Dynamic Duos Of 1960s Rock and Roll Quiz

Answer: Pretty Baby

"Pretty Baby" was sung by the men later known as Simon and Garfunkel, but when the tune was recorded in 1958, they were two callow teenagers just starting out and performing under the name of Tom and Jerry. The three well known songs not only made the top ten, they all went to number one.

The duo split up in 1970 to pursue solo careers amidst rumors of friction both public and private. Art Garfunkel became good friends with Jack Nicholson after earning a prominent role with him in the film "Carnal Knowledge" in 1971.

Answer: ('Til) I Kissed You

The Everly Brothers were rightly one of the first inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their beautifully blended vocal harmonies influenced and set the standard for countless rock and roll duos which followed them. "('Til) I Kissed You" was on the charts for thirteen weeks, rising as high as number four in the summer of 1959.

The Crickets, better known for backing Buddy Holly, were the musicians on this track. In addition to the three listed, "Bird Dog" also made number one in 1958 and the artists had TEN other top ten hits from the late 1950s through 1967.

Answer: Little Deuce Coupe

"Little Deuce Coupe" was a Brian Wilson composition recorded by The Beach Boys in 1963. Jan Berry and Dean Torrance recorded the other three songs. Both groups specialized in car and surf music in the 1960s; they knew each other's work, were friends, and even collaborated on some songs.

While the Beach Boys were far more influential, Jan and Dean had their moments with fifteen Billboard USA top 40 hits between 1958 and 1966, and were amused to be called "the clown princes of rock and roll" by Rolling Stone magazine.

Answer: You're The One

"You're The One" is a song title used many times by artists such as Petula Clark, The Black Keys and The Vogues, but not by The Brothers Righteous. Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield were born less than a month apart in 1940 and, judging from their powerful and perfectly compatible voices, were destined to sing together. To younger audiences, "Unchained Melody" is the most familiar of their songs, having been reborn on the soundtrack for the Movie "Ghost" in 1990. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and "Soul and Inspiration" were both smash number one Billboard USA hits. "Unchained Melody" reached number four when first released in 1965, then climbed back to thirteen during the movie run.

Answer: Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)

Sonny (Bono) and Cher (born Cherilyn Sarkisian) released eleven top 40 hits and six top ten hits, including the three other answer choices, between 1965 and 1972. Bang Bang was the first top ten hit for Cher as a solo performer (hint from the capitalized "AND"), although it was written by Bono.

It reached number two in 1966. Cher was married to Sonny from 1963-1975, then to Greg Allman of The Allman Brothers from 1975-1979. She has had a long running successful movie career, including an Oscar for "Moonstruck" in 1987. Sonny was mayor of Palm Springs, California 1988-1992, was elected to US Congress in 1994, then tragically died in a skiing accident in 1998.

Answer: When Something Is Wrong With My Baby

"When Something Is Wrong...", is a stellar slow number penned by the multi-talented Isaac Hayes along with David Porter in 1967. It only made it to number 42 on the Hot 100 chart, but hit number two on the Billboard USA R&B charts. "Hold On" and "Soul Man" both made number one on the R&B charts as well as being top 20 pop hits.

The latter tune experienced a resurgence in 1980 after being on the soundtrack for "The Blues Brothers" movie starring John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd, which introduced Sam & Dave to a new and more diverse audience and brought them a bit more much deserved recognition.

They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. "I Thank You" reached number nine on the Hot 100 in 1968.

Answer: I'm Your Puppet (1965)

James Purify from Pensacola and Bobby Lee Dickey from Tallahassee, were Florida cousins who formed their R&B vocal duo in the early 1960s. They had a few other minor hits such as "Shake A Tailfeather" (1967) but nothing close to "I'm Your Puppet" (1966) which reached number six on the Billboard USA Hot 100. Of the coed duets listed, "Hey Paula" actually reached number one, despite or perhaps because of being a rather sappy love ballad (teen angst, anyone?), whereas "Mountain's High," a stirring rocker by Dick and Dee Dee with some serious dynamism, especially in the bridge, had to be content with a number two peak. "I'm Leaving it Up To You" was recorded by Dale Houston and Grace Broussard, two lounge singers who met fortuitously on the scene in Louisiana and ended up making some sweet music together.

Answer: I Don't Want To See You Again

You could say it was all downhill after "World Without Love" which was the duo's first hit and which went to number one on the Billboard USA Hot 100 in early 1964. Still, they did score nine more top 40 hits in less than four years, including "I Go To Pieces (number nine)" written by Del Shannon and "Woman" by Paul McCartney. "I Don't Want To See You Again" reached number sixteen in late 1964.

The duo met in London, Peter Asher's hometown; Gordon (Waller) was from Scotland. "Lady Godiva," a tongue in cheek number about a well known naked ride, made number six in 1966.

Answer: A Summer Song

These boys also called London home. Interestingly, "Yesterday's Gone" was really their only hit in the UK. Their style seemed to fit better into the growing folk scene in the states in the mid 1960s. "A Summer Song'" their second single, reached number seven in the states. Sometime in 1965, the duo actually applied for US citizenship, but decided against it because of the possibility of being drafted into the Vietnam War effort (source: New Music Express-Rock'N'Roll Years vol. 1). Chad and Jeremy were involved in many musical and theatrical endeavors all through the 1980s, and were part of the PBS Pop-Rock reunion special of 2003.

As of 2010, they had been performing together for fifty years.

Answer: Gladys Knight

The Marvin Gaye story is familiar to most rock and roll fans- hugely charismatic and talented singer, songwriter and producer; one of Motown's brightest stars; shot dead by his erratic father, a former minister, following a tragically banal domestic argument; gone on to rock and roll heaven on April 1, 1984 at the age of 45.
Regarding his duets, it was Motown Records head man Berry Gordy's idea to pair his top male and female stars, and it definitely worked with Marvin Gaye. He was already riding high with solo hits like "Hitch Hike," "Pride and Joy," and "You're A Wonderful One" on the books. He cut two songs with Mary Wells which both made the top 20 of Billboard's Hot 100 and led to their collaborative album. Wells abruptly left Motown to pursue her solo career, so Marvin teamed with Kim Weston to record "What Good Am I Without You." Although not a major hit, the song upped Weston's cachet and led to "Take Me In Your Arms," her best solo record, and then a belated release in 1967, "It Takes Two," again with Marvin. Continuing a pattern, Weston also left Motown for greener pastures and Marvin found his artistic soulmate in Tammi Terrell, his ultimate singing partner. They made four albums and released so many great single records over the next four years that I will name only my favorite, "Ain't Nothing like the Real Thing."
Gladys Knight was a late arrival to Motown and thus was not paired with Marvin Gaye as a duet. She was originally thought of as second tier talent, but proved that assessment false with a dynamite version of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine," a classic Motown tune written by Barrett Strong and associated equally with Marvin Gaye.