# Cool but useless music trivia **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 17, 2004, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250 "2004-08-17T15:53:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/21 "2004-08-17T20:23:51Z")
When **The Who** were recording “My Generation,” John Entwhistle used a newly-available-in-the-UK Danelectro bass. And kept breaking bass strings during the solo. Since replacement strings were not yet available, he had to go out a buy a new bass to be able to get the full set. Eddie Vedder was from San Diego and not Seattle. When the leader of the Seattle band Mother Love Bone died of a Heroin overdose, the drummer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the time, Jack Irons, recommended to Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament (from MLBone - and the ones who wanted to “make it” and form a new band to go after the record company’s contract that MLBone had just gotten) this guy down in San Diego - Eddie Vedder. They sent Vedder some instrumentals, including one called “Dollar Short” which Vedder wrote lyrics to (it became “Alive”). He flew up to Seattle and they went straight to the studio to record his stuff - they had barely introduced themselves when they began laying down the tracks of the CD that became 10. After going threw a couple of drummers, who did Pearl Jam tap to join them? Jack Irons. But he didn’t last - I think due to illness, but not sure. Pete Townshend (sorry, another Who bit) thought he was lifting his now-famous Windmill move from Keith Richards, because Pete saw Keith doing it as the curtain was rising at a Stones show. Later, after Pete had made it his big move, he talked with Keith about it and realized Keith was just stretching out his arm before starting to play… ---
**Author:** ![milquetoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@milquetoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milquetoast)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/22 "2004-08-17T21:01:26Z")
Phil Hartman did the art work for the cover of America’s Greatest Hits album. [IMDB](http://imdb.com/name/nm0367005/bio) says he also did album cover art work for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, but it doen’t specify which ones. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/23 "2004-08-17T21:01:38Z")
> [@Sean Factotum](#): > > Paul McCartney also wrote and performed on Badfinger’s “If You Want It” (is that the real title, because I’m freezing up on that one right this moment) the first non-Beatle release from Apple Records. Paul wrote “Come And Get It.” He _did_ record a demo, playing all the instruments and singing the vocals. However, he did not perform on the Badfinger recording. He gave them his and instructed them to learn it note-for-note. The first non-Beatles release on Apple was “Thingumybob” b/w “Yellow Submarine” by John Foster & Sons Ltd. Black Dyke Mills Brass Band. “Come And Get It” didn’t come out for a whole year after the label had been in operation. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/24 "2004-08-17T21:07:06Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > He apparently failed to consider that teenage girls who had crushes on Davey Jones were not his target audience. To add insult to injury, Jimi performed “Foxey Lady”, but when he sand that line, the girls in the audience would yell, “Foxey Davey”. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/25 "2004-08-17T21:09:28Z")
> [@fishbicycle](#): > > The first non-Beatles release on Apple was “Thingumybob” b/w “Yellow Submarine” by John Foster & Sons Ltd. Black Dyke Mills Brass Band. “Come And Get It” didn’t come out for a whole year after the label had been in operation. Talking of Apple, another bit of trivia: The Beatles founded Apple Records while they were still under contract to EMI and were not, therefore, officially Apple artists. The Beatles’ 1968-and-later recordings appeared under the Apple moniker only because EMI agreed to distribute Apple Records releases. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/26 "2004-08-17T21:11:41Z")
I’m a big 70’s music fan, especially one-hit wonders. If the following songs make you go, “That sounds like that guy in that other band…”: “Love Grows (where my Rosemary goes)” - Edison Lighthouse “Gimme Dat Ding” - The Pipkins “Beach Baby” - First Class “My Baby Loves Lovin’” - White Plans “United We Stand” - Brotherhood of Man …there’s a good reason. The bands don’t actually exist. It’s Tony Burrows. He sang lead on all of these and the “bands” are studio musicians. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/27 "2004-08-17T21:54:06Z")
Little Richard did it first. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/28 "2004-08-17T22:11:35Z")
> [@milquetoast](#): > > Phil Hartman did the art work for the cover of America’s Greatest Hits album. [IMDB](http://imdb.com/name/nm0367005/bio) says he also did album cover art work for Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, but it doen’t specify which ones. Actually, if I interpret the trivia entry under “The Simpsons” right, he designed their LOGO, not necessarily their cover art. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/29 "2004-08-18T00:01:19Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > I think Flea was in the video, so it can’t be that obscure. Indeed he is, wearing a pair of pants which have stuffed animal heads sewn all over them. I’m not fond of the song, but I still want pants like that! ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/30 "2004-08-18T00:10:57Z")
> [@Sean Factotum](#): > > Sonny Bono had a bigger hit as a co-writer for “Needles and Pins” than for any of the Sonny & Cher songs he wrote and sang on. That’s “Needles and Pinz-zah” 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/31 "2004-08-18T00:41:05Z")
[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase] We boomers probably only remember The Happenings’ 1966 top 40 version of “See You In September,” but it was first recorded by The Tokens in 1959. Shelley Faberes did a version too. First recorded by the TEMPOS, Aug. 1959. I’ve got both versions on my juke box. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/32 "2004-08-18T00:44:40Z")
Meco Monardo is best known for his version of the “Theme from ‘Star Wars.’” He also released a version of the “Theme from ‘Close Encounters.’” At the end of the instrumental, a tiny voice is heard saying, “Good-byyyyyyye.” The person behind that voice was a studio singer named Kasey Cisyk (various spellings). Kasey Cisyk is also the name of the singer who dubbed Didi Conn singing “You Light up My Life” in the movie of the same name. . . . . . An “unknown” studio singer named Bill Roberts is the voice behind one of the most [unforgettable cartoons](http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~aaron2/wb/frog2.gif) of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/33 "2004-08-18T00:51:57Z")
I am always suprised when I am reminded that Kris Kristofferson the actor wrote the song “Me and Bobby McGee”, made famous by Janis Joplin. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/34 "2004-08-18T01:32:51Z")
> [@Laughing Lagomorph](#): > > I am always suprised when I am reminded that Kris Kristofferson the actor wrote the song “Me and Bobby McGee”, made famous by Janis Joplin. Kristofferson was a very successful songwriter and singer before he went into acting. Two other people who were singer/songwriters but are probably better known for their acting are Martin Mull and Lyle Lovett. It seems to help if you have an alliterative name. 🙂 OK. There’s also Gene Autrey. ☹ > [@](#): > > Bruce Springsteen played backup for Chuck Berry at least once, I don’t remember where I read that now though. So did Elton John. Berry had the habit of touring alone and hiring local musicians for each gig (and underpaying them, since they were delighted to play with Chuck Berry). The lyrics to the Beatle’s “Golden Slumbers” were taken from a [poem by Thomas Dekker](http://oldpoetry.com/poetry/20298) written in 1603. ---
**Author:** ![Feit\_C\_Taj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee59a6/32.png) [@Feit\_C\_Taj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feit_C_Taj)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/35 "2004-08-18T01:37:44Z")
Roy Orbison played baritone horn in his high school marching band. He also did artwork for the high school yearbook. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/36 "2004-08-18T01:52:05Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > … Two other people who were singer/songwriters but are probably better known for their acting are Martin Mull and Lyle Lovett. … Lyle Lovett acts? I know him as a singer/songwriter. ---
**Author:** ![Jplacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85f322/32.png) [@Jplacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jplacer)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/37 "2004-08-18T02:02:23Z")
Roy Harper sang lead vocals on Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar” on the Wish You Were Here album. It is the only song in the Floyd canon, that a member of Pink Floyd didn’t sing. Also, there is only one line in Pink Floyd’s “One of These Days.” Nick Mason, the drummer recorded the line … “One of these days, I’m going to cut you into little pieces.” That is the only line he ever sang on a Floyd album. Mason is also the only member to play on every Pink Floyd album. ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/38 "2004-08-18T02:02:42Z")
Everyone knows **John Bonham** died by aspirating his own vomit after drinking too much; not everyone knows that alcohol almost killed him on the day he was born. The doctor who was on-call to deliver him was drunk, and a suitable replacement was inexplicably difficult to find. **Prince** wrote Sinead o’Connor’s hit **Nothing Compares 2 U**. **Hootie and the Blowfish** is not the lead singer’s nickname and the backup band’s (plural) name; the name refers to two friends of the band. One of them was “Hootie,” the other was “the Blowfish.” ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/39 "2004-08-18T02:20:19Z")
Regarding **Nothing Compares 2 U** , Prince’s _The Hits_ (Volume 1) has a version of this song with someone else singing lead, and Prince singing backup. ---
**Author:** ![milquetoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@milquetoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milquetoast)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/40 "2004-08-18T02:52:06Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Actually, if I interpret the trivia entry under “The Simpsons” right, he designed their LOGO, not necessarily their cover art. I wish you would have provided a specific link, **Leaper** , because other sites indicate specifically that Phil Hartman designed the cover. All Music Guide [credits](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4791DDB4DAD7520CD9E334DC7BD74EB29D350F4C01D2F4749EEBC3D4D945E27B540ADC6CCB6E577B479ABB32FA4500DDBC0EE5EECBC1B&uid=SUB040408172228&sql=10:rxkzikl6bbo9~T2) him with design An article on the [Rhino Records site](http://www.rhino.com/features/liners/79887lin.html) says > [@](#): > > By the end of 1975 America released a greatest-hits collection, History (the cover of which, incidentally, was designed by John Hartmann’s brother, Phil Hartman, of Saturday Night Live fame). [The Week in Rock n Roll](http://www3.sympatico.ca/gary.lessard/12161222.htm) says: > [@](#): > > **History – America’s Greatest Hits** … The cover art for the LP was created by a graphics designer by the name of Phil Hartman, the same funny-man who later appeared on Saturday Night Live, and then NewsRadio… and some fan\* on the [King Biscuit site](http://kingbiscuit.com/america/fan/fan96.htm) says: > [@](#): > > Upon discovered some new web sites on America, I recently also discovered that Phil Hartman, one of my all-time favorite “Saturday Night Live” comedians (and whose murder both shocked and saddened me), designed the very album cover… \*Yeah, I know, “some fan” is not the greatest creditienls in the worls, but come on, we’re talking King Biscuit here. Manufacturer of fine flour–okay from what I can tell, there is no actaull association between this site and the King Biscuit Flour Hour, but what the hell. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250.md?page=3)