How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : T. Rex, The Clash, KISS, Steve Miller Band, Grand Funk Railroad, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Lou Reed, Black Sabbath, The Guess Who, The Alan Parsons Project, Genesis, Faces
They are the ’70s Throwback’ artists selected among the 283 Posts we publish this week.
1. What unique feature does T. Rex’s “Jewel” exhibit in its arrangement?
- A Use of synthesizers
- B Rock song without drums
- C Orchestral backing
2. Which world event is referenced in The Clash’s “London Calling”?
- A The Berlin Wall
- B The Three Mile Island incident
- C The Cuban Missile Crisis
3. What makes KISS’s performance on December 20, 1977, at the Capital Centre particularly notable?
- A The inclusion of an unreleased song
- B Theatrical production and soundboard recording
- C A rare acoustic set
4. What was prominently featured in The Steve Miller Band’s “Fly Like an Eagle”?
- A A brass section
- B A synthesizer-driven arrangement
- C A harmonic choir
5. What complication occurred during Grand Funk Railroad’s benefit concert in 1972?
- A A power outage
- B Equipment confiscation attempt
- C Cancelled setlist
6. What aspect of “Faith Healer” by the Sensational Alex Harvey Band had immediate impact during live performances?
- A Acoustic version
- B Diehard fan anthem
- C Powerful atmospheric sound
7. What is notable about Lou Reed’s “Lady Day” during his 1974 Olympia performance?
- A Accompanied by a string quartet
- B Featured lengthy guitar solos
- C Departure from studio arrangements
8. What inspired the title “N.I.B.” by Black Sabbath?
- A A book title
- B Bill Ward’s beard resembling a pen nib
- C Military jargon
9. The Guess Who’s “Long Gone” exemplifies what characteristic of the band?
- A Their heavy metal phase
- B Their blend of rock and pop styles
- C Their acoustic folk period
10. On what theme is The Alan Parsons Project’s “I Wouldn’t Want To Be Like You” based?
- A Fantasy literature
- B Technology and control
- C Historical events
11. What groundbreaking aspect did “The Midnight Special” introduce to televised music?
- A A talk show segment
- B Live performances
- C Scripted drama
12. What was the significance of “You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything” for Rod Stewart & The Faces?
- A First group single
- B Final single with this lineup
- C Grammy-winning track
Tracklist
1 . T. Rex – Jewel |
2 . The Clash – London Calling |
3 . KISS – Shout It Out Loud |
4 . Steve Miller Band – Fly Like An EagleOn TV today, The Steve Miller Band at ‘Midnight Special’ (1973) |
5 . Grand Funk Railroad – Heartbreaker |
6 . The Sensational Alex Harvey Band – The Faith Healer |
7 . Lou Reed – Lady DayLou Reed records the live album ‘Rock n Roll Animal’ at the Academy of Music in New York (1973) |
8 . Black Sabbath – N.I.B. |
9 . The Guess Who – Long GoneOn TV today, The Guess Who at ‘Don Kirshner Rock’s Concert’ (1974) |
10 . The Alan Parsons Project – I Wouldn’t Want to Be Like You |
11 . Genesis – Watcher Of The Skies |
12 . Faces – You Can Make Me Dance Sing or Anything (w/ Rod Stewart) |
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. “Jewel” by T. Rex showcases Marc Bolan’s ability to craft rock songs without using drums. This was somewhat typical of the band’s early work, reflecting their evolving style.
2. “London Calling” references the Three Mile Island incident, among other events. The song reflects concerns about nuclear disasters and social unrest.
3. KISS’s 1977 performance is notable for its theatrical production and direct-from-soundboard recording, capturing the band’s peak visual and audio spectacle.
4. “Fly Like an Eagle” by The Steve Miller Band is known for its synthesizer-driven arrangement and socially conscious lyrics, addressing themes of poverty and time.
5. During Grand Funk Railroad’s benefit concert, there was an attempted equipment confiscation by ex-manager Terry Knight due to a contract dispute, adding drama to the event.
6. “Faith Healer” by the Sensational Alex Harvey Band made a profound impact live with its powerful and atmospheric sound, often setting the tone for their performances.
7. Lou Reed’s performance of “Lady Day” in 1974 was a departure from the album’s arrangements, emphasizing a raw and energetic live style.
8. The title “N.I.B.” was inspired by Bill Ward’s beard, which resembled a pen nib. The song is known for its distinctive bass riff and Luciferian perspective.
9. The Guess Who’s “Long Gone” exemplifies their blend of rock and pop, a hallmark of their musical style in the 1970s.
10. The Alan Parsons Project’s “I Wouldn’t Want To Be Like You” explores themes of technology and control, part of their concept loosely based on Asimov’s *Robot* series.
11. “The Midnight Special” introduced live musical performances on television, breaking away from the lip-syncing norms of the time.
12. “You Can Make Me Dance, Sing or Anything” was the final single by Rod Stewart & The Faces, marking the end of that lineup’s recording period before Stewart focused on his solo career.