Number One Hits of 1960 - Part Two Quiz

Answer: Jimmie Rodgers

Jimmie Rodgers was a chart veteran by 1960, having had hits in the 1950's such as "Honeycomb", "Secretly" and "Oh-Oh, I'm Falling In Love Again". He was a favourite in Australia where his version of "Waltzing Matilda" had charted well for him in late 1959. "Just A Closer Walk with Thee" is an old gospel song, which made the number one spot on the Australian chart in August 1960.

Answer: Johnny Preston

Johnny Preston will always be remembered for his breakthrough hit late in 1959, "Running Bear". The song was famously written by JP (The Big Bopper) Richardson, who had planned to record it. Richardson had discovered Johnny Preston and decided to have him record the song.

The song was recorded in late 1958 with Richardson and George Jones singing backup. It was released in August 1959 and made the top of the charts in December where it stayed into early 1960 . "Running Bear" made it to number two in Australia and number one in the UK.

Answer: Crash Craddock

A film clip appeared on Australia's Bandstand in 1960 (an early version of a music video) of a handsome young man singing, "Boom Boom Baby". This young man was Billy "Crash" Craddock, the film clip pushed the sales of the record all the way to number one on the Aussie charts. Young Mr Craddock followed this with a version of "One Last Kiss" from the musical, "Bye Bye Birdie" and this also hit the number one spot in Australia during 1961. Crash Craddock had later success on the US Country charts in the 1970's recording as Billy Craddock.

He placed 30 songs on Billboards Country charts with 20 making the top ten and three, "Rub It In", "Ruby Baby" and "Broken Down in Tiny Pieces", hitting the top spot. He is remembered in Australia as a Rock 'n' Roll star of the sixties.

The record "Boom Boom Baby" did not chart in the USA or the UK, the flipside "Don't Destroy Me" crept onto the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at 97.

Answer: The Beau Marks

Released in 1959 in Canada and quickly rising to number one, "Clap Your Hands" was the breakthrough hit for the Beau Marks. The record rose quickly to Number one in Australia and made the Billboard Hot 100 rising to 45. Sadly despite some good recordings The Beau Marks did not chart again outside Canada.

Answer: The Everly Brothers

The Everly Brothers achieved their third number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960 when "Cathy's Clown" reached the top position. The record was a number on in the UK and made number three on the Australian chart. This song was the first number one written by the brothers, Don and Phil. Their earlier number ones were, "Wake up Little Susie" and "All I Have to Do is Dream".

Answer: Anthony Newley

Written by Lionel Bart, "Do You Mind" by Anthony Newley was a UK number one hit in April 1960. Andy Williams covered the song in the USA with only moderate success. Anthony Newley with his writing partner, Leslie Bricusse wrote a number of musicals. The most well known of these are, "Stop the World, I Want to Get Off" and "The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd".

The pair also wrote the score for the 1971 film "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory".

Answer: Johnny O'Keefe

Johnny O'Keefe's first number one hit was "She's My Baby". This song was recorded in the USA and released there on Liberty Records in 1959. He did a promotional tour through the USA, visiting over thirty states, billed as the 'Boomerang Boy'. Promotional tour notwithstanding, the record did not make the US charts. "She's My Baby" was number one for one week in Australia in February 1960.

Answer: Brian Hyland

"Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" by Brian Hyland was his first and biggest hit. The record made top ten all over the world, rising to number eight in the UK and number two in Australia. With such a big hit to start his career Brian had trouble matching that success with his future recordings.

He did place 23 other records on the Hot 100, however, only two of them made the top ten, "Sealed With a kiss" in 1962 and" Gypsy Woman" in 1970.

Answer: Larry Verne

Larry Verne joined the ranks of the One Hit Wonders, when "Mr Custer" made number one in August 1960.
The record made number twelve in Australia and did not chart in the USA. Larry had no more hits.

Answer: Connie Francis

Connie Francis was a frequent visitor to the charts in the early sixties. "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" was her second number on on the Billboard Hot 100 for 1960. This record made number two in Australia and number three in the UK. Interestingly Connie was the first Female artist to top the UK Album chart. She achieved this in 1977 with her "20 Top Hits" Album.