The Songs of Gerry Goffin and Carole King Quiz

Answer: Will You Love Me Tomorrow

"Will You Love Me Tomorrow" was one of the first songs that Goffin and King collaborated on, and it was by far their biggest hit up to this point. Although other all-female musical acts had U.S. number one hits prior to this, The Shirelles were the first to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100, which debuted on August 4, 1958.

The song has been covered numerous times since 1961, but in my opinion the best version was recorded by King herself for her 1971 landmark LP "Tapestry".

Answer: Take Good Care of My Baby

"Take Good Care of My Baby" was initially recorded by Dion, but it was the version by Bobby Vee that became an international hit. It spent three weeks at number one the Billboard Hot 100 in the Fall of 1961, while also topping the charts in New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Although this was Vee's first and only U.S. number one, he did have five other singles reach the top ten during his career. Other notable acts that covered the song include The Beatles, Bobby Vinton and ex-Monkee Micky Dolenz.

Answer: The Loco-Motion

The song was originally offered to Dee Dee Sharp, who had a big hit earlier in 1962 with the song "Mashed Potato Time", but she was not interested. Eva, who at the time was babysitting for Goffin and King, recorded the demo for "The Loco-Motion", so after Sharp turned it down it was decided to have Boyd record the song under the name of Little Eva.

It was released in June of 1962, and it went on to become the third Goffin/King composition to reach number one. Two other versions of the song also had great success on the Billboard Hot 100, one by Grand Funk which went to number one in 1974, and another by Kylie Minogue which reached number three in 1988.

Answer: Go Away Little Girl

Steve Lawrence was a very successful solo artist in the late 1950s and early 1960s, reaching the top ten four times on the Billboard pop charts, but "Go Away Little Girl" was his first and only single to reach number one. Donny Osmond's version spent three weeks at number one, making it his first chart topping single as a solo act.

When Osmond's version hit the top spot in September of 1971, it was the first time that two different artists took the same song to the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: Up on the Roof

After King came up with the melody for the song she suggested they call it "My Secret Place", signifying a special place you could go to be alone. Goffin wasn't fond of the title, but he did like the idea of somewhere private to go to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The eventual title for the song was inspired by one of Goffin's favorite films "West Side Story", which featured several rooftop scenes. "Up on the Roof" was one of The Drifters' biggest hits, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1963.

Answer: One Fine Day

"One Fine Day" peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and number six on their R&B chart. It also had moderate success internationally, reaching the top 30 in France, New Zealand and the UK. A version recorded by King for her 1980 LP "Pearls: Songs of Goffin and King" became her first top 20 hit since 1975, peaking at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: I'm Into Something Good

The song was originally recorded by Earl-Jean McCrea, who had already recorded two singles written by Goffin and King as a member of the all-girl group The Cookies. Her version was only moderately successful, reaching number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. Later that year Herman's Hermits released "I'm Into Something Good" as their debut single, and it was a breakout hit, peaking at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, and spending two weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart.

Answer: Don't Bring Me Down

Until I started writing this quiz I had no idea that "Don't Bring Me Down" was a Goffin and King song, and apparently Animals' lead singer Eric Burton was also in the dark. In an interview with Songfacts he shared this story: "I didn't realize that it was a Goffin, King song until I was in a doctor's office in Beverly Hills and Ms. King came in and sat next to me. I didn't know it was her, I was just reading a magazine and she turned to me and said 'You know, I hated what you did to my song.' I didn't know what to say, so all I said was, 'well, sorry,' and then as she got up to go into the doctor's office, she turned around and said, 'but I got used to it.' " Even though Burdon had been critical about some of the songs Goffin and King had written in the past, he didn't complain about this one. "Don't Bring Me Down" was a solid hit for The Animals, peaking at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the UK Singles Chart.

Answer: Pleasant Valley Sunday

The title of the song came from Pleasant Valley Way, a road that ran through several communities near their home in West Orange. Goffin's lyrics reflect his view on life in suburbia, but he does so mockingly, referring to the suburbs as "status symbol land".

The song was one of the first recordings where members of the group were allowed to play their own instruments, Mike Nesmith played electric guitar, Peter Tork played piano, and even Davy Jones chipped in playing the maracas. Micky Dolenz provided the lead vocals, but a studio musician was brought in to handle the drumming. "Pleasant Valley Sunday" was The Monkees' fourth single to reach the top five on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number three in August of 1967.

Answer: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

Producer Jerry Wexler asked Goffin and King if they could write a song for Franklin's next album and suggested the title of "Natural Woman". Using the title as inspiration, the songwriters wrote a beautiful song and awarded Wexler co-writing credit as a thank you for his input.

The single was very successful, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on their R&B chart. it was the last time a Gerry Goffin and Carole King penned tune would reach the top ten on U.S. pop charts.