The Devil Has All the Best Songs Quiz

Answer: Eartha Kitt

The song is "I Want To Be Evil" and Eartha Kitt recorded it in 1953. Although she worked right up until just before her death in 2008, Eartha Kitt's best known recordings all came in the 1950s. "Santa Baby" has become an enduring Christmas Song covered by such people as Kylie Minogue.

In addition to her highly distinctive singing style she was also a talented actress. Many will remember her purring version of 'Catwoman' in the "Batman" television series of the 1960s. In her career she won five Emmy Awards.

Answer: Devil Woman

Cliff Richard has been dubbed the 'Peter Pan of Pop' due to his ever youthful appearance. He is the only British artist to register a UK singles chart number one in every decade from the 1950s to the end of the 20th century. "Devil Woman" was recorded in 1976 and was number nine on the UK singles chart.

There was some surprise at the title of this song because of his averred Christian beliefs.

Answer: Alison Moyet

In the 1940s both Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday recorded this song. Alison Moyet started her pop career as one half of synthopop duo, Yazoo. In 1983 they disbanded and Alison Moyet became a solo singer. In 1984 she released her debut album "Alf", which went to number one on the UK album chart.

In 1985 she released "That Ole Devil Called Love". It perfectly suited her now bluesy singing style and went to number two on the UK singles chart.

Answer: Jezebel

Frankie Laine first recorded "Jezebel" in 1951. It was a million seller in America where Laine was a huge star. Marty Wilde was one of the early British pioneers of Rock and Roll. He was however blessed with the sort of voice that could handle the big power ballads, and in 1962 he released his cover version of "Jezebel".

It reached 19 on the UK singles chart. Marty Wilde is the father of pop singer Kim Wilde, and, with her brother, wrote her big hit, "Kids in America".

Answer: Fiddle-playing

Sung by The Charlie Daniels Band the song is about a pact with the Devil. He has not collected enough souls and comes to Georgia to find more. He hears a boy, Johnny, playing the fiddle and challenges him to a fiddle playing contest. Johnny's soul versus a bag of gold. The Devil looses the wager.
The melody of the song was originally written as "Lonesome Fiddle Blues". Daniels took the tune, moved it up an octave, and wrote the lyrics to it.

Answer: Race with the Devil

Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps were 1950s rock and roll stars. Their first single "Be-Bop-A-Lula" spent twenty weeks on the Billboard singles chart in 1956. He never repeated the success of this record although songs such as "Race With The Devil" and "Blue Jean Bop" were always popular in his live shows. On tour in the UK in 1960 he was badly injured in the crash in which Eddie Cochran died.

He was the first inductee into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, and is also in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Answer: Iron Maiden

This was Iron Maiden's third studio album, and saw the debut of vocalist Bruce Dickinson. The album went to number one on the UK album chart and the single from it, "Run To The Hills", gave Iron Maiden their first top ten single release. Although both the album and the single were popular in America they did cause some controversy due to the religious nature of both the lyrics and the art work on the album cover.

Many accused the band of being Satanists and there were public burnings of the album.

Answer: Suzi Quatro

Suzi Quatro is famous for her leather jumpsuits and low slung, large bass guitar. She is from a musical family. Her father had a jazz band and from an early age she played drums and was classically trained on the piano. She is a self taught guitarist.

As well as "Devil Gate Drive" (1974) she also had hit records with "Can the Can" and "48 Crash", both in 1973. She appeared in the long running series "Happy Days" as 'Leather Tuscadero'.

Answer: The Holocaust

Manic Street Preachers formed in 1986. Their early work often featured lyrics that were a social commentary, and they quickly gained a very loyal following. "The Intense Humming of Evil" is on their 1994 album "The Holy Bible", and is about the Nazi death camps.

Originally they were a quartet, but in 1995 Richey Edwards disappeared after leaving his Bayswater Hotel. His car was later found close to the Severn Bridge and showed signs of having been lived in for a few days. In 2008 his family had him declared "presumed dead" however the band have, from the time he disappeared, put his share of royalties aside for him in case he ever returns.

Answer: Sympathy For the Devil

"Sympathy For The Devil" was on the 1968 album "Beggars Banquet". Their seventh UK studio album, this was a definite return to a more R & B style than their previous album, "Their Satanic Majesties Request". The Rolling Stones had already caused problems with lyrics that were regarded as too sexual in songs such as "Let's Spend The Night Together", and had also been accused of Satanism. "Sympathy For The Devil" provoked media rumours that they were practicing Satanists and were corrupting youth. Controversy over this song soon faded though as their first single from the album "Street Fighting Man" ran into far greater trouble as it coincided with the race riots and student protests that were sweeping America at the time.