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Motown (1959-64) Trivia Quiz

How well do you know your Motown music? This quiz focusses on the artists and songs of the early years of one of most famous labels in music history; covering the period from 1959 to 1964 in both the UK and US.

A multiple-choice quiz by CardoQ. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
CardoQ

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
379,622

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
627

Last 3 plays: Guest 86 (7/10), Guest 174 (9/10), Guest 96 (7/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. "Shop Around" was this group's first top 10 hit in the US, and was also their first release in the UK. Smokey Robinson was their lead singer, who are the group? Hint

The Temptations

The Contours

The Miracles

The Four Tops

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Which artist, who later formed a successful song writing partnership with Norman Whitfield, released the song "Money (That's What I Want)"? Hint

Marv Taplin

Marvin Gaye

Barrett Strong

Eddie Holland

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. "Please Mr Postman" was the first release in both the UK and US by which Motown girl group? Hint

Martha and the Vandellas

The Marvelettes

The Supremes

The Velvelettes

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. "Jamie" was released by which artist who would go on to become one third of one of Motown's most prolific and successful song writing teams? Hint

Lamont Dozier

Brian Holland

Berry Gordy

Eddie Holland

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. This artist had their first UK release, and first US number 1, with "Fingertips (Part 2)" in 1963. Known for their harmonica playing on the record, can you name them? Hint

Earl Van Dyke

Marvin Gaye

Stevie Wonder

Smokey Robinson

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Marvin Gaye's first taste of chart success in the US, and his first UK release, was with which song? Hint

Pride and Joy

Can I Get a Witness

Stubborn Kind of Fellow

Hitch Hike

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. "Baby I Need Your Loving" was this group's first release in both the UK and US. Their lead singer was Levi Stubbs, who are the group? Hint

The Contours

The Velvelettes

The Temptations

The Four Tops

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Motown didn't achieve their first top ten hit in the UK until 1964 with "My Guy". Can you name the artist responsible? Hint

Mary Wells

The Marvelettes

Brenda Holloway

The Supremes

9. Following their first UK chart success in 1964, Motown went on to achieve their first UK number 1 the same year. Performed by the Supremes, it also gave them their second US number 1. Can you name the song? Hint

Come See About Me

Baby Love

Stop! In the Name of Love

Where Did Our Love Go

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Which act achieved their highest position on the Billboard charts in the US, and their first chart success in the UK, with "Dancing in the Street"? Hint

Kim Weston

The Temptations

Martha and the Vandellas

Junior Walker & The All Stars

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 11 2024 : Guest 86: 7/10
Dec 08 2024 : Guest 174: 9/10
Dec 03 2024 : Guest 96: 7/10
Nov 12 2024 : Guest 81: 0/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "Shop Around" was this group's first top 10 hit in the US, and was also their first release in the UK. Smokey Robinson was their lead singer, who are the group?

Answer: The Miracles

The song was released in 1960 and reached number 2 in the Billboard chart. Smokey Robinson's wife Claudette, whom he married in 1959, was also a member of the Miracles at this time.

2. Which artist, who later formed a successful song writing partnership with Norman Whitfield, released the song "Money (That's What I Want)"?

Answer: Barrett Strong

One of Motown's earliest releases in the US, it reached number 23 on the Billboard chart in 1959. It was Motown's only UK release in 1960 where it failed make it into the charts; however a cover version by The Flying Lizards did reach number 5 in 1979.

3. "Please Mr Postman" was the first release in both the UK and US by which Motown girl group?

Answer: The Marvelettes

In 1961 "Please Mr Postman" became Motown's first ever number 1 in the US. It was covered by the Beatles on their 1963 album "With the Beatles", along with two other Motown songs: Barrett Strong's "Money (That's What I Want)", and the Miracles' "You've Really Got a Hold on Me".

4. "Jamie" was released by which artist who would go on to become one third of one of Motown's most prolific and successful song writing teams?

Answer: Eddie Holland

The song made it to number 30 on the Billboard chart in the US in 1961. Eddie Holland, along with brother Brian and Lamont Dozier, went on to achieve enormous success writing and producing a string of hit songs for Motown. While also being a songwriter, Berry Gordy is of course better known as the founder of Motown.

5. This artist had their first UK release, and first US number 1, with "Fingertips (Part 2)" in 1963. Known for their harmonica playing on the record, can you name them?

Answer: Stevie Wonder

Taken from the album "Recorded Live: The Twelve Year Old Genius", and released as Little Stevie Wonder, "Fingertips" reached number 1 on the Billboard chart in the US. Stevie Wonder was actually 13 by the time it made it to the top spot; however at the end of 2015 he was still the youngest artist to have achieved this feat.

6. Marvin Gaye's first taste of chart success in the US, and his first UK release, was with which song?

Answer: Stubborn Kind of Fellow

"Stubborn Kind of Fellow" made it to number 46 in 1962 on the US on the Billboard chart, followed by "Hitch Hike" reaching number 30 the same year. "Pride and Joy" reached number 10 the following year, and was followed by "Can I Get a Witness" at 22 later in the year.

7. "Baby I Need Your Loving" was this group's first release in both the UK and US. Their lead singer was Levi Stubbs, who are the group?

Answer: The Four Tops

Released in 1964 "Baby I Need Your Loving" reached reach number 11 on the Billboard chart in the US. Lead singer Levi Stubbs would later provide the voice for the singing plant (Audrey 2) in the cult 1986 musical comedy film Little Shop of Horrors.

8. Motown didn't achieve their first top ten hit in the UK until 1964 with "My Guy". Can you name the artist responsible?

Answer: Mary Wells

A Smokey Robinson composition, "My Guy" by Mary Wells made it to number 5 in the UK to give Motown their first UK top 10 hit, and indeed their first ever entry in the UK charts. It gave Mary Wells her highest US chart position when it reached number 1 on the Billboard chart.

Answer: Baby Love

"Where Did Our Love Go" was the Supremes first UK chart success in 1964 reaching number 3, and was followed by "Baby Love" at number 1 in the same year. In 1965 "Come See About Me" peaked at 27 and "Stop! In the Name of Love" reached number 7. All four songs made number 1 on the US Billboard chart, as did their next release "Back In My Arms Again" (number 40 in the UK) to give the Supremes five consecutive US number ones (all written by Holland, Dozier & Holland).

10. Which act achieved their highest position on the Billboard charts in the US, and their first chart success in the UK, with "Dancing in the Street"?

Answer: Martha and the Vandellas

Martha and the Vandellas never reached number 1 for Motown in either the US or UK! "Dancing in the Street" reached number 2 on the Billboard chart in the US in 1964, and number 28 in the UK charts the same year. However when reissued in the UK in 1969 it reached number 4, to also give Martha and the Vandellas their highest UK chart position.

Source: Author CardoQ

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor 1nn1 before going online.
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