FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about No LyricsJust Coolness
Quiz about No LyricsJust Coolness

No Lyrics--Just Coolness! Trivia Quiz


At the suggestion of my good friend nyirene330, herself a prolific quizzer here, I created this quiz which celebrates some of my favorite instrumental recordings. Enjoy!

A multiple-choice quiz by Bob9491. Estimated time: 4 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. Music Trivia
  6. »
  7. Music Mixture
  8. »
  9. Instrumental Hits

Author
Bob9491
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
382,574
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
461
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. What saxophonist scored a huge hit with a tune called "Yakety Sax"? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The theme song from the hit TV show "Route 66" was a hit in itself. CBS originally planned to use Bobby Troup's song "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66" but chose instead to commission this famed composer and conductor to write an entirely new theme song, thus avoiding having to pay royalties. Who was this composer? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. A nice instrumental from the 60s was Walter Wanderley's "Summer Samba". What was Walter's instrument? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. A pianist named Bent Fabric had a hit with an instrumental in 1962. What was the name of this feline fabrication? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. "Classical Gas" by Mason Williams was another favorite of mine. What TV show was he a writer for? He performed the song on that show. Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. "Sleigh Ride", "Blue Tango" and "The Syncopated Clock" are among many great instrumentals composed by which of these musical icons? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. What movie featured a very memorable scene with the bluegrass instrumental "Dueling Banjos"? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. A beautiful piece called "Stranger On The Shore" featured the clarinet. Who was the artist? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Billy Joel may be a singer-songwriter but he recorded an impressive instrumental for his "Streetlife Serenade" album in 1974. You might even say it was "refreshing". What was its title? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Duane Eddy is known for his hit instrumental "Rebel Rouser". But his biggest hit was an instrumental version of the theme song for one of these movies. Which one was it? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Most Recent Scores
Feb 26 2024 : Guest 38: 4/10
Feb 05 2024 : Andyboy2021: 10/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What saxophonist scored a huge hit with a tune called "Yakety Sax"?

Answer: Boots Randolph

Born Homer Louis Randolph in 1927, Boots can be heard on lots of hit recordings that came out of Nashville. But his recording of "Yakety Sax" launched a very successful solo career. He often appeared and toured with legendary guitarist Chet Atkins and pianist Floyd Cramer. They were billed as "The Masters".
2. The theme song from the hit TV show "Route 66" was a hit in itself. CBS originally planned to use Bobby Troup's song "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66" but chose instead to commission this famed composer and conductor to write an entirely new theme song, thus avoiding having to pay royalties. Who was this composer?

Answer: Nelson Riddle

Nelson Riddle was one of Frank Sinatra's favorite arrangers and conductors. Bobby Troup's song "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66" was a big hit for Nat king Cole and has been covered by several artists and groups but the theme from the TV show is totally different and strictly instrumental.
3. A nice instrumental from the 60s was Walter Wanderley's "Summer Samba". What was Walter's instrument?

Answer: Organ

Brazilian born Walter Wanderley Jose Mendoca cashed in on the bossa nova craze with this lilting organ instrumental. It peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number three on the Billboard Easy Listening chart. Johnny Mathis, Vicki Carr and Bobby Vinton, among others, recorded vocal versions under the title "So Nice".
4. A pianist named Bent Fabric had a hit with an instrumental in 1962. What was the name of this feline fabrication?

Answer: "Alley Cat" aka "The Alley Cat Song"

Bent Fabric was born in Denmark under the name Bent Fabricus-Bjerre. "Alley Cat" reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. It was also covered vocally by the Ray Conniff Singers and Peggy Lee among others.
5. "Classical Gas" by Mason Williams was another favorite of mine. What TV show was he a writer for? He performed the song on that show.

Answer: The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

Steve Martin was also one of the writers of "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour". I also liked the flip side of the single of "Classical Gas". It was a lilting vocal called "Long Time Blues". The Smothers Brothers themselves performed that song on the show.
6. "Sleigh Ride", "Blue Tango" and "The Syncopated Clock" are among many great instrumentals composed by which of these musical icons?

Answer: Leroy Anderson

After some initial piano lessons from his mother, Leroy Anderson studied at the New England Conservatory of Music before going to Harvard to continue his studies. He passed away in 1975 at the age of 67.
7. What movie featured a very memorable scene with the bluegrass instrumental "Dueling Banjos"?

Answer: Deliverance

Actually the title "Dueling Banjos" is misleading as the music consisted of a banjo and guitar played by Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell over the acting of Ronny Cox (guitar) and Billy Redden (Banjo). But the music is based on an old bluegrass instrumental "Feudin' Banjos" by Arthur Smith. Smith sued and won for a portion of the royalties as he was not originally credited with composing the song. Weissberg and Mandell's recording peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

It has been performed frequently by such duos as Roy Clark and Buck Trent. Steve Martin did a version of it on "The Muppet Show" with Kermit The Frog.
8. A beautiful piece called "Stranger On The Shore" featured the clarinet. Who was the artist?

Answer: Mr. Acker Bilk

Mr. Acker Bilk was born Bernard Stanley Bilk in Pensford, Somerset England. "Stranger On The Shore" was the biggest selling single in the United Kingdom for 1963 and reached number one on the Billbiard Hot 199 charts, the first single by a British artist to do so in the 1960s.
9. Billy Joel may be a singer-songwriter but he recorded an impressive instrumental for his "Streetlife Serenade" album in 1974. You might even say it was "refreshing". What was its title?

Answer: Root Beer Rag

"Root Beer Rag" was later released as the B side of Joel's hit single "Big Shot". In St. Louis a local TV sportscaster named Zip Rzeppa used it as a backdrop for his weekly highlight reel of sports bloopers.
10. Duane Eddy is known for his hit instrumental "Rebel Rouser". But his biggest hit was an instrumental version of the theme song for one of these movies. Which one was it?

Answer: Because They're Young

"Because They're Young" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. James Darren also did a vocal version in the 1960 movie and both he and Duane Eddy had cameo appearances. Duane's first wife was Marion Eddy who changed her name to Jessi Colter after their divorce and later married Waylon Jennings while pursuing a solo career of her own.
Source: Author Bob9491

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
Related Quizzes
This quiz is part of series Bob's Bottom Ranked Quizzes:

These quizzes are currently among my lowest ranked ones. Hopefully this list will encourage more people to play them! Feel free to rate them honestly and offer feedback. If you feel they don't warrant a good rating please send me a note and let me know what I could have done to make them better!

  1. Shuffle This--My iPod Rules! Average
  2. Those Lovely Game Show Hostesses and Models Average
  3. Whispering Bill Anderson--Singer and Songwriter Average
  4. Don Williams--A Tribute To The Gentle Giant Average
  5. No Lyrics--Just Coolness! Average
  6. It's A Wrestling Family Affair! Average
  7. Where and When - Summer Olympics Easier
  8. The Name is "Jerry" (Or Gerry) Average
  9. Celebrity Burial Sites Average
  10. Can You "Believe" These Songs? Tough
  11. Five a Day Average
  12. Oh No! Not Another "Seinfeld" Quiz! Easier

3/28/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us