Big 500 Countdown, 2005 Version Quiz

Answer: People Gotta Be Free

Written by band members Brigati and Cavaliere, after the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy, "People Gotta Be Free" was the last number one hit for The Rascals, in 1968. It has been said that the term 'blue-eyed soul' was coined for their music, although I have also heard the same thing said about The Righteous Brothers.
Also by the Rascals (or the Young Rascals as they were formerly known) are "Groovin'" numbers 99 in 2005 and 176 in 2004, "A Beautiful Morning", numbers188 in 2005 and 95 2004, and "Good Lovin'", numbers 230 and 200 respectively.

Answer: Poor Side of Town

Singer and sometimes songwriter Johnny Rivers enjoyed as much success behind the label of his recording company, as he did with his own releases. His label, Soul City Records, was responsible for signing such acts as the Fifth Dimension and Jimmy Hendricks (who wrote Rivers' big hit, "Summer Rain", which was Number 357 on the 2005 Countdown).
Also by Rivers, "Memphis" placed at Number 404 on this year's Countdown, down from Number 212 in 2004. "It's All in the Game", placing at Number 57 in 2005, and not at all in 2004, was recorded by Tommy Edwards.

Answer: You've Lost that Loving Feeling

This is the other group for whom I have heard that the term 'blue-eyed soul' was coined. Formerly called the Paramours, they changed their names to The Righteous Brothers because African-American audiences pronounced their sound to be righteous.
Written by Phil Spector, and earning the number one spot in charts on both sides of the Atlantic, "You've Lost that Loving Feeling" was probably their biggest hit.
Also by The Righteous Brothers, "Unchained Melody" scored the number three spot on the 2005 countdown, down from number one in 2004, and "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" was number 305 in 2005, up from 457 in 2004. "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You", by Frankie Valli, was number 107 in 2005, and number 214 in 2004.

Answer: Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye

Formed in 1958, The Casinos didn't have their one and only hit until 1967, and it peaked at number six on the charts. Written by John Loudermilk, "Then You can Tell Me Goodbye" was the epitome of romantic, blue-eyed soul, or syrupy, do-wop music, depending on your point of view.
"Baby I Love You", by Andy Kim did not make the Countdown in 2004, but sneaked in at number 489 in 2005. "Sealed with a Kiss", by Brian Hyland scored number 59 in 2005, down from 44 in 2004, and "It's Only Make Believe", by Conway Twitty was number 178 and 374 respectively.

Answer: When a Man Loves a Woman

Percy Sledge once worked in the fields in Alabama. When he got a job as an orderly in the local hospital, he was introduced to record producer Quin Ivy, who liked the sound of his voice. "When a Man Loves a Woman" was Sledge's first record, and it went number one on both Pop and R&B charts. "Dizzy", by Tommy Roe, was number 221 in 2005, although it didn't make the Countdown in 2004. "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me", by Dusty Springfield, didn't make the list in 2004 either, but scored a respectable number 247 in 2005. "Have I the Right", by the Honeycombs, was number 93 in 2005, and 390 in 2004.

Answer: A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You

After watching the Beatles' movie, "A Hard Day's Night", Bert Schneider and Bob Rafelson decided that they would like to put together a television show about a struggling rock band, and "The Monkees" was created. With some of the best writers in the business, the group soon strung together an impressive line-up of hits, even though they didn't play their own instruments...at first. Hitting number two in the charts (at the time), "A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You" was written by Neil Diamond. Also by the Monkees, "I'm a Believer" ranked at number 19 in 2005, up from 42 in 2004. "Daydream Believer" was number 203 and 165 respectively, and "Last Train to Clarksville" was number 161 in 2005, and 394 in 2004.

Answer: I Think We're Alone Now

No stranger to the limelight, Tommy James started modeling at the age of four. He pulled together his band, The Shondells, when they were still teenagers in school. Their only recording, "Hanky Panky", didn't hit it big until a couple of years after it had been recorded, once the band had broken up and gone their separate ways. Tommy James pulled together a new band, and rode the success of that song through a number of hits in the sixties. Written by Ritchie Cordell, "I Think We're Alone Now" peaked at number four on the charts. Also by Tommy James and the Shondells, "Hanky Panky" was number 474 on the 2005 Countdown, down from 333 in 2004. "Crimson and Clover" was number 67, up from 216, and "Mony Mony" scored numbers 115 and 119 respectively.

Answer: Here Comes the Sun

George Harrison wrote "Here Come the Sun" while sitting in Eric Clapton's backyard and taking a break from the disastrous "Let It Be" sessions. It appeared on the "Abbey Road" album in 1969. This was a particularly trying year for Harrison as it saw him arrested for the possession of drugs, walking out of the Beatles (temporarily) after too much squabbling, and undergoing surgery for the removal of his tonsils. Also by the Beatles, "Eight Days a Week" was number 145 in 2005, up from 215 in 2004, "Nowhere Man" was number 285 in 2005 and 428 in 2004, and "Come Together", absent from the Countdown in 2004, was number 439 in 2005.

The Beatles have 38 songs on the 2005 Countdown.

Answer: The Little Old Lady from Pasadena

Jan and Dean met when they played high school football together, and their singing career started when they used to harmonize songs in the shower after practice. The pursued their education while putting together a string of hits, and "The Little Old Lady from Pasadena" was written in the back of lecture halls by Jan Berry and friend Don Altfield, while they were in pre med.

It peaked at number three on the charts, giving them their fifth straight, top-ten hit. Also by Jan and Dean, "Surf City" scored number 315 on the Countdown in 2005, up from 425 in 2004. "Woolly Bully" by Sam the Sham and the Paroahs, was number 319 in 2005, down from 239 in 2004, and "Mustang Sally", by Wilson Pickett, scored numbers 262 and 242 respectively.

Answer: Can't Help Falling in Love

From his 1962 movie, "Blue Hawaii", "Can't Help Falling in Love" was a number two hit for Elvis Presley, during the time when he had withdrawn from touring and was concentrating on making some pretty bad movies!
I am making a point of avoiding songs that were featured in the quizzes on the 2004 Countdown, but felt that an exception needed to be made for the song occupying the number one position. Presley has 31 songs on the 2005 Countdown.
Also by Presley, "Heartbreak Hotel" was number 77 in 2005, up from 84 in 2004, "Love Me Tender" was number 87, up from 120, and "Crying in the Chapel" scored numbers 392 and 463 respectively.