From Flop to the Top Forty Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hanky Panky

Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich wrote "Hanky Panky" in 1963 and recorded the song as The Raindrops. The Shondells recorded a cover version for an Ohio label called Snap Records. Lacking promotion, the song was only a regional success. The record was discovered by a Pittsburgh Dee-Jay the following year but initial efforts to get a major label to promote the song failed. Roulette Records eventually signed Tommy James and James formed another band to promote the record in live venues.

By the middle of the summer in 1966 the song reached Number One in the US. "Mony Mony" was a 1968 single, "I Think We're Alone Now" was a 1967 hit by Tommy James and the Shondells and "Crystal Blue Persuasion" was a 1969 release.

Answer: Duane Allman

After meeting during an Allman Brothers concert in 1970 Eric Clapton and Duane Allman connected musically. Allman composed the riff that would become the opening signature riff to "Layla". Allman also played slide guitar during the "Layla" recording sessions.

The song was originally recorded for the "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs" album in 1970. The length of the song prohibited significant radio play. "Layla" was later included on the 1972 compilation "The History of Eric Clapton" and re-released as a single, reaching Number Seven in the US and Number Ten in the UK. In 1983 Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck performed "Layla" live for a benefit at the Royal Albert Hall. All three guitarists had been members of The Yardbirds.

Answer: Todd Rundgren

Todd Rundgren was influenced by Laura Nyro and recorded a slow version of his composition of "Hello it's Me" for the B-side of Nazz's debut 1968 single "Open My Eyes". It was a regional success in the Boston area but only reached Number 66 nationally. When he recorded a faster rendition for his 1972 solo album the song found renewed interest and made the US Top Ten. It became Rundgren's highest charting solo single.
Among the notable performers on his single version recording were Vicki Sue Robinsion ("Turn the Beat Around-1976") and Randy and Michael Brecker playing horns.
Robert "Stewkey" Antoni was the keyboardist for Nazz. Dave Mason worked with members of Nazz when they formed Utopia. Roger Powell played keyboards with Utopia.

Answer: Nights in White Satin

"Nights in White Satin" was composed by Justin Hayward when he was only 19 years old. When it was initially recorded the London Festival Orchestra provided the orchestral backing and keyboard player Mike Pinder vocalized the spoken word section at the end of the song.

The song was included on the band's second album "Days of Future Passed" (1967). Although it was successful in England it peaked at Number 103 in the US when released in 1968. The 1972 re-release went Gold in the US. "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)" went to Number 12 in 1973. "Go Now" was the band's US debut Top Ten in 1965.

The Number 24 "Tuesday Afternoon" hit the charts in 1968.

Answer: Saturday Night Fever

"Disco Inferno" was recorded in 1976 and released by The Trammps as a single. The song did well on the Disco charts and the Black Singles chart but didn't fare well on the Billboard charts. An 11-minute version was included on the soundtrack to "Saturday Night Fever" that gave the song national exposure.
The song was later included on the soundtrack of the 1996 film "Kingpin".
The Philadelphia based Trammps had their first hit in 1972 with a cover version of "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart" and followed with "Love Epidemic" in 1973.
The inspiration for Leroy Green and Ron Kersey composing "Disco Inferno" came from watching a disco burn in "The Towering Inferno".
"Skatetown, U.S.A." was a 1979 release and "Staying Alive" was the 1983 sequel to "Saturday Night Fever".

Answer: Melinda

"Melinda was mine 'til the time that I found her holding Jim, loving him" was the opening line to "Solitary Man", written by Neil Diamond.
"Solitary Man" was Neil Diamond's debut single when he was recording for Bang Records. It was a release from his first album, "The Feel of Neil Diamond". When Diamond later signed with Uni Records the label released the song again as a single in the summer of 1970 and it made it to Number 21. "Solitary Man" has been covered by several artists including Billy Joe Royal, Johnny Rivers, Johnny Cash and Chris Isaak.
"Cecilia" by Simon & Garfunkel reached Number Four in 1970. Michael Nesmith and The First National Band had a Number 21 hit with "Joanne" the same year. "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" by Edison Lighthouse was a 1970 Top Ten hit.

Answer: Boston

Steven Tyler gradually composed "Dream On" over a number of years. The band was formed in 1970 as The Jam Band in Boston. Guitarist Joe Perry and bassist Tom Hamilton met Steven Tyler, drummer Joey Kramer and formed Aerosmith. In 1971 Brad Whitford joined and Aerosmith soon gained a large following in Boston.

In 1972 Columbia Records signed Aerosmith and the band released their eponymous album the following year. They followed with "Get Your Wings" (1974), "Toys in the Attic" (1975) and "Rocks" in 1976. Aerosmith continued to release albums and has gone on to sell more than 150 million records worldwide.

They sent six songs into the Top Ten before their first Number One in the US came in 1998 with "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing".

Answer: Please Please Me

"Please Please Me" was composed by John Lennon in an effort to compose a Roy Orbison style tune. Roy had been on the concert bill with The Beatles early in their career. Several labels turned down the offer to release "Please Please Me" in the US. In February of 1963 Vee-Jay Records took the rights to the song and released it in the US misspelling the artists as "The Beattles". It received airplay in Chicago but was not picked up by any national charts.
After The Beatles exploded with "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You" in early 1964 "Please Please Me" was re-released and peaked at Number Three.
"Love Me Do" topped the US charts in 1964. "P.S. I Love You" was a 1964 US Number Ten single. "I'll Get You" was the flip side of "She Loves You".

Answer: Harry Nilsson

When "Everybody's Talkin'" was featured in the 1969 film "Midnight Cowboy" it became Harry Nilsson's first US Top Ten single and garnered him a Grammy. The song was written by Fred Neil and included on his self titled album in 1966.
When the director of "Midnight Cowboy" was considering music for the soundtrack Nilsson recommended "I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City". Director John Schlesinger selected "Everybody's Talkin'" and the song became the movie's theme.
Fred Neil released an album in 1969 titled "Everybody's Talkin'" and when it failed to become success he retired to Coconut Grove, Florida.
Glen Campbell had a hit with "Galveston" in 1969. "Games People Play" by Joe South reached Number 12 in 1969 and "Good Morning Starshine" was a 1969 Top Ten by Oliver.

Answer: Dedicated to the One I Love

When The Shirelles recorded "Dedicated to the One I Love" in 1959 the lead vocal was sung by Doris Coley Kenner instead of lead singer Shirley Owens Alston. "Dedicated to the One I Love" was originally a 1957 hit for The 5 Royales and co-written by their guitarist Lowman Pauling with Ralph Bass. The Shirelles recorded a 1959 cover version that barely dented the charts until it was re-released two years later.
Ironically when The Mamas and Papas released the song in 1967 they chose Michelle Phillips to sing lead instead of Mama Cass Elliot. Their version reached Number Two.
"Will You Love Me Tomorrow" (1960) was The Shirelles' first Number One hit. "Baby It's You" was a 1961 Top Ten for the group and the Top Ten "Foolish Little Girl" came out in 1963.