Questions about music: Answered

Dana Duer, a music fan who is blind, asks questions during conversations with Marc Fischer. Marc goes onto internet discussion groups and contacts friends to redirect the questions to a larger group of people. These are the answers to Dana's questions that have been collected thus far.  

Dana's questions from 1/10/2006

Are the (members of) Ink Spots black or white?

The Ink Spots were black.

Are The Turtles from England?

Reply 1: The Turtles are from Long Island NY (almost positive about that)

Reply 2: The Turtles were based in San Francisco - two of them joined up with Zappa about 1970.

What happened to Jay-Z?

Reply 1: He's with Beyonce right now and has a small amount of stake in the New Jersey Nets.

Reply 2: He "retired".

Reply 3: I believe Jay-Z is now president of Def American.

Reply 4: Just to clarify somewhat on the Jay-Z issue, his Black album signified he retired and was the last album he made, however he has been featured on a number of songs afterwards with other artists such as Beyonce's Crazy in Love single (I think that's what it's called)

What did Biggie Smalls release and what's his real name?

Biggie has released: Ready To Die, Life After Death, Born Again and recently released a duets album. His name was Christopher Wallace. He was married to Lil' Kim.

What was Tupac's real name and why did they shoot him?

His real name was Tupac Shakur. Shooting? Possible East Coast / West Coast [rivalry] bullshit. Just like Biggie.

Who is Velvet Revolver? They have just one CD right?

Yes, they only have one album. The band consists of Slash, Matt Sorum, Duff Mckagen (all previously from Guns N Roses) and Scott Weiland (of Stone Temple Pilots fame).

Are Guns and Roses going to have a new album out?

Supposedly "Chinese Democracy" will be released this summer.

What happened to Axl Rose?

Laying low until "Chinese Democracy" is released.

What's "Private Parts" by Howard Stern sound like? What does he talk about?

It's Howie's biography. What does he talk about? His crappy rise to become the self proclaimed "King of all Media".

Are The DuPrees black?

        No, they are not.

How about the sound effects CD with diarrhea, vomiting and a man passing gas? How did those sounds get on the CD? Who would get that CD?

Sampled with a microphone. Who would get that CD? Me.

Who is Usher? Is Usher a rapper or what?

Reply 1: Some black dude from Atlanta [who is] really named Usher. Had a few big R&B hits. Used to date Chili from TLC. Is Usher a rapper or what? R&B singer and mediocre actor.

Reply 2: Besides being an R&B singer and actor in terrible teen films, Usher is also a sex addict- or so says a friend who knows his manager. I for one didn't find this surprising- in fact, isn't it kind of required to be a "smooove" R&B guy?

When did Doo Wop fade out?

It still is around but peaked in the late 50's.

Why are we having war in Iraq? What is George Bush doing that for? What are troops getting killed for?

It's because of oil fields. Don't let anyone tell you differently. What is George Bush doing that for? Wasting billions of tax payers' dollars and sending troops over. What are troops getting killed for? Crude oil. Oh and "democracy".

Does Donovan have a new CD? Isn't he from Scotland? Does he know about the death of John Lennon?

Reply 1: Not sure. I think Donovan was American. Could be mistaken though. Does he know about the death of John Lennon? I think everyone does at this point. The media has only been stuffing it down the public's throat for 25 years.

Reply 2: Donovan has a new book out, and he is a Brit.

Reply 3: Last CD came out in 2004, however last year Sony (Epic/Legacy) released the double-disc CD/DVD Try for the Sun: The Journey of Donovan. Yes, he is from Glasgow. No I don't think he knows about Lennon's death. Well I'm sure he knows he died, but as far as having a part....no way.

Where's Gwen Stefani from? How old is she?

Reply 1: Orange County, California. Late 20's, maybe early 30's.

Reply 2: Gwen Stefani is from Long Beach, California.

Is the Doors album "Full Circle" with or without Jim Morrison?

Without.

Is Rufus Thomas the father of Carla Thomas?

Almost certain that Carla Thomas is Rufus Thomas' wife.

What happened to Eddie Floyd?

Floyd attempted a comeback on Ichiban with 1988's Flashback album; the following year, he performed at President Bush's inaugural ball, and went on to tour with the Blues Brothers Band. In 1998, Floyd made a guest appearance in Blues Brothers 2000, and also performed "634-5789" with Pickett and Jonny Lang.

What are mono remixes like?

Mono remixes are usually mono fold downs of stereo mixes. So both stereo channels blended together to remove seperation.

How many tracks are on George Harrison's album "Brainwashed"?

1. Any Road

2. Vatican Blues (Last Saturday Night)

3. Pisces Fish

4. Looking for My Life

5. Rising Sun

6. Marwa Blues

7. Stuck Inside a Cloud

8. Run So Far

9. Never Get Over You

10. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

11. Rocking Chair in Hawaii

12. Brainwashed

Is Jack del Shannon black?

Reply 1: "I couldn't find any "Jack" del Shannon, but Del Shannon, the guy who sang "Runaway", was white."

Reply 2: "I think he's asking about Jackie DeShannon. She was white (maybe still is)."

How old is Carla Thomas now?

63

Carla Thomas (born December 21, 1942 in Memphis, Tennessee)

Does Otis Redding have a daughter?

        Yep. 2 in fact.

"He met his wife Zelma Atwood in 1959 and later married in August 1961. Together they have four children: Dexter, Karla, Otis III, and Demetria who was adopted after his death. His family was close to his heart and soul. In 1965, he moved them into a spacious 300 acre property, "The Big O Ranch" in Round Oak, Georgia, affectionately named after "The Big O" himself.

Sons, Dexter and Otis III are active music producers and songwriters, both traveling internationally. Karla is a successful and influential entrepreneur having found and jointly managing the day to day operations of Karla's Shoe Boutique with her mother and partner, in downtown Macon, Georgia. Zelma, of course, is the executrix over the Redding Estate where she manages the daily requests for songs in commercials, music sampling, the use of his name, image, the Otis Redding Memorial Fund, and the Scholarship Foundation. Demetria is a public relations director for the American Cancer Society in Macon, GA."

Is Dicky from Dicky Doo and the Don'ts a girl?

        ""Richard A. Doo" is actually Gerry Granahan - a guy."

Dana's questions from 1/17/06

What Sam Cooke record do you recommend?

         Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964

Who sings on "Full Circle" by the Doors?

         Ray & Robbie

How hard is it to work a CD recorder?

"Depends on how savvy you are with technology, i find it very easy but it's rocket science to my granny who can't even set the timer on her VCR.

If it's a CD recorder on a stereo system then its usually just a case of hitting record and playing whatever it is your recording.

If its on a PC then programs like nero might be a bit harder to get to grips with (especially for the seeing impaired, i don't think it has a narrator function built-in) but on the whole its just a case of selecting the kind of disk you want to burn, selecting the files you want to burn, then hitting the record button on screen."

What Brass Rings album has "The Disadvantages of Youth"?

The Brass Rings title "The Dis-Advantages of You" appears on the album "Sunshine Days Vol. 2 - 60's Pop Classics" on the Varese label

What happened to Nancy Sinatra?

Reply 1: Two years ago she recorded a record with Thurston Moore [Sonic Youth] on guitar.

Reply 2: Nancy Sinatra will receive her own star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in May 2006.

Reply 3: Nancy Sinatra played the Italian Fest 2 years ago in the Heart of Italy (about 2400 South Oakley in Chicago).

Is Donovan's "Try for the Sun" 2 CD's or 1 CD & 1 DVD?        

From Amazon: "This three-CD-plus-one-DVD set covers Donovan's work from 1964 to 2004 and is the most ambitious attempt yet to organize his extensive career. It includes 60 tracks, 15 of them previously unreleased or hard to find (many of these live and acoustic)."

Is The Doors album "Weird Scenes Inside the Gold Mine" on CD yet?

Weird Scenes Inside the Goldmine has yet to be released on cd. Weird Scenes Inside the Goldmine is the only source for the single b-side version of "You Need Meat" (Love Her Madly b-side sung by Ray.) The only Doors cd with a version of You Need Meat on it is "Back Stage and Dangerous" and that's not the same as the one on Weird Scenes Inside the Goldmine. "Back Stage and Dangerous" is a Doors internet only release avaliable through www.thedoors.com, amazon.com and a few other online stores and select music stores that sell imports and internet releases. The Doors hits collection available is The Doors Legacy. First printings included a studio version of "Celebration of the Lizard" at the end of disc two.

Does Wilson Pickett have a box set?

There's no Wilson Pickett boxed set in the U.S. I've looked for the same thing myself a few times and never found even a reference to an out-of-print one. Rhino did put out a nice "essentials" disc though.

Did Booker from Booker T and the MG's die? If so, how?

Booker T Jones is alive and well. The only dead member I believe is Al Jackson

What record label was Etta James on?

        Etta James was on Cadet (a subsidiary of Chess records)

What's the name of Mama Cass' album with "Underground Earthquake" or "California Eathquake"?

        "Dream a Little Dream of Me" 1968

What's the Cowsills' album with "Hair"

        "The Cowsills in Concert on the Razor & Tie label 1969

It's appeared on dozens of albums since then"

What album by Everything and Everything has "Witchitito"?

"The band is called Everything IS Everything and the track "Witchi-Tao-To" appears on "Hard to Find 45's on CD, Vol. 6: More Sixties Classics" on Eric 2001. Dunno about the original album release, maybe there wasn't one...."

What Ray Charles album had "St. Pete Florida Blues"?

"Rockin' Records: The Best Original Tracks You've Never Heard" 2004

What Motherload album has "When I Die I Hope to Be"?

       "Band is called Motherlode, album "When I Die" Buddha 1969"

What Street People album had the song "Jennifer Thompkins"?

"They released a self-titled album on Vigor in 1976. There is no song of that title on it and I suspect Jennifer Thompkins might appear in the lyrics of one."

What's Mercy's album with "Love Can Make You Happy"?

        Album of the same name. Warner Bros. 1969

What's the Jessamine and the Casuals album with "Butterfly Child"?

"Actually, the band is called Casuals. The song is "Jesamine" and she's called a butterfly child in the lyrics. Earliest LP release according to AMG is "Hour World" 1969."

What is Frederica Galfin's album with "It's Getting Better"?

"Is it Kenny Galfin or Frederica Galfin he's asking about? I can't find any such artists. Maybe he's asking about the Mama Cass Elliott version of "It's Getting Better"?"

What's the Flying Machine album with "Smile a Little Smile For Me"?

"Can't find a track-listing for this band. Song was also covered by Little Anthony & The Imperials fwiw"

What Nat King Cole album has "Won't You Meet Me at the Back of the Bus"?

         "I think he might be quoting the lyrics...."

What's Lesley Gore's album with "It's My Party"?

         "I'll Cry If I Want To" Mercury 1963

What number Chicago album was the box set "Group Portrait"? Was it 21?

        "It doesn't appear to have a number"

What George Harrison album had "Deep Blue"?

       "Pirate Songs" 1995

What's the McGuire Sisters' album with "Sugar in the Evening or Sugar in the Morning"?

"The song is called "Sugartime" and appears on "The Best of The McGuire Sistes" on Coral 1966"

Where was Aretha Franklin from?

Aretha was born in Memphis, raised in Detroit.

Does the Motown label still exist?

Reply 1: Nope, bought out by another company, that was bought by another company.

Reply 2: Motown still exists, although Berry Gordy sold it to Universal in the late 80's. Boyz II Men and Erykah Badu are on Motown.

Can you record the radio onto CDs? How do you do that?

Yes you can record from the radio onto cd. You can do it with a cd-recorder or computer and wav. recorder program. I record from radio onto computer and use a cord that has rca jacks on one end and a line in jack on the other. I go from the output of the stereo to the line in of the computer and record the sound on computer with a freeware program called Audacity.

Where's Sly and the Family Stone from?

         San Francisco, CA

Which members of Sly and the Family Stone are white and which are black?

Greg Errico and Jerry Martini were the white members of Sly and the Family Stone.

What's Sly and the Family Stone's first album?

        "A Whole New Thing" 1967

What's the first Beatles album?

Reply 1: First single was Love Me Do/P.S. I Love You, 1962.

First full album was Please Please Me, 1963.

Reply 2: The first U.K. Beatles album was Please Please Me, the first American release was Introducing the Beatles on Veejay records. The first U.S. album on Capitol was Meet the Beatles.

Reply 3: The answer for that is different in America than in England. In America the records were released in different orders, with differing songs/takes, and different titles for the first couple.

How many tracks are on the Bread anthology?

20 songs on 1 disc

What's the name of Edwin Hawkins Singers' album with "Oh Happy Day"?

"Oh Happy Day" originally appeared on the album "Let Us Go Into The House Of The Lord".

Which member of The Band is dead?

Reply 1: The two late members of The Band are Richard Manuel who committed suicide in the 80's, and the great Rick Danko who died just a few years ago.

Reply 2: the drummer.