American Songwriters of US British Invasion Hits Quiz

Answer: Chan Romero

Chan Romero cited Ritchie Valens and Elvis Presley as his two main musical influences. He hitchhiked to Los Angeles and met a young A&R man for Specialty Records named Sonny Bono who advised him to polish his songs and return. He didn't return to Specialty Records.
After Valens' death in 1959 his manager, Bob Keane, groomed Romero as his successor. Romero even resided with Ritchie's mother while recording. When Romero recorded "Hippy Hippy Shake" the song impressed Paul McCartney. The Beatles did a live version that was included on their "Live at the BBC" album.
Romero relocated to Palm Springs where he began a tradition of performing annually at the Ritchie Valens memorial concert in Pacoima.
The Swinging Blue Jeans released a cover of Little Richard's "Good Golly Miss Molly". Clint Ballard and The Swinging Blue Jeans both recorded versions of "You're No Good".

Answer: Bobby Darin

"I'll Be There" was written and first recorded by Bobby Darin in 1960. His version did not fare as well on the US charts as the version by Gerry and The Pacemakers. Elvis Presley also recorded a version in 1969 on his "Let's Be Friends" LP.
Gerry and the Pacemakers began their successful recording career releasing songs written by other artists or songwriters but had considerable success with some of Gerry Marsden's compositions such as "Ferry Cross the Mersey" and "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying". "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" was their highest charting single in the US, reaching the Number Four spot.
Roy Orbison, Little Richard and Gene Pitney all toured with various British acts at the height of the British Invasion.

Answer: Big Joe Williams

Many artists recorded versions of "Baby Please Don't Go" after Big Joe Williams released the song in 1935 and again in 1945 on a different label. In 1953 Muddy Waters recorded a version.
When Van Morrison sang his rendition as the front man for Them, American listeners rediscovered the tune. Two years later The Amboy Dukes released a version and it has since been covered by such acts as AC/DC, Aerosmith, The Doors and Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. Alvin Lee did a live version at Woodstock with Ten Years After.
In 1938 Big Bill Broonzy came to national prominence when he was asked to fill in for the late Robert Johnson at a Carnegie Hall concert. Willie Dixon was a prolific blues songwriter. He composed an early Rolling Stones hit titled "Little Red Rooster".

Answer: The Four Seasons

Bob Crewe was a singer, manager and record producer who co-wrote many songs for the Four Seasons. Bob Gaudio got his first taste of fame when he wrote "Short Shorts" while working with The Royal Teens in 1958 when he was only 15. While touring with the group he connected with Frankie Valli and The Four Lovers and eventually joined the band when they became The Four Seasons. He and Crewe co-wrote their first Number One song, "Sherry".
Bob Crewe played keyboards and sang backup with the Four Seasons. He later formed The Bob Crewe Generation and released "Music to Watch Girls By" in 1967.
The Four Tops reached Number 11 in 1964 with "Baby, I Need Your Lovin". "Bread and Butter" made it to Number Two for The Newbeats the same year. "Come A Little Bit Closer" was a 1964 Number Three by Jay and The Americans.

Answer: Over and Over

"Over and Over" was written by American singer/songwriter Bobby Day. In 1965 it became the first and only Number One hit in the US for the Dave Clark Five.
Bobby Day also composed "Little Bitty Pretty One" and was Bob in the fifties duo, Bob and Earl. Day is probably best remembered for his 1958 US Number Two single, "Rockin' Robin". The song was composed by Leon Rene under the name Jimmie Thomas. It was Bobby Day's only US Top Forty hit.
"Glad All Over" was song written by Dave Clark and Mike Smith and reached Number Six in the US in 1964. They also composed the band's 1964 Number Four hit, "Bits and Pieces". Dave Clark composed "Anyway You Want It", a 1964 US Top Twenty hit.

Answer: Buddy Holly

"True Love Ways" was co-written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty. It was recorded four months before Buddy Holly's death and released posthumously. The Ray Ellis orchestra backed Holly during the October, 1958, recording session.
Peter and Gordon had their first successful singles in the US recording Lennon/McCartney compositions such as "World Without Love", "Nobody I Know" and "I Don't Want To See You Again".
Peter Asher's sister, Jane, was dating Paul McCartney. Paul composed the songs but they were attributed to Lennon/McCartney. When Peter and Gordon released "Woman" McCartney used the pseudonym Bernard Webb in an effort to determine whether the songs were successful because his name was attributed to them.
Eddie Cochran recorded such songs as "Summertime Blues" during his brief career. "Be Bop A Lula" was a major hit for Gene Vincent and "Dreamin" was one of Johnny Burnette's many hits.

Answer: Jackie DeShannon

"Needles and Pins" and "When You Walk in the Room" were both recorded by Jackie DeShannon before the Searchers released versions of the songs. Jackie's version of her composition, "When You Walk in the Room", barely broke the Top 100 and faded from sight in 1963. Sonny Bono and Jack Nitzsche wrote "Needles and Pins" and Jackie's version peaked at Number 84, while the Searchers' single made it to Number 13 in the US.
Jackie finally broke the US Top Ten in 1965 with Hal David and Burt Burt Bacharach's "What the World Needs Now Is Love".
In 1962 Carole King first entered the US Top Forty with "It Might As Well Rain Until September". Carly Simon's first US Top Ten was "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" in 1971. "I Wish You Love" by Gloria Lynne reached Number 28 in 1964.

Answer: False

New York native James Wesley Voight composed "Wild Thing" under the pseudonym Chip Taylor. He also composed "Angel of the Morning", recorded by Merrilee Rush in 1968 and again by Juice Newton in 1981. Actor Jon Voight was James' older brother, making him Angelina Jolie's uncle.
After unsuccessfully attempting a career as a professional golfer, Chip Taylor turned to songwriting and performing. In 1965 Jordan Christopher and The Wild Ones recorded his composition, "Wild Thing", but it was the version by The Troggs that became more successful.
In 1971 Taylor released two albums, "Gorgoni, Martin and Taylor" and "Gasoline". He has released more than 20 albums since then. In 1975 "Early Sunday Morning" reached Number 28 on the US Country charts.

Answer: Casino Royale

"Casino Royale" was a comedy spoof based loosely on the Ian Fleming novel of the same name. David Niven starred as Sir James Bond who came out of retirement to deal with Dr. Noah and an agency called SMERSH.
Much of the music was composed by Burt Bacharach. "The Look of Love" was heard in the background during a scene involving an aquarium. It was nominated for an Academy Award. Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66 reached Number Four on the US Billboard Hot 100 a year later with their version of the song. Dusty Springfield's version was used again in "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery" in 1997.
"Come Spy with Me" was a 1967 spy movie starring Troy Donahue and Andrea Dromm. "In Like Flint", starring James Coburn, was released the same year. "The Shooting" was a 1966 Western genre film with Jack Nicholson, Warren Oates, Millie Perkins and Will Hutchins.

Answer: Howlin' Wolf

Chester Arthur Burnett got the nickname of Howlin' Wolf from his grandfather. He cited Mississippi Sheiks, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Tampa Red and Blind Blake among his Blues influences. He began performing in blues clubs and in 1951 Sam Phillips signed him to his Memphis Recording Service.

He was loaned to Chess Records in Chicago and two years later he began recording for Chess. He recorded several successful Rhythm and Blues recordings for Chess and in 1962 his "Howlin' Wolf" album containing such classics as "Wang Dang Doodle", "Spoonful", "Goin' Down Slow", and "Little Red Rooster" was released. After he died in 1976 it was rumored that Eric Clapton had arranged for his tombstone that had an image of a guitar and a harmonica on it.