The Sounds of 1978 Trivia Quiz

Answer: 10cc

"Dreadlock Holiday" peaked at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a number one on the UK singles charts. The song was taken from their album, "Bloody Tourists" which was the first track on the album. Other track from the album includes "Tokyo", "Take These Chains" and "Reds in My Bed". "Dreadlock Holiday" would become the last single to make the number one spot in the UK, and their last single to chart in the states. 10cc's next single to get in the UK charts was "Run Away" released in 1982; it only just made the top 50. Three other singles were released by the band in 1983-1984 and 1995, the latter being "I'm Not in Love" (Acoustic re-recording), first recorded in 1975.

This version reached number 29 on the UK singles chart. Sadly 10cc disbanded in 1995, however with 11 top ten hits in the UK, the band still receives good airtime on the radio.

Answer: Dire Straits

"Sultans of Swing" was the first single by the band Dire Straits. The English rock band was formed in 1977 by Mark Knopfler and his younger brother David Knopfler. Other members of the band were John Illsley (bass), and Pick Withers (drums). Although the single was released in 1978, the song peaked in the charts in early 1979, in both the U.S. and UK. The first album from the band was "Dire Straits" which was released in July 1978. The best album from the band in my opinion is the fifth album "Brothers in Arms" released May 1, 1985. Notable tracks from this album include "Money for Nothing" (Knopfler, Sting, "Walk of Life", "So Far Away" and one of my favorites "Brothers in Arms".

Dire Straits have the honor to be the first artists who sold one million copies in CD format with their album "Brothers in Arms".

Answer: Y.M.C.A

In 1977 we were introduced to a new group that featured a police officer, American Indian, cowboy, construction worker, leatherman and a military man. The group became known as Village People. "Y.M.C.A." was released in 1978 and moved up the U.S. charts to the highest position of number 2 in the early part of 1979. The single also made the number one top slot in the UK at the beginning of 1979.

One other hit for the group in 1978 was "Macho Man", peaking in at 26th position on the U.S. charts. Two albums were released in 1978 "Macho Man" and "Cruisin".

Answer: Warren Zevon

Warren Zevon was an American rock singer-songwriter and musician. In the sixty's Warren Zevon played the piano/keyboard as a session musician for the group the "Everly Brothers", and also played and toured with the British band "Manfred Mann".

Success came to Zevon in 1978 with the release of his album "Excitable Boy". The single "Werewolves of London" was also included on the album. On The Billboard Hot 100, the single peaked in at number 21 on the chart. Although "Werewolves of London" received plenty of air time in the UK, the single didn't have the impact it had in America. Other tracks from the album are "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner", "Excitable Boy" and "Tule's Blues" (Solo Piano Version).

Answer: Genesis

"Follow You, Follow Me" was a track taken from the album "And Then There Were Three", the title being a reference to how many group members were left in the band. Steve Hackett had left Genesis in 1977 to pursue a solo career. The band members left in the band in 1978 were Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins. "Follow You, Follow Me" was the first single by Genesis to reach the top 40 on the American charts, it would also be a top ten hit in the UK.

Genesis is reputed to have sold between 100 and 200 million albums/singles worldwide, making them one of the highest-selling recording artists of all time.

Answer: Barry Manilow

"Can't Smile Without You" was originally sung by the American group The Carpenters. The track was taken from their album "A Kind of Hush", released on June 11, 1976 and later released as a single on September 9, 1977. "Mandy" a former number one for Barry Manilow in 1974, was the breakthrough in his musical career.

Other early singles to chart was "I Write the Songs", "Weekend in New England" and "Looks Like We Made It". In Britain the release of the album "Manilow Magic - The Best Of Barry Manilow", also known as "Greatest Hits" put Manilow in the public eye. Tracks from the album included "Mandy", "Looks Like We Made It", "Daybreak (Live)", "Can't Smile Without You", "Could It Be Magic" and one of my favorites "I Write The Songs", which was a former number on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976.

Answer: Sweet

"Love Is Like Oxygen" reached the 8th position on the U.S. chart and topped in at number 9 in the UK chart. This would be the last single by the band to enter the top 10 in the U.S. and the UK. Sweet charted 18 times in the UK between 1971 and 1985, 10 of which was in the top 10 on the UK singles charts.

In America the band only had 9 singles in the top one hundred, their highest being "Little Willy", which was released in 1972. The song reached the dizzy height of number 3 on the U.S. chart and peaked at number 4 on the UK chart. With only two minor hits in Germany in 1978-1979, the band disbanded in 1981.

A reformed Sweet made a comeback in 1985 but had little success and once again disbanded in 1991.

Answer: Bill Withers

Bill Withers is an American singer-songwriter. Bill Withers career kicked off in 1971 with his single "Ain't No Sunshine", which peaked at number 3 on the U.S. Pop chart and reached number 6 on the R&B chart. The first and only single by Bill to reach the number one spot was "Lean on Me", released in June 1972. Twelve other singles charted on the R&B or the Billboard Hot 100 charts between 1972 and 1977. "Lovely Day" peaked at number 30 on the BB 100 and reached number 6 on the R&B chart.

Answer: Ace Frehley

Ace Frehley was the lead guitarist for the hard rock band Kiss. Frehley spent 10 years with the band from 1972-1982. The bands name Kiss was agreed upon in 1973. All four members of Kiss released solo albums in 1978. The album "Ace Frehley" released on September 18, 1978 was the first solo album from the artist. "New York Groove" was the number one track on side two of the album. The single peaked at number 13 on the U.S. Billboard chart and the album reached 26 on the U.S. Billboard album chart. Ace Frehley released 7 other albums between 1987-2006, including the EP "Live+1", a five track composition comprising of "Rip It Out", "Breakout", "Something Moved", "Rocket Ride" and "Words Are Not Enough". The EP reached number 84 on the The Billboard 200.

Ace Frehley rejoined Kiss in 1996 for the reunion tour which lasted until 2002.

Answer: Eric Clapton

"Wonderful Tonight" reached the number 16th spot on the U.S. chart and only reached number 30 on the UK charts. Eric Clapton was a former band member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Cream came on the music scene in 1966, the line up comprised of Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, and Eric Clapton. The first album from the band was "Fresh Cream" released in 1966, their second album was "Disraeli Gears" released in 1967. The next album by Cream was a double album titled "Wheels of Fire". Cream had a major success with this album, as it made number 1 in the U.S. and peaked at number 3 in the UK, it would be also the first album in the world to go platinum.

Many thanks for playing the "Sounds of 1978"; I hope you enjoyed the quiz. I would appreciate it, if you would rate the quiz; it helps me decide what quizzes to write.
Regards.
LD.