Dropping Names

And Now About Mr. Avalon, Frankie Avalon, 1961, Mono in near mint could be worth $30-50 and in stereo $40-75

Any self-help guru will tell you that upon meeting a new contact there’s power in dropping that person’s name into the conversation occasionally. I think you’d have to increase that benefit exponentially to tally up the points the typical teenaged girl would award a guy who wrote a cool song about her.

Sometimes it’s a mating ritual, sometimes it’s a lament over lost love––and on across the emotional spectrum all the way to revenge songs, but whatever the motivation or inspiration, girls’ names make it into tunes in every era's music.

I decided to see if I could name an alphabet full just off the top of my head. Some I came up with aren’t classic rock and some I fudged a bit. Others I blanked on entirely. So after an hour or so of straining my brain I’m cryin’ uncle…help me out here folks. Or, better yet, try your own list and share in the comments box. It’s a good memory work-out.

1. A-Alison (Elvis Costello)

1. B- Barbara Ann (The Beach Boys)

1. C- Cathy’s Clown (The Everly Brothers)

1. D- Delta Dawn (Bette Midler, Tanya Tucker, Helen Reddy & others)

1. E- Emma (Hot Chocolate)

1. F- One Eyed Fiona (Lyle Lovett)

1. G- Gloria (Van Morrison)

1. H- ????

1. I- Iris (Goo Goo Dolls)

1. J- Sweet Jane (The Velvet Underground)

1. K- Kate (Ben Folds Five)

1. L- Lola (The Kinks)

1. M- Maggie May (Rod Stewart)

1. N- Nadine (Chuck Berry)

1. O- Ophelia (The Band)

1. P- Peggy Sue (Buddy Holly)

1. Q- Suzy Q (CCR)

1. R- Roxanne-Sting

1. S- My Sharona (The Knack)

1. T-?????

1. U- ??????

1. V- Venus (Frankie Avalon)

1. W- Wendy (The Beach Boys)

1. X- ????

1. Y- ????

1. Z- ????