spaf@gatech.UUCP (Gene Spafford) (05/20/84)
Well, I think it's about time I closed out my first quiz. The most
songs identified was 3 -- done by dann@wxlvax and Chuck Podaras
(czp@houxa). However, by awarding points for correct id of album,
artist and title, dann@wxlvax won by a nose. Following are the final
standings based on combined points:
dann@wxlvax
czp@houxa
smw@tilt
dss3485@acf4
allen@bunker, dglasser@yale-comix (tie)
The lyrics and answers are listed below, along with who recognized
what. Let me recommend these albums, especially 1-4, 7, 9, 15, 17 &
18. Many of these can be found in cut-out bins. I may dive back into
my collection and put together another such quiz before too long. My
thanks to everyone who responded!
1) I guess we need robots for Ronnie
A stainless steel group of chums
Robots for Ronnie
A boy and a girl
Maybe an aluminum cat.
[Crack the Sky, Robots for Ronnie, Crack the Sky]
(identified by Chuck and Stewart)
2) We're lost and alone and we're drifting forever,
don't know where we are and we'll never, no never,
go home to our Earth far away.
[IGTB, Reaching Out, Intergalactic Touring Band]
(The Intergalactic Touring Band was a whole bunch of very talented
and well known (pop/rock/whatever) musical types who got together
to do a concept album. This particular piece was sung by
Annie Haslam of Renaissance. It was identified by Chuck and dann).
3) I never hopped a freight train
I mind my P's and Q's
I never been in prison
Have I the right to sing the blues?
[Robert Klein, Middle Class Educated Blues, Child of the 50's]
(identified by Dan Glasser)
4) I have been bought I have been sold in the city
I've dined with the demons and I've drank of their fear
But you, you have known and waited in silence
Come cradle my heart in a homecoming tear
[Jimmy Spheeris, I am the Mercury, Isle of View]
(No one got this one. If you can ever find it, snatch up a
copy of his "Ports of the Heart" album. Nice ballads & love songs.
And catch the names of some of the people doing back-ups on the
album.)
5) In the gladiator's school
Things were perfect things were cool
Faith was around
[Triumvirat, The Sweetest Sound of Liberty, Spartacus]
6) Back in 1954, on leave in old Singapore
I was soaking in gin, when Miss Foxy walked in.
[Pretty Things, Singapore Silk Torpedo, Silk Torpedo]
7) I'll crack me a head, I'll kick someone raw
I just want her attention, that's all.
I'll cut up her tires, then beat up her pa
Then I'll take off my clothes in the mall.
[Bat McGrath, How Would you Like a Punch, The Spy]
(Bat is a native of Naples, NY, and I used to listen to him and
Don Potter back in Rochester, NY. His songs remind many people
of Jimmy Buffett, although he has his own distinctive style.
Anybody know what Bat is up to these days?)
8) So you don't have to tease me
Or fool me around with your angel in disguise
You know what I'm after
So lay on the ground I can see it in your eyes
[Lake, Angel in Disguise, Lake II]
9) Misery loves company, and I guess that I love you
I played all the parts I couldn't be
And I always played the fool
[The Stanky Brown Group, Misery Loves Company, Misery Loves Company]
(One of my all-time favorite albums, although I'm not sure I
can explain why. I also know next to nothing about the group.
Anybody out there have any info?)
10) Hold my life
Cross the path
Course and curl my dreams away
Fast the soul
Make the break
As even as the stars that form the way
[Jon Anderson, Solid Space, Olias of Sunhillow]
(Why didn't anybody get this one?)
11) I thought I saw the candle bearers
on their way to the beyond
Beckon to me from the future
to come and join the throng
[Armageddon, Silver Tightrope, Armageddon]
(This was the only album by the group. Shortly after the
album was released, Keith Relf, the founder of the group, died.
Keith was also in the Yardbirds -- remember them?)
12) And once in a while when I am flying
it feels like I'm in my easy chair
without a care if she is there
flying with me
Oh what a joy to be free
[Aztec Two Step, Cosmos Lady, Second Step]
13) I am your friend
You must remember me
I am the one who saw through the world's disguise
took away its cloak and made it hide
from me
remember me?
[Justin Hayward & John Lodge, Remember Me My Friend, Blue Jays]
(dann got this one)
14) When she was good, it was oh so good
you were blessed if she smiled on you.
You could be king if she believed your story
but it was over if she laughed at you.
[Cashman and West, A Friend is Dying, A Song or Two]
(This was identified by Allen and by dann. It was part of
a set of songs known collectively as "American City Suite.")
15) Now I was just being friendly
No need to act like that
Don't call that policeman girl
I'll take what I said back.
[John Entwistle, I was Just Being Friendly, Whistle Rymes]
(No one got this one. John's solo albums prior to "Too Late
the Hero" contain some wonderfully humorous material. Of course,
"Talk Dirty" can hardly be labelled as cerebral....)
16) You may not have all you want or you need
All that you have has been due to my hand,
It can change, it can stay the same,
Who can say, who can make their claim?
[Gentle Giant, Proclaimation, The Power and the Glory]
(David Silver got this one)
17) Turn upon
The winding stair
past the door
that isn't there
you have come
you know not where
Passing through time
[Yamashta, Winwood & Shrieve, Crossing the Line, GO]
(Chuck got this one, and informs me that the live recording
on the imported album is "**phenominal**". Check it out.)
18) Treat me like dirt baby say I ain't worth
The sweat off the back of a midget ant
Leave me alone on the coldest of nights
Baby, I'm starting to think you don't like it
[The Good Rats, Does it Make You Feel Good, Rat City in Blue]
(One of the great Long Island/NYC party bands. Anybody else out
there ever heard of 'em? Anybody know whatever happened to them?)
19) In every precinct a golden mile
in every doorway stands heart's desire
but see him crouching running through the fire
cos he's the man who built America
[Horslips, The Man who Built America, The Man who Built America]
(Stewart got this one, too.)
20) Tongues are rattling and multiprattling,
the thanatoid elite
that call the noisome, remorseless
horseman, we pray they into sleep
For when they're riding there is no hiding
your face
[Shawn Phillips, Hie Away, Rumplestiltskin's Resolve]
(This probably was way too esoteric. However, most of Shawn's
albums are full of interesting music and lyrics
and I just had to include some. "Faces" is a recommended
album, including the piece "She Was Waiting for Her Mother at the
Station in Torino and You Know I Love You Baby But It's Getting
Too Heavy To Laugh." Whew!)
21) I knew we had to say goodbye
when I felt that warmth against my thigh
Hey! Was that you pissing on my leg?
[The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, <untitled>, The Impossible Dream]
(dann says he never heard of this one, but considers that to be
a "good thing." Pretty bizarre group. I have a special fondness for
some of their songs, like "(Ain't Nothing Like a) Gang Bang" on
the "Next!" album.)
--
Off the Wall of Gene Spafford
The Clouds Project, School of ICS, Georgia Tech, Atlanta GA 30332
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