Oldies Against Racism Trivia Quiz

Answer: Black and White

From the album "Seven Separate Fools", "Black and White" was a number one hit, for Three Dog Night, on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was actually written by David I. Arkin and Earl Robinson in 1954, after the ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that outlawed racial segregation in schools.

Although Three Dog Night's version proved to be the most successful one, it was also recorded by Sammy Davis Jr. in 1957, with somewhat different lyrics.

Answer: Border Song

Released on the 1970 album "Elton John" (the one of "Your Song" fame), it was actually the album's first single release. It flopped in the U.K. and only reached Number 92 on Hot 100 chart in the U.S. Aretha Franklin released a version the following year, that made it to the Top 40 list.
Bernie Taupin, Elton's long time writing partner, wrote the lyrics about the sense of alienation he was feeling at the time. Elton added the last verse (the one quoted in the question) to make the song more about bigotry in general.

Answer: Love Train

"Love Train" was the O'Jays only Number one hit, but it hit number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B Singles charts. It was released on their album "Back Stabbers".
The song was written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, it was also covered by The Supremes and The Rolling Stones.

Answer: Brother Louie

Hot Chocolate had a hit with the song in the U.K. but it was the Stories who took it to number one on Billboard Hot 100 in the States, the same year.
The song was written by Errol Brown and Tony Wilson of Hot Chocolate.
The song has been covered by many other artists, including Bon Jovi, Code Red and Modern Talking, and has been used in the movies "A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints" (2006) and "Zodiac" (2007).

Answer: Everyday People

"Everyday People" was released in advance of the album "Stand!", which it was on. It was the first number one hit for Sly and the Family Stone, staying on top on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for four weeks.
It was written by Sly Stone and has been covered by many artists, including Aretha Franklin, The Supremes, Peggy Lee, Joan Jett and Pearl Jam.

Answer: Indian Reservation

The full name of the song, written by John Loudermilk, was "Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)". It was first recorded in 1959 by Marvin Rainwater as "Pale Faced Indian". Don Fardon released a version in 1970 that reached number 20 on Billboard's Hot 100.
It was the 1971 version by Paul Revere and the Raiders, which has also been referred to as "Cherokee Nation", that made it to number one.

Answer: Southern Man

"Southern Man" was released on Young's album, "After the Gold Rush". The song was written by Canadian Neil Young, and talked about the time when slavery was legal in the States, and prevalent in the southern plantations. It touched a few raw nerves, and the band Lynyrd Skynyrd allegedly wrote the song "Sweet Home Alabama" in response. It contains the verse;
"Well I heard Mr. Young sing about her.
Well I heard ole Neil put her down.
I hope Neil Young will remember,
A southern man don't need him around anyhow."

Answer: Ebony and Ivory

"Ebony and Ivory" was released as a single in 1982. It reached number one in both the U.K. and the U.S. It was also released on McCartney's "Tug of War" album. McCartney wrote the song, which he performed with Stevie Wonder.
McCartney was inspired to write the song by Spike Milligan, who once commented that both black notes and white notes were needed to make a song.

Answer: Everything is Beautiful

While Stevens wrote and recorded "Everything is Beautiful" (and had a number one hit with it on the Billboard Hot 100 chart), the lyrics quoted above actually come from the hymn "Jesus Loves the Little Children". "Everything is Beautiful" opened with a children's choir (including Stevens' own two kids) singing the above verse and then segued into the line, "Everything is beautiful in its own way."

Answer: Black or White

"Black or White" was written by Michael Jackson, with rap lyrics contributed by Bill Bottrell. The first single released from Jackson's "Dangerous" album, it was number one on Billboard Hot 100, and just about every other chart it touched.