Rock ‘n’ Roll Trivia
Elvis Presley’s final concert performance
by John Robinson
Q: What was the last song Elvis Presley ever performed in concert?
A: That was Paul Simon’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” performed at his final concert in Indianapolis in June 1977.
Q: What was the name of the song the Monkees sang at the end of their show that started out “in this generation”?
A: The song closed the second season episodes of “The Monkees” television program and was written by Monkees member Peter Tork. Its title, “For Pete’s Sake,” isn’t mentioned anywhere in the lyrics. It replaced the old closing theme (a replay of the “Monkees Theme” opener) when the second season began on Sept. 11, 1967.
Q: Wasn’t the Moody Blues song “Go Now” a remake?
A: Yup, it was originally recorded by Bessie Banks. The Moody Blues recorded the song, which became their first hit, back in 1965. When Paul McCartney first heard the song on the radio, he was envious! Ironically, the lead vocals were handled by Moody Blues member Denny Laine, who went on to join Paul McCartney and Wings in the 1970s.
Q: I’ve been trying to find a copy of the Four Seasons song “Oh What A Night” but I can’t find it anywhere! I’m surprised since it was such a big hit.
A: You can’t find it because that’s not the correct title. Yes, that’s the first line in the song, but the correct title is “December 1963.” That single came out in 1976, when the only original member of the Four Seasons who remained was Frankie Valli. Ironically, it became the Four Seasons’ bestselling single of all time. The song originally was written about the repeal of prohibition and titled “December 5th, 1933.” The song was written by ex-member Bob Gaudio and his soon-to-be wife Judy Parker. Valli and Parker insisted that the lyrics be changed to a young man’s first sexual experience.
Q: A line from a song has been driving me crazy and I can’t remember what song it’s from. It goes “It’s a buck dancer’s choice my friend; better take my advice, you know all the rules by now and the fire from the ice.”
A: That line is from the Grateful Dead song “Uncle John’s Band,” written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter. In 1969, they began playing the song in concert, eventually recording it for inclusion on their 1970 album “Workingman’s Dead.” It was released as a single, but most radio stations played the unedited album track, which was the first song played on the air that used the “gd” curse word. This song and other Grateful Dead tunes that spoke of drugs turned the Grateful Dead into a “thorn in the side of Nixon that became a badge of honor to the masses.” As far as “buckdancer,” they may have gotten the term from the 1965 book “Buckdancer’s Choice,” a collection of poems by James Dickey, the same man who wrote the novel “Deliverance.”
John Robinson grew up in Stockbridge and graduated from Stockbridge High School in 1969. He’s been an author, TV host, columnist, actor, producer, emcee and radio broadcaster. Robinson’s favorite music of all time includes surf, psychedelia, garage bands, Motown and just plain ol’ good-time rock ‘n’ roll. To read more rock ‘n’ roll trivia, “Paranormal Michigan” stories, and lots more, check out Robinson’s books on his author page at facebook.com/johnrobinsonauthor.
