Music from Commercials on US Billboard Charts Quiz

Answer: Alka-Seltzer

"No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)" was originally specifically composed as a commercial for Alka-Seltzer. The T-Bones released the song with other instrumentals on the Liberty Label when the catchy tune became popular with the public. The single actually made it to Number Three on the Billboard charts while the album stalled at Number 75.
The members of the T-Bones switched labels and went on to record as Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds, They released single hits such as the 1971 Number Four "Don't Pull Your Love" and topped the US charts with "Fallin' in Love" in 1975.

Answer: Billy Joe and the Checkmates

"Percolator Twist" put Billy Joe and the Checkmates in the "One Hit Wonder" category, but they were not an actual band when the song was recorded for the commercial. Billy Joe was actually a record producer and radio personality named Lew Bedell. The Checkmates were various musicians assembled to record the tune. Ernie Freeman played the dampened xylophone, Rene Hall was on guitar, Red Callender played bass with Earl Palmer on drums.

The group released 14 other tunes on Bedell's Dore label, none of which charted significantly. "(Ghost) Riders In the Sky" was a 1961 Number 30 release by The Ramrods. H. B. Barnum had a Top Forty instrumental single titled "Lost Love" the same year.

The Fireballs released the 1961 instrumental, "Quite a Party".

Answer: The New Seekers

The commercial was originally recorded with the title, "Hilltop", because it featured a group of teenagers singing about Coke on a hill near Rome. When it was originally released it failed to attract attention. It was then re-done by The New Seekers as well as The Hillside Singers as a full-length song without references to the soft drink. The song battled for chart position with The New Seekers' version eventually securing the higher position.
The Hillside Singers only released two albums before disbanding while the New Seekers had seventies hits including "Beg, Steal or Borrow" and "What Have They Done to My Song, Ma".
The New Christy Minstrels gained national attention as part of the 1962 season of "The Andy Williams Show". The nine-member Serendipity Singers formed in the early sixties at the University of Colorado. Formed in 1960, The Springfields included Dusty Springfield and her brother, Tom, in the original lineup.

Answer: Chevrolet

Chevrolet believed the song was fitting for their trucks and used it in commercials for ten years. Seger's single reached the Number 12 slot on the US Billboard charts. "Like A Rock" was Seger's thirteenth studio album. Dawayne Bailey and Rick Vito played guitar on the single with The Weather Station providing backing vocals.
Other guest artists who sang or performed on the album included Don Henley, Timothy B. Schmit, Bill Payne and Russ Kunkel.
"Move On Up" by Curtis Mayfield has been used in Toyota commercials. Mark Morrison's "Return of the Mack" has been used to promote the Ford Explorer and Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" has been used by Dodge.

Answer: Sunkist Soda

Sunkist's commercial featured teenagers frolicking in the surf and sand to the tune of "Good Vibrations" while drinking Sunkist soda. "Good Vibrations" (1966) was the last Number One song by the Beach Boys until "Kokomo" was released in the late eighties.
"Good Vibrations" took over two months to record at different studios. The song was included on the "Pet Sounds" album.
Tom Jones' "Help Yourself" has been used by Diet Dr. Pepper. Coca-Cola With Lime
used Harry Nilsson's "Coconut". "I Just Want to Celebrate" by Rare Earth was featured for Gatorade.

Answer: Subaru

"Every Day is A Winding Road" appealed to Suburau to represent their vehicles. The song was the second single from Sheryl's eponymous 1996 album, peaking at Number 11. In addition to commercials it was featured in the sound track to "Phenomenon" the same year it was released and also in the 2000 film, "Erin Brockovich".
Mitsubishi has used Tommy James' 1971 release, "Dragging' the Line", among other tunes in their commercials. ELO's "Hold on Tight" has been used by Honda and Volvo selected Donovan's 1975 hit, "Catch the Wind", to be used in one of their ad campaigns.

Answer: Coors

Coors featured a train rolling though the snowy Rockies in their commercials. "Love Train" was selected as a single from the O-Jays' 1972 "Back Stabbers" album and went on to become their only US Number One hit. In addition to the Coors commercials it has been featured in such films as "The Last Days of Disco" (1998) and "Dead Presidents" (1995).

The song was also selected to be played at the 2008 Democratic Convention when Hillary Clinton conceded to Barak Obama. The Romantics' "What I like About You" has been used by Bud Light. Beck's has used "It Overtakes Me" by The Flaming Lips and "Galvanize" by the Chemical Brothers was selected by Budweiser for one of their campaigns.

Answer: Branson

Silver Dollar City in Branson selected "Listen to the Music" during their national media blitz campaign to bring attention to their entertainment. "Listen to the Music" was recorded for the band's second album, "Toulouse Street" (1972). A concert staple of the group since becoming a hit single, it was written and sung by Tom Johnston and reached Number 11 on the US Billboard charts.

Answer: The Pharaohs

Domingo "Sam" Samudio was in a number of bands after being discharged from the service. He formed a band called the Pharaohs but the original lineup disbanded shortly thereafter when their singles failed to succeed. In 1963 Samudio drifted to Memphis, Tennessee, where he became part of the house band at The Diplomat. After some lineup changes they became Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs, deriving inspiration for their costumes from Yul Brynner in "The Ten Commandments" (1957).
They released a few minor local singles and by the time "Wooly Bully" went national the band's lineup had changed considerably. "Wooly Bully" remained on the charts for 18 weeks but was kept at bay for the Number One slot by "Help Me Rhonda". "Little Red Riding Hood" also reached the Number Two slot when it was released in 1966.
His Magic Band backed Captain Beefheart, The Groupies was a band name and The Fish backed Country Joe.

Answer: The Rock-A-Teens

In 1959 The Rock-A-Teens released "Woo-Hoo" on Roulette Records. The Richmond, Virginia, band took the record to Number 11 on the US charts but they failed to have another successful nationally released single. Vic Mizelle and Bobby "Boo" Walke were the guitarists. Eddie Robinson played sax, Paul Dixon was on bass and Bill Smith played the drums.
They began performing in 1956 while in high school under the name Boo Walke and the Rockets. They auditioned their "Rock-A-Teen Boogie" for a local label. The song was then released as "Woo-Hoo" and has since become a Rock-A-Billy classic.
The Rock and Roll Trio was the first group to include brothers Dorsey and Tommy Burnette. Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps broke nationally in 1956 with "Be-Bop-A-Lula" and in 1954 Bill Haley formed The Comets and caused a sensation with "Rock Around the Clock".