The Colour of the Song Trivia Quiz

Answer: Black

Ram Jam had "Black Betty", the rolling Stones wanted to "Paint it Black" and Bobby Rydell recorded a rock version of "That Old Black Magic". Ram Jam's recording of Leadbelly's "Black Betty" in 1977 was their only hit. "Paint it Black" was the Stones third Billboard Hot 100 number one hit and their sixth in the UK and fourth in Australia. "That Old Black Magic" was written by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Johnny Mercer written with Judy Garland in mind. Judy recorded the song in 1943.

There are over 100 recordings of the song with versions by, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Billy Daniels, Sammy Davis Jr, Ella Fitzgerald, Dickie Valentine and Rod Stewart to name a few.

The song was famously sung by Marilyn Monroe in the 1956 movie, "Bus Stop".

Answer: Blue

Elvis recorded "Blue Christmas" for his "Elvis' Christmas Album" in 1957. Originally a hit in 1949/50 for Ernest Tubb, the song is forever associated with Elvis, yet when released as a single it failed to chart. Roy Orbison had a US top 40 hit with "Blue Bayou", the record reached number one in Australia where he was immensley popular. The song became associated with LInda Rondstadt when it became a worldwide top ten hit for her in 1977. Linda's version reportedly sold over 2 million in the USA and another 2 million worldwide.

Answer: Brown

"Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison and "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" by Chuck Berry.
"Brown Eyed Girl" made the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967 and did not really race up the charts anywhere other than the USA. This is now a classic track, much like his other songs "Jackie Wilson Said and "Moondance" neither of which charted as singles. Looking at the performance of Van Morrison's albums he has been charting on the Billboard Album chart for 50 years. "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" was released in 1956 as the b side of "Too Much Monkey Business". Like many songs recorded by black artists in the fifties this record did not see much chart action but both songs have been covered on numerous occasions and were staples of the stage acts of many sixties beat groups. Buddy Holly recorded a version of "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" which charted posthumously for him Australia and the United Kingdom in 1963.

Answer: Purple

"Purple Haze all in my brain" so sang Jimi Hendrix in this song from 1967, this now classic tune only made it to number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Purple Rain" was a worldwide top ten Hit for Prince in 1984, it got to number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Nino Tempo and April Stevens, actually Antonino and Carol LoTempio a brother and sister act, hit the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963 with "Deep Purple". "Deep Purple" won a Grammy for the best Rock 'n' Roll record.

Answer: Pink

Pink is the colour. Dodie Stevens had a top ten Billboard hot 100 hit in 1959 with "Pink Shoe Laces", while she has recorded many singles no other has ever arrived in the top ten. The 1969 release of "Lily the Pink" by Scaffold was a number one in Australia, UK and Ireland.

The Scaffold were a comedy musical group whose personnel included Paul McCartney's brother (performing as Mike McGear). Bruce Springsteen released "Pink Cadillac" in 1984 and it reached the top thirty on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song had a second life when in 1988 Natalie Cole had a worldwide top ten hit with her version of the song.

Answer: Green

Tom Jones told us of "The Green Green Grass of Home". "Green River" was a hit for Credence Clearwater Revival, "Green Door" was a number one hit for Jim Lowe in 1956. In 1981 Shakin' Stevens had a UK number one with "Green Door". "Green Onions" was a top five hit in 1962 for Booker T and the MG's from their Album of the same name. "The Green Green Grass of Home" was initially a hit in 1965 for Porter Wagoner on the Billboard Country chart it was also recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis and Bobby Bare. It was Jerry Lee's version that Tom Jones heard and he recorded the song in 1966. Tom's recording was a monster hit for him, making number one in Australia and the United Kingdom,as well as making the top ten on many international charts. "Green River" was Credence's third consecutive number two song of 1969 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: White

Written by J.P. (The Big Bopper) Richardson, "White Lightning" was a Billboard number one country and minor pop hit for George Jones in 1959. The song has been recorded by many artists, among them are Glen Campbell, Waylon Jennings, The Fall, Shakin' Stevens and a live version from British TV by Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent. Billy Idol had a hit with "White Wedding" in 1982 although many of his recordings fared better on the charts, he is most identified with this song. "White on White" was a US top ten hit for Danny Williams in 1964, ironically it did not chart in his adopted home country of the United Kingdom.

Interestingly he had a UK Number one in 1961 with "Moon River" a song mostly associated with his namesake Andy Williams. Both Andy and Danny had top ten versions of "The Wonderful World of the Young" in 1962.

Answer: Yellow

Arthur Lyman made the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961 with "Yellow Bird" The song reaching number four. Elton John took "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" up to number two in 1973. The record was held out of the top spot by Gladys Knight and the Pips, "Midnight Train to Georgia". Bobby Darin in 1963 had a top ten with "18 Yellow Roses".

Answer: Silver

"Bang Bang Maxwell's Silver Hammer, came down upon her head", so sang The Beatles on their "Abbey Road" album. The Springfields a British folk trio, featuring a young Dusty Springfield scored a worldwide hit with "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" in 1962, the song made the top twenty on the Billboard charts and was number one in a number of European countries, oddly though it did not chart in their home market. Finally "Silver Bells" written for the Bob Hope movie "The Lemon Drop Kid" has become a much recorded Christmas favourite. "Silver Bells" charted for Bing Crosby and Carol Richards in 1957, then in the 1960's for Al Martino and Earl Grant.

Answer: Red

"Roses are Red" was a number one hit for Bobby Vinton in 1962. The song was co-written by Paul Evans who had visited the top ten in 1959 with his recording of, "Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Backseat". "Little Red Rooster" was a UK number one for the Rolling stones who in in 1964 could do no wrong, the song failed to chart in the USA. "Little Red Rented Rowboat" was a Hot 100 Billboard hit for Joe Dowell in 1962, he had achieved the number one spot in 1961 with his version of "Wooden Heart", when RCA Victor decided at the time not to release Elvis Presley's version of the song as a single.