Well... Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Beach Boys

This is the beginning of 'California Girls', a 1965 hit written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. The lyrics describe the attributes of girls from various regions of the USA and explaining how they can't compare to those from California, their home state. The song reached number three on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The whole verse is -

'Well, East Coast girls are hip
I really dig those styles they wear
And the Southern girls, with the way they talk
They knock me out when I'm down there'

with the chorus stating 'I wish they all could be California girls'

Answer: Talking Heads

These are the opening words to 'Road to Nowhere', written by David Byrne for 'Little Creatures', a 1985 album for the band. The single version was popular in the UK, reaching number six on the UK Singles Chart. Byrne described the song as 'a resigned, even joyful look at doom'. The introductory lines have a gospel choir feel before the song turns into something sounding more like a military march.

This is how it starts -

'Well, we know where we're goin'
But we don't know where we've been
And we know what we're knowin'
But we can't say what we've seen'

Answer: Buddy Holly

Starting with a drawn out 'Well', Buddy Holly's version of 'Rave On' was released in 1958. The song was written by Sonny West, Bill Tilghman and Norman Petty and was a number three hit on the UK Singles Chart. Buddy's career was brought to a premature end with his death in an air crash in 1959. Another song I could have chosen from the same singer was 'Well...All Right' , which Buddy part wrote.

The song begins like this:

'Well
The little things you say and do
Make me want to be with you
Rave on, it's a crazy feelin' and
I know it's got me reelin'
When you say, I love you
Rave on'

Answer: Stealers Wheel

Stealers Wheel were primarily Joe Egan and Gerry Rafferty who got together as teenagers in Scotland. The lines quoted are the opening lines of 'Stuck in the Middle With You', their biggest hit, released in 1973. It became famous again when used in the 1992 film 'Reservoir Dogs'. Rafferty went on to solo success, notably with 'Baker Street' in 1978.

Here's how it starts -

'Well I don't know why I came here tonight
I've got the feeling that something ain't right
I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair
And I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs
Clowns to the left of me
Jokers to the right
Here I am stuck in the middle with you'

Answer: The Crystals

'Then He Kissed Me' was a big hit for The Crystals in 1963, reaching number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the UK Singles Chart. Written by Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry the arrangement featured Spector's 'Wall of Sound'. A later version, in 1965, was released by The Beach Boys and retitled 'Then I Kissed Her' told the story of the romance from the man's point of view.

Here's the first verse:

'Well, he walked up to me
And he asked me if I wanted to dance
He looked kind of nice
And so, I said I might take a chance
When he danced he held me tight
And when he walked me home that night
All the stars were shining bright
And then he kissed me'

Answer: Traveling Wilburys

As supergroups go, the Traveling Wilburys have to be among the best with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison lending their considerable talents to the band, the brainchild of Harrison. I suppose saying 'no' to a former Beatle isn't easy, even if you want to. The lyrics quoted come from 'The End of the Line', which appeared on their first album, released in 1989. Tom Petty sings the verses and Harrison, Orbison and Lynne sing the chorus in turn.

The opening lines are these:

'Well, it's all right, ridin' around in the breeze
Well, it's all right, if you live the life you please
Well, it's alright, doin' the best you can
Well, it's alright, as long as you lend a hand'

Answer: 10cc

The song, entitled 'Good Morning Judge', was written by the prime movers behind the band 10cc - Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman. Released in 1977, the song was a top ten hit in the UK, reaching number five on the UK Singles Chart, but was less popular in the USA. The band did have some success in America, though, with both 'I'm Not in Love' (1975) and 'The Things We Do for Love' (1976) reaching the top ten on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Apparently sung from the dock, the song begins -

'Well good morning Judge, how are you today?
I'm in trouble, please put me away
A pretty thing took a shine to me
I couldn't stop it so I let it be'

Answer: Lulu

Of course, the 'well' at the beginning of this song is rather prolonged - more of a 'weeeeeeeeell'. It was originally written and sung by The Isley Brothers in 1959, although British players will remember the 1964 version by Lulu. The extended 'well' at the beginning was 'borrowed' from the Ray Charles song 'I Got a Woman', recorded in 1956.

The first few lines are these:

'Well. You make me wanna shout
Look, my hand's jumping
Look, my heart's thumping
Throw my head back
Come on now'

Answer: Elvis Presley

I had to include Elvis, and 'Heartbreak Hotel' provided the opportunity. In fact, all three of the first lines of the song start with 'well' as do several others. Inspired by a newspaper article about a suicide, the song was recorded by Presley in 1956 and gave him his first number one on the main US Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also got to number two on the UK Singles Chart.

Here's how it goes -

'Well, since my baby left me
Well, I found a new place to dwell
Well, it's down at the end of Lonely Street
At Heartbreak Hotel
Where I'll be, I'll be so lonely, baby
Well, I'm so lonely
I'll be so lonely, I could die'

Answer: The Beatles

As usual, the song was attributed to Lennon and McCartney, but it was Paul McCartney who wrote 'I Saw Her Standing There' which appeared on the 'Please Please Me ' album in the UK. Although never released as a single in Britain, it was on the B side of 'I Want To Hold Your Hand' single released in the USA in December 1963.

Imagine Paul singing these lyrics -

'Well, she was just seventeen
You know what I mean
And the way she looked
Was way beyond compare
So how could I dance with another
Ooh, when I saw her standing there?'