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Take Our ’60s Music Quiz

Test your knowledge of Beatlemania, Motown and Woodstock


spinner image black and white photo of woman and man dancing, surrounded by gold, orange and purple circles with question marks in them
Photo Collages: MOA Staff; Getty Images (8); Shutterstock (2)

The 1960s were a seminal music decade that introduced new dance crazes like the twist, Motown classics like “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and iconic bands like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Crank up the jukebox and test your knowledge of the songs of the ’60s with our music trivia quiz.

Question 1 of 10

Brian Hyland scored a hit in 1960 singing about what object that was “itsy bitsy teenie weenie”?

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spinner image yellow polka dot bikini surrounded by purple circles with question marks in them
2

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spinner image yellow submarine surrounded by purple circles with question marks in them
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spinner image yellow punch bug car surrounded by purple circles with question marks in them
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spinner image yellow shoes surrounded by purple circles with question marks in them

French fashion designer Louis Réard introduced the two-piece bathing suit in 1946, but the design was still seen as risqué when teen idol Brian Hyland released his novelty hit about the yellow polka-dot bikini. Sports Illustrated launched its first swimsuit issue featuring a bikini-clad model in 1964.

Question 2 of 10

Americans were all aboard for what dance craze popularized by a 1962 Little Eva hit?

Married songwriters Gerry Goffin and Carole King wrote the song, which was sung by Eva Boyd, who was working as a babysitter for Goffin and King at the time.

Question 3 of 10

True or false: “I Want to Hold Your Hand” was the Beatles’ first number 1 hit in the U.S.

spinner image the beatles group surrounded by gold, orange and purple circles with question marks in them

Released in 1963, the song kicked off the band’s 14-week streak at the top of the charts: After seven weeks, it was knocked off the top spot by the group’s “She Loves You” — which was unseated two weeks later by “Can’t Buy Me Love.” “Hey Jude” spent nine weeks at number 1 on the Billboard charts in the U.S. in 1968, the longest run of any hit by the Fab Four.

Question 4 of 10

“All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray” is the opening line of what classic song?

The Mamas and the Papas’ husband-and-wife songwriters John and Michelle Phillips initially sold the song to folk singer Barry McGuire as a follow-up to his 1965 hit “Eve of Destruction” — and the Mamas and Papas quartet (which included Cass Elliot and Denny Doherty) initially were hired as backup singers on the track.

Question 5 of 10

Which of these is NOT a ’60s hit by the Rolling Stones?

spinner image the rolling stones surrounded by gold, orange and purple circles with question marks in them

“Nowhere Man” was a hit for the Beatles in 1966. Despite the supposed rivalry between the two British rock supergroups, Mick Jagger provided backup vocals on the 1967 Beatles track “Baby You’re a Rich Man.” Paul McCartney and John Lennon returned the favor, singing on the Stones’ song “We Love You.”

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Question 6 of 10

Diana Ross was a member of what singing group before going solo?

spinner image the supremes surrounded by gold, orange and purple circles with question marks in them

Before Ross left the Motown hitmakers in 1970, the Supremes racked up 12 number 1 hits in the U.S., including classics like “Where Did Our Love Go” and “Stop! In the Name of Love.” The original group had four members, all from the Brewster-Douglass public housing project in Detroit, but pared down to a trio before the release of their first album in 1962.

Question 7 of 10

What king of soul sat on top of the charts with “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay”?

The pop song was a departure for the R&B legend, who improvised the famous whistling at the end. Released one month after Redding’s tragic death in a plane crash in 1967, it became the artist’s biggest hit.

Question 8 of 10

The 1967 movie The Graduate featured the hit song “Mrs. Robinson” by what musical duo?

spinner image woman's leg, man in background surrounded by gold, orange and purple circles with question marks in them

The movie’s soundtrack also featured Simon & Garfunkel tunes like “The Sound of Silence” and “Scarborough Fair.”

Question 9 of 10

Complete the Dusty Springfield lyric: “The only one who could ever reach me, was the son of …”

Songwriter Ronnie Wilkins, whose grandfathers were both preachers, recalled banging out the song in less than one hour with partner John Hurley. The song was originally meant for Aretha Franklin, who had a hit with a 1970 cover version, but it was first performed by the husky-voiced British singer Dusty Springfield.

Question 10 of 10

True or false: Bob Dylan performed at the original Woodstock.

spinner image people sitting on bus at woodstock, giant crowd surrounded by gold, orange and purple circles with question marks in them

Despite the fact that Dylan actually lived in Woodstock, New York, not far from the site of the 1969 festival, the star refused to perform there — and instead turned up onstage at England’s Isle of Wight festival less than two weeks later. It was his first live concert gig in nearly three years.

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