How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Rush, Pete Townshend, R.E.M., Big Audio Dynamite, The Silencers, Gun, The Mighty Lemon Drops, The Quireboys, Status Quo, Letitia Dean & Paul Medford, Montserrat Caballé, Stevie Wonder
They are the performers of twelve “live” music videos that were ranked in various charts, this week (44/52) BUT … in the EIghties 80s.
1. Which Rush album features the song “Subdivisions”?
- A Power Windows
- B Signals
- C Grace Under Pressure
2. On which instrument does Pete Townshend play extensively in the song from his album *White City: A Novel*?
- A Guitar
- B Piano
- C Yamaha DX7 synthesizer
3. Which R.E.M. song features a disliked banjo part contributed by Peter Buck?
- A Wendell Gee
- B Driver 8
- C Can’t Get There from Here
4. What is notable about the album *Megatop Phoenix* by Big Audio Dynamite?
- A First album with a new line-up
- B Final studio album by the original lineup
- C Debut album
5. Who wrote the single “Answer Me” by The Silencers?
- A Mick Jones
- B Jimme O’Neill
- C Pete Townshend
6. What distinguishes the track “Inside Out” by Gun?
- A Its blend of folk and rock elements
- B Its hard rock and melodic mix
- C Its ska influence
7. The producer, Stephen Street, influenced which single by The Mighty Lemon Drops?
- A Inside Out
- B My Biggest Thrill
- C Happy Head
8. “7 O’Clock,” the lead single for The Quireboys’ debut album, achieved what ranking on the UK Singles Chart?
- A 15
- B 36
- C 24
9. What was the B-side of Status Quo’s single “Not at All”?
- A Rock ‘n’ Roll
- B Everytime I Think Of You
- C Gone Thru The Slips
10. In which British TV show did “Something Outa Nothing” feature?
- A Coronation Street
- B EastEnders
- C Emmerdale
11. When was “The Golden Boy” by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé released as a single in the UK?
- A October 24, 1988
- B October 8, 1988
- C November 19, 1988
12. What chart success did “My Eyes Don’t Cry” by Stevie Wonder achieve?
- A Number 1 on the Hot 100
- B Number 6 on the R&B chart
- C Never charted
Tracklist
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1 . Rush – SubdivisionsFeatured on the 1982 album “Signals”.
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2 . Pete Townshend – Face The FaceFeatured on the 1985 album “White City: A Novel”.
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3 . R.E.M. – Wendell GeeFeatured on the 1985 album “Fables Of The Reconstruction“.
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4 . Big Audio Dynamite – ContactFeatured on the 1989 album “Megatop Phoenix”.
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5 . The Silencers – Answer MeFeatured on the 1988 album “A Blues For Buddha”.
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6 . Gun – Inside OutFeatured on the 1989 album “Taking On The World”.
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7 . The Mighty Lemon Drops – My Biggest ThrillFeatured on the 1986 album “Happy Head”.
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8 . The Quireboys – 7 O’ClockFeatured on the 1989 album “A Bit of What You Fancy”.
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9 . Status Quo – Not At AllFeatured on the 1989 album “Perfect Remedy”.
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10 . Letitia Dean & Paul Medford – Something Out Of Nothing
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11 . Montserrat Caballé – The Golden Boy (w/ Freddie Mercury)Featured on the 1988 album “Barcelona”. |
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12 . Stevie Wonder – My Eyes Don’t CryFeatured on the 1987 album “Characters”.
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And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. “Subdivisions” is on Rush’s 1982 album *Signals*. The track uses synthesizers to capture suburban life themes.
2. Pete Townshend used a Yamaha DX7 synthesizer prominently on his solo track, inspired by Mozart’s techniques.
3. R.E.M.’s “Wendell Gee” has a banjo part by Peter Buck, who later admitted he wasn’t a fan of the track.
4. *Megatop Phoenix* marked the last album by Big Audio Dynamite’s original team, coinciding with Mick Jones’s recovery.
5. Jimme O’Neill wrote “Answer Me,” showcasing The Silencers’ folk-pop style with atmospheric guitar and vocals.
6. The track “Inside Out” stands out for its mix of hard rock and melodic elements, enhancing Gun’s early sound.
7. “My Biggest Thrill” by The Mighty Lemon Drops benefitted from Stephen Street’s production, altering its A-side status.
8. The Quireboys’ lead single “7 O’Clock” hit number 36 on the UK Singles Chart, complementing their debut album.
9. “Gone Thru The Slips” was the B-side for Status Quo’s “Not at All,” included in several formats of the release.
10. “Something Outa Nothing” became known through its inclusion in an EastEnders storyline, adding to its single success.
11. “The Golden Boy” by Mercury and Caballé launched in the UK on October 24, 1988, a highlight of their collaborative album.
12. Stevie Wonder’s “My Eyes Don’t Cry” didn’t hit the Billboard Hot 100 despite reaching number 6 on the R&B chart.
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