Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Series: Bob Dylan Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Bob Dylan was born just outside Duluth, Minnesota, but his career began in the folk arts scene of Greenwich Village in New York. Which bluesman did Dylan open up for marking his first live performance in New York?

Answer: John Lee Hooker

On April 11, 1961, Dylan was given the unique opportunity to open the show for the legendary John Lee Hooker at Gerde's Folk City. Gerde's Folk City was an institution for folk and blues music in the early 1960s. People visiting the club in those days most were treated to some of the top players of the genre including Dylan, Joan Baez, Peter Paul and Mary, Phil Ochs and Doc Watson.

2. Bob Dylan released his first album on March 12, 1962. Only two songs were written by Dylan, the rest were covers of folk standards and songs written by others. Who was the inspiration behind one of the two originals on this album?

Answer: Woody Guthrie

The song "Song for Woody" was in reverence to the man so many folk singers looked up to as inspiration, Woody Guthrie. The other Dylan penned song on this debut album was titled "Talkin' New York". Also included on this album were the standards "Man of Constant Sorrow", "In My Time of Dyin'" and "Pretty Peggy-O". Dylan also had a version of the classic "House of the Rising Sun" on this debut, but this interpretation was not the influence for The Animals more recognizable version. That distinction belonged to Josh White, the great bluesman from the Piedmont area of North Carolina.

3. Quite a buzz was made when Bob Dylan went electric. Dylan had been accepted as one of the great acoustic folk artists of his time that when he strapped on an electric guitar and plugged into an amplifier, people were shocked to hear that side of his talent. Which album is credited as his first "electric" album?

Answer: Bringing it all Back Home

"Bringing it all Back Home" was released in 1965 and featured the classic "Subterranean Homesick Blues". This was the first Dylan album to feature all electric instruments and created a controversy not seen since the days when Muddy Waters went electric!
"Another Side of Bob Dylan" may have seemed to be a fitting a title for an artist changing his signature sound, but this album was released a year earlier and featured Dylan using his acoustic guitar, harmonica and piano. The Beatles have been cited as saying this was an influential album for their early sound.
"Blonde on Blonde" was the double album released in 1966 which was spawned from recording sessions in Nashville, TN. Many people will consider this album to be the first relevant double album in the history of popular music.
"Under the Red Sky" was released in 1990 and featured many guest artists including Slash (Guns 'n Roses), Stevie Ray Vaughan, George Harrison, Bruce Hornsby and Elton John.

4. Dylan will always be recognized for his songwriting skills. Dylan has been called the "poet laureate" of the folk generation, a title he has dismissed time and time again, instead referring to himself as "a trapeze artist". Several songs were written by Dylan, yet recorded and made famous by others. Can you pick the correct pairing of artist and song?

Answer: "One More Cup of Coffee" covered by White Stripes in 1999.

Jack and Meg White did a great version of this little known Dylan song on their debut album. It was the inclusion of this song that let me know that the White Stripes were going to be a group to keep my eyes on in the future.
"Maggie's Farm" was not covered by Tool, but by Rage Against the Machine on their album of cover songs titled "Renegades".
"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" was not recorded by Van Halen. Guns 'n Roses did this on their "Use Your Illusion I" album. Another famous version of this song is by Eric Clapton.
"Tangled Up in Blue" was not The Dixie Chicks, but the Indigo Girls. The Indigo Girls made a valiant effort of this song on their "1200 Curfews" album.
Other notable Dylan covers include "All Along the Watchtower" by Jimi Hendrix, "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" by Norah Jones and probably my favorite Dylan cover, "Just Like a Woman" by Richie Havens.

5. Obviously, with Bob Dylan being known as one of the greatest lyricists of all time, there has to be some evidence to support his body of work. From which song would these words be found: "Heard your songs of freedom and man forever stripped Acting out his folly while his back is being whipped Like a slave in orbit, he's beaten 'til he's tame All for a moment's glory and it's a dirty, rotten shame"?

Answer: Dirge

I have always been fascinated how Dylan could take huge religious ideals and simplify them to a couple of lines. Dylan was no stranger to writing songs with religious overtones. In fact, Dylan put out a couple of secular albums in the 1970s. "Slow Train Coming" and "Saved" were released after Dylan became a born-again Christian. One of Dylan's numerous Grammy awards was given to him for "Gotta Serve Somebody" (Best Male Rock Vocal Performance - 1979) which was clearly a reference to Dylan's religious dedication.

Some people were less than impressed with Dylan's decision to dedicate his talents to gospel music. John Lennon wrote a song to express his distaste to this song titled "Serve Yourself", an obvious jab to Dylan.

6. Bob Dylan appeared on an episode of the popular NBC series late night series "Saturday Night Live" in October of 1979 and performed three songs. Two of the songs were "Gotta Serve Somebody" and "When You Gonna Wake Up" What was the third song that Dylan presented?

Answer: I Believe in You

This episode had Eric Idle, of Monty Python fame, making his fourth hosting appearance. Dylan was given an opportunity not afforded to most with the inclusion of the third song. Most musical acts were only allowed two songs, and in some cases only one song was performed.

7. The first Dylan song to appear at number one on the US Billboard's Singles chart was not recorded by him, but another band. Which band recorded the song to hold this distinction?

Answer: The Byrds

The song was "Mr. Tambourine Man" and it was recorded by The Byrds. The song shot up to number one on the US Billboard's Singles chart on June 26, 1965. Not only was this the first song to reach number one, it has been the only song penned by Mr. Dylan to reach that pinnacle.

8. Bob Dylan borrowed Ronnie Hawkins' backing band, appropriately called The Hawks to accompany him on a world tour in 1966. Later, you may have seen that backing band with a new name. Who did The Hawks later, and more famously, become?

Answer: The Band

The Hawks formed to back rockabilly artist Ronnie Hawkins in 1959. They backed Bob Dylan for his tour in 1965-1966 and then they changed their name to The Band. They released their debut album in 1968 which was titled "Music from Big Pink". The Band are also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (both Canadian and American versions), but more on that in another quiz. By the way, The Eagles were once a backing band for Linda Ronstadt. 10cc backed Neil Sedaka on a couple of his albums. And although Led Zeppelin were never an official backing band for anyone, John Paul Jones did arrange and play bass guitar on Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man".

Many people believe that Jimmy Page was the guitar player on that track, Donovan has always claimed it is him, but Page and Jones both claim that Alan Parker was the actual guitarist.

This has been one of the most hotly contested conflicts in music history.

9. In April of 2008, Bob Dylan was honored with one of the highest achievements given to a creative artist. What award did he win?

Answer: Pulitzer Prize Special Citation for Music

Bob Dylan became the first rock musician to win this prestigious award in 2008. The award has been given to musical performers in the past including George Gershwin and John Coltrane. It was Dylan's "profound impact on popular music and American culture" according to prize administrator Sig Gissler that prompted the award to be given.

The Pulitzer Prize is offered by Columbia University and was first given to a recipient in 1917. Bob Dylan has not been awarded the National Medal of the Arts, an award I feel he should certainly be considered for. Aretha Franklin, BB King and Ray Charles are among Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members to win this award.

10. Bob Dylan was ceremoniously installed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the third induction class in 1988. Which fellow American songwriter was on hand to present Dylan into the class of 1988?

Answer: Bruce Springsteen

"Bob freed your mind the way Elvis freed your body" stated Springsteen at the ceremony. A careful review of Dylan's lyrics will show that The Boss was not just issuing blind praise. In addition to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Bob Dylan is also enshrined in the Songwriter Hall of Fame.

He has also been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Dylan has been given Honorary Doctorates of Music by Princeton University (New Jersey, USA) and St. Andrews University (Scotland). Dylan has been given Honors by the Kennedy Center.

He has won the Prince of Asturias Award and the Polar Music Prize. A mighty impressive selection of honors, indeed.

Source: Author ralzzz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Dalgleish before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

The ultimate singer/songwriter will be featured in this quiz. Dylan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

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