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Steve Goodman Trivia

Steve Goodman Trivia Quizzes

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2 Steve Goodman quizzes and 25 Steve Goodman trivia questions.
1.
  'City Of New Orleans': Story of a Song   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
"Riding on the City of New Orleans Illinois Central Monday morning rail...". How much do you know about this well-loved train song, written by Steve Goodman?
Average, 10 Qns, darksplash, Sep 09 10
Average
darksplash
825 plays
2.
  "Chicago Shorty" - The Music of Steve Goodman   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Steve Goodman is one of those artists who never became that famous but had a tremendous influence. Lots of people knew and loved Steve, and the odds are that you know his most famous song (more, if you live near Chicago).
Average, 15 Qns, Correspondguy, Jun 10 10
Average
Correspondguy
157 plays

Steve Goodman Trivia Questions
1. The classic train song 'City Of New Orleans' was written by Steve Goodman. According to the 'All Music Guide' it has been recorded more than 150 times. Who had a gold-selling version of the song after Goodman persuaded him to cover it?

From Quiz 'City Of New Orleans': Story of a Song

Answer: Arlo Guthrie

Goodman included the song on his eponymous first album, and persuaded Guthrie to record it, even though he was initially not keen. Arlo became, though, captivated, and put his own stamp on it. Goodman later said: "Arlo slowed it down a bit, changed one of the chords and read the words so good that I learned the song." Guthrie's cover of 'CONO' went gold in record sales. John Denver was first to record the song (the year before Guthrie) and his version was the first I ever heard, but, like many people, I believe that Guthrie is the one who has consistently nailed this song best.

2. What numbers are missing from these lyrics from Steve Goodman's well-loved song 'City of New Orleans'? "Riding on the City of New Orleans Illinois Central Monday morning rail - cars and - restless riders...."

From Quiz 'City Of New Orleans': Story of a Song

Answer: 15 and 15

"Fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders Three conductors and twenty-five sacks of mail" The route between Chicago and New Orleans is 962 miles (1,490km) long. The train company describes the journey thus: "Your journey on the City of New Orleans takes you through the heart of our nation's musical heritage - from Chicago with its world-class Chicago Symphony Orchestra and still vibrant electric blues scene, to Beale Street in Memphis. Then, travel the history-laden musical crossroads of Mississippi to New Orleans - the birthplace of jazz. You'll be riding in the shadows of giants of American music like Louis Armstrong, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and Elvis Presley."

3. According to the classic train song, which way was the 'City of New Orleans' headed at the start of her journey?

From Quiz 'City Of New Orleans': Story of a Song

Answer: south

"All along the southbound odyssey The train pulls out at Kankakee Rolls along past houses, farms and fields. Passin' towns that have no names, Freight yards full of old black men And the graveyards of the rusted automobiles." The 'CONO' 58 runs northbound and the 'CONO' 59 runs southbound.

4. 'City of New Orleans' is probably one of the most famous train songs of recent musical history. According to the lyrics, how far did the train travel in one day?

From Quiz 'City Of New Orleans': Story of a Song

Answer: Five hundred miles

Chorus "Good morning, America, how are you Don't you know me, I'm your native son I'm the train they call The City of New Orleans I'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done" The current route was not the original. Amtrak re-routed the train between Memphis and Jackson in 1995.

5. Which country music legend had a number one hit with the train song 'City Of New Orleans'?

From Quiz 'City Of New Orleans': Story of a Song

Answer: Willie Nelson

Nelson's version reached number one in the country charts in 1983. It was awarded a Grammy for 'Best Country Song' in 1985, the year after Steve Goodman's death from leukemia. He was aged just 36.

6. Which railway company took over the operation of the 'City Of New Orleans' train in the 1970s?

From Quiz 'City Of New Orleans': Story of a Song

Answer: Amtrak

Amtrak took over the route in 1971. Originally the CONO was a day train on the same route as the night train 'Panama Limited'. After the song became popular, the night train's name was changed to 'CONO'.

7. On March 17 1999, 11 people died when the Southbound 'City Of New Orleans' train collided with a vehicle at Bourbonnais, Illinois. What kind of vehicle was involved?

From Quiz 'City Of New Orleans': Story of a Song

Answer: A truck

Eleven people on the train died and 122 were injured when the train hit a truck loaded with steel at a level crossing. The truck driver was blamed after an official investigation for a crash that cost $14 million in damages.

8. Time for some more difficult questions. Steve Goodman and John Prine were good friends. Steve played and sang on John's debut album and they co-wrote some songs together. What song did they often sing as a duet?

From Quiz "Chicago Shorty" - The Music of Steve Goodman

Answer: "Souvenirs"

John Prine mentions that they often sang "Souvenirs" as a duet on "A Tribute to Steve Goodman." "Eight-ball Blues" is a Steve Goodman solo effort and "Illegal Smile" is one of Prine's. On "No Big Surprise," Steve sings "Turnpike Tom" with Jethro Burns.

9. Steve Goodman, writer of classic train song 'City Of New Orleans', also wrote a theme song for his favorite baseball team. Which baseball team?

From Quiz 'City Of New Orleans': Story of a Song

Answer: Chicago Cubs

"Go Cubs Go Go Cubs Go Hey, Chicago, what do you say The Cubs are gonna win today." Goodman, a Chicago native, was a passionate Cubs fan. He also wrote "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request": "Have the Cubbies run right out into the middle of the field Have Keith Moreland drop a routine fly Give everybody two bags of peanuts and a frosty malt And I'll be ready to die."

10. Steve Goodman not only wrote a song for his father, he wrote several specifically for his wife, Nancy Goodman. (Although, I'd argue that most of his love songs are about Nancy, as well.) Which of the songs listed below is the love letter to Nancy?

From Quiz "Chicago Shorty" - The Music of Steve Goodman

Answer: "Hand it to You"

Steve says that "Hand it to You" was written for Nancy on "Live from the Earl of Old Town." It contains the line "And when I get my paycheck, I gotta hand it to you." "Jessie's Jig" is an instrumental, so it's difficult to say it's about anyone (although it was written specifically for his oldest daughter), and "Queen of the Road" is about a motorcycle-riding momma. "The Dutchman," although Steve's version is probably his best-known recording, is a song by Michael Smith.

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