Pop Music Hits of 1975 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Neil Sedaka

Brooklyn-born Neil Sedaka became popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s with such classic songs as "Calendar Girl" and "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do." In February 1975, Sedaka went back to the top spot in the U.S. singles charts with "Laughter in the Rain." Sedaka sang these words:

"Ooh, I hear laughter in the rain
Walking hand in hand with the one I love
Ooh, how I love the rainy days
And the happy way I feel inside..."

Answer: Sixth

Pop music legend Frankie Valli (The Four Seasons) reached the number one spot in the U.S. singles charts in March 1975 with his song "My Eyes Adored You." In the song, the singer reminisced about a special relationship which he had as a "tweenager." Valli sang these lyrics,

"My eyes adored you...
Carried your books from school
Playing make-believe you're married to me
You were fifth grade, I was sixth
When we came to be..."

In the USA, most fifth grade students are about ten years old, and most sixth graders are about eleven or twelve years of age.

Answer: Walking In Rhythm

The Blackbyrds hailed from Washington, DC, and had success in the pop and jazz music fields during the mid 1970s. Their biggest pop music hit was "Walking In Rhythm." This song reached the number six spot in the U.S. singles charts in the spring of 1975. The song's opening lines read,

"Walking in rhythm, movin' in sound
Hummin' to the music, trying to move on
I'm walking in rhythm, singing my song
Thinkin' about my baby, tryin' to get home..."

Answer: John Lennon

According to legend, John Lennon played a role in the recording of David Bowie's hit song "Fame" while the two superstars were spending time together in New York City. Lennon suggested the song's title, played guitar and did some background vocal work. "Fame" rose to the top of the U.S. singles charts in September 1975.

Answer: B-17

Australian-raised singer Olivia Newton-John had a crossover hit in the U.S. with the song "Please Mr. Please." In August 1975, this tune climbed into the top ten in both the Billboard pop and country music charts. Newton-John sang these lyrics:

"Please, mister, please, don't play B-17
It was our song, it was his song, but it's over
Please, mister, please, if you know what I mean
I don't ever want to hear that song again..."

Answer: America

The group America recorded the song "Sister Golden Hair"; this tune climbed to the top of the Billboard singles chart in June 1975. The name "America" was somewhat ironic since most of the band's members, including Gerry Beckley, spent their adolescent years in the U.K. Some of the lyrics to "Sister Golden Hair" read:

"Well, I keep on thinking 'bout you, Sister Golden Hair surprise
And I just can't live without you, can't you see it in my eyes..."

Answer: The CIA

The group War hailed from Long Beach, California, and had several pop hits during the 1970s. The song "Why Can't We Be Friends" reached the number six position on the Billboard singles chart in the summer of 1975. In one of the verses, the group sang, "I know you're working for the CIA, they wouldn't have you in the ma-fi-a..." The CIA, of course, is the infamous Central Intelligence Agency.

Answer: Whispers and moans

Eagles went to the top of the U.S. singles charts in July 1975 with the song "One of These Nights." Band members Don Henley and Randy Meisner handled the lead vocals for this tune. The lyrics of the second verse read,

"The full moon is calling, the fever is high
And the wicked wind whispers and moans
You got your demons, you got desires
But I got a few of my own..."

Answer: Blue

The Ozark Mountain Daredevils recorded "Jackie Blue" in 1974, and it rose to the number three position in the U.S. singles charts in 1975. The song was written by band members Larry Lee and Steve Cash. "Jackie Blue" began with the following lyrics:

"Ooh, ooh, ooh, Jackie Blue
Lives her life from inside of her room
Hides a smile when she's wearing a frown
Ooh, ooh, Jackie, you're not so down..."

Answer: Meant for beauty queens

Janis Ian was born in New York City. The opening lyrics to her hit song "At Seventeen" described her feelings of insecurity:

"I learned the truth at seventeen
That love was meant for beauty queens
And high school girls with clear-skinned smiles
Who married young and then retired..."

"At Seventeen" reached the number one position on the U.S. Billboard singles charts in September 1975. Ian won a 1976 Grammy Award for "At Seventeen."