Songs Referencing the Wind Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mexico

"Ride Like The Wind" relates a first person account of a murderer trying to escape hanging by reaching Mexico in the old West. The refrain of the song states "And I've got such a long way to go (Such a long way to go) To make it to the border of Mexico, So I'll ride like the wind...".
"Call Me" by Blondie kept the song at Number Two on the US charts. Michael McDonald contributed backing vocals and Christopher played the guitar solo on the recording.
"Ride Like The Wind" was the leading single from Chris' eponymous 1980 debut album. His next single release, "Sailing", was the only single from the LP to make it to the top of the charts. "Say You'll Be Mine" was the third release and reached Number 33.
Christopher Cross dedicated "Ride Like The Wind" to the late Lowell George of Little Feat who had passed the previous year.

Answer: Beaches

Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley composed "Wind Beneath my Wings" in 1982. Several artists recorded the song before Bette Midler recorded a version for her 1988 film, "Beaches". Roger Whittaker released a version of the song followed by Lou Rawls and Sheena Easton among others. Gladys Knight and the Pips released a version titled "Hero" and Gary Morris released a country version in 1983.
Bette Midler's version topped the charts in 1989 and won a Grammy for Song of the Year and also for Record of the Year in 1990.
Barbara Hershey co-starred with Bette in "Beaches", a film that follows two girls from diverse backgrounds through a 30-year friendship. Mayim Bialik played Bette as a child in the movie.

Answer: Kansas

Kerry Livgren of Kansas composed the US Number Six single "Dust in the Wind". The song was from their "Point of Know Return" LP and would be their only US Top Ten single. "Dust in the Wind" was one of the final songs recorded for the album and one of the only acoustic songs they recorded. The group created the 12-string sound by having two guitarists play six-stringed guitars tuned differently. Robby Steinhardt played the viola and violin tracks as well as doing backing harmonies.
The Number 28 "Point of Know Return" was another single release from the album of the same name.
Kansas formed in the late sixties in their hometown of Topeka as The Reasons Why, changing the name to Saratoga before deciding on Kansas in 1970.

Answer: Mary

"The Wind Cries Mary" was originally the flip-side to "Purple Haze" when it was released in the US. When Jimi's "Are You Experienced" album was released in the US "The Wind Cries Mary" was one of the tracks. There are varying accounts of how Jimi was influenced to compose the song. "The Wind Cries Mary" was recorded at De Lane Lea Studios in London on January 11, 1967, before Jimi created his Electric Ladyland studios.

The track was produced by Chas Chandler, Jimi's manager and former bass player for The Animals. Richie Sambora, Sting and Pat Boone are among the artists who have released cover versions.

Answer: Gogi Grant

Philadelphia native Myrtle Audrey Arinsberg relocated to California and began recording as Audrey Brown and Audrey Grant. Dave Kapp at RCA Records nicknamed her Gogi after a restaurant he frequented. In 1955 she released a successful single for Era Records titled "Suddenly There's a Valley" and topped the charts the following year with the Stanley Lebowsky/Herb Newman composition "The Wayward Wind".
Grant went on to do vocal tracks for films and was in the cast of the 1957 Rock and Roll movie "The Big Beat". She made television appearances and recorded albums into the sixties before retired from the music business, appearing occasionally on Oldies revues.
Kay Starr had a 1956 hit with "Rock and Roll Waltz", in 1957 Debbie Reynolds released "Tammy" and Gale Storm released "Dark Moon".

Answer: Peter Paul and Mary

Peter Paul and Mary and Bob Dylan were both managed by Albert Grossman in 1963. Grossman suggested Peter Paul and Mary record a version of "Blowin' in the Wind" three weeks after Bob Dylan released the song on his 1963 "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" LP.

The trio recorded the song in one take and released it as the lead single from their third album, "In the Wind". Peter Paul and Mary also recorded a version of Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" on the same album. The Rooftop Singers had a Folk hit with "Walk Right In".

The Kingston Trio began their career in the fifties with songs including "Tom Dooley". The New Christy Minstrels formed in 1961 and released "Green, Green".

Answer: Germany

"Wind of Change" was written by the The Scorpions' lead singer Klaus Meine. The band was founded in 1965 in Hannover, Germany, and developed a powerful heavy metal sound. Vocalist Klaus Meine joined the lineup in 1972 and they released their debut album, "Lonesome Crow".

In 1982 they released their "Blackout" album which contained the single "No One Like You" which made it to Number 65 in the US. "Rock You Like a Hurricane" from their 1984 "Love at First Sting" made it to Number 25 in the US and was followed by other hits as well as successful tours.

In 2000 The Scorpions collaborated with the Berlin Philharmonic to record an album called "Moment of Glory".

Answer: True

Glenn Frey sang backing vocals on "Against the Wind", from Bob Seger's "Against the Wind" album. "Against the Wind" is Bob Seger's eleventh studio album but only the third backed by The Silver Bullet Band. In addition to earning two Grammy awards the album topped the US album charts, toppling Pink Floyd's "The Wall" from the top slot. "Fire Lake" and "You'll Accomp'ny Me" were other popular singles from the LP but but "Against the Wind" was the largest selling single release, reaching Number Five in the US.

Other notable musicians backing Seger were The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section along with Dr. John. Glenn Frey, Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit from The Eagles provided backing vocals on "Fire Lake".

Answer: Catch the Wind

In 1965 "Catch The Wind" was the first Top Forty US single for Donovan, peaking at Number 23. The following year he topped the US charts with "Sunshine Superman". Donovan was born in Maryhill, Glasgow, Scotland, and his family relocated to England in 1956.

He enrolled in art school but was influenced by his family's love of Folk music and assumed a Beatnik lifestyle performing in local clubs. In 1964 he contributed a demo of several songs to Pye Records including "Catch the Wind". He was compared to Bob Dylan and got to meet Dylan in May, 1965. "The Wind" was recorded by Cat Stevens. David Bowie Recorded "Wild Is The Wind" and "Cast Your Fate To the Wind" was an instrumental single by Sounds Orchestral.

Answer: Paint Your Wagon

Alan J. Lerner and Frederick Loewe composed "They Call the Wind Maria" for the 1951 Broadway musical "Paint Your Wagon". The play was set during the California Gold Rush era. Vaughan Monroe recorded a version in 1951 with his orchestra.
The song enjoyed a resurgence during the Folk revival of the late fifties and early sixties when it was recorded by artists including The Kingston Trio and The Smothers Brothers.
Harve Presnell sang the song in the 1969 movie release. After the film was released several other artists recorded versions including Burl Ives, Ed Ames and Jim Nabors.