The SLS theme this week is to find a musician/singer/songwriter who was born in the month of November. Thanks again to Jim for the prompt.

Gregory Stuart Lake (10 November 1947 – 7 December 2016) was an English musician (guitar & bass), singer, and songwriter. He gained prominence as a founding member of the progressive rock bands King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP).

Born and brought up in Dorset, South West England. Lake began to play the guitar at the age of 12 and wrote his first song, “Lucky Man“, at the same age. He became a full-time musician at 17, playing in several rock bands until his friend and fellow Dorset guitarist Robert Fripp invited him to join King Crimson as lead singer and bassist. They found commercial success with their influential debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King (1969).

Lake left the band in 1970 and achieved significant success in the 1970s and beyond as the singer, guitarist, bassist, and producer of ELP. As a member of ELP, Lake wrote and recorded several popular songs including “Lucky Man” and “From the Beginning“. Both songs entered the UK and US singles charts. Lake launched a solo career, beginning with his 1975 single “I Believe in Father Christmas” which reached number two in the UK. He went on to release three solo albums with his Greg Lake Band and guitarist Gary Moore, recorded 1981 through 1983 (two studio albums, one live album). He was also briefly but notably a member of pop rock band Asia in 1983, replacing vocalist/bassist John Wetton (another former member of King Crimson) for three concerts in Tokyo. As well as collaborating and performing with other artists and with various groups in the 1980s, he had occasional ELP reunions in the 1990s and in 2010, and toured regularly as a solo artist into the 21st century.

Lake died in London at age 69 on 7 December 2016, after suffering from pancreatic cancer. His manager described Lake’s illness as “long and stubborn”. – WikipediA

There might have been things I missed
But don’t be unkind
It don’t mean I’m blind
Perhaps there’s a thing or two
I think of lying in bed
I shouldn’t have said
But there it is

You see it’s all clear
You were meant to be here
From the beginning

Maybe I might have changed
And not been so cruel
Not been such a fool
Whatever was done is done
I just can’t recall
It doesn’t matter at all

You see it’s all clear
You were meant to be here
From the beginning

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Greg Lake

From the Beginning lyrics © Campbell Connelly & Co Ltd, Leadchoice Ltd

1. Whose chart topping album title was called But Seriously ?

2. Who was the lead singer with The Troggs?

3. In which decade was Donny Osmond born?

4. Which day of the week was Beautiful to Daniel Boone in 1972?

5. What type of red car gave Prince a hit in 1985?

6. Which dance is mentioned in the lyrics of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”?

7. Mike Love was a member of which long lasting American group?

8. Which word follows White in the song title by Billy Idol?

Answers posted next week. No googlin’.

Here are the answers to the previous Mixed Bag Quiz:

1. R.E.M.
2. The Pirates
3. Pat
4. Jimmy Nail
5. Aday
6. The Spencer Davis Group
7. U.S.A. for Africa
8. Creeque

This week the theme is to find a song about the American West, or one that mentions cowboys, a sheriff, an outlaw, horses, cactus, or tumbleweeds. Thanks again to Jim.

My choice is about horses, as there are many cowboy songs already posted. I thought I’d post something different by one of my favourite singer/songwriters; Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. It’s from the 2019 album Ghosteen which is sad but kind of beautiful.

The song has a lot of pain in it. It’s dedicated to his 15-year-old son Arthur who tragically fell off a cliff. He also lost his other son.

written by: Nick Cave and Warren Ellis

1. Which group included Peter Buck on bass?

2. Who backed early rocker Johnny Kidd?

3. What is the first name of US vocalist Benatar?

4. Who played Madonna’s night club singer lover in Evita?

5. What was Meatloaf’s real name – Marvin Lee what?

6. Steve and Muff Winwood were in which group?

7. Who had an 80s No. 1 with “We Are The World”?

8. Which Alley took The Mamas And Papas up the late 60s charts?

Answers posted next week. No googlin’.

Here are the answers to the Country and Folk quiz:

1. Hey
2. Lucille
3. Garth Brooks
4. Shania Twain
5. Bobbie Gentry
6. Tammy Wynette
7. Dead Man Walking
8. Crystal Gayle

This week the SLS theme is to find a song about fishing, a mariner, sailing, seafaring, or ships. Thanks again to the host Jim Adams.

This track is taken from King Crimson’s second album of the same name and was first released in 1970. Robert Fripp guitars & Mellotron, Michael Giles drums, Peter Giles bass Greg Lake vocals with guests Mel Collins saxes & flute, Keith Tippett piano, Gordon Haskell vocals. All appear on the album.

Poseidon was the Greek God of the sea, earthquakes and horses. He was amongst the most feared both due to incredible power and a foul temper.

[Verse 1]
Plato’s spawn cold ivied eyes
Snare truth in bone and globe
Harlequins coin pointless games
Sneer jokes in parrot’s robe
Two women weep, Dame Scarlet Screen
Sheds sudden theatre rain
Whilst dark in dream the Midnight Queen
Knows every human pain

[Bridge]
In air, fire, earth and water
World on the scales
Air, fire, earth and water
Balance of change
World on the scales, on the scales

[Verse 2]
Bishop’s kingsspin judgement’s blade
Scratch “Faith” on nameless graves
Harvest hags hoard ash and sand
Rack rope and chain for slaves
Who fireside fear fermented words
Then rear to spoil the feast
Whilst in the aisle the mad man smiles
To him it matters least

[Verse 3]
Heroes’ hands drain stones of blood
To whet the scaling knife
Magi blind with vision’s light
Net death in dread of life
Their children kneel in Jesus till
They learn the price of nails
Whilst all around our Mother Earth
Waits balanced on the scales

source: Genius Lyrics

written by: Peter Sinfield and Robert Fripp

1. What is the first word of Charlie Rich’s classic “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World”?

2. Which girl gave Kenny Rogers his first UK No. 1?

3. Which best selling country singer became the first to enter the US pop album chart at No. 1 in 1991?

4. Who appeared on stage with Elton John and the Backstreet Boys in 1999 and sang “That Don’t Impress Me Much”?

5. Who duetted with Glen Campbell on “All I Have to do is Dream”?

6. Who married country star George Jones in 1969?

7. For which 1996 film with a prison theme did Johnny Cash contribute to the soundtrack?

8. Who first charted with “Talking in Your Sleep”?

Answers posted next week. No googlin’.

Here are the answers to last week’s Mixed Bag Quiz:

1. Neil Young
2. Alice Cooper
3. Summer Breeze
4. Nancy Sinatra
5. Dolores O’Riordan
6. Donna Summer
7. George Michael
8. 1950s

The theme of SLS this week is to find a song about a girl or girls. Thanks again to Jim Adams as host.

The Associates (or simply Associates) were a Scottish post-punk and pop band, formed in Dundee in 1979 by lead vocalist Billy MacKenzie and guitarist Alan Rankine. The band released an unauthorized cover version of David Bowie‘s “Boys Keep Swinging” as their debut single in 1979, which landed them a recording contract with Fiction Records. They followed with their debut studio album The Affectionate Punch in 1980 and the compilation album Fourth Drawer Down in 1981, both to critical praise.

They achieved commercial success in 1982 with their UK Top 10 studio album Sulk and UK Top 20 singles “Party Fears Two” and “Club Country”, during which time they were associated with the new pop movement. Rankine left the group that year, leaving MacKenzie to record under the Associates name until 1990. They briefly reunited in 1993. MacKenzie’s suicide in 1997 was the band’s end; Rankine died twenty-six years later in 2023. – Wikipedia

Take Me To The Girl was released in 1985 as a single but not as an album track.

She drove me far too far
And then I drove her car
The streets were long and wild
I felt I had no place to hide
My courage in a glass
Ich liebe was ist das
Are you my only friend
Temptation drives me round the bend

So take me to the girl that I once knew
Does she know what I’ve been going through
I’ve been searching for her everywhere
I think my darling thought I didn’t care
Geneva is the city of our love
All these voices calling from above
Now no one can ever take her place
No one in the whole wide human race

Society’s to blame
This picture in a frame
Picasso told me so
I guess he ought to really know
My flesh was always weak
My tango less than cheap
Such grandeur took its toll
And left me here a wretched soul

So take me to the girl that I once knew
Does she know what I’ve been going through
I’ve been searching for her everywhere
I think my darling thought I didn’t care
Geneva is the city of our love
All these voices calling from above
Now no one can ever take her place
No one in the whole wide human race

So take me to the girl that I once knew
Does she know what I’ve been going through
I’ve been searching for her everywhere
I think my darling thought I didn’t care
Geneva is the city of our love
All these voices calling from above
Now no one can ever take her place
No one in the whole wide human race

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Billy Mackenzie / Howard Hughes

Take Me to the Girl lyrics © Fiction Songs Ltd.

1. Who sang “Heart of Gold” in 1972?

2. Who’s first hit was “School’s Out”?

3. Which song features the line, “Blowing Through The Jasmine of My Mind”?

4. Which daughter of a famous singer had hits with Lee Hazelwood?

5. Who was the lead singer of the Cranberries?

6. Who had a hit in 1978 with “MacArthur Park” in 1978?

7. “Freedom” was the first UK top ten hit for which solo singer?

8. Karen Carpenter was born in which decade?

Answers posted next week. No Googlin’.

Here are the answers to last week’s Mixed Bag quiz:

1. Adam Ant
2. Bruce Willis
3. Queen
4. 1950s
5. Mr. Tambourine Man
6. Spain and Germany
7. Julie Driscoll, with the Brian Auger Trinity
8. Friday

This week the theme of SLS is to find a song that was written or performed by someone who was born in the month of October. Thanks again to Jim for the prompt.

I’ve gone for the two guitarists from the British band; Judas Priest. They both happen to have Birthdays in October. They are Glen Tipton (born 1947) and K.K. Downing (born 1951, who now has his own band named K.K’s Priest).

Glen Tipton joined in 1974 and is a core part of the band’s classic twin-guitar sound. He now tours part-time due to Parkinson’s disease.

Downing was born in West Bromwich, West Midlands. In the late 1960s, he developed a passion for rock music and the guitar, which led to his being kicked out of his home at age 15 and dropping out of school soon afterward. He is a mostly self-taught guitarist. He was heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix, whom Downing said he was “very quick to recognize” as the future. He was also influenced by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers and Eric Clapton.

I first saw Judas Priest live in a cinema in Cornwall back in 1976/77 (can’t remember which). The sound wasn’t great but they were about to become ‘big’ a year or two after. Then ‘huge’ later!

K.K. Downing is the blonde haired guitarist and Glen Tipton is the other guitarist.

[Instrumental Intro]

[Verse 1]
Whiskey woman, don’t you know that you are driving me insane?
The liquor you give stems your will to live and gets right to my brain
Don’t you know you’re driving me insane?
You’re trying to find your way through life
You’re trying to get some new direction
Another woman’s got her man
She won’t find no new connection

[Chorus]
Takes another drink or two
Things look better when she’s through

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 2]
Take another look around, you’re not going anywhere
You’ve realised you’re getting old and no one seems to care
You’re trying to find your way again
You’re trying to get some new
Another woman’s got her man
But she won’t get a new, oh

[Chorus]
Takes another drink or two
Things look better when she’s through

[Bridge]
You’ve been foolin’ with some hot guy
I want to know why is it why
Get up, get out, you know you really blew it
I’ve had enough, I’ve had enough, good god pluck me

[Guitar Solo: K.K. Downing]

[Segue]

[Interlude]
Once she was wonderful
Once she was fine
Once she was beautiful
Once she was mine (She was mine)
Now change has come over her body
She doesn’t see me anymore
Now change has come over her body
She doesn’t see me anymore
Changes, changes
Changes, changes
Victim of changes

[Guitar Solo: Glenn Tipton]

[Outro]
Argh
No, no
No, no

source: Genius Lyrics

written by: Halford, Downing, Tipton, Atkins

1. What is the real name of the flamboyant Adam Ant ?

2. Which actor was ‘Under The Boardwalk’ in 1987?

3. Whose album Innuendo topped the charts in 1991?

4. In which decade did Neill Sedaka have his first hit record?

5. What was The Byrds’ debut No. 1 single?

6. What two countries do the members of Los Bravos come from?

7. Who recorded the original “This Wheel’s on Fire”?

8. Which day of the week did The Easybeats have on their mind in 1966?

Answers posted next week. No googlin’.

Here are the answers to last Monday’s Beatles quiz:

1. James
2. Stuart Sutcliffe
3. Pete Best
4. I Want to Hold Your Hand
5. Ringo Starr
6. George Harrison
7. Barbara Bach
8. Sgt, Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band