One Word Title US Top Forty Hits of 1978 Quiz

Answer: Desiree

"Desiree" was a single release from Neil's 1977 album "I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight". Former Four Seasons member Bob Gaudio produced the album. Although Neil wrote most of the songs on the album including "Desiree" he also recorded a version of The Beach Boys' hit "God Only Knows" and Joni Mitchell's "Free Man in Paris". The album also contained a solo version of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" which Neil recorded with Barbra Streisand in 1979.
Neil also had a television special called "I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight" in late 1977.

"Shilo" was a 1970 single. "Missa" was an album cut from Neil's 1970 "Tap Root Manuscript" album. "Suzanne" was on his "Stones" album in 1971.

Answer: Runaway

"Runaway" was a single release from Jefferson Starship's "Earth" album. "Count on Me" became a Number Eight single release from the LP and the third single release, "Crazy Feelin'", only reached Number 54.
The band was undergoing personnel changes following a European tour during the recording of "Earth". Grace Slick contributed vocals and played piano on the "Show Yourself" track. Although he had not committed to the band Marty Balin continued to provide vocals. John Barbata played drums and percussion but had to leave the group following a car wreck.

"Swingtown" was a 1977 Steve Miller Band Top Twenty. "Cruisin'" and "Switchblade" were on Jefferson Starship's 1976 "Spitfire" album.

Answer: Sunday

The lyrics of "Easy" include "That's why I'm easy, I'm easy like Sunday morning". Lionel Richie composed "Easy", a single release from the band's 1977 "Commodores" album. It was the group's fifth album and also contained their hit single "Brick House".

The group was formed by members of two other groups and gained national recognition when they opened on tour for The Jackson Five. In 1975 their first single, the Instrumental "Machine"Gun" from the album of the same name, reached Number 22. In the late seventies the band rotated Walter "Clyde" Orange and Lionel Richie on vocals. Richie primarily sang on ballads while Orange provided vocals on songs including "Brick House" and "Nightshift".

In 1982 Richie left and the group continued to record and tour with Skyler Jett providing vocals.

Answer: Champagne

Bronx native Evelyn King was employed as an office worker at Philadelphia International Records when a producer heard her singing in a washroom and suggested she take vocal coaching. She obtained a record deal with RCA and released her "Smooth Talk" album in 1977 using the name Evelyn "Champagne" King.
When "Shame" was released as a single it became her first and only entry into the US Top Ten. Her follow up single from the same album, "I Don't Know If It's Right", rose to Number 23.
King went on to place singles in the Hot 100 and the Rhythm and Blues charts for RCA until 1985 and has continued recording with other labels.

Answer: Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen intended to include "Fire" on his 1978 "Darkness on the Edge of Town" album but the song didn't make the cut. Bruce had composed "Fire" a year earlier and sent a demo to Elvis. Unfortunately Elvis passed away before it could reach him. Although Springsteen didn't include "Fire" on the album he did perform it during the supporting tour for "Darkness on the Edge of Town".
In 1978 "Fire" became the highest charting single to date for The Pointer Sisters. The song was a single release from their fifth album, "Energy".

"The Way It Is" was released in 1987 by Bruce Hornsby and The Range. Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer" was a 1987 hit. "Don't Mean Nothing" was a 1987 Richard Marx single.-

Answer: False

Chaka Khan co-wrote "Stay" with Richard Calhoun for the band's Number 14 1978 "Street Player" album. Kahn was born Yvette Marie Stevens in the South Side Chicago neighborhood. When she was young she sang with her sister in a group called The Crystalettes and was given the name Chaka by a friend in the Black Panther Party.

She married Hassan Khan after working with his group Lyfe. Kahn began performing in clubs and came to the attention of Rufus. In 1973 Rufus signed with RCA Records and released a self-titled album.

They failed to score a hit from the album. When they released a single written by Stevie Wonder in 1974 titled "Tell Me Something Good" from their "Rags to Rufus" LP they had their first Top Ten hit.

Answer: Frankie Valli

Frankie Valli released "Grease" as a single from his 1978 "Frankie Valli Is The Word" album. Vallie spent most of the sixties as the front man for The 4 Seasons. In 1967 he released "The 4 Seasons Present Frankie Valli solo". He began his solo career in earnest in the seventies. In 1975 he topped the US charts with "My Eyes Adored You" and had Top Ten success with "Swearin' To God". Three years later he topped that charts again with "Grease".

Barry Gibb composed "Grease" at the request of Robert Stigwood. Peter Frampton was a session musician on the recording. "Summer Nights" from "Grease" was recorded by John Travolta with Olivia Newton-John in 1978.

Answer: Con Funk Shun

High school students from Vallejo, California, formed the nucleus of Con Funk Shun and got their break backing The Soul Children as Project Soul. They signed with Mercury Records in 1976 as Con Funk Shun and "Ffun" became their first single release to hit the US Billboard charts. The group released eleven albums throughout the ensuing decade until they formally broke up in 1986. Various incarnations of the band continued to tour and some of their seventies hits have been sampled by artists including Lil Wayne and Dru Hill.

Earth Wind and Fire had a 1978 Number 32 release with "Fantasy". "Galaxy" by War made it to Number 39. "Action Speaks Louder Than Words" was a 1975 single from the New Orleans band Chocolate Milk.

Answer: Barbra Streisand

"Songbird" was the lead single from Barbra's album of the same name. The album also contained Barbra's solo version of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers". Streisand also released a Number 21 single in 1978 titled "Love Theme from 'Eyes of Laura Mars' (Prisoner)" that was not included on her "Songbird" LP.
The talented singer gave her first performance at age seven and was a night club singer by the time she was in her teens. She also performed in off-Broadway productions and did Summer Stock work early in her career.

"You" was a 1978 Number 25 single from Rita Coolidge. "Dolly Parton had a 1978 Top Forty Crossover hit with the Number 37 "Heartbreaker". In 1977 Samantha Sang made it to Number Three with "Emotion".

Answer: Ego

"Ego" was co-written by Elton John's long tome collaborator, Bernie Taupin. Elton had intended to include the song on his twelfth album, "A Single Man" but it failed to make the cut. "Ego" had been written for some time and was almost included on Elton's 1976 "Blue Moves" album. Elton personally liked the song and was disappointed when it didn't chart well. He included "Ego" in concerts until 1980.
The lyrics of the song were about how fame can ruin Rock stars.

"Heartless" was a 1978 Number 37 single from Heart. "Sunflower" by Glen Campbell only reached Number 39 in 1977. "Daybreak" by Barry Manilow reached Number 23 in 1977.