Desert Island Discs with Engelbert Humperdinck Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Engelbert's first record selection on BBC Radio 4's "Desert Island Discs" was this Lennon/McCartney song which stalled at Number Two on the British singles chart in the spring and summer of 1967: "And in his pocket is a portrait of the queen He likes to keep his fire engine clean It's a clean machine"

Answer: Penny Lane

"Penny Lane" was prevented from becoming The Beatles' thirteenth consecutive Number One by Engelbert's smash hit "Release Me", which remained at the top of the British singles chart for six weeks and spent a record fifty-six weeks on the chart all told. In 2003, Engelbert laid down his own version of "Penny Lane" on his album "Definition of Love".

2. Engelbert's second record selection on BBC Radio 4's "Desert Island Discs" was recorded by Nat "King" Cole in 1961. What is the song that contains this delightful lyric? "Let there be birds To sing in the trees, Someone to bless me Whenever I sneeze."

Answer: Let There Be Love

The standard "Let There Be Love" by Lionel Rand and Ian Grant was written in 1939. It has been recorded by many artists through the years, including by Engelbert on his 2005 album of the same title.

3. Engelbert's third record selection on BBC Radio 4's "Desert Island Discs" was Frankie Laine's 1956 rendition of "A Woman in Love". What Hollywood musical about the unlikely romance between a gambler and a Salvation Army officer, whose stars were not known as singers, gave us this song?

Answer: Guys and Dolls

Frank Loesser's "Guys and Dolls" was based on stories by Damon Runyon. It opened on Broadway on November 24, 1950 with Robert Alda and Isabel Bigley as Sky Masterson and Sarah Brown. It ran for 1200 performances and won Tonys for Best Musical and Best Choreography.

In 1955 "Guys and Dolls" came to the silver screen with, curiously, non-singers Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons as Sky and Sarah.

"The Eyes of a Woman in Love" is dear to Engelbert's heart, being the song he sang the first time he performed in public at the age of seventeen.

4. Engelbert's fourth record selection on BBC Radio 4's "Desert Island Discs" was reputedly his favorite. Which smooth crooner and sometime partner of Jerry Lewis recorded "Return to Me"?

Answer: Dean Martin

A favorite singer and idol of the young Gerry Dorsey, Dean befriended him when Engelbert Humperdinck came to America as a newly minted superstar. Not only was Dean kind to Engelbert on a personal level, he sponsored Engelbert's first engagement in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Riviera, a hotel of which he was part owner.

5. Engelbert's fifth record selection on BBC Radio 4's "Desert Island Discs" was what melancholy holiday tune, sung by the King of Rock 'N Roll? "Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree Won't mean a thing, dear, if you're not here with me"

Answer: Blue Christmas

The earliest recording of "Blue Christmas" by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson was made by Russ Morgan and His Orchestra in 1949. It has become a holiday staple, especially favored by country and rock artists. Engelbert included the song on his 1980 "A Merry Christmas with Engelbert Humperdinck".

6. Engelbert's sixth record selection on BBC Radio 4's "Desert Island Discs" might surprise those who consider him square. What rock legend's "Purple Haze" did Engelbert choose?

Answer: Jimi Hendrix

Unlikely though it may seem, Engelbert and the great guitarist were friends... Or, maybe not so unlikely. Both being fine musicians, they admired one another's talent.

Engelbert sometimes told the story of the time his guitarist was unable to play. He had a show to do and no idea where to find a replacement at short notice. So Hendrix offered to play for him. He objected, saying it would never work. But Jimmy reassured him that he'd be behind the curtain. Who would know? And so, as Engelbert said, he played a show with Jimmy Hendrix! His only regret was that it wasn't recorded.

7. Engelbert's seventh record selection on BBC Radio 4's "Desert Island Discs" was one of his own early tracks. What beautiful song penned by Cindy Walker did he choose? "Planes to Rome, ships to Spain Island sunsets, jungles silver with rain"

Answer: All This World and the Seven Seas

"All This World and the Seven Seas" was from Engelbert's 1967 album "The Last Waltz". He recorded two of the other selections as well: "Around the World" on "Live At the Riviera Las Vegas" from 1971 and "Travelin' Boy" on "This Moment in Time" from 1979. "Traveling Man" was a hit for Ricky Nelson in 1962.

8. Engelbert's eighth and final record selection on BBC Radio 4's "Desert Island Discs" was Ray Charles' recording of what cynical view of love and marriage? "Another bride, another groom Another sunny honeymoon Another season, another reason For ____"

Answer: Makin' Whoopee

Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn's 1928 song "Makin' Whoopee" was popularized by Eddie Cantor and has been recorded by a wide range of pop, jazz and blues artists ever since. The track Engelbert chose comes from Ray's 1965 "Live in Concert" album.

9. By his own admission, Engelbert has never been much of a reader. Still, his selection of book on BBC Radio 4's "Desert Island Discs" is rather surprising. What interrogatively titled book did he select?

Answer: What's in a Name?

Engelbert's autobiography had come out earlier that year, so there may have been some plugging involved with the selection. But when asked why he chose that particular book, his answer was sweet and a little sad; that is, when he's old and losing his memory on the island, he can read through the book and remember.

"Engelbert: What's In A Name? The Autobiography", written with Kate Wright, was published by Virgin Books in 2004.

"Engelbert Humperdinck: The Authorised Biography" by Don Short was published by New English Library in 1972.

"Sweet Life: Adventures On The Way To Paradise" by Barry Manilow was published by McGraw - Hill in 1987.

"Still Rockin': Tom Jones, A Biography" by Aubrey Malone was published in 2010 by Y Lolfa.

10. What musical instrument, played by such greats as Jimmy Dorsey, Charlie Parker and Gerri Mulligan, did Engelbert select as his luxury item on BBC Radio 4's "Desert Island Discs"?

Answer: A saxophone

When he was eleven, Gerry Dorsey's father gave him a secondhand saxophone. While he worked at his lessons, he dreamed of being a bandleader like Jimmy Dorsey in America who played both the clarinet and the sax. Eventually, he realized that his voice was his true instrument, but his love of the sax remained.

As the singing star Engelbert Humperdinck, he often featured this mellow yet sensuous woodwind in his backing band.

Source: Author Catreona

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Pagiedamon before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Desert Island Discs with Engelbert Humperdinck Quiz

On Sunday, December 19, 2004, Sue Lawley's guest on "Desert Island Discs" was British pop star Engelbert Humperdinck. Can you identify his selections of records, book and luxury item that he would take with him to a desert island?

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