Number One Hits of 1962 - Part 1 Quiz

Answer: Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley recorded "Good Luck Charm" in 1961 and it was released in early 1962. The song is another Elvis hit written by Aaron Schroeder and Wally Gold. The record was number one on the Billboard Hot 100, the UK and Australian charts. "Good Luck Charm" was Elvis's last number one on the Hot 100 for seven years, his next number one was "Suspicious Minds" in 1969.

Answer: Ray Charles

"I Can't Stop Loving You" by Ray Charles was a number one for four weeks in 1962. The song was written by Don Gibson as the B side of his first hit "Oh Lonesome Me" in 1958. Recorded by Ray Charles for his best selling album, "Modern Sounds in Country and Western", "I Can't Stop Loving You" became a worldwide hit gaining the number one spot on the charts in Australia and the UK.

Answer: Sandy Nelson

Sandy Nelson was a respected session drummer in the 1960's. In 1959 he had a top ten hit with "Teen Beat". In 1961 he had another top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Let There Be Drums". The record released in Australia late in 1961 went to number one in early 1962. "Let There Be Drums" also made the top ten on the UK chart.

Answer: Kenny Ball

Kenny Ball hit the top of the Australian charts in April of 1962 with "Midnight in Moscow". The record made number two in the UK and on the Billboard Hot 100.
Kenny Ball had charted with his 'trad jazz' style in 1961 with "Samantha" a song from the movie "High Society". Kenny and his band had a few more chart entries up to and including 1967 when his version of "When I'm Sixty Four" made the Aussie top thirty. Note: On most of his recordings the billing was "Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen"

Answer: B Bumble and The Stingers

"Nut Rocker" was based on an excerpt of the march from Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker". Played by a group of assembled studio musicians including Earl Palmer and Tommy Tedesco, they recorded a rocking instrumental. Released as "Nut Rocker" by B. Bumble and the Stingers the record made the top ten in Australia, number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one in the UK.

Answer: Mr Acker Bilk

Acker Bilk or as he preferred Mr Acker Bilk had a number one on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Stranger on the Shore". This made him the first British act to have a number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Acker Bilk was only the third British act to have a number one in the USA, the others were Vera Lynn in 1952 with "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" and Laurie London in 1958 with "He's got the Whole World (In His Hands)". "Stranger on the Shore". made number two in the UK and number three in Australia. In the UK, Record Mirror listed the song as number one but its information gathering has been called into question. Regardless of that "Stranger on The Shore" is a very nice instrumental and highly successful for Acker Bilk.

The song was later recorded with lyrics, notably by Andy Williams.

Answer: The Tornados

The first British group to have a number one on the Billboard Hot 100, The Tornados with "Telstar" can lay claim to that feat. "Telstar" named after the communications satellite, Telstar I, launched in mid 1962. Telstar successfully transmitted television pictures from New York and San Francisco to Europe.

The record was written and produced by Joe Meek and achieved number one status on the charts of many countries. Number one in the UK and number two in Australia. The song with added lyrics was issued as "Magic Star" and was a minor hit for Margie Singleton.

Answer: Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass

Herb Alpert recorded "The Lonely Bull" in early 1962 the song was an instant sensation reaching number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and the top twenty in the UK. In Australia the record stayed at number one for six weeks keeping "Telstar" by The Tornados in the number two slot for three weeks.

The only time the top two slots were held by instrumentals at the same time on the Australian chart. The record was issued as The Tijuana Brass featuring Herb Alpert, subsequent releases listed, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.

Answer: David Rose

David Rose was a composer, pianist and band leader who from the mid 1930's was involved in show business. His composing and arranging talents led him to Hollywood. The story goes that his record company MGM were searching for a 'b' side for a single release and came across "The Stripper" which David had recorded in 1958 for a TV special. "The Stripper" was a lucky accident climbing to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in December of 1962, the record made the top ten in the UK and Australia.

Answer: The Shadows

The Shadows' third number one hit, released in 1962, holds the record for longest time at number one in the UK during the 1960's for an instrumental. "Wonderful Land" written for the group by Jerry Lordan held the top spot on the UK NME Chart for eight weeks. "Wonderful Land" was in the Australian charts for seventeen weeks reaching number two, it made number one in New Zealand and was top ten throughout Europe. "Wonderful Land" stayed in the UK top fifty for nineteen weeks, fourteen in the top ten.

As with many of the Shadows hits this record did not chart in the USA.