The Blues In The Night Trivia Quiz

Answer: Arlen and Mercer

Harold Arlen wrote the music and Johnny Mercer the lyrics for this song, which is now considered part of the Great American Songbook. In the film it is sung by William Gillespie, but various recordings mean it is now thought of as a female song. It was nominated for the 1941 Academy Award for Best Original Song, but lost to "The Last Time I Saw Paris".

This had not been written specifically for a film, just used in one, which led to some controversy. A change in the rules now means that any nominated song has to be have been specifically written for the film in which it appears.

Answer: LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes broke onto the country music scene with her debut album "Blue" in 1996, when she was just thirteen. The album became a multi platinum seller, and the title song was released as a successful single. It won her the Academy of Country Music award for Single of the Year and Best New Female Vocalist.
Her voice has been compared to that of the late Patsy Cline. She has gone on to consolidate her early success with albums, singles, film appearances and has also written two novels and two books for children.

Answer: Lonely Blue Boy

"Lonely Blue Boy" was a Billboard Pop Chart number six for Conway Twitty in 1959. It was also recorded by Elvis Presley under the title of "Danny" for the film "King Creole", but was dropped from the final soundtrack. Twitty had a string of well known records in the 1950s and 1960s. "It's Only Make Believe" was covered in the UK by Billy Fury and both had chart success with it.

His best known recording is probably "Hello Darlin", which topped the Country Music chart for four weeks in 1970.

Answer: Blue On Blue

"Blue Velvet" was originally titled "Blue on Blue" and was Bobby Vinton's sixth album. The title song went to number three on the Billboard chart. When "Blue Velvet" was released as a single it went to number one, so the album title was changed to reflect the success of the single.

It later went on to further popularity when the somewhat surreal film "Blue Velvet" (1986) was released, utilising the title song.

Answer: Kentucky

"Blue Moon of Kentucky" was written by Bill Monroe in 1946. If sung as originally written it is a waltz. It has been recorded by many artists including Elvis Presley, who did a more up tempo version. It was supposed to be the B side of "That's All Right", but proved to be more popular, making the top ten in the local charts in Memphis and Nashville, with "That's All Right" nowhere to be seen.

It has become the official song of blue grass music, and, in 2002, was added to the National Recording Registry.

Answer: Luxembourg

The song was first heard at the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest, where it came fourth. The winner that year was "Puppet on a String", the United Kingdom entry. Despite not winning it has gone on to become one of the most covered and highest selling Eurovision songs of all time. Artists who have recorded it include Frank Sinatra, Marty Robbins, Al Martino and Johnny Mathis. Vikcy Leandros herself had success with it, mainly in Japan and Canada. Along with "Volare", which placed third in the 1958 Eurovision Song Contest, it is one of the very few non winning songs to become a worldwide success.

Answer: Mark Wynter

Mark Wynter's cover version of "Venus in Blue Jeans" was his largest hit, making number four on the UK singles chart in 1962. He had a number six hit with "Go Away Little Girl" the same year, but quickly gave up a singing career for acting. In addition to serious roles, such as the lead in "Conduct Unbecoming", he has also appeared in several musicals such as "Charlie Girl", "Cats" and "Barnum".

He has also toured the UK with the Agatha Christie Theatre Company, which, as the name suggests, specialise in putting on plays of Agatha Christie mysteries.

Answer: Song Sung Blue

"Song Sung Blue" was the second Billboard number one for Neil Diamond. It originally appeared on the album "Moods" and has also appeared on many of his live and compilation albums. The song was Grammy nominated in 1973, It has become an essential part of Neil Diamond's live shows.

It was also the title of a documentary filmed in 2008 about a Neil Diamond impersonator who was married to a Patsy Cline impersonator.

Answer: Blue Blue Day

Don Gibson was a country music singer/songwriter who was inducted into both the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. He wrote and recorded "Blue Blue Day" in 1958 and it was his second country music chart top forty hit. He wrote "I Can't Stop Loving You", which was a successful record for Ray Charles.

Answer: Muddy Waters

Muddy Waters started to become popular in the Chicago blues clubs in the 1940s. By 1953 he was recording for Chess Records, with one of the best blues bands ever put together, Little Walter Jacobs, Jimmy Rogers, Elga Edwards and Otis Span. The blues classics they recorded together include "I Just Wanna Make Love To You" and "Hoochie Coochie Man".

He came to England in 1958 and his appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1960 did much to popularise the music here. The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix cited him as an inspiration and influence.