"I'll Be True To You" by The Monkees.

OK, back to the 60's: This Gerry Goffin/Russ Titelman ballad was first recorded by The Hollies in '64 as "Yes I Will", peaking at #9 in the UK in '65. The Monkees covered it in '66 on their self-titled debut album under a different title with altered lyrics. Song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05ewzCecwpI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TFwrhgyN6U

Yesterday's answer: "Black Water" by the Doobie Brothers. "What A Fool Believes" was written by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins. Great memories from Phi Chi Medical Fraternity in '75 - seems like every stereo in the house was playing "Black Water" simultaneously!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqZ95a249p0

"Black Water" by The Doobie Brothers.

OK, back to the 70's: The 1st #1 single for this San Jose, CA band came in '75 with a Louisiana-swamp roots rock tune penned, played and sung by Patrick Simmons, their lead guitarist. Inspired by Mark Twain's writings about the Mighty Mississippi. KILLER fiddle work and a cap(p)ella vocals. Curiously, neither one of the band's two #1 hits in the 70's was written or sung by Tom Johnston, their lead vocalist and main songwriter. Band? Song? For extra credit name their other #1 hit from the 70's.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqZ95a249p0

Yesterday's answer: "He Thinks He'll Keep Her" by Mary Chapin Carpenter. Powerful tune! Check out MCC's little Rickenbacker and John Jennings' KILLER guitar work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qxU82mNaI8

"He Thinks He'll Keep Her" by Mary Chapin Carpenter.

OK, more Country: This singer/songwriter's 1st #1 Country hit was a collaboration with Don Schlitz inspired by a 70's Geritol TV commercial in which a husband extols his wife's energy, attributes and accomplishments. A 36 year-old homemaker who has dedicated her life to her husband and children decides to do something for herself. Grammy-nominated for Record Of The Year in '93. The video is a live performance from a "Women Of Country" special with backup vocals from Emmylou Harris, Kathy Mattea, Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood, Suzy Bogguss and Pam Tillis (man, with that backup even I would sound good!). HUGE standing "O" when she did it at the Grammys. Artist? Song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qxU82mNaI8

Yesterday's answer: "I Remember You" by Frank Ifield. Great voice!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVMzCcgAAkA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH64weKPF60
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URVyzpdD61g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7urv0tC2Kk

"I Remember You" by Frank Ifield.

OK, more 60's one-hit wonders: Born in England and raised in Australia, this country/pop crooner's one hit came in '62 with a cover of a 1941 Schertzinger/Mercer composition. He taught himself yodeling and falsetto by listening to Hank Snow. The song made its debut in the 1942 movie "The Fleet's In" sung by Dorothy Lamour backed by the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. The '62 version topped the charts in the UK and peaked at #5 in the US. Covered by Slim Whitman, Nat "King" Cole and even the early Beatles. Johnny Mercer dedicated the song to Judy Garland, with whom he had an on-and-off relationship even though both of them were married - “I wrote it for Judy Garland. I always had such a crush on Garland I couldn't think straight, so I wrote this song.” Artist? Song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVMzCcgAAkA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH64weKPF60
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URVyzpdD61g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7urv0tC2Kk

Yesterday's answer: "Anthem" by Leonard Cohen. The word "genius' falls short when describing Leonard Cohen."Ring the bells that still can ring, Forget your perfect offering, There is a crack, a crack in everything, That's how the light gets in." Pure delight in Cohen's face from backstage as he proudly listens to his "angels" Julie and Perla sing his opus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e39UmEnqY8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4bYDxbVIKE

"Anthem" by Leonard Cohen.

OK, back to The Man: The centerpiece of Leonard Cohen's 1992 "The Future" is a profoundly moving song of hope - acutely aware of flaws and that perfection does not exist. It traces the cycle of decay and regeneration. We learn to appreciate the good that rises from adversity. Featured in the "Natural Born Killers" soundtrack. In the 2006 Cohen tribute "I'm Your Man" his "angels", Julie Christensen and Perla Batalla, perform a masterful version for the ages.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e39UmEnqY8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4bYDxbVIKE

Yesterday's answer: "Black Denim Trousers (And Motorcycle Boots)" by the Cheers. Another one of those I grew up listening to when my Dad used to play it on the hi-fi. Nothing like a good old teenage tragedy song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGNBBZDRqFo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsi_fyJb650

"Black Denim Trousers (And Motorcycle Boots)" by The Cheers.

OK, more 50's one-hit wonders: The only hit (#6) for this L.A.-based trio came in '55 with a Leiber & Stoller teen tragedy song about a biker and his girlfriend Mary Lou who pled with him not to go riding on a fateful night. It was the first motorcycle tune to chart and credited as being the first "biker song". Chanteuse Edith Piaf covered it in French ('56) as "L'Homme A La Moto".
Group? Song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGNBBZDRqFo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsi_fyJb650

Yesterday's answer: "Chimes Of Freedom". A classic! To this day (since '65!) it is absolutely impossible for me (or any other Byrds nut!) to sit down with a 12-string and not play "Chimes Of Freedom".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F9eUux5Ir8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5FG1hZaD2w

"Chimes Of Freedom"

OK, more jingle-jangle: This 1964 Dylan opus was heavily influenced by Rimbaud's poetry and was called by Paul Williams "Dylan's Sermon On The Mount". It expresses his solidarity with the downtrodden and the oppressed as he and his companion watch a thunderstorm from shelter. It marks Dylan's transition from his "protest" period to a "born-again pacifist moral poet". The Byrds' ethereal version on their first studio album adds another layer of meaning as McGuinn's 12-string Rickenbacker's sound evokes the song title.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F9eUux5Ir8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5FG1hZaD2w

Yesterday's answer: "I've Never Been To Me" by Charlene. No idea what made me think of that song yesterday - I had not heard it in eons. Big hair 80's!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7NFKwPWIJc