Billboard Number Ones 1962 Trivia Quiz

Answer: the twist

Chubby Checker forever linked with 'The Twist', a record that holds the honour of being the only single to have topped the Hot 100 twice in two separate chart runs - September 1960 and January 1962.

*Useless information* There is so much information on Chubby Checker and 'The Twist' so just a couple of snippets.
Chubby Checker is the only performer to have five albums showing in the top 12 of the Billboard 100 album charts at the same time.
Bet you thought that Chubby Checker invented the twist. You would be wrong. 'The Twist' was a cover version of a recording by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, this was released as a 'B' side in 1959 and reached number 38 in the charts.
in about 1844 a popular song was entitled ' The Grapevine Twist'. Jelly Roll Morton released a song in 1938 which contained the lyrics 'Mama, mama, look at sis, she's out on the levee doing the double twist'.

Answer: Peppermint

Joey Dee and the Starliters released 'The Peppermint Twist - Part 1' in 1961 and, ironically, knocked Chubby Checker's 'The Twist' off of the top spot in January 1962.

*Useless information* 'The Peppermint Twist' was released to capitalise on the twist dance craze and also to promote 'The Peppermint Lounge', in New York, where Joey Dee and the Starliters were the resident 'house band'.
In 1965 the band included among it's members Jimi Hendrix.

Answer: Johnny Angel

'Johnny Angel' was Shelley Fabares' debut single and her only number one hit.

*Useless information* Shelley Fabares was better known as an actress. She starred in 'The Donna Reed Show' between 1958 and 1963. She played Donna's daughter Mary Stone.
Shelley also co-starred in three films with Elvis Presley, 'Girl Happy', 'Spinout' and 'Clambake'.

Answer: False

Elvis had only one number one hit in 1962. 'Good Luck Charm' reached number one in April and stayed there for two weeks.

Answer: Roses are Red (My Love)

'Sherry' (September 17 - October 13) was the first of two number ones for the Four Seasons, the second was 'Big Girls Don't Cry' (November 17 - December 13). Both of these tracks stayed at number one for five weeks.
'I Can't Stop Loving You' was a hit for Ray Charles and also remained in the top spot for five weeks (June 2 - June 30).

'Roses are Red (My Love)' was a hit for Bobby Vinton and stayed at number one for four weeks (July 14 - August 4).

*Useless information* Bobby Vinton holds the distinction of having the only major Billboard charting single to be sung, partly, in Polish. 'Melody of Love' reached number three in 1974.

Answer: Hey! Baby

'Hey Baby' peaked at number one in the US, for three weeks, and number two in the UK. The recording sold over one million copies earning Bruce Channel a gold disc.

*Useless information* Many American marching bands perform their own renditions of 'Hey Baby'. At Pennsylvania State University the whole stadium sing the song in the third quarter of every home game.

Answer: Ray Charles

'I Can't Stop Loving You' was Ray Charles' 10th number one hit record on either the US top 100 or the US R&B record charts. His first hit was 'I Got a Woman' which reached number one on the R&B charts in 1955.

*Useless information* Ray Charles' recording of 'Georgia on my Mind' was a number one hit in 1960. He was asked to perform the recording in March 1979 to the Georgia General Assembly. After this performance the State Legislature adopted the song as the state song of Georgia.

Answer: The Monster Mash

Bobby 'Boris' Pickett and the Crypt Kickers released the 'Monster Mash' just in time for Halloween in 1962. It has appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 three times since then.

*Useless information* This is another song that was banned by the BBC - this time for being too morbid. - Eventually Bobby Pickett's version was released in 1973 and reached number three on the UK charts.

Answer: The Four Seasons

The second number one hit for 'The Four Seasons' in 1962 and also their second track to remain in the top spot for five weeks.

*Useless information* Although the group has been known as 'Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons' since 1967 they are only credited on their recordings as 'The Four (or 4) Seasons'.
Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio own the rights to the name on a 50-50 partnership basis.

Answer: The Tornados

'Telstar' was named after the space satellite of the same name which was launched in July 1962. The song featured an electronic keyboard called a 'Clavioline' this was invented in 1947 and was the same type of keyboard that produced the distinctive sound on Del Shannon's 'Runaway'.

*Useless information* The Tornados (The Tornadoes - with an 'E'- in the US on the London label - Thank you Richicago for that info) were the first British band to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Only three other British singles had achieved this feat since World War II. Two of these, 'Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart' by Vera Lynn in 1952, and 'He's Got the Whole World in His Hands' by Laurie London, hit the top spot before the American charts were combined into the Hot 100. 'Stranger on the Shore' by Acker Bilk in 1962 was the first British number one in the Hot 100 but was credited to a single person and not a band.