All About The Music

This week focus on THE WHO, in honor of their upcoming Super Bowl halftime performance. Up for grabs is the 19-track CD collection The Who's "Greatest Hits," which includes the five songs the band plans to feature in its Super Bowl medley: "Baba O'Riley," "Pinball Wizard," "Tommy," "Won't Get Fooled Again" and "Who Are You." Click on the above link to see this week's question.

Prior to the formation of Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page had wanted to form a "supergroup" featuring himself, fellow Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck, and the Who's rhythm section of bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. The band never came together, but Page, Beck and Moon did record one song together. Name that song.

ANSWER
The song is "Beck's Bolero." An instrumental, it was inspired by French classical composer Maurice Ravel's "Bolero," with an insistent pulse building to a guitar crescendo. "Beck's Bolero" was first released as the B-side of a Beck solo single in 1967 and appeared the following year on his album, "Truth."

Also on hand for the "Bolero" session was bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones, who Page knew from London studio work. The Yardbirds played their final show in July 1968, but still had a contractual obligation to perform several concerts in Scandinavia. Needing to fill out the lineup, Page and bassist Chris Dreja recruited singer Robert Plant, who suggested adding drummer John Bonham. When Relf dropped out to become a photographer, he suggested they use Jones. The foursome played their Scandinavian shows as The New Yardbirds, then decided a name change was in order. Thus was Led Zeppelin born. By the way, Relf took the photo that appears on the back of Zeppelin's debut album.

This week's SMC winner is GREG GILES of El Monte. He gets a copy of the LIMITED EDITION VINYL BOX SET "Led Zeppelin - Mothership." The four-album collection features 24 key Zeppelin tracks half-speed remastered on 180-gram vinyl. The remastering process was overseen by Jimmy Page himself. The beautiful box also includes a 20-page booklet.

In 1999 in Santa Barbara, Ben Harper met an unknown singer. Harper gave the singer's demo tape to his producer, helping to launch a very successful career. Who was the musician whose career Harper helped kick-start? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Following the breakup of Blind Faith, Steve Winwood went into the studio to begin recording a solo album, but later decided it should be another Traffic album instead. What was the title of that album? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Several of Paul McCartney's compositions, including "And I Love Her," "You Won't See Me" and "I'm Looking Through You," were written about one of his early girlfriends. Who is she? Click on the above link to see the answer.

David Bowie's musical interest was sparked by the American 45 rpm singles collected by his father. Which classic American tune prompted Bowie to later say, "I had heard God"? Click on the above link to see answer.

Bob Dylan didn't receive his first Grammy until the early '70s, and it wasn't even for one of his own albums. What album earned Dylan his first Grammy? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Elvis Costello's 1977 debut album, "My Aim is True," was initially available in the U.S. only as an import from British label Stiff Records. What stunt did Costello pull to attract the attention of U.S. record companies? Click on the above link to see the answer.

John Fogerty's first post-Creedence Clearwater Revival album was an all-covers affair released under the name The Blue Ridge Rangers on which Fogerty played all the instruments himself. CCR's first hit single was also a cover tune. Name that tune. Click on the above link to see the answer.

Jethro Tull's debut single for Chrysalis records has become a collector's item for a specific reason. Name the reason. Click on the above link to see the answer.

Of the following performers, which is the only one NOT to have been inducted TWICE into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

1. Jeff Beck
2. Paul Simon
3. Rod Stewart
4. Stephen Stills

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One of former Dire Straits leader Mark Knopfler's earlier bands was called Brewers Droop. That phrase turns up in a song on Dire Straits' "Love Over Gold" album. Which song is it? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Before joining Jefferson Airplane, Grace Slick was a member of a band called The Great Society, who recorded an early version of the Airplane hit "Somebody to Love" under the title "Someone to Love." The track was produced by another legendary Bay Area performer. Who was it? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Green Day scored a massive hit with their 2004 album, "American Idiot." A few years later they released another album of new material using a different name. What band name did Green Day use to release that album? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Which of the following acts was NOT invited to play at Woodstock?

1) Led Zeppelin
2) The Byrds
3) Tommy James & the Shondels
4) Cream

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What was the final song played on famed L.A. rock radio station KMET when it signed off the air in February 1987? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Which of the following quotes is NOT from a Doors lyric?

1. "Trading your hours for a handful of dimes"
2. "And when you loose control, you'll reap the harvest you have sown"
3. "At first flash of Eden we race down to the sea"
4. "Cancel my subscription to the resurrection"

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Heart's 1976 debut album, "Dreamboat Annie," was not released on a major record label. What was the name of the label that released the disc? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Crosby, Stills and Nash issued their self titled debut album in 1969. The song "Long Time Gone" was written about one of the most tragic events of the late '60s. What was it? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Which musical act was the first to sign on for the Woodstock festival? Click on the above link to see the answer.

What was the price of admission for the original Woodstock festival? Click on the above link to see the answer.

In what country did Radiohead's single "Creep" first find chart success? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Before moving to New York City to begin his career as a folk singer in earnest, Bob Dylan spent one year at college. What school did he attend? Click on the above link to see the answer.

The Wallflowers' 1992 self-titled debut album sold poorly, but their sophomore disc was a big success. Who produced the Wallflowers' second album? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Before the release of their first studio album, The Steve Miller Band served as backing band on a live album released by an all-time rock great. Named that famed rocker. Click on the above link to see the answer.

When vocalist Deborah Harry and guitarist Chris Stein first formed Blondie in the mid-70s, they used a different name. What was the original name for Blondie? Click on the above link to see the answer.

The Counting Crows received an Academy Award nomination in 2004 for "Accidentally in Love." In what film was the song featured? Click on the above link to see the answer.

The Dave Matthews Band decided to go ahead and play a scheduled show the day saxophonist Leroi Moore died. In what city did that show take place? Click on the above link to see the answer.

All but one of the songs on Blind Faith's first and only album were written by core band members Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood or Ginger Baker. What famed rocker originally recorded the one cover tune on the album? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Graham Nash's solo debut album, "Songs for Beginners," was recorded in the wake of his breakup with another famous Woodstock-era singer. Who was she? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Rod Stewart's debut solo album was released in the U.S. with the generic title "The Rod Stewart Album. What was the far more interesting U.K. title for Rod the Mod's debut solo disc? Clcik on the above link to see the answer.

Where did the BoDeans come up with the title for their debut album, "Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams"? Click on the above link to see the answer.

The famed arena in Tokyo where Cheap Trick recorded "At Budokan" was not originally built to be a concert hall. What does the name mean and why was it first constructed? Click on the above link to see the answer.

The band that eventually became Radiohead first came together under the name On A Friday. How did they come up with that original name? Click on the above link to see the answer.

How many full-length albums were released by the original Pretenders line-up? Click on the above link to see the answer.

What was the name of Neil Young's backing band Crazy Horse when he first hooked up with them? Click on the above link to see the answer.

What legendary rock band did The Clash opening for during their appearance at New York's Shea Stadium in October 1982? Click on the above link to see the answer.

What big-name producer was U2 working with in 2006 when they began sessions for their latest album, "No Line on the Horizon"? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Coldplay kicked off their tour in support of the "Viva La Vida" album with a couple of special events in England last year. What were those two events? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Why did Counting Crows, who were virtually unknown at the time, perform at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in January 1993? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Who joined New Order when the band emerged from the ashes of Joy Division after the 1980 suicide of singer Ian Curtis? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Who is the jolly fellow hoisting a glass of wine on the cover of Delta Spirit's debut full-length album, "Ode to Sunshine"? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Creedence Clearwater Revival appeared at the legendary Woodstock festival in 1969, but John Fogerty felt their set was sub-par. What was CCR's main complaint about its Woodstock slot? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Pennsylvania band LIVE managed to recruit a member of one of the biggest bands of the 1980s to produce their debut EP and album. Who was it? Click on the above link to see the answer.

R.E.M.'s 1995 "Monster" tour was plagued with three separate medical emergencies that required a band member to have surgery. What were those medical mishaps? Click on the above link to see the answer.

The 51st Annual Grammy Awards took place February 8th at the Staples Center. Our question: why is the award called a Grammy? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Why did Carlos Santana change the name of his group, originally called the Santana Blues Band, to just Santana? Click on the above link to see the answer.

What's the connection between The Beatles' early days in Hamburg, Germany and their groundbreaking 1966 album, "Revolver"? Click the above link to see the answer.

Why was the track "Willin'" from Little Feat's debut re-recorded for the band's second album? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Who wrote the music for The Clash's biggest U.S. hit? Click on the above link to see the answer.

In what city did Coldplay perform their first official live show? Click on the above link to see the answer.

Graham Nash was a member of British Invasion hitmakers The Hollies before joining David Crosby and Steven Stills in CSN (with Neil Young later joining them and adding a 'Y' to the name). Nash met Crosby at a recording session for yet another 60s group with a string of hits. Name that group.

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O.A.R. came together while the members were attending Ohio State University. The band's latest album, "All Sides," has a special connection to college sports. What's the connection?

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U2's acclaimed album "The Joshua Tree" was originally going to be called something else. What was the original title of the album?

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As a boy, David Bowie was taught art by the father of another British rocker who went on to become a sudden sensation in the 1970s. Name this other rocker.
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