Name That Tune (Blues Version) Quiz

Answer: The Thrill is Gone

"The Thrill is Gone" was written in 1951 by Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell. Hawkins recorded it himself in that same year. However, for this quiz, the focus is on BB King's version. It was released in 1969 on his album "Completely Well". It became BB's biggest selling hit, his signature song, and won the Grammy Award for Best Male R & B Performance in 1970.

The complete first line of lyrics are, "The thrill is gone away".

Answer: Crossroad Blues

"Crossroad Blues", also known simply as "Crossroads" was written and recorded by Robert Johnson in 1936. Legend has it that Robert sold his soul to the devil at some backwoods intersection near the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers in exchange for becoming the greatest bluesman of all-time.

Another blues artist, Tommy Johnson, claimed he was the one who actually struck up that deal with Satan. That claim was further immortalized in the film "O' Brother Where Art Thou?". The complete first line of of lyrics are, "Early this morning".

Answer: Hoochie Coochie Man

"Hoochie Coochie Man" was written by Willie Dixon. It was released as a single in 1954 by Muddy Waters. It is composed and sung in the classic Chicago blues style. In many circles it is believed to be the cornerstone of all modern blues and rock and roll songs.

The song's sexually provocative nature, as well as references to voodoo/black magic, made the song very much taboo to most of America in the 1950s. The complete first line of lyrics are, "The gypsy woman told my mother".

Answer: Born Under a Bad Sign

"Born Under a Bad Sign" was written by Booker T. Jones and William Bell, and was developed with blues artist Albert King in mind. He, BB, and Freddie King were all unrelated, but known as the "Kings of the Blues". Albert King (whose real last name was Nelson) released the song in 1967 on the album of the same name.

It has been covered by numerous artists, but most notably by the band Cream. The complete first line of lyrics are, "Been down since I began to crawl".

Answer: Pride and Joy

"Pride and Joy" was written and performed by Stevie Ray Vaughn. It was released in 1983 on his debut album, "Texas Flood". Its composition is what has become known as a classic Texas shuffle. Vaughn apparently wrote the song for a new girlfriend he had at the time, and later wrote the song "I'm Cryin" after they broke up.

The complete first line of lyrics are, "Well, you've heard about love giving sight to the blind".

Answer: I'm Tore Down

"I'm Tore Down" was written in the 1950s by Sonny Thompson. Sonny played piano at times for blues artist Freddie King, and introduced him to the song he had penned. It was released in 1961 on King's debut album. It has been dutifully covered by the likes of Eric Clapton, Gary Moore, and The Jeff Healy Band.

The complete first line of lyrics are, "I'm tore down, I'm almost level with the ground".

Answer: Stormy Monday

"Stormy Monday" was originally titled "Call it Stormy Monday (but Tuesday is just as bad)". It was written and performed by electric guitar pioneer T-Bone Walker. It was released as a single in 1947. Walker's song is sometimes confused with the Earl Hines and Billy Eckstine jazz standard titled "Stormy Monday Blues". That confusion had cost T-Bone lost royalties through the years.

The complete first line of lyrics are, "They call it Stormy Monday".

Answer: Red House

"Red House" was written and performed by Jimi Hendrix. It was initially released in 1967 on the U.K. edition of The Jimi Hendrix Experience's debut album. The American release came in 1969 on the "Smash Hits" compilation album. The song was a staple at all his concerts.

Hendrix's bassist, Noel Redding, and Jimi's brother, Leon, both believe he wrote the song about his high school girlfriend who lived in a house that was painted red. The complete first line of lyrics are, "There's a red house over yonder, that's where my baby stays".

Answer: I'm a Man

"I'm a Man" was written and recorded by Bo Diddley. It was released in 1955 as a B-side single. The song "Hoochie Coochie Man" by Muddy Waters was Diddley's inspiration for writing this song. Further connection between the two artists and songs came when Muddy Waters penned the song "Mannish Boy" as an answer song to Bo's "I'm a Man".

The band The Yardbirds did an adapted rock cover of the song which was called by music critics a defining moment for the band. The complete first line of lyrics are, "Now, when I was a little boy".

Answer: Boom Boom

"Boom Boom" was written and performed by John Lee Hooker. It was released in 1962 on his ninth studio album. Hooker played a south side Chicago street musician in the movie "The Blues Brothers", and played this song while doing so. The band, ZZ Top also used the "How, How, How, How" sounds from this tune in their song "La Grange".

The complete first line of lyrics are, "Boom, boom, boom, boom, I'm gonna shoot you right down".