Lyrics From The 50s - V Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Summertime Blues

This was Eddie Cochran's biggest hit charting #8 in 1958. Unfortunately, he didn't have the opportunity for real stardom losing his life two years later in a car wreck in England at the age of 21. Incidentally, although "The Rockin' Pneumonia..." song is most closely identified with Johnny Rivers who recorded it in 1973, the original version was in fact recorded in 1957 by Huey Smith but it was a minor hit only charting at #52.

Answer: Personality

Lloyd Price is a fool for her because she walks, talks, smiles, charms and loves with "Personality". Oh... and plus she's got "a great big heart"! It was a #2 hit for Lloyd in 1959. His biggest hit was the #1 "Stagger Lee" a year earlier.

Answer: The Everly Brothers

"Bird Dog" was a #1 hit for the Everly's in 1958. Altogether, the Everly's charted eleven songs written by this husband-wife team, among them their biggest hits, "Bye Bye Love" and "Wake Up Little Suzie".

Answer: She is not named

"Chantilly Lace" was The Big Bopper's biggest hit and peaked at #6 in November 1958. Four months later, he along with Buddy Holly and Richie Valens died in that plane crash.

Answer: The Purple People Eater

Yes, he got a job with a rock 'n roll band playing the horn in his head! Sheb Wooley had a huge smash with this ditty in the summer of 1958. It was #1 for six weeks!

Answer: Tan Shoes And Pink Shoe Laces

Dodie Stevens recorded this song and it was her only big entry onto the charts. She further advises in the song "He's not good looking, heaven knows, but I'm wild about his crazy clothes". Remember the Panama hat with the purple hat band?

Answer: To Know Him Is To Love Him

The song was written by Phil Spector and he was a member of the recording act, The Teddy Bears, that made it the hit. The group broke up within a year as Spector yearned to do production work at which he was very talented with his "wall of sound" backing many of the successful girl groups of the early 60's like the Crystals and Ronettes. Now he's famous for other things!

Answer: Lonely Boy

A #1 song for four weeks in 1959 for Paul Anka. I wonder if he still did this stuff in his Vegas act?

Answer: his "Waterloo"

"Waterloo" was a crossover hit from the country charts for Stonewall Jackson that peaked at #4 in August 1959 on the pop charts. Incidentally, that was his real name and he was, in fact, a direct descendant of the rebel General Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson. Or so he claimed!

Answer: Venus

This was teen idol Frankie Avalon's biggest hit, a #1 for five weeks in 1959. He sang when he wasn't doing "beach" movies with Annette Funicello.