Music from the 80s - 1987 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Def Leppard

"Animal" by Def Leppard was released in August 1987. It spent nine weeks on the UK singles chart, reaching a peak of number six. The song was taken from the band's fourth studio album, "Hysteria", which spent 101 weeks on the UK album chart, including a week at number one, and sold enough copies to earn a double platinum disc.

Answer: "It's A Sin" by The Pet Shop Boys

Released in June 1987, "It's A Sin" by The Pet Shop Boys spent 11 weeks on the UK singles chart and reached number one.

Answer: Curiosity Killed The Cat

Following up their number three hit "Down To Earth", Curiosity Killed The Cat re-released "Misfit" (which had previously failed to chart) on 20 June 1987. The song then spent nine weeks on the chart, peaking at number seven. The band released four singles under this name and then began calling themselves simply Curiosity.

Answer: Mel and Kim

"Respectable" by Mel and Kim was released in March 1987 and spent 15 weeks on the UK singles chart, one of which was at number one. Sisters Melanie and Kim Appleby had a number of hits in the late 1980s with the help of production team Stock Aitken and Waterman.

Their success was tragically short lived - Melanie Appleby died in 1990 from pneumonia following treatment for spinal cancer. She was aged only 23.

Answer: "Rise To The Occasion" by Climie Fisher

Pop duo Rob Fisher and Simon Climie made a number of forays into the UK singles chart in the late 1980s and their biggest hit was a remix of "Love Changes Everything", which made it to number two in 1988. "Rise To The Occasion" was released on 12 December 1987, spent 11 weeks on the chart and reached number ten.

Answer: Squeeze

"Hourglass" by Squeeze was released in August 1987, spent ten weeks on the UK singles chart and reached number 16.

Answer: Madonna

"La Isla Bonita" by Madonna was released in the UK in April 1987. The song spent 11 weeks on the chart, two of which were spent at number one.

Answer: "Wishing Well" by Terence Trent D'Arby

"Wishing Well" by Terence Trent D'Arby was released on 20 June 1987 and spent 11 weeks on the UK singles chart, peaking at number four. This single, along with three others, was taken from Terence's debut album "Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent D'Arby". I was given this album as a Christmas present in 1987 and played it every day for the next six months.

The album was released on 25 July 1987 and spent an impressive 67 weeks on the UK album chart. It spent one week at number one in 1987 and then returned to the top of the charts in February 1988 where it remained for another eight weeks.

Answer: "Star Trekkin'" by The Firm

"Star Trekkin'", which is a very silly song about the TV show "Star Trek" was released on 6 June 1987 and spent 12 weeks on the UK singles chart, including two weeks at number one. I think one of my brothers actually bought "Star Trekkin'", although my Mum probably played it more than he did! All the verses were very silly, but my favourite lyric from this song is
"We come in peace,
Shoot to kill, shoot to kill, shoot to kill,
We come in peace
Shoot to kill, shoot to kill men"
"Arthur Daley ('E's Alright)", an earlier offering by The Firm, was released in 1982 and achieved a highest chart position of 14, and was inspired by the TV show "Minder".
"Spitting Image" was a satirical puppet show and the "Chicken Song", which spent three weeks at number one in May 1986, lampooned all the other novelty records that bothered the charts during the 1980s (I believe "Agadoo" and "Superman" by Black Lace were the main inspiration).
"Shaddap You Face" by Joe Dolce Music Theatre spent three weeks at number one in early 1981, rather famously denying the top spot to Ultravox's "Vienna".

Answer: M/A/R/R/S

"Pump Up The Volume / Anitina (The First Time I See She Dance)" was released by M/A/R/R/S on 5 September 1987. This record spent 14 weeks on the UK singles chart, including two weeks at number one in October.