Number One '80s Hits on the UK Singles Chart Quiz

Answer: Blondie

Blondie's three number one hits on the UK Singles Chart in 1980 were;

"Atomic" was written by Chris Stein/Debbie Harry and was number one for two weeks. It peaked at number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980.
"Call Me" was written by Georgio Moroder/Debbie Harry and was number one for one week. It was number one for six weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the biggest selling single of 1980 in the USA.
"The Tide Is High" was written by John Holt and was number one for two weeks. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1981.

It took them 20 years but Blondie had six number one hits on the UK Singles Chart between 1979 and 1999.

Answer: Bucks Fizz

Bucks Fizz were Bobby G, Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston. They were formed in January 1981 specifically for the European Song Contest but had a lot of success in the UK where they had three number one hits and sold in excess of 50 million records

They won the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest with "Making Your Mind Up" written by Andy Hill/John Danter. It was number one for three weeks on the UK Singles Chart for Bucks Fizz in 1981. It did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

Sandie Shaw won in 1967 with "Puppet On A String".
Lulu won in 1969 with "Boom Bang-A-Bang".
Brotherhood Of Man won in 1976 with "Save Your Kisses For Me".

Answer: House Of Fun

"House Of Fun" written by Lee Thompson/Mike Barson, was number one for two weeks on the UK Singles Chart for Madness in 1982. It peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983.

The group originally formed as the North London Invaders in 1976. After many personnel changes they briefly became Morris and The Minors but changed their name to Madness in 1979.

Between 1979 and 1999 Madness had 17 Top Ten hits on the UK Singles Chart, which included their only number one hit, "House Of Fun". In the '80s they spent more weeks on the UK Singles Chart than any other group, with 268 weeks.

Answer: KC and The Sunshine Band

"Give It Up" written by Harry Wayne Casey/Deborah Carter was number one for three weeks on the UK Singles Chart for KC and The Sunshine Band in 1983. It peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1984.

"Give It Up" was credited to KC in the USA, where he was recuperating from a car crash when it was released. It was KC and The Sunshine Band's only number one hit on the UK Singles chart and it came nine years after their first hit "Queen Of Clubs" which peaked at number seven in 1974.

Between 1975 and 1980 KC and The Sunshine Band had five number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100, for a total of six weeks at number one.

Answer: Pipes Of Peace

"Pipes Of Peace" written by Paul McCartney was number one for two weeks on the UK Singles Chart for Paul McCartney in 1984. It did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

When "Pipes Of Peace" hit the top spot on the UK Singles Chart in 1984, Paul McCartney reached a number of unique mile stones. He became the first performer to hit the top spot as a soloist ("Pipes Of Peace"), as part of a duo with Stevie Wonder ("Ebony And Ivory"), as part of a trio with Wings ("Mull Of Kintyre"/"Girl's School"), as part of a quartet with The Beatles and as part of a quintet with The Beatles and Billy Preston ("Get Back").

He also became the third member of The Beatles to have a solo number one hit on the UK Singles Chart after George Harrison ("My Sweet Lord") in 1971 and John Lennon ("(Just Like) Starting Over") in 1980.

Answer: Chrissie Hynde

"I Got You Babe", written by Sonny Bono, was number one for one week on the UK Singles Chart for UB40 with Chrissie Hynde in 1985. It peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

20 years after Sonny and Cher were number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in 1965 with "I Got You Babe", here it was again but for only one week. At the time Chrissie Hynde was the vocalist with The Pretenders.

"I Got You Babe" featured on the UB40 1985 album "Baggariddim" and also on The Pretenders' 1987 compilation album "The Singles".

Answer: Europe

"The Final Countdown" written by Joey Tempest was number one for two weeks on the UK Singles Chart for Europe in 1986. It peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987.

Europe were the first Swedish group to top the UK Singles Chart since ABBA with "Super Trooper" in 1980. It was number one in 25 countries, which included Sweden, Spain, South Africa, Austria, Germany and Italy. The members of Europe were Joey Tempest (lead vocals), John Norum (lead guitar and backing vocals), John Levén (bass guitar), Mic Michaeli (keyboards and backing vocals), Ian Haugland (drums and backing vocals).

Answer: Let It Be

"Let It Be" written by Lennon/McCartney was number one for three weeks on the UK Singles Chart for Ferry Aid in 1987. It did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Let It Be" was the sixth charity record to reach number one on the UK Singles Chart and it was in aid of the Zeebrugge ferry disaster victims. After leaving the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium on the night of March 6 1987, the MS Herald of Free Enterprise capsized killing 193 passengers and crew. The ship's bow doors were never closed properly, which allowed the sea to flood its decks.

Answer: Mistletoe And Wine

"Mistletoe And Wine", written by Leslie Stewart/Jeremy Paul/Keith Stachan, was number one for four weeks on the UK Singles Chart for Cliff Richard in 1988. It did not chart in the USA.

It only took Cliff Richard 30 years and 11 number one hits on the UK Singles Chart to achieve his first Christmas number one hit. Then he did it again with "Saviour's Day" in 1990, which made him the only artist to have had number one hits on the UK Singles Chart in five different decades. A feat that may never be equalled or beaten.

Answer: Jive Bunny and The Mastermixers

Jive Bunny and The Mastermixers had three number one hits on the UK Singles Chart with "Swing The Mood", number one for five weeks, "That's What I Like", number one for three week and "Let's Party" number one for one week in 1989.

Jive Bunny and The Mastermixers were DJ team John Pickles and Andrew Pickles in collaboration at various times with Les Hemstock, Ian Morgan and Mark Smith.

"Swing The Mood" reached number one on August 5 1989.
"That's What I Like" reached number one on October 21 1989.
"Let's Party" reached number one on December 16 1989.
Jive Bunny and The Mastermixers spent a total of nine weeks at number one.