The State of the Oldies Quiz | Geography in Songs

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This 1960 tune was the title song from the motion picture of the same name. It was sung by Johnny Horton. What state was mentioned in the title?

Answer: Alaska

"North to Alaska" was the title tune from the 1960 motion picture of the same name starring John Wayne. The song was recorded by Johnny Horton, a popular Country music and Rockabilly star. Horton had previously hit with "The Battle of New Orleans", and "Sink the Bismarck". The song went to number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts.

2. One of the premier folk-rock groups of the 1960s were The Mamas and the Papas. What state were they thinking about in their first major hit?

Answer: California

"California Dreamin'" was the first major hit for The Mamas and the Papas. It was a 1965 release for the group which moved to number four on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in early 1966. The song was originally written in 1963. It is listed on Rolling Stone Magazine's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" at number 89.

3. What U.S. state were The BeeGees singing about in 1967, although at the time, they had never been there?

Answer: Massachusetts

"Massachusetts" was a 1967 hit for The BeeGees. It became their first number one hit in the U.K. and reached number 11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts where it was their fourth consecutive Top 20 tune. Written by Barry, Robin and Maurice, the group had never been to Massachusetts at that time, but have stated that they simply saw the word on a boat in New York harbor, and liked the word, hence the title. No matter.

The tune was a number one single in 13 countries, but not the U.S.

4. Neil Diamond had one of his early hits in the 1960s with a song about a woman from this southern state famous for a Derby and whiskey. What state?

Answer: Kentucky

"Kentucky Woman" was a Top 40 Billboard charting hit in 1967 for Neil Diamond. The song reached number 22 on the Billboard charts. The clues pertain to The Kentucky Derby, a prestigious annual horse race in the U.S., and Bourbon whiskey from the state of Kentucky where it is estimated that 95% of all Bourbon whiskey is produced.

5. Mountain's highest charting hit came in 1970, with a song title which mentioned a queen from which southern state?

Answer: Mississippi

The group Mountain was formed in Long Island, New York in 1969. They realized their biggest Top 40 success when "Mississippi Queen" hit the charts and peaked at number 21 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts.

6. Mark Lindsay went solo in 1970 with this upbeat tune about a girl named after a southwestern state. What was her name?

Answer: Arizona

"Arizona" was a solo effort from Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders fame. The tune peaked at number ten on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1970. The tune sold over one million copies and earned a gold record.

7. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. 1970. Kent State University. What's the song which goes with these three clues?

Answer: Ohio

The tune "Ohio" was primarily a protest tune, written by Neil Young, which was released in mid 1970 after the infamous Kent State University shootings in the U.S. The tune peaked at number 14 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts.

8. R. Dean Taylor had his biggest success with a 1970 song about a fugitive from justice. What state wanted the fugitive?

Answer: Indiana

R. Dean Taylor was a Canadian singer/songwriter who had some success during the 1960s both in his native Canada as a singer, but also as a songwriter for other groups such as the Four Tops and The Temptations. His biggest success as a recording artist came with his 1970 release of "Indiana Wants Me" which was a number one tune in Canada, and a number five hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts.

9. Brook Benton, an R&B vocalist, had one of his biggest hits in 1970 with a rainy night in what southern state?

Answer: Georgia

Brook Benton's "Rainy Night in Georgia" went to number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts and number one on the R&B charts, making it his biggest hit since 1963's "Boll Weevil Song". The song also made Rolling Stone Magazine's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" at number 498.

10. Lynyrd Skynyrd's most well known tune is a song which was a 1974 answer to two tunes previously recorded by Neil Young. What state is mentioned in the song title?

Answer: Alabama

"Sweet Home Alabama" was the biggest commercial success for Lynyrd Skynyrd, a group originally from Jacksonville, Florida. It was written as a response to two Neil Young tunes, "Southern Man", and "Alabama", which both dealt with slavery and racial themes in the Southern U.S. The song made it to number eight on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts.

Source: Author fredsixties

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The State of the Oldies Trivia Quiz

These songs from the 1960s and 1970s mention a U.S. State in their titles. All were Billboard Top 40 hits. How many of the songs can you remember?

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