Place Names in Songs Trivia

1. What iconic singer from the 1960s sang about "Wisconsin's dreary clime" in "The River in the Pines"?

From Quiz Wisconsin in Song

Answer: Joan Baez

"The River in the Pines" is from Joan Baez, on her 1965 album "Farewell, Angelina." It tells of a young couple named Mary and Charlie. He is killed in a rafting accident on the Chippewa River, and the last verse tells of how people visit the graves of the two lovers. The Chippewa River runs for 183 miles in northwestern Wisconsin, from Lake Chippewa in Sawyer County down the Mississippi River. The river is still popular with kayakers, despite Joan's warning about rafting in January.

From Quiz On The Road Again

Answer: Boston

Boston are actually from Boston and had enormous success with their self titled debut album in 1976, which included the hit, "More Than A Feeling". The city of Boston is one of the oldest in USA and was the venue for The Boston Tea Party in 1773, a protest against the British policy of "taxation without representation" which sparked the start of the American Revolutionary War.

From Quiz Tour the Wild West in Song

Answer: Tombstone

The 1957 movie starring Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Rhonda Fleming and John Ireland was directed by John Sturges. It is loosely based on the real incident that took place on October 26 1881. The song "Gunfight at the O. K. Corral" was written by Ned Washington/Dimitri Tiomkin. The O. K. Corral is in the town of Tombstone, in the southeast of Arizona. Originally named Goose Flats, the name was changed to Tombstone in about 1877. A prospector named Ed Schieffelin named his silver mine "The Tombstone". This was after being warned by soldiers in the area that if he kept looking for silver in the hills, all he'd find would be his tombstone. This was due to hostilities with the Native American tribes who lived in the area. In its heyday at the height of the silver boom in the 1880s, Tombstone had a population of around 14,000 and was considered to be one of the most notorious and lawless cities in the Americas. By 1890 after the silver mines went bust, the population dwindled to 1,875. In the census of 2020 there were 1,308 residents and the biggest commercial business is tourism.

From Quiz Locations

Answer: Kentucky Woman

One of only a few songs on the album not written by the members of Deep Purple themselves. The album is not to be confused with "The Book of Talieson" which is the old Welsh manuscripts containing 56 poems.

From Quiz American Locations in Song

Answer: Marc Cohen

"Walking in Memphis", though it enjoyed only modest success on the charts, still became a favorite with many, if not most people who heard it. It has a cool verse about the singer's going to Gracel'nd (as it is pronounced in that city) and meeting the ghost of Elvis on his way to a romantic assignation. Cohen explains that he himself is Jewish, and combines this heritage with a gospel feel, in the verse about the woman who asks if he's a Christian, which has the singer answering, "Ma'am, I am tonight!"

From Quiz Rock and Roll Across America!

Answer: Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

Neil Young composed the song in response to the May 4, 1970 shootings at Kent State University, and it was recorded by CSN&Y.

From Quiz My Melody of States

Answer: Alabama

"Stars Fell on Alabama". "We lived our little drama, we kissed in a field of white, and stars fell on Alabama last night". Do you suppose it was a cotton field in Alabama? Whichever, this love song and tribute to Alabama has been very popular. Many famous singers recorded this lovely song which was composed in 1934 by Frank Perkins with lyrics by Mitchell Parish. Jazz greats such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong are a few of the estimated one hundred singers who have recorded "Stars Fell on Alabama". Not only has this song been popular with so many singers and orchestras, but it is now recognized on the vehicle license plates of Alabama. In 2002, "Heart of Dixie" was moved to the bottom of the license plate, and "Stars Fell On Alabama" put above the license numerals.

From Quiz Songs in the Key of Statehood

Answer: Georgia

"Midnight Train to Georgia" was a hit in 1973 for Gladys Knight and the Pips. "Georgia on My Mind" is another great song about this state.

From Quiz Are You Going to Scarborough Fair?

Answer: Ireland

Jack Judge wrote the song using Tipperary as a reference to his ancestral home (his grandparents lived there), and the song became a popular war song (during the Great War). Today, the town of Tipperary, in the province of Munster, has welcoming signs that say, "You've come a long way...".

From Quiz The State of Music

Answer: Galveston

As well as hosting "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" from 1969 to 1972, Campbell also managed to release more than 70 albums. Three of his hits sprung from albums of the same name, "Galveston" in 1969, "By the Time I Get to Phoenix", which won two Grammy awards despite getting only to number 26 and "Wichita Lineman", peaking at number three in 1968. The album "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Album" contained his version of "MacArthur Park" in 1970. All four hits were written by songwriter and composer Jimmy Webb, whose relationship with Linda Ronstadt's cousin Susan influenced him to pen "MacArthur Park" and his breakup with Susan fueled the inspiration for "By the Time I Get to Phoenix".

From Quiz The Rockers Go to Places in Music

Answer: Manchester

The Smiths came from Manchester. They formed in 1982 and broke up in 1987. This was their fourth and final studio album. Strangeways Prison was destroyed during a riot in 1990 and rebuilt. It was renamed Her Majesty's Prison, Manchester. It was the scene of the last (simultaneous) hanging in Britain in 1964. Question by AdjNZ

From Quiz US Geography In Song

Answer: The Charlie Daniels Band

"Mississippi" is from Charlie's "Million Mile Reflections" album. It wasn't released as a single, but he did it regularly in his concerts for many years. The biggest hit from that album was "The Devil Went Down To Georgia".

From Quiz Locales Throughout the US in Hit Song Titles

Answer: Johnny Horton

In addition to singing about Alaska in the sixties Johnny Horton had a Number One Pop and Country single with "The Battle of New Orleans". The following year "North to Alaska" topped the US Country charts and reached Number Four on the Pop charts. "The Battle of New Orleans" earned Johnny Horton a Grammy for Best Country and Western Recording in 1960. Johnny got his start in the early fifties performing on "The Louisiana Hayride" and had begun a successful career recording and performing when he was struck by a drink driver and killed in 1960. Johnny Tillotson's biggest US hit was in 1961 with "Poetry in Motion". Johnny Preston had a big hit with "Running Bear". "Tennessee Flat Top Box" was a 1961 single for Johnny Cash.

From Quiz Sing Me Around the USA

Answer: Mitch Miller

The origins of this song go back to the 1830's and it had been recorded a few times. In 1955 Mitch Miler recorded the song and it was number one on the US Best Sellers chart that year. The movie "Giant" featured the version by Mitch Miller. Mitchell William Miller was born in 1911 and was well known through his 1960's TV show "Sing Along with Mitch". He was a classic oboe player and worked at a few record companies as a record producer and then became a recording artist. In 2000 he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He died in 2010.

From Quiz The State of the Oldies

Answer: Alaska

"North to Alaska" was the title tune from the 1960 motion picture of the same name starring John Wayne. The song was recorded by Johnny Horton, a popular Country music and Rockabilly star. Horton had previously hit with "The Battle of New Orleans", and "Sink the Bismarck". The song went to number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts.

From Quiz Instrumental Songs with Geographical Titles

Answer: Lonnie Mack

Lonnie Mack was born Lonnie McIntosh in the Appalachian region of Kentucky. He began playing guitar when he was seven and as a young adult began playing as a session musician for small labels and working in bands. While working in a studio he was advised that he could have the remaining twenty minutes of studio time and hastily arranged and recorded "Memphis" with the other musicians. Mack forgot about the recording and while on tour with Troy Seals he learned that "Memphis" had reached number five on the US charts. In 1960 the Top Ten "Because They're Young" became the highest charting of Duane Eddy's many instrumental singles. Dick Dale was a pioneer of Surf genre rock with such hits as "Miserlou". Chet Atkins was one of the first to record "Walk, Don't Run", inspiring the Ventures to record the song.

From Quiz From Carolina to California: In Music

Answer: Carolina in My Mind

James Taylor grew up in Carrboro, North Carolina. James Taylor wrote the song, because while he was overseas recording he thought about how he missed North Carolina. The song "Carolina in My Mind" was first realized in 1968 on James Taylor's self titled album.

From Quiz Music:Rockin' All Over The World

Answer: Status Quo

Status Quo had a number three hit on the UK chart with "Rockin' All Over The World" in 1977. It did not chart in the US. It made the Top ten in other countries including Belgium, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. Status Quo have had more UK chart hits than any other group. In 2010 original group members Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt were awarded the OBE in the UK New Years honours list for their services to music. They are still Rockin' despite their music being derided in certain quarters and a dispute with UK Radio 1 over not playing their 1994 collaboration with The Beach Boys, UK number 24 hit "Fun Fun Fun". They are still having UK hits and made number 31 in 2010 with a re-recording of their 1986 number two hit "In The Army Now". They may well rock 'til they drop.

From Quiz US Seventies Geographical Tour

Answer: Kentucky

"Kentucky Rain" reached Number 16 on the US Billboard charts for Elvis. The song was penned by Eddie Rabbitt and Dick Heard and featured a then-unknown pianist named Ronnie Milsap. The song went right to single release and was not included on the original "From Elvis in Memphis" album released the previous year. Later re-packaged versions included the song. The song also made the Top Forty on the US Country charts. Brooks Benton had a Top Ten hit with his recording of "Rainy Night in Georgia" in 1970. The Band took "Up on Cripple Creek" to Number 25 and "Montego Bay" by Bobby Bloom was a Top Ten release the same year.

From Quiz US Sixties Top Forty Geographical Tour

Answer: Johnny Horton

Johnny Horton took "North to Alaska" to Number Four in the US. It was one of many Country crossover hits that Horton enjoyed in the fifties and sixties. Other Historical Ballad genre songs Horton released included "The Battle of New Orleans", "Sink the Bismarck" and "When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's Forty Below)". Johnny was a Los Angeles native who had his first Top Ten Country hit in 1956 with "Honky Tonk Man". He died in 1960 at the young age of 35. He had a premonition that he would be killed by a drunk and indeed a drunk driver struck his car on a bridge in Texas. Jimmy Dean had a huge hit in 1961 with "Big, Bad John". Ray Charles sang about Georgia when he took "Georgia on My Mind" to Number One in 1960 and Marty Robbins had a Number One Country crossover hit in 1960 when he recorded "El Paso".

From Quiz Music: Somewhere In The UK

Answer: Isle Of Skye

Andy Stewart had a number 37 hit on the UK chart with "Donald Where's Your Troosers" in 1960. It re-entered the UK chart and reached number four in 1989. It reached number 77 on the US pop chart in 1961. Andy Stewart was Andrew Stewart MBE from Glasgow, Scotland. He was very popular in the UK, Canada, USA, Australia and New Zealand. He was the compere of the long running BBC New Years Eve show "The White Heather Club" from 1957 to 1968.

From Quiz What State Is Your Music In?

Answer: Florida

Freddy Cannon had a number six hit on the US pop chart with "Tallahassee Lassie" in 1959. It reached number 17 on the UK chart the same year. Freddy Cannon was Frederick Anthony Picariello from Swampscott Massachusetts. He played guitar on the G-Clefs' "Ka-Ding Dong" which reached number 24 on the US pop chart in 1956. He got his big break when Swan records released "Tallahassee Lassie" and his appearances on Dick Clark's (part owner of Swan records) TV show "American Bandstand".

From Quiz Geography in Song

Answer: Sorrento

This song was used in the 1951 movie "On the Sunny Side of the Street" starring Frankie Laine. It was also recorded by Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Mario Lanza and even Meat Loaf.

From Quiz Around the World in 25 Songs

Answer: West Side Story

'West Side Story' is based on Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'. America is a BIG place on the other side of the Atlantic to me. *Useless information* The original 1957 Broadway production ran for 732 performances before going on tour.

From Quiz Canada in Music

Answer: Saskatchewan

"And it's a Heave Ho, High Ho Coming down the plains Stealing oats and barley and all the other grains And it's ho hey, high hey, farmers bar your door When you see the Jolly Roger on Regina's mighty shore." The Arrogant Worms are also known for their song "Carrot Juice is Murder"

From Quiz Waxing Lyrical about the United States

Answer: Michigan

"It was 1989, my thoughts were short my hair was long Caught somewhere between a boy and man She was seventeen and she was far from in-between It was summertime in Northern Michigan". "All Summer Long" spent 15 weeks at the top of the UK Official Rock Chart in 2008 in three separate blocks. The longest, eight weeks from the week ending 13 July to week ending 7 September, really was all summer long! Lyrics reproduced from http://www.azlyrics.com

From Quiz 70s Music and Locales

Answer: Annandale

"My Old School" has a few other locations I could have gone with, maybe Mexico and Guadalajara but I did not think I could be so cruel.

From Quiz 70s Music and U.S. Geography

Answer: Boise

"What's Your Name?" sings of an encounter with a girl of questionable age while the band is touring on the road. Skynyrd wanted to see her on the next year's swing through, but sadly that was never to be. Shortly after the album's release, a tragic plane crash happened that claimed the lives of six people associated with the band.

From Quiz Countries in Song Titles

Answer: The Beach Boys

"Surfin' U.S.A." is indeed a Beach Boys hit dating from 1963.

From Quiz Place Names in Song Titles

Answer: Sting

The answer is "Sting" aka Gordon Sumner. The song was released in '87.

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Last Updated Apr 27 2024 5:51 AM

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