Special Sub-Topic: I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends Click Here To Play: I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

In 1984, Kenneth William Gordy (son of Motown founder and CEO Barry Gordy) recorded a single under the stage name Rockwell entitled "Somebody's Watching Me". What superstar singer's voice can be heard on the chorus?

Michael Jackson. During the Motown career of the Jackson 5, Gordy became childhood friends with Michael and Jermaine. Later on Jermaine married Gordy's sister Hazel and he knew he could get the record promoted if he could persuade Michael to provide the background vocals, especially since Michael at the time was in the height of his solo career. The song was Rockwell's only charted hit, however it did soar up the charts peaking at number two.

What superstar rock singer can be heard in the background of Dire Strait's number one smash, "Money For Nothing" (1985)?

Sting. Sting co-wrote the song with Dire Strait's lead guitarist Mark Knopfler. Sting can be heard in the background of the song proclaiming those famous words, "I want my MTV" which was by the way to the tune of the Police's "Don't Stand So Close To Me" (1980). The idea for the song came from Knopfler's visit to an appliance store where he noticed several employees were moving refrigerators and microwaves and commenting on the music videos which were on MTV. It became one of the biggest hits of 1985 hitting number one for three weeks.

Which of the following singers did NOT record a song with one of their children or stepchildren?

Nat King Cole. Nat King Cole never actually recorded a song with his daughter Natalie, but in 1991 she recorded the Grammy Winning song "Unforgettable" in which the studio edited Nat's 1951 version of the song with Natalie to create a duet. In 1967, Frank Sinatra recorded the number one hit "Something Stupid" with his daughter Nancy. Neil Sedaka recorded the 1980 hit "Should've Never Let You Go" with his daughter Dara taking the song to number 19 on the Billboard charts. And of course there was Shirley Jones who gained fame first as a big actress and singer of the 50s and 60s. But in 1970 Shirley began her most famous role as Shirley Partridge, the widowed mother of five children on the hit TV series "The Partridge Family". Her stepson David Cassidy starred with her and they recorded the Partridge's songs together including the number one hit, "I Think I Love You" (1970).

Which of the following hit singles did NOT include background vocals by the Bee Gees?

Grease by Frankie Valli. The Bee Gees didn't sing background on the Franki Valli hit but the song, which was the title hit from the movie "Grease" (1978), was written by Barry Gibb. All of the others have the distinctive Bee Gee voices in the background.

Who was the famous saxophonist who provided the dynamic sax solo on Gerry Rafferty's 1978 top ten hit, "Baker Street"?

Raphael Ravenscroft. Ravenscroft has worked with many sucessful pop artists such as ABBA, America, Kim Carnes, Marvin Gaye, Pink Floyd and Robert Plant, to name a few. But it was his sax solo on "Baker Street" that most people remember.

What superstar sang backup on Neil Sedaka's 1975 number one hit, "Bad Blood"?

Elton John. The song, which was written by Sedaka and Phil Cody, probably got a boost having Elton singing backup especially since he was the number one recording artist during that period. The song stayed at number one for three weeks.

What famous R&B artist played electric piano on the Beatles 1969 hit, "Get Back"?

Billy Preston. Preston not only played with the Beatles on that hit, but he became the only artist to get partial credit for a Beatle song. For his contribution he became one of several who was referred to as the "Fifth Beatle". Preston also worked with some of the biggest names in music history including Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Elton John and Aretha Franklin, to name a few. He also had a successful solo career including the number one hits, "Will It Go Round In Circles" (1973) and "Nothing From Nothing" (1974).

Which of the following was the first band to to utilize a full scale orchestra on a rock album recording?

The Moody Blues. The album was "Days Of Future Passed" (1967) which was the Moody Blues second and their most sucessful album. The album included their biggest hit, "Nights In White Satin". With the the London Festival Orchestra included in their recordings, the Moody Blues style became known as Symphonic rock. The style would influence future bands including, Pink Floyd, Yes, Deep Purple, The Alan Parsons Project, Genesis, Kansas and ELO.

Who played the harmonica solo on Elton John's hit, "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" (1983)?

Stevie Wonder. Stevie Wonder's harmonica solo helped propel the song to the top five in 1983. Elton John and Stevie Wonder would record again in 1986 with Stevie's harmonica on the Burt Bacharach hit, "That's What Friends Are For" which also included vocals by Dionne Warwick and Gladys Knight.

Two members of what superstar group of the 70s provided the background vocals on the 1978 hit by Walter Egan entitled "Magnet and Steel"?

Fleetwood Mac. Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham co produced the song which Walter Egan wrote and their noteable voices can be recognized on the 1978 hit. The song hit the top ten and was one of the big hits of that year.