The Burt Bacharach and Hal David Songbook Quiz

Answer: Perry Como

"Magic moments, when two hearts are carin'
Magic moments, mem'ries we've been sharing"

"Magic Moments" was an early B&D composition, and was published in 1957.

Perry Como made it a US hit in 1958 (Billboard positions uncertain) and it was a UK number one for eight weeks.

In the UK, the song was used in a commercial for a brand of confectionery during the 1980s.

Answer: Gene Pitney

"Oh, I was only twenty four hours from Tulsa
Ah, only one day away from your arms..."

The song entered the Billboard Top 100 at number 99 in October 1963 and peaked at number 17 in December of that year.

Gene Pitney had recorded B&D's "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" in 1962.

Answer: Dusty Springfield

"Just don't know what to do with myself
I don't know what to do with myself..."

Dusty Springfield was not the first person to record the song, but her version was more successful that either of those by Tommy Hunt or Chuck Jackson.

Springfield's recording reached number three in the UK in 1964.

Meanwhile, Dionne Warwick's 1966 version reached number 26 on the Billboard charts.

Answer: Dionne Warwick

"If you see me walking down the street
And I start to cry each time we meet
Walk on by, walk on by..."

"Walk On By" was released as the B-side to Warwick's single "Any Old Time Of The Day."

However, a New York City radio presenter would not play the 'A' side, he thought the 'B' side had more potential. He was right, it became a hit.

It was a number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and a UK number nine.

Years later, in a 'Record Collector' interview, Bacharach recalled the recording session: "I knew the song had something . It was a great date. I walked out of that studio and we had done two tunes in a three-hour session, 'Walk On By' and 'Anyone Who Had A Heart.' I felt very good leaving knowing that I had two monster hits on my hands. You never know for sure but you feel a great satisfaction."

Answer: Sandie Shaw

"...Oh, how can I forget you?
When there is always something there to remind me
Always something there to remind me..."

The song was first recorded in the USA by Lou Johnson, but was not a big hit.

Sandie Shaw, meanwhile, took it to the top of the UK charts.

The British duo Naked Eyes took the song to number eight in the US in 1983

Answer: Tom Jones

"What's new pussycat whoa
What's new pussycat whoa oh..."

The song was written for the 1966 movie of the same name.

Tom Jones took it to number 11 in the UK singles charts and number three on the Billboard Hot 100.. It was also nominated for an Oscar.

Bacharach later told 'Record Collector' magazine: Bacarach later told 'Record Collector' magazine: "It was an instrumental first and then words were put on it. If it's got a good melody it can always fit the lyric."

Answer: Jackie DeShannon

"What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It's the only thing that there's just too little of ...

In the book "Chicken Soup For the Soul: The Story Behind The Song" Hal David recalled: "We showed the song to Dionne Warwick, who had recorded many of our songs, and it is the only song of ours that she ever turned down. We put it aside and then received a call from Liberty Records to meet with Jackie DeShannon. We played this song for her and she wanted to do it. Burt did a great arrangement and we recorded it."

It reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.

Warwick was later to record the song.

Gene Pitney also passed on it.

Answer: B. J. Thomas

Dionne Warwick convinced them to give B. J. Thomas the song. It had already been turned down by Bob Dylan and Ray Stevens.

Bacharach later told 'Record Collector' magazine: "'Raindrops' was done for the score. When you're scoring a motion picture you service the picture and there was that scene with the bicycle. I did keep hearing that title, I must say. That is my title, 'Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.' Hal tried to change it and come up with another lyric, but it never seemed to work as well. I watched the film so much when I was scoring it. It was a convenient way to get B.J. Thomas to sing it because he was in the stable of Scepter at the time. Our first choice was Ray Stevens. They flew Ray out to see the picture and hear the song but he didn't like the picture and he didn't like the song."

It won the Oscar for Best Song From A Motion Picture at the 1970 Academy Awards. It was It was also a chart topper in the USA, Canada, Norway and South Africa.

Answer: Bobbie Gentry

"What do you get when you fall in love?
A guy with a pin to burst your bubble
That's what you get for all your trouble
I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again..."

This was written by B&D for the 1968 Broadway musical 'Promises, Promises'. The show was written by Billy Wilder, with musical adaptation by Neil Simon.

Bobbie Gentry took the song to the top of the UK charts in 1969.

Meanwhile, Dionne Warwick did not appear in the show, but recorded five songs from it. Her recording was a number six on the Billboard Hot 100. It won a Grammy in 1970.

It had been earlier recorded by Johnny Mathis and by Bacharach.

Answer: Bobby Vinton

"Blue on blue, heartache on heartache
Blue on blue now that we are through..."

Bobby Vinton's recording spent 13 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963 and peaked at number three.

Among others to record it were Paul Anka (1963); Percy Faith (1964); Maureen McGovern (1991).