Better Late Than Never Trivia Quiz

Answer: I Left My Heart In San Francisco

"I Left My Heart In San Francisco" was written by George Cory/Douglass Cross. It peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 for Tony Bennett in 1962. This version entered the UK singles chart on three separate occasions three years later in 1965 and peaked at number 25.

It was written in 1953 for operatic contralto Claramae Turner and was later offered to Tennessee Ernie Ford who turned it down. Tony Bennett recorded it as the B-Side to "Once Upon A Time", luckily DJs flipped the record and it earned a Gold Disc. The song won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Tony Bennett won the Grammy Award for Best Male Solo Vocal Performance.

Tony Bennett was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in 1926. He had 20 Top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1951 and 1968 which included three number one hits. He has recorded with such artists as k. d. lang, Billy Joel, Michael Buble, Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga.

Answer: (I'm A) Road Runner

"(I'm A) Road Runner" was written by Holland/Dozier/Holland. It peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 for Jr. Walker & The All Stars in 1966. It entered the UK singles chart three years later in 1969 and peaked at number 12.

Born Autry DeWalt Mixon, Jr. he was in a group named The Rhythm Rockers with Vic Thomas (keyboards), Tony Washington (drums) and Willie Woods (guitar). They became Jr. Walker & The All Stars after signing for the Harvey record label in 1961. When that record label was acquired by Motown there were personnel changes in the group and other Motown musicians such as James Jamerson and Benny Benjamin played on some recording sessions. After many chart entries which included five Top 20 hits the group disbanded in 1979.

Answer: Memphis Tennessee

"Memphis Tennessee" was written by Chuck Berry. It was the B-side of "Back In The U. S. A." by Chuck Berry in 1959 and did not enter the Billboard Hot 100. It entered the UK singles chart just over four years later in 1963 as a double A-Side with "Let It Rock"; it peaked at number six.

Despite being universally acclaimed as one of Rock and Roll's most influential artists Chuck Berry only had one number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK singles chart, "My Ding-A-Ling". It was recorded live during the Lanchester Arts Festival at the Locarno ballroom in Coventry, England, on 3rd February 1972. It was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one for four weeks on the UK singles chart in 1972. At the Lanchester Arts Festival Chuck Berry, who topped the bill, was backed by The Roy Young Band and the bill included Billy Preston and Slade.

Answer: Pretty Thing

"Pretty Thing" written by Willie Dixon did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 but did reach number four on the Billboard R&B chart for Bo Diddley in 1956. It entered the UK singles chart seven years later in 1963 and peaked at number 34.

What's in a name? He was born Ellas Otha Bates, aka, Ellas McDaniel, aka, The Originator, this singer/songwriter/guitarist went by the stage name of Bo Diddley. He only had one Top 20 hit, "Say Man" 1959 on the Billboard Hot 100 and two Top 40 hits "Pretty Thing" 1963 and "Hey Good Lookin'" 1965 on the UK singles chart. He had eight Top 20 hits on the Billboard R&B chart including the number one hit "Bo Diddley" in 1955. His many awards include being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 1987. He received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in 1998.

Answer: Al Martino

"Spanish Eyes" written by Charles Singleton/Eddie Snyder was a number 15 hit for Al Martino on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. It entered the UK singles chart nearly five years later in 1970 and peaked at number 49. Nearly three years after that in 1973 it re-entered the UK singles chart and peaked at number five.

"Spanish Eyes" began life as the instrumental "Moon Over Naples" written and performed by German bandleader Bert Kaempfert. In 1966 a vocal version was written by Charles Singleton, sung by Italian singer Sergio Franchi; it didn't chart. In 1965 new lyrics were written by Eddie Snyder and the title was changed to "Spanish Eyes".

Al Martino, born Jasper Cini, in 1927, hit the big time with "Here In My Heart" in 1952. It was number one for three weeks on the US pop chart. It became the first UK number one on the first UK singles chart in 1952 and remained at the top for nine weeks. He played the singer Johnny Fontane (a character loosely based on Frank Sinatra) in "The Godfather" (1972) and "The Godfather Part III" (1990).

Answer: Monster Mash

"Monster Mash" was written by Bobby Pickett/Leonard L. Capizzi. It was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Bobby "Boris" Pickett and The Crypt-Kickers in 1962. It charted again on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number 91 in 1970 and at number ten in 1973. It finally entered the UK singles chart in 1973 where it peaked at number three, 11 years after entering the Billboard Hot 100.

Bobby "Boris" Pickett was born Robert George Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers were Terry Berg, Johnny McCrae (Ronny & The Daytonas), Rickie Page (The Bermudas), Gary Paxton (The Hollywood Argyles), Leon Russell and Mel Taylor (The Ventures). Gary Paxton, who had been one half of Skip & Flip, also owned Garpax records which released "Monster Mash".

Answer: Elvis Presley

"Suspicion" was an album track on Elvis Presley's 1962 "Pot Luck" album; it was also the B-Side of "Kiss Me Quick" which peaked at number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. "Suspicion" eventually peaked at number nine on the UK singles chart in 1976.

"Suspicion" was written by Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman. In an interview with British journalist Mick Brown, record producer Phil Spector claimed that he had written and/or produced Terry Stafford's recording of "Suspicion". This version peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. It reached number 31 on the UK singles chart the same year.

Reggae star Delroy Wilson released "Suspicion" as a single in 1983 and included it on his 1984 album "Reggae Classics". Country music singer Ronnie McDowell reached number 27 on the Billboard Country chart with the song and included it on his album "I'm Still Missing You" in 1988.

Answer: Lonnie Mack

"Memphis" was an instrumental by Lonnie Mack and it peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. It was re-released in 1979 and nearly 16 years after its original release it peaked at number 47 on the UK singles chart as a double A-Side with "Let's Dance" by Chris Montez.

Lonnie Mack born Lonnie McIntosh in 1941 only had four Hot 100 hits (all instrumentals) between 1963 and 1965 of which "Memphis" was the biggest. He is still widely regarded as a pivotal figure in the use of the electric guitar in Rock and Roll.

The version released by Johnny Rivers as "Memphis" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964.

The version by Elvis Presley was to be released as a single but Johnny Rivers got there first. It was a track on the 1965 Elvis Presley album "Elvis For Everyone"

The version released by Del Shannon as "Memphis" was not released as a single. It was a track on the 1964 Del Shannon album "Handy Man".

Answer: Green Onions

"Green Onions" was written by Booker T. Jones/Steve Cropper/Al Jackson/Lewie Steinberg. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 for Booker T. and the MG'S in 1962. Just over 17 years later in 1979 it entered the UK singles chart and peaked at number seven.

Booker T. and the MG'S were Booker T. Jones (keyboards), Steve Cropper (guitar), Al Jackson Jr. (drums), Lewie Steinberg (bass, replaced by Donald "Duck" Dunn in 1965). Other musicians that played on their recordings were Joe Arnold, Isaac Hayes, Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love. They were formed as the house band of Stax Records, backing such singers as Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett.

Booker T. and the MG'S were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum 2008.

Answer: Blue Velvet

"Blue Velvet" was written by Bernie Wayne/Lee Morris. It was number one for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Bobby Vinton in 1963. Just over 27 years later in 1990 it peaked at number two on the UK singles chart.

Bobby Vinton, born Stanley Robert Vinton in 1935, had nine Top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 which included four number one hits. "Roses Are Red (My Love)", number one for four weeks in 1962. "Blue Velvet", number one for three weeks in 1963. "There! I've Said It Again", number one for four weeks in 1964. "Mr. Lonely", number one for one week in 1964.

Bobby Vinton's third US number one hit "There! I've Said It Again" has a unique claim to fame that cannot be matched. It was the first number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 to be replaced by The Beatles. They did it with "I Want To Hold Your Hand" on the 1st February 1964.