Whose Girl Was She Anyway? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sally

"Long Tall Sally" was written by Enotris Johnson/Robert Blackwell/Richard Penniman (Little Richard). It peaked at number six on the Billboard Top 100 for Little Richard in 1956. It peaked at number three on the UK singles chart in 1957.

Singer Pat Boone had covered Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" and had a number 12 hit on the Billboard Top 100 with it in 1956. Even though Little Richard benefited from the royalties he didn't like the fact that it was a bigger hit than his own version at number 17.

He wrote the up-tempo "Long Tall Sally hoping that Boone could not sing it but he did. Boone's version peaked at number eight on the Billboard Top 100. Little Richard beat him this time and earned more royalties.

Answer: Fannie

"Short Fat Fannie" was written by Larry Williams. It peaked at number five on the Billboard Top 100 for Larry Williams in 1957. It peaked at number 21 on the UK singles chart the same year.

Larry Williams also wrote about two other women, "Bony Moronie" (number 14 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1957) and "Dizzy, Miss Lizzy" (Number 69 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1958). The Beatles recorded "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" as the last track on their 1965 UK album "HELP!". His next and last US hit was "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" with Johnny Watson, which peaked at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967.

Larry Williams died of a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head in Los Angeles in 1980 aged 44. Although declared a suicide, there was some speculation about his death but no one was ever arrested or charged with a crime.

Answer: Diana

"Diana" was written by Joe Sherman/Paul Anka. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Top 100 for Paul Anka in 1957. It was number one for nine weeks on the UK singles chart the same year.

Singer/songwriter/actor Paul Anka has written some very well known songs for other people as well as the ones he sang himself. "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" (Buddy Holly), the royalties for which he gave to Buddy Holly's widow Maria Elena. "She's A Lady" (Tom Jones) and he wrote the English lyrics for "My Way" (Frank Sinatra).

He appeared in the movies "The Longest Day" (1962), "Ordinary Magic" (1993) and "3000 Miles To Graceland" (2001). He has also appeared in TV shows such as the "Kojak" episode "The Betrayal" (1974), the "Fall Guy" episode "Dirty Laundry" (1983) and the "Crime Story" episode "Top of the World" (1987).

Answer: Susie

"Wake Up Little Susie" was written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant. It was number one for four weeks on the Billboard Top 100 for The Everly Brothers in 1957. It peaked at number two on the UK singles chart the same year.

The Everly Brothers had four number one hits in the US, "Wake Up Little Susie" (number one for four weeks in 1957), "All I Have To Do Is Dream" (number one for five weeks in 1958), "Bird Dog" (number one for one week in 1958) and "Cathy's Clown" (number one for five weeks in 1960).

The Everly Brothers had four number one hits in the UK, "All I Have To Do Is Dream"/"Claudette" (number one for seven weeks in 1958), "Cathy's Clown" (number one for seven weeks in 1960), "Walk Right Back"/Ebony Eyes" (number one for three weeks in 1961) and "Temptation" (number one for two weeks in 1961).

Singers/guitarists/songwriters, The Everly Brothers Phil & Don, were among the first inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

Answer: Minnie

"Skinny Minnie" was written by Bill Haley/Milt Gabler/Rusty Keefer/Catherine Cafra. It peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Top 100 for Bill Haley and His Comets in 1958. It did not chart in the UK.

Bill Haley had been making music long before he recorded "Rock Around The Clock" and become one of the founders of Rock 'n' Roll. He was a member of The Down Homers before forming The Four Aces of Western Swing in 1948. In 1949 he formed The Saddlemen who later became Bill Haley and His Comets after their first hit "Crazy Man, Crazy" peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1953.

The classic Bill Haley hit "Rock Around The Clock" was originally released as the B-Side of "Thirteen Women (And Only One Man in Town)" in May 1954. In 1955 it was used over the opening credits of the movie "The Blackboard Jungle" and became a number one hit on the Billboard Top 100.

Answer: Marie

"Marie's The Name (His Latest Flame)" was written by Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman. It peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 for Elvis Presley in 1961. It was number one for four weeks on the UK singles chart the same year.

"Marie's The Name (His Latest Flame)" was first recorded by Del Shannon for his 1961 album "Runaway With Del Shannon". Even though I am a big Del Shannon fan, Elvis Presley's version is by far the best one.

1961 & 1962 were great years for Elvis in the UK with four number one hits in both years, compared with only two in the US. "Are You Lonesome Tonight" (number one for four weeks in 1961), "Wooden Heart" (number one for six weeks in 1961), "Surrender" (number one for four weeks in 1961), "Marie's The Name (His Latest Flame)"/"Little Sister" (number one for four weeks in 1961),

"Rock-A-Hula Baby"/"Can't Help Falling In Love" (number one for four weeks in 1962), "Good Luck Charm" (number one for five weeks in 1962), "She's Not You" (number one for three weeks in 1962) and "Return To Sender" (number one for three weeks in 1962).

Answer: Sheila

"Sheila" was written by Tommy Roe. It was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Tommy Roe in 1962. It peaked at number three on the UK singles chart the same year.

Between 1962 and 1970 Tommy Roe had six Top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and all six made the Top 10. These included the two number one hits "Sheila" (number one for two weeks in 1962) & "Dizzy" (number one for four weeks in 1969).

He relocated to the UK in the mid-sixties but moved back to the US in 1969. It took until 1969 before Tommy Roe was awarded a Gold Disc for "Sheila" and this brought his total of Gold Discs to four.

Answer: Barbara

"Please Don't Ask About Barbara" was written by Bill Buchanan/Jack Keller. It peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 for Bobby Vee in 1962. It peaked at number 29 on the UK singles chart the same year.

Bobby Vee first hit the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959 as Bobby Vee and The Shadows, with "Suzie Baby" which peaked at number 77. Between 1960 and 1967 he had 10 Top 20 hits of which six hit the Top 10. He only had one number one hit, "Take Good Care Of My Baby" which was number one for three weeks in 1961.

Bobby Vee's rise to prominence came out of tragedy. In 1959 Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper died in a plane crash on route to their next gig in Moorhead, Minnesota. The show still went on without them and after a plea on the radio for local talent, Bobby Vee and The Shadows from Fargo, were given a spot on the show.

Answer: Wendy

"Wendy" was written by Brian Wilson/Mike Love. It peaked at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Beach Boys in 1964. It did not chart in the UK.

"Wendy" was first released on The Beach Boys' 1964 album "All Summer Long". It was then one of four tracks on an EP "Four By The Beach Boys", "Little Honda", "Wendy", "Don't Back Down" and "Hushabye". It was not released as a single.

In my opinion The Beach Boys were heading (rightly so) to be the biggest group in the US in 1963 but the British invasion and The Beatles in particular somewhat diluted what they may have become. Despite their internal problems and in particular those of Brian Wilson the group put out some classic records throughout the '60s. '70s and '80s. It took The Beach Boys 24 years to achieve four number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100, it took The Beatles less than three months to achieve the same.

Answer: Caroline

"Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)" was written by Neil Diamond. It peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 for Neil Diamond in 1969. It peaked at number eight on the UK singles chart in 1971.

One explanation about the song was that it was written about the daughter of President John F. Kennedy, Caroline. She was 11 years old at the time and Neil Diamond saw her photograph on a magazine cover with her parents. Alternatively it might be about Diamond's wife at the time, Marsha but he needed a name with three syllables to fit the melody, hence the name Caroline.

Singer/guitarist/songwriter/composer/actor Neil Diamond was born in Brooklyn, New York, New York, USA, in 1941. He first recorded as part of the duo Neil & Jack, for Duel records in 1962, then wrote for The Monkees TV show. He wrote the score for the 1973 movie "Jonathan Livingstone Seagull" starring James Franciscus (voice) and Richard Crenna (voice) and the 1980 movie "The Jazz Singer" starring Laurence Olivier and Neil Diamond.