Music From the 80s - 1981 Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Human League

The Human League formed in Sheffield in the late 70s and were originally an all male band, some of whom went on to become Heaven 17. The remaining members, augmented by the addition of two girl singers/dancers, allegedly picked up in a disco, went on to be a highly successful second version of The Human League. Released in August 1981, "Love Action" spent 13 weeks on the UK singles chart and peaked at number ten. "Love Action" is from the album "Dare" which spent 72 weeks on the chart, and made it to number one. I can remember buying "Dare" in Woolworth's on New Years Eve 1981.

Answer: Duran Duran

Duran Duran formed in Birmingham, England in 1978 and their name is based on that of a character from the film "Barbarella" (1968). Released in February 1981, "Planet Earth" was Duran Duran's first UK single release, spending 11 weeks on the chart and reaching a highest position of number 12. I liked this record as soon as I heard it and remained a "Durannie" for many years.

Answer: "Ghost Town" by The Specials

Released on 20 June 1981, "Ghost Town" spent 14 weeks on the UK singles chart, including three weeks at number one. There was some civil unrest in Britain at the time this record came out and the song really does capture the mood of that time.
Incorrect answers: "I Want to be Free" by Toyah reached number eight in 1981; "All Stood Still" by Ultravox was also a hit in 1981, and also reached number eight and "Kids In America" by Kim Wilde spent 13 weeks on the chart in 1981 and reached number two.

Answer: Spandau Ballet

"The Freeze" was released in January 1981 and achieved a highest chart placing of number 17 during an eight week stay on the UK chart. "Musclebound", which was released as a double A side with "Glow" was released in April and spent 10 weeks on the chart, peaking at number 10. Spandau Ballet released two other singles in 1981, "Chant Number One (I Don't Need This Pressure On)", released in July spent 10 weeks on the chart, peaking at number 3 and "Paint Me Down" which was released in November and only reached number 30.

Answer: Susan Fasbender

Released on 17 January 1981, "Twilight Café" by Susan Fasbender spent eight weeks on the UK chart, peaking at number 21. Whatever happened to her?

Martha and The Muffins' only UK hit was "Echo Beach" which entered the UK chart in March 1980 and remained there for ten weeks. Its highest chart position was number ten. Landscape had only one UK top ten hit, "Einstein A Go-Go", which was released in February 1981, spent 13 weeks on the chart and peaked at number five. Tracey Ullman released six singles in the UK, the first of which charted in 1983, so she was certainly not a one-hit wonder.

Answer: I'm In Love With A German Film Star

Spending eight weeks on the UK Chart in early 1981, "I'm In Love with a German Film Star" peaked at number 25. I still think this was a fabulous record.

"Mirror In The Bathroom" was a hit for The Beat in 1980 and achieved a highest chart placing of number four. "We Are Glass" is a song by Gary Numan that was released in May 1980 and spent seven weeks on the chart, peaking at number five. "Garden Party" was recorded by Icelandic instrumental group, Mezzoforte and spent nine weeks on the chart in March and April of 1983, peaking at number seven.

Answer: Hazel O'Connor

Hazel O'Connor is a singer-songwriter and actress. She appeared in the film "Breaking Glass" (1980) and recorded the accompanying soundtrack. "D-Days" was released as a single in the UK in March 1981, spent nine weeks on the chart and peaked at number ten. "Will You" was released on 23 May 1981, spent ten weeks on the chart and peaked at number eight.

Answer: Beggar and Co

Soul/jazz/funk outfit Beggar and Co was formed by three former members of the band Light of The World. "(Somebody) Help Me Out" was released in February 1981 and spent ten weeks on the chart, peaking at number 15. Their only other UK chart entry "Mule (Chant No 2)" was released in September and only reached number 37.

Answer: "Mind of a Toy" by Visage

Released in March 1981, "Mind of a Toy" by Visage spent eight weeks on the UK chart, peaking at number 13. This is possibly the least remembered of all their singles.
"All Stood Still" by Ultravox was also a hit in 1981, spending ten weeks on the chart and peaking at number eight. "Souvenir" by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark spent 12 weeks on the chart in 1981 and peaked at number three. "Hold on Tight" by ELO (sometimes known as the Electric Light Orchestra but only going by their initials on this release) also spent 12 weeks on the chart in 1981 and peaked at number four.

Answer: Depeche Mode

"New Life" spent 15 weeks on the chart in the summer of 1981, peaking at number 11 and was followed in September by the infernally catchy "Just Can't Get Enough", which peaked at number eight. Synth player Vince Clarke left the band in 1982 and was replaced by Alan Wilder. Depeche Mode were still enjoying chart success 25 years later. Vince Clarke went on to play with Yazoo and later with Erasure, both of which were very successful bands.

Answer: "Stray Cat Strut" by The Stray Cats

"Stray cat strut, I'm a ladies' cat,
A feline Casanova, hey man, thats where its at
Get a shoe thrown at me from a mean old man
Get my dinner from a garbage can

Yeah don't cross my path"

What a great song! "Stray Cat Strut" by The Stray Cats was released in the UK on 25 April 1981 and spent 11 weeks on the singles chart, peaking at number ten.

"Hold on Tight" by ELO spent 12 weeks on the chart in 1981 and peaked at number four. "Don't Break My Heart Again" was a number 17 hit for Whitesnake in 1981. "All Stood Still" by Ultravox was also a hit in 1981 and reached number eight.

Answer: Haircut 100

"Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)" by Haircut 100 was released in January 1981. The song spent 14 weeks on the UK singles chart and its highest chart position was number four.

Answer: Soft Cell

A cover of a song originally recorded by Gloria Jones, "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell was released in August 1981 and spent an impressive 36 weeks on the UK singles chart, two of which were at number one.

Answer: Siouxsie and The Banshees

"Spellbound" by Siouxsie and The Banshees was released in the UK in May 1981. The song spent eight weeks on the UK singles chart and its highest chart placing was number 22.

Answer: "Einstein A Go-Go" by Landscape

"Einstein A Go-Go" was one of only two singles by Landscape to enter the UK charts. Released in February 1981, "Einstein A Go-Go" spent 13 weeks on the chart and peaked at number five. Their only other chart entry, "Norman Bates" stalled at number 40.
"All Stood Still" by Ultravox spent ten weeks on the UK singles chart in 1981 and peaked at number eight. "Ghost Town" by The Specials was a number one hit in the summer of 1981. "Souvenir" by Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark was released in August, spent 12 weeks on the chart and peaked at number three.

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