Hal Has The Beat! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Jan and Dean

Written by Brian Wilson and Jan Berry, "Surf City" was the first surfing song to reach number one on national charts and was number one on Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks. It is said that Brian Wilson's Dad, Murray, was a bit perturbed that Brian "gave" the song to Jan and Dean, however, Brian hadn't been able to finish the song and reportedly was "proud" that a song he had written did so well on the charts.

Hal Blaine not only played on 40 hit singles, but he also performed on 150 top ten hits.

Answer: The Beach Boys

Brian Wilson and Mike Love wrote this song, and it became the group's first number one hit, reaching the spot on both US Billboard Hot 100 and Canadian RPM Singles Chart. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2017.

In this song, Hal played the timbales, which looks like a type of tom tom drum with brushes. Interestingly, another member of the Wrecking Crew who would go on to enjoy a successful solo career, Glen Campbell, played the 6-string electric bass guitar on the original recording.

Answer: The Byrds

"Mr. Tambourine Man" was written and originally recorded by Bob Dylan, but the single recorded by The Byrds in the same year went to number one on Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart. The song was their debut single and was also the title track of their first album.

Hal Blaine carried a rubber stamp with him that said "Hal Blaine Strikes Again" and used it to mark both the musical charts and walls of the places he played. Some artists from the same era have said that every studio of the time had his stamp on the wall!

Answer: The Mamas & The Papas

Written by John Phillips, who claimed it only took twenty minutes to write, "Monday, Monday" was the only single of The Mamas and Papas to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It earned the group a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1967.

According to his biography, Hal Blaine has played on "more hit records than any drummer in the rock era". In 2010 he became a member of the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame.

Answer: The Supremes

"The Happening" was written by Lamont Dozier, brothers Brian and Eddie Holland, and Frank De Vol as the theme song of a movie of the same name that was also released in 1967. It was the tenth number one single for the Supremes to date and reach the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May of that year. After that hit, the Supremes became known as Diana Ross & the Supremes.

Hal Blaine also played drums on Diana Ross's 1976 hit, "Theme from Mahogany".

Answer: The Association

"Windy" was written by Ruthann Friedman and was a number one hit on Billboard Hot 100 in July of 1967. The song has sparked a debate as to who exactly provided the inspiration for "Windy"; Friedman said that one day the idea just popped into her head. It was the second number one hit for The Association after "Cherish" in 1966.

Hal Blaine played drums on the 1962 number two hit "Be My Baby" by The Ronettes. Max Weinberg, drummer for the E Street Band, wrote that even if Blaine had only played drums on that one song "his name would still be uttered with reverence and respect for the power of his big beat".

Answer: Simon & Garfunkel

Written by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, "Mrs. Robinson" was used in the movie, "The Graduate", (1967), and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The song won the pair two Grammy Awards in 1969.

Hal Blaine also played percussion on Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" in 1970.

Answer: The Partridge Family

Tony Romeo wrote "I Think I Love You" in 1970, and it became the debut single of The Partridge Family the same year, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in November. David Cassidy and Shirley Jones are said to be the only cast members of the television series who actually sang on the record.

Hal Blaine also played in number one hits for the likes of Dean Martin, "Everybody Loves Somebody" in 1964, Nancy Sinatra, "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" (1966), and her famous father, Frank, "Strangers in the Night" (1966).

Answer: The Carpenters

Written by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis, "Top of the World" stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks. Interestingly, it was released first as a single by Lynn Anderson, becoming number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country singles chart, and was not planned to be used by The Carpenters as a single release.

It rather surprised me to see Hal Blaine's name on this song, as I can't remember a time that I didn't see Karen Carpenter playing the drums during a performance. Credits for the song, however, claim that Karen sang lead and backing vocals, and Hal played brushed drums for the number. He also performed on "Close to You" in 1970.

Answer: Captain & Tennille

"Love Will Keep Us Together" was written by Howard Greenfield and Neil Sedaka, who first released it in 1973. The version released by Captain and Tennille was number one on both Billboard Easy Listening Chart and Billboard Pop Chart in 1975. The best -selling single in the United States in 1975, the hit also won a Grammy in 1976 for Record of the Year.

Hal Blaine became a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2000. According to his numbers, he has played on over 35,000 recorded tracks of music.