My Favorite Songs of the 1960s - Part 3 Quiz

Answer: Jed Clampett

In 1962, Paul Henning wrote "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" for the TV series that premiered that year, "The Beverly Hillbillies." It was performed by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs with Jerry Scoggins on vocals. The song has three verses - the first two open the show, telling how Jed and his family moved to California. The third verse starts with the words, "now it's time to say goodbye to Jed and all his kin," and closes each episode.

The song was covered by Glen Campbell and Robert Laing.

Answer: cry

Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio wrote the song "Big Girls Don't Cry" in 1962. It was first recorded by The Four Seasons and reached number one on the charts. According to Gaudio, the title was inspired by a line in the Ronald Reagan movie "Tennessee's Partner" in which Rhonda Fleming's character says, "Big girls don't cry," after she is slapped in the face. However, the line is not in the movie, and Gaudio only thought he heard it as he woke up in his sleep during the movie, wrote it down, and fell asleep again. Crewe, however, says he heard the line in "Slightly Scarlett" and the line is said in that film.

In 2015, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

In the 1987 movie "Dirty Dancing," the song is heard while Baby (played by Jennifer Grey) narrates the movie's opening in the voice-over while she is in the car with her family.

The song has been covered by the cast of "The Jersey Boys" (a jukebox musical).

Answer: in the wind

Bob Dylan wrote "Blowin' in the Wind" in 1962. He recorded it the following year. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1994. Ten years later, "Rolling Stone" magazine ranked it number 14 on their "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list.

In June of 1963, Peter, Paul, and Mary covered the song and reached number two on the charts. This version was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003.

The song has been covered by other artists, including Johnny Cash, The Bee Gees, Bob Dylan with Joan Baez, and Bruce Springsteen.

In 1984, on an episode of "Family Ties" called "Lady Sings the Blues," Meredith Baxter (as Elyse Keaton) sang "Blowin' in the Wind."

Answer: Breaking up

Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield wrote "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" in 1962. Sedaka first recorded it that same year, and the song reached number one. The intro to the song "Down Dooby doo down down...." was written because they could not think of words to put in the intro.

He re-recorded the song in 1975 with a different arrangement.

The song has been covered by other artists, including The Happenings, Lenny Welch, The Partridge Family, and Andre Salvet and Georges Aber, who made a French version called "Moi je pense encore a toi," which means "I Still Think of You."

Answer: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Stephen Sondheim wrote the song "Comedy Tonight" for the 1962 musical "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." The song was first sung by Zero Mostel, who originated the role of Pseudolus on Broadway.

The song opens the show, with Pseudolus explaining that tonight "weighty affairs will just have to wait." Eventually, the rest of the cast joins him in the number, and they let the audience know "tragedy tomorrow, comedy tonight."

The song was sung in the revivals by the following main people:
1972 - Phil Silvers
1996 - Nathan Lane

It was also performed again by Zero Mostel in the 1966 film version.

Answer: The Cuban Missile Crisis

Gloria Shayne and Noel Regney wrote "Do You What I Hear?" in 1962. They wrote it as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Harry Simeone Chorale first recorded the song that same year, shortly before Thanksgiving. The song sold over a quarter of a million copies during the 1962 Christmas season.

In 1963, Bing Crosby recorded the song, and his version became a hit. He also performed it on a Bob Hope Christmas Special.

Hundreds of artists have recorded the song, including Carrie Underwood, Andy Williams, Jim Nabors, and Whitney Houston.

Answer: dance

Berry Gordy wrote the song "Do You Love Me?" in 1962. The song was first recorded by The Contours. He wrote it for The Temptations, but he couldn't find them as they were at church. The Contours were around when he was ready, so they were the ones who got to record it. The song reached number one on the charts.

It was used in the 1987 movie, "Dirty Dancing."

It has been covered by artists such as the Dave Clark Five, Deep Feeling, Andy Fraser, and Duke Baysee.

Answer: I love you

"Eep Opp Ork" was written in 1962 for an episode of "The Jetsons." The episode, "A Date with Jet Screamer," was the second episode of the first season. Judy entered a songwriting contest to meet Jet Screamer. George puts in Elroy's secret code "Eep Opp Ork" to try and sabotage Judy's chances. However, it becomes a hit song.

Jet Screamer was voiced by Howard Morris (in his final voiceover role for Hanna-Barbera). The song was also sung by Janet Waldo (as Judy Jetson) and George O'Hanlon (as George Jetson).

The song has been covered by Violent Femmes and The Dickens.

Answer: False

"The Fishin' Hole" was the theme song for "The Andy Griffith Show." It was written by Earle Hagan, and Everett Sloane added the lyrics. On the "Andy Griffith Show," Hagan does the whistling theme version for the show.

Andy Griffith, a singer as well as an actor, recorded the song. The song, with or without words, has become a beloved hit theme song. It has been covered by Darryl Worley (featuring Wynn Varble), Stephen Lynch, and Hosier.

Answer: Ipanema

In 1962, Antonio Carlos Jobim wrote the music for "The Girl from Ipanema," a Brazilian bossa nova and jazz song. Vinicius de Moraes wrote the lyrics to the song in Portuguese. The song was first recorded by Pery Ribero that same year.

Later, English lyrics were written by Norman Gimbel.

The song is one of the most recorded songs in history, with covers by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Andrea Bocelli (as "Chica de Ipanema"), Lou Rawls, and Diana Krall.

Answer: The Chiffons

Ronnie Mack wrote the song "He's So Fine" in 1962. The Chiffons recorded it in 1963. The song reached number one on the charts. The song repeats "Doo-lang doo-lang" throughout, and people know the song as soon as they hear that.

The song has been covered by other artists such as Jane Oliver, Jody Miller, and Kristy McNichol.

Answer: Cry

Herb Wiener, John Gluck Jr., Wally Gold, and Seymour Gottlieb wrote "It's My Party" in 1962. The song tells the story of a teenage girl whose former boyfriend came to her party with Judy, another teenager, wearing his ring. The song reached number one on the charts.

Both Leslie Gore and Helen Shapiro recorded the song in 1963. Gore's version, which reached number one on the charts, also became her signature song.

It has since been covered by artists such as Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin, Carroll Baker, Amy Winehouse, and Melanie Martinez.

Answer: Small

The Sherman Brothers wrote "It's a Small World" in 1962. Originally, the ride was going to play the national anthems of many countries at the same time, but Walt Disney didn't like how it sounded. He asked for a simple song that could be sung as a round in different languages.

The song was first played at the 1964 World's Fair in New York City. It was sung by the Disneyland Boys' Choir. It remains a popular children's song today.

Answer: Johnny Angel

Lyn Duddy and Lee Pockriss wrote the song "Johnny Angel". It was first recorded by both Laurie Loman and Georgia Lee, but neither version was successful. The song became a hit in 1962 when Shelley Fabares recorded the song.

The song has been covered by artists such as The Carpenters, Patti Lynn, and Renee Martel.

Answer: Limbo Rock

Kal Mann (under the name Jan Sheldon) and Billy Strange wrote "Limbo Rock." It was first recorded with vocals by Chubby Checker in 1962. In 1963, Checker recorded a sequel to the song called "Let's Limbo Some More."

The song has been covered by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, Joanie Bartels, and the cast of "Mickey's Fun Songs."