One Word Title US Top Forty Hits of 1974 Quiz

Answer: Americans

Byron MacGregor was not in the entertainment business but rather a news anchor in his native Canada. By the time he was 19 he had become the news director of a station in Windsor, Ontario, which had signals to several states in the US in addition to Canadian provinces.
In 1973 MacGregor read an editorial regarding America written by Gordon Sinclair and decided to narrate the piece on his program. When he received considerable response he recorded the narrative using the The Detroit Symphony Orchestra's rendition of "America the Beautiful" as a backing track. The recording became a hit in both the US and Canada. MacGregor donated proceeds from the recording to the American Red Cross.
Gordon Sinclair released his own version of the editorial titled "The Americans (A Canadian's Opinion)" that reached Number 24 in the US.

Answer: Blue Magic

Blue Magic formed in Philadelphia in the early seventies and quickly became a popular Soul group. The original lineup was looking for a lead singer when Ted Mills from Shades of Love joined the group. They secured a contract with Atco Records and their initial releases made the US Rhythm and Blues charts. When "Sideshow" was released it went Gold, topped the Rhythm and Blues charts and reached Number Eight on the Billboard charts. Their follow up singles "What's Come over Me?" and "Three Ring Circus" also fared well.
The group focused on harmonies and choreography then continued to perform into the 21st century with occasional personnel changes.

"Can This Be Real" by Natural Four reached Number 31. B.T. Express took "Do It (Til You're Satisfied)" to Number Two. "Life is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)" was a Top Ten from Reunion.

Answer: James Taylor

In 1963 Inez and Charlie Foxx adapted and recorded "Mockingbird". James Taylor heard them performing at the Apollo Theater in the sixties and later recorded it with Carly Simon for her fourth album, "Hotcakes". Carly released "Mockingbird" as the lead single from the album and it reached Number Five. Dr. John played piano on the session and Robbie Robertson contributed guitar work.
Dusty Springfield and Aretha Franklin are among the many artists who have released versions of the song.
Carly reunited with Taylor during the 1979 "No Nukes Concert" to perform "Mockingbird" live.

Neil Diamond had his own Number Five single with "Longfellow Serenade" in 1974. "Come Monday" was a 1974 Top Forty by Jimmy Buffett. Art Garfunkel had a Number 34 solo single with "Second Avenue".

Answer: Band on the Run

The "Band on the Run" single topped the US charts in 1974 while "Jet" maxed out at Number Seven. The album was the final McCartney LP to be affiliated with Apple Records. After the success of "Red Rose Speedway" and the supporting tour Paul and Linda returned to their home in Scotland to begin writing material for their next album.
The majority of the titles for the "Band on the Run" album were recorded in Nigeria but "Jet" was recorded at London's EMI facility. In addition to the members of Wings, Ginger Baker and Remi Kabaka added percussion tracks and Howie Casey played saxophone.
"Band on the Run" topped the US and UK album charts.

"Red Rose Speedway" was a 1973 album that did not have a cut titled "Red Rose Speedway" on it. "Wild Life" was the 1971 debut album by Wings. "Wings at the Speed of Sound" was not released until 1976.

Answer: Georgia

The Atlanta Rhythm Section formed in Doraville, Georgia. The group came together when former members of Classics IV and The Candymen became session players for Studio One in Doraville, Georgia. They enjoyed the chemistry they had playing together on recordings for other artists and decided to become a band.

The "Atlanta Rhythm Section" album was released in 1972 and was followed up with "Back Up Against the Wall" the following year. It wasn't until "Third Annual Pipe Dream" was released in 1974 did they chart a Top Forty single with "Doraville".

The Atlanta Rhythm Section went on to have hit singles including "So Into You" and "Imaginary Lover". The band continued to tour and release albums into the 21st century.

Answer: Ballero

In 1970 "Spill the Wine" by Eric Burdon and War was the first chart single for the band. Eric Burdon left the group in 1970 during a tour of Europe and the band continued to record and perform as War; they released their "War" album in 1971. The following year "The Cisco Kid" became a major hit for the band. In 1974 the group released the "War Live" album containing the Instrumental "Ballero". The album was recorded during four evenings of performances at the High Chaparral club in Chicago. The album cover featured a collage of photos from the concerts.
"Ballero" had to be edited for single release.
Billy Preston placed the Instrumental "Struttin'" to Number 22. "Frankenstein" was a 1973 Instrumental from the Edgar Winter Group. "Popcorn" from Hot Butter went to Number Nine in 1972.

Answer: Gerry Rafferty

Gerry Rafferty grew up in Scotland singing folk songs until The Beatles and Bob Dylan left an impression on him. In 1969 Rafferty joined The Humblebums and three years later formed Stealers Wheel with Joe Egan. The group released three albums between 1972 and 1975.
Gerry began a solo career and recorded his "City to City" album in 1978 which included the hit single "Baker Street". He released three more albums over the next ten years but he was not comfortable as a live performer so the albums didn't do well.
Producers and songwriters Leiber and Stoller produced Stealer Wheel's 1972 debut eponymous LP on A and M Records which contained their hit "Stuck in the Middle With You" written by Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan. Rafferty had left the group by the time "Star" was released from the group's 1973 "Ferguslie Park" album.
"I'm A Train" was a Number 31 1974 single from Albert Hammond. "My Sweet Lady" was a 1974 Top Twenty from Cliff DeYoung and "People Gotta Move" by Gino Vannelli went to Number 22.

Answer: "Sundown"-Gordon Lightfoot

"Sundown" was Gordon Lightfoot's first and only Number One single in the twentieth century on the US charts. The single also topped the Canadian charts. Gordon first hit the US charts in 1970 with the Number 12 "Sit Down Young Stranger".
The Orillia, Ontario, native excelled as a track star and musician in his teens. He first came to prominence as a songwriter in the sixties penning such hits as "Early Morning Rain", "For Lovin' Me" and "Ribbon of Darkness". In the seventies he began charting songs in the US including "If You Could Read My Mind" and "Carefree Highway".
"Sundown" and "Carefree Highway" were single releases from Lightfoot's tenth album, "Sundown" (1974).

"WOLD" peaked at Number 36, "Lady" and "Waterloo" both made it to Number Six.

Answer: Cat Stevens

Cat Stevens was no stranger to the US charts by the time "Ready" was a Number 26 single, beginning in 1971 with the Number Seven release "Peace Train" and the Number 11 single "Wild World". In 1974 he also had success with "Oh Very Young" and "Another Saturday Night".
Cat Stevens was born Steven Georgiou in London. In school he did well in art and had early aspirations to be a cartoonist but his direction turned to music in the mid-sixties and he began to perform in coffee houses using the name Steve Adams. After a bout with tuberculosis in the late sixties he changed musical direction and began recording songs he had composed while convalescing.

"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" from Elton John reached Number Two. Joni Mitchell made the Top Ten with "Help Me" in 1974, the same year that Olivia Newton-John topped the US charts with "I Honestly Love You".

Answer: Fairytale

In 1968 the singing group began as Pointers, a Pair when sisters June and Bonnie began singing in local clubs. After their sister Anita joined the lineup the trio obtained a contract with Atlantic records. Atlantic released them at the end of their contract in 1972 and sister Ruth came on board when they signed with Blue Thumb Records. "Yes We Can Can" was released from their 1973 "The Pointer Sisters" LP and charted at Number 11.
"Fairytale" was was written by Anita and Bonnie. It was released as a single from their 1974 "That's a Plenty" album and became the second of three consecutive Top Forty singles for the girls.

Isaac Hayes' "Joy" made it to Number 30. Carole King almost topped the charts with the Number Two "Jazzman" and "Daybreak" was a 1974 Number 39 single from Nilsson.