The Great Songs of 1964 - Part 2 Quiz

Answer: House Of The Rising Sun

A three week #1 for The Animals in September 1964, it was their debut chart hit in North America and although the group would have nine top twenty hits before disbanding in 1968, it would remain their signature song. The lyrics were adapted from an old traditional folk ballad about a prostitute in a brothel.

The new rendering about a gambler made it more "radio-worthy"... right to the top of the charts!

Answer: Because

A #3 song and the DC V's biggest hit after "Over and Over", their only #1 song released a year later in 1965. They were the third most popular of the British Invasion bands after the Beatles and the Rolling Sones. Their last top ten hit was "You Got What It Takes" in 1967 but they hung in there until 1970 before disbanding four months after the Beatles announced their breakup.

Answer: Summer Song

"Summer Song" was a #7 song for Chad and Jeremy who sounded remarkably like Peter and Gordon. Their respective careers took similar paths as well since by 1967, both groups were history. Peter and Gordon get the edge for superiority... they had the #1 hit "World Without Love" while "Summer Song" was Chad and Jeremy's biggest hit.

Answer: We'll Sing In The Sunshine

The folky "We'll Sing In The Sunshine" achieved #4 chart status in October 1964. The singer was Gale Garnett, born in Auckland in 1942 but who moved to Canada with her parents in 1953. The stage was always her first love and she pursued music briefly in the mid 60's only at the insistence of RCA records. Gale turned out to be a one hit wonder, in terms of top 40 hits anyway, and she resumed her acting career having appeared in many movies, TV shows and on the stage.

She's also been a playwright, a newspaper columnist and novelist - a truly multi-talented person.

She currently resides in Toronto.

Answer: Under The Boardwalk

This was a #4 hit for the Drifters and the group's third biggest hit in their long history. Only "Save The Last Dance For Me" and "There Goes My Baby" were bigger. The lead singer for the Drifters at this time was Johnny Moore. He replaced Rudy Lewis, the lead singer from 1960, who had died of a heart attack in May 1964.

Answer: Wishin' And Hopin'

The artist? Mary O'Brien... but we know her as Dusty Springfield. Dusty's North American chart entries pretty well dried up by 1970 but she remained quite popular in the U.K. right up until her death of cancer in 1999 at the age of 59.

Answer: Where Did Our Love Go

An aficianado would recognize all these titles as Supremes songs and the expert would identify these lines from the first Supremes song to be #1 for two weeks in August. Not much to add here except to point out that this would be their first of twelve #1's!

Answer: Her seatbelt wouldn't unfasten

In his own words:
"Riding along in my calaboose
Still trying to get her belt a-loose
All the way home I held a grudge
For the safety belt that wouldn't budge
Cruisin' and playing the radio
With no particular place to go"

Answer: Pasadena

Yes, "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena" and Jan and Dean recorded a #3 hit with a song about her lead-footing ways! The duo forged a pretty respectable roster of hits from 1958 to 1966 when the partnership dissolved after Jan was seriously injured in a car crash.

They occasionally reunited for special events but Jan was never the quite the same due to a brain injury. He passed away in March 2004 at the age of 62.

Answer: Have I The Right?

The Honeycombs were darned close to being the proverbial "one hit wonder". Their only other chart entry was the #48 song "I Can't Stop", their release after "Have I The Right?". This quintet is now best remembered for the trivial fact that Ann Lantrey, the sister of bassist John Lantrey, was the band's drummer, most unusual in those days!

Answer: Mr. Lonely

"Mr. Lonely" hit the top of the charts for one week in December 1964 for Bobby Vinton. To carry on the depressing theme, among Vinton's next charted hits within the year were these uplifting titles: Long Lonely Nights, L-O-N-E-L-Y and Lonely Girl.

Answer: The candy store

"Leader Of The Pack" hit #1 for week in November 1964. The Shangri-Las were formed in Queens, New York and this was their biggest hit by far. They had two other top tens but like almost every other girl group of the era, they would be finished as a factor on the scene by 1966.

A take off on the song, "Leader Of The Laundromat", was recorded by The Detergents and it charted at #19 early in 1965. Their lead singer was Ron Dante who later fronted the Archies when they had their #1 "Sugar, Sugar" in 1969.

Answer: She's Not There

This was the Zombies biggest hit ever and like several other artists that year, they exploded onto the scene with a bang and left it with a whimper. Their follow up, "Tell Her No" peaked at #6 in 1965 and their last top ten was "Time Of The Season" which reached #3 status in 1969. The latter song, however, was recorded in 1967 just before the group disbanded.

Answer: Time Is On My Side

After forays into the charts with three minor hits ("Not Fade Away" - #48, "Tell Me" - #24 and "It's All Over Now" - #26) earlier in 1964, The Rolling Stones made a bigger splash with this #6 hit in December. It was a few brief months before "Satisfaction" would top the charts and the rest, as they say, is history. One of the biggest R&R bands of all time still active today.

Answer: José

The man was José, the group was Jay and the Americans and the result was their biggest hit ever, "Come A Little Bit Closer", a #3 in November of 1964. This group had a lot more staying power than many others of the era staying together from 1962 to 1970, hitting the charts a total of 18 times.

There it is... two quizzes of 1964 hits and not one a Beatle entry. I knew it could be done! Thanks for playing.