Spring 2025 Concerts

Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?

Words and Music by Robert Lamm

Arranged by Eric Van Cleave

Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? is a song written and sung by Robert Lamm and recorded by the group Chicago. It was included on their 1969 debut album *Chicago Transit Authority* and released as a single in 1970.

“Well, I've always been kind of intrigued with the idea of time, and how we attempt to keep track of it. This song is recounting an experience I had when I was a teenager outside a movie theater, where I asked somebody what time it was and he said, ‘Does anybody really know what time it is?’ I think it is not a complicated song, but it’s certainly a quirky song. But that was my intent. I wanted to write something that wasn’t ordinary, that wasn’t blues-based, that didn’t have ice cream changes (traditional chord progressions), and would allow the horns to shine and give (trumpeter) Lee Loughnane a solo.” – Robert Lamm

Listen to the Music

Words and Music by Tom Johnston

Arranged by Kirby Shaw

Songfacts: When you came up with the guitar riffs for your famous songs, did you always know you had something special?
Tom Johnston: I was only right about that once.
Songfacts: Which song was that?
Tom Johnston: "Listen To The Music."

Lead vocalist Tom Johnston said once in an interview that it was about how he felt ‘music would make everything better’ and could ‘lift man up to a higher plane’. Right after he wrote the opening riff, he was so excited he called producer Ted Templeton in the middle of the night and played it over the phone for him – but Ted wasn’t thrilled about being woken at that hour, telling Johnston, ‘Well, yeah, it might be pretty good. Needs a couple of changes.’ But they didn't ever change anything. It stayed the way it was, the way Tom wrote it that night.

The Doobie Brothers' lead single from their second album became their first big hit. It reached #11 in the US in November 1972 and helped establish their long career as their first of 16 top 40 hits in the US.

Beatles: Revolver Medley (edited)

Songs by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison

Arranged by Alan Billingsley

The Beatles' seventh album, *Revolver*, was released in August 1966. It marked their last recording project before retiring from live performances and showcased their advanced use of studio technology, influencing psychedelic rock, electronica, progressive rock, and world music. It featured three compositions by George Harrison for the first time.

*Revolver* topped the UK chart for seven weeks out of 34 and the US chart for six weeks out of 77 (the US version had 11 tracks due to Capitol Records releasing three songs earlier on "Yesterday...And Today").

Curious fact about Eleanor Rigby: Not one of the Beatles played their instruments on the recording. George Martin arranged it for a double quartet of strings, then the band added their vocal harmonies to it. 

Songs included in this medley are Good Day Sunshine, Taxman, Here, There and Everywhere, Eleanor Rigby, and Got to Get You into My Life.

The Shadow of Your Smile (from The Sandpiper)

Words by Paul Francis Webster

Music by Johnny Mandel

Arranged by Greg Gilpin

The song was introduced in the 1965 film The Sandpiper, with a trumpet solo by Jack Sheldon. It won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Many artists have recorded the song, including Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, Bobby Darin, Barbra Streisand, Astrud Gilberto, Johnny Mathis and Engelbert Humperdink. The Sandpiper is about a free-spirited single mother who forms a connection with the married headmaster of an Episcopalian boarding school in Monterey, California.

Phenomenal Woman

Music by Mary Bastoni-Rebmann

Words by Maya Angelou

Inspired by Ruthie Foster

Phenomenal Woman explores themes of womanhood, identity, pride, self-worth, self-love, and self-acceptance. It powerfully interprets Maya Angelou's poem, celebrating women's strength and resilience. The song highlights each woman's unique worth, urging them to embrace their identity and defy societal expectations. It calls for women to recognize their power and inner strength in any situation.  

Time After Time

Words and Music by Rob Hyman, Cyndi Lauper

Arranged Andy Beck

Written by Cyndi Lauper and Rob Hyman, Time After Time is a classic love ballad and Lauper’s first #1 hit, eventually becoming her signature song. After finishing most of her album *She’s So Unusual* (1983), producer Rick Chertoff suggested one more song. He introduced Lauper to Hyman, and they worked on Time After Time. Lauper came up with the title while watching the 1979 sci-fi thriller movie of the same name starring Malcolm McDowell as H.G. Wells.

The record label wanted Time After Time as the first single, but Lauper argued ‘Listen to me—releasing a ballad first defines you in a certain way. You become known as a balladeer, and it can kill your career.’  She persuaded them to release Girls Just Want To Have Fun instead.

Glorious

Words and Music by Stephanie Mabey

Arranged by Tom Fettke

Stephanie Mabey's song Glorious from her June 2012 album *Wake Up Dreaming* offers hope to those feeling lost. It reminds us that everyone has a unique purpose, likened to a symphony, making life glorious.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Words and Music by Paul Simon

Arranged by Kirby Shaw

*Bridge Over Troubled Water* is Simon & Garfunkel's final album, released in January 1970 in Quadraphonic and Stereo. It topped the Billboard pop albums chart and won several Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Best Engineered Recording. Its title track, Bridge Over Troubled Water, took Record and Song of the Year awards in 1971. Selling over 25 million copies globally, the album's recording process highlighted tensions between the duo. Paul Simon regretted his insistence that Art Garfunkel sing the song solo, feeling sidelined. “Many times on stage, when I’d be sitting off to the side and Larry Knechtel would be playing the piano and Art would be singing ‘Bridge’, people would stomp and cheer when it was over, and I would think, ‘That’s my song, man.’” – Paul Simon

Paul Simon mentioned on the Dick Cavett Show that he was likely subconsciously influenced by the gospel group, the Swan Silvertones, while writing this song.

From the Start

Words and Music by Laufey, Spencer Stewart

Arranged by Michele Weir

Laufey (pronounced lāy-vāy) is a 26-year-old Los Angeles-based singer, composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, known for her jazz and bossa nova songs about young love and self-discovery. Raised between Reykjavík, Washington, D.C., and Beijing, the Icelandic-Chinese artist grew up playing cello and piano, and was inspired by Ella Fitzgerald’s jazz standards from her father’s record collection.

Laufey aims to create vintage-sounding music for her generation. She hopes listeners find joy in her song, embracing fun and silly aspects of love. Her song From the Start from the May 2023 album *Bewitched: The Goddess Edition* offers hope and reminds everyone of their unique purpose, making life glorious.

This is the Moment (from Jekyll and Hyde)

Words and Music by Frank Wildhorn, Leslie Bricusse

Arranged by The Acoustix

The Acoustix released the song This Is the Moment on their 1993 album *Stars and Stripes*. The Dallas-based quartet gained recognition in 1990 at their first SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, Inc) International Contest appearance in San Francisco, just six months after the quartet was formed.  

Frank Wildhorn's music includes popular, theatrical, and classical works. In 1999, he had three shows running simultaneously on Broadway: Jekyll & Hyde (four Tony® nominations), The Scarlet Pimpernel (three Tony® nominations), and The Civil War (two Tony® nominations). Songs from Jekyll & Hyde such as Someone Like You, A New Life and This Is the Moment have been performed at major events like the Olympics, Super Bowl, World Series, World Cup, Miss America Pageants, the 1996 Democratic National Convention, and President Clinton’s inauguration.

93 Million Miles

Words and Music by Jason Mraz, Michael Natter, Mike Daly

Arranged by Susan LaBarr

Jason Mraz's second single from his album *Love is a Four Letter Word*, 93 Million Miles was released in March 2012. The song references Earth's place in the solar system and talks about returning home during tough times to appreciate good moments. Mraz, whose surname means "frost" in Slavic languages, is known for his clever and fast-paced lyrics. He debuted on Broadway as Dr. Pomatter in Waitress in 2017 and featured on Sara Bareilles' concept album "What's Inside: Songs From Waitress."

Keep on the Sunny Side

Words by Ada Blenkorn

Music by J. Howard Entwisele

Arranged by John Maclane Schirard

Keep on the Sunny Side is a well-known American song written in 1899 by Ada Blenkhorn, inspired by her nephew who always wanted his wheelchair pushed down "the sunny side" of the street. Popularized by The Carter Family in 1928, the song has also been recorded by artists such as The Whites, Brad Paisley, and Dwight Yoakam. A recording by The Whites was featured in the 2000 movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?.

A Musical (from Something Rotten)

Words and Music by Wayne Kirkpatrick, Karey Kirkpatrick

Arranged by Roger Emerson

This song is from the 2014 Broadway show Something Rotten! In the first act, Nostradamus tells Nick Bottom that musical theatre is the future of theatre. The song includes references to famous show-tunes in lyrics, music, choreography, and blocking. It was performed at the 2014 Tony Awards and the 2015 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Wicked Medley (edited)

Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz

Arranged By Mark Brymer, Roger Emerson

Wicked is a retelling of the Wicked Witch of the West's story, focusing on friendship and acceptance amid authoritarianism. Set before Dorothy's arrival in Oz, it premiered on Broadway on October 30, 2003. Songs included in this medley are What Is This Feeling?, The Wizard and I, One Short Day, Dancing Through Life, and No One Mourns the Wicked.

• What Is This Feeling? is the first song in the musical that Elphaba and Glinda sing together. Each of them writes letters to their respective parents and confesses just how despicable they find each other to be. They try to find the words to describe this intense feeling of dislike, and ultimately, they decide that it is ‘loathing’.

• The Wizard and I serves to introduce Elphaba's character to the audience. It highlights the actress's vocal talents and the character’s aspiration to be accepted by the Wizard and society.

• One Short Day depicts Glinda and Elphaba's visit to the Emerald City. Elphaba has an appointment with the Wizard of Oz. Both characters are enchanted by the city's sights, having never been there before.

• Dancing Through Life shows Fiyero's arrival at Shiz, where he shares his carefree attitude with the students. The scene transitions to the Ozdust Ballroom, where romantic relationships begin to develop between Fiyero and Glinda, as well as Boq and Nessarose, with some influence from Glinda.

• No One Mourns the Wicked is the opening song. The song follows the recent death of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. The citizens of Oz celebrate her demise, while Glinda the Good Witch provides the audience with background information on Elphaba's life. While Glinda appears to show sympathy for Elphaba, the citizens of Oz display opposite emotions.

Be the Hero (from Big Fish)

Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa

Arranged by Mark Brymer

The musical, based on both Daniel Wallace's novel (1998) and Tim Burton's film (2003), premiered in Chicago in April 2013, with a pre-Broadway engagement before opening on Broadway in September 2013. The main character, Edward Bloom, recounts various stories of his encounters with different characters such as a witch, a giant, and a mermaid. His son attempts to discern the factual accuracy of his father's narratives. The story addresses themes of love, loss, forgiveness, reconciliation and accepting death; highlighting the significance of living a complete and content life.

Soprano 1

• Annette Joseph 🎙️

• Beth Scrimger 🎙️

• Christina Zahn 🎼

• Corky Leonard 🎙️

• Mary Bastoni-Rebmann 🎼🎙️

• Patty Hibbert 

Soprano 2

• Diane Klinepeter

• Kristen Burke 🎼

• Pamela MacDonald🎙️

• Vicki MacDougall

Alto

• Donna Dunn 🎙️

• Heather Boucher 🎙️🎼

• Julie Levine 🎼

• Martha Kaubris 🎼

• Sandra Plourde 🎙️

Tenor

• Frank DeMore 🎩

• John Waldie 🎼🎙️🎩

• Steve Crockett 🎼🎙️🎩

Bass/Baritone

• Bob Carper 🎙️🎼🎩

• David Freedman 🎙️🎩

• Lloyd Huhn 🎙️🎩

• Peter Cash 🎙️🎼🎩

🎙️ solo performer

🎼 member of Da Cappella - Da Capo's a cappella group

🎩 Mary's Merry Men

John Waldie >> Piano 🎹

Matthew Gunther >> Drums  🥁

Isaac Houghton >> Bass🎸

Brian Lucy >> Clarinet, Tenor/Baritone Sax 🪈🎷 

Kevin Lucy >> Soprano/Alto Sax, Trombone 🪈🎶

Soleil Huang-Dale >> Violin, Trombone, French Horn 🎻🎶 

Ian Smith >> Trumpet🎺

Dan Kaschub >> Trumpet🎺

Griffin Gillis >> Alto/Tenor/Baritone Sax 🎷 

Lilia Vishnyakov >> Clarinet 🪈

• Whitney Community Center, Jackson

        Whitney Center

• Conway Majestic Theatre, Conway Village

Conway Majestic

• Brick Church for the Performing Arts, Lovell

        Lovell Brick Church for the Performing Arts

• First Congregational Church of Fryeburg, Fryeburg

     Fryeburg UCC  

TRIVIA QUESTIONS

1. What singer has had a Billboard No. 1 hit in each of the last four decades?

2. What was Freddie Mercury's real name?

3. Who was the very first American Idol winner?

4. Which member of the Avengers had a brief stint as a pop star?

5. Which artist's entire 1985 Live Aid set consisted of just a single cover song?

6. What rock icon was the founder of The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Long-haired Men?

7. Keith Moon and John Entwistle of The Who are said to have inspired the name of which other classic rock band?

8. In The Big Lebowski, The Dude can't stand which band?

9. Who founded Motown Records?

10. Before Phil Collins, who was the lead singer of Genesis?

11. Paul McCartney credits which artist with teaching him everything he knows?

12. Who was the first woman ever inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

TRIVIA ANSWERS

1. Mariah Carey

2. Farrokh Bulsara

3. Kelly Clarkson

4. Brie Larson

5. Elvis Costello

6. David Bowie

7. Led Zeppelin

8. The Eagles

9. Berry Gordy

10. Peter Gabriel

11. Little Richard

12. Aretha Franklin