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UK Number 40 Hits of 1981-83 Trivia Quiz

Following on from my 1980 quiz, here is another selection of question about the UK hits that never quite made it...

A multiple-choice quiz by DUFFMONKEY. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
DUFFMONKEY

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
252,079

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Very Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 15

Plays
1656

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Who reached number 40 in November 1981 with their only hit single, "Me and Mr. Sanchez"? Hint

Cabaret Voltaire

Blue Rondo a la Turk

Blue Zoo

The Electronicas

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Question 2 of 15

2. Which two megastars teamed up to have a minor hit with "I Saw Her Standing There" in 1981? Hint

Elton John and David Bowie

Elton John and John Lennon

David Bowie and John Lennon

Mick Jagger and David Bowie

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Question 3 of 15

3. Christmas always brings lots of horrific novelty songs with it and 1981 was no different. Who, thankfully, only made number 40 with "Christmas on 45"? Hint

Rudolph

The Holly and the Ivys

Santa Claus and the Christmas Tree

Good King Wenceslas

4. This guy never got any higher than number 31 with any of his four singles. His last hit, called "Europe (After the Rain)" reached number 40. The band he left to pursue his solo career went on to have many hit singles. Who is he? Hint

John Foxx

Ian Gillan

Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy

Michael Schenker

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Question 5 of 15

5. Which Bob Marley song did Light of the World take to number 40 in January 1981? Hint

Three Little Birds

I Shot the Sheriff

Could You Be Loved?

No Woman No Cry

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Question 6 of 15

6. Landscape followed up their smash hit "Einstein a Go-Go" with the "Psycho" based number 40 hit "Norman Bates", but where did the band hail from? Hint

Holland

The UK

Germany

Sweden

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Question 7 of 15

7. Which tasty sounding singer achieved her lowest placed hit with "Back To Love" in November 1982? Hint

Neneh Cherry

Teena Marie

Evelyn "Champagne" King

Juicy Lucy

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Question 8 of 15

8. Which instrumental band followed up their biggest hit with the number 40 hit "The Big Bean"? Hint

The Shadows

Incantation

Pigbag

Sky

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Question 9 of 15

9. Which band, whose frontman has since died, had a number 40 hit called "Backchat"? Hint

The Clash

Queen

Pink Floyd

The Ramones

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Question 10 of 15

10. Which band saw their single "Do You Believe In The Westworld" graze the chart in 1982? Hint

Theatre of Hate

Art of Noise

Spear of Destiny

A Flock of Seagulls

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Question 11 of 15

11. The Who, despite their former glories, only just managed to scrape into the top 40 with which single? Hint

Athena

Squeeze Box

Baba O'Reilly

You Better You Bet

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Question 12 of 15

12. Which Radio One DJ had a minor novelty hit called "I'm Alright (You Alright?)" Hint

Peter Powell

Steve Wright

Dave Lee Travis

Kenny Everett

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Question 13 of 15

13. The Beatles saw several of their singles re-issued between 1982 and 1983, and three of them made it back into the Top 40. One of those singles was their first UK number one, way back in 1963. This time around it peaked at 40. Which track was it? Hint

Help!

Please Please Me

From Me To You

I Want To Hold Your Hand

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Question 14 of 15

14. "Motormania" was a number 40 hit for which band, whose name was almost identical to an Audrey Hepburn movie? Hint

Roman Holliday

Breakfast For Tiffany

My Far Lady

War and Pieces

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Question 15 of 15

15. How many singles reached number 40 and failed to climb any higher in 1983? Hint

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who reached number 40 in November 1981 with their only hit single, "Me and Mr. Sanchez"?

Answer: Blue Rondo a la Turk

The band was named after a tune by the Dave Brubeck quartet. I remember loving this and being absolutely astonished it only made the bottom rung of the ladder!

2. Which two megastars teamed up to have a minor hit with "I Saw Her Standing There" in 1981?

Answer: Elton John and John Lennon

After Lennon was coldly gunned down in New York, a spate of hits by the legendary Beatle hit the upper echelons of the charts, including three number ones - "(Just Like) Starting Over", "Imagine" and "Woman". This one - originally released by the Fab Four as the b-side to "I Want To Hold Your Hand" - didn't fare quite so well.

3. Christmas always brings lots of horrific novelty songs with it and 1981 was no different. Who, thankfully, only made number 40 with "Christmas on 45"?

Answer: The Holly and the Ivys

Back in the early eighties, it was commonplace for record companies to release "medleys", which were snippets of various different songs released as one single. That's what this monstrosity was.

Answer: John Foxx

Formerly of Ultravox, John Foxx is still a well respected figure in the music industry today and is often cited as a major influence to many of today's contemporary artists.

5. Which Bob Marley song did Light of the World take to number 40 in January 1981?

Answer: I Shot the Sheriff

Surprisingly, the one version of this song you WON'T see in the "Guinness Book of British Hit Singles" is the original by Bob himself. It is, however, the only Marley penned song to top the US Billboard chart during his own lifetime - when it was recorded by Eric Clapton. In the UK, the highest charting version of the song was by Warren G, peaking at number two.

6. Landscape followed up their smash hit "Einstein a Go-Go" with the "Psycho" based number 40 hit "Norman Bates", but where did the band hail from?

Answer: The UK

I always thought the band were from somewhere in Europe but apparently not. In fact, their "frontman", Richard James Burgess, produced both Spandau Ballet's first two albums while he was still in the band. So it was HIS fault...

7. Which tasty sounding singer achieved her lowest placed hit with "Back To Love" in November 1982?

Answer: Evelyn "Champagne" King

Evelyn's biggest hit in the UK was her previous single, "Love Come Down", which reached number seven. Her single "Shame" was one of the first records to be inducted into the "Dance Music Hall of Fame" in 2004.

8. Which instrumental band followed up their biggest hit with the number 40 hit "The Big Bean"?

Answer: Pigbag

Of course, "Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag" was a huge success, reaching number three on its re-issue. The band is also credited with kickstarting the Acid Jazz scene that emerged several years later.

9. Which band, whose frontman has since died, had a number 40 hit called "Backchat"?

Answer: Queen

The most successful British band since The Beatles, Queen remain active, having recently completed a tour with former Free vocalist Paul Rodgers.

10. Which band saw their single "Do You Believe In The Westworld" graze the chart in 1982?

Answer: Theatre of Hate

Formed by former underground punk star Kirk Brandon, Theatre of Hate also included Billy Duffy on guitar, who went on to have huge success with The Cult. Brandon had a top 20 hit with a new outfit, Spear of Destiny, entitled "Never Take Me Alive" four years after Theatre of Hate disbanded.

11. The Who, despite their former glories, only just managed to scrape into the top 40 with which single?

Answer: Athena

This song was actually originally called "Theresa", and came about after Pete Townshend met and became besotted with actress Theresa Russell. It's all about his feelings of rejection after she spurned his advances. It probably deserved to get a lot higher than it did.

12. Which Radio One DJ had a minor novelty hit called "I'm Alright (You Alright?)"

Answer: Steve Wright

Credited to Young Steve and the Afternoon Boys; I must sheepishly confess to having bought this record, but hey, I was only 12 so I think you can let me off!

Answer: From Me To You

"From Me To You" was just the start of an incredible run of 20 consecutive singles that made the top two, with 17 of those hitting the top spot, before the double A-side of "Something" and "Come Together" put an end to proceedings by reaching number four. I find that quite ironic, because those two songs are arguably the best ones the band ever put out if you ask me!

14. "Motormania" was a number 40 hit for which band, whose name was almost identical to an Audrey Hepburn movie?

Answer: Roman Holliday

This short lived band had top 20 success with "Don't Try To Stop It" but never quite managed to keep the momentum. Since the band's demise, guitarist Brian Bonhomme became a professor of Russian History!

15. How many singles reached number 40 and failed to climb any higher in 1983?

Answer: 2

Most years have at least a handful!

Source: Author DUFFMONKEY

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