No. 1 Hits of the 80s Vol.13 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Upside Down

Of the four listed, the only number one tune was "Upside Down" a 1980 classic that spent four weeks at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts in the fall of 1980, and reached number two in the U.K. The song was the first release from a self titled album called "Diana".

The song was written co-written by Nile Rodgers with Aretha Franklin in mind. Franklin turned down the material for the album, declined to record it, and the songs were then passed on the Ross, who took full advantage.

Answer: Rick Springfield

Rick Springfield was originally from Australia, and had a few minor hits through the 1970s. Springfield also was nurturing an acting career at the time. He had signed a recording contract and recorded the album called "Working Class Dog". He claims that he didn't expect the album to do very well, so he took an acting job on the American soap opera "General Hospital".

The came "Jessie's Girl" which, when released in the spring of 1981, took off and went to the top of the Billboard Hit 100 charts for a two week stay. Springfield eventually won a Grammy Award for the song in 1982.

Answer: An Officer and a Gentleman

The song comes from the soundtrack of "An Officer and a Gentleman" a 1982 motion picture starring Richard Gere, Debra Winger and Louis Gossett Jr. Although the recording duo was a likely combination, the song got to the top of the U.S. Billboard charts in the fall of 1982 and remained there for three weeks.

In an interesting aside, Don Simpson, one of the producers of the motion picture, unsuccessfully campaigned to have the song removed from the soundtrack, allegedly saying "The song is no good.

It isn't a hit". Guess producers don't know everything.

Answer: Total Eclipse of the Heart

"Total Eclipse of the Heart" was Bonnie Tyler's biggest U.S. hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in the fall of 1983 and remaining there for four weeks. It was also here most successful song worldwide, hitting the top of the charts in Australia, the U.K. and Canada. The song was a release from the album called "Faster Than the Speed of Night".

Answer: Tina Turner

Tina Turner had been a successful recording artist for many years, with her then husband Ike, but when here marital problems forced her to split with him, her career was put on hold. Her comeback as a solo artist began in the early 1980s and this single was off her breakthrough solo album "Private Dancer".

It spent three weeks at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts in September of 1984 an re-established Turner as a top selling recording artist.

Answer: Only Billboard Hot 100 James Bond theme song to reach number one

"A View to a Kill" was a 1985 number one tune recorded by Duran Duran for the James Bond action film of the same name. It was a stand alone single specifically created for the film and was written by the group along with John Barry. It hit number one for two weeks in the U.S. and also topped the charts in Canada, Sweden and Italy, and was a Top 10 hit in a number of other countries.

Answer: Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald

Patti LaBelle fronted Patti LaBelle and the Bluebells in the 1960s, and also LaBelle ("Lady Marmalade") in the 1970s. McDonald was first a member of Steely Dan ("Do It Again", Rikki Don't Lose That Number") and then was a major voice in The Doobie Brothers later in the 1970s. Blending their two voices together, we got "On My Own" in 1986.

The song spent three weeks at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts that year. LaBelle originally was to record the song as a solo, but she felt something was missing, and the song should be a duet.

When asked who she would like to record the song with as a duet, she named McDonald as her first choice.

Answer: Atlantic Starr

Atlantic Starr had a number of hits on the R&B charts and even hit on the Hot 100 charts with the number three charting "Secret Lovers" in 1986, but it was "Always" which gave them their only number one hit when it reached the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts for one week in the summer of 1987.

Answer: Wishing Well

"Wishing Well" was a number one tune from Terence Trent D'Arby that hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts in May 1988 for a one week stay. This was the pinnacle of D'Arby's career as he never was able to duplicate his success again.

Answer: Paula Abdul

The singer is Paula Abdul. "Forever Your Girl" was the second release from her album of the same name and the second straight song to reach number one. The song spent two weeks at the top of the U.S. Billboard charts in the spring of 1989. It was a follow up to her debut single "Straight Up" which also went to number one. Of course the reference in the question is to the television show "American Idol". Paula spent eight seasons as one of the celebrity judges on the show.