The Beatles: Everything Except a Flaming Cinema Quiz

Answer: John

This quote came from his article, "Being A Short Diversion on the Dubious Origins of Beatles," which explains how the Beatles formed, got their name, etc., right up until the Hamburg days. The article is very Lennonesque, featuring the quote, "A man appeared on a flaming pie, and said unto them, 'From this day on you are Beatles with an "A".'"

Answer: The Jack Paar Show

Yes, Jack Paar, not Ed Sullivan. Days before the historic Sullivan show, a tape of a Beatles performance was played on The Jack Paar Show, which Paar later considered to be a sign of the downfall of British society. Ed Sullivan was second, but is often confused to be first. Thank Your Lucky Stars played host to the Beatles numerous times, but was British.

The Mike Douglas Show was hosted by John and Yoko for one week in February 1972.

Answer: She Loves You

The rest of the show consisted of "This Boy", "All My Loving", "I Saw Her Standing There", "From Me To You", and "I Want To Hold Your Hand".

Answer: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

The Paul is Dead conspiracy revolves around Paul dying in a car crash in November 1966, yet a good deal of the clues appear in albums recorded BEFORE Nov. '66, with the "real" Paul still alive, therefore negating all clues in albums/songs recorded before Nov. '66. Of the 4 albums listed here, all have supposed "clues," but only one - "Sgt. Pepper" - was recorded after Paul's "death."

"Yesterday...and Today" - "Butcher Cover" - signified Paul's decapitation with a doll's head, etc. (released June 15, 1966, re-released w/"Trunk Cover" June 20, 1966)

"Rubber Soul" - Beatles looking into grave on cover (released December 6, 1965)

"Revolver" - numerous lyrical clues (released August 8, 1966)

"Sgt. Pepper" - wax Beatles looking mournful, etc. (released June 2, 1967)

Answer: The Beat Brothers

All four monikers are different band names the Beatles used over their early years. The ong was recorded by Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers, as they were called on the label. Beginning on January 5, 1962, the single was released in England with the Beatles correctly identified.

Answer: All tracks were original Lennon-McCartney tracks

Six of the 14 tracks featured on the LP were covers, including live perfomance mainstay "Twist and Shout." The Greatest Hits compilation "The Beatles: 1962-1966," also called, "The Red Album," features this cover also.

Answer: Designed album covers

Of the four occupations, Voorman is the album cover designer, designing Revolver. Geoff Emerick is one of the more famous Beatle engineers, Derek Taylor is the press officer, and "Magic Alex"-whose real name is Alexis Mardas-was the inventor. While Alex didn't actually invent any of the grand machines he said he would, they were great concepts.

Some of the better ideas (or ideas farfetched beyond imagination) included loudspeakers made of wallpaper, electric paint that lit up a room (when painted on steel walls), and an invisible force field around Ringo to give a clearer drum sound. I'll give you two guesses on how successful they were. :)

Answer: Paul and John were sued by Ray Charles over the melody

While the melody is strangely simliar to Ray Charles' song "Georgia On My Mind," no suits were launched against Lennon/McCartney. George, however, did have a problem with the law and plagarism with his solo song "My Sweet Lord," with claims that it resembled The Chiffon's "He's So Fine."

The story of how Paul wrote "Yesterday," is an interesting one. He woke up with a tune in his head, figured out chords and notes for it on the piano, and offered the tune around to people, noting that you don't just come up with this kind of tune in your sleep, he had to have heard it somewhere. He created throwaway lyrics, lyrics that he could form a melody around but not sing on accident in a concert, involving scrambled eggs. The Beatles were embarrassed about this song at first because it was only Paul, none of the others. They refused to put it on an album because they thought it would make it seem to the public that they were starting to break up. It finally made it onto the near end of the UK "Help!" album.

Answer: Fly on the wall

In 2003, a long awaited album was released, "Let it Be...Naked." The album featured all but two songs from the original "Let it Be" LP (the two missing were "Maggie May" and "Dig It") and added the B-Side to the "Get Back" single, "Don't Let Me Down." The set allowed the public to hear "Let it Be" as it was meant to be heard, in the way that the Beatles originally wanted "Let it Be" to sound, no overdubs, as opposed to the Phil Spector version.

The 2nd CD, "Fly on the Wall," in the set is a 25 minute collection of sound clips from the "Let it Be" recording sessions.

Answer: John-appearing as a celebrity at a party Homer attended

All right, so this could be figured out by a logical Beatle fan who knew that "The Simpsons" started long after 1980. George actually made another appearance as a guest at a party Homer attended. He also drove by in a limo as the "B Sharps" performed on Moe's rooftop in a parody of the Beatles rooftop concert, proclaiming, "It's been done." Paul appeared on Apu's garden rooftop with Linda, explaining to Lisa a valuable life lesson that just because her family is full of carnivorous animals doesn't mean she should hate them, and that she should be tolerant. Paul then chided her for eating cheese, milk, eggs, etc. Finally, in an episode where Marge rekindles her love for art, then starts to lose passion after Mr. Burns' criticism of Homer, Ringo responds (35 years late) to her fan mail, saying that the picture Marge sent to him was great.

Thank you for taking my quiz, and I hope you liked it more than those who have taken my other English paper-inspired quiz like that quiz. I think I may have solved my popularity dilemma, though. I'm going to write this year's paper on a hypothetical American Idol episode with Paris Hilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pete Rose, the Fab 5 from "Queer Eye For the Straight Guy," Kobe Bryant, and Michael Jackson particpating, with Johnnie Cochran joining Simon on the judge's table. That should boost quiz ratings...