Back in the U.S.S.R.

Back in the U.S.S.R. - Quiz

1. On what date did Apple Records release the album containing 'Back in the U.S.S.R.'?

A) 22 November 1968
B) 25 June 1976
C) December 1982
D) September 2022

2. Which song follows 'Back in the U.S.S.R.' on the album?

A) Helter Skelter
B) Dear Prudence
C) Birthday
D) Don't Pass Me By

3. What is the B-side to the 1969 Scandinavian single release of 'Back in the U.S.S.R.'?

A) Twist and Shout
B) Dear Prudence
C) Lady Madonna
D) Don't Pass Me By

4. In what year was 'Back in the U.S.S.R.' issued as a single in the UK to promote 'Rock 'n' Roll Music'?

A) 1973
B) 1976
C) 1969
D) 1968

5. Which song was the B-side for the 1976 UK single release of 'Back in the U.S.S.R.'?

A) Birthday
B) Twist and Shout
C) Dear Prudence
D) Don't Pass Me By

6. What chart position did 'Back in the U.S.S.R.' reach in the UK Singles Chart in 1976?

A) 86
B) 64
C) 11
D) 19

7. In what year did the British Phonographic Industry award the song a silver certification?

A) 2018
B) 2022
C) 2010
D) 2006

8. What locations were used in the promotional film made by EMI for the release?

A) The USA and the UK
B) Amsterdam and West Germany
C) Canada and Scandinavia
D) Russia and France

9. Who recorded a version of the song that reached number 86 in Canada?

A) The Beach Boys
B) Chubby Checker
C) Chuck Berry
D) Little Richard

10. How did Alan Smith of the NME describe 'Back in the U.S.S.R.'?

A) A half-hearted and limp parody
B) A rotten comedy song
C) A failed engagement with the rock audience
D) A fantastic piece of screaming excitement

11. According to David Griffiths, what purpose does the opening track serve?

A) Disorientating the average listener
B) Celebrating the Beatles' fame
C) Promoting the Beach Boys
D) Ignoring the basics of rock music

12. Geoffrey Cannon suggested that the Beatles failed to engage with the rock audience in the same way as which band?

A) The Turtles
B) Frank Zappa
C) Jefferson Airplane
D) The Rolling Stones

13. Who described the middle eight of 'Back in the U.S.S.R.' as 'pure surf-age Beach Boys but it's all half-hearted and limp'?

A) Richard Goldstein
B) Jann Wenner
C) Nik Cohn
D) Tim Riley

14. According to Jann Wenner, why is it too simple to call the song a parody?

A) It is not funny
B) It operates on multiple levels
C) It is technically inferior
D) It is a direct copy

15. Tim Riley describes 'Back in the U.S.S.R.' as 'Brian Wilson with' what?

A) Ironic distance
B) Political commentary
C) Sex appeal
D) Hard rock vocals

16. How does David Quantick characterize McCartney's musical ability in relation to the song?

A) A failed satirist
B) Dependent on the Beach Boys
C) Too arty and far from the basics
D) A master of pastiche and parody

17. What did John Bohannon praise specifically regarding the vocal performance?

A) The falsetto backings
B) A hard rock vocal delivered from below the belt
C) The hilarious harmony vocals
D) The satirical delivery

18. What ranking did Rolling Stone give the song in their 2010 list of '100 Greatest Beatles Songs'?

A) 19
B) 26
C) 64
D) 85

19. According to Billy Bragg, the song is a 'wonderful inversion' of which artist's song?

A) Little Richard
B) Jerry Lee Lewis
C) The Beach Boys
D) Chuck Berry

20. What sound opens and closes the song 'Back in the U.S.S.R.'?

A) A Russian choir
B) A balalaika solo
C) A turboprop aircraft landing
D) A subway train

21. Which music critic describes the song as an 'aural cartoon'?

A) Ken Scott
B) Tim Riley
C) Doyle Greene
D) John Winn

22. Where was the flight in the song departing from?

A) Ukraine
B) Miami Beach
C) London
D) Moscow

23. Which airline is mentioned in the lyrics as the carrier for the flight?

A) Aeroflot
B) British Airways
C) BOAC
D) Pan Am

24. What instrument drives the song according to the text?

A) Lennon's rhythm guitar
B) Harrison's bass
C) McCartney's uptempo piano
D) Starr's drums

25. The song's bridge is said to parody the style of which band?

A) The Byrds
B) The Kinks
C) The Beach Boys
D) The Rolling Stones

26. Which band member walked out during the sessions for the 'White Album'?

A) Paul McCartney
B) John Lennon
C) George Harrison
D) Ringo Starr

27. Who was the recording engineer at EMI Studios during the sessions?

A) George Martin
B) Geoff Emerick
C) Phil Spector
D) Ken Scott

28. Which take of the basic track was chosen as the best?

A) Take 22
B) Take 5
C) Take 1
D) Take 3

29. What vocal style did McCartney describe using on the song?

A) Little Richard voice
B) Elvis Presley voice
C) Buddy Holly voice
D) Jerry Lee Lewis voice

30. What instrument did Lennon play on the basic track?

A) Piano
B) Acoustic guitar
C) Lead guitar
D) Fender Bass VI

31. Who played the guitar solo in the instrumental break?

A) Ken Scott
B) John Lennon
C) Paul McCartney
D) George Harrison

32. What specific type of aircraft recording was used for the sound effects?

A) Concorde
B) Boeing 707 jet
C) DC-3 propeller plane
D) Viscount turboprop

33. When did Ringo Starr rejoin the group?

A) 22 August
B) 1 September
C) 23 August
D) 4 September

34. What were the Beatles filming when Starr rejoined the group?

A) A documentary
B) A live performance
C) A promotional clip for 'Hey Jude'
D) A television interview

35. Who recalled hearing Lennon play the song during a break in filming?

A) Tim Riley
B) John Winn
C) Ken Scott
D) Marc Sinden

36. Which band recorded the song 'Back in the U.S.S.R.'?

A) The Rolling Stones
B) The Kinks
C) The Beatles
D) The Beach Boys

37. Who wrote 'Back in the U.S.S.R.'?

A) Paul McCartney
B) George Harrison
C) John Lennon
D) Ringo Starr

38. What was the original title McCartney considered for the song?

A) Back in the U.S.A.
B) Back in the U.S.S.R.
C) I'm Backing the USSR
D) I'm Backing the UK

39. Where were the Beatles when McCartney first played 'Back in the U.S.S.R.'?

A) India
B) United Kingdom
C) United States
D) Russia

40. According to Mike Love, what should the bridge section focus on?

A) Politics
B) Girls
C) Food
D) Cars

41. Who suggested that the bridge should be in the style of 'California Girls'?

A) Donovan
B) George Harrison
C) John Lennon
D) Mike Love

42. McCartney described the song's perspective as that of a what?

A) Russian spy
B) Soviet soldier
C) Western diplomat
D) Tourist

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