UK Number One Albums of the 1980s Quiz

Answer: Genesis

"Duke" was the tenth studio album released by Genesis, and their first to top the UK album chart. It was also their most successful album to that point in the US, reaching number 11 in the Billboard album chart. The album also spawned the band's second UK Top Ten single, "Turn It On Again" which reached number eight.

Pater Gabriel's third self-titled solo album (sometimes known as "Melt" because of the album cover, to differentiate it from other albums of the same name) reached number one in the UK chart. This was the first of Gabriel's solo albums to top the chart and included his first Top Five single, "Games Without Frontiers".

Of the alternatives, Roxy Music twice topped the UK album chart in 1980 with "Flesh and Blood"; Deep Purple topped the chart with their Greatest Hits compilation "Deepest Purple: The Very Best of Deep Purple"; and AC/DC scored their first number one album with their first post-Bon Scott release "Back in Black".

Answer: Motorhead

"No Sleep 'til Hammersmith" was recorded in March 1981 at Leeds and Newcastle concerts during Motorhead's "Short Sharp Pain in the Neck" tour. The single released from the album, "Motorhead (live)" was the group's only ever UK Top Ten single, reaching number six.

Of the alternatives, Electric Light Orchestra scored their second and last UK number one album in 1981 with "Time"; ABBA scored their seventh consecutive number one album ion 1981 with "The Visitors", the eight and last studio album the group recorded; and Adam & the Ants scored their only number one album with "Kings of the Wild Frontier".

Answer: The Jam

Founded in Woking, Surrey in 1972, punk rock/mod revival group The Jam released their first album, "In the City" in 1977. "The Gift", their sixth and last studio album, released in 1982, was the first to reach the top of the UK album chart. The album produced The Jam's third UK number one single with the double A-side release of "A Town Called Malice/Precious".

Of the alternatives, Iron Maiden scored their first chart-topper with their third album, The Number of the Beast", in 1982; Madness scored the first of their two UK number one albums (both with compilations) with their first Greatest Hits release, "Complete Madness"; Dire Straits scored their first number one album with their third studio release, "Love Over Gold".

Answer: Pink Floyd

"The Final Cut" was the last Pink Floyd studio album made before the departure of bassist, vocalist and songwriter Roger Waters. Remarkably, it was also only their third UK number one album, "Atom Heart Mother" (1970) and "Wish You Were Here" (1975) having topped the chart, but "Dark Side of the Moon", "Animals" and "The Wall" climbing only to numbers two, two and three respectively on the group's home side of the Atlantic. "Dark Side of the Moon", "Wish You Were Here" and "The Wall" all topped the US album chart, but "The Final Cut" peaked at number six there.

Of the alternatives, Wham! topped the UK album chart in 1983 with their debut album, "Fantastic"; The Beech Boys topped the chart with a compilation album, "The Very Best of the Beach Boys" having scored their only other UK chart-topper with another Greatest Hits album ("20 Golden Greats") in 1976; and Spandau Ballet scored their only number one album in 1983 with "True", which was also the group's only Top 20 album in the US.

Answer: Simple Minds

Founded in Glasgow, Scotland in 1977, rock band Simple Minds released their first album, "Life in a Day", in 1979. The group scored their first Top Five album with their sixth studio album ("Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)") in 1982 and then topped the chart with "Sparkle in the Rain" in 1984. Their next two studio releases, "Once Upon a Time" in 1985 and "Street Fighting Years" in 1989 would also top the chart.

Of the alternatives, Bob Marley & the Wailers scored their only number one album (and their only US Top Five album) in 1984 with "Legend", a compilation of Greatest Hits commemorating the band's eponymous leader who had died in 1981; U2 reached number one with "The Unforgettable Fire" in 1984, the second in a run of ten consecutive studio albums that would produce nine number ones and a number two; Frankie Goes to Hollywood rocked British music with their blockbuster debut album, "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" which included the number one singles "Relax", "Two Tribes" and "The Power of Love", but it would turn out to be their only chart-topping album.

Answer: Kate Bush

Born Catherine Bush in Bexleyheath, Kent in 1958, Kate Bush hit the music big time with her debut single at the age of just 19. "Running Up That Hill" reached number three in the UK singles chart in 1985. This was Bush's third Top Five single following her debut single "Wuthering Heights", which topped the chart in 1978, and "Babooshka", which peaked at number five in 1980.

Between 1978 and 2011, Kate Bush released ten studio albums, all of which made it into the Top Ten in the UK. Two of those ten topped the chart, "Hounds of Love" in 1985 and "Never for Ever" in 1980.

Of the alternatives, Alison Moyet topped the UK album chart in 1985 with her debut album, "Alf"; Madonna scored her first UK number one album in 1985 with her second studio release, "Like a Virgin"; and Sade released her second album in 1985, following "Diamond Life", which reached number two in 1984, with her only UK number one, "Promise".

Answer: Bryan Ferry & Roxy Music

Founded in London in 1971, glam rock band Roxy Music fronted by Bryan Ferry released their self-titled debut album in 1972. They scored UK number one albums with "Stranded" in 1973, "Flesh and Blood" in 1980 and "Avalon" in 1982. Their 1986 Greatest Hits compilation was their fourth UK chart-topper. They released their only number one single, "Jealous Guy" in 1981.

Of the alternatives, Queen scored their fourth UK number one album in 1986 with "A Kind of Magic", the first of four consecutive chart-topping albums by the band; Genesis released their fourth consecutive number one album in 1986, "Invisible Touch"; and Dire Straits' 1985 release, "Brothers in Arms", their second UK number one album, returned to the top of the chart for an extended ten week run in 1986 (it was also the bestselling album of the entire decade).

Answer: Sting

Born Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner in Wallsend, Tyne & Wear in 1951, Sting already had four UK number one albums to his name as the lead singer of The Police. In 1985, he released his first solo studio album, "The Dream of the Blue Turtles", which peaked at number three. His second effort, "...Nothing Like the Sun", topped the UK chart a year later.

Of the alternatives, Paul Simon released his first solo album as long ago as 1965 and had topped the UK chart with his self-titled second studio album in 1972. His second UK number one came in 1987 with the iconic "Graceland" album which, amazingly, reached only number three in the US album chart. Bruce Springsteen followed his 1984 worldwide number one album ("Born in the U.S.A.") with his second UK number one in 1987 "Tunnel of Love". George Michael followed his departure from Wham! with his first solo release in 1987, "Faith", which topped the album charts on both sides of the Atlantic.

Answer: Wet Wet Wet

Founded in Clydebank, Scotland in 1982, soft-rock/soul/sophisti-pop band Wet Wet Wet rocketed to the top of the UK album chart in 1988 with their first album, "Popped in Souled Out". The band released four singles from the album, all of which made it into the Top 20 but none higher than number five. They scored their first UK number one single that same year, though, with a cover of The Beatles' "With a Little Help from My Friends". 'The Wets' released six studio albums between 1988 and 1997, all of them reaching at least number three and two others topping the UK chart, "High on the Happy Side" (in 1992) and "Picture This" (in 1995).

Of the alternatives, Fleetwood Mac scored their third UK number one album (following "Rumors" in 1977 and "Tusk" in 1979) with "Tango in the Night" in 1988; Iron Maiden's 1988 release "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" was the group's seventh studio album and their second UK number one (following "The Number of the Beast" in 1982); and Bon Jovi topped the UK album chart for the first time in 1988 with "New Jersey", which also topped the US chart as had their previous release, "Slippery When Wet" in 1986.

Answer: Fine Young Cannibals

Founded in Liverpool in 1984, new wave/college rock band Fine Young Cannibals released their eponymous debut album in 1985, reaching number 11 in the UK chart. Their second album, "The Raw & the Cooked", topped the UK chart and made it to number two in the US chart. The album also produced two UK Top Ten singles, "She Drives Me Crazy" (which topped the US Billboard 100 chart) and "Good Thing".

Of the alternatives, Scottish pop band Deacon Blue reached number one in the UK album chart in 1989 with their third album, "When the World Knows Your Name"; English rock band New Order scored their first number one album in 1989 with their fifth release "Technique"; and British alternative rock band Transvision Vamp scored their only chart-topper with their second album, "Velveteen".