Have You Never Been Mellow? Trivia Quiz

Answer: "Dreamweaver" by Gary Wright

This all keyboard/synthesizer song hit the charts in 1975, off of Wright's album "The Dream Weaver." Even though Gary Wright acquired a degree in post graduate psychology (Frei University, Berlin, Germany, 1966), he found his true career through writing and performing his own music.

Answer: "If" by Bread

This beautiful song was written by David Gates of the group Bread. The group's beginning was "an accident," described as a "chance encounter among creative musicians who got together in late 1969 to explore a new escape from the supercharged notes exploding from over-juiced amps in those electronically inspired, frenzied days of rock." (Quote taken from an early advertising folder of the 1970s).
This song hit the charts in 1971.

Answer: "Sara Smile" by Darryl Hall and John Oates

This song came out in 1975. Here is an interesting bit of trivia: While students at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, Hall and Oates first met in a freight elevator at the Aldelphi Ballroom where they were fleeing from a gang fight during a dance, where Hall was leading his own band, The Temptones and Oates his band, the Masters.

After finding out they had the same interests in music, there was no turning back.

Answer: "Summer Breeze" by Seals and Crofts

Seals & Crofts gave us this song in 1973 from an album of the same name. Jimmy Seals and Dash Crofts are from Texas. Today their music is concentrated on spiritual lyrics and themes, inspired by the teachings of the Bahá'í faith.

Answer: "Sundown" by Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Lightfoot hails from Orillia, Ontario, Canada. He started his career in the early 1960's and eventually got caught up in the country/folk music venue of that time. His breakthrough song was "If You Could Read My Mind" (1970), another that fits in the "mellow" category.

Answer: "Operator (That's Not the Way it Feels)" by Jim Croce

This classic is from 1975. When Jim died in a plane crash in 1973, he left behind his wife, Ingrid and his son A.J. In 1985, Ingrid established an upscale restaurant that she dedicated to Jim (called Croce's). It is located in the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego, California.

Answer: "Vincent (Starry Starry Night)" by Don McLean

This song Don McLean wrote and recorded about artist Vincent Van Gogh is pure poetry. It was made the top of the charts in 1972 and is derived from McLean's 1971 album, "American Pie."

Answer: "Year of the Cat" by Al Stewart

This is from Stewart's 1976 album of the same name. Al Stewart is a Scottish folk singer/songwriter who is well known for writing songs concerning historical events. He likes to combine the present with the past. Another tidbit, he likes to collect French wine. Of this he says, "I'm running the collection down now, but there are still well over 1000 bottles left. Enough to see me into my senility."

Answer: "Please Come to Boston" by David Loggins

This song made it to number 5 on the pop charts in 1974. Before establishing his career in music, David worked as a draftman and insurance salesman. He counts meeting John Lennon at the Grammy Awards in 1975 as one of his major career moments.

Answer: "The Air That I Breathe" by The Hollies

This song hit number six on the pop charts in 1974. The Hollies hail from Manchester, England. They were formed in 1962 and began recording in 1963. In 1966, they captured America's attention with their hit "Bus Stop." Other hits of the 60's include "On a Carousel," "Carrie Ann," and "Stop Stop Stop." One member, Graham Nash, left the group in 1968 and went on to a successful career as a member of Crosby, Stills & Nash.

Answer: "My Eyes Adored You" by Frankie Valli

Frankie Valli had a hit with this song in 1975. He is best known as the lead singer of the group, The Four Seasons, which eventually became known as "Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons." Frankie originates from Newark, New Jersey. In 1990, The Four Seasons were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Answer: "My Maria" by B.W. Stevenson

"My Maria" made it to number nine on the Billboard charts in 1973. The country duo of Brooks & Dunn had their own version of the song in 1996, voted the number one country song of that year. As for B.W. Stevenson, he sadly died in 1989 following heart valve surgery. He was never able to surpass his initial commercial success of "My Maria."

Answer: "Emotion" by Samantha Sang

Samantha Sang is from Melbourne, Australia. She had a success singing career Australia but wanted to crack the U.S. charts. She approached her friend, Barry Gibb in 1977. As Barry puts it "We were in the middle of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.

She flew in with her manager, not to my knowledge, confronted me, and said, 'Would you write me a song?' I said, 'Great, would love to, but that's as far as it can go.' Six months later, she rang up and said nobody would produce the song, because it was so Bee Gees influenced. We should produce it, and nobody else. So I said, 'Let's see if we can fit it in.' She came to Miami for a week, we cut it, and that was it." "Emotion" made it onto the U.S. charts in 1977 and peaked in 1978.

Answer: "On and On" by Stephen Bishop

This song is from 1977. At the age of thirteen, Stephen Bishop was certain he would grow up to be a history teacher. Then he saw The Beatles on Ed Sullivan. After that experience, he taught himself how to play guitar and started writing his own songs. Grown, he moved to L.A. and after a hard climb, started to be heard by the music industry.

Other hits of his include: "Save It For A Rainy Day" and "It Might Be You," the title song from the movie "Tootsie."

Answer: "Have You Never Been Mellow" by Olivia Newton John

This quiz would not be complete without including this song. This song topped the charts at number one in 1975. It is often assumed Olivia was born and raised in Australia. However, she was born in Cambridge, England on September 26th 1948. Her family moved to Australia when she was 5.

She first captured the ears of the U.S. in 1971 with her album "If Not for You." Well, that's it, I hope you had as much fun taking this quiz as I had making it! Stay Mellow!