Hot Hits and Near Myths: The Second Labour Quiz

Answer: A Whiter Shade of Pale

Vesta was the Roman goddess of the home and hearth and the six high priestesses who maintained her flame were the Vestal Virgins.

"And they would not let her be
One of sixteen vestal virgins
Who were leaving for the coast".

I will acknowledge that the song says sixteen but in mythology only the six senior women of the Vestal school were selected.
The song was the band's debut single and was released in 1967. It has sold in excess of ten million copies worldwide, reached number five on Billboard's Hot 100 and topped the UK charts in its year of release. Lyrically the track deals with an encounter between a man and a woman, seduction and, finally, sex.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member pollucci19.

Answer: Kate Bush

The lyric in the question comes from the title track of Kate's debut album "The Kick Inside", which was released in 1978. Dubbed as progressive art rock the album received production assistance from such luminaries of the genre as Andrew Powell, Stuart Elliott (The Alan Parson's Project) and Dave Gilmour (Pink Floyd). The record spawned five singles, including the number one hit "Wuthering Heights", inspired by the novel of the same name of which Heathcliff and Catherine are the main protagonists.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member pollucci19.

Answer: Leprechaun

Chick Corea released two albums in 1976, the first one being "Leprechaun" and the second "My Spanish Heart". He is an American jazz pianist and composer and has released numerous albums and been nominated for over fifty Grammy Awards. In addition he has also worked with a wide range of artists that includes Miles Davis, Chaka Khan and Bobby McFerrin. A leprechaun, according to Irish myth, spends his day making shoes and hiding his gold in a pot near a rainbow. A Banshee foretells death, a Peg Powler is a hag that supposedly lives in the River Tees and Bono, far from being an Irish fairy, is the lead singer of U2.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member zonko.

Answer: Hydra

The Hydra, a many headed monster from Greek mythology, is the missing ingredient from this T-Rex hit called "Get It On". It reached the number one spot in the UK single charts spending four weeks there during 1971. In Greek myth the Lernaean Hydra appeared as the second task in the twelve labours of Hercules.

This question was created by zonko and pollucci19.

Answer: Robert Plant

Plant was involved in a car accident while he had been holidaying in Greece. The broken ankle prevented them from touring the United States so Plant and Page got together to start work on songs for their 1976 album "Presence". "Achilles' Last Stand" is one of Led Zeppelin's longest songs timing in at almost ten and a half minutes and it soon became one of their live show staples.
In another tilt at mythology, Plant makes clever use of lyrics when he writes "The mighty arms of Atlas hold the heavens from the Earth" acknowledging both the Atlas Mountains and the titan Atlas who was given the task to hold up the world on his shoulders.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member pollucci19.

Answer: Steely Dan

The track where the squonk raises its head is the rather obscure number "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" and it appears on the band's 1974 album "Pretzel Logic". "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" would go on to be the band's biggest hit, peaking at number four on Billboard's Hot 100 charts.
The squonk is a mythical creature that supposedly lives in the hemlock forests of Pennsylvania and, when cornered, has the power to evade capture by dissolving itself in its own tears.
The band Genesis also recorded a song entitled "Squonk" for their 1976 album "Trick of the Tail".

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member pollucci19.

Answer: Wishbone Ash

From the ashes the phoenix will rise. Wishbone Ash were a progressive rock band who drew elements of psychedelia and blues into their song structures to become one of the most popular British bands of the early 1970s. They are considered to be one of the progenitors of bands with a twin lead guitar format. "Phoenix" became a live show favourite for their fans and, despite being ten minutes and 26 seconds in length, is not the longest song on this album.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member pollucci19.

Answer: Wrapped Around Your Finger

This track followed in the footsteps of "Every Breath You Take" as the second single from The Police's 1983 album "Synchronicity". The song reached number seven on the UK charts and peaked at number eight on the US Billboard's Hot 100. Along with the two mythological creatures mentioned in the question the lyrics also bring into play the German legend of Faust. Scylla, a nymph who is turned into a six head monster by Circe, shares the Straits of Messina with the whirlpool dwelling Charybdis and together they make the waters impossible to pass.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member pollucci19.

Answer: Momentum

"Momentum" was TobyMac's debut album and was released in 2001. A re-mix edition was launched in 2003. TobyMac, born Toby McKeehan, is a Christian rap artist who first came to prominence as a member of the vocal trio DC Talk. He earned a Grammy Award in 2009 for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album with his recording of "Alive and Transported". For those without the knack for physics, P=M*V is the equation for momentum.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member zonko

Answer: War is the Answer

"Succubus" was originally slated for the band's debut album "Way of the Fist" (2007) but after a demo version of the song was leaked onto the internet the band decided to cut it from the record. It was reworked and included in their 2009 "War is the Answer" album as a deluxe edition bonus track. In addition the band have used the track as the B-side to their sixth single release "Dying Breed" and achieved some notoriety when it was incorporated into the soundtrack for the 2010 video game "Splatterhouse".

A succubus is a demon who takes the form of a human woman with the aim of seducing men. It is thought that too much intercourse with this demon will lead to poor health or death. According to Jewish folklore Adam's first wife Lilith, became a succubus after mating with the Archangel Samael.

This question was created by Phoenix Rising member zonko.