Songs With Tears in the Title Trivia Quiz

Answer: Johnny Rivers

In 1967 Johnny Rivers reached Number Ten on the US Billboard charts with his recording of "The Tracks of My Tears". Johnny had success with other cover songs including "Baby I Need Your Lovin'" (1967), "Maybellene" (1964), "Memphis" (1964) and "Midnight Special" (1965). His only sixties chart-topper was in 1966 with "Poor Side Of Town".
Smokey Robinson, Marv Tarplin and Pete Moore wrote "The Tracks of My Tears" and The Miracles released it as a single from their 1965 "Going to a Go-Go" LP. The song made it to Number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the the group's fourth million seller.
Linda Ronstadt released her Number 25 version as a single from her 1975 "Prisoner in Disguise" album.
Aretha's 1969 version from her "Soul '69" album peaked at Number 76.

Answer: Donna Summer

In addition to topping the charts with Barbra, Donna Summer also enjoyed Number One success in 1979 with "Bad Boys" and "Hot Stuff" and hit Number Two with "Dim All the Lights". "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" was the fourth Number One for each artist.
Paul Jabara and Bruce Roberts composed "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)". Both Barbra and Donna included the song on individual albums. Additionally Streisand's label and Summer's label each released the song as a single. The song spent two weeks on top of the US Billboard charts. The duo never performed the song live together but each singer performed renditions in concert or on tour.
Evelyn "Champagne" King hit the Top Forty in 1979 with "I Don't Know If It's Right". "Knock On Wood" by Amii Stewart and "Ring My Bell"by Anita Ward topped the charts the same year.

Answer: False

"As Tears Go By" was composed by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards with their manager Andrew Loog Oldham. Oldham suggested Marianne Faithfull record the song because the Rolling Stones were not considered a ballad genre band at the time. Seventeen-year-old Marianne's version stayed on the US charts for nine weeks but peaked at Number 22 despite appearances by Faithfull on American Pop Music variety shows. The Rolling Stones released a single version from their 1965 "December's Children (And Everybody's)" album and performed the song on "The Ed Sullivan Show" (1948).

Their single peaked at Number Six on the US Billboard charts. The group did not perform "As Tears Go By" in concert until their "A Bigger Bang" tour in 2005.

Answer: Al Martino

"Tears and Roses" was a single release from Al Martino's 1964 "I Love You More and More Every Day/Tears and Roses" album. The album reached Number 31 on the album charts. The Top Ten "I Love You More and More Every Day" was another single release from the album.
Al Martino had been placing songs on the charts since his debut single, "Here in My Heart" went to Number One in 1952. Al Martino had a few movie roles, most notably as crooner Johnny Fontane in the 1972 film "The Godfather".
"Tell Me Why" was a 1964 release by Bobby Vinton. Matt Monro had a Top Forty single with "Walk Away" and "Wrong for Each Other" was a 1964 release from Andy Williams.

Answer: Rudy Martinez

"96 Tears" was written by Rudy Martinez and originally titled "Too Many Teardrops". After changing the name and insisting that "96 Tears" be the "A" side on their first single the song became popular in Michigan. When the song gained popularity Cameo Records took over distribution from the smaller Pa-Go-Go label and the record became a national hit.
? and the Mysterians was one of the early garage bands. They followed up "96 Tears" with "I Need Somebody". "I Need Somebody" reached Number 22 but was their last Top Forty single.
"Call Me" was a 1966 Top Forty from Chris Montez. John McElrath was a member of The Swingin' Medallions. Domingo "Sam" Samudio was better known as Sam the Sham, lead singer of Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs.

Answer: Imperials

Jerome Anthony "Little Anthony" Gourdine fronted the Imperials. In 1958 the group signed with End Records and released their debut single, "Tears on My Pillow". The song became a big hit, reaching Number Four on the US charts. They followed with "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko Ko Bop" in 1960 then Little Anthony decided to embark on a solo career.

He returned to the group three years later and released "Goin' Out Of My Head" and "I'm On The Outside (Looking In)" in 1964. The group continued to perform on variety shows and tour.

In 2008 Little Anthony and the Imperials released an album titled "You'll Never Know". Shep and the Limelites are known for their 1961 hit "Daddy's Home". Frankie Lymon fronted the Teenagers and Billy Ward was backed by The Dominoes.

Answer: Baker

Chicago native Delores LaVern Baker first had chart success in 1955 with the Number 14 "Tweedlee Dee" followed the next year by the Top Twenty single "Jim Dandy". "I Cried a Tear" reached Number Six in 1959 and featured legendary saxophone player King Curtis.

She married comedian Slappy White the same year "I Cried A Tear" was released. Her chart success led to appearances in Rock and Roll genre films and in 1969 Baker became part of an Asian USO tour. She became ill and after recovering she decided to become the entertainment director for a Marine Corps NCO club and remained there for 22 years.

In 1991 Baker became the second female artist (after Aretha Franklin) to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Answer: The Isley Brothers

The Isley Brothers hailed from Cincinnati, Ohio, and were disciplined in singing while in the church choir. After appearing on a nationally televised amateur show and - winning a watch for coming in first - they eventually landed a deal with RCA Records and released "Shout (Part 1)".

In 1964 they released "Testify" with Jimi Hendrix on guitar. After switching labels to Motown they released the Top Twenty single "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)" and went to Number Two in 1969 with "It's Your Thing".

In the seventies they had hits with "That Lady (Part 1)" (1973) and "Fight the Power (Part 1)" (1975). In 1996 they had chart success collaborating with R. Kelly singing "Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)" and their own release, "Tears". Ron and Ernie are the two remaining brothers who have continued touring with the group into the 21st century.

Answer: Don't Shed a Tear

Although Paul Carrack enjoyed success as a solo singer he was involved with several British bands throughout his career. In the seventies he could be heard singing "How Long" by Ace in 1975 and playing keyboards on Roxy Music's 1979 album "Manifesto".

His first solo effort, "Nightbird", in 1980 was not a commercial success so he continued working as a session player before joining Mike and The Mechanics in 1985. In 1988 he released another solo album titled "One Good Reason" and the single "Don't Shed A Tear" became successful. "No More Tears" was done by Ozzie in 1991. Bobby Vee released "How Many Tears" in 1961 and "Two Kinds of Teardrops" was by Del Shannon in 1963.

Answer: Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

In 1965 The Miracles began being billed as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. Before then the closest The Miracles came to a Number One single was the Number Two 1960 release "Shop Around". After the name change they had success with the Number Four "I Second That Emotion" in 1967 before topping the charts in 1970 with "The Tears of A Clown".
Smokey Robinson collaborated with Stevie Wonder and Hank Cosby writing "The Tears of A Clown". It was included on Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' 1967 "Make It Happen" LP but not released as a single at that time. In 1970 "The Tears of A Clown" became a hit in Britain so it was released as a single in the US where it topped the charts and became the only US Number One single attributed to Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.
In 1972 Smokey left the group after a tour intended to introduce their new singer Billy Griffin.