Well, that didn't take you long, did it? Well done to all who took part - a true group effort this week. Although poor old Brian didn't even get a look in. Maybe I'll start later in the day next Saturday. I like to think I'll make it harder next week, but every time I think that you all raise your games anyway.
Here's the answers, and a brief explanation of the answers... plus ten top tunes. Check them out if you're not already familiar with them. Guaranteed: no lemons.
10. This Russian waterway gets metafictional.
I didn't actually know that the Okkervil River is in St. Petersburg until I researched this. Apparently the band take their name from a short story by Russian author Tatyana Tolstaya set on that particular waterway. Lynchie's suggestion of The Okkervil River Song was pretty metafictional, but Charity Chic named the actual tune...
Martin recognised Liam Lynch, but couldn't work out the song. Like Liam Lynch had any other hits? To be fair, Liam did have some other pretty good songs. And it's not as though I'm sticking only to chart hits on this quiz. But still... d'oh, indeed, Martin. Glad the penny finally dropped.
5. Are these guys getting spiritual... or are they just full of hot air? God above knows.
The 5th Dimension is the spiritual one, apparently. Hot air balloon, obviously. Written by Jimmy Webb, who the Boo Radleys and I both agree is God. Above? Up...
1. She's like a wonder of time, poised on the cusp of Just Janis.
Stevie... like a Wonder? In the Nicks of time? On the cusp = edge of Just Seventeen (teen girl's pop mag from back in the day). Janis... not Joplin, but Ian, who sang At Seventeen.
Well done, C.
By the way, the video for this is even madder than Stevie Nicks herself...
Right, enough of the quizzes. Maybe tomorrow I'll write an actual post...
(Don't worry, the snapshots will be back next Saturday.)
Boz Scaggs is a difficult artist to pin down. A founding member of the Steve Miller band, he went on to a successful career as a solo artist in the 70s, developing a smooth, soulful sound at times not a million miles away from the jazz-rock stylings of Steely Dan.
Dig a little further back into his catalogue though, before the hits started coming, and you find a more varied sound, case in point: today's offering, the alt-country vibes of Alone, Alone from his 1971 album, Moments. Shades of Gram Parsons on this track written by Santana bassist David Brown.
I can honestly say I've listened to this song over and over and even studied the lyrics online... and I really can't say what Boz's message is here. Is it that no matter how many friends we have, we're all inevitably alone? Or that everyone feels alone and doesn't appreciate the friends they've got? Or that no matter how well you know someone, you can never know how lonely they feel? It's certainly got me thinking... and the mournful steel guitar matches the tone of the lyrics well, as does the album cover.
Plus: Boz Scaggs. Great rock 'n' roll name or what? His real first name is William (so is mine: though I only ever use it at work, all my friends know me by my second name, the one you guys know me by), but I was pleased to discover that Scaggs is his actual surname. Suggestive of an old, worn out guitar case that's been on the road too long...
