great song

hate toffs, love foxes

Madness had a dozen or so UK top ten hits - which is pretty huge - and Dexy's had at least three - which is also creditable

its possible of course that the US didn't take these bands to heart in the same way as us Brits.

Turning Japanese by the Vapors was  a big hit  (its a great track) - it was at the time that New Wave was big and the Vapors were a Mod Band. Had they released that track a year or so later they would have been caught up in a resurgence of interest in Mod but as it was they failed to capitalise on the sucess of their single.

Spirit in the Sky was covered in the UK by Doctor and the Medics in the 1980s  who added electric guitar  - it was a huge No 1.  Like Norman it was a One hit wonder. Doctor and the Medics never had another big hit

Other one hit wonders include "nothing compares to U" by sinnead o 'connor. she was imo very talented but for some reason never surpassed this song -written by Prince

when I started playing guitar learning chords was the first thing I did

it takes time.  how much time depends partly on how much you practice but even the most committed guitarist will take some considerable time to master open chords

the good news is that all that practice is toughening your fingers, strenghening your muscles, improving flexibility and getting your fingers used to the size shape and feel of the neck and the frets

the thing to remember about chord changes is that you have to practice until your fingers move between chords almost without you being conscious of that - and for that to happen it has to be a comfortable and economic movement

for example A to E.  whenever you make that change you will turn your wrist, your first finger will drop a fraction and your second and third finger will rise simulataneously. Ideally there should be no other movement in the hand or fingers - its an almost graceful transition.
     
its worth watching guitarists make chord changes

look the beginners videos at   

http://www.justinguitar.com/

D.D.DUDU

no particular reason except its

4/4 time

with some stress on first beat

Try this site

http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/tab-notation.txt

i had trouble too

my first name, my second name and my house number

i normally log on to sites as johnnywas   -  a song which calls for peace in troubled times -

"Woman hold her head and cry
Cause her son had been shot down in the street and died
Just because of the system

She cried, oh, oh, oh, oh
Johnny was a good man
Never did a thing wrong

Johnny went out on a Saturday night
Never hurt anybody never started no bar room fight
Johnny never did nobody no wrong
Never hurt anybody
Johnny was a good man"

I play both

my favorites the strat because when I want to rock I turn it on and up -  and when I want to practice the technique - while the missus is watching casualty or ER or House I turn it off.

never give up the washburn though.