Match Song to Artist - US Top 15 of 1951 Quiz

Answer: Nat King Cole

This was the best-known version of this song in the U.S. It was released on February 6, 1951, by Capitol Records. It was a million-seller and was ranked number one for five weeks. Cole said this song was one of his three favorites among the songs he'd performed.

Answer: Tony Bennett

This song was used in the 1951 film "I Was an American Spy". This was the first major hit for Tony Bennett, reaching number one and staying there for ten weeks.

On October 3, 1951, the New York Giants beat the Brooklyn Dodgers, when Bobby Thomson hit the "Shot Heard Round The World" off Brooklyn pitcher Ralph Branca. Thomson and Branca appeared together on a major TV variety show. Each sang a version of "Because of You" with lyrics specifically written for each of them.

Answer: Les Paul & Mary Ford

This tune was first performed in the 1940 Broadway revue "Two for the Show", where it was sung by Alfred Drake and Frances Comstock. This version spent 25 weeks (beginning on March 23, 1951) on the Billboard chart and nine weeks at number one. This recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1979.

Answer: Rosemary Clooney

This song was first performed during 1950 in an off-Broadway production of "The Son", but did not become a hit until the 1951 release of Clooney's recording. It reached number one on the Billboard charts, staying in the top position for six weeks.

Answer: Mario Lanza

Published in 1950, it was written for Mario Lanza who sang it with Kathryn Grayson in the 1950 movie "The Toast of New Orleans". It was the theme song for Lanza's radio program, "The Mario Lanza Show" (1951-52).

Answer: The Weavers

The Weavers recorded this very popular version of the song using a Pete Seeger arrangement on 21 February 1951. It reached number two on the Billboard chart and number one on the Cash Box chart, and sold over a million copies.

Answer: Tony Bennett

Hank Williams adapted the melody for this song from T. Texas Tyler's 1945 recording of "You'll Still Be in My Heart," written by Ted West in 1943. This version is a pop treatment by Tony Bennett with a light orchestral arrangement from Percy Faith. It lasted 27 weeks on the chart, peaking at number one.

Answer: Perry Como

"If (They Made Me a King)" was written by Tolchard Evans with lyrics written by Robert Hargreaves and Stanley J. Damerell. The song was written in 1934, but the most popular versions were recorded in 1950-1951. Perry Como's version, recorded November 28, 1950, was a number-one hit on the Billboard charts for eight weeks. No less than seven other versions of this song charted in 1951.

Answer: Mario Lanza

This became one of the most popular songs of 1951, reaching number three on the US Billboard Charts. Lanza received his third Gold Disc for this song. In 1950, the music was adapted by Irving Aaronson with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster for the movie "The Great Caruso", in which it was sung by Ann Blyth.

Answer: Patti Page

The music for this song was written by Pee Wee King with lyrics by Redd Stewart in 1946 and first released in January 1948. Page cut "The Tennessee Waltz" in a November 1950 session in New York City with Jack Rael conducting his orchestra. "The Tennessee Waltz" became Page's career record.

Answer: Frankie Laine

This record reached number two on the Billboard chart and was a million-seller. The B-side, "Rose, Rose, I Love You", was a hit too and reached number three. "Jezebel" was written by songwriter Wayne Shanklin. It was recorded by Frankie Laine with the Norman Luboff Choir and Mitch Miller and his orchestra on April 4, 1951.

Answer: Tony Martin

This was the most popular version of this song and was recorded on April 16, 1951. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on May 25, 1951, and lasted 30 weeks on the chart, peaking at number three. It was the flip side of "A Kiss to Build a Dream On."

Answer: Les Paul & Mary Ford

This rendition by Les Paul & Mary Ford was the first recording of "Mockin' Bird Hill" by an established act. It reached number one on the Cash Box chart on May 26, 1951, after 13 weeks on the list.

Patti Page also recorded this song soon after the Les Paul & Mary Ford version. Mercury Records released Patti Page's version which first reached the Billboard pop music chart on February 24, 1951, lasting 22 weeks and peaking at number two.

There were at least four more releases of this song in 1951.

Answer: Guy Mitchell & Mitch Miller

This song was recorded toward the end of 1950 by Guy Mitchell with Mitch Miller and his orchestra, in a recording issued by Columbia Records, which sold over a million copies and reached number two on the Billboard charts in 1951.

Other versions were released by Vic Damone (a number four hit on the Billboard charts), Jimmy Wakely (number 12), Bill Farrell (number 18), Al Morgan (number 24), and Evelyn Knight and Red Foley, a duet that reached number 28 Pop and number six Country.

Answer: Eddy Howard

"(It's No) Sin" was performed by Eddy Howard with music by George Hoven and lyrics by Chester R. Shull. It was released by Mercury Records and first reached the Billboard magazine charts on September 14, 1951. It lasted 23 weeks on the chart, peaking at number one.