Musical Picture Cards; Ace, King, Queen or Jack? Quiz

Answer: Queen

"Sheer Heart Attack" was the third studio album from Queen. It contained the hit singles "Killer Queen" and "Now I'm Here". The album reached number two in the UK charts, just a year before "A Night at the Opera" catapulted them towards mega-stardom.

Answer: Ace

A number fifteen hit for Lemmy and the boys, although it should have done much better. My kids have grown up thinking it is the law to turn up the car radio full-blast whenever "Ace of Spades" gets played!

Answer: Queen

This was the start of a run of successful singles for the Miami-based disco and funk outfit. "Queen of Clubs" reached number seven in the Summer of 1974. They had to wait nine long years before finally hitting the top spot with "Give It Up" in 1983.

Answer: Ace

Ace only had the one hit single; "How Long" reached number twenty in 1974. However it did give a first chart outing to Paul Carrack who went on to greater success both with Squeeze and with Mike and The Mechanics.

Answer: Jack

Tenacious D are of course a 'mock-rock' duo comprised of Jack Black and Kyle Gass. Their best known song is probably "Tribute" but much of their output gets very limited airplay on TV and radio on account of its rather choice language and its risque subject matter.

Answer: Queen

Dave Edmunds had reached the charts in 1967 as part of Love Sculpture who reworked Khachaturian's "Sabre Dance" into a guitar piece. After the break-up of Love Sculpture, Dave had solo success with, among others, "I Hear You Knocking" (number one) and "Baby I Love You" (eight). "Queen of Hearts" reached number eleven in 1979.

Answer: King

A country song which crossed over into mainstream "From a Jack to a King" relied heavily on the playing card motif;

"From a Jack to a King.
From loneliness to a wedding ring.
I played an Ace and I won a Queen,
You made me King of your heart."

Quite handy if you're compiling a quiz about playing cards in music.

Answer: King

King were named after lead singer Paul King. "Love and Pride" was their first and biggest hit, it reached number two in '85. They had five more hit singles including the number eight "Alone without You" before fading from the scene.

Answer: Ace

In 1973, Ace Frehley teamed up with Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Peter Criss to form Kiss. In line with the band's image of performing under different guises Ace would become 'Space Ace' on stage; an alien from the planet of Jendell. Ace left Kiss in the early '80s after a series of well-publicised fall-outs with other band members.

Answer: Aces

"The Israelites" was a number one for Desmond Dekker and The Aces in 1969. It was the first reggae number to top the charts in Britain.

Answer: Queens

Queens of the Stone Age (QOTSA to their many fans) began life in California in 1997. The name came as the result of a jokey comment, "Our producer Chris Goss, he would joke and say "You guys are like the Queens of the Stone Age." The band was originally called Gamma Ray, but we got threatened with a lawsuit because someone else had it, so we were Queens of the Stone Age!"
"Songs for the Deaf" ('02) and "Lullabies to Paralyze" ('05) both reached number four in the UK album charts

Answer: Jack

As with many folk songs it is difficult to find two versions exactly the same but the "Jack of Diamonds" verse is pretty much standard. This song has been recorded (in various versions) dozens of times by artists ranging from The Everly Brothers to The Grateful Dead.

Many people in the folk genre have recorded it at some time or other, my personal favourite is by Canadian trio The Be Good Tanyas.

Answer: King

A song about Martin Luther King, expressing disappointment that all his dreams were far from being fulfilled:

"You had a dream of a promised land.
People of all nations walking hand in hand
But they're not ready to accept
That dream situation, yet."

"Food for Thought/King" reached number four for UB40 in 1980.

Answer: Ace

This might have sorted one or two of you out! Bentley Rhythm Ace were formed by Mike Stokes and Richard March both previously with the excellent 'Stourbridge Sound' band Pop Will Eat Itself. "Bentley's Gonna Sort You Out!" was followed up by the "Theme From Gutbuster" from the album "For Your Ears Only".

Answer: King

If you don't at least tap your feet to the infectious beats of King Sunny Adé's music then check your pulse quickly! His band first came to prominence during the 1980s when Sunny met up with Island Records' top man Chris Blackwell. The album "Juju Music" was released in 1982 to much critical acclaim. Since then Sunny has continued to cross musical boundaries using western styles along with traditional African beats to marvellous effect.