Top 15 Hits from 1981 Trivia Quiz

Answer:

FYI - All incorrect songs were from 1971.

1. "Bette Davis Eyes" (Kim Carnes) was written and composed by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon in 1974. It won Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. It was also a number one hit in 21 countries and peaked at number ten in the UK, to date her only Top 40 hit in that country.

2. "Endless Love" (Diana Ross and Lionel Richie) was written by Lionel Richie and originally recorded as a duet with Diana Ross. The composition became the biggest-selling single of Ross' career, and her 18th and final career number-one single (including the Supremes' hits). It is also Richie's biggest charting single, and the first of several hits for Richie during the 1980s.

3. "Lady" (Kenny Rogers) was written by Lionel Richie and first recorded by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. Richie had originally pitched this song to the Commodores and they turned it down. Then it was offered to Kenny Rogers to record and it became the biggest selling hit single for him as a solo artist.

4. "(Just Like) Starting Over" (John Lennon) was written and performed by John Lennon. It reached number one in both the US and the UK after Lennon was murdered on December, 8th 1980. It was Lennon's final single released in his lifetime.

5. "Jessie's Girl" (Rick Springfield) was written and performed by Australian singer Rick Springfield. It took 19 weeks to hit number one, one of the slowest climbs to number one at that time. It stayed there for two weeks and would be Springfield's only number one hit.

6. "Celebration" (Kool & the Gang) was written by Ronald Nathan Bell, Claydes Charles Smith, George Melvin Brown, James "J.T." Taylor, Robert Spike Mickens, Earl Eugene Toon Jr., Dennis Ronald Thomas, Robert Earl Bell and Eumir Deodato. It was Kool & the Gang's first and only single to reach number one.

7. "Kiss on My List" (Hall & Oates) was written by Daryl Hall and Janna Allen. It became Hall & Oates' second US Billboard Hot 100 number-one single (after "Rich Girl" in 1977). The music video was the 207th that aired on MTV's first day of broadcast.

8. "I Love a Rainy Night" (Eddie Rabbitt) was written by David Malloy, Eddie Rabbitt and Even Stevens. It reached number one on the Hot Country Singles, Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary Singles charts. The song was Rabbitt's only Hot 100 number one.

9. "9 To 5" (Dolly Parton) was written and performed by Dolly Parton for the 1980 comedy film of the same name. The song garnered Parton an Academy Award nomination and four Grammy Award nominations, winning for Best Country Song and Best Country Vocal Performance, Female.

10. "Keep on Loving You" (REO Speedwagon) was written by Kevin Cronin. It was the first REO Speedwagon single to break the top 50 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, ultimately reaching the number-one spot. The music video of the song was the 17th played on MTV's first day of broadcasting on August 1.

11. "Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not)" (Joey Scarbury) was composed by Mike Post with lyrics by Stephen Geyer. It was featured in an episode of "Seinfeld" where Jason Alexander, playing character George Costanza, recorded parody lyrics as his answering machine message.

12. "Morning Train (Nine to Five)" (Sheena Easton) was written by British songwriter Florrie Palmer. It was released in the US and Canada under the title "Morning Train (Nine to Five)" to avoid confusion with Dolly Parton's recent hit "9 to 5". It reached number one in both countries, becoming Easton's only chart-topper in those nations.

13. "Being with You" (Smokey Robinson) was written and recorded by Smokey Robinson. The song spent five weeks at number one on the Hot Soul Singles chart and reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. It was his highest-charting solo hit on the Billboard pop charts.

14. "Queen of Hearts" (Juice Newton) was written by Hank DeVito. Juice Newton's recording of the song earned her a 1982 Grammy nomination for Best Female Vocalist, Country and Western category. Newton's first version of the tune is featured in Oliver Stone's 1986 film "Salvador" and the 1997 film "Boogie Nights".

15. "Rapture" (Blondie) was written by band members Debbie Harry and Chris Stein. It was the first number-one single in the US to feature rap vocals. It was also Blondie's fourth and last single to reach number one.