Re-Cover Me Trivia Quiz

Answer: Disturbed

In a review by Gaslight Records, the first recording of "The Sound of Silence" (1965) by Simon and Garfunkel was a dud. However, producer Tom Wilson, who'd recently split as the producer for Bob Dylan, after overseeing his move to electric music, overdubbed the recording with electric instrumentation and the song became a folk-rock classic. The journey to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 took Paul Simon by surprise and he described his reaction to the success as follows:
"I had come back to New York, and I was staying in my old room at my parents' house. Artie was living at his parents' house, too. I remember Artie and I were sitting there in my car one night, parked on a street in Queens, and the announcer [on the radio] said, "Number one, Simon & Garfunkel." And Artie said to me, "That Simon & Garfunkel, they must be having a great time." Because there we were on a street corner [in my car in] Queens, smoking a joint. We didn't know what to do with ourselves."

Fifty years later the folk-rock classic was turned into a heavy metal classic by the band Disturbed. Featuring the deep voice of front-man David Draiman and the introduction of strings and keyboards to provide it with an operatic feel, this version not only impressed the writer Paul Simon, it peaked at number one on Billboard's Hot 100 and it helped to propel the band's album "Immortalized" (2015) to the top spot on the album charts.

(Footnote) The song was originally titled "The Sounds of Silence".

Answer: UB40

"Can't Help Falling in Love" became a staple at Elvis' live shows. Despite not reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts (it peaked at number two) in 1961, it reached number one on Billboards' Adult Contemporary charts and remains one of his audience's most loved songs. The song was written for the soundtrack of the movie "Blue Hawaii" (1961) and was part of an album, with the same name, that remained at number one on the Billboard Album chart for a staggering twenty weeks. This remained a record until it was surpassed by Fleetwood Mac's 1977 album "Rumours".

Some sixteen years later and, on the other side of the world, the band UB40 formed in Birmingham, England. They made a name for themselves by putting a reggae take on a variety of established songs such as "I Got You Babe" (with Chrissie Hynde in 1985), "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" (with Robert Palmer in 1990) and Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" in 1993. They were so successful that two of these covers, "I Can't Help Falling in Love" in 1993 and Neil Diamond's "Red, Red Wine" in 1983 went to number one on Billboard's Hot 100.

Answer: Michael Bolton

Percy Sledge had a long career as an R&B artist, producing songs of high emotion and touring relentlessly. That said, he will be remembered by most for this one song that was released in 1966. Whilst it became one of those rare songs that debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, its worth was much more than that. The BBC (British Broadcasting Commission) advised that it was the first song to be recorded at the Muscle Shoals studio in Alabama to reach the number one spot on Billboard's Hot 100 and it helped to establish that label's sound.

They say you shouldn't touch the classics and, with such an iconic song as this one, there is generally only one way you could go. Somehow, in 1991, Michael Bolton managed to take it higher. Acknowledge that you cannot go higher than number one, where the song peaked for Bolton, on the Billboard Hot 100 but the song earned him a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance in 1992.

Answer: Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya, & Pink

Released in 1974 and reaching the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100, "Lady Marmalade" would be the only song by Labelle to reach the top ten of those charts and it remains their most memorable song. Founding member, Patti LaBelle, admitted that the irony is that they had no idea what they were singing about. The line "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi (ce soir)?" is French for "Do you want to sleep with me (tonight)?" and the song details the story of a sex worker in New Orleans endeavouring to lure men into the Moulin Rouge.

Consequently, when film director Baz Luhrmann was searching for songs to appear on the soundtrack to his 2001 jukebox drama, "Moulin Rouge", "Lady Marmalade" was an ideal choice. He banded together four of the biggest female stars of the time to create an anthem for the decade. Produced by Missy Elliot, the song rocketed to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and scored the ladies a Grammy, for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, to boot.

Answer: Grand Funk Railroad

This came so close to being a three time number one on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. Written by the team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King, the track was originally slated for Dee Dee Sharp who showed little interest in it. The song was handed to Little Eva, who was employed as a babysitter for Carole King's children at the time. A great career break for Eva because, in 1962, it found a willing audience in America, that it pushed the song to the top spot on the Billboard chart.

Twelve years later, produced by Todd Rundgren, Grand Funk Railroad added some heavy drums and guitars to the number and backed it up with several layers of harmonies that made it sound like an audience was singing it. It produced a wall of sound that came across as more of a parody than a homage to the original. This was partly due to the sound which was overwhelming; however, it didn't stop it from being popular and it stormed to the top of the Billboard charts.

As if to prove that this dance craze number had great endurance, Australian singer Kylie Minogue would also release the song on her debut album "Kylie" (1988). It reached number one on the Australian Aria charts before it was released in the US, entering the Billboard Hot 100 at number 80 before peaking at number three for two weeks.

Answer: Mariah Carey

On the list of performers in this quiz, Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey are, arguably, the two most successful. Jackson held the number one spot, in his own right, on Billboard's Hot 100 charts on fourteen occasions and Carey nineteen times. Jackson, who took the lead vocals on "I'll Be There" would add four more number ones when joined by his siblings as part of the Jackson 5. In this number he pours his soul into a set of lyrics that inform his lover that he will always be there for her, which is quite remarkable when you consider that he was only eleven years old at the time.

Twenty years later the Mariah Carey juggernaut was launched upon the US market. Her first five singles, commencing with "Vision of Love" (1990), all the topped the Billboard Hot 100. Her cover of the Jackson's "I'll Be There", which featured an uncredited Trey Lorenz singing the bridge, appeared on Carey's 1992 album "MTV Unplugged" and would go on to be her sixth number one on those same charts.

Answer: Bananarama

The pop trio, Bananarama, formed in 1979 and "Venus" was one of the first songs that they learned. It became a live show staple for them. Despite its popularity amongst their fans the girls refused to release it as a single, fearing that they would be seen as a cover band and that their original works would be overlooked. It would finally make it onto their third studio album, "True Confessions" (1986) and become the second single from it. It would top the charts in a number of countries, including the United States where it peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Dance Club charts.

The song was originally recorded by the Dutch band Shocking Blue. For their songwriter, Robbie Van Leeuwen, English was not a strong language, and he made a mistake in translating the opening line. What was supposed to be "Goddess on a mountain top" was recorded as "Goodness on a mountain top". The faux pas made no difference. The song was so good that it became the band's biggest hit and topped the charts in nine countries, including the US Billboard Hot 100. In the process they became the first Dutch band to have the distinction of reaching the top spot at Billboard.

Answer: Club Nouveau

Bill Withers was a quietly spoken man who didn't enter the music industry until he was 33 years old. His songs such "Ain't No Sunshine" and "Grandma's Hands" (both 1971) would become enduring landmarks and would, eventually, see him enter the Rock and Roll Music Hall of Fame. "Lean on Me", which would become an international anthem of unity during the harrowing times of COVID in 2020, was released in 1972 and would become his first number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It would rule in that position for three weeks.

Fifteen years later, American R&B group Club Nouveau would add a little funk and some faux reggae to the track, turning it into an upbeat dance number that was so popular that it too peaked at the top spot on Billboard's Hot 100 chart where it stayed for two weeks. Featured on their debut album "Life, Love and Pain" (1986), the song would be the band's biggest hit and their signature tune.

Answer: The Carpenters

Truly a song that delivers... no apologies for that horrible pun. For the Marvelletes "Please Mr. Postman" (1961) was their debut single. It landed at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and it started a run of hits for the group that included "Playboy" and "Beechwood 4-5789" (both 1962). The song was also listed by the "Classic Motown" website as the first song under the Motown label to reach the number one spot on the Billboard charts.

But wait, there's more. The Beatles loved the song so much they released it as a single in 1963 as part of their first US album release, "Introducing... The Beatles", which was unleashed the following year. This, in turn, generated a stream of royalties for the fledgling label. To maintain a Beatles-like "degree of separation" The Carpenters arrived on the scene in 1968 and their first single was a cover of the Beatles' "Ticket to Ride". After a string of hits, they released their version of "Please Mr. Postman" late in 1974. The following year it became the duo's tenth million selling single and their third number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

But wait, there is more. US rock band Portugal. The Man utilized the melody from "Please Mr. Postman" as the basis of their 2017 single "Feel It Still". The track would peak at number four on Billboard's Hot 100 but did manage to make it to number one on Billboards' Hot Rock and Alternative chart. Like I said, truly a song that delivered.

Answer: Tina Turner

There is a remarkable similarity in the role that "Let's Stay Together" played in the careers of the Reverend Al Green and the Queen of Rock and Roll, Tina Turner. Al Green had been a member of a soul quartet called the Soul Mates during the 1960s and they'd had a minor hit with a number called "Back Up Train" in 1967. Green grew to hate the song and by the start of the 1970s decided to go solo. He'd had moderate success with his album "Al Green Gets Next to You" in 1971 and was beginning to get desperate for success. This arrived in 1972 with "Let's Stay Together", a song that he co-wrote with Willie Mitchell and Al Jackson Jr. and a track that would reach number one on Billboard's Hot 100. It would be Green's only number one hit, but it would be such a significant recording that the US Library of Congress deemed it culturally significant to be preserved in their National Recording Registry. It would also rank as the number one song on Billboard's year end chart.

Ten years later Tina Turner, who had already separated herself from a toxic relationship with her husband, was seeking to make a name for herself as a solo artist. Ironically, she chose a cover of Al Green's song to launch that career. Whilst it didn't reach number one on Billboard's Hot 100 (it peaked at number 26) it had the distinction of reaching the number one spot on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs, giving Turner the impetus that she needed to kickstart her comeback success with the album "Private Dancer" in 1984.