"Signature Songs" of Singers or Groups-Part 16 Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "Sunday Will Never Be the Same" was recorded by a septet led by Elaine McFarland. Country Music of America award winner Gene Pistilli teamed up with ex-minor league baseball player turned songwriter Terry Cashman, to pen the tune. When it was released as a single, it reached number nine on the "Billboard Hot 100" in 1967. What was the name of Ms. McFarland's band?

Answer: Spanky & Our Gang

"Sunday Will Never be the Same" first appeared as track four on their cleverly titled album, "Spanky & Our Gang". ("Spanky" was Ms. McFarland's nickname). Between 1966 and 1975, Spanky & Our Gang released six albums and ten singles. The gang would have two other singles make it to the top 20 on the "Billboard Hot 100". In 1967, "Lazy Day" reached number 14, and a year later, "Like to Get to Know You", would make it to the 17th spot. The group disbanded in 1969 following the death of guitarist Malcom Hale. Elaine "Spanky" McFarland would go on to do solo work, as well as tour with, among others, The Mamas and the Papas. She also performed on stage, including a performance as "Bloody Mary" in "South Pacific" (2011).

Here are some of the lyrics sung by Spanky & the Gang:
"I remember Sunday morning
I would meet him at the park
We'd walk together hand in hand
'Til it was almost dark

Now I wake up Sunday morning
Walk across the way to find
Nobody waiting for me
Sunday's just another day

Sunday will never be the same
I've lost my Sunday-song
He'll not be back again

************************

I remember children
Feeding flocks of pigeons
I remember sunshine
And you were mine

Sunday will never be the same
I've lost my Sunday-song
He'll not be back again."

Interesting fact: If the name Terry Cashman sounds familiar, it's probably due to his gaining notoriety for writing and singing "Talkin' Baseball" in 1981. He had previously been the lead vocalist for The Chevrons in the late 1950s-early 1960s.

2. "Baker Street" is an actual street in London. It is also the title of a song which was recorded in 1978. The artist who both sang and wrote it included "Baker Street" as track two on "City to City". It was just his second solo album after leaving a band called Steeler's Wheel. Can you name this multi-talented European singer-songwriter-musician?

Answer: Gerry Rafferty

Gerry Rafferty's "City to City" album reached the top of the "Billboard 200" list. The single reached number one in Canada and Australia, spent six weeks as number two on the "Billboard Hot 100", and peaked in the third spot back in the U.K. Track three on "City to City", "Right Down the Line", enjoyed a four week stay atop the U.S. Easy Listening chart. In 1972, Gerry Rafferty was still with Steeler's Wheel when they recorded "Stuck in the Middle with You". "Baker Street" has been covered by, among others, the Foo Fighters, Rick Springfield, Waylon Jennings and Jethro Tull had it as track two on their album "Minstrel in the Gallery" (1975).
The Arthur (Conan) Doyle listed in the possible choices above is the author of the wonderful novels about Sherlock Holmes, whose fictional home address is 221B, Baker Street, London.

Here is the way "Baker Street" begins:
"Winding your way down on Baker Street
Light in your head and dead on your feet
Well another crazy day, you'll drink the night away
And forget about everything

This city desert makes you feel so cold
It's got so many people but it's got no soul
And it's taken you so long to find out you were wrong
When you thought it held everything

You used to think that it was so easy
You used to say that it was so easy
But you're tryin', you're tryin' now

Another year and then you'd be happy
Just one more year and then you'd be happy
But you're cryin', you're cryin' now"

3. Back in the early 1960s a young songwriter named Jack Keller had warm thoughts about a young lady he was dating, and wanted to express his feelings in a song. "Venus in Blue Jeans", co-written with Howard Greenfield, was the result. Here's part of the tune: "She's Venus in blue jeans Mona Lisa with a pony tail She's a walking talking work of art She's the girl who stole my heart They say there's seven wonders in the world But what they say is out of date There's more than seven wonders in the world I just met number eight My Venus in blue jeans Is everything I hoped she be A teenage goddess from above And she belongs to me" Who was the young singer who turned "Venus in Blue Jeans" into a Top Ten hit?

Answer: Jimmy Clanton

Jimmy Clanton was a native of Baton Rouge, LA, born there on September 2, 1938. While still in high school he had formed his first band, The Rockets. "Venus in Blue Jeans" (1962) (written about Mr. Keller's girl friend, Eileen Berner) made it onto the "Billboard Hot 100", reaching as high as the number seven spot on the chart. Clanton was a popular guest on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand", and he gained further exposure touring with such artists as Antoine "Fats" Domino, and The Platters among others. Jimmy Clanton later joined WHEX a radio station in PA, and became a D.J. from 1972-1976. Back home again in LA, he sang with the likes of Ray Charles and Chuck Berry at the 1995 New Orleans Jazz Fest.

The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame welcomed Jimmy Clanton as an inductee April 14, 2007.

4. Robbing people at gunpoint isn't usually a good idea. Shortly after being released in December, 1965, "I Fought the Law", peaked at number nine on the "Billboard Hot 100". It was written by Sonny Curtis (who later became the lead singer and guitarist for The Crickets, following the tragic death of Buddy Holly). Can you recall the artists who recorded what "Rolling Stone" placed at number 175 on their 2004 list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time?

Answer: Bobby Fuller Four

The Bobby Fuller Four was formed out in the west Texas town of El Paso, in 1962.
After a move to Los Angeles, they first performed under the sobriquet of The Shindigs. They were the Bobby Fuller Four when they recorded their morality tale. In 2004, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame designated "I Fought the Law" as one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll. The Clash released their version of it in 1979, and "I Fought the Law" has also been covered by many singers and groups including Johnny Cash, John Cougar Mellencamp, and The Grateful Dead.
The group disbanded after the death of Fuller, whose body was discovered in his mother's Oldsmobile. He was declared dead on July 18, 1966, in what police finally termed an "accident". To this day, many believed he was a murder victim.

Here are some of the plaintive lyrics:
"I'm breakin' rocks in the hot sun
I fought the law and the law won

I needed money 'cause I had none
I fought the law and the law won

I miss my baby and I feel so sad
I guess my race is run
Like she's the best girl I ever had
I fought the law and the law won"

5. "A Thousand Stars in the Sky", (1960), was a very big hit for a very young lady, born October 21, 1945, in Southern California. Here's a few of the opening lyrics: "A thousand stars in the sky like the stars in your eyes They say to me that there'll never be No other love like you-oo for me-e-e Each night I count the stars in the sky Hoping that you aren't telling me lies You're with me tonight, I'm captured by your charms Oh, pretty baby, won't you hold me in your arms?" The singer was backed by a trio founded in 1958, known as The Innocents, ("Honest I Do", 1960). Can you recall this songstress whose only top 25 hit, "A Thousand Stars", made it all the way to number three on the "Billboard Hot 100"?

Answer: Kathy Young

Kathy (very) Young experienced great success early in her singing career, but had only one other tune crack the Top 40. "Happy Birthday Blues" (1961) peaked at number 31. Helped by several appearances on "American Bandstand", "A Thousand Stars" sold over a million copies. She lived across the pond in England from 1965-1969, before returning to America and starting a family.
Here is some more of this hopeful song:
"A thousand stars in the sky make me realize
You are the one love that I'll adore
Tell me you love me
Tell me you're mine once more (once more, once mo-o-ore)

A thousand stars in the sky make me realize
You are the one love that I'll adore
Tell me you love me
Tell me you're mine once mo-o-re (I-I-I'm yours)"

6. "A Lover's Question" peaked in the sixth position on the "Billboard Hot 100" in 1958. Here's the opening to this often asked conundrum: "Does she love me with all her heart? Should I worry, when we're apart? It's a lover's question, I'd like to know. The artist who recorded it had his last top ten hit, "Lover Please" in 1962. Who was this inquisitive tenor, whose over 45 singles included "Treasure of Love", and "Long Lonely Nights" (both in 1957)?

Answer: Clyde McPhatter

North Carolina native Clyde McPhatter's signature song was co-written by another popular singer of the era, Brook Benton. McPhatter first sang with Billy Ward and His Dominoes (1950-1953), backed by a group formed to back him called The Drifters. After Ben E. King came along with the group which would become known as The (real!) Drifters, McPhatter's group became known as The Original Drifters and they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame 1998. McPhatter had five number one R&B hits including "Money Honey". That tune was named to "Rolling Stone's" list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and was also an inductee to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. McPhatter passed early, being just 39 when he died from complications related to alcoholism.
Clyde McPhatter is a 1987 inductee of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Now some final lyrics from "A Lover's Question":

"I'd like to know when she's not with me
If she's still true to me?
I'd like to know when we're kissing
Does she feel just what I feel?
And how am I to know it's really real?

Oh, tell me where the answer lies?
Is it in her kiss or in her eyes?
Well, it's a lover's question, I'd like to know"

By the way, all the other "Clydes" listed above are former professional basketball stars.

7. "Jeremiah was a bullfrog Was a good friend of mine I never understood a single word he said But I helped him a drink his wine And he always had some mighty fine wine" When you hear the first four words of this tune: "Jeremiah was a bullfrog", you probably think of the song "Joy to the World" (1971). When you think of the song "Joy to the World, (NOT the Christmas carol!), what group should come to mind? Hint: They also recorded "An Old Fashioned Love Song" (1971).

Answer: Three Dog Night

Three Dog Night was founded in Los Angeles (1968), and enjoyed its greatest success from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s. During that time they recorded over 20 albums and more than 20 singles. "Joy to the World", came as track five, side two on their fifth album, "Naturally". The single held the Number One spot on the "Billboard Hot 100" from April 17-May 28, 1971, and has sold over seven million copies around the globe. Still performing in their sixth decade, Three Dog Night performed over 70 times in 2012. Two of their other numbers also were "Billboard Hot 100" chart toppers, "Momma Told Me" (1970), and "Black & White" (1972).
There's an old saying, "every dog has his day". Their day came in 2000, when Three Dog Night was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
OK, big finish now, all together, let me hear you:

"If I were the king of the world
Tell you what I'd do
I'd throw away the cars and the bars and the war
Make sweet love to you
Sing it now

Joy to the world
All the boys and girls
Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea
Joy to you and me"

Wasn't that nice? :-)

8. "To Sir, with Love" was a 1967 film which starred Sidney Poitier. It also had in its cast a young lady born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie. She was born November 3, 1948, and was married to Maurice Gibbs of The Bee Gees from 1969-1973. When she took "To Sir with Love's" title tune to Number One on the "Billboard Hot 100" for five weeks in 1968, by what moniker was she better known?

Answer: Lulu

Lulu was born November 3, 1948 in the Scottish city of Glasgow. Before she reached her 14th birthday, she was weekend warbling with a local band called The Bellrocks. At the age of 15 she scored a hit singing with The Luvvers called "Shout", which peaked on the "U.K Singles" charts at number seven. For a while she toured with The Hollies as well as The Monkees. She even had an amorous fling with Davy Jones, one of the most famous singing Monkees. Between 1964-2010, Lulu had released over 20 albums, more than 65 singles, and even appeared in half a dozen films. Lulu and the Mindbenders had a song released in 1967, "A Groovy Kind of Love" climb to number two on the "U.K. Singles" chart.

Melanie had a Number One "Billboard Hot 100" hit, "Brand New Key" (1971).
Nena's "99 Luftballons" (1983), reached number two on the "Billboard Hot 100".
Cher has brought us too many hits to count.

9. Do you ever get the urge to travel to one of America's most popular vacation spots? A song released in 1959 which cracked the top ten on both the "Billboard Hot 100" and the "U.K. Singles Chart" may help you decide which venue to visit. It begins as follows: "Way down yonder in New Orleans, in the land of the dreamy scenes, it's a Garden of Eden, you know what I mean". Which big-voiced singer gave us the scoop about what was goin' on "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans"?

Answer: Freddy Cannon

Freddie "Boom Boom" Cannon was born Frederick Picariello, December 4th, 1939. In addition to his singing talents he was also an accomplished guitarist. His way into rock & roll prominence was paved when Dick Clark heard a recording Freddie had made of "Tallahassee Lassie" in 1959, and liked what he heard. "Tallahassee Lassie" peaked at number 16 on the "Billboard Hot 100". Freddie took "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans" to number three on both sides of the Atlantic, thanks in part to his appearing on Clark's "American Bandstand" over 100 times. Between 1959-1988, Freddie Cannon had released over 50 singles, including "Palisades Park" (1962), another song which got to the third spot on the "Billboard Hot 100". As 2012 came to an end, Freddie Cannon was still doing his thing, tourin' and performin'.

Here's a bit more about "The Big Easy":
"Creole babies with lovin' eyes
Softly whisper their tender sighs
Stop, ya bet your life you'll linger there a little while
Stop, won't you give your lady fair a little smile?

It's the heaven right here on earth
All the beautiful queens
Way down yonder in New Orleans"

Interesting note: "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans" was written 37 years before Freddie Cannon released it. In 1922, composer John Layton and lyricist Henry Creamer penned it, and the song debuted in a Broadway show that year titled, "Spice of '22".

10. "The Night Chicago Died" (1974) contains some well remembered lyrics about the antics of Al Capone and his gang in The Windy City. I'm guessing you'll recall part of the tune: "I heard my mama cry I heard her pray the night Chicago died Brother what a night it really was Brother what a fight it really was, glory be I heard my mama cry I heard her pray the night Chicago died Brother what a night the people saw Brother what a fight the people saw, yes indeed" Although "The Night Chicago Died" is still remembered almost 40 years after it was recorded, the British male quartet who took it to the top of the "Billboard Hot 100" was all but forgotten just a few years after their mega-hit. They also recorded "Billy, Don't Be a Hero", also in 1974. Can YOU recall the group's moniker?

Answer: Paper Lace

I must admit that since I grew up in the states during the 70s, I heard "The Night Chicago Died" quite often, and I always assumed it was recorded by an American band. Paper Lace? Who (on this side of the Atlantic) knew?. "The Night Chicago Died" was a one-hit wonder in the U.S.

It peaked at Number One on the "Billboard Hot 100" the week of August 17, 1974. The "U.K. Singles Chart" saw it climb to number three. In all, their signature song sold over three million copies. Formed as Music Box in 1967, Paper Lace recorded just three albums and eight singles. "Billy, Don't Be a Hero", (a song about the American Civil War), was a number one hit on the U.K. chart, but ironically could get no higher than number 96 in the United States. "The Night Chicago Died" and "Billy, Don't Be a Hero", were both penned by the same British pair of songwriters, Peter Callander and Mitch Murray.

Source: Author paulmallon

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

Many singers have recorded one special tune with which they will long be associated. I'll give you the titles of ten songs. See if you can name the singer or group best known for recording it. Enjoy the memories.

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