Motorboating Maniacs Trivia Quiz

Answer: Harry Belafonte

This is a traditional Jamaican folk song, commonly referred to as "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)". The best known of the many versions released is Belafonte's 1957 release on the RCA label. It would peak at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. Harry first performed it in 1955, using lyrics that were written by Lord Burgess and William Attaway, for the "Colgate Comedy Hour".

Answer: Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas

This song was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, when they were at the height of their powers, as a vehicle for Gene Pitney, who'd previously recorded a number of the duo's songs. Pitney turned them down, stating that it wasn't one of their better ones. Bacharach went to London to record it with an all-girl group called the Breakaways, utilising the services of a string orchestra.

At the same time it was heard by Beatles' manager Brian Epstein who suggested that it was the perfect song for Billy J Kramer. Kramer's and Bacharach's versions were virtually released at the same time (May, 1965) with the former's release peaking at number twelve on the UK Singles Chart and Bacharach's reaching number four.

Answer: Lead Belly

This has often been seen as a civil rights folk song written by Huddie Ledbetter (Lead Belly). The track proves to be neither a folk song nor to have been written by Ledbetter. The song was written towards the end of World War II by E.Y. Harbury and Earl Robinson.

It was initially featured on the CBS radio program "Unity Fair" in 1945. Lead Belly recorded his first version of the track at a performance at the New York City Town Hall in April of 1946. He was accompanied on harmonica by the legendary Sonny Terry.

Answer: Cat Stevens

Written in 1970 the song appears on his hit album "Tea for the Tillerman", an album that is filled with themes of spirituality and transcendence. "Longer Boats", with it focus on the loss of innocence is another track that does not stray too far from this theme. One of the stories that has surfaced about the lyrics is that the boats are symbols of the souls being carried across the River Styx to either Heaven or Hell.

The pilots of these boats being the "tillermen" of the album's title. Stevens has done little to either confirm or deny this, so the mystery still remains.

Answer: Rosemary Clooney & Bing Crosby

This track is a Frank Loesser written pop standard that has been recorded numerous times by such luminaries as Ella Fitzgerald, Joni James, Jimmy Buffett, Fats Domino and Liza Minnelli. Whilst the song was first published in 1948, the duet by Clooney and Crosby was recorded and released in 1958.

It formed part of their album "Fancy Meeting You Here". Bette Midler, in 2003, recorded the album "Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook" and on it she records a version of the song as a duet with Barry Manilow.

Answer: Lulu

Written by Neil Diamond, who considered it to be the first track that echoed his growing independence as a songwriter. He called it his "rebel" song. Lulu, who is best known for her recording of the theme song to the movie "To Sir, With Love" (1967), released this track in the same year. It would peak at number six for her on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

Answer: Stubby Kaye

This is the "11 o'clock" number from the musical "Guys and Dolls" (1950) and was performed by Kaye in his role as Nicely-Nicely Johnson. At the time he has a dream that he is rescued from Hell and put on a mission to bring back together the members of a prayer group.

(Note) An "11 o'clock" number is usually the show-stopper, coming towards the end of the second act in a two act play and, in it, the main character usually makes an important self discovery.

Answer: Phoebe Snow

This song was written by George and Ira Gershwin for their hit musical "Porgy and Bess" (1935). Working well as a jazz number, the track has since been recorded numerous times, most notably by Miles Davis and Phoebe Snow. Snow's version was put together with a small jazz combo for her 1976 album "Second Childhood".

Answer: Hues Corporation

This was the third single to be released from the band's debut album "Freedom for the Stallion" (1974). The track did nothing for the band initially and it almost looked like slipping into obscurity. Then, disco happened. Considered one of the earliest disco songs it became a favourite in New York, was soon picked up by Top Forty radio stations and then found itself rocketing to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

The song would sell in excess of two million copies for the band.

Answer: Split Enz

Appearing on Split Enz's seventh studio album, "Time and Tide" in 1982, the song was the second single off that disc. Written by Tim Finn its title is a reference of the time it took to transport prisoners from eighteen century England to New Zealand. The track was released at about the same time as the Falklands War between Great Britain and Argentina and the home country strongly discouraged the BBC from playing the song, claiming that it was not good for the morale of seamen to hear songs of "leaky boats" while there was a naval battle going on.