2023 Puzzle 1: “Staple Singers” by Pete Muller
Here’s contest puzzle #1. Solve using the Crossword Compiler applet, download a PDF, or use Across Lite/PUZ.
The meta is a California band from the '70s.
Submit your answer to the meta before 11pm ET Sunday, January 15, using the form on the home page.
Notes for 2023:
Mega-meta: There will once again be a mega-meta hidden in the 12 puzzles. It's been a little over ten years since the first MMMM mega-meta. To commemorate that, we will do things a little differently this year. This year's mega-meta consists of two songs from the '70s.
Red Herring: The Red Herring returns for 2023. Guessing the red herring is worth 5 extra points, and it will work like other metas in that you only get one chance to submit. This year's red herring is a former record label.
Hints: The website will be updated with a hint to the meta solution Sunday night at 11pm, right after the contest closes.
Grand Prize Eligibility: In order to be eligible for the Grand Prize drawing, you need to correctly solve the mega-meta before the mega-meta reveal puzzle comes out on December 19, and solve at least eight other metas. You can also qualify for the Grand Prize drawing if you solve the mega-meta and 10 out of 12 of the monthly puzzles, even if you don’t solve the mega-meta early.
Thanks!
A big THANK YOU to all of you who contributed to our Tip Jar in 2022. We raised $3,836 from 115 people, all donated to the Live Music Society.
Forgot to contribute to the Tip Jar? It's open for one more day, until tomorrow night.
More Thanks!
I get a lot of help making the MMMM, and I'd love to acknowledge the really important contributions from the folks who help make it possible. A big THANK YOU to everyone helping out this past year: Andrew White, Frank Longo (editing), David Williams and Mack Meller (tech), and test solvers Francis Heaney and Sue Keefer.
Thanks and enjoy,
Pete
Staple Singers - January 2023
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Joe Ross
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ky-mike
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hcbirker
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jhseeman
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boharr
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m5rammy
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I thought surprisingly many of the answers were "I'm gonna have to look that up", but with the crossing clues (and some strange inspirations) I managed to fill it all in, serach-less-ly (that's a word, right?)
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Jeremy Smith
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Laura M
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Finally got 20 minutes to do this today, and I'm on the board! Happy January!
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Cinny
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BarbaraK
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Same. I often have that experience with Pete’s puzzles and really enjoy it.
Cute meta!
Now I wonder what the mega will be
If you want help with a meta, feel free to PM me. The more specific you are about what you have and what you want, the more likely I can help without spoiling.
(And if I help you win a mug, I’ll be especially delighted.)
(And if I help you win a mug, I’ll be especially delighted.)
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rjy
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DCBilly
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clonefitz
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benchen71
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On the board, after receiving a gentle nudge.
Check out "The MOAT MEOW Mashup Pack" here. US$10 for 14 metas that don't always abide by the "rules" of the game: asymmetry, 2-letter words, uncrossed letters, who knows. And this time there's a mega-meta! 
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Head scratcher
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Qmark
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On the board. Looking forward to another year of Pete's great MMMM puzzles.
