1970s FM Radio Songs Trivia Quiz

Answer: Gimme Three Steps

In 1973, the southern band Lynyrd Skynyrd received considerable FM radio airplay with a song called "Gimme Three Steps". This tune concerned a man who was being pursued by a jealous lover with a gun in a nightclub or bar. Ronnie Van Zant did lead vocals on "Gimme Three Steps", and Gary Rossington provided the lead guitar work. Van Zant sang these words:

"Won't you give me three steps, gimme three steps, mister
Gimme three steps toward the door
Gimme three steps, gimme three steps, mister
And you'll never see me no more..."

Answer: Spiders

David Bowie's 1972 concept album was called "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars". Ziggy was a human manifestation of an alien who had descended to the earth. Bowie received FM radio airplay with such songs as "Suffragette City" and "Ziggy Stardust". Mick Ronson was the lead guitarist for Bowie's band on this album.

Answer: The Mothers of Invention

Deep Purple's song "Smoke On the Water" was played by virtually every garage band in the USA during the early 1970s. This tune concerned a fire which took place at the Montreux Casino (Switzerland) on December 4, 1971. The band performing at the casino on that date was Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention; however, the concert was terminated when a crazy fan with a "flare gun" ignited the ceiling of the club. "Smoke on the Water" became famous for guitarist Ritchie Blackmore's introductory riff and Ian Gillan's powerful vocals. Gillan sang these words:

"But Frank Zappa and The Mothers
Were at the best place around
But some stupid with a flare gun
Burned the place to the ground
Smoke on the water and fire in the sky..."

Answer: Queen

The British band Queen recorded the song "Tie Your Mother Down" for the 1976 "A Day at the Races" album. This tune featured the guitar work of Brian May, the song's composer, and the vocals of the incomparable Freddie Mercury. This hard-rocking tune was played at the VH-1 "Rock Honors" show in 2006 by the band Foo Fighters. Queen sang these words from the song's chorus:

"Tie your mother down, tie your mother down
Lock your daddy outdoors, I don't need him nosin' around
Tie your mother down, tie your mother down
Give me all your love tonight..."

Answer: John Barleycorn Must Die

The song "Empty Pages" appeared on the 1970 Traffic album entitled "John Barleycorn Must Die". This tune was written by band members Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi. Winwood sang lead vocals and played an extended jazz solo on the keyboard. Winwood sang these lyrics:

"Staring at empty pages
Centering 'round the same old plot
Staring at empty pages..."

"Welcome to the Canteen" and "Low Spark" were released in 1971; "Shoot Out" appeared in 1973.

Answer: Las Vegas

The Steely Dan song "Do It Again" was included on the 1972 album "Can't Buy a Thrill". Walter Becker and Donald Fagen mentioned the gambling city of Las Vegas in the second half of this tune. The lyrics told the tale of a compulsive gambler who was hooked on roulette, cards, and slot machines. Steely Dan sang these words:

"Now you swear and kick and beg us
That you're not a gambling man
Then you find you're back in Vegas
With a handle in your hand...
You go back Jack do it again
Wheel turning 'round and 'round..."

Answer: Mother Goose

The song "Mother Goose" contained the line about "Piccadilly Circus". This tune featured the acoustic guitar work of Ian Anderson, the superstar vocalist and flute player of the band Jethro Tull. Group member Martin Barre also played the acoustic guitar on this track. The 1971 "Aqualung" album proved to be highly successful and was played on FM radio stations worldwide. Anderson sang these lyrics from the opening verse of "Mother Goose":

"As I did walk by Hampstead Fair
I came upon Mother Goose
So I turned her loose- she was screaming..."

Answer: High Tides

"Green Grass and High Tides" appeared on the 1975 debut album by the group Outlaws. This song featured some fiery guitar solos by musicians such as Henry Paul and Hughie Thomasson. This epic song became recognized as one of the greatest guitar numbers of all-time. Outlaws sang these lyrics:

"Green grass and high tides forever
Castles of stone, soul and glory
Lost faces say we adore you
As kings and queens bow and play for you..."

Answer: William Blake

William Blake wrote the words which would eventually become the lyrics to Emerson, Lake and Palmer's song "Jerusalem" as part of the "Brain Salad Surgery" album. Blake's verse was actually part of the preface to an epic work called "Milton a Poem", which appeared circa 1810. In the Emerson, Lake and Palmer version, Greg Lake provided the lead vocals and Keith Emerson supplied his talents on organ and synthesizers. The song ended with these lyrics:

"I shall not cease from mental fight
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
'Til we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land".

Answer: Joe Perry

Joe Perry played the lead guitar on Aerosmith's 1974 rocker "Train Kept A-Rollin". Perry and vocalist Steven Tyler were the driving forces behind Aerosmith, the "bad boys of Boston". This song, written by Tiny Bradshaw, was performed by The Johnny Burnette Trio in the 1950s and later covered by The Yardbirds in the 1960s. Joe Perry's soaring guitar solos made this tune a staple of FM rock stations. Tom Hamilton played bass and Joey Kramer was the drummer on "Train Kept A-Rollin".