Song by Song: "When a Man Loves a Woman" Quiz

Answer: Percy Sledge

According to Rolling Stone magazine, producer Quin Ivy heard Percy Sledge sing this song at the local Elks Club. Sledge was touring with the Esquires at the time. Ivy convinced the singer to record his first solo. The song was also produced by Marlin Greene and was recorded on the Atlantic label.

Answer: 1966

Recorded in February of 1966 in Sheffield, Alabama, "When A Man Loves A Woman" was released as a single in March of 1966 with "Love Me Like You Mean It" on the B-side. The recording may have begun at Muscle Shoals but was likely concluded at nearby Norala studio.

Answer: the world

"When a man loves a woman
Can't keep his mind on nothin' else
He'd trade the world
For the good thing he's found."

"When a Man Loves a Woman" was written by Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright. Both men were members of the Esquires, which was fronted by Percy Sledge. According to Rolling Stone magazine, when Sledge first sang this song, he had recently lost "his girl, who'd taken off for L.A. to pursue a modeling career."

Answer: His best friend

"If she is bad, he can't see it
She can do no wrong
Turn his back on his best friend
If he put her down."

"When a Man Loves a Woman" peaked at number one on both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B songs chart. It was also a top ten hit in the Netherlands on the Single Top 100 chart. Rolling Stone magazine rated Sledge's song the 53rd greatest song of all time in its 2004 list.

Answer: dime

"When a man loves a woman
Spend his very last dime
Tryin' to hold on to what he needs."

Andy Garcia and Megan Ryan starred in a 1994 romantic drama that took its name from this song. The movie featured "When a Man Loves a Woman" in its soundtrack.

Answer: out in the rain

"He'd give up all his comforts
And sleep out in the rain
If she said that's the way it ought to be
Well, this man loves you, woman
I gave you everything that I have
Tryin' to hold on to your heartless love
Baby, please don't treat me bad."

Mae West recorded a campy cover of "When a Man Loves a Woman" on her 1966 album "Way Out West." The former movie star was in her seventies when she recorded the album and was backed up by the garage-rock-style band Somebody's Children.

Answer: misery

"When a man loves a woman
Down deep in his soul
She can bring him such misery"

Jazz saxophonist Eddie Harris included an instrumental cover of "When a Man Loves a Woman" on his 1966 album "The Tender Storm." Esther Phillips (also known as "Little Esther") also covered the song in 1966.

Answer: see

Christopher Breaux (later Frank Ocean) created a 21st century version of the one-sided love story that is "A Man Love's a Woman" and recorded it over a loop of Percy Sledge's original recording of the song. The song, titled "Non-Stop" is available on the 2010 album "The Lonny Breaux Collection," which includes a variety of unreleased songs and demos.

Answer: Michael Bolton

Michael Bolton's version peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and on the U.S. Adult Contemporary Billboard chart. It was included on his 1991 album "Time, Love & Tenderness." The single was released on October 18, 1981 with "Save Me" on the B-side.

Answer: Bette Midler

In the movie, Bette Midler played "The Rose," a character based loosely on Janis Joplin. This marked Bette Midler's acting debut and even earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Her version of the song peaked at number 35 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.