Hey, Those Beatles Stole My Song Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "Money (That's What I Want)", a song that the Beatles covered in 1963, was originally recorded by a one hit wonder in 1959. He went on to have a distinguished songwriting career. Who was he?

Answer: Barrett Strong

Barrett Strong was a singer/songwriter who had his only U.S. Billboard hit with "Money (That's What I Want)" in 1959. Strong became a songwriting partner of Norman Whitfield and they had a string of major hit records for Motown artists during the 1960s.

The Beatles covered this song for their November 1963 U.K. release called "With The Beatles". It also showed up as a track on the U.S. release called "The Beatles Second Album" in 1964.

2. This Burt Bacharach/Hal David tune was first recorded by The Shirelles in 1961, and covered by Smith in 1969. The Beatles recorded it in 1963. What song was it?

Answer: Baby It's You

The Shirelles took "Baby It's You" to a number eight placing on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts in 1961. The Beatles used the song in their performances during the period of 1961 to 1963 and recorded it for their first U.K. album called "Please Please Me" in 1963.

The song also appeared on the U.S. release called "Introducing The Beatles". The song was not released as a single until 1995 when it reached number seven in the U.K. and number 67 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

3. The rock and roll standard "Roll Over Beethoven" was a Beatles number one tune in the U.S. during 1964.

Answer: False

Nope. In fact, the 1956 Chuck Berry classic was released as a single by the Beatles in 1963 and only got as high as number 68 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts, since the British Invasion had not yet swept across the U.S. The song never charted in the U.K.

It did, however, reach number one in Australia, and number two in Canada and Norway during its 1963 release. It was part of the U.K. album called "With the Beatles" and part of the U.S. "Beatles Second Album" in 1964.

4. The Marvelettes brought home the mail with this 1961 hit that The Beatles covered in 1963. What song was this?

Answer: Please Mr. Postman

It was "Please Mr. Postman" that gave The Marvelettes a number one U.S. Billboard hit in 1961. The Beatles began performing the song in 1962. It became the B-side (did the Beatles ever really have a B-side?) to "Roll Over Beethoven" when it was released in 1963.

It was included on their U.K. album release called "With the Beatles" as well as the U.S. release called "The Beatles Second Album".

5. The Cookies are 'linked' to the Beatles by virtue of their 1962 hit tune. What was it called?

Answer: Chains

"Chains" was a Carole King/Gerry Goffin composition that was a hit single for The Cookies in 1962, reaching a peak of number 17 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts. The song was covered by The Beatles in 1963 as part of their "Please Please Me" U.K. album release. It also appeared on their first U.S. album release called "Introducing The Beatles" in early 1964.

6. The Beatles covered a Broadway show tune during their careers. The song was called "Till There Was You". Can you select the show that it was from?

Answer: The Music Man

"Till There Was You" was a Meredith Wilson penned tune that was written for the 1957 Broadway show called "The Music Man". Recording was first done by the Broadway cast and a vocalist named Sue Raney. It was also done by Anita Bryant in 1959, and was used in the 1962 movie adaptation of the show as well.

It was covered by The Beatles in 1963 for their "With The Beatles" album in the U.K in 1963, and for "Meet The Beatles!", the 1964 U.S. release.

7. "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" was a song The Beatles covered in 1963. Can you remember who wrote the song, which was originally a hit in 1962?

Answer: Smokey Robinson

Smokey Robinson was the writer and along with The Miracles he took the song to a peak position of number eight on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts in late 1962 and early 1963. The Beatles covered the song for their U.K. album called "With the Beatles". It also appeared in the U.S. on "The Beatles Second Album". It was not released as a single.

8. Here's a song that was originally performed by The Shirelles in 1960. What was the name of the song our boys covered in 1963?

Answer: Boys

"Boys" was a 1960 release by The Shirelles which was the B-side of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow". The Beatles included it on their first U.K. album release "Please Please Me". The song was the first release that featured Ringo as lead singer. It was also included on the group's first U.S. album release "Introducing The Beatles".

9. "A Taste of Honey" was another song The Beatles borrowed from an outside source. The song was from the 1960 Broadway adaptation of the U.K. show with the same name. The first vocal rendition of the song was done in 1962 by a singer who fell for the lyrics. Who was he?

Answer: Lenny Welch

The clue was in the question. Lenny Welch was the artist who was best known for "Since I Fell For you", but recorded the vocal version of "A Taste of Honey" in 1962. The Beatles covered this tune in 1963 for their U.K. album release called "Please Please Me". It was also included on their maiden album release in the U.S. called "Introducing The Beatles".

10. Possibly the most well known of The Beatles cover tunes, and certainly the most successful, this 1964 song reached number two on the Billboard charts.

Answer: Twist and Shout

"Twist and Shout" was most notably done by The Isley Brothers in 1962, reaching number 17 on the U.S. Billboard Hit 100 charts. The song was covered by The Beatles in 1963 for their U.K. album "Please Please Me", but was not released as a single in the U.K.

It was released in the U.S. in January 1964 and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hit 100 charts, the only cover song by The Beatles to reach the Top 10 on a national music chart. The song was famously used on the soundtrack of the motion picture, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" in 1986.

Source: Author fredsixties

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ralzzz before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Truth be told, many of the early Beatles songs were not Lennon/McCartney compositions, but covers of American hit songs of the 50s and early 60s. How many can you remember?

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