Sir George Martin CBE: Record Producer Quiz

Answer: Sophia Loren

"Goodness Gracious Me", a comedy record by Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren was a number four hit on the UK chart in 1960. It did not chart in the US.

Their next UK hit was "Bangers And Mash" which is Sausage And Mash (mashed boiled potatoes). It reached number 22 in the UK. On the record Sellers uses Cockney, American and Italian accents and in the latter part of the record Sophia Loren sings with a Cockney accent.

Answer: Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald had a number 34 hit on the UK chart with "Can't Buy Me Love" in 1964. It did not chart in the US.

Ella Jane Fitzgerald was born in 1917. During her career which ran for 59 years she won thirteen Grammy awards. She gained numerous awards including the National Medal of Arts awarded by President Ronald Reagan and the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by President George W. H. Bush. In later years her vision was impaired by diabetes and she died from it aged 79 in 1996.

Answer: The Dakotas

The Dakotas had a number 18 hit on the UK chart with "The Cruel Sea" in 1963. It was re-titled "The Cruel Surf" in the US but did not chart.

The Dakotas were formed in Manchester UK and were the backing group for a singer named Pete McLaine. They accepted an offer from The Beatles manager Brian Epstein in 1963 to become the backing band for one of his singers, William Ashton because his backing group The Coasters did not want to turn professional. The group then became known as Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas.

Answer: 633

"633 Squadron" was a fictional WWII story starring the late Cliff Robertson, George Chakiris, Harry Andrews and Michael Goodliffe. It was based on the book by Fredrick E. Smith about an RAF squadron sent on a bombing mission to knock out a German rocket fuel factory in Norway.

There are plenty of gaffes in the movie and here are some based around transport. In the movie there is a Land Rover which did not start production until 1947. There is also a 1964 white hatchback seen. German soldiers are driving in an Alvis Saracen personnel carrier which is a British army vehicle. They might have captured it from the British but that design was not produced until 1952.

Answer: From Russia With Love

Matt Monro had a number 20 hit on the UK chart with "From Russia With Love" in 1963. It did not chart in the US.

Matt Monro was born Terrence Edward Parsons in London in 1930. Among his various jobs before his singing career took off was driving a London bus. George Martin asked Matt to record a Frank Sinatra style intro for Peter Sellers to copy and use on an Album but Sellers left Matt's version on the record billing him as Fred Flange. George Martin then started to record with Matt and their second single "A Portrait Of My Love" reached number three on the UK chart in 1960. It did not chart in the US.

The other three alternative James Bond theme's were all recorded by Shirley Bassey who has recorded more James Bond theme's than anyone else.

Answer: Frasier

Millicent Martin played Gertrude Moon, the Mancunian mother of Daphne Moon in "Frasier".

Millicent Mary Lillian Martin (no relation to George Martin) was born in Romford UK in 1934. She made her Broadway debut opposite Julie Andrews in 1954. She was resident singer on the BBC TV satirical show "That Was The Week That Was" starring David Frost which ran from 1962 to 1963. She had her own TV show called "Mainly Millicent" from 1964 to 1966. She played Siddie, one of Michael Caine's conquests in the 1966 movie "Alfie".

Answer: You'll Never Walk Alone

Gerry and The Pacemakers had a number one hit for four weeks on the UK chart with "You'll Never Walk Alone" in 1963. It reached number 48 on the US pop chart in 1965.

It was Gerry and The Pacemakers' third number one hit of the year with only their third single. It was the first time anyone had topped the UK chart with their first three singles. "You'll Never Walk Alone" was written by Rodgers/Hammerstein for their 1945 musical "Carousel".

Answer: Rolf Harris

Rolf Harris had a number three hit on the UK chart with "Sun Arise" in 1962. It reached number 61 on the US pop chart in 1963.

Australian Rolf Harris has lived in the UK since 1952. He was awarded an MBE in 1968, an OBE in 1977 and a CBE in 2006. Rolf Harris painted a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II for her 80th birthday. Years earlier his grandfather had painted a portrait of the Queen's grandfather King George V. He had the last UK number one hit of the '60s with "Two Little Boys" which is reputed to be Margaret Thatcher's favourite song. I liked him up till then.

Answer: Cilla Black

"Alfie" gave Cilla Black a number nine hit on the UK chart in 1966. It reached number 95 on the US pop chart the same year.

Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David it was first offered to Sandy Shaw who declined the offer. It was then offered to Cilla Black who would only record it if Bacharach came to the UK, arranged the song and played piano. It was recorded in studio 1 at Abbey Road with Bacharach also conducting the orchestra. In the US Paramount Studios wanted the song to be in the movie so they used Cher's version over the closing credits. Cher's version reached number 32 on the US pop chart in 1966. It did not chart in the UK. A version by Dionne Warwick (Bacharach & David's first choice for the song) was released in 1967 and reached number 15 on the US pop chart but did not chart in the UK.

Answer: America

America had a number three hit on the Billboard US album chart with "Holiday" in 1974. It failed to chart in the UK.

"Tin Man" was a number four hit on the US pop chart in 1974 and "Lonely People" reached number five on the US pop chart in 1975. Neither of these singles from the album made the UK singles chart. The three members of America, Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek, were all born in the UK. Their fathers were all US military personnel stationed at the US air force base at RAF West Ruislip, London, their mothers were all British.