h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Dusty Springfield was super(be). However I thank you sincerely for giving me the lyrics. I'd always heard "Just be close at hand" as "Just because you can." We listened to the single over and over again and nobody in the house could work out what she sang. So a big thanks from me.

You're welcome. I remember lots of lyrics like that, where you puzzled over the words. You'd almost think you understood...

Re: Brit #7, are you sure it is lamp-post? Doesn't flow or sound right somehow. I always thought it was just 'lamp'

Re: 'American' (North American, I presume?), #6 :I quite liked the Ballad, as well as Universal Soldier. But with reguard to the latter, who is Phil Ochs? A good friend of that other Canadian, Buffy Sainte-Marie perhaps?

Here's some Phil Ochs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5pgrKSwFJE

According ot online sources, he was born in El Paso, Texas.

I see what you mean...I'm finding this song about 'Leaning on a Lamp Post'. It starts with the 'lamp' part:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9EiVius0NE

If you listen to 1:04, you get to the part with the 'lamppost'.

Thank goodness for Youtube and its treasure trove of unusual recordings.

Ah, so you weren't crediting the song to him, but that it was one of many that he sang as part of his protests. Understood.

And I haven't listened to the Hermits in atleast weeks, so indeed I've probably missed that occurrence in one of the many copies they made.

Just thought I'd query.

Cheers

I'm pleased if this stirred a few memories.

George Formby was a formative part of my early life and he definitely sang Lamppost.
http://www.lyrics007.com/George%20Formby%20Lyrics/Leaning%20On%20A%20Lamp%20Post%20Lyrics.html

Thanks for the lyrics!

And does Bob Marley really sing "M' ears are alight."?

Great quiz, and I particularly love the alternative answers in the multi-choice listings. .

Now, about those banana peelings .... .

Here's an explanation about the banana peelings:

http://ebanana.orconhosting.net.nz/

Like the author of this post, I heard Donovan explaining this on a radio programme called 'Fresh Aire'. Apparently, the release of his (innocent) song coincided with a prank of the 'you had to be there' variety pulled by musicians on the US West Coast. They had a van with a large banana on it, so they touted the fruit's psychedelic qualities. Totally bogus.

To the glee of every teenager in the country, authority figures began lecturing us about the evils of roasting bananas. This sort of 'don't stick beans in your ears' advice had us in stitches.

I don't know about Bob Marley. Maybe a reggae fan can advise?

My brother and a friend of his tried the banana peel thing - and nearly set fire to his friend's kitchen!

When I first joined the Navy in 1966, They're Coming To Take Me Away was our theme song for our New Entry class - unofficially, and during our little bit of free time in the evening. Imagine Canadian WRENS marching through the block in uniforms and fuzzy slippers chanting this!

I can imagine this. What a great idea. The marching song, not the banana peels. Wow, blasts from the past.

Gosh I had no idea banana oil was so flamable. I hope you all had a good time in the WRENS.

I love music quizzes - thanks for this, Dmitri. I scored 8 on the first (should have been 9) and about 6 on the second - mostly guesses.

Icy

I have no idea what those to idiots were doing to start a fire. Likely they were trying to quickly dry it in a frying pan. The boys were about 15 - and, in a big sister's opinion, mostly brain-dead!

The Navy was a great time - and I'm still in contact with people I met while I was in. Every time I hear that song, I smile, and remember the sight of us all!!! The Upper Deck WRENS just shook their head!!!