, and Rick Nielsen often actually throws vinyl Cheap Trick records to the audience in live performances at the moment KISS is mentioned in the song.

The song has also been covered by many bands. Notable covers include those by The Posies, Green Day, Less Than Jake, The Manges, The Misfit Toys, Zebrahead, Ghost of the Robot, Gluecifer, Camp Freddy, Velvet Revolver, Big Drill Car, Marilyn Manson, and Simple Plan. Rick Nielsen performed "Surrender" with Camp Freddy one night on Jay Leno.

Many movies feature this song, notably Over the Edge, Small Soldiers, Daddy Day Care, Fantastic Four, Employee of the Month, and Detroit Rock City. Daddy Day Care actually featured Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander (which were their only movie roles to date, excluding Rock And Rule.)

In 2004, "Surrender" was used in an ad campaign for the Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Parts of the song are used in other songs.

* "Jimmy James" by Beastie Boys is opened by Robin Zander's speech that opened the Budokan version of "Surrender".

* "Losers of the Year" by Pinhead Gunpowder is opened by the whole "whatever happened to all the season's" line.

* Cheap Trick's cover of "In the Street" by Big Star (aka "That 70's Song") has "We're All Alright" shouted twice after the chorus, a reference to this song.

* Me First And The Gimme Gimmes' version of "Tomorrow" (from the musical Annie) has lyrics from Surrender during the last chorus. (Your mommy's alright, your daddy's alright,....)

This song was played in certain episodes of shows like Scrubs and Halfway Home

The song is featured in the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 video game Guitar Hero II

[phil]

"Albatross" is a guitar-based instrumental by Fleetwood Mac, released as a single in 1969. The piece was composed by Peter Green.

The composition suggests a relaxing sea setting, with cymbals imitating the sound of waves and a dreamy solo from Green's Les Paul guitar. It is notable for containing only two chords, Emaj7 and F#m, from start to finish, and could be seen as an early ambient work.

This composition is one of only a few tracks to come out of the original lineup of Fleetwood Mac that is included on their later "greatest hits" and "best of" compilations. Many of their compilations only focus on hits from the 1970s and 1980s. However, other compositions from that period have gone on to become classic recordings in the hands of other performers - "Black Magic Woman" as recorded by Santana for example. Another example, "Oh, Well" has gone on to become a classic rock standard. "Albatross" is the only Fleetwood Mac composition with the distinction of having inspired a Beatles song, "Sun King" from 1969's Abbey Road.

In March of that year, Q magazine placed it at number 37 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.

[katie_sane]

The Songfactor's Choice Top Ten #58

THREE songs without a home here this week:

Blue Bayou - Roy Orbison (1963)

Days - The Kinks (1972)

Legend Of A Mind - Moody Blues (1968)

If you have any info on any of the songs mentioned anywhere in this thread, please feel free to post your knowledge here. Submissions on songs will be collated and sent to the main site and you will receive credit for your contribution.

The Songfish thanks you.

[edna]

I fond very little info about "Days" - The Kinks

Written by Ray Davies. Released in June 1968 as a single in the UK. B side: "She´s got everything". It reached # 12 in the Charts.

Petula Clark and Elvis Costello have covered this song.

[edna]

"Blue Bayou"

Roy Orbison

Written by Roy Orbison/Joe Melson.

Released in the summer of 1963 with "Mean Woman Blues" as the B side. Part of his 1963 album "In Dreams".

Not much either... but somebody will post more...

[OLD 55]

Hi Katie.

Blue Bayou - Roy Orbison (1963)

Written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson.

U.S.#29, U.K. #3. Released as a Double A side with Mean Woman Blues, which became the preferred side in the U.S., reaching #5.

One of Roy's five #1s in Australia where he was immensely popular.

Linda Ronstadt successfully covered it in 1977 (U.S. #3), and it became her biggest selling U.S. single, achieving Platinum status.

(I looked up 4 different books to get my info. I wish I knew more about the song's background).

[edna]

"Legend of a mind"

The Moody Blues

Written by Ray Thomas

Here´s what allmusic has to say:

Other than "Ride My See-Saw," the six-and-a-half-minute opus "Legend of a Mind" is probably the most well-remembered cut off the Moody Blues' In Search of the Lost Chord album. Plenty of casual listeners probably still think the name of the song is "Timothy Leary" or "Timothy Leary's Dead," as those phrases are constantly repeated throughout the verses and the chorus, but the words "Legend of a Mind" are actually never spoken. The song begins as a typically Moody Blues folk-pop/rock tune with a bittersweet edge, but not too bitter. And, again in common with quite a few other Moody Blues songs, the tempo picks up and the song rocks harder as it swoops into the latter parts of the verses and the chorus, with some overriding mellotron lines carrying a counterpoint melody. The rhythm stutters a bit as they get to the title phrase, and then a brief turnaround sounds almost like a bagpipe trill before leading back into the verse. The band members go into almost a double-time of sorts on a brief section in which they bouncily extol Leary's virtues. This leads into what's perhaps the weakest part of the song, a long instrumental break in which the song slows down and stumbles along as flutes and mellotron duel with each other. The pace gradually picks up and the melodic and orchestral scope get grander, setting the stage for a more exultantly sung and speedier section in which Leary's astral powers are hailed in yet more fervent terms (for a few bars, in fact, piano chords pound out a repetitive riff). The song attractively changes keys at times during the final vocalizations of Leary's name, leading into a long instrumental psychedelic fadeout that stops with the downward buzz of an airplane (or a something that sounds much like an aircraft). The lyrics about Leary's powers are sung so straight-facedly one's almost tempted to think they might be subtly tongue-in-cheek, but most likely they were earnest. "Legend of a Mind" has attracted its share of detractors that find the lyric, and the by-association uncritical oh-wow praise of the psychedelic experience, naive and pompous. But, again like much of the Moodies' early work, it does have a good melody and a well-thought-out arrangement.

...but we need more info...

[katie_sane]

The Songfactor's Choice Top Ten #59

FOUR songs in desperate need of facts:

Child Of The Moon - The Rolling Stones (1968)

End Of The Line - Traveling Wilburys (1988)

Turn To Stone - Joe Walsh (1972)

I Think I Love You - The Patridge Family (1970)

If you have any info on any of the songs mentioned anywhere in this thread, please feel free to post your knowledge here. Submissions on songs will be collated and sent to the main site and you will receive credit for your contribution.

The Songfish thanks you.

[edna]

"Child of the Moon"

The Rolling Stones

Very little info.

Written by M.Jagger/K.Richards

Recorded in July & October, 1967. Released in May 1968 in the US as the B side of "Jumping Jack Flash".

Brian Jones plays the saxophone.

Was included in their 1972 compilation album "More Hot Rocks (Big Hits and Fazed Cookies)".

[edna]

"I think I love you"

The Partridge family"

from wikipedia:

Single from the album "The Partridge Family Album"

Released 1970

Written by Tony Romeo

* #1 (U.S.)

* #18 (UK)

"I Think I Love You" is a 1970 single by The Partridge Family, featuring David Cassidy. The lyrics heavily reference love-shyness. The song was released at the same time as the debut of the network television sitcom The Partridge Family and the song was incorporated into the storyline of the show. In the show's premiere episode, the Partridge children ask their mother to help them out as they record the song "I Think I Love You" in their garage. Their song hits number one in the show, and two months later the song really did hit number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The only cast members of the television show to participate in the recording of the song were David Cassidy and Shirley Jones.

[Farin]

End of the Line ~ Traveling Wilburys

The sleeve cover of the 45 rpm single, photographed four days after the death of Roy Orbison in December 1988, features a guitar in a rocking chair. The same image appeared in the music video for the single, with the camera focusing on the guitar during Orbison's solo vocal parts.

The start of George Harrison's opening guitar chord is similar to his opening chord in The Beatles' song "I'm Looking Through You". It then expands into a "freight train" rhythm to underscore the theme of the song.

It features all the Wilburys, except Bob Dylan, as lead singers, alternating on verses.

[The Seeker]

Child of the Moon:

- Jumpin' Jack Flash/ Child of The Moon went to number 1 in the UK and number 3 in the US

[katie_sane]

The Songfactor's Choice Top Ten #61

Over HALF of this week's top ten can't be found on Songfacts! Here are the missing links:

Come Dancing - The Kinks (1983)

Love Is Like Oxygen - Sweet (1978)

Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again - The Fortunes (1971)

Midnight Confessions - The Grass Roots (1968)

Pump It Up - Elvis Costello (1978)

Hush - Kula Shaker (1997)

If you have any info on any of the songs mentioned anywhere in this thread, please feel free to post your knowledge here. Submissions on songs will be collated and sent to the main site and you will receive credit for your contribution.

The Songfish thanks you.

[Farin]

Hush ~ Kula Shaker (1997)

a cover of Deep Purple's (originally Joe South) song of the same name, peaked on #2 in the UK charts.

It was also used in the original Soundtrack to "I know what you did last Summer"

and an artistfact: Kula Shaker was named after an Indian prince of the 19th century, "Kula Sekhera"

[edna]

"Come Dancing"

The Kinks

Written by Ray Davies.

Released in 1983 and included in their album "State of Confusion".

wikipedia: In spring 1983, the nostalgic "Come Dancing" became their biggest American hit (at number 6) since "Tired of Waiting for You". It also became the group's first top 20 hit in the UK since 1972, peaking at number 12 in the charts

There must be more info about this song...

[edna]

"Here comes this rainy day feeling again"

The Fortunes

Written by Roger Cook/Roger Greenaway/Tony Macaulay

Released in 1971.

Reached #15 in the US charts.

[edna]

"Pump it up"

Elvis Costello

Written by Elvis Costello and released on his album "This Year´s Model" in 1978 by Elvis Costello & The Attractions.

from wikipedia

It is frequently played at sporting events.

Has been covered by Kills for Thrills and Buckcherry on Fifteen (album) as a bonus track on the Japanese edition. The guitar riff was sampled in Rogue Traders' 2005 single Voodoo Child. Trixter has also covered the song.

from allmusic:

Elvis Costello has said that "Pump It Up" was written in the midst of the infamous Stiff Records package tour of 1977; Ian Dury's "Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll" had become the official closing number of the tour, and its hedonistic philosophy proved contagious among the participants, as the tour became a rolling party of nonstop drunken debauchery that taxed its participants to the breaking point. In many ways, "Pump It Up" is the flip side to Dury's anthem, an unblinking look at the physical and emotional costs of what some call the rock & roll lifestyle. But unlike most cautionary songs, "Pump It Up" is as exciting, insistent, and physically powerful as anything Costello might have been railing against; the rhythm section of Pete Thomas and Bruce Thomas set down a hard, stomping groove that rocks hard but demands to be danced to, while Steve Nieve's roller-rink organ and Costello's slashing guitar serve up boundless energy with a slightly sinister undercurrent; the song perfectly captures the giddy but terrifying feeling of an wild, adrenaline-fueled all-night party that's dangling on the verge of collapse.

[edna]

"Love is like Oxygen"

Sweet

Written by Griffin/Andy Scott

Released in January 1979.

according allmusic:

By 1978, Sweet was all but forgotten. Punk had swept almost every last vestige of the old glam rock hierarchy into obscurity, and some two years had passed since the band even looked like bothering the British chart. Their American acclaim was growing fast, however, and that year's Level Headed album emerged a magnificent slice of mature reflection, heavy and heady in equal doses. Even within such exalted company, "Love Is Like Oxygen" glittered, a harmonic rocker highlighted by an insistent guitar riff and a winter-clear piano motif. Sundry sour critics have since pointed out that its lyric was little more than a softer rock rewrite of Hall & Oates' "Grounds for Separation," but that mattered naught. Edited down to become the band's first single of the year, it shot into the Top Ten on both sides of the Atlantic.

The familiar versions of the song have since been joined by a fabulous, seven-minute instrumental take, powering through a number of very different, and absolutely distinctive movements.

And wikipedia says:

Sweet split from RCA in late 1977. The first album for new label Polydor, "Level Headed", found Sweet experimenting by combining rock and classical sounds "a-la clavesin", an approach similar to UK band ELO -- indeed "Love Is Like Oxygen" is often wrongly credited to ELO.

"Love Is Like Oxygen" was their last UK, U.S. and German Top 10 hit. Andy Scott also received an Ivor Novello Award for composing "Love Is Like Oxygen"

[edna]

"Midnight Confessions"

The Grass Roots

allmusic review:

The best of the Grass Roots' many classic singles, "Midnight Confessions" has an urgency missing from the likes of "Sooner or Later" and "Where Were You When I Needed You," with a real sense of passion in Rob Grill's vocals — in a higher register than usual for Grill — that puts over the conflicted feelings in Lou Josie's contemplating-adultery lyrics. ( "Midnight Confessions" is one of surprisingly few rock and roll songs, including "Me and Mrs. Jones," Paul Kelly's "Don't Stand So Close To The Window" and Kirsty MacColl's "Caroline," that views cheating on one's significant other with an appreciable level of guilt.) Even better, Steve Barri's production adds a new level of funk to the proceedings, with a full horn section, prominent percussion and a heavy, melodic bassline that drives the song, making it one of the most regularly anthologized pop songs of 1968.

"Midnight Confessions" showed the strong influence of Motown, and the R&B flavor of the song.

It reached #5 in the US lists and won a Gold Record. in November 1968.