Anatomy of an Album: "The Beatles" Disc 2 Quiz

Answer: Dance

"Birthday" was written by Lennon/McCartney.

Paul Sings:

"I would like you to dance - Birthday
Take a cha-cha-cha-chance - Birthday
I would like you to dance - Birthday
Dance"

Ringo Starr was born on 7 July 1940
John Lennon was born on 9 October 1940
Paul McCartney was born on 18 June 1942
George Harrison was born on 25 February 1943

Answer: Sitting singing songs

"Mother Nature's Son" was written by Paul McCartney but credited to Lennon/McCartney.

Paul Sings:

"Born a poor young country boy, Mother Nature's son
All day long I'm sitting singing songs for everyone"

None of the other Beatles played on this track and take 24 out of 25 takes was the one used. John Lennon and Ringo Starr arrived at the studio after the recording and John Lennon was not very pleased. He hated it when Paul McCartney recorded without the rest of The Beatles.

Answer: Honey Pie

"Honey Pie" was written by Paul McCartney but credited to Lennon/McCartney.

Paul Sings:

"She was a working girl
North of England way
Now she's hit the big time
In the U. S. A.
And if she could only hear me
This is what I'd say"

The song is a homage to and done in the style of the British music hall. At the start of line three the crackles that you can hear were taken from a 78rpm record. John Lennon played both lead and rhythm guitar on the song, George Harrison played a six string bass.

Answer: Monkey

"Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey" was written by John Lennon but credited to Lennon/McCartney.

John Sings:

"Come on is take it easy
Come on is take it easy
Take it easy take it easy
'Everybody's got something to hide except for me and my monkey'"

Although Paul McCartney thought the song was about John Lennon's drug habit, John Lennon said it was about him and Yoko Ono. He thought everyone around them was paranoid except for him and Yoko Ono, because they were in love.

Answer: Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

"Sexy Sadie" was written by John Lennon but credited to Lennon/McCartney.

John Sings:

"Sexy Sadie what have you done
You made a fool of everyone
You made a fool of everyone
Sexy Sadie ooh what have you done"

"Sexy Sadie" was the last song that John Lennon wrote before leaving Rishikesh, India. He wrote it about Maharishi Mahesh Yogi after he had allegedly made sexual advances to one of the female members attending a course at his ashram. John Lennon originally wanted to call the song "Maharishi" but George Harrison who did not believe the story persuaded him to change the title.

Answer: Ringo Starr

"Helter Skelter" was written by Paul McCartney but credited to Lennon/McCartney.

Paul McCartney was inspired to write "Helter Skelter" after reading an interview with Pete Townshend of The Who, in "Guitar Player" magazine in 1967. Pete Townshend had described "I Can See For Miles" as the loudest and rawest song that The Who had ever recorded.

On September 9 1968, 18 takes of the song had been recorded and that is when Ringo threw his drumsticks across the studio and shouted " I got blisters on my fingers". Up to researching for this quiz I always thought it was John Lennon who shouted but what do I know, I've only been listening to The Beatles for 50 years.

Answer: Completely white except for The Beatles embossed name and a serial number

"The Beatles" (also known as The White Album) cover was designed by pop artist Richard Hamilton.

"The Beatles" original UK album cover was completely white with The Beatles name embossed just below the middle and to the right. Further down on the right side was a unique serial number. It was the second Beatles album to feature a gatefold cover, the first being "Beatles For Sale". "The Beatles" entered the UK album chart at number one in December 1968 and remained there for seven weeks. It was replaced at number one by The Seekers "Best Of The Seekers" but returned to the top for one further week. It remained on the UK album chart for 22 weeks. It was number one for nine weeks and spent 115 weeks on the US Billboard album chart.

Answer: Mao Zedong

"Revolution 1" was written by John Lennon but credited to Lennon/McCartney.

John Sings:

"You better free your mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow"

The album version of "Revolution 1" is a slower different one than the version that was released as the B-side of "Hey Jude". As well as singing lead vocal John Lennon plays lead guitar and acoustic guitar on the track. George Harrison plays rhythm guitar, Paul McCartney plays bass guitar and piano organ with Ringo on drums. Other musicians include Freddy Clayton and Derek Watkins on trumpets and Don Lang, Rex Morris, Bill Povey and J. Power on trombones.

Answer: An individual chocolate variety

"Savoy Truffle" was written and sung by George Harrison.

George Sings:

"Creme tangerine and montelimart
A ginger sling with a pineapple heart
A coffee dessert-yes you know it's good news
But you'll have to have them all pulled out
After the Savoy truffle"

George Harrison wrote "Savoy Truffle" about his friend Eric Clapton's addiction to chocolate. George Harrison was at Eric Clapton's house and saw a box of chocolates called "Mackintosh's Good News Double Centre Chocolate Assortment" (now discontinued). He used some of the names of the individual chocolates from the box in the song and made some up to fit the lyrics. There is no information about the effect of the chocolate on Eric Clapton's teeth.

Answer: Cooking breakfast

"Cry Baby Cry" was written by John Lennon but credited to Lennon/McCartney.

George Harrison plays the Gibson Les Paul Guitar on this track, that Eric Clapton used on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". Eric Clapton later gave the guitar to George. Noted audio engineer Geoff Emerick stopped working on the recording of "The Beatles" (The White Album) during the recording of "Cry Baby Cry". He had had enough of the internal tensions and arguments within the group. He had worked on "Revolver" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band".

Geoff Emerick would work with The Beatles again on "Abbey Road". He received Grammy Awards for his work on "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "Abbey Road". Paul McCartney later invited Geoff Emerick to leave EMI and work for The Beatles at Apple Corps Ltd., to oversee the building of a new recording studio as well as engineering duties.