Train Train Train.... Train Of Fools (Part 1) Quiz

Answer: "Drug Train"

Cramps was a truly wonderful band from the early days of punk. Lux Interior met Ivy Rorschach (aka Poison Ivy aka Poison Ivy Rorschach) when he picked her up hitchhiking to an Alice Cooper concert he was also on his way to. A romance started that lasted until Lux died in 2009. Cramps formed in Ohio with the addition of drummer Pam Balam and guitarist Brian Gregory (Lux sang and Ivy was the second guitarist. They did not have a bass player) and in April 1976 Cramps came into being. They became a part of the early CBGB punk scene in New York. They were never really punk as such, being much more rockabilly influenced (they all but invented the musical genre known as Psychobilly).

Eventually they replaced drummers, first with Miriam Linna and finally with Nick Knox who stayed with the band for decades. Alex Chilton produced their first two singles in 1977 after which they were one of the earliest signings to Miles Copeland's IRS records label.

"Drug Train" was their fifth single, released as the B side of their "Garbageman 7". As a song it was popular enough that it easily could have come out as the A side!. Cramps eventually ceased to be with the tragic death of Lux Interior in Glendale, California on February 4, 2009. I met him and Ivy a few times and he was easily one of the nicest "stars" I had ever met. And VERY funny as well. I could easily go on for a small eternity about this band but I'll spare you that. Needless to say they are one of my favorite bands.

Answer: "Poverty Train"

Laura Nyro was born as Laura Nigr on October 18, 1947. She became a very popular songwriter in the Sixties, writing hits for the Fifth Dimension, Barbra Streisand, Three Dog Night (the brilliant "Eli's Coming") and more. As a solo artist she had some popularity, but never became a big star on her own.

After her comeback as a solo artist she died on April 8, 1997 and was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2010.

Answer: "Beat It On Down The Line"

Umm... The Grateful Dead. What can I say that would be new or unusual about them? They basically WERE the San Francisco scene in the sixties. Known for their LONG jams, drugs, and their fans 'The Deadheads'. As a live act they were hugely popular pretty much all around the world where Deadheads would follow them from show to show (even overseas!). Jerry Garcia was more or less considered the leader of the band (they would probably deny there ever was a 'leader' of the band as such) and when he died on August 9, 1995 the band seemed to be over with. No deal: in 2015 the band more or less reformed with John Mayer in Jerry's place. Go figure that one out on your own...

Answer: "Milk Train"

The song appears on their album "Long John Silver". Had the Grateful Dead not existed, the Jefferson's (as I like to call them) could very easily have claimed (as they did in one of their group variations) as having "built this city on rock and roll" (I don't think so. And apparently according to a VH1 special, neither did Paul Kantner!). Let's keep this short and say the band existed more or less from 1965 to 1972, when they morphed into Jefferson Starship. An absolutely great idea as a solo album but a truly lousy idea as a band. Let's just leave it at that.

Answer: "Mystery Train"

Paul Butterfield in many ways was almost the American equivalent of the British musician Jon Mayall. Without him there'd be no Michael Bloomfield, no Elvin Bishop no such thing as 'Raga Rock' and... ok maybe a much lesser US John Mayall might be more appropriate.

In any case all of his albums up through 1970's Todd Rundgren produced "Live" double LP, are pretty much flawless exercises in blues rock. His biggest moment as a performer might have been playing at the Woodstock festival in 1969. He died on May 4, 1987.

Answer: "Choo Choo Mama"

Ten Years After were a hugely popular band fronted by guitarist Alvin Lee. They initially existed from 1967 through to 1974, split up and then reformed in 1983 (musically speaking this was one of rock's better reunions if I do say so myself). Their leader and guitar player Alvin Lee died in April 2009 and the group continued with Joe Gooch replacing Alvin.

The group still continues to this day in some formation or another!

Answer: "It Takes A Lot To Laugh It Takes A Train To Cry"

Bob Dylan. That all you get: Bob Dylan.

"'It Takes A Lot To Laugh It Takes A Train To Cry" was released on his album "Highway 61 Revisited". It was recorded on July 29, 1965. It proved to be one of his more popular songs to cover in the sixties.

Answer: "Midnight Train To Georgia"

Let's see... this was a huge hit for Gladys in the seventies (and God knows Gladys had a lot of hits). She became famous recording for Detroit's legendary Motown Records and eventually left Motown for a better deal with Kama Sutra Records in 1973. Now granted: leaving Motown for Buddha is about as ridiculous as if they had left Motown for Kama Sutra Records (although Buddha MIGHT have been a more respectful move), but that's neither here nor there.

In any case they DID have a few hits with them, including the 'legendary' "Midnight Train To Georgia". Was it enough that the song became massive in the USA in 1973? No... it had to get reissued in the UK in 1976 to become massive again! So I guess that for once moving to Buddha Records proved to be the right move! Or maybe not, as she signed with Colombia Records in 1980.

Answer: "Waiting For The Railroad"

Joey Ramone. He should'a been a contender! But instead he became one of the architects of punk rock with the Ramones in 1974. Joey's importance is even acknowledged by legendary egomaniac Bono from U2. Let's face it: without the Ramones, without Joey Ramone, rock music would be very different nowadays. That every original member of this band is now dead (thus effectively making their first album a photo of a brick wall) truly is one of rock music's greatest tragedies.

This is one band that never achieved the fame they so truly deserved.

Answer: "Trans-Europe Express"

Kraftwerk started in Dusseldorf, Germany in 1970 by Ralf Hutter and Florian Schneider. They were reasonably popular in Germany prior to 1974 (insofar as one can say "reasonably popular"). In 1974 they added two more members and had a number one hit with their song "Autobahn", certainly one of the oddest number one hits EVER.

They started to become popular internationally in the mid-seventies, when they recorded the album "Trans Europe Express". They became a hugely successful Live act (I saw them a few times.

They were amongst the best live acts I ever saw and basically they just stood there! They also sometimes had a very violent audience! This is NOT a band where you would have expected this for one second!). In the meantime the band has become increasingly popular as a recording and live act. I cannot find any information as to if the band still exists.

They could take years between records (or songs) and between tours or concerts. Your guess is as good as mine.

Answer: "Train Round the Bend"

Along with The Beatles, Bob Dylan & The Rolling Stones, many might rightfully claim that The Velvet Underground were one of the 60's most influential rock bands. Not that their record sales or popularity as a live band at the time would lead you to believe it. But it has been said that while not many people ever bought their records or saw them live during their initial period, everybody who did, formed a band (or something to that affect). In any case their overall influence (even if at times it is second hand) on rock music cannot be overstated.

They were formed in New York City in 1964. Artist Andy Warhol saw them and was utterly fascinated by them. He briefly became their manager. "Train Round The Bend" was a track from their final studio album "Loaded" (released in November of 1970).

Answer: "Train Leaves Here This Morning"

Dillard & Clark are former Byrds member Gene Clark and former Dillard member Doug Dillard. They were one of the very first country rock bands. They formed in 1968 and released two albums before Gene Clark left to pursue an unsuccessful solo career (unsuccessful in that he did not sell many records.

But musically speaking it was a richly rewarding solo career). After Gene left Doug continued his solo career using members of Dillard & Clark's backing band as his back up band The Expedition. Gene Clark died in 1991.

Answer: "Marrakesh Express"

Ok. So this track pops up on about 90% of these 'train' quizzes, making it about as original as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. But as this quiz has already been written and I am not a well man (Oh PLEASE - Pity Me!) I ain't up to changing it!

CSN formed in 1968. Their first self titled and hugely popular album was released in 1969 and "Marrakesh Express" was the first single from the album (as a single it was also hugely popular). Neil Young eventually joined CSN, thus making it CSNY and they became just about as big as The Beatles for a while in the seventies. They split up, reformed, split up and reformed so many times (always to huge popularity) over the years I have lost count. They'll probably do so again before I die (though Neil might be the lone hold out).

Answer: "Wave The Flag And Stop The Train"

The Move mean very little in the USA. Their song "California Man" and the band they originally morphed into (after band leader Roy Wood handed it over to Jeff Lynne figuring he could do a better job), a little band by the name of The Electric Light Orchestra, are very well known.

They WERE, however, a very popular act both live and record sales wise in Europe. The Move formed in late 1965 with the inclusion of Carl Wayne on vocals. They became very popular primarily due to the stage show (which involved destroying TVs) and their numerous hit records (nine in five years) and other notorious acts (such as being sued by the British Prime minister for a promotional postcard for their "Flowers In The Rain" single which put him in a... shall we say sexually unpleasant light.

As I said earlier: they eventually morphed into Electric Light Orchestra and the rest, as they say in Batman, Turkey, is history.

Answer: "Waiting For The 103"

Dan Hicks is known for combining just about every genre of music except for punk and heavy metal. His band The Hot Licks formed in 1967 to perform his new songs of acoustic-based forms of pre-rock popular music. The band initially included singer/violin player David LaFlamme, who eventually left to form It's A Beautiful Day. For a long time they were surprisingly popular.

The album 'Last Train to Hicksville' was released in 1973. It became their most popular album (it peaked at number 67 in the Billboard charts. Which is actually an excellent charting for an album full of music that went out of fashion DECADES earlier!) The group split up later that year. Dan Hicks died on February 6, 2016 and with THAT we come full circle to ending part one on this quiz.