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Top 40 Radio V - Pre-Beatles Trivia Quiz

Contrary to popular belief there was a lot of great music before 1964. Before "niche programming", we had Top 40 radio providing everything you could think of. Perhaps you remember these.

A multiple-choice quiz by JRooowe. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
JRooowe

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
358,023

Updated
Jul 18 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
595

Last 3 plays: H53 (6/10), Guest 99 (3/10), Guest 38 (6/10).

Question 1 of 10

1. Just what was veteran actor Walter Brennan looking for when he sang/talked a hit record back in 1960? Hint

A Four-Leaf Clover

Dutchman's Gold

Mr. O'Leary's Trousers

The Goldmine in the Sky

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Back in 1958 the Kingston Trio sang about "the man who never returned." Who was that poor fellow? Hint

Charlie

the Flying Dutchman

The Unknown Soldier

Tom Dooley

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. You just don't see them around these days. Who wanted you to put another nickel in the Nickelodeon way back in 1950? Hint

Theresa Brewer

Moms Mabley

Judy Garland

Big Bill Broonzy

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. According to the Elvis classic hit, who was "the cutest little jailbird I ever did see?" Hint

Rockin' Robin

Number 3

Pretty Boy Floyd

Amy Fisher

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. In all of 1957 only one female vocalist made it to Number One on the Billboard Pop charts. Who was it that nailed the top spot with her song from a hit movie? Hint

Debbie Reynolds

Ivo Robic

Connie Francis

Leslie Neilson

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. We've all heard about "the day the music died." But, just how many solo Number One US Billboard Hot 100 hits did Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Richie Valens have, combined? Hint

Eight

Twelve

Five

None

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. What in the world was Way Out Willie doing with Rockin' Billie? Hint

The Jailhouse Rock

Slow Twisting

The Hand Jive

Working In A Coal Mine

8. Before going solo, Dion had a string of hit records as lead singer of Dion and the Belmonts. Whatever happened to those guys? Never mind. The real question is which of these guys was one of The Belmonts? Hint

Angelo Savoldi

Tony Martinelli

Aldo Venturi

Fred Milano

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Her first hit... and it was a big one. In fact, she was the youngest female vocalist to ever hit the Number One spot on the Billboard Charts. Who was that girl? Hint

Little Peggy March

Petula Clark

Brenda Lee

Laurie London

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Top 40 radio was certainly diverse in 1963. Along with Little Stevie Wonder, The Singing Nun, and the Four Seasons we also had the first (and only) Number One hit sung in Japanese. The singer was later killed in a plane crash. His song "Sukiyaki" topped the charts for three weeks. Who was the singer? Hint

The Big Bopper

Kyu Sakamoto

Jackie Chan

Hideo Nomo

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 18 2024 : H53: 6/10
Nov 15 2024 : Guest 99: 3/10
Nov 14 2024 : Guest 38: 6/10
Oct 31 2024 : Guest 68: 3/10
Oct 30 2024 : Guest 120: 4/10
Oct 29 2024 : Guest 24: 6/10
Oct 29 2024 : Peachie13: 5/10
Oct 10 2024 : Guest 107: 6/10
Sep 25 2024 : Guest 73: 6/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Just what was veteran actor Walter Brennan looking for when he sang/talked a hit record back in 1960?

Answer: Dutchman's Gold

Multi-Oscar winner Brennan reached Number 30 on the Billboard Charts with this one. Two years later he made the national Top Ten with another spoken effort... the emotional "Old Rivers." Brennan won the very first Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for his role in the 1936 film "Come and Get It."

2. Back in 1958 the Kingston Trio sang about "the man who never returned." Who was that poor fellow?

Answer: Charlie

Charly was riding on the M.T.A. when the fare changed. He had no money on him so was unable to exit. "He may ride forever 'neath the streets of Boston... he's the man who never returned." Fifty-plus years after this song there is still a version of the Kingston Trio performing. There are no original members in the group.

3. You just don't see them around these days. Who wanted you to put another nickel in the Nickelodeon way back in 1950?

Answer: Theresa Brewer

"Cause all I want is loving you and 'Music, Music, Music'." It was her first solo record and it was a Number One hit. In 1956 Theresa recorded a song with baseball legend Mickey Mantle. The perfectly awful song was titled "I Love Mickey." It was a minor hit.

4. According to the Elvis classic hit, who was "the cutest little jailbird I ever did see?"

Answer: Number 3

In Elvis' 1957 Number One hit "Jailhouse Rock" it was "Number 47" who had an eye on Number 3. Having not seen a mug shot, we can't say one way or another. This was Elvis' NINTH Number One hit in under two years.

5. In all of 1957 only one female vocalist made it to Number One on the Billboard Pop charts. Who was it that nailed the top spot with her song from a hit movie?

Answer: Debbie Reynolds

Debbie's movie-theme of "Tammy" (from "Tammy and the Bachelor") replaced Elvis' "Teddy Bear" after his seven week run at the top. The Ames Brothers also had a Top Ten hit with "Tammy." During her long career Debbie was nominated for an Oscar, an Emmy and a Tony.

6. We've all heard about "the day the music died." But, just how many solo Number One US Billboard Hot 100 hits did Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Richie Valens have, combined?

Answer: None

The only time any of them spent at Number One was when Buddy Holly sang "That'll Be the Day" as a member of The Crickets. As a solo artist Holly only had four Top 40 hits. Big Bopper and Valens each only made it into the Top 40 twice. Holly and The Big Bopper had no songs in the Billboard Top 100 at the time of their fatal plane crash. The plane was NOT named "American Pie".

7. What in the world was Way Out Willie doing with Rockin' Billie?

Answer: The Hand Jive

According to the 1958 Johnny Otis hit the "Hand Jive" was all over town. Uncle Joe, Sister Flo, babies, everybody was doing it. Way Out Willie was doing it with Rockin' Billie. Bandleader Otis is credited with discovering such talents as Etta James, Big Mama Thornton and Jackie Wilson.

Answer: Fred Milano

It was Fred Milano who lived on Belmont Avenue in The Bronx (from which they got their name). The other three guys listed were professional wrestlers who plied their trade in the New York City area in the late '50s. Before the Beatles arrived in early '64, Dion had 13 Top 40 hits... the Belmonts only two.

9. Her first hit... and it was a big one. In fact, she was the youngest female vocalist to ever hit the Number One spot on the Billboard Charts. Who was that girl?

Answer: Little Peggy March

In April of 1963, at the age of 14, Peggy hit the top of the charts with "I Will Follow Him." It also made it to the top in Australia, Japan, Scandinavia and South Africa. She had limited U.S. success following IWFH, but in Germany Peggy remained a star; she racked up over 20 Top 20 hits there! Laurie London was a thirteen year old English boy who had a hit record with "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands."

Answer: Kyu Sakamoto

Kyu was only 43 when he was killed in the 1985 crash of Japan Airline Flight 123. It was the deadliest single-aircraft accident in aviation history with 15 crewmen and 515 passengers killed. In 1999 Japan Post issued a stamp commemorating Kyu and "Sukiyaki." Hideo Nomo was a pitcher for several major league teams.

Source: Author JRooowe

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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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.

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  5. Top 40 Radio V - Pre-Beatles Average