Elie's Expositions

A bereaved father blogging for catharsis... and for distraction. Accordingly, you'll see a diverse set of topics and posts here, from the affecting to the analytical to the absurd. Something for everyone, but all, at the core, meeting a personal need.


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Monday, May 11, 2009

Musical Monday #92

Welcome to the 92nd edition of Musical Monday, the weekly quiz that Soccer Dad and I alternate hosting. As always, the challenge is to identify the title and artist of each song quote below, as well as the common theme of the entire set of songs. However, this week's MM is a bit off the beaten path, so here a a few additional rules/clues:
- The are five groups of songs separated by spaces: 1-30, 31-41, 42-47, 48-57, and 58-60. Find the sub-theme of each group, which all relate to the overall theme of the MM, but in different ways. Note also that although an apparent solution for the overall theme might quickly emerge, the correct answer is more specific. There is an additional clue to the exact theme below, but it is not in any individual item.
- For all the song groups (except possible the 3rd), I'm looking for a particular version of the song in question, usually the most well-know.
- For the first group only, in addition to the artist/title, try to identify the album on which the song first appeared. You'll soon see why this extra requirement is relevant!

All that said, here goes:
1) "But I have to laugh when she reveals me"
2) "Between you and me and the Staten Island ferry"
3) "Who never had time for a wife"
4) "Well he never had a sweetheart"
5) "But you just can't wait for that call"
6) "Electric babies, blue-jeaned and jaded"
7) "Like another can of beans"
8) "Some will just be now and then"
9) "And he's proud of his scars"
10) "They all bought Cadillacs and left there long ago"
11) "Though you drown in good intentions"
12) "And a couple of paintings from Sears"
13) "Some say it's better but I say it ain't"
14) "Go on and cry in your coffee"
15) "Melodrama's so much fun"
16) "Hardly anyone has seen how good I am"
17) "I've been stranded in the combat zone"
18) "Should I get a set of white wall tires?"
19) "So the graduations hang on the wall"
20) "Sesame Street, what does it mean?"
21) "I'm that voice you're hearing in the hall"
22) "And there's only one good way to reassure"
23) "And I'll walk away a fool or a king"
24) "With her high top sneakers of Italian design"
25) "There are giants out there in the canyons"
26) "Maybe I've set myself up for the kill"
27) "Raise up a multiplex and we will make a sacrifice"
28) "I go walking in my sleep, through the valley of fear"
29) "So I could catch my breath and face the world again"
30) "But I got street savoir faire"

31) "Hey little sister shot gun"
32) "I'm not tryin' to be your highness"
33) "She dashed by me in painted on jeans"
34) "Holding hands, making all kinds of plans"
35) "You can burn my clothes when I'm gone"
36) "Freezin' a moment, leave me paralyzed"
37) "But I don't fit in her society"
38) "It would sure do me good, to do you good"
39) "The birds in the sky would be sad and lonely"
40) "Turn your radio on, and find a slow grooving song"
41) "Did you think I could hate you, or raise my hands to you?"

42) "Who will dance on the floor in the round?"
43) "I heard his fiancee got a letter"
44) "I got some news this mornin' from Choctaw Ridge"
45) "On the mountain was a treasure"
46) "He's got evil in his eyes, got a reason to despise"
47) "And Circus Boy dances like a monkey on barbed wire"

48) "And all this science I don't understand"
49) "You're the meanest old woman that I've ever seen"
50) "When some sad old dream reminds you"
51) "Well they passed a law in '64"
52) "Thirteen month old baby broke the looking glass"
53) "You broke my will, but what a thrill!"
54) "She almost drives me crazy"
55) "But all of those vows you made were never to be"
56) "A shadow of a man, a face through a window"
57) "Now you look so unhappy, and I feel like a fool"

58) "So when you feel like hope is gone, look inside you and be strong"
59) "40,000 men and women everyday"
60) "I wish I could be as carefree and wild"

Good luck and enjoy!

43 Comments:

At 5/11/09, 10:39 AM, Blogger Soccer Dad said...

My guess overall is that we're dealing with Billy Joel's Birthday. Maybe #60?


31) White Wedding - Billy Idol
38) Let me help - Billy Swan

43) Billy don't be a hero - Paper Lace - yes, I believe they did it first though it wasn't a hit here, Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
44) Ode to Billy Joe - Bobby Gentry
45) One Tin Soldier (Theme from Billy Jack) - The Coven

51) The Way it Is - Bruce Hornsby and the Range
56) Brandy by Scott English
57) It's too late baby - Carole King

59) Don't fear the Reaper - BoC

 
At 5/11/09, 10:41 AM, Blogger Soccer Dad said...

15) Having been Elie's roommate for a year I better know this one:

Zanzibar - Billy Joel.

 
At 5/11/09, 10:47 AM, Blogger Yitzchak Goodman said...

53. Great Balls of Fire--Jerry Lee Lewis

 
At 5/11/09, 10:55 AM, Blogger Gail said...

13. Only the Good Die Young - Billy Joel

Think I know more, but out of time...

 
At 5/11/09, 11:01 AM, Blogger trn said...

The first group seems to be Billy Joel songs.

3) Piano Man, Billy Joel
12) Brenda and Eddie, Billy Joel
13) Only the Good Die Young, Billy Joel
20) We Didn't Start the Fire, Billy Joel
28) In the Middle of the Night, Billy Joel

Piano Man is from the album of the same name.

I don't think I have the actual titles for 12 and 28.

53) Great Balls of Fire, Jerry Lee Lewis

 
At 5/11/09, 11:10 AM, Blogger Soccer Dad said...

Isn't Brenda and Eddie called "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant?"

 
At 5/11/09, 11:10 AM, Blogger trn said...

The first group is Billy Joel songs; the second, other artists named Billy; the third, songs with Billy in the title.

The fourth group looks to be songs by piano players.

Elton John is probably included in the fourth group.

 
At 5/11/09, 12:50 PM, Blogger Yitzchak Goodman said...

Right, 48 is Rocket Man.

So what's the fifth group?

Don't fear the Reaper, Billy . . .

 
At 5/11/09, 12:52 PM, Blogger Soccer Dad said...

39) I can recall the tune, but enough of the words to get to the chorus. I even have this on a CD.

It's a 60's tune, and I believe it is considered one of the "Mersey beat" songs.

Is the singer Billy and the Beaters?

 
At 5/11/09, 12:55 PM, Blogger LEL said...

3.Piano Man-Billy Joel-Piano Man
4.Billy the Kid-Billy Joel-Piano Man
9.Angry Young Man-Billy Joel-Turnstiles
10.Miami 2017-Billy Joel-Turnstiles
12.Scenes from an Italian restaurant-Billy Joel-The Stranger
13.Only the Good die young-Billy Joel-The Stranger
14.Bigshot-Billy Joel-52nd street
15.Zanzibar-Billy Joel-52nd street
17.You may be right-Billy Joel-Glass Houses
18.It's still rock and roll to me-Billy Joel-Glass Houses
19.Allentown-Billy Joel-The Iron Curtain
20.Pressure-Billy Joel-The Iron Curtain
21.The Longest Time-Billy Joel
23.Matter of trust-Billy Joel
24.Uptown Girl-Billy Joel
31.White Wedding-Billy Idol
48.Rocket Man-Elton John
49.Hit the Road Jack-Ray Charles
53.Great Balls of Fire-Jerry Lee Lewis
60.Stray cat strut-The Stray Cats

 
At 5/11/09, 12:59 PM, Blogger LEL said...

LOL, that Billy Joel album is titled the Nylon Curtain.

 
At 5/11/09, 1:26 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

56 - mandy - barry manilow (written by someone named english)

28 is called river of dreams not middle of the night

 
At 5/11/09, 2:39 PM, Anonymous Clayton said...

I'm late today, but it looks like there are plenty to go around. :)

1 - She's Got a Way - Billy Joel
5 - Captain Jack - Billy Joel
7 - The Entertainer - Billy Joel
8 - Say Goodbye to Hollywood - Billy Joel
22 - Tell Her About It - Billy Joel
25 - The Downeaster 'Alexa' - Billy Joel (from Storm Front)

42 - Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

52 - Superstition - Stevie Wonder

It appears that the importance of the Billy Joel album titles is that they are listed in chronological order.

 
At 5/11/09, 2:46 PM, Blogger trn said...

I don't think I have the actual titles for 12 and 28.Luckily, the Gerstman brothers do!

 
At 5/11/09, 3:06 PM, Blogger Elie said...

Great so far all! One clarification on the first group; songs 29 and 30 are exceptions to the rule stated by Clayton above (why?).

 
At 5/11/09, 3:13 PM, Anonymous Clayton said...

Elie: Are those two perhaps previously-unreleased tracks that showed up on a greatest hits or a box set?

 
At 5/11/09, 3:25 PM, Anonymous Clayton said...

29 - You're Only Human (Second Wind) - Billy Joel (from Greatest Hits Vol. II)

 
At 5/11/09, 3:26 PM, Blogger Soccer Dad said...

Is Baby Grand represented?

 
At 5/11/09, 3:29 PM, Blogger trn said...

Not sure what happened to the formatting on my previous comment.

My intention was to quote my original comment and then acknowledge that Soccer Dad and Benjie had subsequently supplied the correct titles.

Birthday, box set, or maybe an honor or induction?

Could another artist from the second group be Billie Holiday?

 
At 5/11/09, 3:31 PM, Anonymous Clayton said...

32 - Nothing From Nothing - Billy Preston

 
At 5/11/09, 4:12 PM, Anonymous Clayton said...

I think the title of #37 is "Down in the Boondocks". Anyone know the artist?

 
At 5/11/09, 4:21 PM, Blogger Soccer Dad said...

Clayton:

Billy something-or-the-other?

:-)

 
At 5/11/09, 4:24 PM, Anonymous Clayton said...

SD: I think you're on to something there. :)

41 - At This Moment - Billy Vera and the Beaters

Which reminds me - is "U Stink But I [heart] U" by Billy and the Boingers here? :)

 
At 5/11/09, 4:28 PM, Blogger Soccer Dad said...

So that means that 39 is not Billy (Vera) and the Beaters.

 
At 5/11/09, 4:43 PM, Blogger Gail said...

58. Hero - Mariah Carey

 
At 5/11/09, 5:00 PM, Blogger Soccer Dad said...

Though I never heard of this before, is it possible that Billy Joel played piano on 58-60?

(Obviously I'm just guessing, but I can't think of anything else that would tie all three songs together.)

 
At 5/11/09, 5:30 PM, Blogger LEL said...

5.Captain Jack-Billy Joel-Piano Man

 
At 5/11/09, 5:34 PM, Blogger Gail said...

34. Me & Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul

Gee, this song sure does show up in a lot of MMs...

 
At 5/11/09, 5:36 PM, Anonymous Clayton said...

36 - Rock Me Tonite - Billy Squier

 
At 5/11/09, 7:22 PM, Anonymous Clayton said...

It's early, but with so many clues and so many already guessed, this should help keep track:

1) She's Got a Way - Billy Joel
2) "Between you and me and the Staten Island ferry"
3) Piano Man - Billy Joel (Piano Man)
4) Billy the Kid - Billy Joel (Piano Man)
5) Captain Jack - Billy Joel (Piano Man)
6) "Electric babies, blue-jeaned and jaded"
7) The Entertainer - Billy Joel
8) Say Goodbye to Hollywood - Billy Joel
9) Angry Young Man - Billy Joel (Turnstiles)
10) "They all bought Cadillacs and left there long ago"
11) "Though you drown in good intentions"
12) Scenes From an Italian Restaurant - Billy Joel (The Stranger)
13) Only the Good Die Young - Billy Joel (The Stranger)
14) Big Shot - Billy Joel (52nd Street)
15) Zanzibar - Billy Joel (52nd Street)
16) "Hardly anyone has seen how good I am"
17) You May Be Right - Billy Joel (Glass Houses)
18) It's Still Rock and Roll To Me - Billy Joel (Glass Houses)
19) Allentown - Billy Joel (The Nylon Curtain)
20) Pressure - Billy Joel (The Nylon Curtain)
21) The Longest Time - Billy Joel
22) Tell Her About It - Billy Joel
23) A Matter of Trust - Billy Joel
24) Uptown Girl - Billy Joel
25) The Downeaster 'Alexa' - Billy Joel (Storm Front)
26) "Maybe I've set myself up for the kill"
27) "Raise up a multiplex and we will make a sacrifice"
28) The River of Dreams - Billy Joel (River of Dreams)
29) You're Only Human (Second Wind) - Billy Joel (Greatest Hits Vol. II)
30) "But I got street savoir faire"

31) White Wedding - Billy Idol
32) Nothing From Nothing - Billy Preston
33) "She dashed by me in painted on jeans"
34) Me and Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul
35) "You can burn my clothes when I'm gone"
36) Rock Me Tonite - Billy Squier
37) Down in the Boondocks -
38) I Can Help - Billy Swan
39) "The birds in the sky would be sad and lonely"
40) "Turn your radio on, and find a slow grooving song"
41) At This Moment - Billy Vera and the Beaters

42) Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
43) Billy Don't Be a Hero - Paper Lace, Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
44) Ode to Billy Joe - Bobby Gentry
45) One Tin Soldier (Theme from Billy Jack) - The Coven
46) "He's got evil in his eyes, got a reason to despise"
47) "And Circus Boy dances like a monkey on barbed wire"

48) Rocket Man - Elton John
49) Hit the Road, Jack - Ray Charles
50) "When some sad old dream reminds you"
51) The Way It Is - Bruce Hornsby and the Range
52) Superstition - Stevie Wonder
53) Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
54) "She almost drives me crazy"
55) "But all of those vows you made were never to be"
56) Mandy - Barry Manilow
57) It's Too Late - Carole King

58) Hero - Mariah Carey
59) Don't Fear the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
60) Stray Cat Strut - The Stray Cats

 
At 5/11/09, 10:12 PM, Anonymous Clayton said...

50 - While You See a Chance - Steve Winwood

 
At 5/12/09, 2:09 PM, Blogger Soccer Dad said...

21 - 24) are from an Innocent Man, his tribute to the 60's. (Uptown Girls sounds like the 4 Seasons; Tell her about it is very Motown)

 
At 5/12/09, 2:38 PM, Blogger Soccer Dad said...

10) Movin' Out - Billy Joel - The Stranger
11) Just the Way you are - Billy Joel - The Stranger

 
At 5/15/09, 3:44 PM, Blogger Elie said...

It's been quiet here since Tuesday! Here are a couple of comments and hints - I'll wait until Sunday or Monday to post the full results:
- The first 28 in group one are two or three songs - no more or fewer - from each of Joel's twelve studio albums, in order. #29 has already been guessed, #30 is from a movie.
- IDs for #10 and #11 are not correct.
- The last group, like the previous one, are artists that share something particular with Joel. That characteristic is related to a MM that Soccer Dad and I jointly did a few months back.

Keep trying!!

 
At 5/15/09, 4:01 PM, Blogger Soccer Dad said...

39) Bad To Me - Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas.

Written by Lennon and McCartney.

Elie pointed out in an e-mail that Brian Epstein was also Billy J. Kramer's manager.

 
At 5/15/09, 4:29 PM, Blogger Elie said...

Couple more hints:

#35 and #40 are both country-pop crossovers. The former was once one of the most overplayed songs on the radio. The latter is likely better known now as a commercial than in its original version!

Artists #53, 54 and 55 are all from the same era.

 
At 5/15/09, 4:50 PM, Blogger LEL said...

10.Miami 2017-Billy Joel-Turnstiles
I'm sure this is correct.

 
At 5/15/09, 4:59 PM, Blogger Elie said...

Soryy, Laura - you are 100% right! I missed that you correctly ID'ed 10 earlier (it wasn't on Clayton's summary list), and was referring to the later (5/12/09 2:38 PM) ID of #10 as incorrect.

 
At 5/15/09, 5:07 PM, Anonymous Clayton said...

Whoops - I missed it too. Sorry!

 
At 5/16/09, 11:21 PM, Blogger trn said...

35) I'm guessing this is Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus.

Could the fifth group be songs by Long Islanders?

 
At 5/18/09, 9:09 AM, Blogger Elie said...

Great job, Soccer Dad, Yitzchak, Gail, TRN, Laura, Benjie, and Clayton! You jointly ID'ed all but 13 of the sixty songs, and also got the overall theme (Soccer Dad, quick work!) as well as all five sub-themes (TRN, nice deduction!)

Thanks for your help in wishing my favorite solo artist a happy 60th! Here are the complete correct answers:

Group One: Billy Joel's own songs, 2-3 per album (blogger's prerogative in choosing the 3s!) from his twelve studio albums in chronological order, plus two extras:
1) "But I have to laugh when she reveals me"
- "She's Got a Way", from Cold Spring Harbor
2) "Between you and me and the Staten Island ferry"
- "Everybody Loves You Now", from Cold Spring Harbor
3) "Who never had time for a wife"
- "Piano Man", from Piano Man
4) "Well he never had a sweetheart"
- "The Ballad of Billy the Kid", from Piano Man
5) "But you just can't wait for that call"
- "Captain Jack", from Piano Man
6) "Electric babies, blue-jeaned and jaded"
- "Los Angelenos", from Streetlife Serenader
7) "Like another can of beans"
- "The Entertainer", from Streetlife Serenader
8)"Some will just be now and then"
- "Say Goodbye To Hollywood", from Turnstiles
9) "And he's proud of his scars"
- "Angry Young Man", from Turnstiles
10) "They all bought Cadillacs and left there long ago"
- "Miami 2017", from Turnstiles
11) "Though you drown in good intentions"
- "The Stranger", from The Stranger
12) "And a couple of paintings from Sears"
- "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant", from The Stranger
13) "Some say it's better but I say it ain't"
- "Only The Good Die Young", from The Stranger
14) "Go on and cry in your coffee"
- "Big Shot", from 52nd Street
15) "Melodrama's so much fun"
- "Zanzibar", from 52nd Street
16) "Hardly anyone has seen how good I am"
- "Rosalinda's Eyes", from 52nd Street
17) "I've been stranded in the combat zone"
- "You May Be Right", from Glass Houses
18) "Should I get a set of white wall tires?"
- "It's Still Rock And Roll To Me", from Glass Houses
19) "So the graduations hang on the wall"
- "Allentown", from The Nylon Curtain
20) "Sesame Street, what does it mean?"
- "Pressure", from The Nylon Curtain
21) "I'm that voice you're hearing in the hall"
- "The Longest Time", from An Innocent Man
22) "And there's only one good way to reassure"
- "Tell Her About It", from An Innocent Man
23) "And I'll walk away a fool or a king"
- "A Matter Of Trust", from The Bridge
24) "With her high top sneakers of Italian design"
- "Modern Woman", from The Bridge
25) "There are giants out there in the canyons"
- "The Downeaster Alexa", from Stormfront
26) "Maybe I've set myself up for the kill"
- "I Go To Extremes", from Stormfront
27) "Raise up a multiplex and we will make a sacrifice"
- "No Man's Land", from The River Of Dreams
28) "I go walking in my sleep, through the valley of fear"
- "The River Of Dreams", from The River Of Dreams
29) "So I could catch my breath and face the world again"
- "You're Only Human (Second Wind)", extra new song on Greatest Hits Vol II
30) "But I got street savoir faire"
- "Why Should I Worry?", from Disney's "Oliver and Company"

Group Two: Other singers named Billy
31) "Hey little sister shot gun"
- "White Wedding", Billy Idol
32) "I'm not tryin' to be your highness"
- "Nothing From Nothing", Billy Preston
33) "She dashed by me in painted on jeans"
- "Caribbean Queen", Billy Ocean
34) "Holding hands, making all kinds of plans"
- "Me and Mrs. Jones", Billy Paul
35) "You can burn my clothes when I'm gone"
- "Achy Breaky Heart", Billy Ray Cyrus
36) "Freezin' a moment, leave me paralyzed"
- "Rock Me Tonight", Billy Squier
37) "But I don't fit in her society"
- "Down in the Boondocks", Billy Joe Royal
38) "It would sure do me good, to do you good"
- "I Can Help", Billy Swan
39) "The birds in the sky would be sad and lonely"
- "Bad to Me", Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas
40) "Turn your radio on, and find a slow grooving song"
- "Rub It In", Billy 'Crash' Craddock (now famous from the Glade plug-in commercials!)
41) "Did you think I could hate you, or raise my hands to you?"
- "At This Moment", Billy Vera

Group Three: Song titles containing "Billy" ("Billie" also accepted)
42) "Who will dance on the floor in the round?"
- "Billie Jean", Michael Jackson
43) "I heard his fiancee got a letter"
- "Billy Don't Be A Hero", Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods
44) "I got some news this mornin' from Choctaw Ridge"
- "Ode To Billie Joe", Bobbie Gentry
45) "On the mountain was a treasure"
- "One Tin Soldier (The Legend of Billy Jack)", Coven
46) "He's got evil in his eyes, got a reason to despise"
- "Billy's Got a Gun", Def Leppard
47) "And Circus Boy dances like a monkey on barbed wire"
- "Wild Billy's Circus Story", Bruce Springsteen (my 2nd favorite solo artist!)

Group Four: Other well-known solo artist keyboardists:
48) "And all this science I don't understand"
- "Rocket Man", Elton John
49) "You're the meanest old woman that I've ever seen"
- "Hit The Road Jack", Ray Charles
50) "When some sad old dream reminds you"
- "While You See A Chance", Steve Winwood
51) "Well they passed a law in '64"
- "The Way It Is", Bruce Hornsby
52) "Thirteen month old baby broke the looking glass"
- "Superstition", Stevie Wonder
53) "You broke my will, but what a thrill!"
- "Great Balls of Fire", Jerry Lee Lewis
54) "She almost drives me crazy"
- "Tutti-Frutti", Little Richard
55) "But all of those vows you made were never to be"
- "Blueberry Hill", Fats Domino
56) "A shadow of a man, a face through a window"
- "Mandy", Barry Manilow
57) "Now you look so unhappy, and I feel like a fool"
- "It's Too Late", Carole King

Group Five: Artists from Long Island – could only find three other well-enough-known ones:
58) "So when you feel like hope is gone, look inside you and be strong"
- "Hero", Mariah Carey
59) "40,000 men and women everyday"
- "Don't Fear the Reaper", Blue Öyster Cult
60) "I wish I could be as carefree and wild"
- "Stray Cat Strut", The Stray Cats

Thanks again for playing! MM #93 has already been posted at Soccer Dad, and look for #94 back here next Monday 5/25!

 
At 5/18/09, 11:16 AM, Blogger LEL said...

Pat Benatar is from Long Island I believe.

 
At 5/18/09, 11:38 AM, Blogger Elie said...

Per Wikipedia, Benatar was born in Brooklyn and moved to LI at age 3. I probably could have counted her for LI anyway, but since Soccer Dad and I already used her for the NYC portion of MM #68, I didn't want to re-use her under LI.

 

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