My Favorite Songs of the 1960s - Part 5 Quiz

Answer: Jester Hairston

The song "Amen" is a traditional gospel song arranged by Jester Hariston in 1963. It was first sung by Sidney Poitier in the film "Lilies of the Field". The song became popular in 1964 when it was covered by The Impressions.

Otis Redding, Elvis Presley, Carman, and others have covered the song.

Answer: California Dreamin'

John and Michelle Phillips wrote "California Dreamin'" in 1963. Barry McGuire was the first to record the song. Two years later, the Mamas & the Papas (of which John and Michelle Phillips were members) recorded the number. It reached number four on the charts. In 2001, their version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Performers such as The Beach Boys, Jose Feliciano, Sia, and Diana Krall have also covered the song.

Answer: The Crystals

Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector wrote "Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)" in 1963. It reached number three on the charts. In 2004, their version was ranked number 114 on "Rolling Stone's "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list.

The song has also been covered by Shaun Cassidy, Johnny Hallyday (in French), Claes Dieden, and Ian Matthews.

Answer: She Loves Me

Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick wrote the song "Days Gone By" for their musical "She Loves Me."

Ludwig Donath, who originated the role of Maraczek on Broadway, first sang the song in 1963. Mr. Maraczek owns a perfumery in Hungary where the show takes place. He is telling his staff about the past when he was young.

The song has been performed by Louis Zorich, Victor Garber, and Bryon Jennings.

Answer: Rain

Bob Merrill and Jule Styne wrote "Don't Rain on My Parade" in 1963 for the musical "Funny Girl." Barbra Streisand originated the role of Fanny Brice on Broadway. She was the first to sing "Don't Rain on My Parade." She also reprised the role in the 1968 movie.

AFI's "100 Years...100 Songs" ranked the song at number 46.

The song has been covered by many artists, including Bobby Darin, Shirley Bassey, Liza Minnelli, and Lea Michele (who performed it both on "Glee" and in a revival of "Funny Girl" on Broadway).

Answer: street

Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich wrote "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" in 1963. It was first recorded by the Exciters. The song became an international hit in 1964 when it was recorded by Manfred Mann. Their version reached number one on the charts.

The song has been covered by other performers such as Fun Factory, Paul Jones, DJ Otzi, and Sheila (who recorded it in French).

Answer: A secret

Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote "Do You Wanna Know a Secret?" in 1962. They first recorded the song with their group, The Beatles, in 1963. George Harrison was the lead singer on the song.

It has been covered by other artists like Vee-Jay, Billy J. Kramer, Count Basie and His Orchestra, and The Ray Charles Singers.

Answer: Your school

Brian Wilson and Mike Love wrote "Be True to Your School" in 1963. Two versions of the song were recorded, the single and the album. The single included cheerleaders yelling between verses. The song is a tribute to Hawthorne High School, where the Wilson brothers and Al Jardine went.

The song has been performed by Jan & Dean, Grace Vanderwaal, Mike Love (on "Full House," with Jesse and the Rippers), and the Beach Boys with Toby Keith.

Answer: It stopped raining.

Amilcare Ponchielli, Allan Sherman, and Lou Busch wrote "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (A Letter from Camp)" in 1963. They took the melody from a ballet number in the opera "La Gioconda" by Ponchielli. Sherman and Busch wrote the lyrics. Sherman performed the song.

Allan had a son who was at summer camp. He wrote letters complaining about how bad camp was. This influenced Allan's lyrics.

One of the lyrics mentions "Leonard Skinner, he got ptomaine poisoning last night after dinner." This line partially influenced the name of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The song is a novelty song in which the singer complains about being stuck at "Camp Granada." At the beginning, the singer announces he is at Camp Granada, adding, "And they say we'll have some fun if it stops raining." Then he lists all the horrible things happening while at camp, such as his roommate catching malaria. Along with his laundry list of bad things, he occasionally offers good things like "I would even let Aunt Bertha hug and kiss me." However, by the time he finishes his letter, the rain stops. He sees his friends having fun. He ends the song with, "Muddah, Fadduh, kindly disregard this letter."

The song reached number two on the charts. In 1964, the song won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Performance.

Answer: heat

Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, and Eddie Holland (known as the Holland-Dozier-Holland, or H-D-H writing team) wrote "Heat Wave" in 1963. It was first performed by Martha and the Vandellas. The song reached number one on the charts.

The song has since been covered by artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Phil Collins, and Joan Osborne.

Answer: Not to be so stupid

Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick wrote the musical "She Loves Me" in 1963. "I Resolve" was first sung by Barbara Baxley, who originated the role of Ilona Ritter.

Near the end of Act I, after Ilona realizes that Kodaly is unfaithful, she sings the song "I Resolve." She starts the song with the line, "I resolve not to be so stupid." She then lists things she resolves she will no longer do, and explains how she had been with lines such as, "How often I've been a sitting duck for cupid."

By the end of the song, she is firmly resolved to "be a different girl. Somehow."

Answer: The Rolling Stones

The Beatles did ultimately record the Lennon-McCartney song, but The Rolling Stones did it first. The Stones' version reached number 12 on the British charts. It was not successful in the United States.

The Beatles released their version later in '63, with Ringo Starr on main vocals. In the UK, it appeared on their album, "With the Beatles," and then in the United States, it was released on the album "Meet the Beatles!"

John Lennon (in 1980) called the song "a throwaway song."

The song has since been covered by artists such as Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, Paul McCartney, X-Pensive Winos, and Adam Faith.

Answer: happy

John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote "I Want To Hold Your Hand" in 1963. The song was so popular that it sold more than one million advance copies. It would have gone to number one, but another Beatles song, "She Loves You," prevented it from going to the top. However, two weeks later, it finally surpassed "She Loves You" to become the number one song.

The song has been covered by performers such as Arthur Fiedler & the Boston Pops Orchestra, Al Green, Manny Manuel (who covered it in Spanish with the title "Dame tu mano y ven"), and Chris Colfer as Kurt Hummel in "Glee."

Answer: The Beach Boys

Brian Wilson and Gary Usher wrote "In My Room." The Beach Boys (for which Wilson was not only a songwriter, but also, producer, co-lead vocalist, bassist, keyboardist, and really the band's leader in general) recorded it. According to Usher, the song took only an hour for them to write.

The song reached 23 on the charts. In 1999, it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. "Rolling Stone" magazine ranked the song number 212 on their "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list.

The song has since been covered by other artists, including David Crosby, Gary Usher's band Sagittarius, Wilson Phillips, and Tammy Wynette.

Answer: Judy's Turn to Cry

Beverly Ross and Edna Lewis wrote "Judy's Turn to Cry" in 1963. It was first recorded in 1963 by Leslie Gore. In the original song "It's My Party," the singer was crying because her boyfriend, Johnny, left her to go with Judy. Now, in this song, the singer gets Johnny back. Triumphantly, the singer announces, "Well now it's Judy's turn to cry....cause Johnny's come back to me."

The song peaked at number five on the charts.