Ring, Ring, Golden Ring... Trivia Quiz

Answer: Rings

Which version of "Rings" that's running through your head right now depends a little on how old you are, and what kind of radio station you were listening to, in the early '70s.

It was first recorded by co-writer Alex Harvey, (who also wrote "Delta Dawn" and "Reuben James"). Then by Tompall and the Glaser Brothers, who had a reasonably good Country hit with it in 1971. Tompall Glaser went on to appear on the hugely successful "Wanted! The Outlaws" album with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter in 1976. The band Cymarron took a pop version onto the charts in 1971, and that was followed by another pop outing in 1973 from Lobo. Model Twiggy even got into the act, with her version in 1977.

"The sun comes up across the city
I swear you never looked so
Dog gone pretty

Hand in hand we'll stand
Upon the sand
With the preacher man
And let the wedding bell ring"

Answer: This Diamond Ring

"This Diamond Ring" was the first Billboard Hot 100 Number One for Gary Lewis and the Playboys, in 1965. Sammy Ambrose also got it (barely) onto the charts that same year.

The Wrecking Crew, including the late lamented Leon Russell, played the instruments for the Playboys' version. Gary Lewis was the son of then very famous comedian and actor Jerry Lewis, and while his band was indeed a band - they could play and sing - it was felt they were maybe not quite up to the task of getting a Number One hit. They went on to have a string of Top Ten hits.

"This diamond ring doesn't shine for me anymore
And this diamond ring doesn't mean what it meant before"

Answer: Can't Buy Me Love

The Paul McCartney composition was written and recorded by the Beatles when they were in Paris in early 1964. It was one of the famous string of Number One US Billboard hits the Beatles had in that year; in the spring of 1964 the entire Top Five of the Hot 100 were Beatles songs.

"Say you don't need no diamond ring
And I'll be satisfied
Tell me that you want those kind of things
That money just can't buy
I don't care too much for money
For money can't buy me love"

Answer: Ring of Fire

This song was first recorded by Anita Carter, but the version we all know is the one that starts with a trumpet blast - Johnny Cash's.

It was written by Anita's sister, June Carter Cash, when she was still June Carter, before her and Johnny's marriage. This is apparently disputed, however, by his first wife, who tells a decidedly more snarky story... At any rate, official credit goes to June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore.

"Bound by wild desire
I fell in to a ring of fire"

Answer: Ride a Cock Horse

OK, this one is a real oldie - this nursery rhyme dates back to at least the mid-18th Century. There are many early versions, not all of which have the fine musical lady on a white horse in them. The original Banbury Cross mentioned in the rhyme hasn't been around since 1600 or so, so it's at least possible the rhyme is very old indeed.

"Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross,
To see a fine lady upon a white horse;
Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes,
And she shall have music wherever she goes"

Answer: Leaving on a Jet Plane

This song was written by John Denver, and first recorded by the Chad Mitchell Trio in 1967, on their "Alive" album, while Denver was a member of the group. He went on to record it himself on his first solo album, "Rhymes & Reasons", in 1969.

It first hit big, though, with Peter, Paul and Mary in 1969 - they had a Billboard Hot 100 Number One with it. Chantal Kreviazuk's version from the late 1990s appeared on the soundtrack to the 1998 film "Armageddon". The words change a little depending on who is singing, from "bring your ring" to "wear your ring".

"Every place I go, I'll think of you
Every song I sing, I'll sing for you
When I come back, I'll wear your wedding ring"

Answer: Single Ladies

From Beyoncé's 2008 "I am ... Sasha Fierce", this was a huge international hit. The dance routine for the video was based on some Bob Fosse choreography from the '60s - a nice blend of new urban and old school.

"Don't be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it, then you should have put a ring on it"

Answer: Ring My Bell

This 1979 disco hit from Anita Ward was apparently originally written for (very young) teen singer Stacy Lattisaw - I can only imagine that the song went through some changes, as this is a pretty sexy song. It hit Number One on the US Billboard Disco, Soul, and Hot 100 charts, and did very well internationally, too. Ward ended up as something of a one hit wonder, as her subsequent releases never really went anywhere.

I'll just quote the most memorable part of the song, here:

"You can ring my bell, ring my bell
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
You can ring my bell, ring my bell
You can ring my bell, ring my bell"

Answer: Mockingbird

This take-off on the folk lullaby "Hush Little Baby" first came from Inez and Charlie Foxx in the early sixties. It was a big success, escaping "black" radio to get as high as Number Seven on the Billboard Hot 100. There were a lot of covers during the sixties, and then James Taylor and Carly Simon took it into the Top Ten in 1974. Johnny O'Keefe also took his version onto the Australian charts in '74. A feature of many versions of this song is that they are sung by father/daughter, husband/wife, brother/sister duos.

"Everybody have you heard?
He's gonna buy me a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won't sing
He's gonna buy me a diamond ring"

Answer: Don't Smoke in Bed

This Willard Robinson song of a failed marriage was first released by Peggy Lee in 1948. It's been covered by a lot of jazz, pop, and otherwise artists, but the most famous version is probably that from Nina Simone, in 1958, on her first album, "Little Girl Blue".

"Take care of everything
I'm leaving my wedding ring
Don't look for me
I'll get a hand
Remember darling
Don't smoke in bed"