Zooming in on 1976 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Steely Dan

Steely Dan was founded in 1972 by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen who had met five years earlier at Bard College in Southeastern New York. Becker was the backing vocalist, bass player and guitarist while Fagen was the lead singer and keyboardist. Much of the band's music was a blend of rock and jazz and between 1972 and 1980 the band released seven studio albums.

Their 1976 album "The Royal Scam" peaked at number 15 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. The first single released from "The Royal Scam" was "Kid Charlemagne" which featured an epic guitar solo and told the story of a psychedelic drug dealer's ascension and decline during the 1960s.

This question was strummed into the quiz by Phoenix Rising team member Triviaballer whose guitar playing experience consisted of hours of "Guitar Hero World Tour" on easy mode in 2008.

Answer: The Glimmer Twins

It is reported that back in the late 1960s, someone saw Mick and Keith in a casual setting and asked who they were. They were asked to just give them a "glimmer", or a hint in other words, of who they were. So Mick and Keith dubbed themselves "The Glimmer Twins". They have co-written a multitude of songs under the pseudonym and even produced decades of albums.

Ronnie Wood played guitar on the album "Black and Blue" and joined the Stones full-time later in 1976. Mick Taylor quit the band in 1974 and this was their first album after his departure.

This question was a contribution by Phoenix Rising team member Jaknginger. The Rolling Stones are her all-time favourite band. She only wishes she had the energy and dance moves of Mick Jagger.

Answer: 4

Stevie Wonder is the stage name of Stevland Hardaway Judkins (b. 1950). He is an American singer and songwriter who has dominated popular music in the latter part of the 20th century. His 1963 single "Fingertips" topped the Billboard Hot 100 and at that time he was the youngest to achieve that feat.

He won "Album of the Year" Grammys for his 16th, 17th and 18th albums: "Innervisions" (1973), "Fullfillingness' First Finale" (1974) and "Songs in the Key of Life" (1976), the first recording artist to gain this success with three consecutive releases.

At the 1977 Awards, "Songs in the Key of Life" won four Grammys:
* Album of the Year
* Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
* Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
* Producer of the Year

"Songs in the Key of Life" is regarded by many as Stevie Wonder's best work. It is number 57 on Rolling Stone's list, "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2005. Stevie Wonder received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014.

Phoenix Rising's psnz had no "Ordinary Pain" researching this album which "Knocks Me Off My Feet".

Answer: Ry Cooder

Ry Cooder is one of the finest guitarists to have graced music. In 2003 Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at number eight on their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". He has collaborated with many artists and this is due mainly to his fascination with "roots" music. Never afraid to experiment he's never allowed songs to be bordered by genre or style. On the surface "Chicken Skin Music" appears like an eclectic gathering of songs but they're beautifully assembled by Cooder, not as a nod toward eclecticism or disparity, but as sense of what new wonder can be adhered to old tracks. As a result, Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" becomes a gospel number, Jim Reeves' 1959 hit, "He'll Have to Go" is infused with a bolero style rhythm before he charms us with a medicine show number "I Got Mine".

This question was composed by Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 who was surprised to discover during his research that chicken skin music is a Hawaiian colloquialism for goose bumps.

Answer: Thin Lizzy

Formed in 1969 in Dublin by school friends, Phil Lynott (bass, vocals) and Brian Downey, Thin Lizzy also included guitarist Eric Bell and organist Eric Wrixon (both from Van Morrison's Them). Playing material largely written by Lynott, the hard rocking Thin Lizzy had their first chart success, ironically with a version of the Irish folk song, "Whiskey in the Jar" in 1973. Bell was replaced by the versatile and talented Gary Moore, continuing a run of line-up changes swirling around Lynott and Downey. Their second album "Fighting" peaked at a relatively lowly number 60 on the British Charts. The band's big breakthrough came with the release of the "Jailbreak" album in early 1976 which contained the international hit single "The Boys are Back in Town". Further line-up changes and the death of Lynott in 1986 did not prevent the release of many more albums, some of which charted extremely well. These include "Live and Dangerous" in 1978 and "Black Rose: A Rock Legend" in 1979, both reaching number two on the UK charts. Somewhat confusingly, the single "Jailbreak" was also released in 1976 by Australian band AC/DC (1984 in North America) - it was the final track from their album "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap".

This question burst out of PR member MikeMaster99 and was quickly captured in text; Mike instantly remembers the opening riff to "The Boys are Back in Town", but all his attempts to play it would be considered criminal if ever heard in public!

Answer: Graham Parker

"Heat Treatment" followed hot on the heels of Graham Parker and the Rumour's debut album "Howlin' Wind", both being released in the same year. Whilst most critics raved about the follow-up disc, Parker, on his own web-site, cited the album as one of his least favourite pieces of work. Despite the rollicking "Pourin' It All Out" and "Fools' Gold" he blamed his own inexperience in the craft, the desire to rush into a second recording to cash in on the success of the first and the production work of "Mutt" Lange, which tended to mute the power of the Rumour.

As a curiosity, one of the album's tracks, "Hotel Chambermaid" was covered by Rod Stewart on 1998 on his album "When We Were the New Boys".

This question was written by Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 who ignored the request not to ask questions.

Answer: False

It was their fourth studio album, preceded by "Ring, Ring", "Waterloo" and "ABBA".

The Swedish supergroup formed in 1972, and had only enjoyed moderate success, but when they won 1974 Eurovision, their careers took off. The singles "Waterloo" (the Eurovision entry), "Ring, Ring", "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" and "Mamma Mia followed in quick succession. Their "Arrival" album spawned the hits "Dancing Queen", "Money, Money, Money", "Knowing Me, Knowing You" and "Fernando".

Question was recorded by Phoenix Rising member, ozzz2002, who would like to thank ABBA for the music!

Answer: It was their first album to feature Phil Collins as their lead singer

Founding member and frontman Peter Gabriel decided to leave Genesis in 1974, performing his last concert with the band in May of 1975. His bandmates, keyboardist Tony Banks, guitarist Steve Hackett, guitarist/bassist Mike Rutherford, and drummer Phil Collins, remained a capable song writing team and wanted to continue collaborating.

They quickly produced enough material for a new album, and held auditions for a replacement lead vocalist, but the search failed to attract any suitable prospects. Collins reluctantly stepped up to sing "Squonk", performing well enough that the band decided he would feature as lead singer on the album and take over as frontman. Collins considered drumming his territory and continued to play during instrumental interludes.

"A Trick of the Tail" went on to achieve critical and commercial success and the band proved they could produce without Gabriel.

This question had its genesis in the mind of pollucci19, but Phoenix Rising team mate, JCSon, stepped up to the mic and let it drop.

Answer: Jacques Levy

"Desire" is one of Dylan's best-selling albums and also one of his most collaborative. In recording the album, he called upon several members who were the core of his touring band at the time, The Rolling Thunder Revue, and the song-writing, for all bar two tracks, was shared with Jacques Levy. To that point Levy was best known for the song "Chestnut Mare", which he'd co-written with Roger McGuinn and one that would become one of the last hits for The Byrds. After, initially, meeting at a club called The Other End, Dylan showed Levy a draft of his song "Isis" and was encouraged to read it at the abovenamed club. A favourable response led to further work together, Levy stating that he did the writing while Bob provided the ideas.

The songs on the album have a storybook feel about them with two, "Joey" and "Hurricane", attracting their share of controversy. The former seeming to glorify the gangster "Crazy Joey" Gallo and the latter for its assertion that boxer Rubin Carter was framed for murder.

This question was blowin' in the wind until Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 drew inspiration from a leopard-skin pill-box hat.

Answer: Billy Joel

There is a lot of geography in Billy Joel's first four albums. "Cold Spring Harbour" was set in Long Island, NY, where Mr Joel grew up. This album shows glimpses of the musical genius he was to become. "Piano Man" (1973) documents the three years Mr Joel spent in California playing piano bars before he became famous, and has the title track being his first international hit. His third album, "Streetlife Serenade" (1975) was a hastily compiled LP to meet a record contract obligation yet Mr Joel's characterisation of California being so different from his native New York is powerful and evocative in such tracks as "Los Angelenos" and the title track. "Turnstiles" (1976) is a farewell to California and a joyful return to his native New York with titles like "Say Goodbye to Hollywood", "Summer Highland Falls", I've Loved These Days and "New York State of Mind". This was the last album before the multi-platinum "The Stranger" where Mr Joel really hit the big time. Shame, as this album was relegated as a minor works when in my opinion it was Mr Joel's most cohesive studio album.

This question was a tribute to a very gifted singer-songwriter by Phoenix Rising team member 1nn1 who purchased "Turnstiles" as his third album in 1976 aged 14 and it is still on high rotation 40 years later.