Questions:

In 1966, the Lovin’ Spoonful recorded “Nashville Cats.” Given one key lyrical reference to a certain record label and studio, what city should actually have been in the song’s title? That aside, which is the oldest surviving recording studio in Nashville?

Which two legendary bluegrass bands released covers of this song (one in 1967 and one in 2007)?

A scene from the film Animal House features a fictitious band called Otis Day and the Knights. Which iconic bluesman played bass for this onscreen band?

 Answers:

The lyrics of “Nashville Cats” mention a “yellow Sun record from Nashville.” Actually, Sun Records—where Elvis, Johnny Cash and so many others got their start—was (and still is) located in Memphis.

RCA Studio B, the oldest surviving recorded studio in Nashville, was built in 1957. Elvis Presley recorded there over 200 times. Classic country legends like Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings and younger artists like Lee Ann Rimes, Martina McBride, and Carrie Underwood have all recorded songs in this landmark studio, which is also used as a teaching facility for Belmont University.

In 1967, the Foggy Mountain Boys, led by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, recorded their version of “Nashville Cats,” which made it to Billboard’s Country chart. In 2007, the Del McCoury Band released their bluegrass version of the song. Writer John Sebastian joined them onstage in Woodstock New York, to play it. Let’s face it, good music is good music.

Otis Day and the Knights—led by DeWayne Jessie, whose brother, Obediah Jessie, performed with the Coasters—featured blues guitarist Robert Cray on bass.