Sounds Of The 60s Rewound (Part 2) Quiz

Answer: Glen Campbell

"By The Time I Get To Phoenix" was written by Jimmy Webb about an abortive love affair. (Spoiler: the girl broke his heart.)

Webb was working for Motown Records at the time and the song was to be sung by Paul Petersen, but Motown did not like it. When Webb left Motown, he took the song with him and it was first recorded by Johnny Rivers in 1965.

Glen Campbell heard it on his car radio. His recording was Campbell's first Top 40 hit. Webb was also to write "Wichita Lineman" for Campbell and in later years said Campbell's voice was "absolutely perfect" for the songs.

While he came to be noted for his own headlining recordings, Campbell was for many years a session man, including time with LA's famous 'Wrecking Crew'. Indeed, many guitar players regarded Campbell as one of the finest exponents of their art. (He was also a more than average bagpipes player.)

Answer: Elvis Presley

Rarely can a talent have been mined as deeply as Elvis Presley. It is estimated (guessed may be a better term) that more than 500 albums were released in his lifetime and after his death.
To try to get some authoritative source, the Official UK Charts Company notes 164 top 75 singles, 21 at number one and 125 top 75 albums, 13 at number one.

Indeed: Elvis Presley is one of the UK charts' leading icons, the artist with the most UK Number 1 singles ever... [Correct as of August 2025.]
"Wooden Heart" was a UK number one, but did not chart in the USA.

In the USA, Billboard records 117 albums, three at number one. On the Hot 100 there were 109 entries, seven at number one.

In all markets, 500 million record sales are claimed.

Answer: The Everly Borthers

No, not the one that Kenny Rogers had a hit with, this "Lucille" was an Everly Brothers cover of a Little Richard song.

Little Richard said in a 'Rolling Stone' interview: "I don't know what inspired me to write it, it may have been the rhythm." It reached number one on the Billboard R&B charts in 1957.

The Everlys added their trademark harmonies. Their recording was also innovative in using several guitars on the track at the same time. It reached number 21 on the Hot 100 in 1965.

Answer: The Shirelles

"Tonight you're mine completely
You give your love so sweetly
Tonight the light of love is in your eyes
But will you love me tomorrow?..."

Many people in the United Kingdom will associate this song with a television commercial showing a dog, cat and (white) mouse settling down harmoniously in front of a blazing open fire.* The tagline was "Now You Know What People See In A Real Fire". It was directed by Tony Kaye for the advertising company Saatchi & Saatchi.

But, back to the music. The song became the first hit written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. It topped the US charts and was a number four in the UK in 1961. It made The Shirelles the first all-girl black group to top the US pop charts.

Before that, it was offered to Johnny Mathis, while Tony Orlando also wanted it, but they had to step back when it was explained that this was a girl's song and no man would sing the words.

It has been covered a number of times. Carole King included it on her album "Tapestry" in 1971.

* Spoiler alert: trick photography was used in making the commercial.

Answer: Manfred Mann

"Come all without, come all within
You'll not see nothing like the Mighty Quinn.."

Provocatively, surely another cover of a Bob Dylan song that was better than the original.

"Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)" was recorded by Dylan on his "Basement Tapes" sessions with The Band in 1967, but was not released by him until 1970.

Meanwhile, in 1968, the British band Manfred Mann released it as a single and took it to the top of the UK charts. It was a US number ten.

It was rare for Dylan to allow anyone to release one of his songs before he did. While some people have speculated that the song was about a drug dealer, Mike D'Abo, the Manfred Mann keyboard player, said: "I have never had the first idea what the song is about..."

(A by-product of the song is that any sportsperson or singer with the family name Quinn has had to get used to being referred to as 'Mighty Quinn' in newspaper reports and headlines. This quiz author pleads guilty to adopting this device.)

Answer: The Strangeloves

Was there a written or unwritten rule in the 1960s that every musical band had to have "The" in front of their name?

The Strangeloves (aka Strange Loves) were set up in New York City and comprised Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer (They claimed to be Australian.) They were joined in the recording by session men Eric Gale, guitar, John Shine, bass, Herb Lovelle, drums, and Richie Lauro, saxophone.

"I Want Candy" hit number 11 on the Hot 100 in 1965. The song was covered by several artists thereafter.

Answer: Cliff Richard & The Shadows

In 1961, Cliff Richard and The Shadows took "A Girl Like You" to number three on the charts in the UK. In was their 12th top ten hit.
The band was formed in 1958 as "The Drifters" but had to change it to avoid confusion with the US band of that name.

Richard went solo, and he and The Shadows had separate recording careers.

In 50 years of performing Richard had 14 UK number ones - beaten only by The Beatles (17) and Elvis Presley (21). (His discography includes releases credited as Cliff Richard And The Drifters, Cliff Richard And The Shadows and Cliff Richard.)

Now, pedants, the elephant in the room: some sources state "A Girl Like You" was 'With The Shadows' and others give it as a solo hit. Even more confusingly, some say it was 'And The Shadows'.

Answer: The Delfonics

"Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" reached number ten on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970. It topped out at number 22 in the UK. It was covered extensively and New Kids On The Block, took it to number eight in 1989.

It featured in Quentin Tarantino's 1997 movie "Jackie Brown".

This was one of two top ten hits for The Delfonics. In 1966, "La-La (Means I Love You)" peaked at number four on the Hot 100.

Answer: Herb Alpert

Almost 60 years after his heyday, many people have forgotten just how influential Herb Alpert was.

A talented trumpeter and arranger, in 1966 his Tijuana Brass outsold The Beatles by two to one. He became the first recording artist to have both a number one hit as a singer and as an instrumentalist.

In 1968, his recording of the Burt Bacharach and Hal David composition "This Guy's in Love with You" knocked Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson" off the top spot in the US charts.

Hal David offered him "Close To You" as a follow-up, but after hearing Karen Carpenter in the studio, Alpert was stunned by her talent and gave her the song. The rest is Carpenters' history...

Did I say his heyday was 60 years ago? Up to a point, Lord Copper: Alpert continued performing and recording and embarked on a new tour in 2025.

Answer: Noel Harrison

"Windmills Of Your Mind" was written for the 1968 movie "The Thomas Crown Affair". Music was by French composer Michel Legrand and English lyrics were written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. It won an Oscar for "Best Original Song".

It also reached number eight on the UK singles charts. Harris said of the song:
"Marilyn and Alan Bergman's lyric, like a series of mantras, plus Michel LeGrand's soaring string arrangement and contrapuntal rhythms made this a classic.

"It was recorded live on a huge sound stage at Paramount, with the accompanying film clips running on a giant screen and Michel blowing kisses to the orchestra. I've never tired of this song, it seems to grow with the years."

Noel Harrison was a son of the actor Rex Harrison, and after his singing career enjoyed a solid acting career of his own in the USA and Canada.

Answer: The Overlanders

"Michelle, ma belle
These are words that go together well..."

This was a cover of a song written mainly by Paul McCartney, with a contribution by John Lennon.

It appeared on the 1965 Beatles album "Robber Soul". It was a chart topper for The Beatles in several European countries and won a Grammy.

The Overlanders were a Brutish band that had some minor success in the USA, but took "Michelle" to the top of the UK singles charts in 1966.

In 2010, Paul McCartney played "Michelle" in his set at the White House in front of President Barack Obama and his First Lady...Michelle.

Answer: Nat King Cole

"There may be trouble ahead
But while there's moonlight and music
And love and romance
Let's face the music and dance..."

Irving Berlin wrote "Let's Face The Music And Dance" for the 1936 movie "Follow The Fleet".

Covered by many over the years, it was first recorded by Nat Brandwynne and The Stork Club Orchestra in January 20, 1936, but the song was totally 'owned' by Fred Astaire, who released it with Johnny Green and his Orchestra in February 1936.

Incidentally, for a bit of fun, do an internet search for "let's face the music and dance morecambe and wise".

Answer: Martha and the Vandellas

"Calling out around the world
Are you ready for a brand new beat?
Summer's here and the time is right
For dancing in the street..."

Coming out of the Motown stable, "Dancing In The Street" was written by Marvin Gaye, Ivy Jo Hunter, and William "Mickey" Stevenson.

Released in 1964 it was a UK number four and US number two and became the biggest hit for Martha and the Vandellas.

Martha Reeves worked as a secretary at Motown, but filled in as a backing singer. After supporting Marvin Gaye for a time, she and friends Annette Sterling and Rosalind Ashford were given their own records.

Others to cover the song included Van Halen, The Kinks, The Grateful Dead, The Mamas and the Papas, and Mick Jagger and David Bowie for a 'Live Aid' duet.

Answer: The Shangri‐Las

In 1964 "Give Him A Great Big Kiss" was a US number 18 from The Shangri-Las, a bit of a disappointment as their previous single, "Leader of The Pack" was a chart-topper. They were to have just one more hit, "I Can't Go Home Any More", a number six in 1965.

Much was expected of the trio - they opened for The Beatles at one stage - but when their record company folded in 1966 they couldn't get signed again and disbanded in 1968. They did get together in 1977 for a one-off concert.

But their music was to provide an influence on rockers and new-wave bands such as Iggy Pop, The New York Dolls, The Ramones, and Blondie.

Answer: Crispin St Peters

""You Were On My Mind" was written by Sylvia Tyson, one half of the Canadian folk duo Ian and Sylvia.

She actually re-wrote some lyrics for the American band We Five in 1965. It was number one on the Cashbox chart and number three on the Billboard Hot 100
The following year, English singer Crispian St. Peters took it to number two in the UK.

In an interview with 'Billboard Canada', Sylvia Tyson recalled: "I wrote this song in 1961, although it was not recorded or published until '62, and I wrote it in a bathtub in the Hotel Earle in Greenwich Village in New York. It's now a very fancy boutique hotel.
"The reason I wrote it in the bathtub wasn't that I was taking a bath. It was the only place the cockroaches wouldn't go. I guess the rest is history."