"Smoke From A Distant Fire" by Sanford-Townsend Band.

OK, more one-hit wonders: These two blue-eyed soul keyboardists from Alabama reunited in L.A. in the 70's as a songwriting team. Their credits include, among others, "I Keep Forgettin' " for Michael McDonald. Their hit came in '77, topping the Cashbox charts and peaking at #9 on Billboard. Recorded at the noted Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in Alabama. They opened for Fleetwood Mac during their Rumours Tour to promote their record. Kenny Loggins sings background vocals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy8ba2eL7cI


Yesterday's answer: "Silhouettes" by the Rays. The doo-wop group The Silhouettes, as in "Get A Job", took their name from this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E2wBksA7l4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G80FZzgJDoU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9VaNoGscYo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An-hkRxAWrc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsSPRfNPgII

"Silhouettes" by The Rays.

OK, more one-hit wonders: Bob Crewe was riding on a train in Philly in '57 when he saw a couple embracing through a window shade. He took the idea to his co-writer Frank Slay and the rest is doo-wop history. It became the only hit for a Brooklyn-based vocal quartet (#3 - sold over one million copies and was Certified Gold). Legend goes that a local DJ fell asleep while premiering the record and it played on the radio repeatedly for many hours. A minor hit (#60) for Canada's The Diamonds shortly thereafter. Herman's Hermits took it to #5 in '65; their 3rd US hit. The Beatles' "No Reply" is said to have been inspired by this song. Sha Na Na played it at Woodstock. Part of the "Jersey Boys" soundtrack. Song? Group?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E2wBksA7l4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G80FZzgJDoU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9VaNoGscYo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An-hkRxAWrc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsSPRfNPgII


Yesterday's answer: "Hey Girl" by Freddie Scott. WAY up there on the all-time makeout songs hit parade!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPRIQFoJdis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfnzTL-949o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YilMQTS7uA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMfLKrGvCzI...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzUEIsayxHQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_SpuemD7os

"Hey Girl" by Freddie Scott.

OK, back to the 60's: Freddie Scott's only Top Ten hit came in '63 with the 1st recording of a Gerry Goffin/Carole King ballad (#10 Pop Singles and R&B). Donny Osmond's '72 rendition peaked at #9, higher than Scott's original version. Also covered by The Righteous Brothers ('66), The Temptations ('69), Billy Joel ('97) and by Ray Charles/Michael McDonald ('04).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPRIQFoJdis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfnzTL-949o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YilMQTS7uA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMfLKrGvCzI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzUEIsayxHQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_SpuemD7os

Yesterday's answer: "Zigeunerweisen" (Aires Gitanos or Gypsy Airs) by Pablo de Sarasate.
My father had the privilege of seeing Heifetz perform "Zigeunerweisen" at the U. of Puerto Rico Theater as a student - he was hooked after that! I have seen Stern and Perlman perform it - memorable! Papa, remember seeing Stern walking around the grounds at the Caribe Hilton during El Festival Casals?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABm7nMVyNh4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xir-5oAWxXE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk2kfD5ZKls

"Zigeunerweisen" by Pablo de Sarasate.

OK, back to the classics: This 19th century Spanish virtuoso is widely considered to be one of the greatest violinists ever - "impeccable technique and tone of unsurpassed sweetness and purity". As a composer he published at least 54 works. He originally composed his magnum opus in 1878 for violin and piano but subsequently orchestrated it, which is as we know it today. Inspired by the csardas of the Roma people (Romani or Gypsies). A staple on virtuosi repertoires, the composer himself recorded it in 1904. Its one movement is divided into 4 sections. Memorable interpretations by Elman, Francescatti, Heifetz, Stern and Perlman. Artist? Work?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABm7nMVyNh4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xir-5oAWxXE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fk2kfD5ZKls

Yesterday's answer: "Up On The Roof" by Laura Nyro. Incredible songwriter - "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoned Soul Picnic", "And When I Die", "Eli's Coming", "Stoney End", ....!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVYqR0bnoqQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP8OVzVzR6o
http://www.youtube.com/watc...h?v=oJBm5TUHf0s

"Up On The Roof" by Laura Nyro.

OK, back to the 70's: This prolific Brill Building composer/lyricist/singer/pianist left us in '97 after a battle with ovarian cancer. She was a classmate of Janis Ian at NYC's High School of Music and Art. Her songs were extensively covered by the likes of Peter, Paul & Mary, The 5th Dimension, Blood, Sweat & Tears and Barbra Streisand, to name a few. Ironically, her ONLY charting single as a solo artist (#92 in '70) was her version of a Gerry Goffin/Carole King '62 tune 1st recorded by The Drifters. Artist? Song?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVYqR0bnoqQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP8OVzVzR6o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJBm5TUHf0s

Yesterday's answer: "Long Tall Sally" by Little Richard. Curiously, Pat Boone DID record it - NOT one of his major hits!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFL047fmsgg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGWUUEQ0Bt0

"Long Tall Sally" by Little Richard.

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"Homeward Bound"

OK, back to the 60's: A 22 year-old Paul Simon was stranded overnight at the Widnes train depot in north England in '65 when he wrote one of his signature songs about missing his then-girlfriend Kathy Chitty and longing to get back to the U.S. It appeared on Simon and Garfunkel's "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme" album in '66, peaking at #5 and staying on the charts for 12 weeks. Memorable duet with George Harrison on Saturday Night Live in '75.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6K8wfyzAJQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0_htHcmcbE

Yesterday's answer: "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". My all-time fave is "Oh Holy Night" but this one is also way up there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g4lY8Y3eoo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpPdl0StUVs