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Early '70s Classics Trivia Quiz

I love the music of the early '70s, so here are some of my favorites, before disco came along and ruined it.

A multiple-choice quiz by bruins1956. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
bruins1956

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
380,525

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
879

Last 3 plays: snadnerb (8/10), Guest 137 (2/10), Guest 172 (8/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In 1971 The Buoys had a top 20 hit with a song about three gentlemen "trapped in a mine", but only two coming out alive. What unappetizing song is this?

Hint

Billy

Tommy

Timothy

Gregory

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Bill Withers had a top ten hit in 1971 about a woman who just can't stay put. What "ain't" there enough of when this woman is not around? Hint

Hanky Panky

Lovin'

Sunshine

Laughter

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Lobo had a top ten hit in 1971 with "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo". Lobo was not actually a band, but the stage name of this individual. What's his real name? Hint

Peter Boone

Thomas Sutton

Bobby Purify

Kent Lavoie

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Most everyone knows that Rick Springfield had a monster hit in 1981 with "Jessie's Girl", but he also had a US Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit in 1972. Can you name it? Hint

Speak to the Sky

Listen to the Music

Talk to the Animals

Spirit in the Sky

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. In the hit song "American Pie" by Don McLean he sings "and the three men I admire most...". What threesome, that Don seems very fond of, is he referring to? Hint

Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper

Moe, Larry and Curly

The Three Wisemen

The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Which 1970 Billboard chart topper by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles was initially released in 1967 on their "Make it Happen" album? Hint

I Second that Emotion

The Tears of a Clown

The Tracks of my Tears

Shop Around

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. A 1971 Billboard number one, Rod Stewart's "Maggie May" was issued as a B side. Can you guess what the A side was? Hint

Stay With Me

Reason to Believe

Every Picture Tells a Story

You Wear it Well

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. One of my all time favorite songs from the '70s is "Everything I Own", written by David Gates and performed by his band Bread. But do you know who Gates is singing about in the song? Hint

His father

His wife

His mother

His dog

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Carly Simon's "Anticipation" was a top 20 hit in 1971. Do you know which equally talented singer songwriter influenced the writing of this song? Hint

James Taylor

Cat Stevens

Mick Jagger

Neil Young

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Which song spent the most weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the 1970s? Hint

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Stairway to Heaven

You Light Up My Life

Bohemian Rhapsody

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 24 2024 : snadnerb: 8/10
Apr 23 2024 : Guest 137: 2/10
Apr 16 2024 : Guest 172: 8/10
Apr 11 2024 : Guest 166: 5/10
Apr 11 2024 : Guest 47: 0/10
Apr 10 2024 : Guest 86: 5/10
Apr 09 2024 : Guest 68: 5/10
Apr 05 2024 : Guest 172: 4/10
Apr 05 2024 : Guest 68: 5/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In 1971 The Buoys had a top 20 hit with a song about three gentlemen "trapped in a mine", but only two coming out alive. What unappetizing song is this?

Answer: Timothy

Written by Rupert Holmes, "Timothy" hit number 17 on Billboard. The song was released on Scepter Records and hinted strongly of cannibalism. Fearing that this subject might be hard for the public to accept, Scepter claimed that Timothy was actually a mule.

2. Bill Withers had a top ten hit in 1971 about a woman who just can't stay put. What "ain't" there enough of when this woman is not around?

Answer: Sunshine

Produced by Booker T. Jones of Booker T. and the MG's, "Ain't no Sunshine" topped out at number three on the Billboard Charts. A year later Withers would hit number one with "Lean On Me".

3. Lobo had a top ten hit in 1971 with "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo". Lobo was not actually a band, but the stage name of this individual. What's his real name?

Answer: Kent Lavoie

"Me and You and a Dog Named Boo" reached the number five spot on Billboard before stalling out. Lobo, however, had a very successful run which lasted throughout the decade.

4. Most everyone knows that Rick Springfield had a monster hit in 1981 with "Jessie's Girl", but he also had a US Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit in 1972. Can you name it?

Answer: Speak to the Sky

"Speak to the Sky" reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. Springfield (born Richard Springthorpe) didn't have a ton of success following this song until 1981, when he joined the cast of "General Hospital". The newfound exposure revived his singing career.

5. In the hit song "American Pie" by Don McLean he sings "and the three men I admire most...". What threesome, that Don seems very fond of, is he referring to?

Answer: The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost

"American Pie" went to number one on Billboard in 1972. It still is the longest song, clocking in at 8:36, to reach number one. McLean had another top 20 hit in 1972 with "Vincent".

6. Which 1970 Billboard chart topper by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles was initially released in 1967 on their "Make it Happen" album?

Answer: The Tears of a Clown

In 1970 Smokey was ready to leave the Miracles to focus more on producing. Then the song was released as a single in the United States and promptly went to number one. It became their best selling song to that date.

7. A 1971 Billboard number one, Rod Stewart's "Maggie May" was issued as a B side. Can you guess what the A side was?

Answer: Reason to Believe

Several DJs turned the 45 over and listened to "Maggie May" and preferred it over "Reason to Believe". The song was reclassified with Maggie May" as the A side and it went on to top the charts in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. "Reason to Believe" only reached number 62 on Billboard.

8. One of my all time favorite songs from the '70s is "Everything I Own", written by David Gates and performed by his band Bread. But do you know who Gates is singing about in the song?

Answer: His father

According to the book "1000 UK #1 Hits" by John Kutner and Spencer Leigh, Gates said "My success would have been so special to him as he was my greatest influence. So I decided to to write and record "Everything I Own" about him. If you listen to the words, 'You sheltered me from harm, kept me warm, gave my life to me, set me free,' it says it all."

9. Carly Simon's "Anticipation" was a top 20 hit in 1971. Do you know which equally talented singer songwriter influenced the writing of this song?

Answer: Cat Stevens

In a 2009 interview on "Talk of the Nation", a show produced by National Public Radio, Simon said "I remember when I was writing it, I was in a very nervous state. I was sitting on the edge of my bed and I was waiting for a gentleman caller, who was then called Cat Stevens, and I was opening the show for him. And i was so nervous about his arriving at the door that I wasn't living in the moment. And so, I wrote the song called "Anticipation", which is about the fact that anticipation makes you late, it keeps you waiting." "Anticipation" reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100.

10. Which song spent the most weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the 1970s?

Answer: You Light Up My Life

Yep. Pat Boone's little girl Debby holds that distinction. From Oct. 15th until Dec. 24th 1977. Ten weeks at numero uno. Go figure.

Source: Author bruins1956

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