Boomers-The Formative Years (B-TFY) 4 Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This song was written and recorded by Hank Williams in 1950. It made it to number one on the US Country & Western (C&W) chart. That was tough because he had a lot of competition that year. From himself. Do you remember this one? "Ain't had no lovin' like a huggin' and a kissin' in a long, long while We don't get nearer or further or closer than a country mile"

Answer: Why Don't You Love Me

The song was used in the movie, "The Last Picture Show" based on the Larry McMurtry novel of the same name. McMurtry changed his name to McMurphy and starred in the Ken Kesey novel, "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest". He didn't follow up on this career. He preferred writing novels to being a character in one. He continued to write, including the novel, "Lonesome Dove" which was the source of the TV miniseries. Both book and miniseries were very good and they spawned a line of beauty products and ice cream bars. I didn't care for the cow pattie fragrance.

The 1950s belonged to Elvis and Hank. Hank had an additional dimension as he wrote most of his songs. Unfortunately Hank did not get a lot of air time in parts of the country.

2. This is a 1956 song written and recorded by Johnny Cash. You shouldn't need more than the lyric bit for this. What is it? "I keep a close watch on this heart of mine I keep my eyes wide open all the time I keep the ends out for the tie that binds"

Answer: I Walk the Line

Cash initiated writing the song while in the US Air Force, which you'll see if you watch the movie, "Walk the Line". He finished it later and recorded it. The movie starred Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash. We saw it outdoors on a large screen. We queued up to get in; everyone had to walk the line. It was a fine line to walk. Bonus question: Dialectically/phonetically speaking: When is a line not a line? The song made it to Number 17 on the US BB Chart and Number One on the C&W chart.

Answer: When he's telling the truth. So you might ask yourself, "Do lions speak?". And you might ask yourself, "Well...How did I get here? Letting the days go by. Let the water hold me down. Letting the days go by..."

3. This 1955 song was written by combinations of Frankie Lymon, Herman Santiago, Jimmy Merchant, George Goldner, and Marvin Levy, the combination depending on the timeframe or website you look at. The constants were Frankie Lymon and Herman Santiago. Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers released it in 1956 (04/1/1956?). Do you know it? "Tell me why, why, why Tell me why Why do birds sing so gay? And lovers await the break of day?"

Answer: Why Do Fools Fall In Love

It reached number one on the Rhythm and Blues (R&B) chart, number six on Billboard's Pop Singles chart and number two on US Cashbox chart so it was consistent. It did not crack the C&W charts. It was in the movie, "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" which was about three women, each claiming to be Frankie Lymon's widow. I never saw the movie but from the songs listed on the soundtrack, it would be worthwhile just for the music. I ain't lyin'. "The Longest Time" was a doo wop song by Billy Joel in the 1980s. Nostalgia isn't for the very young.

4. This 1956 song was written and recorded by Shirley Goodman and Leonard Lee. Per Music VF it was number 20 on the US charts and made number one on the R&B chart. Per TSort it made number 11 on the US BB Invalid chart. Not sure that is valid though. My criteria for selecting it were: "I remember it." and "I liked it." Do you know it? "Come on baby while the thrill is on Come on baby let us have some fun"

Answer: Let The Good Times Roll

"Let the good times roll" probably came from the Cajun expression, "Laissez les bon temps roulez. ("Leh-seh leh boh taw roo-leh" phonetically)" which you will recognize if you watch "NCIS- New Orleans". They rouler toute la nuit. Goodman and Lee did not have another really big hit other than this one. The song did appear in the movie, "Stand by Me". Growing up Catholic in the 50s, you were not supposed to thrill your soul that way. And so adieu to you and you and you.

5. Written by Gene Vincent, Donald Graves, Bill "Sheriff Tex" Davis in 1955. Credit for the writing is another rat's nest, but I am fairly sure it was written. There weren't any rockabilly Homers. Can you name it? "Well she's the girl in the red blue jeans. She's the queen of all the teens. She's the one that I know She's the one that loves me so."

Answer: Be-Bop-A-Lula

Released in 1956 by Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps, this song made it to number seven on the US BB Pop and number eight on R&B charts. I used to get Gene Vincent and Gene Pitney confused with each other until I realized that Vincent starts with a "V", not a "P". I don't believe it was recorded by Dizzy Gillespie or Charlie Parker but I could be wrong. I don't think Gene Vincent and his group recorded any of their jazz standards either.

The feeling was reciprocal. The song was listed as number 103 on the Rolling Stone's 500 "Greatest Songs of All Times".

6. The melody was written by Mar�a M�ndez Grever. Stanley Adams added English lyrics to it in 1934. Dinah Washington's version was released in 1959. She received a Grammy for it. It made number eight on BB Hot 100 and number four on the R&B chart. Title search.... and it is? "My yesterday was blue, dear Today I'm part of you, dear My lonely nights are through, dear Since you said you were mine"

Answer: What A Diff'rence A Day Makes

A beautiful song, Washington's version was used in the movie, "Casino". Tony Bennett's version was used in the movie, "One Fine Day". It is an oxymoron, a happy blues song. And if I know anything I know morons. I was raised on "Mad" magazine and remain a card carrying moron to this day. I'm still working on the "oxy" part though. If it pertains to an ox then what does an ox have to do with morons? It seems demeaning to the ox, a workhorse of an animal. If not then what is a sharp moron? Hey, it's another oxymoron.

7. This jazz tune was written by Erroll Garner in 1954 as an instrumental. The Erroll Garner Trio version hit the US BB at number 30. Johnny Burke added the lyric in 1955. Johnny Mathis recorded it in 1959. His version made the US BB 100 number 12 position. And it is? "Walk my way, And a thousand violins begin to play, Or it might be the sound of your hello, That music I hear,"

Answer: Misty

Garner's version made the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1991 and Mathis' in 2002. Ray Steven's version (Yes, that Ray Stevens.) won a Grammy for it in 1975 for its arrangement. The Garner version was used in the movie, "Play Misty for Me". That was the Clint Eastwood movie where he wasn't the scariest character, Jessica Walters was. She remains Unforgiven to this day. Misty is no relation to Mr. T.

8. The Tarriers and Harry Belafonte both released version of this song in 1956. The Tarriers' version reached number four on the pop chart and number 14 on the R&B chart outperforming Harry's but Harry had the last laugh, his version endured. What's your name? "Work all night on a drink of rum Daylight come and me wan' go home Stack banana till de morning come Daylight come and me wan' go home"

Answer: Day-O

I remember sound bites from Stan Freberg's 1957 version, "it's too shrill, it's too piercing, piercing" "I don't dig spiders" and "I come through the window". Does anybody remember comedy albums? Now a little known "fact" is while Freberg was in the studio, it so happened little Len Skinner was also there with his father. He was so impressed with Freberg and the recording it planted a seed in his head. Many years later Freberg morphed into "Freebird" and history was made.

Another doubtful tidbit, the Tarriers included a reference to Sikhism in their version, "Singh, me". I couldn't find a picture with them wearing turbans though. Finally, Alan Arkin was a member of the Tarriers. Of course he is better known as an actor and for his role in "The In-Laws" where he serpentined.

9. This song, "You, You, You", was written by Lotar Olias and Robert Mellin. Mellin wrote English lyrics. What group had a hit with it in 1953? "Take me in your arms please do, Let me cling to you you you. We were meant for each other To have to hold and to love."

Answer: The Ames Brothers

The four Ames brothers (FYI Zeppo and Gummo never sang) had a beautiful harmony. I remember hearing a lot of their songs, which included "Shadrack" and "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho". Those are two songs you do not find in many 50s singers' repertoire. They had quite a string of hits. Ed Ames went on to have a successful solo career. He also costarred in the TV show, "Daniel Boone" as Mingo. Another behind the scenes anecdote: Laurence Olivier was tired of being stereotyped, Shakespeare, Bront�, Austen, ... He auditioned for the part of Mingo but lost out to Ames, primarily because the latter had the better physique for the part. A footnote to the anecdote, Ames showed his prowess with the hatchet on the "Johnny Carson Show" which further justified the producer's decision. Olivier did break out of the mold in many films afterwards. One example was his role in the film, "Marathon Man". That film is to dentistry what "Jaws" is to swimming in the ocean and "Psycho" is to shower curtains.

For those of you taken aback by my stretching the truth past the breaking point, I quote, from RWE, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds..." and so we fade into the next question.

10. This song was part of the Broadway show, "Kismet". Robert Wright and George Forrest "wrote" the song the music of which was based on Borodin's String Quartet No 2 in D Major, second movement. Are you glittering? What is it? "I'll glitter and gleam so, Make somebody dream so, That someday he may buy me, A ring, ring-aling-a,"

Answer: Baubles, Bangles and Beads

The best-selling version of the song was recorded by Peggy Lee in 1954, who tinkered with the lyric. I had thought that the "Kismet" music was entirely based on the Polovetsian Dances and not other Borodin works. Another piece of knowledge gained. But my mind's a zero sum game now, for every piece of knowledge gained one must go, not always a fair trade. The Kirby Stone Four re-make hit the Billboard Top 100 in 1958 Sounds like a Mitch Miller version on drugs.

Now, where did I put my car keys?

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Source: Author gfitz47

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Yes, it's the 50s again and "twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe." The quiz that follows is more slithy than brillig, but I think you can enjoy it anyway. Suspend your intellect.

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