Boomers-The Formative Years Quiz | 1950s Music

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This is a Lerner and Loewe song from "Paint Your Wagon", 1951. Do you recognize it? I'd sing you a clue but I can't carey a tune. "But then one day I left my gal I left her far behind me And now I'm lost, So gol' darn lost Not even God Can find me"

Answer: They Call the Wind Maria

Black Maria was/is a van used by the police to transport prisoners. Its Maria has the same pronunciation of Maria as the song. Which sounds better than they call the wind Muh-ree-uh 'cause that would morph into "West Side Story". It's better as Muh-"cup of coffee, ham on"-uh". Come to think of it, "Paint Your Wagon" is a Story about miners that takes place in the West Side of the USA. Coincidence or plagiarism, you decide.

It was considered a popular song yet it did not appear on the charts. It was recorded on The Kingston Trio album in 1959. It was also recorded on the Smothers Brothers' first album.

The movie version had Harve Presnell singing it. Besides Presnell, the movie had the renowned song stylists Clint Eastwood, Lee Marvin and Jean Seberg making the soundtrack unforgettable.

2. This folk song was written between 1906 and 1912 by Elizabeth Cotten in Chapel Hill, NC but it resurfaced in in 1957 as part of the folk revival. 'Fraid I can't help you more but can you identify it anyway? "When I die, Lorde, bury me deep Way down on old Chestnut street Then I can hear old Number 9 As she comes rolling by."

Answer: Freight Train

Answering this correctly is like hitting a three pointer from the half court line with one second left on the clock. The authors of the red herrings were Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Harry Nilsson.

Great song version by Cotten which I became familiar with by chance. I picked up a collection, "Folk Song America-A 20th Century Revival" which had it and other great folk songs.

The song made it to number six on the Billboard (BB) Hot 100 in 1957 but not Elizabeth's version, it was recorded by Rusty Draper. Speaking of Rusty, do you remember who Rusty Hamer was?

It was also recorded by Nancy Whiskey with the Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group in 1957 and reached number five in the UK. This recording seems otherworldly now. Skiffle it out on YouTube.

BTW, Nancy Whiskey was also a euphemism for whiskey, not an actual person, see Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem for a version.

Hamer played Danny Thomas's son on the show "Make Room for Daddy".

Well, I'm off to visit with Georgie Gin, see you at the next question.

3. This song is "Blue Suede Shoes" and the writer Carl Perkins, in 1956. Whose version rose higher on the BB Hot 100 that year? "But you can burn my house, steal my car Drink my liquor from an old fruit jar Do anything that you want to do But uh uh honey..."

Answer: Carl Perkins

This one was a layup.

Whose version you heard at the time depended on where you lived. In the Northeast it was all Elvis.

The Carl Perkins' version was one of the first rockabilly hit songs. It was on the BB charts for 21 weeks.

In a music vs lyric battle, music wins by a KO because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.

4. Thomas Land wrote the song circa 1929. In 1958 it made number one on BB Hot 100 for a week even though the story didn't take place in Boston. If you saw yer way right, naming it will be it a snap. Get it? "This time tomorrow Reckon where I'll be Hadn't a-been for Grayson I'd a-been in Tennessee"

Answer: Tom Dooley

It appears that this was based on a true story. Dooley was originally Dula. The name was changed to protect the guilty?   The Kingston Trio were folk when folk was cool.   Thomas Land wrote the song about the murder of Laura Foster which was the basis of the version in the 1950.

 Edward Land, no relation, invented the process which lead to the Polaroid camera. Mama don't take my Polaroid away.

5. Written in 1955, Dean Martin hit number one on the BB single charts in 1956. for five weeks. The lyric should nail it for you, so? "Don't forget a small moonbeam Fold in lightly with a dream Your lips and mine Two sips of wine"

Answer: Memories Are Made of This

Sweet, sweet. The song was written by Terry Gilkyson, Richard Dehr, and Frank Miller. You may remember Terry Gilkyson changed his name and became part of Monty Python and the Flying Circuits and also inspired the phrase "Gill I am" which may have influenced the good doctor. You could look it up.

Frank Miller was in "High Noon."

"Fr." Richard Dehr kept things cool.

All information regarding the persons in this in it are fictitious. Except Frank Miller was a character in "High Noon".

6. The Platters made it to number five on the BB Hot 100 chart and number one on the R&B chart with this 1955 song. I think you can get this one easily. Prove me right? "For it's true, you are my destiny When you hold my hand I understand the magic that you do"

Answer: Only You (And You Alone)

It was in "American Graffiti", in the scenes right after Milner beat Indiana Jones in drag race and Mr. Holland got a call from the blonde in the T Bird. Like all the songs in the movie, it was happily not sung by a cast member but was the original hit version.  

Buck Ram wrote the song, It solidified the on both charts for seven weeks on the Hot 100 and 30 weeks on the R&B.

7. This song was written and recorded in 1952 by Hank Williams, Hank Williams, Jr's father. Released in 1953, and the name would be? "When tears come down Like falling rain You'll toss around And call my name You'll walk the floor The way I do"

Answer: Your Cheatin' Heart

It was also the title of the movie about Hank Williams starring George Hamilton as Hank. I'm sorry George, but you're no Hank Williams.

Surprisingly, it made number two on the US charts, the Joni James version.

Williams' version was number one on the BB C&W chart for six weeks.

Other versions hit the charts also. Ray Charles' version in 1962 was number 29 on the BB Hot 100 and 23 on the R&B chart.

It's on Rolling Stones' list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.

Hank Williams was a find for me, great singer/songwriter. His version was much better than Joni's 'cause it don't mean a thang if it ain't got that twang.

8. This 1958 song was written by Jackie Taylor, James Beaumont, Janet Vogel, Joseph Rock, Joe VanScharnen, Lennie Martin, and Wally Lester. Plans and schemes, hopes and dreams or as "Roses's Turn" says... Got it? "I don't have happiness and I guess, I never will again When you walked out on me In walked old misery And he's been here since then"

Answer: Since I Don't Have You

Surprisingly, it didn't turn out to be a camel. They each wrote twenty seven words (my best estimate). Got them right too.

It made it to number twelve on US Billboard and it was sixty five on BB's year end hot 100 singles.

It don't mean a thing if you won't wear my ring.

Also featured in "American Graffiti".

9. Written by Alan Block, Donn Hecht, recorded by Patsy Cline in 1956 and released in 1957. Yes, Indeed, you can name that tune. "I stop to see a weepin' willow Cryin' on his pillow Maybe he's cryin' for me And as the skies turn gloomy Night winds whisper to me I'm lonesome as I can be"

Answer: Walkin' After Midnight

The esoteric clue was from Fats' "I'm Walkin'" but you really didn't need it.

This was Cline's first big hit but not her last.

Donn Hecht's life story might have fit into one of the Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur screenplays.

It appears that this was a one hit wonder for the writing duo. Course there are probably tens of thousands of no hit wonders, if not more.

10. This 1959 song was written by Giacomo Puccini, at least its melodic origin was. The song is "Don't You Know". The question is, from what was the origin? And for humming purposes: "Don't you know I have fallen in love with you For the rest of my whole life through Don't you know I was yours from the very day That you happened to come my way"

Answer: "Musetta's Waltz" from "La Boheme"

This pop version was written by Bobby Worth.

The Della Reese version reached number two on the US BB. A shorter version, the Pee Wee Della Reese version was never released.

Penalty stroke if you guessed "Theme from As the World Turns".

Source: Author gfitz47

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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Boomers-The Formative Years Trivia Quiz

1950s. There was a confluence of musical styles: pop, doo wop, swing, jazz, country R&B, folk, rock and roll, classical and polka and their subcategories. The distinctions blurred. It was an incredible time to enjoy music.

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