Who was the Original Artist? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Reverend Gary Davis

All of these artists have done this great song. Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead released their version of this song in 1967. Jack Casady and his group Hot Tuna released their version in 1970. Mark Lanegan released his version in 1999. Cooper McBean and the Devil Makes Three haven't released their version of this song, but they played it live multiple times in 2018; I'm a lucky witness.

However, the writer of this song was Reverend Gary Davis, who released his version in 1960. Like several well-known black musicians such as Ray Charles, Willie McTell, and Stevie Wonder, Reverend Gary Davis was blind. That didn't stop him from writing great songs and inspiring and influencing other great musicians.

Answer: Eurythmics

Eurythmics were a duo of Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart. They used to be members of a group called the Tourists. Lennox wrote this song is a reflection of how she felt when the Tourists broke up. She felt that she was just living in a dream world, and that her dreams were never going to materialize. Stewart thought the song was too depressing, so he added the line "hold your head up, moving on" to make it a happier song.

Although the record company initially did not want to release this song as a single because it lacked a chorus, they eventually did, and the song went to number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and charted in at least ten other countries as well. This became their breakthrough hit and Eurythmics went on to have a lot of success.

Marilyn Manson released his version in 1995 for an album called "Smells Like Children." His version is very different from Eurythmics version. His version is slower, more of a rock song than a pop song, and it's spookier. It also has lyrics not in the original version "I wanna use you and abuse you I've got to know what's inside you." He also released a video, which Billboard voted the scariest music video ever made, scarier than Michael Jackson's video for "Thriller." His version was less successful commercially than Eurythmics, but has been used in movies such as "House on Haunted Hill," and "Trick 'r Treat."

Fitz and the Tantrums have been performing this song live since 2010 and released their studio version of it in 2012. Their version of the song was a regular part of the grocery store Giant's playlist.

JX Riders released their version in 2016. Their version went to number one on the U.S. Dance Chart.

Personally my favorite version of the song are the versions by Marilyn Manson and Fitz and the Tantrums.

Answer: Keane

Keane are an alternative rock band from the United Kingdom. They became popular when they released their debut album, "Hopes and Fears," in 2005, mostly because of the success of that album's first song "Somewhere Only We Know." This song was written by multi-instrumentalist Tim Rice-Oxley, who plays keyboard and bass guitar among other things. He said that this song was inspired by David Bowie's song "Heroes."

"Somewhere Only We Know," peaked at number 50 on the U.S. Billboard charts, but became a top ten hit in the UK, Belgium, and Denmark.

Lily Allen covered the song in 2013 for a John Lewis Christmas Advert. Somehow her version of this song sold more copies in the UK than Keane's version, although I don't know how because Keane's version is better in my opinion.

Answer: Loggins and Messina

Loggins and Messina are in American rock duo. They were active from 1971 to 1976 and they had some success during that time. They had a reunion in 2005. One of their most well-known songs was "Your Mama Don't Dance," a song that is meant to appeal to kids who love rock music but whose parents hate rock music.

Although Loggins and Messina had some success, a more successful 80s rock band called Poison covered this song for their highest-selling album, "Open Up and Say Ahhh." This album was certified 5x platinum in 1991 by RIAA.

Answer: Blind Willie McTell

Blind Willie McTell was a blues musician who was born in the 19th century and wrote songs until his death in 1959. He has inspired many great musicians and songwriters. Although he was born in Thomson, Georgia, he considers Statesboro to be his true home. "Statesboro Blues," which was released in 1928, is his most commonly covered song.

Taj Mahal is an American muilti-instrumentalist. He plays guitar, piano, and harmonica among other things. He's mainly a blues musicians, but he has also fused blues with African music and Caribbean music. He released his version in 1968. This version helped this song reach a much wider audience and it was his version that mainly inspired the Allman Brothers to cover it.

The Allman Brothers performed this song live and released this for their legendary live album, "At Fillmore East." This was the Allman Brothers' first platinum album. Rolling Stone magazine rated their version of the song as the ninth-best guitar song of all time.

If you are not familiar with David Bromberg or Cooper McBean and his group the Devil Makes Three, and you're a fan of this song, you should check these artists out. I would recommend listening to their covers of "Statesboro Blues," and if you like what you hear, great news! Both of these artists have a wealth of great music for you to discover.

Answer: Curtiss Maldoon

The song wasn't even originally called "Ray of Light." It was originally called "Sepheryn."

Curtiss Maldoon were a British folk music duo of Dave Curtiss and Clive Maldoon. They released their song "Sepheryn" in 1971. They made great music but didn't have much commercial success.

Maldoon's niece, singer songwriter Christine Leach, covered her favorite song of her uncle's, except she re-wrote the chorus.

Madonna heard Leach's version of the song, and in 1998, Madonna remade "Sepheryn," renamed it "Ray of Light" and turned it into a dance pop song. Her version of the song made it to number five on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and charted at least ten countries.

Answer: Eternal Flame

"Eternal Flame" is credited to three people: Bangles singer Susanna Hoffs, songwriter Billy Steinberg, and songwriter Tom Kelly. This song is a ballad that was inspired by two eternal flames. One flame was in Graceland, at Elvis Presley's burial which the Bangles visited. The other was at a synagogue in Palm Spring which Steinberg frequently went to as a child.

Hoffs sang this song completely in the nude after producer Davitt Sigerson told her that Olivia Newton-John sang everything in the nude. Sigerson later told Hoffs that he was lying.

"Walk Like an Egyptian" was written by Liam Sternberg. "Manic Monday" was written by Prince. "Hazy Shade of Winter" was written by Paul Simon.

Answer: Buddy Johnson

Buddy Johnson and his orchestra released this song in 1947. A Billie Holiday live version was released in 1975. John Darnielle completely re-worked this song and made it more simple and put it on the Mountain Goats second official album, "Sweden." John Darnielle's version may not have the most instruments on it and it may not be the most technically proficient version of the song, but what John Darnielle lacks in technical ability, he more than makes up for in sheer emotion and passion. That's what makes great music to me.

Answer: Tom Waits

A lot of people think Bruce Springsteen wrote this song because his version is more popular and because he is from New Jersey and often associated with New Jersey. However, Tom Waits wrote this song in 1980 when he lived in New Jersey. He never thought he would sing "Sha la la" in a song; this song was his experiment with that. Bruce Springsteen heard it, and started performing it live in 1981.

He then released in in 1984 as a B-Side to "Cover Me." This song has become a fan favorite, so Springsteen has played it live many times.

Answer: Stevie Nicks

Stevie Nicks said that she wrote the song while she was contemplating going back to school or continuing to play with guitarist Lindsey Buckingham. She had not been getting along with Buckingham, so she felt like her life was "a landslide in many ways."

The "Landslide" single has sold over a million copies in the U.S. according to Nielsen Soundscan.

The Smashing Pumpkins covered this song as a B-side for their single "Disarm." Stevie Nicks loves their version of this song and because of this she befriended singer Billy Corgan.

The Dixie Chicks covered this song because singer Natalie Maines was drawn to this song when she was the same age Nicks was when she wrote it. Their version peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100.

Miley Cyrus has performed this song live a few times.