My Favorite Songs of the 1970s - Part 3 Quiz

Answer: Gwen McCrae

Wayne Carson, Johnny Christopher, and Mark James wrote "You Were Always on My Mind" in 1971. Brenda Lee recorded it but did not release it right away. Gwen McCrae released it in March 1972; Lee released hers in June 1972. Elvis Presley recorded the first successful version of the song.

For years, people believed Elvis and Priscilla's marital problems inspired the song. Elvis recorded the song in March of 1972, only a few months after the couple legally separated. However, Carson has confirmed this isn't true, but he understands why people might think so. Elvis' version reached number 16 on the "Billboard Hot Country Singles" chart. It reached number one on the charts in the UK.

In 1982, Willie Nelson covered the song, and his version reached number one on the charts. It also won him a Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.

Answer: The day the music died.

Don McLean wrote and recorded the song "American Pie" in 1971. The song was a tribute to The Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, and Buddy Holly, who, on February 3, 1959, were killed in a plane crash. It was known as "the day the music died," a line repeated in the song. The song reached number one on the US charts. It also reached number one in other countries, including Australia and Canada.

The song has been covered by other artists. Most notably, in 2000, Madonna covered the song, and her version also reached number one. It has also been covered by The Everly Brothers, Donovan, Tupac Shakur, and others.

Answer: Face tomorrow

Bill Gaither and his wife, Gloria Gaither, wrote "Because He Lives" in 1971. In 1974, it was named Gospel Song of the Year by the Gospel Music Association. According to Gloria Gaither, the song came about when she was pregnant with their third child in the 1960s. With the widespread use of drugs and the counterculture, she was scared about how they would raise their children. On top of that, Bill had mono, and friends were now attacking them for their Christian beliefs.

On New Year's Eve, she said she suddenly felt all this fear disappear. She then realized she could have the baby and continue to live because Jesus rose from the dead. Because of that, she said, "Life is worth the living just because He lives."

The song has been covered by many people, including Carrie Underwood, Guy Penrod, Alabama, and Grace Larson.

Answer: Follies

Stephen Sondheim wrote "Broadway Baby" for his musical "Follies," which opened on Broadway on April 4, 1971. In the show, older people are reuniting at an old theatre where they once performed in their youth, before it is demolished. This brings up different memories for them, and we see their younger ghosts on stage (who also sometimes sing songs) as they remember.

In the first Act, Hattie Walker performs her showstopper from her youth, "Broadway Baby." Ethel Shutta first played Hattie. In the 2000 revival, Betty Garrett sang the number, and in the 2011 revival, Jayne Houddyshell performed it.

The song has also been covered by Bernadette Peters, Daisy Eagan, Elaine Stritch, Elaine Page, and many others.

Answer: Cookie

Joe Raposo wrote "C is for Cookie" in 1971. That year, Frank Oz, as Cookie Monster, first performed the song on "Sesame Street." Before that, it was also included on the 1974 album "The Muppet Alphabet Album." Most of the song consists of Cookie Monster saying, "C is for cookie, that's good enough for me."

Marilyn Horne, Pentatonix, Ben Platt, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and others have covered the song.

Answer: Satisfying and delicious

Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley wrote "The Candy Man" for the 1971 movie "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." Aubrey Woods first sang it as Bill, the candy store owner in the movie. Newley also recorded the song that year for his album "Pure Imagination." Newley did not like the way Woods sang the song in the film.

Outside of the film, the song is best remembered as one of Sammy Davis Jr.'s signature songs. It was also his only number one hit in the United States. Ironically, Sammy Davis Jr. hated the song. He said, "It's horrible. It's a timmy-two-shoes, it's white bread, cute-ums, there's no romance, Blechhh!"

The Mike Curb Congregation, Tony Mottola, Sloppy Seconds, and others have also covered the song.

Answer: Train

Steve Goodman wrote and recorded "City of New Orleans" in 1971. The song talks about a ride on a train known as "The City of New Orleans." In 1972, Arlo Guthrie recorded the song, and it reached number four on the charts. In 1984, Willie Nelson recorded it. His version reached number one on the charts, and it also got Goodman a Grammy Award posthumously for Best Songwriting.

In 1975, the TV show "Good Morning, America" debuted. The title comes from the opening of "City of New Orleans," which says, "Good morning, America, how are you?"

The song has also been covered by many other artists, including John Denver, Johnny Cash (with June Carter Cash), John Prine, and Jerry Reed.

Answer: Phyllis

Stephen Sondheim wrote "Could I Leave You?" for his 1971 musical "Follies." The song is sung by Phyllis during the second act, where she tells her husband, Ben, that she doesn't care about their marriage and could easily leave him. At the end of the song, she asks, "Will I leave you, will I leave you? Guess!"

Alexis Smith was the first to sing the song, as she was in the original cast of "Follies." In the 2001 revival, Blythe Danner sang the song, and in the 2011 revival, Jan Maxwell sang the song.

It has been covered by performers like Lee Remick, Donna Murphy, Carol Burnett, and Julie Andrews.

Answer: Freddy My Love

Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey wrote "Freddy My Love" in 1971 for the 1972 Broadway musical "Grease." It was greatly influenced by the song "Eddie My Love" from 1956 by The Teen Queens. The song talks about Marty wanting gifts from Freddy to prove his love. Katie Hanley, who originated Marty, was the first to sing the song.

The song is not sung by Marty (played by Dinah Manoff) in the 1978 movie adaptation. It is, however, included in the movie soundtrack, where it is sung by Cindy Bullens. The song has been covered by artists such as Keke Palmer, Megan Mullally, Adrienne Barbeau, and Irene Graff.

Answer: Gethsemane

Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics) wrote "Jesus Christ Superstar" in 1970, but it did not open on Broadway until 1971. On the 1970 concept album, Ian Gillan sang the role of Jesus. When the musical opened on Broadway the following year, Jesus was played by Jeff Fenholt. William Daniel Grey sang the song as Jesus in the 1978 revival; in the 2000 revival, Glenn Carter did it; and in the 2012 revival, it was sung by Paul Nolan.

In the 1973 movie adaptation, Ted Neeley played Jesus and performed the song in the movie. The song has also been covered by John Legend, Steve Balsamo, Michael Crawford, and Cynthia Erivo.