The Ten Greatest Groups of all Time Quiz

Answer: The Beatles

What more can be said of the Beatles? With certified sales of over 180 million albums in the USA they are the best selling and most influential group of their day and beyond. In terms of chart success the Beatles had 19 number one singles and fifteen number one albums in Australia; in the USA they had 20 singles and nineteen albums make the top spot.

In their home they topped the UK charts with eighteen singles and fifteen albums. They have claimed world wide sales of 500 - 600 million albums. They influenced so many young people to form a group in the sixties seventies and beyond.

Their songs range from raging rockers like "Lady Madonna", "Get Back" or "I'm Down", love songs like "It's Only Love", "Girl" and "Here, There and Everywhere" and thought provoking songs such as "In My Life", "A Day in the Life" and "Across the Universe". The question was about "Rain", released by the Beatles in 1966 as the flipside to "Paperback Writer". "Rain" reached the US and Australian top ten.

Answer: The Bee Gees

The Bee Gees had ten charted singles in Australia from 1962 -1966. Their last Australian release before they went back to the UK for fame and fortune was "Spicks and Specks". "Wine and Women" made the Australian top forty in 1965. The Bee Gees and their music have been quite influential as have the songs they've written for other artists.

In their early days in Australia i.e. 1960-64 they, along with Lonnie Lee, were the only local acts who predominately recorded their own material and both these acts provided hits for other Aussie artists.

Their chart successes and worldwide sales speak for themselves. They have sold over 150 million albums.

Answer: ABBA

ABBA, the Swedish phenomenon, sold more than 150 million records mainly through the 1970s. Their longevity was proven with the stage show and two movies of the musical "Mamma Mia. Their songs were pure pop and very catchy. "Happy Hawaii" was released as the B side of "Knowing Me, Knowing You" in 1974. The song "Happy Hawaii" is actually "Why Did it Have to Be Me" with different lyrics.

Answer: Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin came from the remnants of the Yardbirds, in fact they were originally called the New Yardbirds. "Black Dog" was featured on their seminal album "Led Zeppelin IV" which also contained tracks like their homage to Little Richard, "Rock 'n' Roll", "The Battle for Evermore" and "Stairway to Heaven".

This album as of 2021 has sold a paltry 38,000,000 copies worldwide. Their legacy is a body of work that exemplifies the sound of heavy rock from the 1970s to today and their influence on other groups is evident. Led Zeppelin have amassed total sales of between 250 and 300 million albums.

The group was not keen on issuing singles preferring fans to buy albums but their 1969 release of "Whole Lotta Love" made the top ten in the Northern and Southern hemispheres and sold a respectable four million copies.

Answer: Pink Floyd

"Us and Them" is a track from the Pink Floyd album with the longest stay on the Billboard Pop Album chart of 927 weeks, "Dark Side of the Moon", eventually selling over 40 million. Their 1979 album "The Wall" is their next biggest seller with worldwide sales of 30 million. Roger Waters' live concert of this album with many guest artists took place a few months after the disassembling of the Berlin wall in Berlin. Pink Floyd are one of the top selling bands of all time, only The Beatles and Led Zeppelin have sold more.

The band were innovative with their stage shows similar to Led Zeppelin with the use of light shows, lasers and back projection.

Answer: U2

U2 are unquestionably a band of influence. They took the title of the best rock band in the world from the Rolling Stones with both record sales and record-breaking attendance at their concerts. Apart from great music they have collectively and individually inspired many of today's pop and metal bands.

Their song "Sunday Bloody Sunday" was inspired by the Bloody Sunday incident in Northern Ireland in 1972. The song "Sunday Bloody Sunday" was not released as a single in the UK or the USA but reached a high level of popularity through massive amounts of airplay, and has become one of their most popular songs.

Answer: The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys' influence on rock and pop music cannot be understated; no less a group than the Beatles cited the Beach Boys for their harmonies on their album "Pet Sound" as the initial inspiration for "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band". They have sold over 100 million records worldwide.

Their biggest hit is the epic "Good Vibrations" which took almost six months to complete. "Little Saint Nick", originally released and charted in 1963, has now become a perennial Christmas favourite.

Answer: The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones have endured lineup changes, death of members, drug scandals etc., yet here we are.
Formed in 1962, they were still planning another tour prior to Charlie Watts passing away in August 2021.
The Stones set record after record for concert attendances. Their chart success is immense. 54 albums on the Billboard Album Chart, seven of which made number one and 31 others in the top ten. On the singles chart or the Billboard Hot 100, 60 chart entries, eight number ones, and sixteen more in the top ten. Worldwide sales in excess of 200 million. The Stones have influenced many young would be rockers.
"Tumbling Dice" was a number seven hit in 1972 on the Billboard Hot 100 and a number five hit on their home charts. The song was successfully covered by Linda Rondstadt in 1978.

Answer: Queen

Queen are unquestionably an influential band. My nephew, Luke, learnt to play guitar after after seeing and hearing Brian May on Queen's tour of Australia in 1985. Queen returned minus Freddie Mercury but with Adam Lambert, so Luke and I went again in 2013. Queen amassed record sales in excess of 200 million.

Their influence on budding musicians extends far beyond my nephew. They rank as one of the greatest bands of all time. "Fat Bottomed Girls" was a hit for Queen in late 1978.

Answer: Eagles

Eagles recorded "I Can't Tell you Why" from their 1979 album "The Long Run". Eagles had much success on the Billboard singles chart and great success on the Billboard Album chart. Eagles are second only to the Beatles in albums sold in the USA. The group has enjoyed worldwide success and their music is still relevant today.

Before I finish, the ten groups in this quiz are not all my favourites but based on their popularity, longevity, their music, chart success and sales, and their influence on society and other musicians they are I feel the top ten.
BUT
Honourable mentions must go to The Supremes, ZZ Top, The Kinks, The Who, Earth, Wind and Fire, Metallica, Guns and Roses, AC/DC, Maroon 5, Aerosmith, Linkin Park, Chicago, Dire Straits, Fleetwood Mac, The Doors and The Shadows all of whom have amassed much chart success and sold many many records. Their influence on others can't be discounted - how many garage bands have learnt AC/DC's entire catalogue.