The Music of Leiber and Stoller Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Written in 1959, and recorded by both The Clovers and The Searchers, which song contains this lyric? "She bent down and turned around and gave me a wink She said "I'm gonna make it up right here in the sink" It smelled like turpentine, it looked like Indian ink I held my nose, I closed my eyes, I took a drink"

Answer: Love Potion No. 9

The song was recorded by The Clovers in the USA in 1959, and was covered in the UK by the Searchers, but not until 1964. Various other artists have recorded the song including Elkie Brooks and Neil Diamond. The Clovers' version was used in the film "American Graffiti".

2. Leiber and Stoller wrote several very successful songs for The Coasters. Which one is this? "She comes on like a rose but everybody knows She'll get you in Dutch You can look but you better not touch"

Answer: Poison Ivy

Leiber and Stoller wrote several very popular songs for The Coasters including "Along Came Jones", "Charlie Brown", "Yakety Yak" and "Searchin".
"Poison Ivy" was recorded in 1959 and went to number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the 1960s both the Dave Clark Five and The Rolling Stones recorded versions of it as LP tracks.

3. Which of the following Elvis Presley songs did Leiber and Stoller NOT write?

Answer: Blue Suede Shoes

"Blue Suede Shoes" was written and originally recorded by Carl Perkins. "Hound Dog" was Leiber and Stoller's first million seller, but it was the Big Mama Thornton version that achieved this, not the Elvis one. In their long career they wrote several songs for Elvis including "She's Not You", "Don't Be Cruel" and "Trouble".

4. "Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots" was a hit for which group?

Answer: The Cheers

Recorded in 1955 this went to number six on the Billboard Best Selling Singles chart. It was also recorded by Vaughan Monroe, but he could only achieve a number thirty eight chart listing with his version. Actor Bert Convy was a member of The Cheers when this record was made.

He is probably better known as a television game show host and actor. He hosted "Tattletales", for which he received an Emmy, had parts in various television shows including "Perry Mason" and "Hawaii 5-0", and made several films.

His last film was "Cannonball Run".

5. What is the name of the stage musical that consists entirely of songs by Leiber and Stoller?

Answer: Smokey Joe's Cafe

Taken from the song of the same name "Smokey Joe's Cafe" was a musical revue. It opened on Broadway in 1995 and ran for over 2000 performances. The original cast recording won a Grammy in 1996. During the Broadway run several stars made guest appearances, including Gladys Knight, Tony Orlando and Lou Rawls. The show also had a successful London run in 1996, and then toured the UK.

6. The song "Little Egypt" was performed in which Elvis Presley film?

Answer: Roustabout

"Little Egypt" was originally written for the Coasters, who recorded it in 1961. Elvis then sang it in the 1964 film "Roustabout", and also included it in the legendary 1968 comeback special. The song is about a burlesque dancer, who comes on stage wearing "nothing but a button and a bow".

7. Leiber and Stoller were known to write in collaboration with others. With whom did they write this song? "When the night has come and the land is dark And the moon is the only light we see No, I won't be afraid, oh, I won't be afraid"

Answer: Ben E King

The song is of course "Stand By Me". Ben E. King had chart success with it in 1961, scoring a number one on the Billboard R & B Chart and a number four on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. There have been over 400 versions of the song, and artists who have covered it include John Lennon, Otis Redding and even Muhammad Ali.

8. Which song, translated from the Italian by Leiber and Stoller, was originally released by Ben E. King but later became a massive hit for Shirley Bassey?

Answer: I (Who Have Nothing)

Released in 1963 the Ben E. King version made number 29 on the Billboard Chart.
With production by George Martin, Shirley Bassey released her version later the same year, reaching number six on the U.K. singles chart. It has since become one of her trademark dramatic songs, featuring in almost every live concert she does, and appearing on many of her albums.

9. "Saved" is a Leiber and Stoller song popular with live performers. Which word is missing from the lyric? "I used to -----, I used to drink I used to ------, drink, dance the hoochie coo I used to -----and drink, ------ and drink and dance the hoochie coo".

Answer: smoke

"Saved" was first released by LaVerne Baker in 1961. Written in the style of a gospel song it featured in the revue "Smokey Joe's Cafe", and is used by many performers in their live concerts.

10. Which Leiber and Stoller song won the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for Peggy Lee, and also gave her her first Top 40 pop hit since "Fever"?

Answer: Is That All There Is

Peggy Lee was nominated for twelve Grammy awards, but her 1969 hit with "Is That All There Is" was the only time she won one, although she did get a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 1995.

Source: Author Christinap

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Legendary writing partnership Leiber and Stoller wrote many of the best known Rock and Roll songs.

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