How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Maxwell, Marvin Gaye, Aaron Neville, D’Angelo, Barry White , Eric B. & Rakim, Bill Withers, Jimmy Cliff, Muddy Waters, Gregory Porter, Taj Mahal, Michael Jackson
They are the Soul Artists selected among the 470 Posts we publish this week.
1. Which chart did Maxwell’s ‘Fistful of Tears’ top in the US?
- A Billboard Hot 100
- B Adult R&B Songs chart
- C Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart
2. What inspired the song ‘What’s Going On’ by Marvin Gaye?
- A The jazz music scene of the 1970s
- B Incidents of police brutality
- C Environmental conservation efforts
3. Who originally wrote ‘Tell It Like It Is,’ later performed by The Neville Brothers?
- A Aaron Neville
- B George Davis and Lee Diamond
- C Dr. John
4. On what TV show did D’Angelo perform ‘Brown Sugar’ in 1995?
- A The Tonight Show
- B Top of the Pops
- C Later… with Jools Holland
5. Where did Barry White perform ‘I’ve Found Someone’ live in 1975?
- A Madison Square Garden
- B The Royal Albert Hall
- C Wembley Stadium
6. What kind of musical sample is included in Eric B. & Rakim’s ‘Move the Crowd’?
- A Jazz guitar solo
- B Drums from ‘Hot Pants Road’
- C Blues harmonica riff
7. When was Bill Withers’ song ‘Harlem’ released?
- A 1971
- B 1968
- C 1973
8. What genre is primarily associated with Jimmy Cliff’s ‘The Harder They Come’?
- A Rock
- B Reggae
- C Ska
9. Which festival featured Muddy Waters’ performance of ‘Rollin’ Stone’ in 1960?
- A Monterey Pop Festival
- B Newport Jazz Festival
- C Isle of Wight Festival
10. At which festival did the James Carter Organ Trio perform with Gregory Porter in 2012?
- A Montreux Jazz Festival
- B North Sea Jazz Festival
- C New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
11. Which song by Taj Mahal exemplifies his blend of blues and roots music?
- A ‘Senor Blues’
- B ‘Stranger In My Own Hometown’
- C ‘The Cuckoo’
12. Which notable guitarist plays the solo in Michael Jackson’s ‘Dirty Diana’?
- A Eddie Van Halen
- B Steve Stevens
- C Slash
Tracklist
1 . Maxwell – Fistful Of Tears |
2 . Marvin Gaye – What’S Going On |
3 . Aaron Neville – Tell It Like It Is |
4 . D’Angelo – Brown Sugar |
5 . Barry White – I’ve Found Someone |
6 . Eric B. & Rakim – Move The Crowd4th & B’way Records publish Eric B. & Rakim’s debut album : ‘Paid In Full’ (1987) |
7 . Bill Withers – Harlem |
8 . Jimmy Cliff – The Harder They Come |
9 . Muddy Waters – Rollin’Stone |
10 . Gregory Porter – 1960 What? (w/ James Carter Organ Trio) |
11 . Taj Mahal – Stranger In My Own Home Town |
12 . Michael Jackson – Dirty Diana |
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. Maxwell’s ‘Fistful of Tears’ reached number one on the US Adult R&B Songs chart. The track was a key part of his successful album *BLACKsummers’night*, which further solidified his reputation.
2. ‘What’s Going On’ by Marvin Gaye was inspired by police brutality and the experiences of Vietnam War veterans. Its release marked a shift towards socially conscious music in his career.
3. ‘Tell It Like It Is’ was originally written by George Davis and Lee Diamond. Aaron Neville made the song famous before The Neville Brothers included it in their performances.
4. D’Angelo performed ‘Brown Sugar’ on *Later… with Jools Holland* in 1995. This appearance highlighted his role in the burgeoning Neo-Soul movement.
5. Barry White performed ‘I’ve Found Someone’ at the Royal Albert Hall in 1975. This venue was part of a concert that showcased his smooth, orchestral soul style.
6. Eric B. & Rakim’s ‘Move the Crowd’ uses a sample from ‘Hot Pants Road’ by the JB’s. This contributes to the track’s dynamic instrumental background.
7. Bill Withers released ‘Harlem’ in 1971 as part of his debut album *Just As I Am*. The song captures his narrative and musical style, blending blues and soul.
8. ‘The Harder They Come’ by Jimmy Cliff is a reggae hit, vital in bringing the genre to international attention. It also served as the title track for the 1972 film’s soundtrack.
9. Muddy Waters performed ‘Rollin’ Stone’ at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1960. This performance is a landmark in bringing blues to wider audiences, significantly influencing the genre.
10. The James Carter Organ Trio performed with Gregory Porter at the North Sea Jazz Festival in 2012. This collaboration highlighted their innovative approach to modern jazz.
11. ‘Stranger In My Own Hometown’ by Taj Mahal is noted for its blues and roots fusion. The song captures his distinctive storytelling and musical breadth.
12. Steve Stevens played the guitar solo in Michael Jackson’s ‘Dirty Diana’. His contribution added a rock edge to the track, complementing Jackson’s pop sensibilities.