Greatest Songs, Team Pick Trivia Quiz

Answer: Woodstock

Joni Mitchell is an incredibly talented composer and singer with a lengthy number of credits to her name. To Joni's regret, her manager scheduled her on "The Dick Cavett Show" rather than letting her attend the 1969 Woodstock music festival. But her then-boyfriend Graham Nash--of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young--went, and raved to her afterwards about the experience, inspiring Joni to write the song. Mitchell released "Woodstock" on her "Ladies of the Canyon" album (1970).

It has been recorded by others, my personal favorite being Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's version on "Déjà Vu". Matthews Southern Comfort had a UK number one hit with their 1970 cover. -Question contributed by LBaggins.

Answer: Sailing

"Sailing" was originally released in 1972, composed by Gavin Sutherland of the Sutherland Brothers. Unfortunately for the brothers, the song was not successful. However, when Rod Stewart did his 1975 version, it became a number one hit in the UK, and remained there for four weeks. The album "Atlantic Crossing" also reached number one in the UK and number nine on the Billboard ratings.

Led Zeppelin sang, "The Ocean", a single on their 1973 album "Houses of the Holy". The Beach Boys sang, "Sail on Sailor" and it was on the 1973 album "Holland". The great Ozzie Osbourne sang "Flying High Again" which was a track on his 1981 album "Diary of a Madman".
-Jane57 authored this question.

Answer: Hotel California

"Hotel California", by the Eagles, was released as a single in February of 1977. It was written by band members Don Felder, Don Henley and Glenn Frey and is considered their most famous song.

...'Relax said the night man, We are programmed to receive. You can check out any time you like, But you can never leave!"

"Heartbreak Hotel" (1956) is sung by Elvis Presley. Hank Williams Jr. sang, "The Cheatin' Hotel" (2002). "The Last Frontier Hotel" (2003) is sung by Golden Earring.
-Question contributed by debbitts

Answer: Give My Regards to Broadway

Both the book and music for "Little Johnny Jones" were written by George M. Cohan. The song "Give My Regards to Broadway" is sung by Johnny Jones (originally portrayed by Cohan). More than 100 years old, the song has been re-recorded by many artists through the years as an anthem to Broadway and New York City.
-Question contributed by mlcmlc

Answer: Cherish

Recorded in a converted garage, "Cherish" is the word The Association's Terry Kirkman used to describe sweet longing and unrequited love. Released in 1966 it spent 3 weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100. It ranked number two on "Billboard" for the best song of 1966.

Ironically, "Cherish" is often used in weddings. It has been covered many times, including by the amazing Nina Simone (1967), a David Cassidy version (1972) that was a worldwide hit, and a slow, heartbroken 2012 cover by Rita Wilson which Kirkman told the "Huffington Post" most closely matches his original intent. The group played his 1966 original fast because it was too long for radio.

"Cherish" is one of radio's most air-played tunes and has a place on many "Top Songs of All Time" lists. The wrong answer options--"Unforgettable" "Believe" and "Magic"--are also timeless great songs.
-Godwit contributed this question

Answer: I Want to Break Free

"I Want to Break Free" (1984) was performed by Queen, written by bassist John Deacon in 1983. The video parody was controversial and banned some places in the US, and the song was only 45th on the US Billboard Hot 100. But in the UK, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands--where apparently they don't mind men cleaning in dresses--it topped the charts. Over 200,000 copies sold.

The film "Bohemian Rhapsody" (2018) celebrates their music and the life of the lead singer the late Freddie Mercury.
-Question contributed by xxFruitcakexx

Answer: The Knack

Sharona Alperin was the inspiration for "My Sharona". She was also the picture on the band's picture sleeve for the single, holding a copy of their debut album "Get the Knack". It is claimed that the song only took 15 minutes to write.

Berton Averre and Doug Fieger wrote the song, which held the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for 6 weeks.
-Question contributed by pmarney

Answer: All of My Love

This beautiful song makes me get tears in my eyes every time I listen to it. Robert Plant's son was just five when he tragically died from a stomach infection in 1977. "All of My Love" is on Led Zeppelin's album "In Through the Out Door", which went number one on Billboards charts in 1979.
-Question contributed by CindyK41

Answer: The Sound of Silence

The duo had broken up due to the failure of their debut album "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.", which included the song originally titled, "The Sounds of Silence". Some radio stations started playing the song, which led the producer Tom Wilson to remix the track. The remixed single was released in September 1965, after which Simon and Garfunkel were informed of the remixing. The song hitting number one prompted them to reunite and record their second album, "Sounds of Silence".
-Question contributed by debbitts

Answer: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" was on The Beatles' 1967 album, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." John Lennon said that his three-year-old son Julian showed him a drawing from school which he'd titled "Lucy--in the sky with diamonds", after a fellow student with whom he was infatuated (Lucy O'Donnell). Ringo Starr witnessed the moment, and Julian Lennon has since confirmed it, but hard line critics were determined that the LSD in the title were intended to promote the use of LSD-lysergic acid diethylamide, also known as "acid".

The lyrics to the song do contain fantastical elements. Lennon and McCartney said they were influenced in their writing by Lewis Carroll's "Alice and Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass".

For an extra painful experience, listen to William Shatner's version of the song. It made number one on a "Top 10 Musical Oddities" list.
-Question contributed by LBaggins.