I have written a number of posts on music and songs. Recently, I have focused on interactive music quizzes that are popular with Active Rain participants. These are usually based on the record charts -- Billboard, sometimes based on Cashbox which was a similar magazine. Recently, I have mainly looked at singles. Let's move to albums this time. There were #1 singles and #1 albums. One thing that might surprise readers is that the singles and the albums charts often have much different entries from one another. For example, artists who have had #1 albums, yet NEVER had a #1 single include elite performers -- Dylan, Hendrix, CCR, REM, Nirvana and others. Billboard magazine charts just about everything. It is as esoteric as baseball history. One interesting publication is the Billboard Book of Number One Albums, which lists all of the top albums from the beginning of the rock era, 1956, until 1995 (they need to put out a new edition to update it but they have not done so yet). I think this is a complex Twin-Pick that will silence the horde of critics who have whined privately and publicly that the last few Twin-Picks were sub-par and were designed for simpletons or wimps. This one will make you think, whether you are a simpleton or not! You know how it all works, the quiz is self-correcting. If you click on the right answer, you will be taken to a performance of a song from the album (due to the age of some of these albums, a reasonable facsimile of the performer may be substituted). But, if you get it wrong, you will be soundly humiliated by my rude cyber assistants. Question: According to Billboard's Book of Number One Albums, which album is the longest charting (54 weeks at #1) since the rock era began in 1956? (Just for the record, each selection below is in the top 50 albums as per Billboard, no losers here). A. Thriller -- Michael Jackson B. Sgt Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band -- Beatles C. Ropin' The Wind -- Garth Brooks D. West Side Story-- Soundtrack E. Blue Hawaii -- Elvis Presley F. The Sound of Music -- Original cast G. More of the Monkees-- The Monkees H. Music from Peter Gunn -- Henry Mancini For more "Stories Behind the Music" click on the guitar Steven L. Smith Bellingham WA Home Inspections 
Twin-Pick (Music Trivia Quiz) -- So What's The Most Popular Album Ever?
14 comments • Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector • June 29 2009 09:08AMTwin-Pick (Music Trivia Quiz) -- Under the Covers With The King
Two of the, arguably, most successful songwriters of the early rock era describe themselves as a pair of Jewish boys who liked to listen to and write music for the African American audience. We are talking about Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Stoller played the piano and Leiber wanted to write the blues. They got together at 16 years of age and, over the years, wrote some of the most popular songs of early rock music, including Kansas City, Charlie Brown, Spanish Harlem, On Broadway and many others. They wrote top hits for Elvis and songs that were also recorded early on by the fab four. Their early songs helped launch the King's career. One of the songs that they wrote was recorded by a well-known R&B singer. The song went to #1 on the R& B charts in 1952. The song, and we all know it now, was called Hound Dog. It became, perhaps, Elvis's signature song over the years. Elvis first heard the song, a cover, performed by a Vegas bar band. It was early in his career, when he heard that cover -- Elvis was not the superstar he would become. Regardless, he wanted to play Hound Dog and record it. The rest is history. His version of Hound Dog and Don't Be Cruel opened the flood gates for Elvis Presley's popularity. Yes, it is time for Twin-Pick. This your your chance to strut your stuff. A question is below. Get it right and you see the original artist perform the song. Get it wrong and my cyber assistants will humiliate you in public. No need to ask for the correct answer, merely click on the choices below and you will find out if you are right or wrong instantly. Question: Which R&B artist was first to record Hound Dog, and had a #1 hit with it on the soul charts, four years before Elvis stirred the masses with his rendition of the same song? A. Ruth Brown E. Ray Charles For more "Stories Behind the Music" click on the guitar Steven L. Smith Bellingham WA Home Inspections 
14 comments • Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector • June 28 2009 03:23PMRats Are Equal Opportunity Rodents
I have noticed in the past that Active Rain members seem to have a strong interest in vermin -- more so rats than mice. Whenever I post any information about rats, it seems to get more clicks than my average blog post about less "sexy" topics. An example of that would be this post from earlier in the week. I think that this phenomenon might be like watching horror movies and hearing about serial killers. The topics are fascinating but there is a creepiness factor too. The truth about rats, at least around here in Bellingham and Whatcom County, is that I see signs of them on AT LEAST 50% of the inspections that I perform. I often find them in expensive waterfront homes -- properties priced at over $1 million. Rats are equal opportunity rodents. Some of the common places to find rat droppings would be in the crawl space, basements, under sinks or on top of the water heater. These are places people do not look, so the signs of rats are as likely to be missed in that $1 million dollar crawl space as in that low-end crawl space. Other than their droppings, rodents leave other signs -- seeds in the crawl space, torn insulation, insulation pulled down, plastic on flex heat ducts shredded. All those items are clues of rodent activity. People ask if we inspectors are not afraid of the rats that are onsite. Even though I have heard mice in walls while I was working, I have yet to run into a live rat. When we find them, and it does happen, they usually look like this one. So, the bottom line is this: It is not great to find rats onsite but rats are not usually intimidating in anyway....just gross. And, it is my suggestion that nobody, no matter where you live, should look down on another person if rats are found on his or her property. It is not necessarily a sign of low class to have rats, they might be lounging in your snazzy house too -- you just do not know about it YET! Obviously leaving food, garbage and bird seed laying around attracts them, but not everybody living with rats is a slob. Please remember that! Steven L. Smith Bellingham WA Home Inspections 
27 comments • Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector • June 28 2009 12:05PMTwin-Pick (Music Trivia Quiz) -- While The Meatloaf Was Cooling
Among the most popular albums ever recorded were Meatloaf's two Bat Out Of Hell albums. The second album was released 16 years after the original Bat Out Of Hell. Both albums had phenomenal sales. The original album, from 1977, sold more than 25 million copies worldwide. And, remember, it was not as popular as part II, the 1993 release. Reviews of the albums have gone from "brilliant", to "the best albums in history", to "the fare of over-sexed teenage boys". With songs like "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" one understands where those latter critics are coming from. A fact about the recordings -- they are like listening to a Broadway show soundtrack. These are not mere disjointed songs. There is a theme and Meatloaf's voice, and the backup singers, sound like part of a Broadway show. It seems like actions should go with the words and music. The mastermind behind the hit songs and the Bat Out Of Hell albums is a man named Jim Steinman. "Meat" and Steinman worked together in N.Y.C. in musical theater. Both of these men became famous as a result of their collaboration. Steinman, as a writer, and also as a sometime producer, was so well-respected that, after the Meatloaf was cooling off or between sessions with the Meatloaf, his skills were sought out by other big name artists -- Streisand, Manilow, Air Supply. Yes my crabby Active Rain friends, it is time for another Twin-Pick. Last time my assistants and I were rudely criticized in public and at this site as having submitted a contest that was not worthy of your testing your memory glands and your skills of analysis. Universally, as in as a mob, you said it was too darn easy. That is a challenge to the universe. This time, with the help of my obnoxious assistants, we will see if we can make it harder on you. Remember, with Twin-Pick, everytime, if you get it right then you see the original artist perform the original song. Get it wrong, and you will be flogged and humiliated in public by my rude assistants. Do not ask me if you are right or wrong, simply click below and computer science will tell you if you are a winner or another of life's biggest losers. Question: Of the Hot 100 charting songs that were written by Jim Steinman, Meatloaf's "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I won't Do That)" is far and away his biggest success. However, Steinman has written and/or produced many songs that have become giants. Of the songs below, which one written by Steinman was #1 on the charts for four weeks in 1983 and is the second biggest hit of his career? Click away those of you who are Active Rain music snobs. A. We Don't Need Another Hero -- Tina Turner B. Werewolves of London -- Warren Zevon D. Total Eclipse of the Heart -- Bonnie Tyler E. Knights In White Satin -- The Moody Blues F. Evergreen -- Barbra Streisand For more "Stories Behind the Music" click on the guitar Steven L. Smith Bellingham WA Home Inspections 
18 comments • Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector • June 27 2009 02:47PMTwin-Pick Music Trivia Quiz -- Remember the British Dylan?
Back in the 1960's there was a singing troubadour, folk singer, who was often referred to as the British "Bob Dylan." In fact, that was a pretty simplistic comparison in that they did not do similar songs at all. This performer did start out by singing folk and protest songs and he did play a guitar and have a harmonica around his neck. That part was "Dylanesque". Since many looked upon this singer as an imitator, it is interesting to know that he was respected by the Beatles, the Yardbirds and some of the bands contemporary to his times. Even Dylan met with the man and considered him to be a talent. This mystery man had several hits. In the beginning he did pure folk songs. In the late 1960's, he switched to some pretty strange songs with odd titles and lyrics. Those, more flower power selections, provided his big hits and some of the words are weird but they are classics. Yes, it is time for Twin-Pick, your chance to show your stuff. If you were around in the 1960's you ought to get this one right. If you do get it right, you will see the original artist perform an original hit. Get it wrong and you will be roasted by my spoiled rotten but nasty cyber assistants. Question: Of the choices below, which artist was known as the British Bob Dylan? Incidentally, this artist had a #1 song in the USA in 1966. A. Georgie Fame C. Peter Asher D. Donovan For more "Stories Behind the Music" click on the guitar Steven L. Smith Bellingham WA Home Inspections 
17 comments • Steven L. Smith, Bellingham, Wa. Home Inspector • June 26 2009 10:19PM
