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Quiz about The Great American Songbook GAS

The Great American Songbook (GAS) Quiz

GAS, the early years. Most of the songs herein had staying power, turning up decades later primarily in the mom and pop culture. Bonne chance!

A multiple-choice quiz by gfitz47. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
gfitz47

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
383,183

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
326

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Written by Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer this 1938 song was in the movie "Hard to Get", sung by Dick Powell. You have to get this one right. Can you name it?

"When you were only starting to go to kindergarten
I bet you drove the little boys wild"
Hint

I've Got a Crush on You

When You and I Were Young, Maggie

You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby

Baby It's Cold Outside

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. J. Fred Coots and Sam M. Lewis wrote this song, published it in 1934. Hal Kemp's version went to number three on the charts (courtesy of Music VF again) that year. You can get this one, no?

"So baby, love me, love me tonight
Tomorrow was made for some
Oh, but tomorrow
But tomorrow may never, never come"
Hint

For All We Know

Let's Do It

There's No Tomorrow

All My Tomorrows

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. This song, based on a nursery rhyme, was a hit song in 1938. The singer was Ella Fitzgerald. She and Al Feldman (AKA Van Alexander) worked on the original rhyme, et voila! Votre reponse?

"A little girlie picked it up
And took it to the market
She was truckin' on down the avenue
Without a single thing to do" Hint

The Muffin Man

Little Boy Blue

A-Tisket, A-Tasket

Rain Rain Go Away

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Rodgers and Hart wrote this song for the musical "Too Many Girls" in 1939. The musical was made into a movie of the same name but who knows where or when. So what is its name?

"Grand to be alive, to be young,
To be mad, to be yours alone!
Grand to see your face, feel your touch,
Hear your voice say I'm all your own."
Hint

25 or 6 to 4

I Didn't Know What Time It Was

Young Love

Too Young

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. This 1939 song was recorded by Benny Goodman with vocal by Martha Tilton. I think you got it, I see you smile. So it is?

"Suddenly, the setting is strange.
I can see water and moonlight beaming.
Silver waves that break on some undiscovered shore-Then
Suddenly, I see it all change.
Long winter nights with the candles gleaming.
Through it all your face that I adore."
Hint

Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground

Angel of the Morning

Angel Baby

And the Angels Sing

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. This 1930 song, "But Not for Me", was for the musical "Girl Crazy". An excerpt follows for internal processing. The question is, who wrote it?

"They're writing songs of love
But not for me
A lucky star's above
But not for me
With love to lead the way
I've found more clouds of grey
Than any Russian play could guarantee" Hint

George and Ira Gershwin

Cole Porter and Cole Porter

Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart

Irving Berlin and George London

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Bing Crosby had a Billboard number one song for 15 weeks with this Arthur Johnston and Johnny Burke tune in 1936. It may have also won a gold medal at the Olympics. I made no small changes to the lyrics though tempted. Can you name it?

"Trade them for a package of
Sunshine and flowers
If you want the things you love
You must have showers" Hint

They Can't Take That Away from Me

Sunrise Serenade

It's the Natural Thing to Do

Pennies From Heaven

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. It's 1936 again and this Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields song debuts. The lyric below isn't too revealing but you can get it, nothing's impossible. The answer is?

"Please teacher, teach me something,
Nice teacher, teach me something.
I'm as awkward as a camel, that's not the worst,
My two feet haven't met yet,
But I'll be teacher's pet yet,
'Cause I'm gonna learn to dance or burst." Hint

Dance with A Dolly

Since I Fell for You

I'll Dance at Your Wedding

Pick Yourself Up

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. This Cole Porter song was published in 1937. It was in the movie, "Rosalie" with Nelson Eddy but not Jeanette McDonald.

Hint, this song doesn't include, "sho doh, sho be doh" sung by backup singers but the other song with the same name does. The song is:

"Oh the times without number
When I say to you

Do you love me
Just like I love you
Are you my life to be
That dream come true
Or will this dream of mine
Will it fade way out of sight"
Hint

In the Still of the Night

Beneath Still Waters

Say You'll Be Mine

What Is This Thing Called Love

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. This is a 1924 song by Walter Donaldson and George A. Whiting.

Different sources identify Gene Austin's version reaching number one. They differ in the year, 1927 or 1928. If the wayback machine was still around we could resolve the discrepancy. Alas, Mr. Peabody's coal train hauled it away. In any event it was very popular. I don't think Molly Ringwald recorded it yet. So the song is?

"A smiling face, a fireplace, a cosy room
A little nest that nestles where roses bloom"
Hint

Making Whoopee

Moonlight and Roses

Pinetop's Boogie Woogie

My Blue Heaven

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Written by Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer this 1938 song was in the movie "Hard to Get", sung by Dick Powell. You have to get this one right. Can you name it? "When you were only starting to go to kindergarten I bet you drove the little boys wild"

Answer: You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby

A Bing Crosby version reached number one per Music VF in 1938. But then again so did "Cathedral in the Pines". Bing also sang it to Elmer Fudd in a walk by audition. He didn't get the job, Bugs did. I'll bet Elmer regretted that.

Doris Day sang it in the 1949 movie "My Dream Is Yours". It was also in the 1994 movie, "The Little Rascals" sung by Dr. John. Finally, it was in the movie, "Mildred Pierce" sung by Veda Ann Borg before she joined the collective.

2. J. Fred Coots and Sam M. Lewis wrote this song, published it in 1934. Hal Kemp's version went to number three on the charts (courtesy of Music VF again) that year. You can get this one, no? "So baby, love me, love me tonight Tomorrow was made for some Oh, but tomorrow But tomorrow may never, never come"

Answer: For All We Know

The Carpenters sang it in 1971. The words were changed. So was the music. And come to think of it, the writers. Maybe it wasn't the same song after all. But it did have the same name.

An instrumental version was in the "Prince of Tides". There was also a Barbra Streisand video version which shows scenes from "The Way We Were" but it doesn't appear to have made the cut for the film. One of these movies stars Nick Nolte and the other Robert Redford. Which is which? Wait, where were we?

Hal Kemp looked eerily similar to Bela Lugosi in some photos.

Frank Fontaine also sang it. Frank was featured on the "Jackie Gleason Show". Crazy, huh?

It was also in the movie, "Lovers and Other Strangers" with Richard Castellano, aka Clemenza. No wait, that was the other version. Next question please.

3. This song, based on a nursery rhyme, was a hit song in 1938. The singer was Ella Fitzgerald. She and Al Feldman (AKA Van Alexander) worked on the original rhyme, et voila! Votre reponse? "A little girlie picked it up And took it to the market She was truckin' on down the avenue Without a single thing to do"

Answer: A-Tisket, A-Tasket

This became Ella's signature song. It wouldn't have been that popular if it didn't have that swing. It was a number one song. The charts were prehistoric back then so it's hard to identify the source material. Was it Billboard Hot 100? No, no, no, no. Was it Your Hit Parade? No, no, no, no. "Just a little yellow basket." It wasn't Ella's last big hit, she kept on truckin'.

4. Rodgers and Hart wrote this song for the musical "Too Many Girls" in 1939. The musical was made into a movie of the same name but who knows where or when. So what is its name? "Grand to be alive, to be young, To be mad, to be yours alone! Grand to see your face, feel your touch, Hear your voice say I'm all your own."

Answer: I Didn't Know What Time It Was

Does anyone really know what time it is?

The song was also in the 1957 movie "Pal Joey" sung by Frank Sinatra. Don't you remember, he was your pal, buddy can you spare the time.

Both the Benny Goodman and Jimmy Dorsey versions in 1939 made the Billboard charts.

5. This 1939 song was recorded by Benny Goodman with vocal by Martha Tilton. I think you got it, I see you smile. So it is? "Suddenly, the setting is strange. I can see water and moonlight beaming. Silver waves that break on some undiscovered shore-Then Suddenly, I see it all change. Long winter nights with the candles gleaming. Through it all your face that I adore."

Answer: And the Angels Sing

The song was written by Ziggy Elman and Johnny Mercer. Round-faced Ziggy is not related.

There was a movie of the same name purportedly made to take advantage of the popular song but they didn't put the song in the movie. Curious.

The first version I heard was by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. I heard the Tilton vocal later. Both are good. 

6. This 1930 song, "But Not for Me", was for the musical "Girl Crazy". An excerpt follows for internal processing. The question is, who wrote it? "They're writing songs of love But not for me A lucky star's above But not for me With love to lead the way I've found more clouds of grey Than any Russian play could guarantee"

Answer: George and Ira Gershwin

By George, it was the Gershwins. The song was used in the movies, "Manhattan", "When Harry Met Sally" and "Four Weddings and a Funeral". Also interesting, Ella won a Grammy for her version of the song in !960.

George London was a bass-baritone with a wide operatic range. Irving Berlin wasn't. I think he was more tenorish.

Cole Porter was Cole Porter. Cole Porter was Cole Porter.

Richard Rodgers was a great composer. Richard's brother Roy changed his name to Leonard Slye. Hart was a dear and was a great lyricist.

The "facts" on this sheet should be taken with a wince and a grain of salt.

7. Bing Crosby had a Billboard number one song for 15 weeks with this Arthur Johnston and Johnny Burke tune in 1936. It may have also won a gold medal at the Olympics. I made no small changes to the lyrics though tempted. Can you name it? "Trade them for a package of Sunshine and flowers If you want the things you love You must have showers"

Answer: Pennies From Heaven

Bing sang it in the movie, "Pennies From Heaven".

Arthur was not Arte Johnson. Very interesting.

"Pennies from Heaven" was also a PBS miniseries some years back, written by Dennis Potter who was also responsible for the miniseries, "The Singing Detective". Both British series were exceptional, if you could overlook the pronouncing of the odd extraneous "u" in their vernacular. "Pennies" starred Bob Hoskins and "Detective" starred Michael Gambon. Both had a host of great songs.

BTW, I checked, "Pennies From Heaven" did not medal.

8. It's 1936 again and this Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields song debuts. The lyric below isn't too revealing but you can get it, nothing's impossible. The answer is? "Please teacher, teach me something, Nice teacher, teach me something. I'm as awkward as a camel, that's not the worst, My two feet haven't met yet, But I'll be teacher's pet yet, 'Cause I'm gonna learn to dance or burst."

Answer: Pick Yourself Up

A large quantity of songs in the GAS years seem to trace their origins to Fred Astaire and Ginger Roger movies. This is one of them. It was in "Swing Time" which had a song win the Academy Award. Not this one, though. The winner was "The Way You Look Tonight".

It was the US Billboard number seven for six weeks.

9. This Cole Porter song was published in 1937. It was in the movie, "Rosalie" with Nelson Eddy but not Jeanette McDonald. Hint, this song doesn't include, "sho doh, sho be doh" sung by backup singers but the other song with the same name does. The song is: "Oh the times without number When I say to you Do you love me Just like I love you Are you my life to be That dream come true Or will this dream of mine Will it fade way out of sight"

Answer: In the Still of the Night

The Cole Porter song hit the US Billboard chart for five weeks peaking at number three. The version was by Tommy Dorsey with Jack "no 'E'" Leonard singing.

The other song with the same name was the one by Fred Parris and the Satins. It made number 29 on the US Billboard chart for 19 weeks. It deserved better.

10. This is a 1924 song by Walter Donaldson and George A. Whiting. Different sources identify Gene Austin's version reaching number one. They differ in the year, 1927 or 1928. If the wayback machine was still around we could resolve the discrepancy. Alas, Mr. Peabody's coal train hauled it away. In any event it was very popular. I don't think Molly Ringwald recorded it yet. So the song is? "A smiling face, a fireplace, a cosy room A little nest that nestles where roses bloom"

Answer: My Blue Heaven

The definitive version of the late 20th century was by Fats Domino.

The lyric was turned into a movie of the same name starring Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, Joan Cusak and Bill Irwin. The smiling face was Steve's playing someone in the witness protection program, the cosy room a house in the suburbs and Bill Irwin was the merengue. To make the connection between lyric and movie you need to use your imagination. Some alcohol may also be required.

Source: Author gfitz47

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