# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/61 "2004-08-18T15:11:38Z")
Among many to play on Warren Zevon’s albums (REM, Dylan, Springsteen, Neil Young, Garcia etc etc) the rhythm section on ‘Werewolves of London’ is Fleetwood/McVie. But I’m sure you knew that. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/62 "2004-08-18T15:12:18Z")
> [@fishbicycle](#): > > The first non-Beatles release on Apple was “Thingumybob” b/w “Yellow Submarine” by John Foster & Sons Ltd. Black Dyke Mills Brass Band. " I think the first true non-Beatle release on Apple was “Those Were the Days” by Mary Hopkin, composed by Gene Raskin. It was released on August 26, 1968 as Apple 1801. True, “Thingumybob” was also released on 8/26/68 as Apple 1800, but it was composed by Lennon/McCartney. Incidentally, Mary Hopkin was referred to McCartney as a possible Apple artist by Twiggy! ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/63 "2004-08-18T15:52:22Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > I think the first true non-Beatle release on Apple was “Those Were the Days” by Mary Hopkin, composed by Gene Raskin. It was released on August 26, 1968 as Apple 1801. True, “Thingumybob” was also released on 8/26/68 as Apple 1800, but it was composed by Lennon/McCartney. Well, sir, in every counting system I can think of, 00 comes before 01. And Paul produced “Those Were The Days”, so he was even involved in _that_. If you want to go to “First Apple record with no connection to The Beatles”, there aren’t any. James Taylor was produced by Peter Asher - but Paul played on that album. Jackie Lomax was produced by George, but he and Paul played on that album. For the first Apple single issued to the public that was not performed by The Beatles, catalogue number 1800 still stands, both chronologically and numerically. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/64 "2004-08-18T16:08:59Z")
stand back, everyone! **Labdad** and **Fishbicycle** are about to have a Useless-Trivia Battle Royale!!! Cover the children’s eyes!!! 😃 …I live for this stuff! ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/65 "2004-08-18T16:15:17Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > …I live for this stuff! Hey, I **told** you if you wanted useless, I’d give you useless! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/66 "2004-08-18T16:18:07Z")
I’m not having an argument with anybody. Show’s over, nothing to see here. Move along. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/67 "2004-08-18T16:21:09Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > 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. 🙂 And Kristofferson’s song was made famous by Janis Joplin. JJKKLLMM. _Weird._ ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/68 "2004-08-18T16:30:47Z")
In 1967, IIRC, “I Think We’re Alone Now” and “Mony Mony,” by Tommy James and the Shondells were at #1 and #2 on the charts. In 1987, they were both back at the same positions, only as covered by Tiffany and Billy Idol, respectively. (hey… what’s that…) ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/69 "2004-08-18T16:39:40Z")
Stevie Ray Vaughn, contrary to popular belief, Fender advertising posters and the Fender SRV model, did not play a Fender Stratocaster. The guitar is a Japanese knockoff of the Strat from a company called Tokai. On the cover of the album Texas Flood he is holding a Tokai Springy-Sound. On all Fender promotional materials the Tokai logo is simply covered up. ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/70 "2004-08-18T16:42:26Z")
Buddy Holly wrote _That’ll Be The Day_ after watching a John Wayne movie, _The Searchers_ thus the quote. Tommy Allsup and Waylon Jennings were both backups for The Crickets. They continued the tour after Buddy was killed singing guess what? That’ll be the day… Don McLean used to frequent a bar back home in NY called “The Levee”. Unsure if it was on the tour or not. Tommy Allsup retired from singing a year or two after Buddy died and opened a bar called “The Rye Club” his favorite liquor at the time. Waylon known for his whiskey drinking even then, later wrote the song, “I’m Just A Good Ol’ Boy”. Which if you recall was the theme song on _The Dukes of Hazzard._ Trivial but interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/71 "2004-08-18T16:47:40Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > Gene Autry also started his own record label - Challenge Records. In the late 50’s he signed some session musicians to back the acts the label had under contract. These session guys cut an instrumental they ended up calling “Tequila.” When the decision was made to release the song as a single, the group needed a name - so they were called The Champs - after Gene Autry’s horse, Champion! Interestingly, later members of The Champs include Jimmy Seals and Dash Crofts (of Seals and Crofts fame), and Glen Campbell. I’ve often heard the story that Glen Campbell played on the Tequila recording, but [this site](http://www.sealsandcrofts.com/champs.html) and [this site](http://www.icebergradio.com/artist/1234/the_champs.html) say that Glen didn’t join the group until 1960ish. ---
**Author:** ![ColonelDax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@ColonelDax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColonelDax)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/72 "2004-08-18T16:50:15Z")
Oh, and \*\*George Jones \*\* used the name Thumper Jones to record a number of rockabilly singles in 1956 so as not to alienate his hard-core honky-tonk audience. ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/73 "2004-08-18T16:58:46Z")
Jim Peterik, the lead singer/songwriter behind “Ides of March” (from 1970, a fantastic “Blood Sweat and Tears” impersonation btw), also was the songwriter/guitarist for Survivor! My first thought was “Wow, he was still working!” But Survivor was only 12 years after “Ides”, and “Eye of the Tiger” was **20** years ago! The realization that I’m a grown up catches me unawares sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/74 "2004-08-18T17:25:05Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > Stevie Ray Vaughn, contrary to popular belief, Fender advertising posters and the Fender SRV model, did not play a Fender Stratocaster. The guitar is a Japanese knockoff of the Strat from a company called Tokai. On the cover of the album Texas Flood he is holding a Tokai Springy-Sound. On all Fender promotional materials the Tokai logo is simply covered up. Great trivia **Cluricaun** - but only partially true. His favorite guitar was “First Wife” (or “No. 1”) the beyond-beat-up Fender Strat most people associate him with. However, he always brought along several guitars on tour and in the studio and used them the majority of the time to avoiding wearing out First Wife further. A large number of these were Tokai’s… (similar Trivia: Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top is famous or playing “Pearly Gates,” a '59 Les Paul sunburst - his playing it is part of the legend around the guitar (along with Clapton during the Bluesbreakers, Bloomfield during Electric Flag, etc., Beck during the JB Group, Page during Zep on tour, Green in Fleetwood Mac, etc…). But Gibbons owns about 50 Tokai Les Pauls (called Les Paul, Les Paul Reborn, Reborn Old and Love Rock - all so they could have the scripty-looking writing on the headstock that looks like “Les Paul” from a distance). Same thing as SRV - Billy tours and records with the Tokai’s…) ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/75 "2004-08-18T17:31:32Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Origins of Album and other Titles: > > - R.E.M. - Out of Time - they ran out of time to come up with a name The title Michael Stipe wanted to call it by was so…odd, that I had to [look it up](http://www.providencephoenix.com/archive/books/97/06/26/REM.html) just to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating the story. Stipey wanted to call it–_Cat Butt_. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/76 "2004-08-18T17:46:41Z")
The Monkees’ massive 60s hit _I’m a Believer_ was written by **Neil Diamond**. In **Donovan** ’s psychedelic hit _Mellow Yellow_ the whispering voice in the background on the chorus saying “Quite right, Slick.” is **Paul McCartney**. _The Archies_ (“Sugar Sugar”), _The Cufflinks_ (“Tracy”), _The Detergents_ (“Leader of the Laundromat”), and _California Goldrush_ (“Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep Cheep”) were all the creation of **Ron Dante** , who was also a musical producer for the film _The Little Mermaid_ and a vocal soloist in the movie _Arthur_, as well as being the current producer for _Barry Manilow_, _Pat Benetar_, and _Cher_. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/77 "2004-08-18T17:56:37Z")
> [@Happy Scrappy Hero Pup](#): > > In 1967, IIRC, “I Think We’re Alone Now” and “Mony Mony,” by Tommy James and the Shondells were at #1 and #2 on the charts. Would be nice if true, but not even close. “I Think We’re Alone Now” was released in March 1967 and only got to #4. “Mony, Mony” wasn’t released until May 1968 and only got to #3. On the Billboard charts, at least. > [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Originally Posted by astorian: > > > [@](#): > > > > “The Loco-motion” has been a Top Ten hit for three different acts in three different decades: Little Eva in the 60’s, Grand Funk in the 70’s, and Kylie Minogue in the 80’s. > > It’s the only song to go to #1 by three different artists. Again, not according to Billboard. Kylie Minogue’s version only went to #3. Little Eva was trying to break into the music business, and sometimes sang with The Cookies. To make extra money she baby-sat… for Carole King and Gerry Goffin. They took a song they had written for Dee Dee Sharp and gave it to her. (And later wrote “Chains,” a Cookies song that would be covered by The Beatles.) Surprisingly, Little Eva is not a one-hit wonder. Billboard credits her with three other Top 40 hits. But I’ve listened to oldies for 40 years and never heard one of them, to my knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/78 "2004-08-18T18:20:39Z")
Talking Heads members Chris Franz and Tina Weymouth had a little side project called the Tom Tom Club, who’s biggest hit was “Genius in Love” (one of the jammingest dance songs of the 20th century). Jermaine Jackson has a son named Jermajesty. Norah Jones is Ravi Shankar’s daughter. Everyone knows that Smokey Robinson wrote the lyrics to “Tears of a Clown”. But did you know Stevie Wonder composed the music to it? Prince gets props for having written the following songs: -Like a Prayer (Madonna) -Manic Monday (Bangles) -Stand Back (Stevie Nicks) -Pray (MC Hammer) -One of Us (Joan Osbourne) -Glamorous Life (Sheila E.) -Let’s Pretend We’re Married (Tina Turner) -You’re My Love (Kenny Rodgers) -Why Should I Love U (Kate Bush) ---
**Author:** ![seosamh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@seosamh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seosamh)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/79 "2004-08-18T18:36:20Z")
> [@LifeOnWry](#): > > Cass Elliot (Mama Cass of The Mamas & Papas) and Bon Scott (AC/DC) both died in the apartment of the same singer/songwriter: Harry Nilsson. That Bon Scott geezer choked on his own (or possibly someone else’s) vomit in the back of a car, not in that flat, although for all I know the car might have been parked outside 12 Curzon Place… It was Keith Moon of The Who that died in Mr Nilsson’s flat (number 9) on 7th September 1978, having taken an overdose of Heminevrin. Ms Cass had died in the same flat - but not in the same room and certainly NOT having choked on a ham sandwich - on 29th July 1974. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250/80 "2004-08-18T20:06:29Z")
“Like A Prayer” written by Madonna and Patrick Leonard “Stand Back” written by Stevie Nicks “Pray” sampled “When Doves Cry” lyrics by Hammer “One Of Us” written by Eric Bazilian A list of songs Price actually wrote for other artists can be found [here](http://home.earthlink.net/~getwild/prince/related.html). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cool-but-useless-music-trivia/260250.md?page=5)