Quite a Quest: Identifying The Twenty Best Songs With Q In The Title

Each afternoon at twelve the local classic rock station spins three or four songs all related by some kind of theme, and the one yesterday I found quite intriguing. The deejay decided to play a trio of tracks with the letter Q somewhere in their titles, starting with the obvious choice by the most famous of all Q bands.

After "Killer Queen" from Freddie Mercury's renown group, listeners heard Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Don't Ask Me No Questions" from Second Helping. The segment closed with the Jethro Tull title track from Aqualung, but there is a lesser-known song from that band's discography that could have been used as a substitute.

It is listed here among the twenty other songs that all have a Q in the title, including one from a band who themselves have that very letter in their name,

1. In Quintessence by Squeeze

Opening the band's best album East Side Story, this delightful take on adolescent lust is the only cut produced by Dave Edmonds. All of the other thirteen tracks, including the huge hit "Tempted", were produced by Elvis Costello.

2. Mozambique by Bob Dylan

Along with "Isis" and "One More Cup of Coffee" this hit was among the highlights of Desire, Dylan's highly-anticipated follow up to Blood on the Tracks.

3. She Quit Me by Warren Zevon

Long before he saw werewolves in London or excitable boys or Thompson gunners, Zevon was a folk singer akin to a young Bob Dylan. That phase of his career can be heard on the Wanted Dead Or Alive album, which spawned this acoustic gem.

4. Conquistador by Procol Harum

It wasn't until the band recorded this number with a backing orchestra that it became a hit, second in popularity only to the classic "Whiter Shade Of Pale."

5. Quiet Corners and Empty Spaces by the Jayhawks

Alt-Country best defines Gary Louris's band, who use this ballad to open their most recent studio album Paging Mr. Proust.

6. The White Squall by Stan Rogers

Sharing more than just their native Canada, he and Gordon Lightfoot also possessed rich baritones along with a keen eye for the wonders of nature.

7. Quiz Kid by Jethro Tull

Even though the album claimed the band was Too Old To Rock and Roll But Too Young To Die, they decided to kick it off with this hit about a lad.

8. Susie Q. by Creedence Clearwater Revival

John Fogerty's band never disclosed what the initial stood for, so feel free to believe it was something like queen or qualude or Quisenberry.

9. Creeque Alley by the Mamas and Papas

"No one's getting fat except Mama Cass" the quartet sang in the chorus of this hit, showcasing a sense of humor not found in hits such as "Monday Monday" or "California Dreamin."

10. Squeeze Box by the Who

In spite of the rumors (and school boy fantasies) to the contrary that squeezable set on her chest is an accordion, according to Pete Townshend.

11. American Squirm by Nick Lowe

"Cruel To Be Kind" is the highlight of Labour Of Lust, but this satirical two-minute delight is almost as good.

12. Turn a Square by the Shins

Eleven songs, including this prize, comprise Chutes Too Narrow, by far the best album in the vast discography of James Mercer.

13. Quicksand by David Bowie

Hunky Dory is a strange name for an album that features policemen beating up innocents or Mickey Mouse being transformed to a cow, but among the odd collection of songs quicksand kind of fits right in.

14. Quinn the Eskimo by Manfred Mann

All the pigeons ran to this cool cat created by Bob Dylan, because they had never seen anything like him.

15. Baroque Bordello by the Stranglers

Hugh Cornwell and his punk band put this alliterative title on The Raven, which also housed hits such as "Duchess" and "Living In a Bearcage."

16. Squire James by the Sanford-Townsend Band

If you can see past the smoke from a distant fire, you will find the pair's lesser-known but equally good tracks like this one.

17. Don Quixote by Gordon Lightfoot

The Canadian folk legend would naturally be drawn to the character invented by Cervantes, so there is little wonder that the fantasy-driven windmill attacker would serve as the title for one of Lightfoot's best albums.

18. Secret Squirrel by Marcy Playground

Shape Shifter is the album that followed up the alt rock's breakthrough hit "Sex and Candy," and this alliterative tune is representative of their off the wall subjects.

19. Coquette by Nat King Cole

He found more success singing about the Mona Lisa, but more young men could probably better identify with this lesser-known hit.

20. Raquel by the Violent Femmes

"What is this feeling I'm not trying to squelch?" the last verse asks. "I don't know your last name , I just know it's not Welch."