How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Led Zeppelin, Molly Hatchet, Queen, Traffic, The B 52’s, Jefferson Starship, Bette Midler, Elton John, Billy Joel, Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed
They are the ’70s Throwback’ artists selected among the 338 Posts we publish this week.
1. What inspired the soundscape of Tom Petty’s “American Girl”?
- A Traffic noise by a freeway
- B Sounds of ocean waves
- C A subway train
2. During which event was Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog” recorded for their concert film?
- A Woodstock 1969
- B Madison Square Garden 1973
- C Live Aid 1985
3. Who were the lead guitarists during Molly Hatchet’s 1978 live performance of “Dreams I’ll Never See”?
- A Dave Hlubek, Duane Roland, and Steve Holland
- B Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page
- C Keith Richards, Mick Taylor, and Ron Wood
4. What was special about Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls” release?
- A It was issued on a double A-side with “Bicycle Race”
- B It became their first UK number-one hit
- C It included contributions from David Bowie
5. Who covered Traffic’s “Light Up Or Leave Me Alone” live after its release?
- A The Rolling Stones
- B Phish
- C Pink Floyd
6. Which song did The B-52’s perform at Capitol Theatre in 1980?
- A Love Shack
- B Rock Lobster
- C Private Idaho
7. What unique element featured in Jefferson Starship’s live rendition of “Have You Seen The Saucers”?
- A A saxophone solo
- B A bass solo by Pete Sears
- C Extended drum solo
8. During which TV special did Bette Midler perform “Superstar”?
- A The Johnny Carson Show
- B Burt Bacharach: Opus No. 3
- C Saturday Night Live
9. Which Elton John song was performed on “Sounds for Saturday” in 1971?
- A Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
- B Your Song
- C Levon
10. What is the main theme of Billy Joel’s “Travelin’ Prayer”?
- A A journey across America
- B A prayer for a lover’s safe return
- C Reflections on fame
11. Which backup singer performed with Leonard Cohen in 1976 on “Lover Lover Lover”?
- A Laura Branigan
- B Joni Mitchell
- C Joan Baez
12. Who produced Lou Reed’s “Walk On The Wild Side”?
- A Phil Spector
- B David Bowie
- C Bob Ezrin
Tracklist
1 . Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers . American Girl |
2 . Led Zeppelin . Black Dog |
3 . Molly Hatchet . Dreams I’ll Never See |
4 . Queen . Fat Bottomed GirlsQueen release their seventh album . ‘Jazz’ featuring ‘Bicycle Race’ and ‘Fat Bottomed Girls’ (1978) |
5 . Traffic . Light Up Or Leave Me AloneIsland publish Traffic’s fifth album . ‘The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys’ (1971) |
6 . The B 52’s . Rock Lobster |
7 . Jefferson Starship . Have You Seen The Saucers |
8 . Bette Midler . Superstar |
9 . Elton John . Levon |
10 . Billy Joel . Travelin’ PrayerColumbia Records publish Billy Joel’s second album . ‘Piano Man’ (1973) |
11 . Leonard Cohen . Lover Lover Lover |
12 . Lou Reed . Walk On the Wild Side |
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Petty mentioned that the song was inspired by traffic noise near his Los Angeles apartment. He likened this to ocean waves, creating the ambiance that shaped the track.
2. “Black Dog” was recorded during the Madison Square Garden shows in July 1973. These concerts were part of their North American Tour and documented in their concert film.
3. Molly Hatchet’s performance included three lead guitarists: Dave Hlubek, Duane Roland, and Steve Holland. This lineup contributed to their southern rock signature style.
4. “Fat Bottomed Girls” was released as a double A-side with “Bicycle Race” in 1978. This marketing move helped the single achieve greater chart success.
5. Phish covered “Light Up Or Leave Me Alone” live, enhancing its legacy among fans. Phish’s renditions appeared frequently irrespective of Traffic’s influence.
6. The B-52’s performed “Rock Lobster” during their Capitol Theatre concert in 1980. Recognized for its surf rock sound and lively performance, it became a staple in their setlists.
7. The live version of “Have You Seen The Saucers” in 1975 featured a bass solo by Pete Sears. This element emphasized the band’s rock blend and sci-fi themes.
8. Midler sang “Superstar” during the “Burt Bacharach: Opus No. 3” special. Her minimalist staging highlighted her emotional vocal delivery, marking a key career moment.
9. Elton John performed “Levon” on “Sounds for Saturday” in 1971. The song’s engagement with themes of family conflict mirrored the studio version’s lyricism.
10. “Travelin’ Prayer” combines country and bluegrass styles, focusing on a prayer for safe travel. It is noted for its energetic banjo arrangement and spiritual themes.
11. Laura Branigan joined Leonard Cohen for his 1976 performance of “Lover Lover Lover.” Her role as backup singer added depth to Cohen’s live presentations.
12. Lou Reed’s “Walk On The Wild Side” was produced by David Bowie. Bowie’s involvement influenced its distinctive sound, contributing to its success and recognition.
For THE FULL 70s THROWBACKS COLLECTION click here
