1968 - Hush Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hush

"Hush" was a #4 song for Deep Purple, a British band that underwent a flurry of personnel changes in keeping with the philosophy of founder Chris Curtis, the original drummer of The Searchers. It was Curtis' belief that a band should be like a "roundabout". Start with a solid core of two or three members and the remaining members could come and go as the situation warranted. Ironically, Curtis was the first person to leave the group shortly after it formed and his replacement, Ian Paice, is the only member left, as of 2004, who was involved in the recording of this song.

Although they only had one other big single release, "Smoke On The Water" in 1973, they have sold a multitude of albums and are regarded with Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Cream as the founders of "heavy metal" as a musical genre.

The song itself was written by an American, Joe South, and released by Billy Joe Royal in 1967 with moderate success charting at #52.

Answer: Scarborough Fair

The Byrds made a #1 hit of biblical verses in "Turn, Turn, Turn" and Paul Simon's brilliant use of these lyrics in the movie "The Graduate" transformed this ancient folk song into a #11 hit. In the context of the movie, the lyrics fit beautifully. Benjamin is in love with Elaine but it seems that it will be unrequited. Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme were herbs that represented comfort, strength, love and courage in Medieval times and these were the traits required of Benjamin to succeed in winning her over which, of course, he ultimately does. Simon heard the song while on tour in Britain and wisely incorporated his interpretation into the score.

Answer: People Got To Be Free

This song, somewhat forgotten thirty-five years later, was #1 for five weeks, a million selling Gold Record, the biggest hit The Rascals would ever have and ultimately it would rate the #19th biggest hit of the decade. However, it would also be their last big hit justifying the fears of Jerry Wexler, the president of The Rascals' record label, Atlantic.

He wasn't that keen on them doing this song because of its overt political nature. It was composed by group members Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati in reaction to Martin Luther King's assassination and wasn't released until just after RFK's assassination, embellishing its impact as a protest song.

The Rascals would stray from their "blue eyed soul" sound on their next few releases in favor of a "jazzier" motif that failed to capture the imagination of their fans and eventually, Atlantic Records execs.

They would only have four more top forty hits before the end of the decade, none of which would chart higher than #24 and within four years, the group would disband.

The Rascals were inducted into the R&R Hall Of Fame in 1997.

Answer: Girl Watcher

"Girl Watcher" was the lone hit for an R&B sextet from North Carolina, The Okaysions. As of 2004, one original member of the band has kept the group name alive with a multi-racial septet that specializes in the "beach music" sounds of the 60's, 70's and 80's performing in clubs along the Eastern U.S. coast.

Answer: Lady Willpower

"Lady Willpower" was the third consecutive top five hit for Gary Puckett and The Union Gap following their debut on the charts seven months earlier. The meteoric rise to fame and then the sudden decline of the band's fortunes have been well documented in other quizzes in this series.

However, I don't believe I've mentioned this tidbit; the band was named for Union Gap, a small town in Washington.

Answer: Goin' Out Of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You

The slice of lyric recited in the question was the bridge from one song to the other in this two song medley. It was one of only two top ten hits The Lettermen would have both of which peaked at #7; the other was "When I Fall In Love" recorded in 1962.

Although they would have twenty songs enter Billboard's Hot Hundred chart and six would be top twenty hits, their forté was releasing albums of other people's hits that they performed in their particular laid back, harmonic style. The formula has worked for over 44 years - 33 of their albums have cracked the top 200, as of 2004. One member, Tony Butala, has been with the group since their inception.

Answer: Both Sides Now

Judy Collins was another artist who was more successful creating albums than at releasing commercial hits. Classically trained, first on piano then guitar, she gravitated to folk music in the mid-1950's and started recording in the early 1960's. Initially, her repertoire consisted of old English ballads and folk songs but later she turned to contemporary writers like Leonard Cohen, Ian Tyson and Joni Mitchell who wrote "Both Sides Now".

Her support of their work was instrumental in their later successes.

At one time, she was romantically linked to Stephen Stills and his song "Suite Judy Blue Eyes" was about her. She continues to perform and record as of 2004.

Answer: This Guy's In Love With You

From 1962, with his first chart hit at #6, "The Lonely Bull", to the #37 hit "A Banda" in 1967, Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass would have thirteen top 40 hits. In 1968, he sang a song to his wife on a TV special, a Bacharach/David composition entitled "This Guy's In Love With You".

It was never meant to be released as a single but public reaction was so overwhelmingly positive to the TV taping, the song was released and shot to the top of the charts for four weeks. Alpert, who also founded A&M records with Jerry Moss, is the only individual, as of 2004, to have a #1 vocal hit, this one, and a #1 instrumental hit, "Rise" in 1979. No longer very active musically, Alpert devotes his energies to creating abstract impressionist paintings and his Foundation devoted to educational, arts and environmental programs dedicated to youth.

Answer: Tighten Up

When Bell recorded this song, he was in the army and unable to tour with the band. This hindered them in capitalizing on their success with this #1 hit and they would only have one more top ten hit, "I Can't Stop Dancing", a few months later. They continued to be popular regionally and as of 2004, Bell still fronts a band that's active on the "beach music" scene.

Answer: Angel Of The Morning

Merrilee Rush turned this song into a #7 hit. It was written by Chip Taylor, brother of actor Jon Voight, who also wrote The Troggs' big hit "Wild Thing". In 1981, country vocalist Juice Newton covered the song and made an even bigger hit with it, a #4.

For Ms. Rush, however, it would be her only brush with fame - she was never able to crack the top forty chart again. Presently, she resides on her family's rural estate just outside of Seattle and continues to perform on the local club scene with the new millennium.

Thanks for tuning in and I hope you enjoyed reliving 1968 on KFTS. I hope you come back when we countdown the hits of 1969.