One Word 1972 Top Forty Singles Quiz

Answer: Joey Heatherton

Joey Heatherton began her acting career as an understudy on Broadway before acting in movies and on television while in her teens. She was born in New York where her father was a Broadway actor and worked in early television. Joey began appearing frequently on "The Perry Como Show" (1949) and made numerous appearances on "The Dean Martin Show" (1965) after appearing on the debut episode. She also performed with Bob Hope on his USO tours and appeared as a guest star on many television shows of the sixties. When she released "The Joey Heatherton Album" in 1972 the single "Gone" became her only US Top Forty release.

Liza Minnelli received an Academy Award for "Cabaret" in 1972. Ruby Dee appeared in "Buck and the Preacher" with Sidney Poitier and Hayley Mills had a starring role in "Endless Night" in 1972.

Answer: Scorpio

Dennis Coffey was a studio session player while still in his teens. He became a member of The Royaltones who had hits with "Flamingo Express" (1961) and "Poor Boy" (1958). After leaving The Royaltones Coffey became a member of the Motown session group known as The Funk Brothers.

In 1971 he recorded "Scorpio" and in 1972 he became the first white musician to appear on "Soul Train" (1971) performing "Scorpio". "Taurus" was his follow-up single and final entry into the Top Forty. Although Dennis Coffey could be heard on many Motown hits he recorded his Instrumentals for the Sussex Records label. Coffey continued to play guitar on many hits and release solo albums.

In 2004 he published his memoirs titled "Guitars, Bars and Motown Superstars".

Answer: Alive

Barry and Maurice Gibb wrote "Alive" which was the second and final single release from their "To Whom It May Concern" album. The Number 34 single failed to chart in the UK.
The first single from the album, "Run to Me", fared better on the US charts when it was released from the album and made it to Number 16 in the US. "To Whom It May Concern" was the tenth studio album from The Bee Gees and reached Number 35 in the US. Five years later their "Spirits Having Flown" album was their first Number One LP in the US.

"Holiday" was a 1967 single by The Bee Gees. "Massachusetts" was a single from their 1968 "Horizontal" LP. "Words" was a single release in 1968.

Answer: Curtis Mayfield

Curtis Mayfield parted ways with The Impressions in 1970 and formed Custom Records in pursuit of a solo career. He recorded the "Superfly" album which led to his involvement in other film scores such as "Claudine" (1974) and "Sparkle" (1976). Mayfield had a cameo role in the 1977 film "Short Eyes" playing an inmate.
The Chicago native has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Impressions and as a solo artist.

Isaac Hayes released "Theme from Shaft" in 1970. "Why Can't We Live Together" was a 1973 single by Timmy Thomas and "(Do The) Push and Pull (Pt. 1)" was released by Rufus Thomas in 1971.

Answer: Diary

"Diary" went to Number 15 and was the sixth Top Twenty release from the Soft Rock group Bread. The group rose to the top of the charts with their debut charting single "Make It with You" in 1970. Bread signed with Elektra Records in 1968 and underwent some personnel changes. In 1969 "Dismal Day" was released but failed to make the Billboard 100. Their debut album simply titled "Bread" made it to Number 127 on the album charts when it was released in 1970. When they released "Make It with You" from their second album "On the Waters" Bread became a hit maker, going on to place 13 singles on the Hot 100.
"Diary" was a single release from their fourth album, "Baby I'm-a Want You" (1972) written by group front man David Gates.

"Why" was a 1972 Number 13 single from Donny Osmond. "Happy" by The Rolling Stones reached Number 22 in 1972. Cat Stevens took "Sitting" to Number 16 the same year.

Answer: Jimi Hendrix

"Angel" was written and produced by Jimi Hendrix shortly before he passed away. The song was included on his posthumous "The Cry of Love" album and was selected as the lead single off the LP. In 1967 the first demo of the song was recorded using the title "Sweet Angel" and the final lyrics were completed the following year but the song was put on the back burner. In 1970 the final version was recorded after seven takes in Hendrix's Electric Ladyland Studios.
Rod Stewart recorded a version for his popular 1972 "Never a Dull Moment" album and fared better in the UK, peaking at Number Four. "You Wear It Well" and "Twisting the Night Away" were other successful singles from the album.

Mac Davis topped the US charts in 1972 with "Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me". "Crazy Mama" was a Number 22 single from J.J. Cale. "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" was a US Top Twenty single by James Taylor.

Answer: True

When "Taxi" was released from Chapin's 1972 "Heads and Tales" album it reached Number 24 and became Harry's first hit record. When Chapin performed "Taxi" on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" his appearance prompted such a response that Harry was invited back the following night. It was first time in the show's history an artist made a follow up appearance.
After rising to Number 24 "Taxi" remained on the Hot 100 for 16 weeks.
New York native Harry Chapin began his singing career as a member of The Brooklyn Boys Choir. After having aspirations to be a filmmaker Chapin began focusing on a musical career in 1971. After the success of "Taxi" Chapin kept releasing singles and topped the charts in 1974 with "Cat's in the Cradle".

Answer: Dreidel

"Vincent" was a single release from McLean's 1971 "American Pie" album. "Dreidel" was from his third album, "Don McLean". The New Rochelle, New York, singer relocated to California and released his "Tapestry" album for Mediarts in 1969 at the time of the Berkeley riots. The album didn't fare well, reaching Number 111. When he recorded the follow up "American Pie" LP the small Mediarts label had been acquired by United Artists Records which provided better promotion.
"If We Try" from the "Don McLean" album was later recorded by Olivia Newton John.

"Sunshine" was a 1972 Top Ten by Jonathan Edwards. "Joy" was a Top Ten Instrumental in 1972 by Apollo 100. McLean released a version of Roy Orbison's "Crying" in 1980.

Answer: Malo

Carlos Santana's brother Jorge was a founder of Malo along with Arcelio Garcia. The San Francisco area band was comprised of former members of Malibu and Naked Lunch. Group member Richard Bean had composed "Suavecito" while still in high school. The group released their "Malo" album in 1972. They became popular with the Chicano community and their songs became hits in South America. Malo featured a full percussion and horn section. Unfortunately after the success of "Suavecito" many of the members left to perform with other groups and in 1974 their "Ascencion" LP only made it to Number 188 in the US. "Suavecito" would be the band's only entry into the US Top Forty.

"Jungle Fever" from The Chakachas was a Number Eight 1972 Instrumental. Lobo took "Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend" and "I'd Love You To Want Me" to the 1972 Top Ten. "I Gotcha" by Joe Tex went to Number Two.

Answer: Yes

Yes made the US Top Forty in 1971 with "I've Seen All Good People" and the Top Twenty with the Number 13 "Roundabout". "Roundabout" was a single release from the band's "Fragile" album. In 1968 bassist Chris Squire formed Yes along with singer Jon Anderson in London. In 1971 the Progressive Rock band released "The Yes Album" and "Fragile". "Roundabout" was their final US Top Twenty single before the group disbanded in 1981. Members of the band formed the super group Asia. In 1982 the remaining members reformed Yes, releasing the US Number One single "Owner of a Lonely Heart" the following year.

"Conquistador" was a Number 16 single from Procol Harum in 1971. Derek and the Dominos made the Top Ten in 1972 with "Layla". The Who had been enjoying chart success since the late sixties and made the US Top Forty in 1971 with "The Relay".