Grammy Record of the Year Trivia Quiz

Answer: "Mack the Knife" by Bobby Darin

Bobby Darin was born in the Bronx during the height of the depression. His rendition of "Mack the Knife" spent an impressive ten weeks on the billboard Hot 100 at number one. The song was first put on the US pop charts by Louis Armstrong in 1954. Bobby Darin recorded his version at Fulton Studios on West 40th Street, NYC, on December 19th, 1958. Dick Clark counseled Darin not to record the song because it might not appeal to a teen audience, having come from an opera. Bobby also took home the Grammy for Best New Artist.

Frank Sinatra called Darin's recording of "Mack the Knife" the "definitive" version. Simon Cowell named "Mack the Knife" the best song ever written. "Venus" spent some time at the top spot in 1959 for Frankie Avalon. "Battle of New Orleans" and "Lonely Boy" were also 1959 number ones. Best Performance in the Folk category went to The Kingston Trio for "The Kingston Trio at Large".

Answer: "Up, Up and Away" by The Fifth Dimension

Johnny Rivers produced "Up, Up and Away". It was written by Jimmy Webb and recorded by The Fifth Dimension. Although it was voted Record of the Year it only reached number seven on the Hot 100. The song also took a Grammy for Best Pop Performance for a Group and Song Of The Year for Jimmy Webb. In the UK the cover version by Johnny Mann Singers became a Top Ten.

"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" is another Jimmy Webb composition that won a Grammy for Glen Campbell in the Best Male Vocal category the same year. "Daydream Believer" was written by Kingston Trio member John Stewart. "Green Green Grass of Home" was written by Claude "Curly" Putman Jr. The Grammy for Album of the Year went to "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band".

Answer: "Hotel California" by The Eagles

"Hotel California" was released in February 1977, and topped the Billboard Hot 100 for just one week in May 1977. Writing credits for the song are shared by Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Don Felder. Bill Szymczyk shared the Grammy as producer. Although "Hotel California" comes from the Eagles' album of the same name, The Album of the Year at the 1978 Grammys went to Fleetwood Mac for "Rumours".

The Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Group was awarded to the Bee Gees for "How Deep Is Your Love". Although "Dancing Queen" is the biggest selling hit single by ABBA it didn't get a Grammy.

Answer: "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler

Bette Midler graduated from High School in Honolulu. She went on to major in drama at the University of Hawaii and had her first film appearance in "Hawaii" playing a seasick passenger. Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley also won Song of the year for composing "Wind Beneath My Wings". The record was produced by Arif Mardin. The number one single by Bette Midler is from the soundtrack of her film "Beaches". The song had been recorded by several artists before Bette Midler had success with it. Sheena Easton and Roger Whittaker both released versions of the song in 1982. The song entered the US charts the next year in versions by Gary Morris, Gladys Knight & the Pips and Lou Rawls.

"Forever Your Girl", "I Don't Wanna Lose You Now" and "Like a Prayer" also hit number one the previous year. Album of the Year went to Don Was for producer and Bonnie Raitt as artist for "Nick of Time". Raitt also won Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, for "Nick of Time" and Michael Bolton took home a Grammy for Best Vocal Performance, Male, for "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You?".

Answer: "This Masquerade" by George Benson

"This Masquerade" was composed by Leon Russell but Song of the Year went to Bruce Johnston as songwriter for "I Write the Songs", performed by Barry Manilow. Benson's version was his first single to reach the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number ten. The song was the only vocal recording on his "Breezin'" album. The Carpenters did a version on their 1973 "Now & Then album".

Shirley Bassey also recorded "This Masquerade" on her 1982 album "All By Myself". Other artists to perform it include Sergio Mendes & Brasil '77, No Mercy, Robert Goulet, Helen Reddy and Kenny Rogers. Billy Davis Jr. & Marilyn McCoo took Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus for "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)".

Best Arrangement for Voices and Best New Artist went to Starland Vocal Band for "Afternoon Delight". Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist went to James William Guercio & Jimmie Haskell for "If You Leave Me Now" by Chicago.

Answer: "The Girl from Ipanema" by Astrud Gilberto & Stan Getz

"The Girl from Ipanema" was written in 1962 by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes with English lyrics by Norman Gimbel. The song was originally composed for a musical comedy titled "Dirigível" and the song's original title was "Menina que Passa" (The Girl Who Passes By). A Brazilian musical film, "Garota de Ipanema", was released in 1967.

Joăo Gilberto & Stan Getz also got Album of the Year for "Getz/Gilberto". Song of the Year went to Jerry Herman for composing "Hello, Dolly!" as performed by Louis Armstrong. Louis also took home Best Performance, Male. Best Instrumental Performance went to Henry Mancini for "The Pink Panther Theme" and Best Vocal Performance, Female, was taken by Barbra Streisand for "People".

Answer: "Roseanna" by Toto

In addition to Record of the Year Jerry Hey and David Paich of Toto took Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals for the vocal arrangement of "Roseanna". Jeff Porcaro nabbed Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices and David Paich won Best Arranger for for "Rosanna". "Toto IV" received a Grammy for Album of the Year.

Alabama took Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "Mountain Music". Earth, Wind & Fire's "Wanna Be With You" won Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal went to Survivor for "Eye of the Tiger". Song of the Year went to Johnny Christopher, Mark James & Wayne Carson as songwriters for "Always on My Mind" performed by Willie Nelson.

Answer: "It's Too Late" by Carole King

Record of the Year went to Lou Adler as producer and Carole King for "It's Too Late". King also took Song of the Year for "You've Got A Friend", Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, and Album of the Year for "Tapestry". Carly Simon was awarded the Grammy for Best New Artist. Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, went to James Taylor for King's "You've Got a Friend".

Best Country Vocal Performance, Female, went to Sammi Smith for "Help Me Make It Through the Night". "Brand New Key" was Melanie Safka's biggest hit, reaching number one in 1971. It did not take a Grammy.

Answer: "All I Wanna Do" by Sheryl Crow

Sheryl Crow also received Best New Artist Grammy and she garnered many Grammys after that. "All I Wanna Do" was written by David Baerwald, Bill Bottrell, Wyn Cooper, Sheryl Crow and Kevin Gilbert. It was a release from her 1993 debut album "Tuesday Night Music Club". Best Female Country Vocal Performance went to Mary Chapin Carpenter for "Shut Up and Kiss Me". Elton John received Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight". Best Female Rock Vocal Performance was awarded to Melissa Etheridge for "Come to My Window". Song of the Year went to Bruce Springsteen for "Streets of Philadelphia".

Answer: "Love Will Keep Us Together" by Captain and Tennille

"Love Will Keep Us Together" was written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield. Neil also saw number one success in 1975 with "Bad Blood". Sedaka and Wilson Pickett recorded "Love Will Keep Us Together" earlier in the 1970s. It was Captain and Tennille's debut single and remained at the number one spot for four weeks.

Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group was taken by Rita Coolidge & Kris Kristofferson for "Lover Please". Best R&B Instrumental Performance went to Silver Convention for "Fly, Robin, Fly". "Please Mr. Postman" by the Carpenters made it to number one but didn't take home a Grammy. Song of the Year was given to Stephen Sondheim as composer for "Send In the Clowns", recorded by Judy Collins. Paul Simon took Album of the Year honors for "Still Crazy After All These Years".