The Music of The Shadows Trivia Game | Music

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Their first UK chart entry and number one hit was named for a native American tribe. Can you name it?

Answer: Apache

The Shadows spent five weeks at number one on the UK chart with "Apache" in 1960. They never had any chart hits in the US.

British guitarist Bert Weedon recorded a version which reached number 24 on the UK chart the same year. Danish Guitarist Jorgen Ingmann's version never charted in the UK but reached number two on the US pop chart in 1961. Sonny James wrote lyrics to the song and had a number 87 hit on the US pop chart in 1961. "Apache" (named after a Burt Lancaster movie) was written by British singer/songwriter Jerry Lordan. He had his only UK top 20 hit with "Who Could Be Bluer" at number 17 in 1960.

2. When were The Shadows not The Shadows? They were Cliff Richard's backing band on many of his hits before, during and after their own hits. What was their name when they backed Cliff on the UK number one hit "Living Doll" in 1959?

Answer: The Drifters

The American Drifters took out an injunction in the US to prevent them using The Drifters name so The Shadows were born. After many personnel changes there were none of the original UK Drifters still in the line up when Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch, Jet Harris and Tony Meehan became The Shadows. They had changed their name by the time "Travellin' Light" was a UK number one for Cliff Richard & The Shadows in 1959.

The Vipers & The Five Chesternuts were groups that various members of the Shadows had been in before they joined The Drifters, later The Shadows. Odd one out was The Quarrymen, it was one of a number of names The Beatles had called themselves.

3. The Shadows backed Cliff Richard on three UK number one hits before they hit the top spot themselves. Can you get the title of the third of those three number one hits from these lyrics? "You love me like a hurricane, then you start to freeze" I'll give it to you straight right now"

Answer: Please Don't Tease

Cliff Richard & The Shadows third UK number one hit "Please Don't Tease" spent three weeks at number one in 1959. It was written By Shadow Bruce Welch and former Five Chesternuts member Peter Chester, the son of UK comedian Charlie Chester.

"Move It" by Cliff Richard & The Drifters (their first UK chart hit) reached number two in 1958. "Living Doll" by Cliff Richard & The Drifters and written by Lionel Bart reached number one for six weeks in 1959. It reached number 30 on the US pop chart in 1959. It was re-recorded by Cliff Richard & The Young Ones (a UK comedy group from a TV show of the same name), featuring Hank Marvin in 1986. It went to number one again for three weeks. "Travellin' Light" by Cliff Richard & The Shadows reached number one for five weeks in 1959.

4. Two members of The Shadows left the group and had UK chart success as a duo. Who were they?

Answer: Jet Harris & Tony Meehan

Jet Harris & Tony Meehan had a UK number one for three weeks with their very first single after leaving The Shadows, "Diamonds" in 1963. It knocked "Dance On" by The Shadows off the top spot which in turn had knocked Cliff Richard & The Shadows double A-side "The Next Time"/"Bachelor Boy" off the top spot. To top it all, "Diamonds" was written by Jerry Lordan who had written The Shadows first number one "Apache".

Tony Meehan left The Shadows in 1961 to work as an A&R man at Decca UK. He also played as a session man on various records including hits by Billy Fury and Frank Ifield. Jet Harris left The Shadows in 1962 after disagreements and an alleged liaison between his wife and Cliff Richard.

5. The Shadows had a UK chart hit in 1961 named for the craft that Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl sailed across the pacific ocean in, in 1947. What was the name of the craft?

Answer: Kon-Tiki

"Kon-Tiki" by The Shadows was their second UK number one and it hit the top spot for one week in 1961.

The Kon-Tiki expedition by Thor Heyerdahl was to see if a craft built from Balsa wood and other available materials of the time, could have been sailed across the pacific from South America to Polynesia century's before. After a 4,300 mile journey which lasted over 100 days the Kon-Tiki ran aground on a reef in the Tuamotu Islands, proving it could have been done.

6. Which of these four musicians has never been a member of The Shadows?

Answer: Jimmie Nicol

Jimmie Nicol was the drummer that stood in for Ringo Starr for eight shows when Ringo was ill with tonsillitis in 1964. He also stood in for Dave Clark of The Dave Clark Five when he was ill while the group were performing in Blackpool Lancashire.

The Shadows line-up changed a number of times over the years. Drummer Brian Bennett replaced Tony Meehan. Bassist Brian 'Licorice' Locking replaced Jet Harris. Bassist John Rostill replaced Brian Locking.

7. Which nice place were The Shadows in with their biggest hit single? It was their longest stay at number one on the UK chart.

Answer: Wonderful Land

"Wonderful Land" spent eight weeks at number one on the UK chart in 1962. It was the most weeks at number one for any Shadows record and the most for any record in 1962. "Wonderful Land" was the second and last number one single written by Jerry Lordan for The Shadows.

"Wondrous Place" was a number 25 hit on the UK chart in 1960 for Billy Fury. "Wonderful World" was a number 27 hit on the UK chart in 1960 and reached number two on re-release in 1986 for Sam Cooke. It reached number 12 on the US pop chart in 1960. "Wonderful World Of The Young" was a number eight hit on the UK chart for Danny Williams in 1962.

8. In 1975 The Shadows were chosen by the BBC to represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm. Can you name the song they sang from these lyrics? "I'll even bring along a magic moon Just to make you feel alright"

Answer: Let Me Be The One

"Let Me Be The One" came second to "Ding-A-Dong" by The Teach-In's from Holland in the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest. In spite of that ignominious defeat "Let Me Be The One" reached number 12 on the UK chart in 1975.

Most of The Shadows hits were instrumentals but they did make the UK chart with some vocal hits. All of the alternate titles were vocal hits by The Shadows. "Mary Anne" reached number 17 in 1965. "I Met A Girl" reached number 22 in 1966. "Don't Make My Baby Blue" reached number 10 in 1965.

9. This instrumental was The Shadows fifth and final UK number one. You can hear it every Saturday as it introduces "Sounds Of The Sixties" with Brian Matthew at 8.00am on BBC Radio 2. Do you know the title?

Answer: Foot Tapper

"Foot Tapper" was written by Shadows Hank Marvin & Bruce Welch. It took over the UK number one spot from "Summer Holiday" by Cliff Richard & The Shadows which was written by Shadows Bruce Welch & Brian Bennett. "Foot Tapper" was number one for one week in 1963.

The next UK number one was "How Do You Do It" by Gerry and The Pacemakers, followed by "From Me To You" by The Beatles, followed by "I Like It" by Gerry & The Pacemakers. A whole new era had begun and many fell by the wayside in it's wake. All the alternate titles are by The Shadows. "Atlantis" reached number two in 1963. "Shindig" reached number six in 1963. "Geronimo" reached number 11 in 1963.

10. The Shadows had one double A-sided hit on the UK chart. One side was "Man Of Mystery", what was the title of the other side?

Answer: The Stranger

"Man Of Mystery/The Stranger" was The Shadows second UK hit and reached number five in 1960. It was their only double sided hit in 21 years of UK chart hits, 1960 to 1981.

All the alternate titles are by The Shadows. "Quartermaster's Stores" was the B-side of the 1960 number one hit "Apache". "Peace Pipe" was the B-side of the 1961 number 10 hit "The Savage". "Stars Fell On Stockton" was the B-side of the 1962 number one hit "Wonderful Land".

Source: Author shipyardbernie

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor kyleisalive before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

The Music of The Shadows Trivia Quiz

The Shadows are the most successful UK instrumental group ever. They even found time to perform as a backing group for Cliff Richard, of whom you may have heard. How well do you know them and their music?

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