Songs with a Transportation Theme Quiz

Answer: Mersey

The river Mersey flows into Liverpool Bay and onto the Irish Sea. It is the basis of the term "Merseybeat" or "Mersey sound" which is typically used to describe acts that originated in the city in the early to mid 60s such as The Beatles, and the performers of the above song, Gerry & The Pacemakers. The song in question is "Ferry Cross The Mersey".

Answer: Ian Hunter

The song was written by Ian Hunter and appeared on his 1979 album "You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic". Ian Anderson was the lead singer and flautist for Jethro Tull. Ian Dury & The Blockheads had hits with "Hit Me With Your Rhythym Stick" and "Sex And Drugs And Rock And Roll". Ian McLagan was the keyboard player for The Faces, the band that brought Rod Stewart to prominence in the early 70s.

Answer: Roller Skates

Melanie's full name was Melanie Safka Schekeryk. The lyrics in the song in question are:

"Well, I got a brand new pair of roller skates,
You got a brand new key,
I think that we should get together
And try them out you see"

Answer: Firefly

The lyrics in question state:

"Call you up in the middle of the night,
Like a firefly without a light,
You were there like a slow torch burning,
I was a key that could use a little turning"

Answer: Red

Red is the odd one out. All of the colours contained in the song (yellow, blue and green) manage at one point to be mentioned in the space of eight words:

"Sky of blue and sea of green,
In our yellow submarine"

Answer: Masters Apprentices

Sing along now! The chorus goes:

"Elevator driver, carry me please,
Elevator driver, do,
Past the stories of confusion,

To my penthouse of illusion,
Elevator Driver"

The Masters Apprentices were formed in Adelaide, South Australia, in 1964. Other fantastic contributions by this Aussie band include "Turn Up Your Radio", "Living In A Child's Dream" and "Because I Love You", the latter being recorded at the Abbey Road studios.

Answer: Jump In My Car

The Ted Mulry Gang had a huge hit with this song in Australia in 1975. It should be noted that the Ted Mulry Gang rendition is a different tune and not the same lyrics as the song by CC Catch. "Let Me Be Your Car", sung by Rod Stewart on his 1974 album "Smiler", was penned by Elton John and Bernie Taupin". "I'm In Love With My Car" is taken from Queen's 1976 album "A Night At The Opera" and is found as the B side of "Bohemian Rhapsody" on most single releases.

The Beatles 1965 album "Rubber Soul" contained the catchy Lennon/McCartney tune "Drive My Car".

Answer: Silver Bird

Mark Lindsay also had a hit with "Arizona". "High Flying Bird" is an Elton John song from the album "Don't Shoot Me (I'm Only The Piano Player)". "White Bird" was by the 1969 one hit wonder group 'It's a Beautiful Day'. A Blackbird is either a Beatles tune from "The Beatles" (White Album) or, if you are aeronautically minded, the nickname for the Lockheed SR-71A.

It is also, of course, a bird!

Answer: It's cold as hell

Elton's lyrics state:

"Mars ain't the kind of place,
To raise your kids,
In fact, it's cold as hell,
And there's no one there to raise them,
If you did"

Answer: $17.50

Get the calculator out! The lyrics say:

"And she handed me twenty dollars for a two fifty fare,
She said "Harry, keep the change""

700 percent profit! What a shame it wasn't a longer trip!

Answer: Eleven

This fact gets revealed when the convoy passes through 'Chi-Town':

"Well, we shot the line, we went for broke,

With a thousand screamin' trucks,
And eleven long-haired friends of Jesus,
In a chartreuse microbus"

Answer: August

One of the Hollies' many catchy tunes, the relevant lyrics are:

"All that summer we enjoyed it,
Wind and rain and shine,
That umbrella, we employed it,
By August, she was mine"

Answer: A Horse With No Name

The 1972 release "A Horse With No Name" was one of America's biggest hits. "Wild Horses" by the Rolling Stones, although being recorded a week before the ill-fated Altamont concert in 1969, was released on their 1971 album "Sticky Fingers", which featured a mock zipper on the album cover. "Chestnut Mare" is a '60s track by The Byrds, and "Crazy Horses" was a rather radical departure in the 70s from The Osmonds' usual style.

Answer: Fifth Dimension

I remember that the now-defunct Trans Australia Airlines modified the song to use as their advertising jingle:

"Up, Up And Away, with TAA,
The friendly, friendly way"

Answer: Plane and Car

The lyrics state, in part:

"But I don`t wanna die in an air disaster,
I don`t wanna die on a plane"

and

"I don`t wanna die in a freeway pile-up,
I don`t wanna die on the road"

If you are familiar with Albert's work but have never heard this song, I urge you to try and find it. It is one of his best pieces.