Did You Forget the Lyrics? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Floyd Cramer

Cramer was initially a session musician, and played with many of the best known artists of the 1950s and 1960s, including Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison and the Everly Brothers. 'On the Rebound' was not his only chart hit as he also had success with 'Last Date' and 'San Antonio Rose' in 1960 and 1961 respectively.

Russ Conway was possibly the English equivalent to Floyd Cramer, and had number one hits on the UK Singles Charts with 'Side Saddle' and 'Roulette', both in 1959. Winifred Atwell was another British artist (born in Trinidad) who had several hits in the early 1950s. Liberace was a flamboyant American pianist.

Answer: Eye Level

The television series began in 1972 and starred Barry Foster as a detective based in Amsterdam. The theme tune was composed by Dutchman Jan Stoeckart, using the name Jack Trombey, and the Simon Park Orchestra's instrumental version reached the top of the UK Singles Chart. American players may know the tune as the music accompanying adverts for KLM Airlines. Matt Monro had minor success with a song, with added lyrics, under the name 'And You Smiled'.

The red herrings, all genuine chart hits, were picked because of their Dutch connection.

Answer: Scarlett O'Hara

Harris and Meehan were both former members of Cliff Richard's backing group, The Shadows. Jet played bass guitar, while Tony was the drummer. They teamed up for a few singles, with 'Diamonds' being their first hit. 'Scarlett O'Hara' reached number two on the UK Singles Chart as the follow up, with 'Applejack' following. All the singles were released in 1963.

As far as I can ascertain, none of the other famous literary creations have had charting records written about them.

Answer: Henry Mancini

The music was provided by Mancini, with Johnny Mercer adding the lyrics. The song first appeared in the film 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' when Audrey Hepburn sang it. The song has been recorded by artists too numerous to mention, with Jerry Butler taking it into the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1961. In the UK, Danny Williams had a number one hit on the UK Singles Chart in the same year. It became the theme song for Andy Williams, who did not release it as a single.

Mancini's version, also released in 1961, did reasonably well, although the recordings with words were far more successful.

Answer: Tchaikovsky

B. Bumble and the Stingers was the name given to various groupings of session musicians, who recorded versions of classical tunes with some success. The first release was 'Bumble Boogie', a version of Rimsky-Korsakov's 'Flight of the Bumble Bee', in 1961. 'Nut Rocker' was based on the March from 'The Nutcracker', and hit the charts in both the USA and the UK, where it reached number one on the Singles Charts. Follow up records based on works by Rossini and Grieg were less successful, and the fad came to an end.

Answer: In the Black Forest

Jankowski was trained as a pianist at the Berlin Music Conservatory. He released 'Eine Schwarzwaldfahrt', as the tune was known in German, in 1965. Under the English title 'A Walk in the Black Forest', the recording reached number one on the US Easy Listening Chart (as it was then known), number three on the UK Singles Chart and number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100.

'Walk on the Wild Side' was written and recorded by Lou Reed, while 'I Walk the Line' was by Johnny Cash. 'Remember (Walking in the Sand)' was a hit for the Shangri-Las.

Answer: Cozy Powell

Colin 'Cozy' Powell played drums for many of the best known bands, including Black Sabbath, Rainbow and the Jeff Beck Group as well as Whitesnake. 'Dance with the Devil' was his only solo single hit, reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart. His drumming can be heard on albums made by the bands listed and many others, including Brian May, Gary Moore and Colin Blunstone.

Answer: Amazing Grace

Bagpipes rarely appear on chart singles, but 'Amazing Grace' featured solos by the instrument to great effect. The version reached number one in the UK Singles chart in 1972 and also, perhaps even more surprisingly, reached number eleven on the US Billboard Hot 100. The recording was not without controversy, with some Scots believing that the bagpipes had been demeaned by being used for a 'pop' record.

'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' has reached the charts in the UK on several occasions, due to its association with England's rugby union team. Cat Stevens took 'Morning Has Broken' into the charts in 1972, with piano accompaniment by Rick Wakeman. Andy Williams recorded 'Battle Hymn of the Republic' in 1968 with some chart success in the USA, and the song was also part of 'An American Trilogy', often performed by Elvis.

Answer: Walk Don't Run

The Shadows are among the most successful chart acts in the UK both with and without Cliff Richard's vocals. The main members were Hank Marvin on lead guitar and Bruce Welch on rhythm guitar. Their first big hit was 'Apache' in 1960, with other hits coming regularly. 'Wonderful Land' was from 1962, while 'Foot Tapper' and 'Atlantis' hit the charts in 1963.

'Walk Don't Run' was performed by The Ventures, and was their first chart success, in 1960. They followed up with 'Perfidia' and many others, with the band being described as the best selling instrumental group ever. The band has never broken up, although there have been changes of personnel, and remains active in the early twenty-first century.

Answer: Hugo Montenegro

Despite his rather exotic name, Hugo was born in New York City and was a well-regarded composer of film scores in his own right. His credits include 'Viva Max!' and the Elvis Presley film 'Charro!', both released in 1969. Montenegro's recording of 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' became a big hit in both the USA and UK, reaching number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the UK Singles Chart.

Paul Mauriat recorded 'Love is Blue' in 1968, Percy Faith brought us 'Theme from a Summer Place' in 1960 while 'A Swinging Safari', from 1962, is one of Bert Kaempfert's singles.