1970s More Songs and Acts Trivia Quiz

Answer: Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper started as a band in 1964 in Phoenix, Arizona. They broke up in 1974, and the lead singer, (originally Vincent Furnier, who went by the stage name Alice Cooper), went on to have a lengthy solo career. After having great critical acclaim for their hard rock albums "Love it to Death" and "Killer", "School's Out" from the band's 1972 album of the same name, was their breakout single. "Elected" was from the 1973 album, "Billion Dollar Babies", and the title track was released as a single too.

The picture is an illustration by John Tenniel for an edition of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland".

Answer: David Cassidy

David Cassidy became well known as the dreamy Keith Partridge, alongside Shirley Jones, in the TV sitcom with music, "The Partridge Family". They had hit singles under that name, such as "I Think I Love You"(1970) and "Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted"(1970). Cassidy had a solo career appealing to so-called teeny boppers, as a "cooler" rival to Donny Osmond. With singles such as "Cherish"(1971), "How Can I Be Sure"(1972) and "Daydreamer"(1973), Cassidy's solo career was far bigger than his time with "The Partridge Family".

The picture is by Caravaggio - "David With the Head of Goliath", which is in Vienna's Kunsthistorisches Museum.

Answer: Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin was one of the greatest singers of her time, in a singing career that lasted over 60 years. Her father was a charismatic Baptist minister and singer, and her sisters Erma and Carolyn also became singers. She started performing before becoming a teenager.

"Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" was a 1973 single from the album "Let Me In Your Life". It was co-written, and originally performed, by Stevie Wonder. The 1970 single, "Don't Play That Song (You Lied)", from the album "Spirit in the Dark", was originally recorded by Ben E. King. Just as with "Respect", a song by Otis Redding, Franklin's cover versions outshone the originals and made the songs her own.

The picture is a wonderful portrait of US founding father Benjamin Franklin, by Joseph Duplessis.

Answer: Wizzard

After being in The Move, and Electric Light Orchestra, Roy Wood formed Wizzard in 1972. Immediately recognisable, with his wild hair and makeup, Wood was the driving force behind the group, adopting a "Phil Spector Wall of Sound" approach to their recordings.

The 1973 single "See My Baby Jive" went to number one in the UK, and "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" was a big hit the same year. Despite their chart successes, it transpired that the number of musicians in the band, along with the high production costs of their recordings, meant that the band was not a viable financial proposition, and they disbanded in 1975.

The picture is a still from the 1925 movie version of "The Wizard of Oz", starring Dorothy Dawn as Dorothy, Larry Semon as the Scarecrow, and the legendary Oliver Hardy as the Tin Man.

Answer: Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire formed in Chicago in 1969. The band has had more than 40 members, including founder and leader, Maurice White, and his co-lead singer Philip Bailey. Highly influential, they blended genres such as disco, Latin, R&B, soul and jazz.

"Shining Star" was from the 1975 album "That's the Way of the World", and "September" was a previously unreleased single, that was included, pre-emptively, on the 1978 album, "The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1".

The picture is an image of earthrise over the moon taken by NASA's Apollo 8 mission.

Answer: Al Green

A highly successful soul singer, Al Green turned to the church, becoming a minister, after personal tragedy in the 1970s. He recorded as a gospel artist, before returning to non-religious music in the late 1980s. Green won multiple awards, including being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

"L-O-V-E (Love)" was a 1975 single from the album "Al Green Is Love". "Tired of Being Alone", released in 1971, was from "Al Green Gets Next to You". You get a feel for the changes in his life from subsequent album titles, such as "Trust In God", and "He Is the Light".

The picture shows a sea map of Greenland.

Answer: Donna Summer

Donna Summer was born in Boston in 1948. She had sung in bands, but achieved success after moving to Germany, where she met Giorgio Moroder, and his collaborator, Pete Bellotte. The three, together, revolutionised disco music in the 1970s and 1980s. 1975's "Love to Love You Baby" was a worldwide sensation, released in an extended version. "I Feel Love", in 1977, was also a massive success for the partnership, and "MacArthur Park", a cover of the song originally recorded by Richard Harris, was similarly successful in 1978.

Hope you like the summery picture.

Answer: Blondie

Blondie formed in 1974 in New York City. The members were Debbie Harry (vocals), Chris Stein (guitar), Gary Lachman (bass), and Clem Burke (drums). They started in the NYC new wave scene, with singles such as "X Offender"(1976), and "Rip Her to Shreds"(1977). "(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear", from the 1978 album "Plastic Letters", was a hit, but they became massively successful on release of the album "Parallel Lines" in 1978. It had six hit singles, including "Heart of Glass", "Hanging on the Telephone", and "Sunday Girl".

The picture shows a "blonde" hedgehog in Cambridgeshire, England.

Answer: Electric Light Orchestra

Electric Light Orchestra was formed in Birmingham, England, in 1971, by ex-Move members, Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood, and Bev Bevan. After Wood left in 1972, Lynne became the group leader, responsible for writing, arranging, singing and production. Their early singles had an element of classical music, such as "Roll Over Beethoven" and "10538 Overture". "Mr. Blue Sky" was a 1978 single from the album "Out of the Blue". From the 1979 album "Discovery", "Don't Bring Me Down", has a "mondegreen" misheard lyric: "Don't Bring Me Down, Groos!". It uses a made up word, which Lynne retained because it was similar to the German Gruss (greeting), but people mishear it as "Bruce".

The picture is a 1922 photograph of American violinist and band leader Edwin J. McEnelly's 13 piece orchestra.

Answer: George Harrison

Born in 1943, George Harrison was the "Quiet Beatle". He was the youngest, and probably the one who felt most thwarted artistically through being in the mega group alongside two creative powerhouses. After the band split up, he had immediate success with "My Sweet Lord" in 1970. "Bangla Desh"(sic) was a 1971 single that Harrison released to raise awareness of the people of that area, following a devastating cyclone and bitter civil war against Pakistan. "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" was from his fourth solo album, "Living in the Material World", released in 1973.

The picture is a photograph of a stained glass window, showing St George slaying a dragon, which is found in St Laurence's Church in Ludlow, Shropshire.