Singer/Songwriters and their Songs Quiz

Answer: Gene Pitney

"He's A Rebel", written by Gene Pitney, was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Crystals in 1962. It peaked at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

The release of this song is a bit complicated. Gene Pitney wrote the song for The Shirelles who turned it down. Then Vikki Carr recorded it but record producer Phil Spector wanted The Crystals' version to be released first. The Crystals were on tour so he had The Blossoms record it but it was released under The Crystals name.

When "He's A Rebel" was number one, Gene Pitney was at number two with "Only Love Can Break A Heart" written by Bacharach/David, (his highest placed single on the Billboard Hot 100). He was prevented from having a number one hit as a singer by his own composition.

Answer: Bob Dylan

"Blowing In The Wind written by Bob Dylan peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 for Peter, Paul and Mary in 1963. It peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Bob Dylan recorded the song as "Blowin' In The Wind" in 1962 and it was released on his 1963 album "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan"; this version was also released as a single but failed to chart. It was recorded by various singers including Bobby Darin, the Chad Mitchell Trio and Marlene Dietrich, who recorded a German version of the song in her '60s, ("Die Antwort weiß ganz allein der Wind"). It was a minor hit in Germany in 1964.

The only other version of "Blowin' In The Wind" to chart was by Stevie Wonder, which peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966.

Answer: Lennon/McCartney

"Bad To Me", written by Lennon/McCartney, was number one for three weeks on the UK Singles Chart for Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas in 1963. It peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964.

"Bad To Me" was the second of four Lennon/McCartney songs that Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas took into the Top Ten of the UK Singles Chart. The other three being "Do You Want To Know A Secret" (number two), "I'll Keep You Satisfied" (number four) and "From A Window" (number ten). The B-Sides of all for records were all written by Lennon/McCartney too.

Billy J. Kramer owes a lot to The Beatles; as well as the songs, he was managed by Brian Epstein, produced by George Martin, and John Lennon even suggested the J for his stage name.

Answer: Jackie De Shannon

"When You Walk In The Room", written by Jackie De Shannon, peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart for The Searchers in 1964. It peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

The Searchers' version of "When You Walk In The Room" beat Jackie DeShannon's own version on the Billboard Hot 100 where it peaked at number 99 in 1964. She never had any hits on the UK Singles Chart but others such as The Dave Clark Five and Kim Carnes had hits with songs that she had written.

The Searchers took another one of her minor hits, "Needles And Pins", written by Sonny Bono/Jack Nitzsche, to number one on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in 1964.

Answer: Del Shannon

"I Go To Pieces", written by Del Shannon, peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 for Peter and Gordon in 1965. It did not chart in the UK.

While on a tour of Australia, Del Shannon played the song for The Searchers but they turned down the chance to record it. Peter and Gordon, who were also on the same tour, heard the song from their room and later asked Shannon if they could record it.

Del Shannon must have been well pleased as Peter and Gordon's first three singles had all been written by Lennon/McCartney. Not only did they record it at Abbey Road studios, they used the title for their next album and Gordon Waller cited "I Go To Pieces" as his favourite Peter and Gordon song. Del Shannon recorded the song again for his posthumous 1991 album "Rock On!".

Answer: Neil Diamond

"I'm A Believer", written by Neil Diamond, was number one for seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Monkees in 1966. It was number one for four weeks on the UK Singles Chart in 1967.

In the U.S.A. "I'm A Believer" had advance orders in excess of 1,000,000 copies. It was the second of three number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Monkees and their only number one hit on the UK Singles Chart.

The Fifth Estate recorded the song for their 1967 album "Ding, Dong! The Witch Is Dead ". Neil Diamond recorded it for his 1967 album "Just For You" and this recording was released as a single which peaked at number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. A new recording by Diamond, with additional lyrics, appeared on his 1979 album "September Morn".

Answer: David Bowie

"All The Young Dudes", written by David Bowie, peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart for Mott The Hoople in 1972. It peaked at number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

David Bowie unknowingly probably saved Mott The Hoople from oblivion. He sent them a demo of "Suffragette City" hoping that they would record it. The group's bassist Pete Watts contacted Bowie to reject it, telling him that the group had broken up.

Bowie contacted Watts a few hours later with a new song he had written for them, "All The Young Dudes". Not only did Bowie write the song, he produced it, he played rhythm guitar and sang backing vocals. Even Bowie's manager Tony Defries got involved, by helping to get the group a recording contract with CBS.

Answer: Bruce Springsteen

"Blinded By The Light", written by Bruce Springsteen, peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart for Manfred Mann's Earth Band in 1976. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977.

"Blinded by the Light" first appeared on Bruce Springsteen's 1973 debut album "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.". He wrote it in response to comments made by Columbia Records president Clive Davis. He felt the album did not have a stand out song for single release. The single was released in 1973 but failed to chart anywhere.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band recorded their version of "Blinded By The Light" for their 1976 album "The Roaring Silence".

Answer: John Lennon

"Jealous Guy", written by John Lennon, was number one for two weeks on the UK Singles Chart for Roxy Music in 1981. It did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

John Lennon wrote the song for his 1971 album "Imagine", which was credited to John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band with the Flux Fiddlers. His version of "Jealous Guy" was not released as a single during his lifetime. It peaked at number 65 on the UK Singles Chart in 1985. It peaked at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988.

After John Lennon's death in 1980 Roxy Music included "Jealous Guy" in their set when touring Germany. Although they had nine other Top Ten hits, "Jealous Guy" became their only number one hit on the UK Singles Chart.

Answer: Prince

"Nothing Compares 2 U", written by Prince, was number one for four weeks on the UK Singles Chart for Sinead O'Connor in 1990. It was number one for four weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

"Nothing Compares 2 U" was written by Prince for his band the Family. It appeared on their 1985 album "The Family". Sinead O'Connor recorded the song for her 1990 album, "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got". In December 1990, Billboard named "Nothing Compares 2 U" the Number One World Single of 1990, at its first Billboard Music Awards.

"Nothing Compares 2 U" was also number one in Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.