Gospel Music on the Billboard Charts Quiz

Answer: Darrell Glenn

"Crying in the Chapel" was written by Artie Glenn for his son Darrell. Darrell recorded it while he was still in high school in 1953. He was backed by his father's band called the Rhythm Riders. It was a regional hit that soon became popular nationally. That same year the Orioles recorded it and it became a major success for the black R&B group. Songstress June Valli recorded it for RCA later in 1953. Rex Allen's version was also recorded in the fifties and made the top ten. Elvis Presley recorded a rendition of the song for his 1960 Gospel album "His Hand in Mine" but it was left off the final album release.

In 1965 RCA released Elvis' recording of the song as a single.

Answer: Ocean

"Put Your Hand in the Hand" was composed by Gene MacLellan. It was released as a single from the album "Put Your Hand in the Hand" by the band Ocean. The Toronto-based band members were singer Janice Brown, singer-keyboardist Greg Brown, bassist Jeff Jones, guitarist Dave Tamblyn and drummer Chuck Slater.

In addition to hitting the number two spot, "Put Your Hand in the Hand" was also the 22nd best-seller of the year. The song was covered later in the 1970s by a number of other performers such as Anne Murray, Elvis Presley, Randy Stonehill, Donny Hathaway, Joan Baez and a German language version titled "Ich Fand Eine Hand" by Cindy and Bert. Anne Murray scored another big hit with a MacLellan composition called "Snowbird". Gene MacLellan once played with Robbie Robertson in The Suedes and The Consuls.

The song's main title was used for the dance group Divine Inspiration's 2003 hit, "The Way (Put Your Hand In My Hand)", which hit number five on the UK singles chart. Celebration and the Bishops are Southern Gospel groups. Gaither Vocal Band was formed in 1980.

Answer: I'll Take You there

"I'll Take You There" is from the group's sixteenth album "Be Altitude: Respect Yourself". It features lead singer Mavis Staples inviting listeners to seek heaven. The song is in the call-and-response Gospel style. The album was recorded in 1972 on the Stax label and features the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.

The Staple Singers featured Roebuck "Pops" Staples and his daughters Mavis, Cleotha and Yvonne. The group had been performing since they signed their first professional contract in 1952 and had recorded for United Records and Epic before recording with Stax. "I'll Take You There" returned to number one on the R&B chart in 1992 when it was done by Bebe and Cece Winans. Mavis Staples was featured as a guest artist on their recording. "Lean on Me" was a 1972 number one for Bill Withers. "Hold Your Head Up" was a top five in 1972 by former Zombie Rod Argent. "Look What You Done For Me" was a top five in 1972 for Al Green.

Answer: Oh Happy Day

"Oh Happy Day" received a Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance. Dorothy Coombs Morrison sang lead vocal backed by a choir of over 40 members. The song was recorded live in 1967 at the Ephesian Church of God in Christ located in Berkeley, California.

It was initially on an independent label LP titled "Let us go Into the House of the Lord". It was subsequently released commercially as a single on Pavilion Records and was on the Buddah Records LP "Oh Happy Day" when it charted in 1969. Movies that use the song in the soundtrack include "Sister Act 2", "Big Momma's House", "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps" and David LaChapelle's 2005 movie "RIZE". "Get Together" was a hippie anthem by the Youngbloods the same year. "You've Made Me So Very Happy" is a 1969 love song by Blood Sweat and Tears and Mama Cass sang the secular song "It's Getting Better" in 1969.

Answer: Father Sebastian

"Father Sebastian" reached number 21 in August of 1964 for the Canadian group The Ramblers. It was written by Nancie Mantz and Keith Colley and recorded on the Almont label and. In the verse of the song the singer asks Father Sebastian if his friend's girlfriend will return to him. Donovan sang "Jennifer Juniper" in 1968. "Father Lucifer" is a Tori Amos hit and Father McKenzie is the priest in the Beatles song "Eleanor Rigby".

Answer: Byrds

"Jesus Is Just Alright" was written in 1969 by Arthur Reid Reynolds. The song was included on The Byrds' 1969 album "Ballad of Easy Rider" and released as the second single from the album, backed by their version of Bob Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue".

It barely dented the Billboard charts, peaking at number 97. Psychedelic group Underground Sunshine released their version of the tune as a single in 1970 and it failed to even chart at all. The tune was covered by The Doobie Brothers on "Toulouse Street" and was coincidentally released as the second single from that album.

Their version reached number 35 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in February, 1973. In 1992 Christian rock group dc Talk recorded a version of the tune for their album "Free at Last" and filmed a music video for the song.

This rendition follows the Doobie Brothers' version but adds rapped verses and samples. The song was covered again in 2006 by Robert Randolph for his "Colorblind" album which features Eric Clapton on the cut.

Answer: Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band

When the psychedelic jug band Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band split up, Greenbaum got a solo contract with producer Erik Jacobsen. Jacobsen had previously managed The Lovin' Spoonful. Greenbaum said he was inspired to write the song after watching Porter Wagoner singing a gospel song on his television show. "Spirit in the Sky" was written in 15 minutes and contains lyrics about the afterlife while making references to Jesus. Greenbaum is actually Jewish. Rolling Stone ranked "Spirit in the Sky" number 333 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

The song is featured in too many movies to list including "Superstar", "Contact", "Apollo 13", "Ocean's Eleven", "Forrest Gump", "Evan Almighty", and "When I Die". "Spirit in the Sky" is played at Anaheim Angels home games as the starting lineups are announced.

The Manchester band The Cheetahs covered the song on their album. In 1986 Doctor and the Medics released a version which went to number one in the UK.

Answer: The Lord's Prayer

Sister Janet Mead is an Australian Roman Catholic nun who formed a band called The Rock Band when she was 17 to provide music for the weekly mass at her local church. She studied piano at the Adelaide Conservatorium before joining the Sisters of Mercy order.

She became a music teacher at two Catholic schools and began to explore the "rock mass" concept in the early 1970s in an effort to make the Catholic Mass more appealing to younger students. This led to making professional recordings of her music for schools and churches.

In 1973 she went to Sydney to record a cover of the Donovan song "Brother Sun, Sister Moon". Producer Martin Erdman wanted her to record a rocked-up arrangement of "The Lord's Prayer" to serve as the flip side. That recording became the first Australian recording to sell over a million copies in the US. Sister Janet Mead donated her share of the royalties to charity. Festival Records used their portion of the proceeds to renovate their studios.

Answer: He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

Laurie London was only thirteen he recorded the up-tempo version of the traditional spiritual "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" backed by the Geoff Love Orchestra. The Parlophone recording was picked up by American label Capitol Records. In April, 1958, it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and remained there for 4 weeks.

It was British-born London's only only hit record and he retired from singing at age nineteen. Other versions have been recorded by Marian Anderson, Odetta, Perry Como and Nina Simone.

The Sisters of Mercy performed the song at the Reading Festival in 1991. "Three Stars" was done by Tommy Dee and Carol Kay in 1959. "Michael" is an old slave spiritual done by The Highwaymen. "Ten Commandments of Love" is a doo-wop era hit by The Moonglows.

Answer: "How Great Thou Art" Recorded Live in Memphis

Elvis Presley was born and raised in the Bible Belt and was very knowledgeable about religious matters. He held Bible studies at his home in Bel Air, California, while making films. In the seventies he started to include more Gospel songs in his concerts and had the Gospel groups the Imperials, the Sweet Inspirations and J.D. Sumner and the Stamps as his backing singers. Elvis won a Grammy for Best Sacred Performance 1967 for his "How Great Thou Art" album, Best Inspirational Performance in 1972 for the "He Touched Me" album and Best Inspirational Performance Song in 1974 for "'How Great Thou Art' Recorded Live in Memphis". "His Hand in Mine" was Elvis Presley's first RCA Victor Gospel album.

The 1960 release was a follow-up to his 1957 Extended Play release "Peace In The Valley". "Amazing Grace" is the title of his greatest sacred performances compilation album.