Beatles Cover Songs Trivia Quiz

Answer: Larry Williams

Larry Williams is from New Orleans. When Little Richard left Specialty records Williams was poised to succeed him. He had the same piano-based hard driving rock sound. His music career was cut short in the late fifties when he was arrested for dealing drugs. Several of his songs achieved later success when recorded by The Beatles. "Bad Boy", Slow Down" and "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" were done on various Beatles albums.

The Rolling Stones recorded a version of Williams' "She Said Yeah" and John Lennon did a solo version of "Bony Moronie". Larry's "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" was done by Elvis Presley and Paul McCartney. Johnny Burnette sang "Lonesome Tears in My Eyes", a song performed by the Beatles on the "Live at the BBC" compilation album. Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller and Richard Barrett wrote "Some Other Guy".

The song was originally sung by Richie Barrett and also covered by the Beatles live on their "Live at the BBC" album. Bobby Vee recorded the original version of "Take Good Care of My Baby", also done live by the Beatles at the BBC.

Answer: The Miracles

"You Really Got a Hold On Me" was written by Smokey Robinson and features Robinson on vocals with the Miracles. "You Really Got a Hold on Me" is the first track on "Meet the Beatles" and has John Lennon on vocals with George Harrison singing close harmony.

The Marvelettes recorded "Please Mr. Postman", which was also recorded by the Beatles. "Please Mr. Postman" was the first single by The Marvelettes and the first Motown song to reach the number one. The Teddy Bears did "To Know Him is to Love Him", which was done live by the Beatles as "To Know Her is to Love Her".

The Teddy Bears featured a young Phil Spector on vocals. Barrett Strong recorded the first version of "Money (That's What I Want)" The tune was co-written by Berry Gordy, founder of Motown, and also done by the Beatles on "Meet the Beatles" in 1963.

Answer: Anna (Go To Him)

Arthur Alexander was born in Alabama. He recorded his first single, "Sally Sue Brown", in 1960 on Judd Phillips' Judd Records. Judd Phillips is the brother of music pioneer Sam Phillips. Arthur Alexander went on to be a major force in a genre known as Country Soul. "You Better Move On" is one of Alexander's best-known songs.

It was later covered by The Rolling Stones. "Anna (Go to Him)" was a Top Ten Hit for Alexander in 1962. The Beatles recorded their version the following year. It has also been recorded by Humble Pie. Arthur wrote "Soldier of Love" which was occasionally sung live in concerts by the Beatles. "Oooh My Soul" is a Little Richard song done live by The Beatles on the "Live at The BBC" album along with Ray Charles' "I Got A Woman" and the Crickets' "Don't Ever Change". "Don't Ever Change" was written by Jerry Goffin and Carole King.

Answer: The Donays

George Harrison was featured on vocals. "Devil in Her Heart" was written by Richard P. Drapkin. He recorded under the name Ricky Dee. The song was originally titled "Devil in His Heart" when it was first recorded by the Detroit R&B girl group The Donays.

They released the original recording of the song in 1962 with "Bad Boy" on the flip side. The lead singer of the Donays was Yvonne Allen, who later joined The Elgins at Motown. The Top Notes are actually the first artists to record "Twist and Shout", a song later sung by John Lennon with the Beatles.

The Coasters originally sang "Youngblood". The Beatles did a live version on the "Live at the BBC album" along with "So How Come (No One Loves Me)" by The Everly Brothers.

Answer: The Cookies

The Cookies formed in 1954 in Brooklyn, New York. "Don't Say Nothing Bad About My baby" was the Cookies' biggest hit. They had their first Top Ten hit in 1956 with "In Paradise". Carole King and Jerry Goffin wrote their 1962 hit, "Chains". They sang back-up vocals for artists including LaVern Baker, Ruth Brown, Joe Turner, Chuck Willis and Ray Charles.

Some of the members went on to work full time backing Ray Charles as The Raelettes. The Shangri-Las had success with songs such as "Leader of the Pack".

The Dixie Cups' first release, "Chapel of Love", was their biggest hit. The Toys were a New York area girl group whose biggest hit was "A Lover's Concerto," an adaptation of a classical minuet by Bach.

Answer: Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry was among the first group of musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when it opened in 1986. He enjoyed a resurgence of popularity when many of his songs were recorded by the Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Other Chuck Berry songs the Beatles recorded include "Roll Over Beethoven," "Memphis, Tennessee", "Oh Carol" and "Rock and Roll Music".

His composition of this tune is disputed; apparantly it was written by Doctor Clayton in 1941. Robert William Scott wrote "A Taste of Honey" which was included on The Beatles' "Introducing The Beatles" album. Lieber and Stoller wrote many rock songs of the fifties and sixties. "Crying, Waiting, Hoping" was written and recorded by Buddy Holly in 1959 and is included on the "Live at the BBC" collection.

Answer: Buck Owens

"Act Naturally" was written by Johnny Russell and Voni Morrison and originally recorded by Buck Owens. Owens' version reached number one on the Billboard Country Singles chart in 1963 and was his first chart-topper. Owens recorded "Act Naturally" at the Capitol Records studios on February 12, 1963.

The Beatles recorded the song on June 17, 1965, in 13 takes with vocals by by Ringo Starr. They performed the song during their "Ed Sullivan Show" appearance which broadcast on September 12, 1965. In 1989 Buck Owens and Ringo Starr teamed up for a version that peaked at number 27 on the Country charts. George Jones and his wife Nancy operate a diner in Enterprise, Alabama, filled with memorabilia from Jones' long country music career. Conway Twitty was born Harold Lloyd Jenkins in Friars Point, Mississippi and was inspired by Elvis Presley to become a singer. Porter Wagoner is known for his solo country career, his long running country music TV show and for doing several duets with Dolly Parton.

Answer: The Shirelles

In 1960 "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" by The Shirelles was the first number one single by a girl group on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1962 the Shirelles' song "Baby It's You" only reached number 59 on the charts. It was written by Burt Bacharach, Barney Williams and Mack David.

It is the only Burt Bacharach song the Beatles covered. They recorded it on February 11, 1963. The Shirelles also originally sang "Boys", a song the Beatles recorded featuring an early Ringo vocal. The Blossoms were one of the most successful unknown groups of the sixties.

They sang backup for artists from Paul Anka to Elvis Presley with a versatility that allowed them to be a go from being a choral group to a surf sound or doo wop group. In the summer of 1963 "My Boyfriends Back" was number one for The Angels. "He's So Fine" was a number one record for The Chiffons in 1962 followed by "One Fine Day" the following year.

Answer: The Music Man

"Till There Was You" featured an excellent guitar solo by George Harrison. The song was written by Meredith Willson for the 1957 play "The Music Man" which was made into a movie in 1962. The song is sung in the movie by television's Mrs Partridge, Shirley Jones.

The Beatles' version was included on their albums "With the Beatles" and "Meet the Beatles". "Till There Was You" is the only Broadway tune the Beatles ever recorded and was intended to demonstrate that the group could appeal to a variety of listeners.

It was also one of the songs they performed when they unsuccessfully auditioned for Decca records.

Answer: Money (That's What I Want)

"Money (That's What I Want)" is a 1959 Motown single by Barrett Strong. The song was written by Motown founder Berry Gordy along with Janie Bradford. Janie Bradford was a receptionist at Motown. In June of 1960 the song became the first hit for Gordy's label.

The song has been recorded by a host of artists. The Kingsmen had a Top Twenty hit with the song in 1964 and it was on the "Animal House" soundtrack being sung by John Belushi. In addition to the Beatles recording, John Lennon did a version as a solo artist. "Honey Don't" was written by Carl Perkins and released in 1956 as the B-side of "Blue Suede Shoes".

The Beatles sang a version of "Blue Suede Shoes" on the "Live at the BBC" compilation. Carl Perkins wrote "Sure to Fall (In Love With You)" with William E. Cantrell, Quinton Claunch and released it as a single in 1956.

It is also on the "Live at the BBC" album.