Another Quick Puzzle
 

Encouraged by QuikSand's recent puzzle, I figured I'd try my own. My puzzles haven't always gone well in the past and I'm not nearly as clever as Quik, but I figured I'd throw this simple one out there.

There was a small window of time between vinyl and cds where people bought cassettes. These were mostly albums, but they also sold "cassingles." I only owned three, but they covered the musical spectrum nearly from A-to-Z. One was You Can't Hurry Love by Phil Collins (sorry critch - please don't hurt me).

The Puzzle: What were the other two singles?

(I will answer questions if you get stuck)

Just to be clear, your view is that there is enough information given to work this out?

Asia - Heat of the Moment
ZZ Top - Sharp Dressed Man

According to Wikipedia, that version was a #1 hit in January 1983.

So we should probably be looking for singles that were big in that general time frame.

I think there's enough to eventually get you there, yes.

Albion - probably right to nail down a timeframe, but the cassette single was released a good bit later than when the song charted, I believe.

"Come on Eileen" seems like an obvious catchy song not worth a deeper investment than a buck and a half.

"Our House" by Madness fits that to a tee as well.

dola: missed this huge clue: "nearly from A-to-Z" which Ronnie Dobbs hit right on.

First thought was ABBA/ZZ Top but ABBA was way too early. Also, the word "nearly" means that maybe it isn't A/Z?

Of course, that could also be a more obtuse clue saying that the other two singles were of very different stripes musically that that insufferable crap.

So picking from a bit later in the 80s... maybe

"Addicted to Love"
"Rock Me Amadeus"


Oh, and since he did drop one oldies revival, I'll toss in Bananarama's "Venus" as well.

On the A-Z clue... that may also refer to the title of the song, where the example would get us the back end of the "nearly A-Z" range by starting with Y. Just tossing it out.

Bryan Adams was big during that time period

The don't hurt me seems like an MC Hammer reference, so I'll guess U Can't Touch This for one of the two.

Before you stray too far - yes, on the artist. Not the right song, and the 'U' does not relate to any other clue.

Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em, MC Hammer?

Addams Groove

you sure you're straight?

Yes, but the second song might really make one question that.*

No on Please and Addams.




* Fun trivia fact: the song was used in a TV episode featuring a gay actor.

2 Legit 2 Quit?

BOOO! That album had a handful of pretty good songs, if you're a ska/Madness fan.

Not funky enough.

Something with A
Too Funky by George Michael
You Can't Hurry Love

Is it something from Funky Headhunter?

Heh - no. But I do need the funk - gotta have that funk.

A Parliament reference...

AEIOU Sometimes Y

Lets Get It Started for the Hammer one. No clue on the other.

Turn This Motha Out.

Super Freak by Rick James

That's one half. It samples Parliament's Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Of The Sucker). I probably should have worked that into the original post.

The other clue I think should be enough for the other song if worked through.

Careless Whisper - Wham

Just to refocus, this is the key to the second song.

So, maybe a song title starting with A, to match up with the Y in the first offered example?

And We Danced...but likely too early, I guess.

Adam Ant

Going with a different Genre:

Garth Brooks - The Thunder Rolls

Disregard You Can't Hurry Love for these purposes. The clue really just describes the song you're looking for.

Queen - Bohemain Rhapsody?

That song covers a lot of genre's, and was re-introduced by Wayne's World.

Walk this Way - Run DMC and Aerosmith

Iesha by Another Bad Creation

With the A-Z clue, was there ever a cassingle of YYZ?

SI

ABC by the Jackson Five?

Haven't gotten it yet. From the ARTISTdirect site:

Phil Collins You Can't Hurry Love 11/07/1989
MC Hammer Turn This Mutha Out (Cassette Single) 11/21/1990

Should establish a general timeframe (along with the TV clue in my reply to DD).

Theme song from Doogie Howser, M.D.

It turns out that there are a lot of gay actors:

Category:Gay actors - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

When you say gay actor on TV, my first thoughts are Neil Patrick Harris, Ellen, and Portia Del Rosi (sp?).

Was there a song from the early 90s featured on HIMYM or Arrested Development?

FWIW, NPH has said that being called "Doogie" by everyone during his adolescence made him effectively asexual in Hollywood circles, which ended up giving him the space to come to terms with being gay.

So, basically, had the show been called "Jack Anderson, M.D.," he might have a much more conflicted sexuality right now.

Ok, outside of the Doogie stuff, what would constitute "nearly A-Z"?

B-Y obv

*static*