Magical Songs. Trivia Quiz

Answer: Heart

The Wilson sisters actually grew up in Southern California and Taiwan before their Marine Corps father retired to Seattle. After attending college Ann and Nancy returned to Seattle. Nancy worked as a folksinger and Ann joined a local group in 1970. The group was formed in 1963 by Steve Fossen along with Roger and Mike Fisher and was known as The Army.

They changed their name to White Heart and shortened it to Heart in 1974. They recorded the "Dreamboat Annie" album which had two songs released as singles, "Crazy on You" and "Magic Man". "Magic Man" reached number nine in 1976. "Dreamboat Annie" sold over a million copies. The Pixies formed in Boston in 1985. Following a 1990 tour the Wilson sisters put together an informal acoustic group called The Lovemongers.

Answer: The Drifters

"This Magic Moment" was written by lyricist Doc Pomus and pianist Mort Shuman. It was first recorded by The Drifters and reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. Ben E. King was the lead vocalist for the Drifters when the song was recorded.

The Drifters were originally formed by Clyde McPhatter of Billy Ward & the Dominoes in 1953. They underwent several personnel changes before Ben E. King joined them for "This Magic Moment". Ben E. King left to enjoy a solo career. The Coasters had a string of hits in the late 1950s beginning with "Searchin'" and "Young Blood".

The Platters formed in Los Angeles in 1953. Their hit "Only You (And You Alone)" was originally written for the Ink Spots. The Ink Spots formed in the thirties in Indianapolis and had their first hit with "If I Didn't Care".

Answer: The Marvelettes

The Marvelettes were the first big Motown girl group, hitting number one with "Please Mr. Postman" in 1961. They released their 1967 "Sophisticated Soul" album named for a new musical style. Singles released from the album include "You're the One" and "My Baby Must Be a Magician". "My Baby Must Be a Magician" made it to number 17 on the Pop charts.

It features an introduction by Melvin Franklin of The Temptations. Martha Reeves and the Vandellas got their group name when Martha Reeves combined the Detroit street name Van Dyke Avenue with the Della Reese's name.

The Shangri-Las first hit was "Remember (Walking In the Sand)". It features a young Billy Joel on the piano. Between 1961 and 1963 the Supremes released eight singles that did not make the Top 40 before "Where Did Our Love Go" was made it big in 1964. Ironically the Marvelettes had rejected the song.

Answer: Could This Be Magic

The Dubs were formed in 1956. They are best known for their songs "Could This Be Magic", "Don't Ask Me To Be Lonely" and "Chapel of Dreams". "Could This Be Magic" rose to number 23 in 1957 and over the years became a doo-wop classic. The success of the hit landed the group a spot on an Alan Freed package show and they toured extensively with other artists of the era. "Black Magic Woman" was written by Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac, and was released as a single in 1968.

It became a classic hit by Santana two years later, reaching number four on the U.S. charts. "It's Magic" was a hit for Pilot, a group formed by former Bay City Rollers musicians David Paton and Billy Lyall. "Could it Be Magic" was written by Adrienne Anderson and Barry Manilow.

It was included on Manilow's 1973 debut album, "Barry Manilow I" and released as a single two years later.

Answer: Bay City Rollers

In early 1976 the Bay City Rollers reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 with "Saturday Night". A second hit came with "Money Honey", which hit number nine. In 1977 "You Made Me Believe in Magic" managed to just crack the top ten in the United States for the band. Currently there are two touring versions using the group's name: Les McKeown's Legendary Bay City Rollers and Ian Mitchell's Bay City Rollers featuring Kyle Vincent on lead vocals. Rock band Nazareth was originally called The Shadettes.

They formed in Dunfermline in 1968 and released their debut album in 1971. Simple Minds began as a New Wave band. Their first album, "Life In A Day", was released in 1979.

Answer: Electric Light Orchestra

"Strange Magic" was written and performed by the Electric Light Orchestra. It is on the 1975 "Face the Music" LP. It was released as a single in 1976. The Birmingham, England, band released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001.

The band was originally founded by Roy Wood but the band's direction was set by Jeff Lynne who wrote all of the group's original compositions and produced every album after their debut album. "Strange Brew" is a Cream hit. Yes was formed in London 1968 by Jon Anderson and Chris Squire. Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale" reached number one on the British charts and was a hit in the US.

Their first live gig was opening for Jimi Hendrix in 1967.

Answer: Little Jackie Paper

"Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff, and brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff" is a line from the first verse. Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary wrote the song with Leonard Lipton and the group released the song 1963 after performing it during their shows for a while.

The lyrics for "Puff, the Magic Dragon" are from a 1959 poem by Leonard Lipton, who was a nineteen-year-old Cornell student at the time. Lipton was inspired by an Ogden Nash poem titled "Custard the Dragon". Lipton gave a copy of the poem to fellow Cornell student Peter Yarrow who developed the music and added lyrics to make the poem into a song. The Chipmunks did a version on their 1965 album "The Chipmunks Sing With Children". Dolly Parton and reggae artist Gregory Isaacs are among the many artists who have covered the song.

Answer: The Lovin' Spoonful

The Lovin' Spoonful had its roots in a folk group called The Mugwumps playing coffee houses and small clubs. Some members left to form The Lovin' Spoonful and Cass Elliot went on to join the Mamas and the Papas. While performing regularly at New York's Night Owl Cafe the Lovin' Spoonful were signed to the new Kama Sutra label in 1965.

Their first hit was "Do You Believe In Magic?". The song defined the Spoonful style and the songwriting of John Sebastian. The Association was the lead-off band at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, which was conceived by the Mamas and Papas.

They had a series of hits starting with "Along Comes Mary". Tommy James and the Shondells achieved national prominence when a radio station deejay starting putting their song, "Hanky Panky", in rotation.

The band declined an invitation to play at the Woodstock Festival on the advice of their agent, believing it would be a career killer.

Answer: Steppenwolf

"Magic Carpet Ride" was written by singer John Kay and bass player Rushton Moreve from the band Steppenwolf. The song was initially released on the album "Steppenwolf the Second". It was the first single from the album and peaked at number three. The name Steppenwolf was suggested to John Kay by Jim Morrison, being inspired by Herman Hesse's novel of the same name. Steppenwolf rocketed to fame after their third single, "Born to Be Wild", was used in the 1969 cult film "Easy Rider". Count Five is a sixties rock band from San Jose, California, best known for their hit single "Psychotic Reaction".

After performing around Chicago's suburbs in 1964 and 1965 the Shadows of Knight became the house band at The Cellar in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and had a national hit with Van Morrison's "Gloria". Members of the short-lived 1966 band Buffalo Springfield include Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina.

They are noted for the hit song "For What It's Worth".

Answer: Bobby Rydell

"That Old Black Magic" was written by Harold Arlen with the lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The song was published in 1942 and has become a frequently recorded standard. A Sammy Davis, Jr. version was released by Decca Records in 1955 and spent six weeks on the Billboard charts, peaking at number 16. Bobby Rydell's version was released as a single on Cameo Records in 1961.

It reached number 21 on the Hot 100. As a teenager Bobby played with Frankie Avalon in a band known as Rocco and the Saints. He went on to have 19 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart including "Wild One", "Volare", "Swingin' School," "Kissin' Time," and "Forget Him". "Cupid", "Venus" and "Why" are early Frankie Avalon hits. Fabian released a series of singles for Chancellor Records including "I'm a Man", "Hound Dog Man", "Turn Me Loose", and "Tiger". Ricky Nelson began his rock and roll music career in 1957 when he recorded his version of Fats Domino's song "I'm Walkin'".