Geographic Rock and Roll Bands Quiz

Answer: New York Dolls

The New York Dolls were formed in New York City in 1971. Original member David Johansen led the group with help from a number of other artists including Sylvain Sylvain who had come over from a group called Actress. The group broke up in 1977, but they laid the foundation for other "punk" type bands that followed, such as Blondie, Talking Heads, and The Ramones. Johansen reincarnated himself in the 1980s with his "Buster Poindexter" persona.

The band got together again in 2006 with both Johansen and Sylvain leading the way.

Answer: The Manhattan Transfer

The first group with this name formed in New York City in 1969. They had one album called "Jukin", but disbanded in 1971. The more enduring group was formed in New York City in 1972. The group was spotted by Ahmet Ertugen, who was chairman of A & M Records, and he offered them a recording contract.

Their first song "Operator" which was a gospel song, was released in 1975 and became a hit in the U.S., peaking at number 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. They followed with "Tuxedo Junction" which established them in the U.K. and also "Chanson D'Amour" which became a number one hit there.

Their biggest hit was the aforementioned remake of The Adlibs hit "The Boys From New York City", which charted at number seven in the U.S., and number eight in Canada. Oddly, most of the records they produced charted either in the U.S. or U.K. but rarely charted in both countries.

Answer: Brooklyn Dreams

The "Brooklyn Dreams" were a group formed in the late 1970s. Their self titled album, released in 1977 met with critical acclaim, and spawned two singles "Sad Eyes", and "Music, Harmony and Rhythm". It also achieved Gold record status. Their next album, called "Sleepless Nights" did even better, and started a partnership with disco diva Donna Summer, which led to the song "Heaven Knows" which went to number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1979.

The guy who sings with Summer on the release is Joe "Bean" Esposito, who had been touring with The Mystics, a popular group on the oldies circuit, before becoming a member of Brooklyn Dreams.

Another member of the group, Bruce Sudano, was a former member of Alive N Kickin' which had a one hit wonder called "Tighter and Tighter" in the early 1970s. Sudano made out ok though.

He later married Ms. Summer.

Answer: Boston

The group Boston was actually formed in Boston, Massachusetts and it took six years for them to have their breakthrough onto the pop scene. Formed by Tom Scholz and Bud Delp, it took a number of years before the group got their break in 1976 with the release of their debut album, simply titled "Boston".

It went to number three on the U.S. album charts and gave them singles such as "More Than A Feeling", "Peace Of Mind", and "Foreplay/Long Time". Their followup album, titled "Don't Look Back" was a number one album in 1978.

The title track on the album reached number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts. The group then had some legal battles with their record label and didn't release their next album until 1986. The hiatus didn't seem to matter as "Third Stage" went to the top of the U.S. album charts that year and yielded the group their biggest charting single called "Amanda" which was a number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

The group also had a Top Ten album in 1994 called "Walk On" which peaked at number seven. All told, the group has sold over 50 million albums worldwide in their career. One unfortunate note: lead singer and co-founder Brad Delp passed away in 2007.

Answer: Chicago

This group, formed by a bunch of college students at DePaul University in 1967, first hit the scene nationwide in 1969 with "Questions 67 & 68", and that song was followed quickly by "Make Me Smile" and "25 or 6 to 4". It's all history from there. Over 120 million albums sold worldwide over the years.

The group is still touring after 40 years, and four original members still remain. They survived key members leaving the band, as well as the accidental death of one of their founding members, Terry Kath, in 1978.

They are not yet members of the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame as of the writing of this quiz ( a source of controversy between music experts) but with their resume, it is only a matter of time.

Answer: Kansas

Kansas had done some album work between 1974 and 1976, but only met with minimal success. While all albums eventually went gold in the U.S., the best placing on the U.S. Billboard album charts was a number 57 placing for "Song For America". Then, with the continued help of Don Kirschner, who was their promoter at the time, they released "Leftoverture", from which came the hit single "Carry On Wayward Son".

The song went to number 11 on the charts and the album reached number five, and Kansas were on their way.

Their next album, "Point Of Know Return" did equally as well, and gave us the single "Dust In The Wind", which hit number six on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts. The band has had various makeups since then but has recorded and toured into the 21st century.

Answer: Miami Sound Machine

Miami Sound Machine was a group formed in the late 1970s by Emilio Estefan Jr., originally from Cuba, but living in Miami. The group was first called The Miami Latin Boys, but was changed when a young Gloria Fajardo joined the group. They finally reached mainstream success starting with 1985's "Conga" which reached number ten on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts.

This was followed in rapid succession by "Words Get In The Way" (number five, Billboard Hot 100), and "Bad Boy" (number eight Billboard Hot 100). Later hits included "Anything For You", "1-2-3", and "Rhythm Is Gonna Get Ya" which all became Top ten hits. Singer Farjardo and musician Estefan wed in 1978, shortly after the group's formation.

Their string of hits continued into the 1990s and beyond, but without the Miami Sound Machine moniker.

The group was let go by the Estefans in 1989, and all the subsequent music was just billed as "Gloria Estefan", with various musicians being used as backup.

Answer: Berlin

The group was formed in Orange County, California in the late 1970s. They had some minor hits in the early 1980s, but could only muster a number 23 placing in the U.S. with a song called "No More Words" in 1984. Then came "Take My Breath Away" which came to us as part of the soundtrack for the motion picture "Top Gun".

The song became a number one U.S. Billboard Hot 100 hit and went to the Top 5 in no less than 12 other countries. The group inexplicably faded from the scene shortly thereafter.

Answer: Europe

This group was formed in Sweden in the late 1979 and was originally called Force. They changed their name to Europe in 1982, after winning a Swedish rock contest. In 1985 they recorded the soundtrack to a film called "On The Loose", which produced the single "Rock The Night", a number four hit in their native Sweden.

It was the next album "The Final Countdown" which gave them their signature hit of the same name. That song went to number one on the charts in eight different countries. They recorded a couple of more albums before disbanding in 1992.

The group reformed in 2003.

Answer: Asia

In 1981, former members of some well known progressive rock groups got together to form Asia. Geoff Downes, who had formerly been a member of Yes and The Buggles, got together with another former Yes member, Steve Howe, as well as John Wetton from King Crimson, and Carl Palmer from Emerson Lake and Palmer, and put this group together.

Other musicians have popped in and out occasionally, including Greg Lake, but it was these four who were the mainstays of the group. They had their most success right at the beginning, when their first album, simply titled "Asia", went to number one on the U.S. Billboard Top 200 Albums chart.

This album also produced their biggest selling single, "Heat Of The Moment", which was a number four hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1982.

They had two other Top 20 hits in 1982/1983. "Only Time Will Tell" was a number 17 charting hit, and "Don't Cry" made it as high as number 10 on the Billboard charts.