Music from 1961 Trivia

1. Known for his unique voice and black clothing, who had a hit with the ballad "Crying"?

From Quiz Hits of 1961 - Part 2

Answer: Roy Orbison

"Crying" was recorded by Roy Orbison and written by Joe Melson and Roy Orbison. It got to number two in the US and number twenty five in the UK. Don McLean recorded a cover version in 1980 and it got to number one in the UK and number five in the US.

From Quiz Number One Hits of 1961 - Part 2

Answer: Hit The Road, Jack

"Hit The Road Jack" topped the Billboard charts and was Ray Charles second number one hit. In all Ray charted 91 songs on the Billboard top 100 from 1957 through 2005. Many of his songs that did not make the charts were standards for rock groups of the 1960's, such as "This Little Girl of Mine", "I Got A Woman" and "Hallelujah I Love Her So"

From Quiz Number One Hits of 1961 - Part 1

Answer: I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door

Eddie Hodges enjoyed four weeks at number one with "I'm Gonna Knock on your Door". The song reached number twelve in the USA and Number 37 in the UK.

From Quiz 1961 - A Blast from the Past

Answer: Jimmy Dean

"Big Bad John" was a giant hit for Dean, spending five weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and ten weeks atop the Billboard Easy Listening chart. Today, most people probably know him better for his brand of Jimmy Dean sausage, but he had quite a singing career as well. Although he did have some success on the Billboard Hot 100, he was much better known for his achievements in the field of country music, where he had 14 singles reach the top 30 on the Billboard Country charts. Jimmy Dean was inducted posthumously into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010.

From Quiz My Birthday Top Ten - 1961

Answer: The Everly Brothers

"Temptation" was the 18th UK Top 20 hit for Phil and Don - they had more chart success in the UK than in their home country. Duane and Gregg did not form the Allmans until 1969, and David and Howard Bellamy did not start playing until the late 60s. Geoff and Ricky Brook did have two top ten hits in 1961 - "Warpaint" and "Ain't Gonna Wash For A Week".

From Quiz US 1961 Top Forty Singles with One Word Titles

Answer: Bonanza

Al Caiola was an in-demand session guitarist who could be heard on numerous hits of the fifties and sixties recorded by artists from Elvis Presley to Frank Sinatra. He was also a performer who began a recording career in 1960 after signing with United Artists Records. His hits included the themes from "Bonanza" (1959) and "The Magnificent Seven" (1960). One of the most popular of his more than fifty albums was the 1961 release "Hit Instrumentals From Western TV Themes". Caiola was a versatile musician who recorded albums in many different styles. During the latter years of his career he toured with Steve Lawrence. The Modernaires sang the closing theme for "Hazel" (1961). "Margie" was aired opposite "Hazel" in 1961 and Rex Koury.wrote the theme for "Gunsmoke" (1955).

From Quiz UK Number Ones 1961

Answer: Poetry

Reaching the number one spot in the UK on the 12th January 1961, 'Poetry in Motion' stayed at the top of the charts for two weeks. *Useless information* It is claimed that the song was inspired by the writers, Mike Anthony and Paul Kaufman, seeing a group of girls from a nearby school walking past their work place every day. A Czechoslovakian version of the song was released by Marie Pojkarová called 'Pejskové se kousou' which translates to 'Dogs Bite Each Other'.

From Quiz Billboard Number Ones 1961

Answer: Will You Love Me Tomorrow

Now I might be the only one, but I have always thought that this song was called 'Will You STILL Love Me Tomorrow' but I was wrong... The cover of the record definitely states that the title is 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow'. *Useless information* This record was the first chart topping single, by an all girl band, in the US.

From Quiz Whose Line Was It Anyway? US Number One Hits 1961

Answer: Gary 'U.S.' Bonds

Gary 'U.S.' Bonds sang "Quarter To Three", a US number one for two weeks in 1961. It reached number seven on the UK chart. Sam Cooke had a number 17 hit on the US pop chart in 1961 with "Cupid". It reached number seven on the UK chart. Lee Dorsey had a number seven hit on the US pop chart in 1961 with "Ya Ya". It did not chart in the UK. Jackie Wilson had a number nine hit on the US pop chart in 1961 with "My Empty Arms". It did not chart in the UK.

From Quiz Whose Line Was It Anyway? UK Number One Hits 1961

Answer: Johnny Tillotson

The song is "Poetry In Motion" Johnny Tillotson's only UK number one and only top 20 entry between 1960 and 1963, it re-entered the UK chart in 1979 and reached number 67. Neil Sedaka had seven UK top ten hits between 1959 and 1963, with "Oh! Carol" and "Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen" both reaching number three, but went the way of many artists post Beatles, only to come back to the UK chart again in the early 70s. Johnny Preston had five UK chart hits including the number one "Running Bear" all in 1960 but never visited the UK chart again. Although Frankie Avalon had many US top 100 hits including two number ones he only had four UK chart hits between 1958 and 1960, the highest being "Venus" in 1959 at number 16.

From Quiz Billboard Number 1 Songs of 1961

Answer: The Shirelles

The Shirelles started out as grammar school buddies in New Jersey. Luthor Dixon was signed to produce the Shirelles after they failed to have success with two releases. He owed songwriters Carole King and Jerry Goffin a favor and agreed to have The Shirelles record "Will You Love Me Tomorrow." Carole was even involved in the recording and the song was also their first number one as a songwriting team. The Ronettes later saw chart success with "Be My Baby," The Crystals with "He's a Rebel" and The Shangri-Las did "Leader of the Pack."

From Quiz Hits of 1961

Answer: Del Shannon

"Runaway" is a song by Del Shannon and went to number one in both the US and UK. It has since been covered by artists such as The Small Faces, Bonnie Raitt and The Misfits.

From Quiz BRI's Top Ten Hits of 1961

Answer: Runaround Sue

Dion was singing on street corners long before he formed his group Dion and the Belmonts. He was on the same tour as Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper, and was actually supposed to fly with them on the American Pie that fateful night.

From Quiz Transistor memories (U.S.) - 1961

Answer: Tell Me Why

The Belmonts had a great sound. "Tell Me Why" reached # 18 in June of 1961.

From Quiz More Lyrics From 1961!

Answer: Stand By Me

Without doubt, this has become Ben E. King's most enduring and covered song. It even returned to the charts with its re-release in 1986 as a #9 hit when it was featured in the movie of the same name. Others to chart with this song include Spyder Turner (#12 in 1967), John Lennon (#20 in 1975) and Mickey Gilley (#22 in 1980).

From Quiz 1961 - More Lyrics

Answer: Who Put The Bomp

What great lyrics: "Who put the bomp in the bomp bah bomp bah bomp? Who put the ram in the rama lama ding dong? Who put the bop in the bop shoo bop shoo bop? Who put the dit in the dit da dit da dit? Who was that man? I'd like to shake his hand. He made my baby fall in love with me (yeah)"

From Quiz Lyrics from the Early '60's - 1961

Answer: Surrender

Just another #1 song for Elvis. The template was his big hit from 1960, "It's Now Or Never". For "Surrender" the melody was again from an old Italian song, "Come Back To Sorrento", English lyrics from Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman were added, up the tempo with a Latin flavor... voila... big hit.

From Quiz Hits of 1961

Answer: Ben E. King

From Quiz Top 40 Hits for 1961

Answer: '(Marie's the Name of) His Latest Flame'

From Quiz Hits of 1961 - Part 2

Answer: Helen Shapiro

"Walkin' Back to Happiness" was recorded by Helen Shapiro and written by John Schroeder and Mike Hawker. At the time of the songs release Helen was only 14 years old. It was a number one hit in the UK, New Zealand, and South Africa.

From Quiz Number One Hits of 1961 - Part 2

Answer: I'm Counting On You

"I'm Counting On You" backed with the rocking "Right Now" topped the Aussie charts for 5 weeks remaining on the charts for 19 weeks. The flipside made the top ten and stayed on the charts even longer. "The Wild One" (which was Johnny O'Keefe's nickname), "She's My Baby" and his note for note cover version of the Isely Brothers, "Shout" were earlier hits for Johnny.

From Quiz Number One Hits of 1961 - Part 1

Answer: Runaway

"Runaway" became Del Shannon's signature tune, staying on the Billboard pop charts for 17 weeks. Equally popular outside the USA, the song charted 18 weeks in Australia and 22 weeks in the UK. Sadly, Del Shannon's fortunes in the USA waned by the end of 1961, but he remained immensely popular in Europe and the UK. It was in Australia where Del was the biggest chart star, indeed he had two further number ones on the Aussie charts.

From Quiz 1961 - A Blast from the Past

Answer: Runaround Sue

"Runaround Sue" which was written by Dion and Ernie Maresca, is the story of a young man and his relationship with a former girlfriend, who was unfaithful to him. Dion's wife at the time was named Susan, but in his autobiography "The Wanderer", he claimed the song had nothing to do with her. "Runaround Sue" was Dion's only number one hit, either as a solo artist or as a member of The Belmonts.

From Quiz US 1961 Top Forty Singles with One Word Titles

Answer: Wheels

"Wheels" was the biggest hit single for The String-A-Longs. The Plainview, Texas, group was produced by Norman Petty. "Wheels" was followed by the Top Forty single "Brass Buttons". "Should I", and "Replica" were less successful recordings. In addition to being an orchestra leader, musician and singer Billy Vaughn was also the A and R man for Dot records. He began his career as a member of The Hilltoppers before signing with Dot Records in 1954. In addition to his 1961 rendition of "Wheels" Vaughn charted more than forty singles and thirty-five albums on the US Billboard charts during his career. "Tonight" from "West Side Story" was a 1961 Top Ten Instrumental released by Ferrante and Teicher. "Calcutta" was a 1960 Number One Instrumental by Lawrence Welk. "Josephine" by Bill Black's Combo went to Number 18 in 1960.

From Quiz UK Number Ones 1961

Answer: Are You Lonesome Tonight?

'Are You Lonesome Tonight?' is a song that was first released in 1926. Recorded by many artists, including Al Jolson, Elvis' is the best known version. *Useless information* In 1980 RCA released a version of this song in the UK. This reached the UK top 30 in 1982. In this version Elvis seems to have a 'Giggle-Fit' after changing the lyrics slightly. Instead of singing 'Do you gaze at your doorstep and picture me there' he sings 'Do you gaze at your bald head and wish you had hair'. He follows this with further fits of laughter and comments to his backing singers. I remember owning this record, it really is funny.

From Quiz Billboard Number Ones 1961

Answer: Blue

'Blue Moon' by the Marcels reached number one on April 3rd 1961, remaining in the top spot for 3 weeks. *Useless information* 'Blue Moon' was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1934. It is presumed that the lyrics refer both to the English expression 'Once in a blue moon' meaning extremely rarely and as a play on words where 'blue' means sad and lonely.

From Quiz Whose Line Was It Anyway? US Number One Hits 1961

Answer: Ricky Nelson

Ricky Nelson was a "Travelin' Man" and he travelled all the way to number one on the US pop chart for two weeks in 1961. This was his eighth US gold record since 1957. In the UK it was released as a double A-side with "Hello Mary Lou" and reached number two on the UK chart. This was his last hit as Ricky, (he dropped the y). He had one of the best voices around and he sold millions of records in the '50s and early '60s. It's a great pity about what happened to him later, the "Garden Party" incident and then being killed in an plane crash in 1985. Johnny Burnette had a number 17 hit on the US pop chart in 1961 with "Little Boy Sad". It reached number 12 on the UK chart. Paul Anka had a number ten hit on the US pop chart in 1961 with "Dance On Little Girl". It did not chart in the UK. Pat Boone had a number one on the US pop chart in 1961 with "Moody River". His sixth and last US number one. It reached number 18 on the UK chart.

From Quiz Whose Line Was It Anyway? UK Number One Hits 1961

Answer: Elvis Presley

Of course it was Elvis, with "Are You Lonesome Tonight". Elvis has had 21 UK number ones as of 2005 with "One Night/I Got Stung" becoming his 20th and the 1000th UK Number one but he may not have finished yet, watch this space. Ral Donner sounded like Elvis and his first US hit was an Elvis song, "Girl Of My Best Friend". He had one UK hit in 1961 "You Don't Know What You've Got (Until You Lose It)". Johnny Mathis has had many chart hits in the US and UK from the 50s to the 80s but had to wait until 1976 for his only UK number one with "When A Child Is Born (Soleado)", which never charted in the US. Roy Orbison had a pretty lean year on the UK chart in 1961 with "Running Scared" at number nine (a US number one) and "Cryin'" at number 25 (a US number two).

From Quiz Billboard Number 1 Songs of 1961

Answer: Calcutta

Calcutta was recorded with a harpsichord backed by Lawrence Welk's band. The band could not hear the harpsichordist because he was listening in headphones, but the song was still recorded in one take. Welk was born in North Dakota. His parents fled Europe during the Bismark-Prussian invasion with only their clothes and an accordion. Lawrence was the only son to take an interest in the instrument and he became an entertainer, eventually formed his own orchestra and made his television debut in 1952. "Exodus" was recorded by Ferrante and Teicher and was number five the same week. "The Stripper" charted for David Rose and "Stranger on the Shore" was done by Aker Bilk in 1962.

From Quiz Hits of 1961

Answer: Neil Sedaka

"Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" was recorded by Neil Sedaka, the lyrics written by Howard Greenfield. It went to number three in the UK and number six in the US.

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