Traditionally back in the late 50's and early 60's, hit songs were an average length of two to two and a half minutes. There were some exceptions, but not many. They got longer as the years went on. This time out, we're going to quiz you on some of these longer songs. All of these songs made the Top Ten and several went to # 1.
QUESTIONS
1. The man who changed the music business forever was raised in Hibbing, Minnesota and was born Robert Zimmerman. Although he wasn't really known for hit singles, he still managed to rack up quite a few, although he never had a number one single. In the fall of 1965, he released his longest 45 single and it 'rolled' up the Billboard charts to # 2. Who is the singer and what was his 'long' song from '65?
2. This song talks about 'The day the music died'. Back in the time of 45 rpm records it was so long that they had to split it into two parts with Part 1 on Side 1 and Part 2 on the second side of the 45. The singer went on to have several other hits including "Vincent" and "Crying", but this was his only # 1. Who's the singer and what was his super long hit from 1972?
3. The Beatles were certainly no strangers to the top of the charts. This hit from 1968 was their 16th number one and their longest single ever. 'Hey', What's the name of this song?
4. Mike Myers made this song an even bigger hit than it was in his 1992 movie "Wayne's World". This 'royal' group had originally released this 'long' song in 1976 and it shot up to # 9 on Billboard's singles chart. After "Wayne's World" came out, the song re-entered the Billboard chart where it went to # 2. Can you name the group and the song?
5. This hit making singer was one of the first country artists to cross over to the pop charts. His 'long' song went to # 1 in the early months of 1960. This singer had his own TV show and was a member of the Grand Ole Opry from 1953 until his death in 1982 at the age of 57, The song was set "out in the West Texas town of..." and was about a lovely senorita named "Felina" and her hot headed cowboy boyfriend. What was the song and who was the singer?
ANSWERS
1. "Like A Rolling Stone" was a gift for disc jockeys. Now they could run to the washroom and still make it back before the song ended as Bob Dylan's hit clocked in at 6 minutes in length.
2. The singer was Don McLean and his 'long' song was 1972's "American Pie - Parts 1 & 2" which had a listed time of 8:36.
3. "Hey Jude" by The Beatles clocks in at 7:11 and could never be confused with the convenience store chain with the same name.
4. Queen's "Bohemenian Rhapsody" times out to 5 minutes and 50 seconds...both in 1976 and 1992.
5. "El Paso" from Marty RObbins clocks in at 4:40, a very long time for that era. Marty Robbins first hit the Billboard pop charts in 1957 with "Singing The Blues". His 1961 hit, "Don't Worry" was one of the first records to use a fuzztone guitar. One of Marty's other big crossover hits was "Devil Woman" in 1962, but "El Paso" was Marty's only pop # 1.
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