Who Is Driving The Car (Musically Speaking)? Quiz

Answer: The Playmates

"Beep Beep" written by Carl Cicchetti/Donald Claps peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Playmates in 1958. It did not chart in the UK.

The Playmates were Carl Cicchetti a.k.a. Chic Hetti (piano), Donald Claps a.k.a. Donny Conn (drums) and Morey Cohen (a.k.a. Morey Carr (lead vocals). They were from Waterbury, Connecticut, USA, and formed as The Nitwits in the early '50s. The car in the song is a Nash Rambler and "Beep Beep" was The Playmates' only top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: Bo Diddley

"Cadillac" written by Elias McDaniel was a track on the 1960 album "Bo Diddley is a Gunslinger". Cadillac is also the name of the guitar featured on the front cover of the album. This was the 5th album by Bo Didley.

Bo Diddley only achieved one top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 when "Say Man" peaked at number 20 in 1959. He achieved two hits on the UK singles chart when the 1955 release "Pretty Thing" peaked at number 34 in 1963 and "Hey Good Lookin'" peaked at number 39 in 1965. He achieved eight Top 20 hits on the Billboard R&B chart between 1955 and 1966.

Answer: The Beach Boys

"Little Deuce Coupe" written by Brian Wilson/Roger Christian peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Beach boys in 1963. It did not chart in the UK.

The Beach Boys at the time were, Mike Love (lead vocals), David Marks (rhythm guitar), Brian Wilson (vocals, piano, bass guitar), Carl Wilson (lead guitar) and Dennis Wilson (drums). "Little Deuce Coupe" first appeared as the B-Side of "Surfer Girl" and was on the 1963 album of the same name. It also appeared on the 1963 album "Little Deuce Coupe". The car in the song was a 1932 Ford Model 18.

Answer: Ronny & The Daytonas

"G.T.O." written by John Wilkin peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 for Ronny & The Daytonas in 1964. It did not chart in the UK.

Ronny & The Daytonas were formed in Nashville, Tennesse, USA, in 1964 and Bill Justis of "Raunchy" fame became their manager. They were Paul Jensen (vocals, guitar), Lee Kraft (guitar), Thomas Ramey (bass, guitar), John Wilkin (aka Ronny) (guitar, vocals) and Lynn Williams (drums). "G.T.O." was their only Billboard Top 20 hit. The car in the song is a Pontiac G.T.O.

Answer: The Beatles

"Drive My Car" written by Lennon/McCartney was track one on the Beatles 1965 UK album "Rubber Soul" & the 1966 US album "Yesterday and Today".

The Beatles on "Drive My Car" were George Harrison (harmony vocal, lead guitar), John Lennon (lead vocal), Paul McCartney (lead vocal, bass guitar, piano, slide guitar) and Ringo Star (drums, cowbell, tambourine).

There is a story that the song is about the relationship between singer Cilla Black and her then boyfriend Bobby Willis (they later married). Apparently Cilla black objected to Bobby Willis being offered a recording contract by her manager Brian Epstein. She insisted that she was the star and he could be her road manager and drive her car.

Answer: Janis Joplin

"Mercedes Benz" written by Janis Joplin/Michael McClure/Bob Neuwirth was the third track on side two of Janis Joplin's second and last studio album "Pearl". It was number one for nine weeks on the Billboard album chart in 1971. It peaked at number 20 on the UK album chart the same year.

Janis Lyn Joplin was born in Port Arthur, Texas, USA, in 1943. she came to prominence at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, when she was the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company. "Mercedes Benz" was recorded in one take on October 1 1970. Janis Joplin died three days later, on October 4 1970 in Los Angeles, California, USA, from a heroin overdose, aged 27.

Answer: Gary Numan

"Cars" written by Gary Numan was number one for one week on the UK singles chart for Gary Numan in 1979. It peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980.

Gary Numan was born Gary Anthony James Webb in Hammersmith, London, England, in 1958. He found fame at the end of the '70s as lead singer in The Tubeway Army. They had a number one hit for four weeks on the UK singles chart in 1979 with "Are 'Friends' Electric", their only UK chart entry. Gary Numan went solo after that first hit and had six UK Top 10 hits between 1979 and 1982.

Answer: Status Quo

"Don't Drive My Car" written by Parfitt/Brown peaked at number 11 on the UK singles chart for Status Quo in 1980. It did not chart in the US. It was a double A-Side with "Lies"

Status Quo were founded in 1962 by Francis Rossi and Alan Lancaster as The Spectres. After a number of personnel changes Rick Parfitt joined in 1967 and they became The Status Quo until 1969 when they became Status Quo. They have had more than 60 hits on the UK singles chart which included the number one hit "Down Down". They were the opening act at the Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium, London, in July 1985 with "Rockin' All Over the World".

Answer: Madness

"Driving In My Car" written by Mike Barson peaked at number four on the UK singles chart for Madness in 1982. It did not chart in the US.

Madness were formed in Camden Town, London, England, in 1976. The group has had numerous members from the start including people who have left (not under their own terms) and then returned. Between 1979 and 1999 they had 23 Top 20 hits on the UK singles chart including 16 Top 10 hits of which one, "House Of Fun" was a number one hit.

Answer: The Cars

"Drive" written by Ric Ocasek peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Cars in 1984. It peaked at number five on the UK singles chart the same year. In 1985 it re-entered the UK singles chart and peaked at number four.

The Cars were formed in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, in 1976 with Elliot Easton (lead guitar), Greg Hawkes (keyboards), Ric Ocasek (rhythm guitar), Benjamin Orr (vocals, bass guitar) and David Robinson (drums). They had their first hit when "Just What I Needed" peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. Between 1978 and 1988 they had eight Top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, four of which made the Top 10.