1970s Music Quiz

Question 1

Which band released the album 'Rumours' in 1977, one of the best-selling albums of all time?

Accepted Answer

Fleetwood Mac

Answer

The Eagles

Answer

Crosby Stills Nash & Young

Answer

Carole King

Question 2

Disco reached its cultural peak in the 1970s. Which New York City venue was its most famous home?

Accepted Answer

Studio 54

Answer

CBGB

Answer

The Roxy

Answer

The Limelight

Question 3

ABBA won Eurovision in 1974 with which song, launching their global career?

Accepted Answer

Waterloo

Answer

Dancing Queen

Answer

Mamma Mia

Answer

Fernando

Question 4

Led Zeppelin released 'Stairway to Heaven' in 1971. On which album does it appear?

Accepted Answer

Led Zeppelin IV (Untitled)

Answer

Led Zeppelin II

Answer

Led Zeppelin III

Answer

Physical Graffiti

Question 5

Which artist released 'Superstition', 'Higher Ground', and 'Living for the City' all on the same 1973 album?

Accepted Answer

Stevie Wonder

Answer

Marvin Gaye

Answer

Curtis Mayfield

Answer

James Brown

Question 6

The punk movement of 1976–77 was partly a reaction against what?

Accepted Answer

Both prog rock excess and disco's commercialism

Answer

The popularity of country music

Answer

The perceived excess and self-indulgence of progressive rock and stadium rock

Answer

The rise of disco

Question 7

Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love' (1977), produced by Giorgio Moroder, is considered a landmark record because:

Accepted Answer

It was one of the first major pop recordings built entirely on synthesizers, predicting electronic dance music

Answer

It was the first disco song to reach #1 in the UK

Answer

It was the longest single ever released at that point

Answer

It was the first song to sell over 5 million copies as a single

Question 8

The Eagles' 'Hotel California' album (1977) contains which famous track about the dark side of the American dream?

Accepted Answer

Hotel California

Answer

Desperado

Answer

Lyin' Eyes

Answer

Life in the Fast Lane

Question 9

Which 1975 album by Bruce Springsteen, featuring 'Born to Run' and 'Thunder Road', established him as a major rock star?

Accepted Answer

Born to Run

Answer

Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.

Answer

The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle

Answer

Darkness on the Edge of Town

Question 10

David Bowie created which theatrical alter ego for the Ziggy Stardust era (1972–73)?

Accepted Answer

Ziggy Stardust

Answer

Aladdin Sane

Answer

The Thin White Duke

Answer

Nathan Adler

Question 11

Which Jamaican genre, pioneered by Bob Marley, became internationally popular in the 1970s?

Accepted Answer

Reggae

Answer

Ska

Answer

Rocksteady

Answer

Dancehall

Question 12

Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody (1975) was groundbreaking for its length and structure. What was unusual about releasing it as a single?

Accepted Answer

At nearly 6 minutes, it was far too long for radio play — but DJ Kenny Everett played it despite the ban and it went to #1

Answer

It was the first single released without a B-side

Answer

It was the first single to be released simultaneously in multiple languages

Answer

It was released only as a promotional single, not for sale

Question 13

The Bee Gees dominated the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack (1977). What vocal technique were they known for?

Accepted Answer

Falsetto vocals layered in multi-part harmony

Answer

Three-part bass harmonies

Answer

Growling rock vocals

Answer

Operatic tenor leads

Question 14

Which American singer-songwriter released the album 'Tapestry' in 1971, which spent 302 weeks on the Billboard charts?

Accepted Answer

Carole King

Answer

Joni Mitchell

Answer

Carly Simon

Answer

James Taylor

Question 15

Which 1970s prog rock band is known for the 23-minute song 'Supper's Ready' from their 1972 album Foxtrot?

Accepted Answer

Genesis

Answer

Yes

Answer

Emerson Lake & Palmer

Answer

King Crimson

Question 16

Which 1973 Elton John double album is often considered his masterpiece?

Accepted Answer

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Answer

Honky Château

Answer

Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player

Answer

Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy

Question 17

What was 'Krautrock', the influential German experimental music scene of the 1970s?

Accepted Answer

Experimental electronic and psychedelic rock from Germany — including Can, Kraftwerk, Neu!, Faust, and Tangerine Dream

Answer

A German folk revival movement

Answer

A German punk movement parallel to UK punk

Answer

Traditional German folk music fused with rock

Question 18

Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) spent how long on the Billboard 200 chart?

Accepted Answer

Over 900 weeks

Answer

51 weeks

Answer

163 weeks

Answer

365 weeks

Question 19

Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On' (1971) was a radical departure because:

Accepted Answer

It was a concept album addressing Vietnam, drug addiction, and inner-city poverty — a serious political statement from a Motown artist

Answer

It was Motown's first double album

Answer

It was the first album recorded entirely live

Answer

Gaye played every instrument himself

Question 20

Which British band's 'Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols' (1977) became the defining punk album?

Accepted Answer

The Sex Pistols

Answer

The Clash

Answer

The Damned

Answer

The Buzzcocks