Besides Tommy Dorsey, this song mentions Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, and Sammy Davis...but then the final name mentioned is the late boxer Sonny Liston.
I was a high-school Senior when this came out...late 1986 and into 1987 for me. I loved this song...I've always wondered why they never had another hit besides this one. I believe that is an acoustic guitar in the beginning of the song...I tried and tried to figure out how to play that when this came out, but I never could.
Additional lyrics: "...with John F. Kennedy and The Beatles...."
I'm not all that familiar with Cake, but that's not the group I was thinking of. You're somewhat close, though...the name of the group also starts with the letter "C" and they were based out of California ( had a pretty big alternative hit back in 1993 or so).
I'll wait about a week or so and then post some additional lyrics. If those don't help, then I'll just go ahead and close any unanswered ones out.
I like what you’re doing here. I did something similar in the past; I’d throw a name out and see what answers came up. It’s cool to see different answers….
Like “Bob Dylan”
The Beastie Boys’ “3 minute rule,” , “The Seeker” by The Who (as Bobby Dylan) , “Mr. Jones” by the Counting Crows; maybe something a little more obscure like “Fizzy” from The Jesus and Mary Chain— all correct answers
Yes, I know you would have! 😃 I usually try to leave mine for a couple of weeks or a month, then close them out if nobody has gotten it by then. I think that's my OCD kicking in a bit there! 😃
A fairly popular male singer...lot of hits and I love a lot of his music, including this song. Here are some additional lyrics:
"There was Frankie Lymon, Bobby Fuller, Mitch Ryder (They were rockin')
Jackie Wilson, Shangri-Las, Young Rascals
(They were rockin')
Spotlight on Martha Reeves and don't forget James Brown...."
No, not what I was thinking of...this one was by a legendary singer/songwriter in the late 80s (still alive and performing today). I'll go ahead and give some additional lyrics (which may give it away, but that's OK):
"...Chubby Checker, Psycho, Belgians in The Congo...."
I knew a man, his brain was so small
He couldn't think of nothing at all.
Not the same as you and me
He doesn't dig poetry.
He's so unhip that when you say Dylan
He thinks you're talking about Dylan Thomas,
Whoever he was.
The man ain't got no culture.
But it's alright, ma, everybody must get stoned.