Billboard Number One Hits of 1974 Quiz

Answer: Steve Miller Band

In college Steve and Boz Scaggs performed together in local bands around the University of Wisconsin. After college Miller formed the Goldberg-Miller band with keyboard player Barry Goldberg. They soon became popular local favorites. Miller then gravitated to San Francisco, put together a band and within four days the group performed at the Avalon Ballroom. Scaggs returned from a folk gig in Europe and reunited up with Miller when a record deal seemed imminent. Boz Scaggs eventually went on to a successful solo career. Steve reformed the band and kept on plugging away, releasing several successful albums and building a following until "The Joker" broke nationally. Paul McCartney and Wings took their "Band on the Run" to number one June 8, 1974. Bachman-Turner Overdrive took "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" to the top spot in November, 1974 and Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods had a number one with "Billy Don't be a Hero" on June 15,1974.

Answer: Al Wilson

Al Wilson was one of many pop and rock artists to have his roots in Gospel. While in the Navy he realized he wanted to be a professional singer. Upon his release he migrated to California and worked with a group called the Rollers. They went on to chart a song in the Top 100 called "The Continental Walk". Manager Marc Gordon was helping Johnny Rivers find talent for his new label and Wilson was signed to record some titles for Johnny's Soul City label but had little success.

By the early seventies Wilson was signed to Gordon's new label, Carousel records, and recorded "Show and Tell".

It would prove to be his only top ten hit. Gladys Knight and her Pips had the number four the same week with "I've Got to Use My Imagination". Byron MacGregor had a top five in February, 1974, with the song "Americans" and Jackson Five had a top five in May of 1974 with "Dancing Machine".

Answer: Sunshine on my Shoulders

John Denver was an Air Force brat who was born Henry John Deutschendorf in Roswell, New Mexico. He particularly enjoyed spending time on his grandmother's Oklahoma farm. He began playing guitar in high school bands and eventually headed to California to be part of the folk scene.

He was selected out of 250 people auditioned to replace Chad Mitchell in the Chad Mitchell Trio. He began writing songs during his three-year tenure with the trio, including Peter, Paul and Mary's hit, "Leaving on a Jet Plane". Ironically, he didn't compose his first top twenty song "Take Me Home, Country Roads".

He kept recording songs such as 1973's number nine "Rocky Mountain High" but his ninth single, "Sunshine on my Shoulders", was the number one charm. He had a second number one in 1974 with "Annie's Song" in July. "Be Thankful for What You've Got" was a top five in June, 1974, for William DeVaughn.

Answer: Hooked on a Feeling

British producer Jonathan King is credited with discovering such bands as 10cc, the Bay City Rollers and Genesis as well as having a hit with "Everyone's Gone to the Moon". Jonathan recorded an arrangement of "Hooked on a Feeling" with the distinctive chanting intro.

His version was heard by EMI Sweden Records A&R chief Bengt Palmers. He thought it would be a good tune for a band he signed, Blue Denim. Their name was then changed to Blue Swede. Originally meant only for distribution in Sweden, the song entered the US Billboard Hot 100 and took two months to hit number one, giving Blue Swede the distinction of being the first Swedish group to have a number one US hit. Coincidentally April 6, 1974, was the same date a Swedish group called ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest and earned worldwide acclaim. "Come and Get Your Love" was a top five for Redbone the same month. "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head" and Hank Williams' "I'm So Lonely I Could Cry" are both other B. J. Thomas recordings.

Answer: The Streak

Inspired by a newspaper article about streaking after Robert Opel streaked the Academy Awards, Ray wrote "The Streak" after making some initial notes in his hotel room. When he learned how big the fad had become he polished and recorded the song. He was not alone.

By the time his song came out there were over 30 songs recorded about streaking. "The Streak" put Stevens back in the novelty singer category. He had a hit in the sixties with "Ahab the Arab" and also reached number one with the inspirational song "Everything is Beautiful".

After "The Streak" he recorded a spoof of "Midnight Special" called "Moonlight Special". If you've ever heard "In the Mood" by The Henhouse Five Plus Two you were actually listening to another Stevens parody. In 1984 Stevens signed with MCA Records and continued doing comedy records and tours.

Answer: The Loco-Motion

Little Eva took the Goffin/King composed "Loco-Motion" to number one in 1962. Todd Rundgren produced Grand Funk's first number one, "We're an American band" and overheard the group fooling around with "The Loco-Motion" to rehearse their harmonies. He talked them into releasing it as their next single. "The Loco-Motion" is a cut from the band's tenth album called "Shinin' On".

The band switched from Capitol records to MCA in 1976 and broke up later that year, citing the fact that they were burnt out.

They had sold more than 20 million records. Ironically, the first song to hit number one twice, "Go Away little Girl", was also written by Jerry Goffin and Carole King. "The Lord's Prayer" as recorded by Sister Janet Mead actually hit number four in April of 1974. "Mockingbird" was number five in March, 1974, by Carly Simon and James Taylor and Ringo took "You're Sixteen" to number one in January, 1974.

Answer: Hues Corporation

One of the names considered for the band was Children of Howard Hughes. Due to legal issues founder Wally Holmes was unable to use the it and took the name Hues Corporation. The group landed a gig in a lounge at Las Vegas' Circus Circus. Soon they came to the attention of RCA Records and landed a deal.

They struck gold right away when their first album, "Freedom for the Stallion", included "Rock the Boat" on the tracks. The group's singer at the time was Fleming Williams, but he left right after the album was recorded and was replaced by Tommy Brown. "Rock the Boat" initially fell from the charts, but was revived when audience response to the song was strong, compelling the label to release it as a single.

The Stylistics had a number three the same month with "You Make Me Feel Brand New".

The Righteous Brothers hit number three in July, 1974, with "Rock and Roll Heaven" and Rufus had a number four in August of the same year with "Tell Me Something Good".

Answer: Rock Your Baby

Florida-born George McCrae played in high school groups and went into the Navy after graduation. He organized a group while in the Navy called Atsugi Express. Upon his discharge he married his wife Gwen and as a duo they were signed to the Alston label.

While at the label Steve Alaimo played him the instrumental track to "Rock Your baby" and he nailed the vocals in two takes. The song was written and produced by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch. Harry Wayne Casey would have his own string of hits beginning the following year when he changed his named to K C and formed the Sunshine Band. "Please Come to Boston" was number five in August, 1974, for Dave Loggins. "Rock Me Gently" was number one for Andy Kim in September, 1974 and "Nothing From Nothing" was Billy Preston's number four song in September, 1974.

Answer: I Shot the Sheriff

"I Shot the Sheriff" was a cut from Eric's "461 Ocean Boulevard" album. The album was the first release after his two-year battle with heroin addiction that was cured with the help of acupuncture. The song was a departure from the blues-influenced music he had been performing with a variety of bands since the mid-sixties. Raised by his grandparents, Eric preferred the guitar to his studies at the Kingston Art Academy and worked with The Yardbirds and John Mayall before forming Cream then working with Delaney and Bonnie. "Sunshine of My Love" was a Cream hit and "Layla" was recorded when Eric recruited Delaney and Bonnie's band to form Derek and the Dominoes. "Whatever Gets You Through The Night" was a number one for John Lennon in November, 1974.

Answer: Olivia Newton-John

Peter Allen wrote "I Honestly Love You" and intended to record the song himself. Olivia Newton-John heard the demo and loved the song. Olivia was already a television personality when she decided to broaden her career by singing. She recorded a version of Bob Dylan's "If not For You" which went to number 25 in 1971.

She followed with the number six hit "Let Me Be There" earlier in 1974. When she recorded "I Honestly Love You" she realized her first chart-topper. Peter Allen did a version of it years later. Dionne Warwick had a number one in October, 1974, when she sang "Then Came You" with the Spinners.

Helen Reddy had number one success in December, 1974, with "Angie Baby". "Feel Like Makin' Love" was Roberta Flack's number one the week of August 10, 1974.