Great American Songbook Plus (GASP) #2 Multiple Choice Quiz | Music

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Published in 1926, this was one of the songs featured in the movie "Pete Kelly's Blues", sung by Peggy Lee. Lyrics include the following, and the name is? "No one here can love And understand me Oh, what hard luck stories They all hand me"

Answer: Bye Bye Blackbird

Ray Henderson and Mort Dixon wrote the song.

"Pete Kelly's Blues" starred Jack Webb of television show, "Dragnet", fame. There were two priceless parodies of "Dragnet", one by Johnny Carson and Jack Webb and the other by Stan Freberg. These are just the facts, ma'am.

Probably Peggy Lee's most recognized song was the "Siamese Cat Song". I heard it when I had the flu or it may have been a fever.

2. This song was featured in the Frank Loesser musical, "The Most Happy Fella" in 1956. "I'm the cat that got the cream Haven't got a girl but I can dream Haven't got a girl but I can wish So I'll take me down to Main street And that's where I select my imaginary dish"

Answer: Standing on the Corner

The Four Lads had a hit with this song in 1956. For them it was a moment to remember.

"The Most Happy Fella" had a run of 678 performances but it was one of Frank's lesser efforts. Besides "Most Happy Fella" it included the song "Big "D"". Little a. Double l, a. s.

3. From the 1934 musical, "Anything Goes" comes this duet. The song is yours to guess. Music and lyrics were by Cole Porter. This was no Mickey Mouse tune, it was very popular in its day. Durante said so. It was as popular as cellophane or Ovaltine. And the winner is? "At words poetic I'm so pathetic That I always have found it best Instead of getting 'em off my chest To let 'em rest, unexpressed"

Answer: You're the Top

The original book was a product of Bolton and Wodehouse. Wodehouse was the creator of the "Jeeves" books and also responsible for some good quotes, such as "He was a tubby little chap who looked as if he had been poured into his clothes and had forgotten to say 'when!'" He's worth a Google or two.

Also getting plugs in the song were the Colosseum, Louvre, Strauss Bendel, Shakespeare, Nile, Tower of Pisa, Mona Lisa, Vincent Yuma's, Mahatma Ghandi, Napoleon Brandy, Spain, National Gallery, Garbo, Derby winner, Arrow collar, Coolidge dollar, Fred Astaire, O,Neill, Whistler, Camembert, Dante,Bali, Botticelli, Keats, Shelly, Ovaltine, Boulder Dam, Mae West and the GOP. Phew.

4. From the 1940 musical "Pal Joey" comes this song, "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" courtesy of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. Can you identify the next phrase in the song? "After one whole quart of brandy Like a daisy I awake With no Bromo Seltzer handy, I don't even shake. Men are not a new sensation; I've done pretty well, I think. But this half-pint imitation Put me on the blink, I'm wild again Beguiled again ..."

Answer: A simpering, whimpering child again

The cad, Joey, was played by Gene Kelly on Broadway. Frank Sinatra played him in the movie. Recordings were made by Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand, Carly Simon, Sinead O'Connor, Frederica von Stade, The Supremes, Ronnie Milsap, Rufus Wainwright, and Lady Gaga among others. That is a pretty broad spectrum of styles. To my knowledge no one was wearing a meat dress while recording it.

5. This song by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz was written for a 1929 musical review. I just missed that performance, but I did catch it in the movie "The Band Wagon" Tough one. Guess? "Before I knew where I was at I found myself upon the shelf and that was that I tried to reach the moon but when I got there All that I could get was the air My feet are back upon the ground I lost the one girl I'd found"

Answer: I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan

I know, you had it at "Before". Fred Astaire and Jack Buchanan hoofed it in the movie.

"The Band Wagon" is probably one of the best movie musicals few have ever seen. The plot revolves around a hoofer (Fred Astaire) and a ballet dancer (Cyd Charisse) brought together by an egotistical producer director (Jack Buchanan) for a musical production of "Faust". Faust flops hilariously but the show morphs into a revue which is a big success. Besides the principles, cast included Nannette Fabray and Oscar Levant. Or was it Comden and Green? Must see from the movie, "Triplets". You'll find it either fascinating or creepy.

6. The song was written for a movie and then shelved when the movie didn't get made. However it was resurrected in 1951 for the movie, "Here Comes the Groom" and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song beating out "A Kiss to Build a Dream On". What song is it? "When the party's getting a glow on And singin' fills the air In the shank of the night When the doin's are right Well, you can tell 'em I'll be there I like a barbecue, I like to boil a ham And I vote for bouillabaisse stew What's that? I like a weenie bake Steak and a layer cake"

Answer: In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening

Bing Crosby recorded the song and it made the Billboard best seller chart.

I have a recollection of seeing Bing and his co-star, Jane Wyman singing the song but that is not a totally reliable source as there is a lot of information ricocheting in my mind and there are collisions.

One version of the lyric on line had "bola baste" instead of "bouillabaisse". I went with the bouillabaisse, the other sounded fishier.

7. This 1938 Rodgers and Hart song was written for the musical "I Married an Angel". Can you get it from the intro? "Once there was a thing called spring when the world was writing verses like yours and mine. All the lads and girls would sing when we set at little tables and drank May wine. Now April May and June are sadly out of tune life has stuck the pin in the balloon."

Answer: Spring Is Here

"Spring Is Here" is beautiful, plaintive song. It deserved a better setting than "I Married an Angel". It was and is a popular song given the number of musicians who recorded it.

8. This 1949 song was in the Broadway musical of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and the movie of the same name. It was written by Jule Styne and Leo Robin. Get it? "The French are glad to die for love. They delight in fighting duels But I prefer a man who lives And gives expensive jewels."

Answer: Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend

Carol Channing sang it in the original musical and Marilyn Monroe in the movie. Both renditions were spot on.

Leo Robin also wrote lyrics that became theme songs for two comedians, Jack Benny and Bob Hope. Do you know what they are?* I wonder what he would have written for Andy Kaufmann? Would it have been better than "Mighty Mouse"?

Jule Styne wrote the music and should have an "s" at the end of his first name. He wrote music for "Gypsy", "Bells are Ringing", "Peter Pan" and "Funny Girl" among others. He was born in London and moved to the London of the USA, Chicago, when he was a child.

*(Answers: "Love in Bloom" and "Thanks for the Memories")

9. This 1928 song was written by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields for a revue. Name the song. "Scheme a while, dream a while You're sure to find happiness and I guess All those things you always pined for Now, gee I love to see you looking' swell, baby Diamond bracelets Woolworth doesn't sell, baby"

Answer: I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby

This was their first big hit. They also wrote, "On the Sunny Side of the Street", "Exactly Like You" and "Don't Blame Me".

The song was also used in the movie "Bringing Up Baby". In the movie, Baby was a leopard, Cary Grant was a paleontologist and Katherine was an heiress. Cary Grant eventually teamed up with Alfred Hitchcock for four classic movies. Katherine Hepburn teamed up with Spencer Tracy for nine movies and a beautiful life together. Baby eventually evolved and became a character in "Dirty Dancing" played by Jennifer Grey. Jerry Orbach played her father. Fantastick!

10. This is a 1949 tune from Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein from one of their musicals. Are you clued in? "Who can explain it? Who can tell you why? Fools give you reasons, Wise men never try."

Answer: Some Enchanted Evening

The original cast of "South Pacific" included Elio Pinza as Emile de Becque who sang "Some Enchanted Evening" This was the best recording I've heard to date. Giorgio Tozzi sang the song in the movie which was good, especially considering if it hadn't been dubbed Rossana Brazzi would have sung it instead. DeBecque is a French name yet Pinza, Tozzi and Brazzi are Italian. Weren't Maurice Chevalier, Charles Aznavour or Marcel Marceau available?

11. This 1939 song by Jerry Livingston, Al Neiberg, and Marty Symes did not make number one that year. Actually, it didn't make the top 100. It had some stiff competition, "Over the Rainbow", "Moonlight Serenade", "God Bless America", "Strange Fruit", "When the Saints Go Marching In" and "Lydia, The Tattooed Lady". Tough question. Can you fill in the missing lyric which is also the song title? "_____ _ _______ __ ____ Just you and I beneath the stars Wrapped in the arms of sweet romance The night is ours"

Answer: Under a Blanket of Blue

It was in the 1945 movie "Bells of Rosarita" starring Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Dale sang it without the help of Roy or Buttermilk.

"Lydia, The Tattooed Lady" was sung by Groucho in the movie "At the Circus". Kermit covered it on the "Muppet Show".

Jerry Livingston also wrote "Mairzy Doats", "The Twelfth of Never", "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo" and "The Unbirthday Song".

12. This 1934 song by Vernon Duke was written for a Broadway show, "Thumbs Up". I looked through the charts and the only appearance I found was one for 1949 where it made it to number 27. But the fallout of the rankings are contradicted by how often it has been recorded. Complete the lyric and you get the title. Do you know it? "________________, why does it seem so inviting? ________________, it spells the thrill of first-nighting. Glittering crowds and shimmering clouds in canyons of steel; they're making me feel: I'm home."

Answer: Autumn in New York

I'm speechless. Will you be spared? Wait, no reprieve from the governor. Vernon Duke (Nee Vladiminr Dukelsky) was born in Prafianovo, Russia. His family arrived in New York in 1921. Fortunately, unlike Vito Andolini he did not get named after his birth place.

He wrote popular music as Vernon Duke but used Dukelsky for classical compositions. There is no basis for the rumor that he was the Duke of Earl mentioned in the 1960s song of the same name.

13. This begins the Plus territory with a folk/social song. It is a 1970 song by Joni Mitchell. It's not in the GAS because it isn't in the nominal time period. Joni is a Canadian so GNASP 2 might be more accurate. In any case the song is great. Can you remember the name? "They paved paradise And put up a parking lot With a pink hotel, a boutique And a swinging hot spot Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got 'Till it's gone They paved paradise And put up a parking lot"

Answer: Big Yellow Taxi

The song was purportedly about the effect of mankind on the environment. One website said Joni was inspired on a visit to Hawaii.

One reason this song and its ilk may not be considered as a GAS is that folk songs don't always get covered outside their genre. So for example I couldn't find any jazz arrangements of the "Taxi". Nor did Sinatra, Bennett or The Supremes record it. Still great though.

"Paradise" is the John Prine song, also very interesting. It takes a different view of environmental harm. I don't think the Mr. Peabody referenced therein was the same one as the one of "Rocky and Bullwinkle" fame.

Finally, what a great ending to the recording Joni!

14. "Cold, Cold Heart". American song. Check. Between 1920 and 1960. Check. GAS, probably not, after all it was country when country wasn't cool. Hank Williams had a hit with this song in 1951. It reached number one on the country charts. But someone else reached number one with the song on Billboard's Best Sellers chart that year. Who?

Answer: Tony Bennett

Given that Tony Bennett had a number one hit with it, it might have made the GAS.

Now if he had recorded "Kaw-Liga" that would have been something.

"Cold, Cold Heart" also made it into the movie, "Apache Country" sung by Gene Autry and Carolina Cotton. Champion was in the credits for the movie (second billing?), Champion did not get a credit on the song but I cannot confirm or deny this.

15. Last up, this song written by Al Cleveland, Obie Benson and Marvin Gaye was released in 1971. Marvin Gaye had a big hit with it. Rolling Stone had ranked it as the fourth greatest song ever. "Mother, mother There's too many of you crying Brother, brother, brother There's far too many of you dying You know we've got to find a way To bring some lovin' here today"

Answer: What's Goin' On

Here is another song with a great lyric. It's the end, time to shut off the TV, radio, computer and other distractions and go sit out on the porch with a beverage and contemplate, "What's going on?"

Source: Author gfitz47

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Great American Songbook Plus (GASP) #2 Quiz

Twelve questions on the "Great American Songbook" (GAS) plus three of my nominees. The "Plus" refers to stretching the envelope of the classical GAS, with bias, to include other worthy songs.

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