The Late 1940s - Lyrics 'n Things Quiz

Answer: Peg O' My Heart

These are all old, old standards. "Peg 'O My Heart" was a #1 song in 1913 for tenor Charles Harrison and was written that year by Alfred Bryan (lyrics) and Fred Fisher (music) for the Broadway musical "Ziegfeld Follies of 1913". It re-appeared out of nowhere in 1947 and was a #1 hit for no less than three artists; an instrumental version for seven weeks by The Harmonicats, a vocal version for six weeks by Buddy Clark and another vocal version for three weeks by The Three Suns. Three other artists had top 10's with their recordings; Art Lund, Ted Weems and Clark Dennis. Altogether astonishing for a 34 year old chestnut! Meanwhile, "The Rose of Tralee" dates back to the 1870's, "My Wild Irish Rose" was written in 1899 by Chauncey Wolcott and "I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover" was a Dixon/Woods collaboration from 1927.

Answer: Richard

Richard is presumably asleep in his house and his friends are trying to rouse him. The "song" consists of the friend's mutterings and knocks on the door! It's hard to say what the attraction was to the consumers and listeners that vaulted this to the #1 position for not just one but two different artists; Count Basie and The Three Flames.

This innocuous pap would be Basie's only #1 - seems a shame! Even more remarkable was that five other groups managed top 10 hits with it as well! The dark ages of pop music indeed!

Answer: Managua, Nicaragua

Yes, "Managua, Nicaragua", the capital of the country, was a #1 hit for three weeks with Freddy Martin and for one week with Guy Lombardo. The music was kind of catchy!

Answer: Near You

"Near You" topped the charts for an amazing seventeen weeks for Francis Craig in 1947. Craig was a pianist/composer/bandleader and he wrote the music and played the piano on this disc. The lyrics were written by Kermit Goell and Bob Lamm was the vocalist on the recording. Craig led a dance orchestra for many years in Tennessee and the mid-west but he only had two hit records; this one and the follow-up, "Beg Your Pardon", a #3 hit in 1948. Lamm was the vocalist on both and he seems to have faded into absolute obscurity thereafter. "Near You" was also a #10 hit in 1958 for Roger Williams.

Answer: Anniversary Song

"Anniversary Song" was also a #2 hit for Guy Lombardo, a #3 for the Glenn Miller Band with Tex Beneke, and a #4 for Andy Russell, all in 1947. It was featured in the movie "The Al Jolson Story" and was based on Ivanovic's 1880 composition "Danube Waves".

The new version was written by Saul Chaplin and Al Jolson himself. He was 61 years old at the time. For many, many years thereafter, if a band was going to get a gig playing for a wedding, they HAD to know this song!

Answer: Linda

"Linda" was a two week #1 for Ray Noble's Orchestra in 1947. Buddy Clark was the crooner in front of the band and Jack Lawrence was the songwriter. There were three competing versions of the song at the time but none threatened Noble's version. In 1963, Jan & Dean revived it and charted #28.

Answer: Maņana

"Maņana" was #1 for nine weeks in 1948. The song was co-written by Lee and her husband at the time, Dave Barbour. He was a guitarist and played with a number of big bands (Benny Goodman, Red Norvo, Hal Kemp & Artie Shaw) throughout the 1940's. All the other songs were actual Peggy Lee recordings that didn't have near the success of "Maņana".

Answer: Now Is The Hour

"Now Is The Hour" was Bing's 36th and final #1 hit in his illustrious career. The song was subtitled "Maori Farewell Song" based on the traditional New Zealand song "Haere Ra". Interestingly, it was recorded 'a cappella', the only accompaniment being provided by the voices of The Ken Darby Choir.

Answer: Nature Boy

"Nature Boy", written by Eden Ahbez, was a #1 hit for Nat "King" Cole for eight weeks in 1948. It was his second #1, following "For Sentimental Reasons" in 1946 and it cemented his status as a major talent. This song and "Mona Lisa" would be his biggest hits.

Answer: I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" by Vaughn Monroe was #1 in 1946 for five weeks. In 1949, "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm", an Irving Berlin number, was #1 for Les Brown but as an instrumental! A cover of the 1937 vocal rendition by Ray Noble was recorded by the Mills Brothers but stalled at #9.

Answer: Kansas

The song "Sunflower" begins:
"I was born in Kansas, I was bred in Kansas,
And when I get married, I'll be wed in Kansas."

Answer: Some Enchanted Evening

Of course, this song came from the Rodgers and Hammerstein production of "South Pacific". A raft of vocalists recorded this one in 1949 from Bing to Ezio Pinza to Jo Stafford. Of the seven versions that charted, Perry Como had the biggest hit, #1 for five weeks.

Answer: Riders In The Sky

It was his time! Although Laine maintained his popularity well into the rock era, these would be his only #1 hits! "Riders In The Sky" was Vaughn Monroe's biggest hit ever, a #1 for twelve weeks in 1949.

Answer: Dinah Shore

Needless to say, "Buttons And Bows" was also Shore's biggest hit ever. She did have three other #1 hits: "I'll Walk Alone" in 1944, "The Gypsy" in 1946 and the previously mentioned "Anniversary Song" in 1947. It was composed by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans and was featured in the film "Paleface" starring Bob Hope and Jane Russell. It won the Academy Award for best song in 1948.

Answer: I Can't Begin To Tell You

This was a #1 hit for Bing Crosby and Carmen Cavallaro in December 1945 and James covered it early in 1946. The singer for James was listed as Ruth Haag but was none other than his wife at the time, Betty Grable! It was featured in Grable's film "The Dolly Sisters". It was adapted from a 1906 song "When Love Is Young In Springtime" by James V. Monaco and Mack Gordon.