Musical Critters Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bull

"Little White Bull" was written by Lionel Bart/Tommy Steele/Michael Pratt. It peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart for Tommy Steele in 1959. It did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

Some newspapers called Tommy Steele Britain's answer to Elvis, a slight exaggeration I think. His first UK chart entry was "Rock With The Caveman" with his backing group The Steelmen, which peaked at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart in 1956. By the end of 1957 he had dropped the Steelmen and not long after, Rock 'n' Roll too. He went into stage shows and movies and was very successful. His last UK Top 20 hit was the comedy song "What A Mouth" which peaked at number five in 1960.

Answer: Lion

"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" was written by Solomon Linda/Hugo Peretti/Luigi Creatore/George David Weiss/Albert Stanton. It was number one for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Tokens in 1961. It peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

The Tokens were formed in 1955; among the original members was singer/songwriter Neil Sedaka but he left the group in 1957. There have been many personnel changes but the group on "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" were Mitch Margo, Phil Margo, Hank Medress and Jay Siegal. A version of the song by Robert John with Hank, Jay and Mitch of The Tokens and singer/songwriter/record producer Ellie Greenwich singing backing vocals, peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972.

Answer: Peter, Paul and Mary

"Puff The Magic Dragon" written by Leonard Lipton/Peter Yarrow peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 for Peter, Paul and Mary in 1963. It did not chart in the UK.

Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey and Mary Travers formed their trio in New York in 1961. They had their first hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962 with "Lemon Tree" which peaked at number 35. Their biggest hit, which was also their last chart entry, was "Leaving On A Jet Plane" written by John Denver. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969. It peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart in 1970.

In 1999 they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and in 2009 they were inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame. Mary Travers died the same year of complications from chemotherapy aged 72.

Answer: Mocking Bird

"Mockin' Bird Hill" written by Carl Jularb/George Vaughn Horton peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart for The Migil 5 in 1964. It did not chart in the USA.

They began in London, UK, in 1960 as The Migil 4 backing singer Lennie Peters, (who later found fame in the '70s as one half of Peters and Lee). The group had various members and stand-in's, one of which was Lennie Peter's nephew, the future Rolling Stone's drummer Charlie Watts.

They played a mixture of pop, R&B and jazz and after seeing them on stage, jazz band leader Kenny Ball recommended them to his record label PYE. The group was augmented by tenor saxophonist Alan "Earl" Watson and became The Migil 5. "Mockin' Bird Hill" was their only UK Top 20 hit.

Answer: Butterfly

"Elusive Butterfly" written by Bob Lind peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 for Bob Lind in 1966. It also peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart the same year.

Bob Lind was born Robert Neale Lind in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, in 1942. He signed for World Pacific Records in 1965, which produced "Elusive Butterfly" in 1966. It was his only Top 20 hit in the US and UK. In the UK a cover version by Irish singer Val Doonican also peaked at number five.

Bob Lind gained a reputation as hard to work with and left World Pacific Records in 1969. He later dropped out of the music business and was, for eight years, a staff writer for the supermarket tabloids Weekly World News and Sun. In 2012 he released the album "Finding You Again"; it was over 40 years since the release of his last studio album. In 2013 he was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame.

Answer: Cat Stevens

"I Love My Dog", written by Cat Stevens, peaked at number 28 on the UK Singles Chart for Cat Stevens in 1966. It did not chart in the USA.

Cat Stevens was born Steven Demetre Georgiou in London, UK, in 1948. He first changed his name to Cat Stevens because he didn't think that he would sell many records under his real name. In 1977 he converted to the Muslim religion and changed his name again, to Yusuf Islam, in 1978.

He performed his last concert at Wembley Stadium, London, UK, in 1979 to benefit UNICEF's International Year of the Child. He then had a break from music that would last until the '90s.

Answer: Flamingo

"Pretty Flamingo", written by Mark Barkan, was number one for three weeks on the UK Singles Chart for Manfred Mann in 1966. It peaked at number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

It was Manfred Mann's second of three UK number one hits and their last single to feature lead singer Paul Jones. "Pretty Flamingo" also featured bass player Jack Bruce who later formed Cream with Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton.

Paul Jones was replaced by Mike d'Abo in 1966 and the hits continued but the group disbanded in 1969. In 1971 Manfred Mann formed Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

Answer: America

"A Horse With No Name" written by Dewey Bunnell peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart for America in 1972. It was number one for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

The trio America was formed by Gerry Beckley and Dan Peek who were born in the USA and Dewey Bunnell who was born in England. They were all sons of American Air Force personnel stationed in England. After their initial success they decamped to Los Angeles, USA, in 1972.

They had six Top Ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1972 and 1979. After "A Horse With No Name" they only had two minor hits on the UK Singles Chart. Dan Peek left the group in 1977 and had one Top Ten hit with "You Can Do Magic" in 1982.

Answer: Buffalo

"Buffalo Gals" was written by Malcolm McLaren/Anne Dudley/Trevor Horn. It peaked at number nine on the UK singles chart for Malcolm McLaren and the World's Famous Supreme Team in 1982. It did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

Malcolm McLaren, born Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren in Stoke Newington, London, England in 1946, was a clothes designer/boutique owner/impresario/musician/performer and visual artist. He is best known as the promoter and manager of The New York Dolls and The Sex Pistols.

He was in the vanguard of the British Punk movement and supplied their fashions from the boutique SEX, which he operated with girlfriend at the time, Vivienne Westwood, in Chelsea, London, UK.

Answer: Rat

"Rat In Mi Kitchen" was written by Astro (Terence Wilson) but attributed to UB40. It peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart in 1987. It did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

UB40 are named after a form issued to people claiming unemployment benefits in the UK, the unemployment benefit form 40. The reggae/pop group were formed in 1978 in Birmingham, England. In the '80s they had 18 Top 20 hits on the UK Singles Chart of which 12 reached the Top Ten, this included the two number one hits "Red Red Wine" (1983) and "I Got You Babe", featuring Chrissie Hind (1985).

They hold the joint record with the UK group Madness, for the most weeks spent by a group on the UK Singles Chart in the '80s with 214 weeks.