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Top 40 Radio II - Pre-Beatles Trivia Quiz

The Beatles were great. There was, however, a lot of good music before they arrived. Just flip on Top 40 radio and there it was. Need a reminder? Try this quiz.

A multiple-choice quiz by JRooowe. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
JRooowe

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
343,849

Updated
Jul 18 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
797

Last 3 plays: Guest 108 (4/10), Guest 174 (6/10), Guest 217 (3/10).

One at a Time - Single Page

Question 1 of 10

1. Pittsburgh's quintet The Skyliners gave us the 1959 classic "Since I Don't Have You." Great song with a memorable ending. Just how often do they sing "you" when they come to the end? C'mon... this is easy... you've sung along lots of times! Hint

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Ah... folk-rock star Jimmie Rodgers was in love in 1957. He was not above "kissing and telling" and told us everything. Just how did he describe those kisses? Hint

sweeter than wine

a little bit of heaven

a taste of honey

yummy, yummy, yummy

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Poor Betty Johnson. In 1958 she found it almost impossible to discourage her unwanted suitor. Finally, she took drastic action and he got the message. Who was that creep? Hint

string-bean Gene from Abilene

the witch doctor

the little blue man

Ambrose

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. "Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)" was recorded by numerous artists over the years. Four performers had Top 40 hits with it... but only one made it to Number One. Who was he? Hint

Bobby Rydell

Domenico Modugno

Enrico Caruso

Topo Gigio

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Those Marvelettes sure are talented. I'd like to give them a call... what was that number again? Hint

867-5309

Melrose 5-5300

634-5789

Beechwood 4 -5789

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Those Four Preps sure liked the ladies. In 1959, shortly after recovering from the heartache they expressed in "Big Man" they were back at the old game. Where was their newest pick-up spot? Hint

the poor side of town

down by the station

way down yonder in New Orleans

Arby's

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. We'll keep this question short and sweet. Where do all the hippies meet? Hint

Up On the Roof

Down at Papa Joe's

South Street

77 Sunset Strip

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Mention "Party Doll" and you automatically think of Buddy Knox. Buddy had the Number One hit in early '57 but another vocalist also made the Top Ten with it at that time. Who was he? Hint

Conway Twitty

Richie Nixon

Pat Boone

Steve Lawrence

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. OK, this one goes way back to 1953 as Pattie Page asks the musical question "How Much Is That Doggie In the Window?" Actually, what we'd like to know is...where is she going on her trip? Hint

Arizona

California

the piney woods

to visit her ma and pa

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. In 1961 The Edsels told us about their girl. She sounds nice... but what an unusual name. What was it? Hint

Sloopy

Rama Lama Ding Dong

Tutti-Frutti

Polk Salad Annie

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 12 2024 : Guest 108: 4/10
Nov 29 2024 : Guest 174: 6/10
Nov 27 2024 : Guest 217: 3/10
Nov 21 2024 : Guest 184: 6/10
Nov 18 2024 : H53: 3/10
Nov 14 2024 : Guest 38: 5/10
Oct 31 2024 : Guest 68: 4/10
Oct 30 2024 : Guest 120: 3/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: 13

Hard to believe but The Skyliners never had a Top Ten hit. This classic topped out at number twelve. Lead singer Jimmy Beaumont was only 17 when he wrote the groups best known songs "Since I Don't Have You" and "This I Swear." Thirteen "you's" is nothing compared to the "na na's" at the end of "Hey Jude!"

2. Ah... folk-rock star Jimmie Rodgers was in love in 1957. He was not above "kissing and telling" and told us everything. Just how did he describe those kisses?

Answer: sweeter than wine

Released late in 1957 "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" was the second of Jimmie's five Top 10 records in 1957-58. Jimmie got his big break when he appeared on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. He is NOT related to "The Singing Brakeman" Jimmie Rodgers.

3. Poor Betty Johnson. In 1958 she found it almost impossible to discourage her unwanted suitor. Finally, she took drastic action and he got the message. Who was that creep?

Answer: the little blue man

"I wuv you, I wuv you said the little blue man... I wuv you, I wuv you to bits." After weeks of being stalked by "The Little Blue Man" she lured him to a rooftop and pushed him off. Yeah... that did it. OK... not every Top 40 hit was a masterpiece. This novelty reached number seventeen in early 1958.

4. "Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)" was recorded by numerous artists over the years. Four performers had Top 40 hits with it... but only one made it to Number One. Who was he?

Answer: Domenico Modugno

In 1958 Domenico spent five weeks at the top of the charts with this, his only U.S. hit. Modugno was the winner of the first Grammys for "Song of the Year" (he wrote it) as well as "Record of the Year". Bobby Rydell had a Top Ten hit with it in 1960. I hear that Topo Gigio was last seen driving a cab in Rome... but I could be wrong.

5. Those Marvelettes sure are talented. I'd like to give them a call... what was that number again?

Answer: Beechwood 4 -5789

Their first hit "Please Mr. Postman" made number one in 1961; "Beachwood..." made it to Number Seven. One great year 1961-1962... then not much as far as big hits go. Good records, but not very impressive chart action.
634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.) was a 1966 hit for the late-great Wilson Pickett.
When I was a child (a hundred years ago) Melrose 5-5300 was constantly blaring from the radio in a jingle for a Bronx furniture store. The store is long gone... but the stupid tune lingers on.

6. Those Four Preps sure liked the ladies. In 1959, shortly after recovering from the heartache they expressed in "Big Man" they were back at the old game. Where was their newest pick-up spot?

Answer: down by the station

The popular foursome was honoured by 'Cashbox' magazine as "Most Promising Vocal Group of 1958." Original member Ed Cobb was also a talented song writer; some of his better known songs are "Every Little Bit Hurts", "Dirty Water", and "Tainted Love".

7. We'll keep this question short and sweet. Where do all the hippies meet?

Answer: South Street

Well... that's what The Orlons told us back in '63. This talented Philadelphia quartet was on a hot streak; this was their third Top Five record in under a year. In 1963 I don't think I'd ever even heard the word "hippie".

8. Mention "Party Doll" and you automatically think of Buddy Knox. Buddy had the Number One hit in early '57 but another vocalist also made the Top Ten with it at that time. Who was he?

Answer: Steve Lawrence

Early in his recording career, besides "Party Doll", Steve charted with "The Banana Boat Song" and "Fraulein" which were also bigger hits by others. Eventually he racked up a number of Top Ten songs "on his own" and, with wife Edie Gorme, enjoyed a successful career lasting 50+ years.

9. OK, this one goes way back to 1953 as Pattie Page asks the musical question "How Much Is That Doggie In the Window?" Actually, what we'd like to know is...where is she going on her trip?

Answer: California

We never actually find out how much that doggie cost. Of course, Pattie would do better getting a dog from her local Humane Society. They don't charge much and your pet will be up to date on his shots and be spayed or neutered. Pattie spent eight weeks at the top of the charts with this classic.

10. In 1961 The Edsels told us about their girl. She sounds nice... but what an unusual name. What was it?

Answer: Rama Lama Ding Dong

Yeah... some names have gone out of favor. You hardly ever meet anybody named Edna, Agnes, Rumplestilskin, Rama Lama Ding Dong... The Ohio quintet brought this, their only hit, to number twenty-one. What were they thinking when they came up with a name like "Rama Lama Ding Dong?" In fact, what were they thinking when they named themselves The Edsels? Was "The New Coke Singers" taken?

Source: Author JRooowe

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

Related Quizzes

This quiz is part of series My Top 40 Radio Quiz collection:

One great thing about "Top 40" radio was the variety. In the same hour you could get Elvis, The Drifters, the Singing Nun, Bobby Vee-Darin-Vinton AND Rydell. These quizzes cover the Top 40 years before the British Invasion.

  1. Top 40 Radio I - Pre-Beatles Difficult
  2. Top 40 Radio II - Pre-Beatles Tough
  3. Top 40 Radio III - Pre-Beatles Tough
  4. Top 40 Radio IV - Novelty Tunes Average
  5. Top 40 Radio V - Pre-Beatles Average

Referenced Topics

Music Music by Year Vocabulary The Beatles Names Lead Singers California Wines Blue 1950s and '60s Mix Ohio Blues Rome 1960s Country Music 1950s Country Music

Other Destinations

Explore Other Quizzes by JRooowe

Go to Music by Year Quizzes

More 1950s and '60s Mix Quizzes

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