US Number One Hits From the UK Quiz

Answer: Stranger on the Shore

"Stranger on the Shore" was a clarinet solo song released by Acker Bilk that was originally written for his daughter. The single knocked The Shirelles' "Soldier Boy" out of the top spot in the US. "Stranger on the Shore" stayed on the top spot for only one week, then was knocked off by Ray Charles' "I Can't Stop Loving You".

It was later used as the theme for a BBC television show of the same name. "You Don't Have To Be A Baby To Cry" was a Number Three 1963 hit by the British girl duo The Caravelles.

The Shadows' release, "Apache", topped the UK charts for five weeks, but not the US charts. A version by Danish guitarist Jørgen Ingmann reached Number Two on the US charts in 1961. "Telstar" became the second US Number One hit by a UK artist when it peaked at the top slot in December, 1962.

Answer: I Want to Hold Your Hand

On February 1, 1964, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" began a seven week reign at the top of the US charts. "She Loves You" took over on March 21 followed by "Can't Buy Me Love". "Love Me Do" made it to Number One for one week in May, 1964. "Please Please Me" had the distinction of being the first Beatles tune released in the US. Vee-Jay records obtained the rights to the song after it was turned down by other American labels.

The original 45 RPM records had the band's name listed as "The Beattles". "Please Please Me" was also heard before any other Beatles tune in the US when a Chicago DJ played it in early February, 1963.

It was re-released the following year when the Beatles ruled the charts and made it to Number Three in March, 1964.

Answer: Candle In The Wind 1997

A car crash took the life of Diana, Princess of Wales in August, 1997. A re-release of the 1973 Elton John song, "Candle in the Wind", was recorded with the lyrics changed by Bernie Taupin at Elton's request to honor Diana. The original 1973 release was a tribute to Marilyn Monroe.

Despite repeated urging the only time Elton John has ever performed the song live was at Princess Diana's funeral service. George Martin produced the 1997 recording. In addition to breaking records for the length of time on the charts, "Candle in the Wind 97" was the seventh song in the US to debut at Number One. Over 33 million copies have been sold with royalties and profits benefiting the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. "Hey Jude" anchored the spot for nine weeks in 1968.

In June, 1978, Andy Gibb's "Shadow Dancing" lasted a respectable seven weeks. In July, 1983, "Every Breath You Take" held the Number One spot for eight weeks.

Answer: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

On July 10, 1965, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" began its four week stay at Number One. It became the first US chart-topper for the Rolling Stones. The previous year "Time Is on My Side" made it to Number Six and "Heart of Stone" had reached Number 13 in the US. "Get Off of My Cloud" made it to the top in November, 1965.

The Stones recorded the first version of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" at Chess Records in Chicago but a revised version was recorded at RCA Studios in California. When it was released as a single it eventually replaced The Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" at Number One.

Another British Invasion band, Herman's Hermits, regained the US top spot after "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" with "I'm Henry the Eighth, I Am". Mick Jagger and Keith Richards wrote "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction".

It became the band's fourth chart topping hit in the UK.

Answer: Petula Clark

Petula Clark began singing on BBC radio when she was quite young. She earned a can of coffee and a watch for her first professional singing engagement in a department store. When WWII broke out, Petula became an unofficial mascot for British troops and after the war she began appearing in films and on television shows.

In 1964 an arranger affiliated with her record label named Tony Hatch auditioned "Downtown" for her. She recorded the song then went back on tour. The success of the song propelled Clark to international fame, appearing on major TV variety shows and eventually receiving a "Best Rock & Roll Record" Grammy in 1964 for "Downtown". Petula's "My Love" made it to Number One in 1966. Cilla Black had a US hit with "You're My World" in 1964. Dusty Springfield's biggest US British Invasion-era hit was the number 12 "I Only Wanna Be With You". Marianne Faithful enjoyed a US hit with "As Tears Go By" in 1964.

Answer: Maggie May

Rod Stewart wrote "Maggie May" with Martin Quittenton. The song was included on Rod's 1971 "Every Picture tells A Story" LP. It reached Number One in the US and UK at the same time. The "Every Picture Tells A Story" album also topped both charts. Several members of Rod's band, The Faces, performed on the album including a future Rolling Stones guitarist billed as Ronnie Wood. Ray Jackson played the mandolin on "Maggie May".

After the song's stint at the top of the charts it was replaced by Cher's "Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves". The Number One "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" came five years later. "You Wear It Well" was released in 1972.

It reached Number One in the UK but topped out at Number 13 stateside. "Sailing" hit the charts in 1975.

Answer: Leo Sayer

"The Show Must Go On" was a 1973 Number Two hit in England for Leo Sayer and launched a prolific career for him as a singer. "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" was his fifth single release. He performed the song on "The Muppet Show" (1969). He almost had a hat trick when he released "More than I Can Say", but it stalled at Number Two in the US. Sayer was born in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, England in 1948 and has recently become an Australian citizen. Sayer co-wrote one of Roger Daltrey's solo records, "Giving it all Away". Sayer was managed by Adam Faith, a British pop singer who had his first Number One in the UK in 1959 with "What Do You Want?". Gilbert O'Sullivan charted songs such as "Alone Again (Naturally)" and "Clair".

Answer: One More Try

"One More Try" reached Number One for George Michael in 1988. It was the fourth single release from his 1987 "Faith" album. It only reached number eight in the UK. A total of six singles came off the solo album by the former Wham singer. "One More Try" has the privilege of being the first song to reach Number One on three us charts (U.S. Hot 100, U.S. Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks and U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs). The theme song from "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" reached Number One for John Parr in 1985. Duran Duran's "A View to a Kill" was the theme for the James Bond thriller of the same name the same year.

The 1984 Phil Collins Number One, "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)", was from "Against All Odds". Other film soundtracks to have top honors were "Morning Train (Nine to Five)" by Sheena Easton and "Up Where We Belong" (1981) by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes.

The 1981 hit, "Morning Train (Nine to Five)" was featured in the 2004 movie "EuroTrip" and "Up Where We Belong" was in "An Officer and A Gentleman" (1982).

Answer: Michael Jackson

"Say Say Say" was produced by George Martin for McCartney's 1983 "Pipes of Peace" LP. The song stayed in the Number One slot for six weeks. Linda McCartney and La Toya Jackson were given bit parts in the video for the song. The song also marked Paul McCartney's final Number One on the US charts. "The Girl Is Mine" was a 1982 duet by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. Paul and Stevie Wonder took "Ebony and Ivory" to Number One in May, 1982. Linda and Paul released the Number One hit, "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" together in 1971. David Bowie had a Number One hit in 1983 with "Let's Dance" and again in 1975 with "Fame".

Answer: Aretha Franklin

Simon Climie and Dennis Morgan wrote "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)". Aretha Franklin and George Michael enjoyed a two-week US chart run at the zenith position when the song was released. The song also topped the UK charts. "I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me)" entered the charts at number 59 and took nine weeks to get to Number One.

It was the first Number One hit by George that he did not compose. It was Aretha Franklin's only Number One hit in the UK. Dionne Warwick and Gladys Knight were part of the Number One ensemble recording, "That's What Friends Are For" in 1986. Marilyn Martin teamed up with Phil Collins for the 1985 US Number One duet, "Separate Lives".

Answer: Venus

In 1969 Shocking Blue took Venus to the top of the US charts. Bananarama took their version to the same spot in September, 1986. The song was written by the guitar player for Shocking Blue, Robbie van Leeuwen. Sara Dallin, Keren Woodward and Siobhan Fahey formed Bananarama in Bristol, England, and included "Venus" in their live repertoire for some time before deciding to record the song.

Their concept of producing "Venus" as a dance mix met with considerable resistance. Their persistence paid off when the song became an international hit.

A video featuring the band in various costumes also saw MTV rotation. West London native Kim Wilde had a US Number One in 1987 with a cover of "You Keep Me Hangin' On". "Tragedy" by the Bee Gees was on top for two weeks in 1979. Tears for Fears was Number One for three weeks with their song, "Shout" in August, 1985.

Answer: Invisible Touch

"Invisible Touch" was the title of an album as well as the lead single from the 1987 Genesis album. The single only made it to Number 15 in the UK. Former Genesis member Peter Gabriel toppled the song from first place with "Sledgehammer". Both songs only held the spot for one week.
"Don't You (Forget About Me)" went to Number One in 1985 for Simple Minds. Mike Rutherford took "The Living Years" all the way to Number One with Mike and the Mechanics in 1989 and "She Drives Me Crazy" was a top song by Fine Young Cannibals from Birmingham the same year.

Answer: Groovy Kind of Love

Toni Wine and Carole Bayer Sager composed "Groovy Kind of Love" and it was first released in 1965 by Diane & Annita. The Mindbenders did a successful cover version shortly thereafter. Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders topped the US charts in April, 1965, with "Game of Love". "Groovy Kind of Love" was their first hit after Wayne Fontana left the band. Phil Collins recorded the song initially on his "Buster: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" album in 1988.

It was at the top for two weeks and was the only song that Collins charted at Number One in both the US and the UK. Billy Idol's live version of Tommy James' "Mony, Mony" was a November, 1989, Number One for one week. Neil Diamond's "Red Red Wine" was a success for UB40 when it topped the charts in 1988 and they repeated the feat in 1993 with their version of "Can't Help Falling in Love".

Answer: My Sweet Lord/George Harrison

On December 26, 1970, "My Sweet Lord" topped the US charts. The other three members of the band had all recorded solo albums but did not release a single from any of their albums before Harrison's "My Sweet Lord". In November, 1970, the song was released as a single from Harrison's triple album, "All Things Must Pass", and spent four weeks anchoring the top spot. Harrison followed up in 1973 by taking "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)" to Number One.

His last Number One in the US was in 1988 with "Got My Mind Set on You". Ringo's first solo single, "Photograph", made the US Number One spot in 1973 and Paul McCartney's "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" came out in 1971.

Answer: Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes topped the R&B charts as well as having a Billboard Top Ten hit with "If You Don't Know Me By Now". The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, group placed songs on the charts from 1960 through 1986. They also recorded the original version of "Don't Leave Me This Way", which was redone by Thelma Houston in 1976. Mick Hucknall and his manager assembled a group of Manchester area session musicians and dubbed them Simply Red.

Their first release was "Money's Too Tight (To Mention)", a song originally recorded by The Valentine Brothers.

They released their "Picture Book" album in 1985. "Holding Back the Years" became their first major success, followed by "If You Don't Know Me By Now".

Answer: Love Bites

Def Leppard formed in Sheffield in 1977 and initially called themselves Atomic Mass. Their first album was the 1980 release, "On Through the Night". "Love Bites" was a single release from their fourth LP, "Hysteria", released in 1987. Despite facing occasional challenges, the band continually released top-selling albums and has continued rocking and touring for over 30 years, releasing "Songs from the Sparkle Lounge" in 2008. "Pour Some Sugar on Me" was also from the "Hysteria" album and reached Number Two the previous year in the US. "Hysteria" made the Top Ten the same year. "Let's Get Rocked" managed to make it to Number 15 in 1992.

Answer: Cream

Steve worked with Eric Clapton in Blind Faith, but Eric, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce formed Cream. Winwood became known for his musicianship and vocal ability at a young age while with the Spencer Davis Group in the sixties. Traffic formed in 1967 with Winwood, Dave Mason, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood after Winwood left Spencer Davis' band.

In 1976 Winwood joined Michael Shrieve, Al Di Meola and Stomu Yamashta to form Go. The band only released two albums between their 1976 formation and 1977. "Higher Love" was the first single from Winwood's third solo album, "Back in the High Life", in 1986. "Higher Love" earned two Grammy Awards and made it to Number 13 in the UK.

Answer: (Just Like) Starting Over

"(Just Like) Starting Over" was originally released in October, 1980. The song peaked on both sides of the Atlantic two weeks after John Lennon's December 8, 1980, death. The song was a single from his "Double Fantasy" album and was steadily climbing, peaking at Number Three before spending five weeks at the top of the charts. "Shadow Dancing" was Andy Gibb's final Number One hit in the US.

He would place three more songs in the US Top Ten before he passed away in 1988. The Number One hit, "Addicted to Love", was released by Robert Palmer in 1986. Palmer passed away in 2003 at age 54. "The Night Chicago Died" reached Number One for one week in 1975 for Paper Lace.

The band derived its name from the fancy paper lace manufactured in their home town of Nottingham.

Answer: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?

"How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" was a cut from the band's 1971 "Trafalger" album. It was released as a single before the album was entirely completed. Barry and Robin Gibb thought the song could be a hit for Andy Williams but ended up recording it themselves. The hit spent four weeks at the top of the US charts but surprisingly failed to chart in the UK. The group would have a four year drought before placing another song on the US Top Ten.
"Jive Talkin'" was a 1975 hit. "You Should Be Dancing" hit the top in 1976 and "How Deep Is Your Love" appeared on top in 1977.

Answer: You're Beautiful

James Blunt's first UK single, "High", failed to hit the Billboard Hot 100. His second release, "Wisemen", also fell below the US radar. Blunt recorded his "Back to Bedlam" album in 2003, performing many of the tracks himself and utilizing session musicians. James Blunt, S. Skarbek and A. Ghost Both wrote "You're Beautiful" and the song was released as a single from the "Back to Bedlam" album.

The third time was the charm for Blunt when he hit the top of the charts in the US with the single. Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love" and Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" topped the charts in 2008.

The 1997 Spice Girls hit, "Wannabe", was the last UK chart-topper in the nineties.