Here's the rest of the quiz, first the questions, then the answers.
Can you name the four Beatles in order of age, oldest to youngest? (If you can, do it!)
What was the name of John's musical group that Paul joined after meeting John in 1957?
Which people have been referred to as "the fifth Beatle"?
When there actually were five members of the group, who were the five and what was the group called? (And what happened to them?)
The name Beatles puns on "beat"; but why an insect name?
Name four Beatles movies and say something interesting about each of them.
What is the name of the villains in the movie Yellow Submarine?
Name the classical composer or composition that helped inspire Paul's use of brass in "Penny Lane."
Who plays lead guitar on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"?
Can you name the songs on which Billy Preston plays and what instruments he plays?
What instruments did each of the Beatles normally play (especially in the early singles and albums)?
Which Beatles song begins with an electric guitar feedback note, the first rock song to use guitar feedback?
The Baroque style piano bridge in the song "In My Life" sounds kind of like a harpsichord. Who played the bridge, and what technique was used to make the piano sound like a harpsichord?
What record label rejected the Beatles, commenting that "Guitar groups are on their way out"?
What was the Beatles first single, and what year was it released?
What was the Beatles first number one single (in the UK)?
What was the first Beatles single to sell a million copies in the UK?
Three US record labels released early Beatles records (late 1963-early 1964). What are they?
What was the main US record label for Beatles recordings from 1964-66 (or from late 1963 until 1967 when they released records under the Apple label)? What was the first single this label released in the US?
What was the date of the first Beatles appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show?
Can you remember either the reported number of viewers or what per cent of the US population watched the show?
What record label released the US version of A Hard Day's Night (the album)?
What award did Queen Elizabeth give the Beatles in 1965?
What is the first Beatles album to include only original material?
What was the last album (not counting Let It Be, with its version of "Maggie Mae") to include covers of songs by other composers?
Which Beatles song has had more covers by other artists than any other copyrighted song in history?
What was the Beatles last live public performance?
When and where was Beatles last commercial concert?
On what date was Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band released?
In what European city is there a wall called the "Lennon wall" with Beatles and especially Lennon-themed graffiti?
On that wall, someone has written "All You Need Is Love"; what is written in small writing sideways between the letters "V" and "E"?
(Who wrote it?)
An excerpt (played by brass) from what national anthem begins the song "All You Need Is Love"?
Which album did President Clinton say was his favorite Beatles album?
What is the official title of the album commonly known as "The White Album"?
What Beatle broke the understanding that girlfriends were not to be brought to recording sessions, and who did he bring?
What album was mostly recorded before Abbey Road but released after it?
What film features a teen-age girl's anguish over the breakup of the Beatles (publicly announced in 1970)?
What George Harrison song was the only one featured as the A-side of a Beatles single and was a favorite of Frank Sinatra's (who sometimes referred to it as his favorite Lennon-McCartney song)?
What two songs, based on Lennon demos, were released in the mid-1990s as new Beatles singles?
Which two album titles pun on the nature of vinyl records (on which, of course, they were originally released)?
Which albums have songs that are linked (without breaks between them)? Give details please.
Mystery: How did I manage to hear "Let It Be" on the radio before my mission--therefore, sometime maybe in January 1970, when it was not released until March?
Which Beatles song features a French horn solo?
Which Beatles song uses lyrics from Thomas Dekker's play from the early 1600s Patient Grissel?
Which Beatles song has the longest title?
Which Beatles song(s) have the shortest title? (OK, there are more than one.)
Can you name where the Beatles were listed as the only Rock 'n Roll entry for recommended teen listening, with the added comment "That's all--the rest are shirttailers!"?
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AND NOW FOR THE ANSWERS:
Can you name the four Beatles in order of age, oldest to youngest?
Answer: Ringo (born 7 July 1940); John (born 9 Oct. 1940); Paul (born 18 Jun 1942); George (born 25 Feb 1943)
What was the name of John's musical group that Paul joined after meeting John in 1957?
Answer: The Quarreymen
Which people have been referred to as "the fifth Beatle"?
Answer: Lots of different people, some more commonly than others. There's a whole Wikipedia article on the subject. Here's a brief list:
Brian Epstein
Derek Taylor and Neil Aspinall (according to George Harrison)
George Martin
Some of those who were once members of the group or of its predecessors or who played with the group at some point: Pete Best, Stuart Sutcliffe, Andy White, Billy Preston, Tony Sheridan, Eric Clapton, Jimmie Nichol, and others . . .
When there actually were five members of the group, who were the five and what was the group called?
Answer: Silver Beatles, Beatles, or (briefly) Beat Brothers: John, Paul, George, Pete Best, Stuart Sutcliffe
What happened to them? Answer: John, Paul, and George, of course, remained with the group. Pete Best (drummer) was replaced by Ringo. Stuart Sutcliffe (bass player), who had left the group, died soon after.
The name Beatles puns on "beat"; but why an insect name?
Answer: After the pattern set by Buddy Holly & the Crickets (a favorite group of the Beatles)
Name four Beatles movies and say something interesting about each of them?
Answer:
A Hard Day's Night (their first film; black and white; highly acclaimed; a pseudo-documentary; shows off their witty and engaging personalities; etc.).
Help! (in color; not as highly acclaimed but fun in my opinion; set partly in India--there were thoughts of calling it Eight Arms to Hold You--and so we hear some of the first Indian or pseudo-Indian music to be associated with the Beatles; partly a parody of James Bond films; ends with some music by Rossini)
Magical Mystery Tour (made for TV; rather bizarre; a strange bus trip; . . .)
The Yellow Submarine (animated--but with a brief non-animated appearance by the band, singing "All Together Now," as I remember; about a conflict between the forces of good--e.g., the Beatles--and evil--glum, colorless, controlling, joyless forces)
Let It Be (a "fly-on-the-wall" style film of Beatles rehearsals revealing tensions in the group; Yoko Ono is hanging around, as at some points is Heather, daughter of Linda Eastman; the film ends with the famous rooftop concert--see below)
What is the name of the villains in the movie Yellow Submarine?
Answer: The Blue Meanies
Name the classical composer or composition that helped inspire Paul's use of brass in "Penny Lane."
Answer: Bach; Brandenburg Concerti (I'm not sure which one)
Who plays lead guitar on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"?
Answer: Eric Clapton
Can you name the songs on which Billy Preston plays and what instruments he plays?
Answer: He plays the organ on "Let It Be" and "I Want You"; electric piano (Fender Rhoades) on "Get Back" and "Don't Let Me Down."
What instruments did each of the Beatles normally play (especially in the early singles and albums)?
Answer: Ringo: drums; George: lead guitar; John: rhythm guitar; Paul: bass guitar. But they also played lots of other instruments, including other percussion instruments, other-than-their-usual guitars, and keyboard (especially John and Paul).
Which Beatles song begins with an electric guitar feedback note, the first rock song to use guitar feedback?
Answer: "I Feel Fine"
The Baroque style piano bridge in the song "In My Life" sounds kind of like a harpsichord. Who played the bridge, and what technique was used to make the piano sound like a harpsichord?
Answer: George Martin composed and played the bridge. Apparently the tempo was too fast for him to play it, so the tape was slowed to half the speed as he recorded the bridge on the piano. When the speed is returned to normal (and therefore the bridge is twice as fast), it has a bright, almost harpsichord-like sound--appropriate, given its Baroque style.
What record label rejected the Beatles, commenting that "Guitar groups are on their way out"?
Answer: Decca
What was the Beatles first single, and what year was it released?
Answer: "Love Me Do"; 1962 (Oct)
What was the Beatles first number one single (in the UK)?
Answer: "Please Please Me"
What was the first Beatles single to sell a million copies in the UK?
Answer: "She Loves You" (By the way, this happened in 1963.)
Three US record labels released early Beatles records (late 1963-early 1964). What are they?
Answer: Vee Jay, Swan, Capitol (there's a story to this, which I won't get into . . .)
What was the main US record label for Beatles recordings from 1964-66 (late 1963 until 1967 when they released records under the Apple label)? What was the first single this label released in the US?
Answer: Capitol Records; "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"
What was the date of the first Beatles appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show?
Answer: February 9, 1964
Can you remember either the reported number of viewers or what per cent of the US population watched the show?
Answer: 73 million viewers; 34% of the US population
What record label released the US version of A Hard Day's Night (the album)?
Answer: United Artists (who also released the film, I believe)
What award did Queen Elizabeth give the Beatles in 1965?
Answer: MBE (Member of the British Empire) (note that some previous recipients returned their medallions in protest)
What is the first Beatles album to include only original material?
Answer: Hard Day's Night
What was the last album (not counting Let It Be, with its version of "Maggie Mae") to include covers of songs by other composers?
Answer: Help!
Which Beatles song has had more covers by other artists than any other copyrighted song in history?
Answer: "Yesterday"
What was the Beatles last live public performance?
Answer: "'the Beatles Rooftop Performance' which took place on the roof of Apple Studios in Savile Row, London on 30 January 1969" (Wikipedia)
When and where was Beatles last commercial concert?
Answer: 29 Aug. 1966; Candlestick Park in San Francisco
On what date was Sgt. Pepper released?
Answer: June 1, 1967 (I believe it was released simultaneously in the US and the UK, the first of their albums to be so released--and also to be exactly the same in both nations)
In what European city is there a wall called the "Lennon wall" with Beatles and especially Lennon-themed graffiti?
Answer: Prague, Czech Republic
On that wall, someone has written "All You Need Is Love"; what is written in small writing sideways between the letters "V" and "E"?
Answer: "depending on what you mean by love"
(Who wrote it? Answer: I did.)
An excerpt (played by brass) from what national anthem begins the song "All You Need Is Love"?
Answer: "The Marseillaise" ("Allons, enfants de la patrie . . .")
Which album did President Clinton say was his favorite Beatles album?
Answer: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
What is the official title of the album commonly known as "The White Album"?
Answer: The Beatles
What Beatle broke the understanding that girlfriends were not to be brought to recording sessions, and who did he bring?
Answer: John; Yoko Ono.
What album was mostly recorded before Abbey Road but released after it?
Answer: Let It Be
What film features a teen-age girl's anguish over the breakup of the Beatles (publicly announced in 1970)?
Answer: Apollo 13
What George Harrison song was the only one featured as the A-side of a Beatles single and was a favorite of Frank Sinatra's (who sometimes referred to it as his favorite Lennon-McCartney song)?
Answer: "Something"
What two songs, based on Lennon demos, were released in the mid-1990s as new Beatles singles?
Answer: "Free as a Bird"; "Real Love"
Which two album titles pun on the nature of vinyl records (on which, of course, they were originally released)?
Answer: Rubber Soul; Revolver (think about it)
Which albums have songs that are linked (without breaks between them)? Give details please.
Answer: Sgt. Pepper's: The first song, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" goes directly into "With a Little Help from My Friends"; also there are some links on the second side (for instance, "Good Morning, Good Morning" connects with the reprise of "Sgt. Pepper's").
Also, Abbey Road: much of the 2nd side is a medley.
Mystery: How did I manage to hear "Let It Be" on the radio before my mission--therefore, sometime maybe in January 1970, when it was not released until March?
Answer: I don't know. Maybe it was a demo sent to radio stations. The song was recorded in January 1969 (though George Harrison later recorded two different guitar solos that were added to the recording, one to the single, the other to the album version). But I'm not aware the recording was made public until March 1970--or perhaps shortly before, since somehow I heard it.
Which Beatles song features a French horn solo?
Answer: "For No One" (played by Alan Civil)
Which Beatles song uses lyrics from Thomas Dekker's play from the early 1600s Patient Grissel?
Answer: "Golden Slumbers" (on Abbey Road)
Which Beatles song has the longest title?
Answer: "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey"
Which Beatles song(s) have the shortest title? (OK, there are more than one.)
Answer: Several have just four letters: "Boys"; "Girl"; "Wait"; "Rain"; "Help!" (if you don't count the exclamation point).
Can you name where the Beatles were listed as the only Rock 'n Roll entry for recommended teen listening, with the added comment "That's all--the rest are shirttailers!"?
Answer: The Improvement Era (magazine of the LDS Church), February 1966. (The rest of the list included classical, jazz, pop, Broadway, and folk music.)
Answer: "Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey"
Which Beatles song(s) have the shortest title? (OK, there are more than one.)
Answer: Several have just four letters: "Boys"; "Girl"; "Wait"; "Rain"; "Help!" (if you don't count the exclamation point).
Can you name where the Beatles were listed as the only Rock 'n Roll entry for recommended teen listening, with the added comment "That's all--the rest are shirttailers!"?
Answer: The Improvement Era (magazine of the LDS Church), February 1966. (The rest of the list included classical, jazz, pop, Broadway, and folk music.)
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Of course, I could have asked hundreds of other questions. But these were ones that I thought especially interesting and (at least in some cases) significant.
