Famous Last Words - 1970s Edition Quiz

Answer: Venus

Dutch band Shocking Blue had their first and only U.S. number one with "Venus", which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for one week in February of 1970. The song was written by the band's guitarist Robbie van Leeuwen and was an international success, topping the charts in nine countries. Somewhat ironically, "Venus" stalled at number three in their home country, where the group would enjoy the majority of their success.

A 1986 version by the female pop group Bananarama was also extremely successful, reaching number one in several countries, including one week atop the Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: Everything I Own

"Everything I Own" was written by David Gates and recorded by his band Bread. The lyrics to the song would lead you to believe it's about a failed relationship, but Gates has stated it was actually written about the passing of his father. According to the book "1000 UK #1 Hits" by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, Gates said about his dad: "He was my biggest influence, so I decided to write "Everything I Own" about him. If you listen to the words, 'You sheltered me from harm, kept me warm, gave my life to me, set me free', it says it all." The song was the band's fifth single to reach the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number five in March of 1972.

Answer: Delta Dawn

"Delta Dawn" was written by Larry Collins and Alex Harvey, and was first recorded by Harvey in 1971. The following year country singer Tanya Tucker recorded a version of the song, and it became her first big hit, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1972. That same year record producer Tom Catalano recorded an instrumental track of the song, with the intention of having Barbra Streisand provide the vocals, but she turned him down, so Catalano offered it to Helen Reddy. "Delta Dawn" went on to become one of Reddy's biggest hits, peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in September of 1973.

It also became her first number one in her native Australia, spending five weeks atop the Australian singles chart.

Answer: Cat's in the Cradle

"Cat's in the Cradle" was co-written by Harry Chapin and his wife Sandy, and tells the story of a father who is too busy to spend time with his young son, and how the roles reverse as the son grows older. The music was composed by Harry, and the lyrics are based on a poem that was written by Sandy. "Cat's in the Cradle" was Harry Chapin's first and only number one single, reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in December of 1974.

Answer: Garden Party

Written and recorded by Rick Nelson, "Garden Party" describes events that occurred during his performance at a Rock & Roll oldies show at New York's Madison Square Garden in 1971. Nelson started out okay, performing his hits from the '50s and early '60s, but when he decided to throw in some new material he was booed, so Nelson cut his set short and left the stage.

The experience inspired him to write "Garden Party", which was his first U.S. top ten hit since 1963, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972.

Answer: Hotel California

Written by bandmates Don Felder, Don Henley and Glenn Frey, "Hotel California" became the Eagles' fourth single to top the Billboard Hot 100. Widely considered the group's best-known song, it has also garnered its share of accolades over the years. It not only won Record of the Year at the 1978 Grammy Awards, the song also ranked at number 49 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time", and was named one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. Over the years there have been many opinions in regards to the song's meaning, however, in the 2013 documentary "History of the Eagles", Henley said: "It's a song about a journey from innocence to experience, that's all."

Answer: 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

"50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" was one of Paul Simon's biggest hits as a solo artist, reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in February of 1976, spending three weeks at number one. Despite all of Simon's solo success, the song is his only number one on the Hot 100 to date. Simon says that there are 50 ways to leave your lover, but only five are mentioned in the lyrics; maybe someday he'll reveal the other 45.

Answer: Killer Queen

Written by lead singer Freddie Mercury, "Killer Queen" was a break-out hit in the U.S. for Queen, peaking at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May of 1975. The song was also an international hit for the group, climbing to number two on the U.K. Singles Chart, and reaching the top ten in several other countries. "Killer Queen" has made an impact outside the world of music as well.

In 2013, pop star Katie Perry helped create a perfume she called Killer Queen, and has stated that the fragrance was inspired by Freddie Mercury's lyrics.

Answer: Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves

"Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" was Cher's first number one hit as a solo artist, spending two weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in November of 1971. The song was part of a big comeback for the singer, who had not had a charting single, either alone or with her husband and singing partner Sonny Bono, since 1967.

Her career received a substantial boost in August of 1971 when she and Sonny starred in their own very successful variety show "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour", which ran for three seasons on CBS. During this time Cher would score two more number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, "Half Breed" in 1973, and "Dark Lady" in 1974.

Answer: Sundown

Written and recorded by Gordon Lightfoot, "Sundown" was his first and only number one single on the Billboard Hot 100, topping the chart for one week in June of 1974. For years there have been rumors that the song was inspired by Cathy Smith, the same Cathy Smith who spent 15 months in a California prison for causing the death of John Belushi, whom she injected with a lethal dose of heroin and cocaine in 1982. I'm not sure if the rumors are true or not, but in an interview with Smashing Interviews magazine Lightfoot did say: " I was writing on a farm and was with the lady I lived with at the time named Cathy Smith. Cathy was out with the girls, and she was supposed to be hanging out with me when I was writing my tunes. That was the night I wrote 'Sundown'."