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Musical Mayhem Trivia Quiz

Top 40 music wasn't all malt shops and dreamy eyes. Here we have questions about songs with violence, crime and punishment, and a few selected neer-do-wells! But they're easy to dance to. Any chart info is Billboard U.S. Enjoy.

A multiple-choice quiz by JRooowe. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
JRooowe

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
329,437

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
683

Question 1 of 10

1. In 1959, according to the Everly Brothers, who needed to be contacted after the stagecoach incident? Hint

Mary

Sheriff John

Wells Fargo

"that gray-haired mother of mine"

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Question 2 of 10

2. Why did Bobby Vee hit the guy "in the cafeteria?" Hint

The guy was a beatnick

The guy ate all the Jello

There was a riot goin' on

He made up stories about Bobby's crush

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Question 3 of 10

3. Tom Dooley claims his trouble was all the fault of this guy! Hint

Bungalow Bill

Grayson

Tucker

Young Jesse James

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Question 4 of 10

4. Just who was after R. Dean Taylor? Hint

Texas Rangers

F.B.I.

Indiana

His girlfriend's dad

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Question 5 of 10

5. Even though Papa writes to Johnny, Johnny can't come home. Why the heck not? Hint

He's been on the chain gang too long

Stagger Lee shot him... shot that poor boy so bad

He's headed "North to Alaska"

He's under the spell of the witchy woman

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Question 6 of 10

6. What was the only law that Liberty Valance understood? Hint

Sharia law

Law of the jungle

The point of a gun.

The law of the wild goose

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Question 7 of 10

7. What did Claude King fear about Wolverton Mountain? Hint

The ghost of Johnny Yuma

Cliff Claven

Clifton Clowers

The evil winds that blow no good

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Question 8 of 10

8. How would you describe the eyes of the wicked Felina? Hint

Lying eyes

As blue as the sky

Blacker than night

Colder than ice

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Question 9 of 10

9. Why was Miss Otis unable to lunch today? Hint

She was marrying her fiance's brother

She had a date with a sweet talkin' guy

She was serving detention

She was hanged by a lynch mob

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Question 10 of 10

10. You can't let a quiz like this go without mentioning Stagger Lee. Who did he shoot anyway? Hint

T-Bone

The bartender

Bad Bad Leroy Brown

Billy

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In 1959, according to the Everly Brothers, who needed to be contacted after the stagecoach incident?

Answer: Mary

The Everly's requested we "Take a Message to Mary" but not to tell her of the jail time being served due to the "shot from a careless gun." After almost 20 years off the music charts the boys had a 1984 hit "On the Wings of a Nightingale" which was written by Paul McCartney.

2. Why did Bobby Vee hit the guy "in the cafeteria?"

Answer: He made up stories about Bobby's crush

We learn in "Stayin' In" that "he was saying things that weren't true about her, so I let him have it in the cafeteria." Song made number 33 on the U.S. Billboard charts in 1961. Before they both became successful in the music industry Bob Dylan played piano in Bobby's band.

3. Tom Dooley claims his trouble was all the fault of this guy!

Answer: Grayson

"Tom Dooley" - 1958. The first and biggest hit for the Kingston Trio; it reached number one in late 1958. Their only other Top 10 hit was "Reverend Mr. Black" which reached number eight in 1963. An "authorized" version of the Kingston Trio still performs... with no original members.

4. Just who was after R. Dean Taylor?

Answer: Indiana

In 1970, R. Dean Taylor claimed "Indiana Wants Me." Many radio stations were provided with an "alternate version" of this song without the police sirens. Apparently there was some controversy. Isn't there always?

5. Even though Papa writes to Johnny, Johnny can't come home. Why the heck not?

Answer: He's been on the chain gang too long

That's the story Billy Grammer told us in 1958 with "Gotta Travel On." No clue as to why though. When Florida Governor Charlie Crist was the state's Attorney General he had the nickname "Chaingang Charlie" because he called for harsh prison sentences.

6. What was the only law that Liberty Valance understood?

Answer: The point of a gun.

"(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance" / 1962. The first of Gene Pitney's four Top 10 U.S. hits. Amazingly, Gene NEVER had a U.S. number one hit. A friend of the Rolling Stones, Gene's version of "That Girl Belongs to Yesterday" (1964) was the first time a Jagger/Richard composed song made the U.S. charts.

7. What did Claude King fear about Wolverton Mountain?

Answer: Clifton Clowers

"Wolverton Mountain" / 1962. Clifton had a pretty young daughter... but he's mighty handy with a gun and a knife. Nice country crossover hit for Claude reached number six. In 1972 Claude starred in the film "The Year of the Yahoo"; he did not win an Academy Award.

8. How would you describe the eyes of the wicked Felina?

Answer: Blacker than night

"El Paso" / 1959. Marty's only number one on the US Pop Charts. There were two versions of the song sent to radio stations; one was the longer "standard" version that clocked in at over four minutes and the other a shorter version more suitable for airplay time restraints.

9. Why was Miss Otis unable to lunch today?

Answer: She was hanged by a lynch mob

"Miss Otis Regrets" / 1934. O.K. this goes back a ways. This song of love, betrayal and murder was a hit by Ethel Waters. Better known as an actress in her later years, Ms. Waters was a prolific hit maker in the '20s and '30s.

10. You can't let a quiz like this go without mentioning Stagger Lee. Who did he shoot anyway?

Answer: Billy

"Stagger Lee" / 1958. According to Lloyd Price, who was apparently a witness, Stagger Lee shot Billy. The bullet went though Billy and broke the bartenders' glass. Lloyd's only number one record was on Top for four weeks in early 1959. Lloyd was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

Source: Author JRooowe

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ralzzz before going online.
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