Signature Songs" of Singers or Groups-Part 17 Quiz / Test | Music

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "Rhythm of the Rain" (1962) is a plaintive song in which we learn about the feelings of a man who has just learned his gal is dumping him. It was released in November 1962, and in February of 1963 it peaked at number three on the "Billboard Hot 100", and made it to number five on the "U.K. Singles Chart". The group that recorded it was initially known as the Thundernotes, when they formed in San Diego after stints in the U.S. Navy. What was their moniker when they recorded "Rhythm of the Rain"?

Answer: The Cascades

The Cascades would go on to record just a handful of additional songs, none of which ever cracked the Top 40. They also released seven albums with little success, and even appeared in a "teen" movie, "Catalina Caper" (1967), before disbanding in the mid-70s after years of touring.
Here's the start of their one and only hit song:

"Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain
Telling me just what a fool I've been
I wish that it would go and let me cry in vain
And let me be alone again

The only girl I care about has gone away
Looking for a brand new start
But little does she know that when she left that day
Along with her she took my heart"

2. "Reunited and it feels so good Reunited 'cuz we understood There's one perfect fit and sugar this one is it We both are so excited 'cuz we're reunited, hey-hey". Do you remember those bouncy lyrics? They were recorded in 1978 by a male/female duo on their album, "Too Hot". Can you name that couple?

Answer: Peaches and Herb

Peaches and Herb had "Reunited" as track three on their fourth album, "Too Hot". "Reunited" would climb all the way to Number One on the "Billboard R&B Album Chart" and number two on the "Billboard Pop Album Chart". Written by Dino Feraris and Freddie Perren, the single would peak at the very top of the "Billboard Hot 100 Chart" on April 28, 1979.

At the time "Reunited" hit number one, Peaches and Herb were actually Herb Fame and Linda Green. Ms. Green had replaced Herb's first partner, Francine, "Peaches" Hurd Barker when she got tired of always being on the road again.

There have been over a handful of "Peaches" over the years, but Herb is still the original. Herb and Ms. Barker had first sung together as The Darlettes, then The Sweet Things, before settling on Peaches and Herb. All the Peaches and the one Herb have released over 20 albums and more than 30 singles.

Their only other top ten hit was "Shake Your Groove Thing", which reached number five on the "Billboard Hot 100 Chart" (1978).

3. "Come a Little Bit Closer" (1964), is the story of a seductress trying to hook-up with an hombre, down Mexico way. It starts off lookin' fine when he hears her say, "Come a little bit closer, you're my kind of man, so big and so strong. Come a little bit closer, I'm all alone, and the night is so long". The song was performed by a group formed in New York, and it was their highest ranked hit on the "Billboard Hot 100 Chart". What was the name of the group which took it to number three in 1964?

Answer: Jay and the Americans

Jay and the Americans was formed in 1962, and between then and 1971, they recorded over 20 singles. When their first hit, "She Cried" (1962) reached number five on the "Billboard Hot 100", their lead singer was Jay Traynor.
When they recorded their signature song in 1964, they were led by Jay Black (born David Blatt). A couple of their other charted tunes were, "Cara Mia" (1965) which peaked at number four on the "Billboard Hot 100 Chart", and a cover of "This Magic Moment" (1969), which reached number six. "This Magic Moment" was the last song of Jay and the Americans to crack the top ten.
Back to "Come a Little Bit Closer". Things went downhill in a hurry when someone saw Jose, the young lady's jealous boyfriend heading for the bar.
Our hero reacted as follows:
"So I dropped my drink from my hand
And through the window I ran
And as I rode away
I could hear her say to Jose, yeah, yeah

Come a little bit closer
You're my kind of man
So big and so strong
Come a little bit closer
I'm all alone and the night is so long"

Sometimes discretion really is the better part of valor.

4. Did you ever wonder: "How gentle is the rain that falls softly on the meadow"? That's the opening line from a big hit song recorded by some young ladies in 1965. I must admit I thought, "How Gentle is the Rain" was the tune's title, but in fact, the name of the song is "A Lover's Concerto". The all girls group (they were all about 20 years old), took it to number two on the "Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Do you recall who they were?

Answer: The Toys

The Toys, (Barbara Harris, June Montero and Barbara Parritt) were together from 1961-1968, and recorded half a dozen singles and one album. The album was "The Toys Sing A Lover's Concerto and Attack" (1965), and it reached number 92 on the "Billboard 200", and number nine on the "Billboard Black Albums" list.
The single of "A Lover's Concerto", which sold over two million copies around the world was co-written by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randall, who a year later collaborated on The Beach Boy's hit, "Workin My Way Back to You".
"A Lover's Concerto" was also a mega-hit in Canada, where it reached Number One on the "RPM Singles List" on October 25, 1965.
All of the three alternate choices above also covered it as did "Sassy" Sara Vaughn.

The lovely melody begins as follows:
"How gentle is the rain
That falls softly on the meadow?
Birds, high up in the trees
Serenade the flowers with their melodies"

And concludes with:
"Oh, you'll hold me in your arms
And say once again you love me
And if your love is true
Everything will be just as wonderful"

5. "Teach Me Tonight" (1954) was a big hit for a sister act. It reached number two on the "Billboard Hot 100 Chart", and has sold over five million copies. Famed song-writer, Sammy Cahn co-penned "Teach Me Tonight", the group's most successful song. They played in Las Vegas many times, opening for George Burns and Bobby ("Mack the Knife") Darin among others. Can you name these singing siblings?

Answer: The DeCastro Sisters

The original trio was comprised of Peggy, Cherie and Babette DeCastro, three sisters who were all born in different countries. Peggie is a native of the Dominican Republic, Cherie was born in America, and Babette hailed from Cuba.
Cherie is the only one of the girls to have performed on every single, every album and in the films "Copacabana" (1947), and "The Helen Morgan Story" (1957). The trio recorded over a dozen singles with "Boom Boom Boomerang" (1955) getting to number 17 on "Billboard".

"Teach Me Tonight" has been covered by a host of artists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, Francis Albert Sinatra, Nat Cole and Brenda Lee.

Interesting fact: The Chinese Embassy in Cuba is now located in the building the DeCastro sisters called home when they lived in Havana.

Here's a little of "Teach Me Tonight":
"Did you say (that) I've got a lot to learn
Well don't think I'm trying not to learn
Since this is the perfect spot to learn
Teach me tonight

Starting with the ABC of it
Getting right down to the XYZ of it
Help me solve the mystery of it
Teach me tonight

The sky's a blackboard high above you
And if a shooting star goes by
I'll use that star to write "I love you"
A thousand times across the sky"

6. "Lean on me when you're not strong, and I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on". Those lovely lyrics were written by the same man who sang them. The title of the tune is "Lean On Me" (1972) and it made it to Number One on the "Billboard Hot 100 Chart", and "Billboard Hot R&B Chart". Which singer-songwriter was responsible for "Rolling Stone's" listing "Lean On Me", at number 205 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time?

Answer: Bill Withers

Bill Withers headed to Los Angeles in 1965 after a nine year stint in the United States Navy. He's a versatile performer, singing soul, rock & roll and the blues, as well as strummin' a mean guitar. Withers had three other hits reach the top five on the "Billboard Hot 100 Chart". "Ain't No Sunshine" (1971), peaked at number three, "Use Me (1972), reached number two, as did "Just the Two of Us"* (1981).
"Lean on Me", made it to numero uno, July 8, 1972, went on to sell over three million copies and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007.
Bill Withers became a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005.

*On "Just the Two of Us", Withers was accompanied by Grover Washington Jr. on the saxophone. That rendition won a Grammy Award in 1982.

Here are some more of the lyrics of "Lean on Me":

"For it won't be long
Till I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem
That you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on"

7. "My darlin', I NEED YOU", is the sentiment expressed by a man speaking to the object of his affection. "Little Darlin'" was a "do-wop" hit for Mercury Records, as it reached number two on the "Billboard Hot 100 Chart", on March 16, 1957, and stayed there for eight weeks. The Canadian group that recorded it had several songs chart in the 1950s-1960s. They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004. Can you come up with their moniker, eh?

Answer: The Diamonds

The Diamonds scored big-time in the "do-wop" era with tunes like, "Church Bells Will Ring (1956), "One Summer Night" (1961), and "The Stroll" (1957), all of which were top 40 songs, with "The Stroll" reaching number four.
"Little Darlin' was the work of songwriter Maurice Williams. The Diamonds charted a total of 16 songs between 1956-1961. The Diamonds appeared on a number of popular TV shows hosted by the likes of Tony Bennett, Perry Como, and Steve Allen, and they were frequent guests on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand".
On the last album he recorded, Elvis Presley had "Little Darlin'" as track three, side A, on "Moody Blues" (1977).

And now a little trip down memory lane with The Diamonds:

"Little darlin', oh, little darlin'
Oh-oh-oh where a-are you?

My love-a, I was wrong-a
To-oo try to lo-ove two
A-hoopa, a-hoopa, hoopa

My darlin', I need you
To call my own and never do wrong
To hold in mine your little hand
I'll know too soon that all is so grand
Please, hold my hand"

8. "Think of your fellow man, give him a helping hand, put a little love in your heart". That's the start of 1969's, "Put a Little Love in Your Heart". The song made it to the number four spot on the "Billboard Hot 100 Chart", and the singer who performed it, is a songwriter as well. She was a co-winner of the Grammy Award for Song of the Year (1982), penning "Bette Davis Eyes" (1981). Can you name this lady who entered the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010?

Answer: Jackie DeShannon

The songwriting Jackie DeShannon's, "Bette Davis Eyes", was a huge success for Kim Carnes. Her rendition of it was number one on the "Billboard Hot 100 Chart" for over two months in 1981. Ms. DeShannon was born Sharon Lee Myers in Hazel, KY, and has sung as Sherry Lee, Jackie Dee and Jackie Shannon before taking her more famous sobriquet when she inked a contract with Liberty Records in 1960. Between 1956-2011, she had released more than 35 albums and over 60 singles. Three of her tunes were "Billboard Hot 100 Chart" top 40 tunes. "Love Will Find a Way" (1969), snuck in at number 40, "Only Love Can Break a Heart" (1972), got to 38th place, and "What the World Needs Now is Love" peaked in the seventh spot in 1964.

Maestro, some more music, please:

"You see it's getting late
Oh please don't hesitate
Put a little love in your heart
And the world will be a better place
And the world will be a better place
For you and me
You just wait and see"

9. What would a signature song quiz be without at least the only hit song by a true one-hit wonder? The song is a gospel number called "Spirit in the Sky". The singer also claims to have written it in 15 minutes, back in 1969. The artist was born in the state of MA, and studied Music for two years at Boston University. When he went to Los Angeles in 1965, he landed a gig with a group titled Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band. I know that was a huge hint (?), so can you take advantage of it and guess this man's moniker?

Answer: Norman Greenbaum

Norman Greenbaum only recorded a handful of songs, but "Spirit in the Sky" made up for, in quality, what he lacked in quantity. His signature song spent over three months in the Top 100 and peaked at number three on the "Billboard Hot 100 Chart" on April 18, 1970. A world-wide hit on the Warner Brothers label, it would go on to sell over two million copies, reaching the top spot on charts in Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, and the U.K.
While Norman Greenbaum was with Dr. West's band, they recorded "The Eggplant That Ate Chicago", (really!) which actually reached number 52 on the "Billboard Hot 100 Chart" in 1966.

OK, everyone, get up on your feet and clap your hands to the beat:

"When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky

Prepare yourself, you know it's a must
Gotta have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He's gonna recommend you to the spirit in the sky"

By the way, Nathan Birnbaum is the birth name of American comic, George Burns, Hank Greenberg was a feared slugger for (mostly) the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball team, and Graham Greene is a renowned English author, whose titles include "Our Man in Havana" (1958).

10. "I met him on a Monday and my heart stood still Da doo ron ron ron, da doo ron ron ron Someboy told me that his name was Bill Da doo ron ron ron, da doo ron ron ron Yes, my heart stood still Yes, his name was Bill And when he walked me home da doo ron ron ron, da doo ron ron ron". Folks, they're just not writin' 'em like that anymore! You may be surprised that such a lovely melody didn't get to number one, but "Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked me Home)", did peak at number three on the "Billboard Hot 100 Chart" on May 1, 1963. Famed record producer Phil Spector put it all together for the all girl band; what was the name of their sparkling group?

Answer: The Crystals

The Crystals with Dolores "La La" Brooks handling the lead singing duties, also took their tune to number four on the "Cashbox Chart", and it was a list topper in the U.K. as well. Ms. Brooks was the third lead singer for The Crystals. She had that honor in 1963-1964. She had been preceded by Barbara Olson, the groups' first lead (1961-1962), and Darlene Love (1962-1963). Ms Brooks also had the lead on "Then He Kissed Me" (1963), which reached the sixth spot on the "Billboard Hot 100 Chart".
The Crystals produced less than a dozen singles, but one of them was a Number One "Billboard Hot 100 Chart topper, "He's a Rebel" (1962) (although its lyrics weren't as memorable as "Da Doo").

Interesting fact: In 2004 "Rolling Stone" magazine slotted "Da Doo Ron Ron" at number 114 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. (I kid you, not).

And now, some more of the beautiful lyrics:

"Picked me up at seven and he looked so fine
Da doo ron ron ron, da doo ron ron ron
Someday soon I'm gonna make him mine
Da doo ron ron ron, da doo ron ron ron

Yes, he looked so fine
Yes, I'll make him mine
And when he walked me home
Da doo ron ron ron, da doo ron ron ron"

Source: Author paulmallon

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Signature Songs" of Singers or Groups-Part 17 Quiz

This is a follow-up to "Signature Songs-Parts 1- 16. Many singers have recorded one special tune with which they will long be associated. I'll give you the titles of ten songs. See if you can name the singers or groups best known for recording them.

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>