Obscure One Hit Wonders of the Eighties Quiz

Answer: The Young Rascals

Felix Cavaliere and fellow Young Rascals member Eddie Brigati were inducted into The Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009. Along with Dino Danelli and Eddie Brigati the Young Rascals formed in New Jersey. All the members except Dino Danelli had been part of Joey Dee's backing band, The Starlighters.
The Young Rascals made their first national television appearance on "Hullabaloo" in February, 1965, performing their debut single, "I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My heart Anymore".
"Only A Lonely Heart Sees" was Cavaliere's only Top Forty solo recording. In the early eighties he and Dino Danelli worked with Steve Van Zandt in Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul. He has also been busy producing albums for various artists as well as touring with Ringo's All Starr Band and Felix Caviliere's Rascals.

Answer: Emmylou Harris

In the late seventies Emmylou Harris collaborated with Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt to record an album together. Emmylou released a solo album with "Mister Sandman" and recorded the other vocal parts herself. Emmylou's version was included on her "Evangeline" album.
"Seven Year Ache" was a crossover hit by Rosanne Cash that made it to Number 22 on the Billboard charts. Susan Anton had her one hit with the Number 28 song, "Killin' Time". "Somebody's Knockin'" was the only Top Forty hit on the Billboard Pop charts by Country singer Terri Gibbs.

Answer: Valley Girl

Despite releasing approximately 60 albums either with The Mothers of Invention or as a solo artist, "Vally Girls" was the only Top Forty song Frank Zappa charted. It made it to Number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and to Number 12 on the Billboard Rock chart.

His hard work as a guitarist, record producer and film director gained him admission into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, two years after his death at age 52. "Nice Girls" was a 1982 Top Forty release by Eye to Eye. "Goin' Down" was a Top twenty by Greg Guidry and Jennifer Holliday's single hit was the Number 22, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"

Answer: Jim Capaldi

As a youth Capaldi studied piano and played drums with various bands in his hometown. After helping form Traffic he composed the lyrics for their single, "Paper Sun". After the band released the "Mr Fantasy" LP in 1967 Steve Winwood left Traffic and formed Blind Faith.

The group reformed and released "John Barleycorn Must Die". In the early eighties Capaldi began developing a solo career and recorded his "Fierce Heart" album, releasing "That's Love" as a single. In addition to being a part of Traffic, Chris Wood played for several bands and worked as a studio session player for artists from Jimi Hendrix to Third World. Traffic member Dave Mason placed solo efforts on the US Top Forty as well as recorded with many other bands. Session musician Jim Gordon replaced Capaldi in Traffic as drummer and was a member of Derek and The Dominos.

Answer: Tracey Ullman

Prior to creating "The Tracey Ullman Show", Tracey released an album titled "You Broke My Heart In 17 Places" on Stiff Records which contained cover songs. One of the songs was "They Don't Know", originally recorded by Kirsty MacColl. Ullman had a small role in Paul McCartney's 1984 film, "Give My Regards to Broad Street", and McCartney agreed to do a cameo role in the video for "They Don't Know".

The song made it to Number Eight in the US and Number Two in the UK. "Baby I Lied" was a Billboard Number 26 single by Country singer Deborah Allen. Nena took "99 Luftballons" to Number Two. "Let the Music Play" was Shannon's only Top Twenty Billboard hit.

Answer: Paul Hardcastle

Paul Hardcastle had success in the UK with an instrumental called "Rain Forest" in 1984. The following year his dance genre recording, "19", went to Number One in the UK. He released seven more singles that charted well in the UK, but did not have another Top Forty US single.
David Foster's "Theme From St. Elmo's Fire" and "Call to the Heart" by Giuffria both reached Number 15 in 1985. John Hunter barely got into the Top Forty with the Number 39 song, "Tragedy".

Answer: Emotion in Motion

"Emotion in Motion" was a single release from Ric's "This Side of Paradise" album. In addition to fronting The Cars from 1976 to 1988, Ocasek has been a producer for several groups including No Doubt, Bad Religion, and Suicide. The closest he came to a second single hit was the 1983 Number 47 "Something to Grab For". Accordingly, "Emotion in Motion" was Ric's only Top Forty hit and his ticket to one-hit-wonder-ville. "One Step Closer to You" was Gavin Christopher's only Top Forty hit. "Beat's So Lonely" was a Top Twenty single by Charlie Sexton and E Street Band sax player Clarence Clemons had a solo Number 18 release with "You're a Friend of Mine" in 1986.

Answer: Living in a Box

"Living in a Box" was by the British Pop band, Living in a Box. The song was their only US Top Forty hit. The band formed in 1985 after the demise of a band called Typhoon Saturday. Living in a Box had other successful releases in the UK. Brian May played guitar on their UK Top Ten hit, "Blow The House Down". Singer Richard Darbyshire enjoyed some success as a solo artist, releasing two albums.
"Boys Night Out" was a 1987 solo hit for former Eagles and Poco bass player Timothy B. Schmit. "Casanova" was by LeVert and "Motortown" was released by Kane Gang.

Answer: Not Just Another Girl

Ivan Neville performed on some of The Neville Brothers' albums, some of his father's solo albums and has released four solo projects. He also played keyboards for several other artists including the Rolling Stones on their "Dirty Work" (1986) and "Voodoo Lounge" (1994) albums. From 1999 to 2000 Ivan was a member of the Spin Doctors and played on their "Here Comes The Bride" LP. After his work with The Spin Doctors he formed Dumpstaphunk.
"Fishnet" went to Number 23 by Morris Day. "When We Kiss" was by Bardeux. "Tomorrow People" was the only US Top Forty by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers.

Answer: Dionne Warwick

New Jersey native Sybil Thomas-Lynch enjoyed chart success in the UK with several hits, but a cover of Dionne Warwick's 1962 hit, "Don't Make Me Over", was her sole US Top Forty hit. A cover of another Warwick hit, "Walk on By", made it to Number 21 in the UK but failed to dent the US charts.

She had additional success with cover tunes in the UK when she had a Number Five hit with a remake of "The Love I Lost", originally by Harold Melvin and The Bluenotes. "Have a Good Time" and "Norman" were some of several hits by Sue Thompson.

The Number Three hit, "I Know (You Don't Love Me No More)", was done in 1962 by Barbara George and Ketty Lester had a 1962 Top Ten with "Love Letters".