Novelty Songs - Part 1 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Brian Hyland

This song was a smash hit for Brian Hyland in 1960 reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. He went on to record two of the most beautiful love songs of the 1960s, "Sealed With a Kiss" and "Ginny Come Lately", both of which charted on both sides of the Atlantic in 1962.

He still tours with nostalgia packages, and still performs "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini".

Answer: Allan Sherman

This was a surprise hit reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963.

Allan Sherman wrote the lyrics in collaboration with Lou Busch, and the song originally appeared on the Album "My Son - The Nut".

Answer: True

Recorded in 1972 this was, to what should be the eternal shame of the United Kingdom record buying public, Chuck's only number one single in the official United Kingdom charts. Coming along some time after such great records as "Nadine", "Maybellene" and "Johnny B Goode" it was packed with double entendres, but had a chorus that anyone and everyone could sing along to after only one hearing.

Answer: Transfusion

"Transfusion" was recorded by Nervous Norvus. Released in 1956 it made it to number eight on the Billboard chart, but was banned by several radio stations due to its graphic lyrics and realistic car crash sound effects.

Answer: Elmo & Patsy

Recorded in 1979 this song was written by Randy Brooks. Poor Grandma gets a bit tipsy from too much eggnog and decides to return home to get her medication, which she had forgotten. In the course of her walk she gets run over by Santa and killed. The song has become something of a seasonal favourite.

In 2002 Elmo, who by then was divorced from Patsy, released a sequel, "Grandpa's Gonna Sue The Pants Offa Santa".

Answer: St George and The Dragonet

Stan Freberg began making satirical records for Capitol in 1951. "St George and The Dragonet" was a number one hit on Billboard for four weeks in that year, and the flipside, "Little Blue Riding Hood" was equally as good. Other memorable hits for him were "Green Chri$tma$", "The Yellow Rose of Texas" and "Banana Boat Song".

Answer: Roger Miller

Roger Miller's biggest hit was "King Of The Road" which reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100, and number one on the UK Official Singles Chart, in 1965.

Between 1960 and 1985 he made regular appearances in the Country Music Chart, scoring number ones with "Dang Me" and "King Of The Road".

Answer: Purple

Yes, "It Was A One-eyed, One-horned, Flying Purple People Eater"

Sheb Wooley appeared in numerous western films from the 1950's through to the 1970s, most notably "High Noon". He was also in "The Outlaw Josey Wales" and played Pete Nolan in "Rawhide", the TV series that launched the career of Clint Eastwood.

Answer: Alley Oop

"Alley Oop" was released in 1960, and was based around a caveman who appeared in a popular comic strip. The lead singer, Gary Paxton, recorded this as a solo singer, but because he was under contract to Brent Records, where he was Flip of "Skip and Flip", he had to do so under a different name, so he made up the name Hollywood Argyles from Hollywood Boulevard and Argyle Street, where the recording studio was based. The rest of the group heard on the record were un-named session singers.

Answer: Napoleon XIV

Napoleon XIV was the pseudonym of songwriter Jerry Samuels, who achieved one hit wonder status with this song.

Despite being an immediate hit it dropped from the charts just as quickly when radio stations stopped playing it after protests from groups representing the mentally ill.