Musical Memories of 1962 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sue Thompson

Sue Thompson made the top twenty in 1962 with "James (Hold the Ladder Steady)".
This fine singer started to have hits at age 36 and achieved more chart success in Australia than her home country. Born in Missouri in 1925 she first hit the charts in 1961 with the top ten recording of "Sad Movies". This was followed by "Norman"; both these songs both made the top ten in Australia and the USA.
In 1962 "James (Hold the Ladder Steady)" was a top ten in Australia and in 1964 she had her biggest hit down under with "Paper Tiger" which reached number three. "I Like Your Kind of Love" also known as "Honey Babe", a duet with Bob Luman, was a top twenty hit in Australia in 1963.

Answer: Ray Stevens

Recorded by Ray Stevens, "Ahab the Arab" made number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962 and number seven on the Australian charts. At the time of writing, March 2019, Ray Stevens whose recording career started in 1957 is still recording, some sixty years later.

Answer: Ricky Nelson

"Young World" was a number five hit for Ricky Nelson in early 1962. The song was written by Jerry Fuller who had written Rick's biggest hit, "Travellin' Man", a worldwide number one in 1961. Ricky (he was actually calling himself Rick at this stage) had a further two top ten hits in 1962, "Teenage Idol" and "It's Up to You". Great memories.

Answer: Joey Dee and the Starliters

"Shout" reached number six on the Hot 100 for Joey Dee and the Starliters. Originally written and recorded by the Isley Brothers in 1959, the song took on a life of its own. Shortly after its release by the Isley Brothers, Australia's Johnny O'Keefe released an almost note for note cover version which became his signature tune.

In fact a television mini-series on his life was titled, "Shout: The Story of Johnny O'Keefe" later adapted as a stage musical "SHOUT: The story of the wild one". In the UK, "Shout" is mostly associated with Scottish singer Lulu who recorded the song and had a top ten in 1964.

Others who have recorded the song include The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Dion, Trini Lopez, Joan Jett, Tom Petty, Garth Brooks, Green Day and many more.

Answer: Johnny O'Keefe

"Sing (and Tell the Blues So Long)" was a top ten (Number one in Sydney) hit for Johnny O'Keefe in Australia during 1962. Almost as famously associated with O'Keefe as "Shout", "Sing (and Tell the Blues So Long)", changed to "Sing, Sing, Sing" became the title of O'Keefe's 1963 television rock 'n' roll variety show.
The tune was originally recorded by Al Kasha and later by Jackie Wilson.

Answer: Nat King Cole

This pleasant song with its catchy sing-along style was a hit for Nat King Cole in 1962. "Ramblin' Rose" reached number one in Sydney and was a top ten in the rest of Australia, it made number two on the Billboard Hot 100, kept out of the top spot by The Four Seasons with "Sherry". From 1942 to 1964 Nat King Cole placed over 120 songs on the pop charts.

Answer: Booker T and the MG's

"Green Onions" recorded by Booker T. & the MG's, became one of the most enduring of the instrumentals from the early 1960s. The tune, along with the theme from "The Magnificent Seven" and the theme from "Peter Gunn", are easily the most recognisable instrumentals from that era.

Answer: Clyde McPhatter

"Little Bitty Pretty One" had been originally released by its composer Bobby Day in 1957, only making the top 60 on the Billboard charts. A cover version by Thurston Harris made the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 climbing to number six. As a follow up to his biggest hit, "Lover Please" Clyde McPhatter released a catchy version which, despite a lot of airplay, only made the top forty in Australia for three weeks.

The recording made number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. To my group of fourteen and fifteen year old buddies, it was our favourite for months.

Then came The Beatles and our world changed.

Answer: The Shadows

"Guitar Tango" was a top ten hit for The Shadows in both the UK and Australia during 1962. In this golden era for instrumentals, The Shadows had further top ten hits in 1962 with "Wonderful Land", "Stars Fell on Stockton", "The Boys" and "Dance On!". "Wonderful Land", "The Boys" and "Dance On!" all making number one.

In the years 1960, 1961, 1962 and 1963 over 150 instrumentals made the top forty in Australia, from 1964 through 1969 only 33 instrumentals charted.

Answer: Gene Pitney

"Half Heaven - Half Heartache" by Gene Pitney who took the song to number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. Gene's other hits of 1962 were "(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance", "Only Love Can Break a Heart" and "If I Didn't Have a Dime (To Play the Jukebox)". Gene was not able to crack the number one spot on the charts in Australia, The USA or the UK; however, two of the songs he wrote or co-wrote made number one on the Billboard Hot 100, namely "He's A Rebel" for The Crystals and "Rubber Ball" for Bobby Vee.

Other top ten songs he wrote for others were "Hello Mary Lou" for Ricky Nelson and "Today's Teardrops" for Roy Orbison and Ricky Nelson. "Today's Teardrops" was a top ten in Australia for Col Joye and The Joy Boys.