Gene Pitney, a Musical Legend. Quiz

Answer: Connecticut

Gene Francis Alan Pitney was born on February 17, 1940, in Hartford, Connecticut. He was raised in the town of Rockville. He formed a band in Rockville High School called Gene & the Genials. He was soon given the nickname "The Rockville Rocket". Gene became friends with Ginny Arnell and they made two records calling themselves Jamie and Jane. Ginny went on to have a solo hit of her own titled "Dumbhead". Gene released a single in 1959 under the name of Billy Bryan. Gene was skilled at several instruments including piano, guitar and drums, along with being an accomplished songwriter.

As he began to record he soon became a knowledgeable sound engineer. Gene also attended the Northwestern School of Taxidermy. He enjoyed trapping and fishing as a youth and became a certified taxidermist. Gene's motto in his HS yearbook was "Life without music is not life".

Answer: (I Wanna) Love My Life Away

Gene played several instruments and multi-tracked the vocals on "(I Wanna) Love My Life Away". He only needed to use a bass player. Gene was already having success writing songs for other artists and recorded the song as a demo for his publisher, Aaron Schroeder, to shop to other artists.

When Schroeder heard the song he urged Gene to release it himself. The final release was done on a four-track recorder with Gene mixing the project. "If I Didn't Have a Dime (To Play the Jukebox)" peaked at number 58 in 1962. "True Love Never Runs Smooth" made it to number 21 and "Only Love Can Break a Heart" reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: Every Breath I Take

"Every Breath I Take" was written by Goffin and King and is a cut from Gene's LP "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart". It was produced by Phil Spector using his famous wall of sound technique. The recording session lasted for several hours. Near the end of the session the guitar players' fingers were bleeding and Gene's voice was virtually gone. Gene finally lost his voice toward the end of the song forcing him to end using a high-pitched falsetto. That was the take Phil used.

The session cost $13,000 and produced a hit less successful on the charts than Gene's thirty-dollar "I Wanna Love My Life Away". "Half Heaven - Half Heartache" reached number 13 on the Billboard charts, "True Love Never Runs Smooth" made it to 21 and "Mecca" hit number 12 in 1963. "Mecca" is considered a precursor to psychedelic music because of the use of Indian musical styles.

Answer: He's a Rebel

"He's a Rebel" came out in August, 1962. It reached number one the week of November 3, 1962. Ironically it kept Gene's single "Only Love Can Break a Heart" at the number two spot. "He's A Rebel" was turned down by the Shirelles because Sceptor Records' head Florence Greenberg believed the song was not appropriate for airplay. Vikki Carr and Elkie Brooks also recorded versions of the song.

When Spector heard that Vikki Carr had already recorded a version of the song he rushed production using some of his studio singers rather than the actual Crystals to get the song out promptly. Breaking from tradition, Phil did not use any strings on the recording. Darlene Love handled the lead vocals on the song backed by the Blossoms. Ironically, Darlene was Gene Pitney's presenter when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 18, 2002.

Answer: That Girl Belongs to Yesterday

Gene's recording of "That Girl Belongs to Yesterday" hit number 64 on the US Billboard charts in 1964 but made it to number seven in the UK. Through his affiliation with Phil Spector Pitney was involved in some of the Rolling Stones' early recording sessions on their first album release and on the "12X5" album, including "Little by Little". Phil Spector is credited with playing the maracas. Gene played piano. "Nobody Needs Your Love" peaked at number two in the UK. "It Hurts to be in Love" was written by Gene with Neil Sedaka in mind.

When Sedaka decided not to record it Gene used the same backing tracks and added his own vocals. "I'm Gonna Be Strong" was released in 1964 and reached number nine in the US and two in the UK.

Answer: George Jones

In 1965 Gene recorded two successful albums with country legend George Jones. They were voted the most promising Country and Western Duo the same year. He enjoyed country success hits with "I've Got Five Dollars and It's Saturday Night" and "Louisiana Man" with George Jones.

Their duet "Big Job" also reached number 50 on the country charts. "George Jones and Gene Pitney: For the First Time! Two Great Singers" was their first LP on the Musicor Records label. They followed up with "George Jones & Gene Pitney/It's Country Time Again". Pitney additionally recorded "Baby Ain't That Fine" with country singer Melba Montgomery.

She also did duets with George and later became a successful solo artist in her own right. Her best-known solo hit is "No Charge".

Answer: Hello Mary Lou

"Hello Mary Lou" hit number nine on the Billboard music charts on May 28, 1961. The other side of the single was the number one "Travelin' Man" written by songwriter Jerry Fuller. The short film made to promote the single on "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" has been claimed to be the first music video. "I'm Walking" was a cover of a Fats Domino song. "Rubber Ball" was written by Gene and was a hit for Bobby Vee. Roy Orbison enjoyed chart success with Gene's "Today's Teardrops". Gene recorded his version of "Hello Mary Lou" and "Today's Teardrops" on one of his early albums titled "The Many Sides Of Gene Pitney".

Answer: Town Without Pity

"Town Without Pity" reached number 34 on the Billboard charts. The song won the Golden Globe Award for Best Song in a Motion Picture and was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song. Pitney was the first pop singer to perform at an Oscars ceremony at the 34th Annual Academy Awards on April 9, 1962. "Town Without Pity" lost to "Moon River". Pitney also sang the theme song for "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance", which was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

Although it reached number four for Pitney it was never used in the movie because of publishing issues with the movie producers. "Liberty Valence" became the last new release that Gene sang at a local Rockville venue. Gene would not appear in Connecticut again until 1987, when he sang at the Oakdale Theater in Wallingford. "Come September" and "Lover Come Back" are both Rock Hudson movies. "Come September" co-starred Bobby Darin.

Answer: Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart

On January 28, 1989, "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart," topped the U.K. singles charts. It was penned by British writers Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway. A duet with Gene Pitney and Marc Almond, it was Pitney's first number one hit as a recording artist.

The song was originally done in 1967 by Gene and went to number five. Almond covered the song on his 1988 album "The Stars We Are". The duet version was a number one single in the UK for four weeks in January, 1989. Sales were helped by their appearance on the "Terry Wogan TV Show" while it was climbing the charts. Pitney's US record company declined to issue the record in America. "She Lets Her Hair Down (Early In The Morning)" was a 1970 release and "She's a Heartbreaker" was a 1969 number 16 for Gene. "(In The) Cold Light Of Day" was a 1965 number eight in the UK for Pitney but didn't chart in the US.

Answer: Decca

"Classical Rock And Roll" and "Snuggle Up Baby" were Gene's first two recordings and were done for Decca. In 1960 he recorded "Cradle Of My Arms" on the Blaze label and "Please Come Back" for Festival Records. "(I Wanna) Love My Life Away" was recorded for Musicor in January, 1961, and Gene remained with that label throughout his US recording career.

Although his second 45 for Musicor did not even chart, "Louisiana Mama" became a big hit in Japan. When he started working at Musicor he drove from Rockville to Hartford where he left his car and took the train to and from New York City.