Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Today In Oldies 12/28/2010

Golden Hits Radio & GHR-2's Everything Oldies.......the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's all in one place!

Oldies On TV

  • Paul McCartney, Merle Haggard, Vince Gill, James Taylor, Willie Nelson, Steven Tyler, Kris Kristofferson, more - Kennedy Center Honors (CBS)

The Gift Of Music

This week, Everything Oldies will spotlight hit songs written by one music superstar and performed by another.  In some cases, the writer of the song had the artist in mind when putting pen to paper, and in others, they had someone else in mind when the song was written and were advised to keep it for themselves.  In any case, the artist made it his (or her) own and fully realized the writer's vision. 

Today, we take a look at three songs written by the most prolific hitmaker of the 80's......Prince.  Not only did he hit the Billboard Top 10 more than any other artist with his own songs in the 80's, a song he wrote hit #1 and two more were Top 5 smashes for other artists!

  • A song from Prince's second album in 1980 was a relatively low key affair when the Purple One did it himself.  The Pointer Sisters had also covered it in 1982, but their version was not released as a single.  It became a Top 5 hit in 1984 with ramped up production values, an all-star cast of musicians lending a hand (including Stevie Wonder on harmonica) and an intro that left no doubt in anyone's mind who was performing it this time.........

  • Prince originally wrote and recorded this song as a duet for one of his "protege" acts, Apollonia 6.  He eventually chose not to include it on that album, and two years later, he offered it to another all-female band he liked, giving it to them under the pseudonym "Christopher".  While rumors that he offered the song because of his romantic interest in the group's lead singer led to tension within the band, it became the song that made them superstars and contained a message that connected with the public and their often hectic lives........

  • Prince had a stable of female solo artists and groups he mentored to stardom in the 80's.  One got her start by providing background vocals on his song "Erotic City", which became a dance club sensation.  He originally wrote her first hit for another "protege" act, Apollonia 6.  Upon learning that the leader of that group, Apollonia Kotero, had no intention of staying in the group beyond her contractual obligation as his female co-star in the 1984 film Purple Rain, he then offered it to Sheila Escovedo, who became a star as Sheila E.  It launched her career, established her as a virtuoso percussionist, and became a Top 10 hit...........

Golden Hits Radio and GHR-2's Burning Question of the Day

The legendary Chess record label changed their name in 1965 to avoid confusion with another British label.  What was their new name?

Check back tomorrow @ Everything Oldies for the answer, and leave a comment here with your best guess!

Yesterday's Burning Question (and Answer) of the Day

Although Dick Clark has become synonymous with New Year's Eve on ABC, a different network originated his New Year's Rockin' Eve TV special in 1972.  On which network did it first appear on December 31, 1972, and which band received star billing in the title that first season?

Answer: The first New Year's Eve extravaganza featuring Dick Clark had the name of the host of the pre-taped musical segments from Los Angeles ahead of the title.........which was Three Dog Night's New Year's Rockin' Eve, on NBC. 

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