Lesser Known Top Forty Hits of 1967 Quiz

Answer: Blues' Theme

Davie Allan started his professional career in the early sixties playing Surf music in southern California. In 1964 he became a session guitarist for a subsidiary of Capitol Records called Sidewalk Records. While with the label he formed The Arrows. The group released some Surf style music on the label with little success until they were asked to provide a song for the soundtrack of a movie titled "The Wild Angels" (1966). "Blues' Theme", also occasionally listed as "Blue's Theme", was used for the opening credits of the movie and the single charted at Number 37 the following year, remaining on the charts for 17 weeks.

The soundtrack album for the film also fared well on the charts. The group followed up with themes for other movies, but none did as well as "Blue's Theme". "A Banda (Ah Bahn-da)" and "Casino Royale" were Top Forty singles by Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass. "The Dis-Advantages of You" was a Number 36 instrumental release by The Brass Ring.

Answer: Lesley Gore

Lesley Gore was still in high school when "It's My Party" reached Number One in 1963. Her early hits were produced by an emerging producer named Quincy Jones. She was born Lesley Sue Goldstein in New Jersey. One of the songs she was considering before recording "It's My Party" was "Groovy Kind of Love".

After "It's My Party" topped the charts she followed up with several other hits, but preferred to attend college rather than accept the many movie and touring offers that came her way. "California Nights" was her last Top Forty release in the sixties. "Hypnotized" reached Number 21 for Linda Jones. Nancy Sinatra's "Lightning's Girl" hit Number 24. "I'll Try Anything" made it to Number 40 for Dusty Springfield.

Answer: Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood

Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood began collaborating when Hazlewood produced and wrote some of her hits on Reprise Records. He composed her breakout hit, "These Boots Were Made for Walkin'", as well as several other follow-up hit singles. Their chemistry transitioned into the recording studio where they released several duets including "Lady Bird", "Some Velvet Morning", and "Jackson".

They sang "See the Little Children" on Nancy's 1967 television special, "Movin' With Nancy". The following year they released "Nancy and Lee - a collaboration with Nancy Sinatra" and followed up with another album, "Nancy and Lee Again - a collaboration with Nancy Sinatra" in 1972. "It Takes Two" was by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston. Tammi Terrell teamed with Marvin Gaye for the Top Twenty release, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". "For Your Love" and "Close Your Eyes" were two 1967 Top Twenty hits for Peaches and Herb.

Answer: James Darren

James Darren recorded "All" and took it to Number 35. Earlier hits by Darren included "Goodbye Cruel World" and "Her Royal Majesty". He starred in over a dozen movies including "Gidget" (1959), "The Guns of Navarone" (1961) and "For Those Who Think Young" (1964).

He was also the voice of "Jimmy Darrock" on an episode of The Flintstones. Between 1983 and 1986 he was a regular on "T J Hooker", playing Officer Corrigan. James and his wife were godparents of Nancy Sinatra's daughter, Angela. Some other teen sensations from the late fifties and early sixties enjoyed occasional chart resurgence in 1967. "Blue Autumn" reached Number 35 for Bobby Goldsboro. "Just as Much as Ever" reached Number 24 for Bobby Vinton. "Beautiful People" and "Come Back When You Grow Up" charted in the Top Forty for Bobby Vee.

Answer: I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman

While the exact persona of Whistling Jack Smith remains a mystery, it has been conjectured that the whistler on the single may have been John O'Neill, a trumpet player and expert whistler from England. He was a singer and session musician who was involved with the tracks for various British television shows. Producer Noel Walker also may have done the whistling on the recording.

He utilized a singer named Billy Moeller who performed under the name of Coby Wells to tour as Whistling Jack Smith in support of the single.

The mysterious aspect of the artist and the catchy tune combined to make the song a hit. "Hip Hug-Her" by Booker T. and The MG's reached Number 37 in '67. The instrumental, "Hey, Leroy, Your Mama's Callin' You", by Jimmy Castor reached the Number 31 slot.

Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass took an instrumental version of the Supreme's hit, "The Happening", to Number 32.

Answer: Victor Lundberg

Victor Lundberg was a radio newsman at station WMAX in Grand Rapids when he recorded and released the single, "An Open Letter to My teenage Son", in September, 1967. With "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" as a backing track he addressed issues such as The Vietnam War, Hippies and patriotism during the narrative and concluded by implying that if his son burned his draft card he should also burn his birth certificate.
Liberty Records released the single and it surprisingly shot up the charts, soliciting an invitation from Ed Sullivan for Lundberg to narrate the song on his television show. The release was also nominated for a Grammy and Liberty Records released a complete album of Lundberg's work.
A narrative titled "Gallant Men", by Senator Everett Dirksen, reached Number 29. Bunny Sigler took "Let the Good Times Roll/Feel So Good" to Number 22. Bill Cosby took a version of "Little Ole' Man (Uptight/Everything's Alright)" all the way to Number Four in 1967.

Answer: Do It Again a Little Bit Slower

"Do It Again a Little Bit Slower" was a Number 18 1967 hit for Jon and Robin and The In Crowd. Jon was Jon Abdnor and Robin was a teenager named Javonne Braga. The song was written by Wayne Carson Thompson, the author of the 1967 hit for The Boxtops, "The Letter". Members of a group called The Five Americans" were session musicians on tracks recorded by Jon and Robin and The In Crowd.

They had their own hit in 1967 with "Western Union". "Get It Together Part 1" reached Number 40 for James Brown. "Cold Sweat Part 1" reached Number Seven and "I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)" topped out at Number 28.

Answer: Don't Go Out Into the Rain (You're Going to Melt)

"There's a Kind of Hush" was Herman's Hermits' biggest US release in 1967, reaching Number Four. In addition to "Don't Go Out Into the Rain (You're Going to Melt)" and "There's a Kind of Hush", the group also charted the Number 39 single, "Museum", in 1967.

They first broke the US Top Twenty in 1964 with "I'm Into Something Good". "Best of Both Worlds" was a Number 32 hit from Lulu. Petula Clark took "The Cat in the Window (The Bird in the Sky)" to Number 26. She also reached Number Five with "Don't Sleep In The Subway". "Like An Old Time Movie" was a Number 24 single by Scott McKenzie.

He is known for his Summer of Love anthem, "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)"

Answer: False

"Big Boss Man" reached Number 38 and "Indescribably Blue" made it to Number 33. Elvis was busy making movies in 1967. He released "Clambake", "Easy Come, Easy Go" and "Double Trouble" that year. "Long Legged Girl (with the Short Dress On)" was a single release from the soundtrack of "Double Trouble" but it peaked at Number 63.
"That's Someone You Never Forget", "There's Always Me" and "Judy" were among the singles released by Presley that failed to break the US Top Forty in 1967.

Answer: Dean Martin

Dean Martin had a hit with the single, "Little Ole Wine Drinker, Me", and also released the Number 25 "In the Chapel in the Moonlight" in 1967. Several other artists also released single versions of the song including Robert Mitchum, Pepper Jennings, Merle Haggard and Josh Ritter. Dean is associated with the song because he was able to perform it on his television show that ran from 1965 to 1974. The song also enhanced Dean's image of a boozing playboy.
"In the Heat of the Night" by Ray Charles reached Number 33. Frankie Laine barely broke the Top Forty with "I'll Take Care of Your Cares" and Oscar Toney, Jr. took a version of "For Your Precious Love" to Number 23.
Jim Backus provided the voice of the character in the wine commercial.