My Favorite Songs Of the 1970s - Part 2 Quiz

Answer: The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Sonny Curtis wrote and performed "Love is All Around," the "Mary Tyler Moore Show" theme song, in 1970. Curtis was a former member of the Crickets (Buddy Holly and the Crickets). In season one, the lyrics start with "How will you make it on your own?" This is in reference to Mary (Richardson, MTM's character) relationship ending, and now she's going to make it as a career woman. Then the last line says, "You might just make it after all," trying to reassure her.

In the following seasons, the song becomes more optimistic now that Mary Richards has her job and is doing well. This is also the version most people know. The opening line states, "Who can turn the world on with her smile?" and the final line became, "You're gonna make it after all."

Tony Curtis also recorded two versions that were not used in the show. One was released as a single in 1970; the second was released about a decade later. The later version reached number 29 on the "Billboard Hot Country Singles" chart.

The song has been covered by other artists such as Ray Conniff, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Sammy Davis Jr., and Christine Front Drive. In the episode of "7th Heaven" called "In Praise of Women," when Annie Camden gives birth to the twins, the other children sang the song to her.

Answer: The Carpenters

Richard Carpenter (music) and Frank Pooler (lyrics) wrote "Merry Christmas, Darling." The Carpenters recorded the song in 1970. The song reached number one on the "Billboard Christmas Singles" chart. Richard Carpenter said that the original recording of the song was "one of Karen's best."

Pooler wrote the lyrics in 1946 about a woman with whom he was in love. When Pooler worked at California State University, Long Beach, Richard Carpenter played accompaniment in Pooler's choir. Years later, Karen joined the choir when she attended the school. Pooler later had Richard compose the music for the lyrics he wrote years ago. Karen has expressed that the song was her favorite, saying, "because it's really close to me."

The song has been covered by many artists, including Tamar Braxton, Liz Callaway, Amber Hayes, and Lizzy McAlpine.

Answer: Anne Murray

Gene MacLellan wrote the song "Put Your Hand in the Hand" in 1970. Anne Murray recorded the song in 1970 for her album "Honey, Wheat, and Laughter." In 1971, Ocean covered the song on their debut album. They also released it as a single, and it reached number two on the US charts. In 2006, the song was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. (MacLellan, Murray, and the group Ocean were all Canadian).

The song has been covered by artists such as Elvis Presley, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Frankie Laine, and Sammy Davis Jr.

Answer: Ernie

Jeff Moss wrote "Rubber Duckie," and Joe Raposo did the arrangement. Jim Henson, who performed the Muppet Ernie, was the first to sing the song. It was first performed on "Sesame Street" on February 25, 1970, when Ernie took a bath. Rubber Duckie is the name of Ernie's rubber duck. The song was so popular that they also released it as a single, which reached number 16 on the US charts. The song also reached number 10 on the Australian charts, and 11 on the New Zealand charts.

The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording for Children. Ironically, it lost to "The Sesame Street Book & Record." That album also contained "Rubber Duckie."

The Irish Rovers, Little Richard, Bob McGrath, and others have covered the song.

Answer: MASH

Johnny Mandel (music) and Michael Altman (lyrics) wrote "Suicide is Painless" in 1970 for the movie "M*A*S*H." The song was used as the theme and also sung by the characters in the movie. In 1972, when the TV version of "M*A*S*H" premiered, they used the instrumental version of the song.

The director of the movie, Robert Altman, only gave Mandel two rules for writing the song: 1. The title had to be called "Suicide is Painless," and 2. "It had to be the stupidest song ever written." Mandel had no problem composing the music, but Altman could not get his brain to create stupid lyrics, so he gave his then 15-year-old son Michael the job. His son wrote them in about five minutes.

In the UK, the vocal version reached number one. It did not chart in the US, but it was ranked number 66 on "AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs" list.

The song has been covered by artists such as Manic Street Preachers, Marilyn Manson, Bill Evans, and Lady Bird.

Answer: Jesus

In 1970, Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote the song "There's Something About That Name." The song focuses on the name of Jesus and the power behind that name. It states, "Kings and kingdoms will all pass away, but there's something about that name." The song can be found in many hymnals.

The song has been covered by many artists, including Kathy Troccoli, Anne Wilson, Signature Song Quartet, and Cece Winans.

Answer: cat

Terry Gilkyson wrote the song "Thomas O'Malley." Thomas O'Malley was the orange cat who helped Duchess and her kittens in the 1970 Disney film "The Aristocats." His full name, Abraham de Lacey Guiseppe Casey Thomas O'Malley," is sung in the song. Phil Harris, who voiced Thomas O'Malley, sang the song in the movie.

Artists such as Steven Curtis Chapman, Kenny Ball, Mr. Acker Bilk, and Ronnie Hilton have covered the song.

Answer: Creedence Clearwater Revival

John Fogerty wrote "Travelin' Band" in 1970, and CCR recorded the song on their "Cosmo's Factory" album. It was released as a double-sided single (with "Who'll Stop the Rain") and reached number two on the United States charts. It reached number eight on the UK charts. Fogerty was inspired by the music of the 1950s, especially Little Richard.

The song has been covered by several artists, including Def Leppard, Elton John, Caleb Johnson, and Carrie Underwood & Miranda Lambert.

Answer: Absolutely nothing

Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong wrote the song "War" in 1969. The Temptations were the first to record the song in 1969. The song was a protest song written during the Vietnam era. This version was not released right away, however, as the Temptations had many conservative fans, and they did not want to alienate them.

The song was re-recorded with Edwin Starr. His version reached number one on the US charts in 1970. It was the most successful song of Starr's career. After 9/11, the song was listed as one of the songs on the "no-play list" issued by Clear Channel, an American mass media corporation.

Bruce Springsteen, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, The Jam, D.O.A., and others have covered the song.

Answer: The Carpenters

Paul Williams and Roger Nichols wrote "We've Only Just Begun" for a Crocker-Citizens National Bank commercial. The Carpenters saw the commercial and got the rights to record it in 1970, and also had Williams and Nichols expand it into a full-length song. The song reached number two on the US charts. It also won them two Grammy Awards: Best New Artist and Best Contemporary Duo or Group. In 1998, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 1971, Williams himself covered the song on his album "Just an Old Fashioned Love Song."

The song has been covered by artists such as Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, Barbra Streisand, and Curtis Mayfield.