Top 40 Radio IV - Novelty Tunes Quiz

Answer: Alley-Oop

"Alley-Oop" was their only hit record... but in 1960 it reached number one on the Billboard charts. It was, of course, based on the long-running comic strip caveman.

Answer: David Seville

Between his Number One hits "Witch Doctor" and "The Chipmunk Song" Seville squeezed in this novelty. It peaked at Number 34. Minneapolis quartet The Trashmen performed "Surfin' Bird" in 1963. Tippi Hedren starred in the film "The Birds" and mostly just got pecked... which she didn't sing about.

Answer: dingo

As he lay on his deathbed the stockman gave out some last minute instructions;
"Keep me cockatoo cool" "mind me platypus duck" "take me koala back" etc.
If he had a Living Trust the stockman could have included all these instructions as part of the distribution of his estate.

Answer: they matched her red scarf

Comedian Guy Marks had a minor hit with "Loving You Has Made Me Bananas".
It went like this:

"Your red scarf matches your eyes
You closed cover before striking
Your mother was a steamfitters dream
And loving you has made me bananas."

Ah... romance!

Answer: Buchanan & Goodman

"The Flying Saucer" reached number three on the Billboard charts. Record producer Dickie Goodman (inventor of the "break-in" genre) placed a dozen more entries in the Billboard charts, including the 1975 Top 10 hit "Mr. Jaws".
In 1989 Goodman died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 55.

Answer: bing bang

David Seville's "Witch Doctor" was number one on the Billboard charts for three weeks in mid-1958. He went on to even greater success later that year with the introduction of "The Chipmunk Song." The amazing success of his Chipmunk gimmick pretty much took over the rest of his career.

Answer: Rod McKeun

Dor was the name Rod sometimes used when appearing at poetry readings in the late '50s. Greater success as a poet and song writer was just ahead. He was the author of the 1967 mega-selling "lyrical poetry" book "Listen to The Warm."

"This is the way it was while I was waiting for your eyes to find me."
― Rod McKuen, Listen to the Warm

Answer: Nervous Norvus

He had a drink, was speeding and crashed while passing. Norvus sings of contusions, convolutions, confusion and is requesting a transfusion. Norvus (aka Jimmy Drake) was a truck driver until his success with "Transfusion". Any other similarity to Elvis would be totally amazing.

Answer: "Baby... you're the ginchiest!"

Edd never had another Top 40 hit. Connie, who starred as Cricket Blake on the popular TV show "Hawaiian Eye," had a Top 10 hit a few months later with "Sixteen Reasons." She appeared on dozens of TV shows, including eight episodes of "The Love Boat" (as seven different people).

Answer: Fred

Singer/songwriter Evans' songs have been recorded by such stars as Elvis, Jackie Wilson, Pat Boone, and The Coasters. He was co-writer of the Bobby Vinton number one hit "Roses Are Red." He did not write "Seven Little Girls..."