My Favorite Songs of the 1960s - Part 18 Quiz

Answer: Octopus's Garden

Ringo Starr wrote and sang lead on "Octopus's Garden" in 1969. The Beatles recorded the song on their "Abbey Road" album. It was Ringo's second song. He got the idea for the song while on Peter Sellers' boat. The captain told him that octopuses build gardens with stones and shiny objects they find in the sea. It was also the last Beatles song in which Ringo sang lead.

The song has been covered by artists such as Jim Henson's Muppets, Al Di Meola, Anita Harris, and The Analogues.

Answer: The Who

Pete Townshend, guitar player for The Who, wrote "Pinball Wizard" for their concept album "Tommy." The song reached number four on the UK charts and number 19 on the US charts. The song became one of their most popular tunes and is played at almost every concert. In 2010, "Pinball Wizard" was played at the Super Bowl XLIV Halftime Show.

In 1975, Elton John performed the song in the film adaptation, "Tommy." In John's version, the piano is the main instrument, not the acoustic guitar. Rod Stewart, The New Seekers, Tenacious D, McFly, and others have also covered the song.

Answer: Boat

John Fogerty wrote "Proud Mary" a couple of days after getting out of the National Guard. His band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, recorded the song in 1969. It reached number two on the US charts. It was based on a real boat known as "The Mary Elizabeth," based in Memphis, Tennessee.

Ike and Tina Turner covered the song in 1971. Their version reached number four on the charts. They also won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Group at the 1972 Grammy Awards for their version.

The song has also been covered by other artists such as Solomon Burke, Tom Jones, The Checkmates, Ltd., and Leonard Nimoy (yes, the actor who played Spock covered this song).

Answer: Raindrops

Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote the song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" for the 1969 movie "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." B.J. Thomas originally performed it. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1970. B.J. Thomas also released a single of the song, which reached number one on the charts in the United States, Canada, and Norway. In 2004, the song was listed as number 23 on the AFI's "100 Years... 100 Songs" list. In 2014, the B.J. Thomas version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

The song has been covered by other artists such as Roy Ayers, Peggy Lee, Barbara Mason, and Tom Jones with Burt Bacharach.

Answer: 1776

Sherman Edwards wrote "Sit Down, John" for the 1969 musical "1776." The song is sung by John Adams (Mr. William Daniels) and the Second Continental Congress (the ensemble of the show). Adams is trying to get the others to vote for independence, and the others are sick of listening to him, telling him to "Sit down, John. For God's sake, John, sit down." Meanwhile, they also keep asking for someone to "open up a window," because it was very hot that day. Mr. Daniels reprised the role of John Adams in the 1972 version as well. It was this song that later inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda to write the 2015 musical, "Hamilton." Ironically, John Adams does not appear in that show.

The song is associated with the show. In 1997 Broadway revival the song was sung by Brent Spiner as John Adams. In the 2022 Broadway revival, it was sung by Crystal Lucus-Perry as Adams.

Answer: David Bowie

David Bowie wrote "Space Oddity" and recorded it in June 1969. It was released on July 11, 1969, as a single, and later included on Bowie's second album, "David Bowie" in November 1969. The song is about a fictional astronaut named Major Tom. The release of the song was rushed to take advantage of the Apollo 11 Moon landing. It reached number five on the UK charts. In 1972, he re-released it in the United States, where it became a hit, reaching number 15 on the US charts, and in 1975, he re-released it in the UK, and it reached number one on the charts. Bowie has said that the song was inspired by the 1968 film "2001: A Space Odyssey," as well as his own feelings of loneliness and heartache at the time. He had just broken up with his then-girlfriend, Hermione Farthingdale.

"Space Oddity" has been covered by the astronaut Chris Hadfield, David Matthews, Wilco, Def Leppard, and other artists.

Answer: Judas

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice wrote "Jesus Christ Superstar" in 1969. At first, Webber could not get the backing to make it into a stage production, so in 1970 he released the score as a concept album. It did so well that it led to the Broadway show opening in 1971. It has since become one of the most successful musicals ever.

The character of Judas was originally sung by Murray Head on the concept album. Ben Vereen originally played the role on Broadway. Judas Iscariot is one of the twelve apostles and is very central to the plot since he also worries about what Jesus is doing, and his actions lead to Jesus being killed.

"Superstar" is sung at the end of Act Two as Jesus is about to be crucified. Judas asks him, "Did you know your message would be a record breaker?" Referring to him as a "Superstar" is a reference to the culture where music, movie, TV stars, etc., are treated like they are better than other people.

"Superstar" has been covered by artists such as Michael Crawford, Patrick Jude (first revival cast), Tony Vincent (2000 revival cast), and Josh Young (2012 revival cast).

Answer: Sweet Caroline

Neil Diamond wrote and originally performed "Sweet Caroline" in 1969. Diamond has given different versions of the origins of the song, including Caroline Kennedy, who was twelve when the song was released. He sang the song for her in 2007 at her 50th birthday party. The song reached number four on the US charts. It reached number eight on the UK charts.

During the COVID pandemic, Diamond changed some of the lyrics to fit with the times. The words "Warm touching warm, Touching me, touching you," were changed to "Hands, washing hands, don't touch me, I won't touch you."

"Sweet Caroline" has been used by the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park since at least 1997, after a ballpark employee played the song as a tribute to a newborn baby. In 2013, after the Boston Marathon bombing, Neil Diamond himself led the crowd in singing the song.

"Sweet Caroline" has been covered by artists such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Womack, and Roy Orbison.

Answer: Shocking Blue

Robbie van Leeuwen wrote the song "Venus" in 1969. It was first sung by the Dutch rock band Shocking Blue. It was released as a single in the Netherlands. It topped the charts in nine different countries, including the United States.

In 1986, Bananarama also had a number-one hit when they covered the song. It has also been covered by the BHF Team, Yoko Oginome, Royal Republic, and Marc Almond, among others.

Answer: The Rolling Stones

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards wrote "You Can't Always Get What You Want" in 1969. It was included on their album "Let It Bleed" that year. In 2004, "Rolling Stone" magazine named it the 100th greatest song of all time on its list "500 Greatest Songs of All Time."

In 1983, the song was played at the beginning of the movie "The Big Chill." It was also used in 2007 for the pilot opening of "Californication." The song has been covered by artists such as Aretha Franklin, George Michael, the Grateful Dead, and The Lone Bellow.