Let's Go "Park"ing. Trivia Quiz

Answer: Saturday in the Park

When "Saturday in the Park" reached Number Three in the US for Chicago it became their highest charting single at the time and the biggest single hit from the "Chicago V" album. Band member Robert Lamm got the idea for the song while walking around New York City during a break from recording "Chicago V".
The line in the song "Eh, Cumpari!" refers to a novelty song originally recorded by Julius LaRosa in 1953.
Jill Sobule sampled the piano riff from "Saturday in the Park" for the song "Cinnamon Park" on her 2004 "Underdog Victorious" LP.
"Autumn in the Park" was recorded by Suburban Legends. Beach House released "Walk in the Park" and Prince released "Paisley Park".

Answer: Richard Harris

After "MacArthur Park" was rejected by The Association, composer Jimmy Webb met Richard Harris at a party. Harris had completed filming the Musical "Camelot" (1967)and expressed interest in releasing a Pop song. Webb auditioned several songs and Harris liked "MacArthur Park". In December, 1967, the song was recorded at a Hollywood studio and included on Harris' 1968 "A Tramp Shining" album. Despite the fact the song was over seven minutes long Dunhill Records released it as a single. It reached Number Two in the US and received the Grammy Award for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s).
In 1978 Donna Summer released a Disco version from her album "Live and More". It topped the charts and Summer was nominated for a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
B.J. Thomas had a hit with "Eyes of a New York Woman" in 1968. Ed Ames hit the Top Forty the same year with "Who Will Answer?" and "Take Time to Know Her" by Percy Sledge hit Number 11 in 1968.

Answer: The Cowsills

"The Rain, the Park and Other Things" was a single release from the group's 1967 album, "The Cowsills". It is unusual because the title of the song is not contained in the lyrics. Like many groups of the era the Cowsills were talented musicians but did not play on their recordings. "The Rain, the Park and other Things" was the group's first national Top Ten hit. The Cowsills made it to Number Two again in 1969 with their release of "Hair".
The Newport, Rhode Island, family group formed in 1965 and by the time "The Rain, the Park and Other Things" became a hit the siblings aged from eight to 19.
"I've Been Lonely Too Long" was a 1967 release by Young Rascals. The Seekers had a hit with "Georgy Girl" in 1968 and The Mamas and The Papas released "Dedicated To The One I Love" the same year.

Answer: False

Ronnie Lane, Steve Marriott and Kenney Jones were among the original members of Small faces when it was formed in 1965. They were joined by keyboardist Ian McLagan the following year and began performing Rhythm and Blues cover tunes. They released the "Small Faces" album in 1966. They changed labels and released a second eponymous album in 1967. In the US the album was titled "There Are But Four Small Faces" which contained "Itchycoo Park". The single reached Number 16 in the US.
In late 1968 Steve Marriott left the band in the middle of a New Years Eve engagement. In 1969 the remaining members formed Faces with Rod Stewart as vocalist.
Ian McLagan worked as a session player for many notable artists. Marriott joined Humble Pie. Ronnie Lane joined Faces in 1969 and later worked with other musicians but relocated to Texas for health reasons. Kenney Jones also worked in Faces and went on to join The Who in 1978 when Keith Moon passed. Rod Stewart went on to a successful solo career.

Answer: Summer Days (And Summer Nights!)

"Summer Days (And Summer Nights!)" was The Beach Boys' ninth studio album and the first album to include Brian's touring replacement Bruce Johnston. Al Jardine was absent from the cover photo due to being ill when it was shot.
Mike Love and Brian Wilson co-wrote "Amusement Parks U.S.A.". The voice of the carnival barker on the track is actually session drummer Hal Blaine. "Salt Lake City" was the flip side when the song was released as a single in the US.
"Holland", "Love You" and "Sunflower" were all released in the seventies.

Answer: Billy Joe Royal

Billy Joe Royal took "Cherry Hill Park" to Number 15 in 1969. The song is about a flirtatious girl named Mary Hill who hung around the park. Valdosta, Georgia, native Billy Joe Royal first hit the US charts in 1965 with the Top Ten single "Down in the Boondocks". Joe South composed "Down in the Boondocks" as well as other hits by Royal including "I Knew You When" and "Hush".
After his pop career waned Royal made a resurgence in the eighties on the Country charts.
"Arizona" was a 1969 Number Ten single from Mark Lindsay. Tommy Roe took "Dizzy" to Number One in 1969.

Answer: Palisades Park

"Palisades Park" was originally the flip side to a song titled "June, July and August". When a Michigan Dee-jay played the "Palisades Park" side the song took off and became Freddy Cannon's biggest sixties hit. Game show host and creator Chuck Barris was inspired to compose the song when he looked across the Hudson River in New York to the New Jersey palisades where the park was situated.
Artists who have done versions of the song include Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Jan and Dean, Shelley Fabares and The Beach Boys.
The park opened in 1898. Nine years after Freddy Cannon released the song Palisades Park was closed for good.
Riverview Park was in Chicago. Olympic Park was another amusement park in New Jersey. Steeplechase Park was in Coney island.

Answer: Sunday

Group member Tom Johnston's composition "Another Park, Another Sunday" was the first single release from the 1974 "What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" album and reached Number 32. The song featured a guitar amplified by a Leslie cabinet speaker.
"Eyes of Silver" was the second release and did not do well.
"Black Water" went on to become the biggest single from the album, reaching Number One. "What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" was the band's fourth album. Guest artists performing on the LP include Arlo Guthrie, James Booker, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter and Keith Knudsen.

Answer: Billy Stewart

When Billy Stewart was 12 years old he was on a weekly radio show with his brothers calling themselves The 4 Stewart Brothers. After five years he began playing secular music with various groups including The Rainbows. Bo Diddley asked him to be a backing musician which led to a recording contract with Chess Records. Bo played guitar on Stewart's first release "Billy's Blues" (1956).

After a string of releases including "Sitting in the Park" he hit the Top Ten in 1966 with a Scat version of "Summertime".

He followed with a rendition of "Secret Love" but due to health issues he failed to release another successful single and died in a car accident at age 32. "Open the Door to Your Heart" was a 1966 Top Forty by Darrell Banks. Lou Rawls took "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing" to Number 13 in 1966. "Like A Baby" was a 1966 Number 27 single from Len Barry.

Answer: Keith Barbour

New York native Keith Barbour released his "Echo Park" album in 1969 and released the title track as a single. "Echo Park" was about an old man who had lost his son in a war. The single reached Number 40, becoming Barbour's only US Top Forty single.
His singing aspirations began at Brown University when he became a member of the school's historical a Capella club The Jabberwocks. In 1967 he became a member of the New Christy Minstrels and went solo two years later. After "Echo Park" he had a minor follow up single with "My God and I".
Gene Clark joined The New Christy Minstrels in 1963 before joining The Byrds. Larry Ramos was a member before becoming part of The Association and alumni Jerry Yester went on to work with The Lovin' Spoonful.