One-Word US Top Forty Hits from 1969 Quiz

Answer: Paul Revere and the Raiders

While Mark Lindsay was releasing solo singles his vocals could also be heard on Paul Revere and the Raiders' Top Twenty hit "Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon" in 1969. Keyboard player Paul Revere Dick was in the restaurant business and got to know Mark Lindsay when Mark worked at a bakery. In 1958 the pair formed a band they called The Downbeats. In 1960 the name was changed to Paul Revere and the Raiders. The following year they released their first US Top Forty single, "Like, Long Hair". The group went on to have several hits until Mark left in 1975 to be the A and R man for United Artists Records. Revere continued to perform with different vocalists.

Rob Grill sang for The Grassroots. John "Jay" Traynor was the vocalist for Jay and the Americans when they formed. David Black replaced him after changing his name to Jay Black. Brooklyn Bridge featured Johnny Maestro on vocals.

Answer: Atlantis

When "Atlantis" was released in the US "To Susan On The West Coast Waiting" was the flip-side. "Atlantis" began with a narration by Donovan. The song had been released a year earlier in the UK with "I Love My Shirt" as the flip-side. Despite a running time over four minutes "Atlantis" was a Top Ten hit in the US. It peaked at Number 23 in the UK. "Atlantis" was Donovan's last Top Ten single of the Sixties.

"Tangier" was a cut on Donovan's 1968 "The Hurdy Gurdy Man" album. "Atlantis" was from Donovan's 1969 album "Barabajagal". "Madrigalinda" was from Donovan's 1980 "Neutronica" LP.

Answer: The Aces

Desmond Dekker was a Jamaican native who was an early pioneer of Reggae and Ska music on the American charts. In 1966 he teamed up with producer Leslie Kong from Island Records who had been working with other Jamaican artists including Bob Marley, Toots and the Maytals and Jimmy Cliff.
Dekker recorded four albums between 1966 and 1970. "The Israelites" was his biggest US hit single. The original Aces were four brothers with the surname Howard.

In 1969 "Black Pearl" by Sonny Charles and The Checkmates, Ltd. went to Number 13. Harlow Wilcox and The Oakies had a Number 30 Instrumental with "Groovy Grubworm" and "I've Been Hurt" was a 1969 Top Forty from Bill Deal and The Rhondels.

Answer: The Rascals

The year 1969 was the final year The Rascals scored US Top Forty singles. "Heaven" went to Number 39, "See" rose to Number 27 and "Carry Me Back" was a Number 26 hit from the band. In 1965 "I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore" made the US charts at Number 52 and later the same year "Good Lovin'" was a chart-topper for The Young Rascals before they shortened their name. The following year "Groovin'" made Number One and their final chart-topper was "People Got To Be Free" in 1968.
Members Eddie Brigati and Felix Cavaliere were the main songwriting team for the group. They had an impressive string of hits between 1966 and 1970. The Rascals were inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

"Ball of Fire" by Tommy James and The Shondells went to Number 19. "But You Know I Love You" was a 1969 Number 19 by Kenny Rogers and The First Edition. "Choice of Colors" by The Impressions was a Number 21 single.

Answer: Underground Sunshine

Underground Sunshine hailed from Montello, Wisconsin. They released an album titled "Let There Be Light" and appeared on "American Bandstand". David Gates wrote their follow-up single "Don't Shut Me Out" that barely missed the Billboard Hot 100. When "Jesus Is Just Alright" and "Nine to Five (Ain't My Bag)" failed to chart Underground Sunshine retired to the One-Hit Wonder club.

"Color Him Father" was a 1969 Top Ten from The Winstons. Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band scored a Number 11 single with "Do Your Thing". "Hot Smoke and Sassafrass" was a 1969 Top Twenty by the Texas based psychedelic band The Bubble Puppy.

Answer: "Dizzy"-Tommy Roe

Tommy Roe's impressive debut single "Sheila" reached Number One in 1962. Roe continued to release Top Ten hits such as the Number Six "Hooray for Hazel" and "Sweet Pea" in 1966. It wasn't until 1969 when "Dizzy" made it to the top of the charts did Tommy score his second Number One US single.
The Atlanta native was surprised when "Sheila" rose to the top of the charts and declined to tour in support of the hit. He relented and left his job at General Electric when his label offered him a $5,000 advance.

"Something" by The Beatles peaked at Number Three. "Memories" only made it to Number 35 when it was released by Elvis in 1969. "Galveston" reached Number Four for Glen Campbell in 1969.

Answer: Tracy

All the rich harmonies on "Tracy" were tracked by singer Ron Dante. Ron had been the vocalist for The Archies. As their hit single "Sugar, Sugar" was descending the Billboard chart "Tracy" began climbing it. When Tracy became a Top Ten single an album of the same name was quickly recorded followed by "The Cuff Links" album the following year.
"When Julie Comes Around" was a follow up single release to "Tracy" but peaked at Number 41 resulting in "Tracy" becoming the only Top Forty hit for the band. Dante was unable to tour in support of the hit because he decided to sign with Don Kirshner to do a solo album.

"Traces" was a Number Two single by The Classics IV featuring Dennis Yost. In 1969 Vik Venus took "Moonflight" to the Number 38 spot and Ohio Express had a Number 30 single with "Mercy".

Answer: Wales

Mary Hopkin was born in Pontardawe, Wales. She began musical training at a young age and became interested in Folk music. She started her professional career as part of a group called Selby Set and Mary. After Mary won a talent contest she came to the attention of Paul McCartney and became one of the first artists signed to Apple Records. Paul McCartney produced "Those Were the Days" and the song topped the UK charts, stalling at Number Two in the US. Paul McCartney composed her follow up hit, "Goodbye" and the song was credited to Lennon/McCartney. "Goodbye" made it to Number Two in the UK and ironically would have topped the charts if not for "Get Back". "Goodbye" made it to Number 13 in the US.

Answer: Commotion

"Commotion" was a single release from the band's "Green River" album. "Green River" and "Bad Moon Rising" were Top Ten singles from the band in 1969. "Lodi" was the flip-side of "Bad Moon Rising" and although "Lodi" received significant airplay in 1969 it peaked at Number 52. John Fogerty composed "Commotion" along with eight of the nine cuts from "Green River". The album topped the US album charts.

"She" was released by Tommy James and the Shondells. "Stand" was a 1969 Number 22 release from Sly and the Family Stone. "Undun" was a single from The Guess Who's "Canned Wheat" album that reached Number 22 on the US charts.

Answer: "Jean"-Oliver

"Jean" was the theme from "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1969) that featured British actress Maggie Smith. American singer/songwriter Rod McKuen composed "Jean". McKuen's single failed to chart in the US. North Carolina native Oliver released "Jean" as a follow up to his 1969 hit, "Good Morning Starshine" from "Hair". After releasing a cover of Spanky and Our Gang's "Sunday Morning" Oliver failed to reach the US Top Forty again. His final album was "Prisms" in 1971. Oliver passed in 2001.

"Monster" was a Number 39 single by Steppenwolf released from their album of the same name. The Sir Douglas Quintet had a Number 27 single with "Mendocino". "Gitarzan" was a novelty song by Ray Stevens that went to Number Eight.