# Obvious things about a creative work you realize after the millionth time (OPEN SPOILERS POSSIBLE) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117 "2009-07-24T13:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 327
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2025, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6527 "2025-08-16T17:06:12Z")
And amazingly enough they produced beloved songs that are on the classic rock rotation to this day. Heck, the _ **Archies** _, as artificial a group as ever quasi-existed, managed the same feat. It was the Sixties, man! ---
**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 16, 2025, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6528 "2025-08-16T18:15:20Z")
Ron Dante, the lead singer of the Archies, had in October 1969 two songs in the top ten. “Sugar, Sugar,” the Archies mega-super-hit, and “Tracy” by the non-band the Cuff Links. He later produced and sang on nine Barry Manilow albums. Here’s the fact that blows me away. George Plimpton made Dante the publisher of his super-erudite literary magazine, _The Paris Review_. While he was Manilow’s producer. The ultimate crossover artist. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2025, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6529 "2025-08-16T18:35:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I think it’s just “The Beatles misspelled their animal, so we’ll misspell our animal, too.”. The beatles , aka John did so on purpose. > [@Lumpy](#): > > And amazingly enough they produced beloved songs that are on the classic rock rotation to this day. Heck, the _ **Archies** _, as artificial a group as ever quasi-existed, managed the same feat. It was the Sixties, man! However, the Archies never appeared live - altho the lead singer did perform a few of their songs live. Ron Dante. Maybe there was a band by that name on Riverdale also? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2025, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6530 "2025-08-16T23:42:20Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > I had a classmate in elementary school whose name was Penny Nichols I live a block away from a Penny Nichols. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6531 "2025-08-17T00:01:14Z")
D&D sourcebooks count as “creative works”, right? I was just looking for something in the 3rd edition Tome of Magic, and came across this line: > [@](#): > > Obscure Creatures: Ironically, it can be somewhat easier to research the personal truename of a powerful dragon than a lowly gnoll hunter. Possibly the most famous character in all of D&D, Drizz’t Do’Urden, is… a gnoll hunter. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6532 "2025-08-17T00:18:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Possibly the most famous character in all of D&D, Drizz’t Do’Urden, is… a gnoll hunter. Famed for his war cry, “Be vewy quiet. I’m hunting gnolls. Heh heh heh.” ---
**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 17, 2025, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6533 "2025-08-17T00:47:11Z")
_The Monkees_ was not only a hut, but it also won an Emmy for best comedy series. And Mike Nesmith and Peter Tork were working musicians when they were cast. Nesmith had already written “Different Drum,” which became a hit for the Stone Ponies (with Linda Ronstadt). Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz were primarily actors, though Jones had appeared on stage in _Oliver._ Stephen Stills auditioned for a role, but was turned down due to his appearance. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6534 "2025-08-17T01:08:17Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Heck, the _ **Archies** _, as artificial a group as ever quasi-existed, managed the same feat. It was the Sixties, man! And now the number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 is “Golden,” a song by a fake band from an animated film. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6535 "2025-08-17T13:10:04Z")
You know, journeyman songwriters and session musicians are people, too. They deserve the occasional hit. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6536 "2025-08-17T13:56:00Z")
“The Archies” were only the most prominent and successful of the anonymous vocalists who did the rock songs for several Saturday morning animated cartoons back in the day. I wonder if anyone’s researched those. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6537 "2025-08-17T16:01:13Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > I wonder if anyone’s researched those. I just found out that Cheryl Ladd (billed under the name Cherie Moor) was the singing voice for Melody of _Josie and the Pussycats_. ---
**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 17, 2025, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6538 "2025-08-17T17:17:00Z")
AI summary: > Tony Burrows, a British session singer, is notable for having his vocals appear on four UK number-one singles in 1970, all under different band names: “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” with Edison Lighthouse, “My Baby Loves Lovin’” with White Plains, “Gimme Dat Ding” with The Pipkins, and “United We Stand” with Brotherhood of Man. He also sang lead on “Beach Baby” by The First Class, which reached #4 in the US. And he kept on keeping on. > **[6 Bands. 6 Hits. 1 Lead Singer - Best Classic Bands](https://bestclassicbands.com/tony-burrows-hit-singles-8-7-1888/)** > > Tony Burrows still lays claim to the title of the only one-hit wonder who did it six times. It’s a title that’s unlikely to ever be matched. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6539 "2025-08-17T17:53:43Z")
In today’s scripture reading at church, the prophet Jeremiah was imprisoned in a cistern, where he sank into the mud. Explains why a bullfrog would be named after him. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6540 "2025-08-17T18:11:55Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Explains why a bullfrog would be named after him. But it does not explain why a bullfrog would have some wine. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6541 "2025-08-17T18:37:47Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > …. They chose the actors who played the four members of the band because they were good actors and reasonably good singers…. At first they didn’t play their instruments, but they learned how to as the show went on….. Nitpicking here and _please_ correct me if I’m wrong. Mickey Dolenz was an actor who could sing. Davy Jones was a singer who in fact was prominent in the cast of Oliver! on the Ed Sullivan Show, coincidentally the same night as The Beatles first appearance. Mike Nesmith was a performing musician and composer well before The Monkees were concocted. Peter Tork was also a performing musician (voice, guitar, keyboards) who was recommended for the Monkees by his housemate Steven Stills. The only one of the four who learned his instrument as the show went on was Mickey. Edit to add: RealityChuck already covered this. I tip my hat. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6542 "2025-08-17T18:45:02Z")
Knowing that Hoyt Axton’s original first line was ‘Jeremiah was a prophet’ the lyric’s Christian motifs, starting with the title, become more obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6543 "2025-08-17T18:48:15Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Knowing that Hoyt Axton’s original first line was ‘Jeremiah was a prophet’ the lyric’s Christian motifs, starting with the title, become more obvious If Jeremiah was a prophet, then the follow up lines about never understanding a word he said but hanging out with him because you want to drink his wine seems like a condemnation of Christians. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6544 "2025-08-17T18:50:53Z")
Or Hoyt Axton writing a song about how he isn’t that great of a Christian given the other lines. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6545 "2025-08-17T18:59:31Z")
But, again, note that the Monkees were the result of the creation of a television show. The Beatles were a group of musicians who got together. The four members of the Monkees had various talents that caused them to be chosen for the television show. It was not their choice to work to create the group. It was the choice of the creators of the television show. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/6546 "2025-08-17T19:04:47Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > It was the choice of the creators of the television show. Have you seen _Head_, the Monkees movie? I always felt that Rafaelson was trying to pretend that he was a serious artist and had nothing to do with the creation of the tv series. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=326) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=328)