A Little Help from My Friends Trivia Quiz

Answer: Glen Campbell

"Good Vibrations" was a number one tune for The Beach Boys in 1966. At the time, it was one of the most expensive songs ever produced. It also took over six months for the completed project. Playing guitar on the track was none other than Glen Campbell, who at one time actually toured with the group. Campbell of course went on to have a long time recording career as both a country and crossover artist.

The song itself is listed on Rolling Stone Magazine's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" at number six.

Answer: Eric Clapton

Recorded for the "White Album" in 1968, and written by George Harrison, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" was never released as a single. Still, it is one of the Beatles most recognizable tunes, partly because of the guitar of Eric Clapton whose handiwork is evident throughout the tune. Harrison had specifically asked Clapton to play lead guitar on the track. Clapton had at first resisted the idea of playing on a Beatles tune, but relented and recorded the track in one night.

Although never released as a single, the song still makes Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" at number 135.

Answer: Barry Manilow

"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", a cover of a tune from the 1940s, was part of Midler's 1972 debut album called "The Divine Miss M". Barry Manilow was a co-producer on the album and played piano on a number of the songs, including this one. Manilow went on to have a stellar career of his own which has spanned over 30 years.

Answer: Mick Jagger

"You're so vain; you probably think this song is about you..." One of Carly Simon's signature tunes, it has been a whirlwind of controversy over the year since she has never publicly revealed who the song was about. All the four listed choices were mentioned as possible subjects of the song, but Jagger actually sang backup vocals on the tune, which was a number one Billboard charting hit for Simon.

The song ranks at number 72 on Billboard Magazine's "Greatest Songs of All Time".

Answer: Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor

"Heart of Gold" was a number one tune for Neil Young in 1972. It came off a successful album called "Harvest". The song was recorded in Nashville Tennessee. Two other musicians were in Nashville at the time for an appearance on a television show there. They were Linda Ronstadt, (formerly of the Stone Poneys), and James Taylor ("You've Got a Friend"). Young's producer arranged for Ronstadt and Taylor to sing backup vocals on the studio track of the tune.
The song did pretty well for itself and ended up at number 297 on Rolling Stone Magazine's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

Answer: The Beach Boys

It was The Beach Boys, specifically Al Jardine, along with Carl and Dennis Wilson who contributed background vocals to Chicago's "Wishing You Were Here" which topped out at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1974. The song was part of "Chicago VII", the group's seventh studio album. Peter Cetera, one of Chicago's lead singers, specifically requested these guys for the backup vocals.

The two bands had a very successful U.S. tour together during the mid 1970s.

Answer: Dusty Springfield

"The Bitch is Back" was a song by Elton John, written with Bernie Taupin. It was the second single released from his 1974 album "Caribou", and reached number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number 15 in the U.K. Dusty Springfield (who was not "The Bitch") performed the background vocals on the tune in the studio version.

There was also a live recording which was taken from a show performed at New York City's Madison Square Garden later in 1974.

Answer: True

"My Life" was off Joel's successful album called "52nd Street" which debuted in 1978 and the single reached as high as number three on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1979. Cetera, one of the main voices of Chicago, helped out with background vocals and sang along with Joel on the bridge of the tune. Donnie Daucas, another member of Chicago at the time, also did some background work.

Answer: John McVie and Mick Fleetwood

Warren Zevon needed some help to make his "Werewolves of London" a success. He found that help in some members of Fleetwood Mac. Bass guitarist John McVie and drummer Mick Fleetwood both played on the recording which peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Some of Fleetwood Mac's more successful albums were "Rumours", "Mirage", and "Say You Will", among others.

Answer: Stevie Nicks

John Stewart teamed with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham, and released an album called "Bombs Away Dream Babies", which included the #5 hit, "Gold," in 1979. The song was his biggest success. He had formerly been a member of The Kingston Trio in the 1960s and had written several hundred songs over the years; most notably The Monkees' smash hit "Daydream Believer".

Answer: Jimmy Buffett

"I Can't Tell You Why" was a cut off The Eagles album called "The Long Run" in 1979. The song was released and became a Top 10 hit for the group peaking at number eight. It was their last Top 10 hit on the Billboard charts. In the studio, doing background vocals in addition to the group was one Jimmy Buffett. David Sanborn's saxophone is heard as well.

Answer: Junior Walker

"Urgent" was 1981 tune by Foreigner which came off the album simply titled '4'. Coincidently the tune went to number four on the Billboard Hot 100 charts during its run. In the body of the song there is a saxophone solo performed by one of the legends of Motown, Junior Walker, whose group "Junior Walker and the All-Stars" had a number of hits during the 1960s, most notably "Shotgun", and "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)?".

Answer: Sting

It was Sting, who not only sang the line, but co-wrote "Money for Nothing" along with Dire Straits lead vocalist Mark Knopfler. The tune was off an album called "Brothers in Arms" and became a number one tune in the U.S, as well as a number four tune in the U.K. It also won a Grammy Award as "Best Rock Performance by a Group with a Vocal" in 1985.

Answer: Chaka Khan

It was Chaka Khan of "Tell Me Something Good" and "I'm Every Woman" fame, who had previously sang with a group called Rufus, who helped Steve Winwood, as the female voice in "Higher Love". The tune became Winwood's first Billboard charting number one hit single and earned two Grammy Awards in the process. It was off the LP called "Back in the High Life".

Answer: Ronnie Spector

The voice was unmistakable, even after all those years. Although uncredited, when Ronnie Spector sang the line "be my little baby", a line from her 1963 hit called "Be My Baby", anyone listening who remembered the music knew exactly who it was. Eddie Money's "Take Me Home Tonight" reached number four on Billboard's Hot 100 charts, and became one of his biggest hits.

It also marked the return of Spector to the mainstream.