1.
George Harrison's first girlfriend later dated Paul McCartney occasionally. Paul also wrote I Saw Her Standing There about her after watching her demonstrate The Twist while performing at a concert in late 1960. Who was she?
Correct Answer
B. Iris Caldwell
Explanation
Did you know Iris became a professional dancer and her brother Alan was Rory Storm of Rory Storm and The Hurricanes, a top Liverpool Band in the late 50's and into the 60's? Ringo was the a member of the Hurricanes as their drummer before taking his legendary spot in the band.
2.
What song did John Lennon think Paul McCartney wrote about him and his relationship with Yoko Ono?!
Correct Answer
D. Hey Jude
Explanation
Hey Jude was written by Paul for Julian Lennon after John and Cynthia Lennon split up after Cynthia came home to find Yoko and John in her house. John thought it was about him and Paul was approving, telling him to follow his heart with Yoko Ono. All You Need is Love was probably written mostly by John. John claimed he wrote it without help from Paul but Paul claims he contributed to it. Rarely did they disagree on who wrote or mainly wrote a song.
3.
What Beatles song is considered by most Beatles historians and experts to be John Lennon's primary song reflecting Bob Dylan's influence?
Correct Answer
A. You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
Explanation
John began to write more personal lyrics after listening to Dylan who showed Lennon it was possible to produce songs that were deeper and more personal to the songwriter.
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away was John's first truly Dylan inspired song.
4.
Many Beatles observers think Paul wrote this song about future fiance Jane Asher in 1963 but Paul says he didn't really.
Correct Answer
A. And I Love Her
Explanation
Paul probably wrote a few songs about Jane Asher who he met in April 1963 backstage at Albert Hall.
The Beatles had also just met the Stones a few days earlier and had seen the Stones perform I believe at The Crawdaddy Club in London. At least Mick Jagger and Keith Richard were in attendance at the performance.
If I Fell was mainly written by John.
All My Loving was written by Paul before 1963.
Love Me Do was also written mainly by John although Paul ended up on lead vocals for the recording sessions because of the harmonica intro. Paul said he hadn't done the intro for Love Me Do ever before and didn't even know how to do it.
5.
One of the most famous Beatles videos of all-time from the movie Help! featured John, Paul, George and Ringo in the snow of the alps on skis and messing around. There was even a grand piano on top of a mountain used as a prop. What song was this?
Correct Answer
E. Ticket To Ride
Explanation
One of the lesser known things credited to The Beatles, as if they need more credit was they were truly the pioneers of music video in my opinion. Many future video concepts were largely based on the ideas from Beatles videos and the movie Help! and to a certain extent A Hard Days Night.
Check out the video, a studio performance of You're Going to Lose That Girl. It easily could have been made today and been a success.
6.
Which of these Beatles songs was NOT written by George Harrison?
Correct Answer
D. I'm Only Sleeping
Explanation
John wrote I'm Only Sleeping.
7.
What was the Beatles first record to hit #1 on the United States Charts and what year was it?
Correct Answer
C. I Want to Hold Your Hand in 1964
Explanation
I Want To Hold Your Hand went #1 in 1964, their first chart topper (the top of the poppermost in John's words). They performed it during their first Ed Sullivan Show their first appearance in America on February 9, 1964.
8.
Who did George Harrison follow around when he was around 16 years old?
Correct Answer
A. John Lennon and Cynthia Powell
Explanation
Both John and Cynthia Lennon commented later that George used to follow them around and try to tag along wherever they were going. Most of the time they'd let him join them if they were going somewhere like the movies.
George was 2 years younger in high school while John and Cynthia were in art college.
9.
Why did the Beatles break up on April 10, 1970? Multiple answers on this one. You must answer all of them correctly.
Correct Answer(s)
A. The Beatles could no longer bear each other for the most part
B. The Beatles could not agree on who was going to manage them and their corporation, Apple Corp
C. Yoko Ono's presence was intolerable for everyone except John Lennon and John was in turn hurt by it
D. The Beatles were all going in different directions musically and personally including involvement with their respective significant others
E. George was disgusted with how Paul and John were treating him and felt he and his music and songwriting was not appreciated by them
Explanation
The reasons for the Beatles breakup were practically endless. All of these answers are correct.
It's by no means a complete list.
John said it was like going through the messiest divorce and blamed it on the Beatles Manager, Brian Epstein's death in 1967.
10.
Which of these Beatles songs did Paul McCartney write about his mother?
Correct Answer
C. Let It Be
Explanation
Paul's mother passed away of breast cancer October 31, 1956 when Paul was 14. John Lennon's mother Julia died on July 15, 1958 tragically after being struck by a car in front of John's home where he lived with Julia's sister Mimi. John and Paul did bond over this although their respective relationships with their mothers were very different.