Category: Brain Teasers

Trivia: Which musician played all 27 instruments on his debut album, “For You”?

Meat Loaf
Prince
Elton John
Tom Jones

The correct answer is Prince

So why is this answer correct? : For his 1978 debut album, “For You,” Prince told his bosses at Warner Music that he wanted to play every instrument himself. Though they were initially dismissive, the label eventually arranged a trial run. Prince impressed them to get his way, and ultimately played all the instruments on the album, including the drums, guitar, bass, synthesizer, and finger cymbals.

Trivia: Which Dolly Parton song was her first U.S. No. 1 hit?

Jolene
9 to 5
Joshua
Coat of Many Colors

The correct answer is Joshua

So why is this answer correct? : Despite the enduring popularity of Dolly Parton’s other songs, like “9 to 5,” 1971’s “Joshua” was actually her first No. 1 hit on the U.S. Country chart. The song was the title track from Parton’s 1971 studio album of the same name, and was nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance at the 1972 Grammys. In 1974, Parton earned her second No. 1 hit with the anthemic “Jolene.”

Trivia: What was the name of Bob Marley’s backing band?

The Wailers
The Holding Company
The Wrecking Crew
The Mothers of Invention

The correct answer is The Wailers

So why is this answer correct? : Formed in 1963, Bob Marley and the Wailers achieved commercial renown in the U.S. with their 1976 album, “Rastaman Vibration,” which featured the top 10 hit “Roots, Rock, Reggae.” Though the group was originally a vocal group, they added instrumentation and rhythm in the early ’70s to help give reggae music more appeal.

Trivia: “I Will Survive” is an anthemic dance hit by which artist?

Gloria Gaynor
Diana Ross
Tina Turner
Donna Summer

The correct answer is Gloria Gaynor

So why is this answer correct? : Written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris, 1978’s “I Will Survive” was sung by Gloria Gaynor as the B-side to her cover of the Righteous Brothers’ hit “Substitute.” While the A-side only peaked at 107 on the charts, “I Will Survive” spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went on to serve as an anthem of empowerment among women and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Trivia: Which female rocker played guitar and sang for the Runaways?

Stevie Nicks
Ann Wilson
Debbie Harry
Joan Jett

The correct answer is Joan Jett

So why is this answer correct? : In 1975, at the age of 17, Joan Jett formed the all-female rock powerhouse the Runaways, for which she played lead guitar. The band recorded five albums together before breaking up due to artistic differences in 1979. In 1981, Jett released “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” her first single with her new band the Blackhearts, which became a bona fide rock classic.

Trivia: What was Fleetwood Mac’s only No. 1 song in the U.S.?

Little Lies
Don’t Stop
Landslide
Dreams

The correct answer is Dreams

So why is this answer correct? : Fleetwood Mac produced dozens of classic songs, but only one managed to top Billboard’s Hot 100 charts. The Stevie Nicks-penned track “Dreams” — the first single to be released off the band’s album “Rumours” — made it to No. 1 the week of June 18, 1977. Alas, it stayed on top for only one week. The band’s albums tended to sell better, with four of them making it to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts.

Trivia: Which of these Pink Floyd albums was NOT released in the 1970s?

Dark Side of the Moon
The Division Bell
Animals
Wish You Were Here

The correct answer is The Division Bell

So why is this answer correct? : Pink Floyd established an enduring legacy with the release of their eighth studio album, 1973’s “Dark Side of the Moon.” The album spent 407 weeks on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart and peaked at No. 10. The band’s next album, “Wish You Were Here,” was released in 1975, followed by “Animals” in 1977. “The Division Bell” wasn’t released until 1994, marking a seven-year gap between its debut and the band’s previous studio album.

Trivia: Which Sex Pistols song shares its title with a national anthem?

Le Marseillaise
The Star-Spangled Banner
God Save the Queen
Bilady, Bilady, Bilady

The correct answer is God Save the Queen

So why is this answer correct? : The Sex Pistols ushered in punk rock with their 1977 defiant hit “God Save the Queen,” which was released to coincide with Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee. The band, which formed in 1975, split one year later after a disastrous U.S. tour. Despite their brief existence, the Sex Pistols remain one of the most influential bands in the punk genre.

Trivia: Which of these is NOT a character in the band KISS?

The Starchild
The Demon
The Catman
The Wizard

The correct answer is The Wizard

So why is this answer correct? : KISS performed their first show in 1973 and released their self-titled debut album the following year. The band was composed of bassist Gene Simmons (the Demon), rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley (the Starchild), drummer Peter Criss (the Catman), and lead guitarist Ace Frehley (the Spaceman).

Trivia: Which former Beatle faced deportation from the U.S. in the 1970s?

John Lennon
Paul McCartney
George Harrison
Ringo Starr

The correct answer is John Lennon

So why is this answer correct? : John Lennon’s anti-war sentiments ruffled a lot of feathers within the U.S. government in the 1970s, and a deportation order was issued against him and his wife, Yoko Ono, on the grounds of them being convicted of marijuana charges in England in 1968. In 1975, the New York State Supreme Court overturned the order, allowing Lennon to stay.