UK Number One Hits From Wales Trivia Quiz

Answer: Shirley Bassey

In 1959 "As I Love You" became the first song by a Welsh artist to reach number one on the UK pop charts. It stayed at the top for four weeks.

Shirley Bassey was to have a second UK number one with "Reach For The Stars/Climb Every Mountain" in 1961.

Incidentally, Shirley Bassey went on to sing the theme songs for three "James Bond" movies. She recorded the themes to "Goldfinger" (1964), "Diamonds Are Forever" (1971), and "Moonraker" 1979.)

In 2015, 'Rolling Stone' magazine ranked Bassey's "Goldfinger" as the best 007 movie theme to that date.

Answer: Ricky Valence

Described as "a death rock ballad", "Tell Laura I Love Her" was recorded in the US by Ray Peterson and in the UK by Ricky Valance.

Despite being banned by many radio stations, the Peterson version reached number seven in the USA and the Valance version reached number one in the UK.

In fact, Decca records considered the Peterson version "too tasteless and vulgar for the English sensibility" and destroyed 25,000 copies of the record.

EMI-Columbia asked Valence to record the song and, despite being banned by the BBC, it reached number one for three weeks in September 1960.

Answer: Tom Jones

"It's Not Unusual" topped the UK charts in 1965 and was the first of two solo number ones for Tom Jones. The second was "The Green Green Grass Of Home" in 1966.

The song was written by classical music arranger and conductor Les Reed with Tom Jones' manager Gordon Mills. They offered it to British singer Sandie Shaw, but she turned it down. It also became a US number ten hit.

Tom Jones could claim a third number one after a collaboration with Vanessa Jenkins, Bryn West and Robin Gibb took "Islands In The Stream" to number one in the UK in 2009.

Answer: Stereophonics

The Stereophonics took "Dakota" to the top of the UK charts in 2005.

On the face of it, this was a love song. The word "Dakota" does not appear in the lyrics.

Initially the song was written with the title "Vermilion", but after several other songs were released with that name, Kelly Jones, the lead singer and songwriter, changed the name to "Dakota".

Answer: Duffy

"Mercy" was a UK number one for Duffy in 2008.

Duffy, birth name Aimee Anne Duffy, co-wrote the song with Steve Booker.

It went 'number one with a bullet' on download sales alone. The song reached number one in ten European countries and was named 'Song of the Year' by 'Mojo' magazine.

Answer: Mary Hopkin

Mary Hopkin took "Those Were The Days" to the top in 1969.

Hopkin was just 17 when she became a three-time winner of the televised talent show "Opportunity Knocks".

The song had a mixed background: the melody was said to be of Russian origins, then in 1962, Gene Raskin wrote English lyrics and it was popularised in the US by the folk trio The Limeliters.

In London, Paul McCartney heard it sung in a club and auditioned Hopkin, for whom he produced the single and played acoustic guitar on the recording.

Answer: Amen Corner

"(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice" was a translation of an Italian song and was number one in 1969.

Amen Corner, sometimes billed as The Amen Corner, were often regarded as a 'Beatles-light' band. Indeed, they did cover many McCartney/Lennon songs, and their concerts attracted a lot of the young girls mania that the fab four experienced.

Answer: Dave Edmunds

"I Hear You Knocking" captured the coveted Christmas number one spot in 1970. It was top of the pops for six weeks.

While usually credited to Dave Edmunds, the lead singer and multi-instrumentalist, the record label is stamped 'Dave Edmunds' Rockpile'.

The song was written by New Orleans trumpet player Dave Bartholomew and guitarist Earl King and became a blues standard in the 1950s.

Gale Storm had a US number two with the song in 1955.

In 1970, Dave Edmunds gave it a stronger guitar-led emphasis and it became number one in the UK and number four on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: Shakin' Stevens

In 1981, "This Ole House" became the first of four number ones for Stevens (birth name Michael Barratt).

Either unconsciously or deliberately, Stevens often sounded like Elvis Presley.

The song was written by Stuart Hamblin about a derelict house he saw in Texas. In 1954, Rosemary Clooney took it to the top of the charts in both the USA and the UK.

In 1981, the Shakin' Stevens cover stayed at the top of the Official UK Charts for three weeks.

Answer: Bonnie Tyler

Bonnie Tyler took "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" to number one in 1983.

The song was written by Jim Steinman, the man behind most of Meat Loaf's hits. In 1983, he offered "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" and "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All" to Meat Loaf for a new album, but the record company turned them down, wanting Meat Love to write all the songs.

Tyler's version entered the UK charts 'number one with a bullet' (straight into the charts at number one) and she was also the first Welsh singer to have a US Billboard number one.

The song sold over five million records worldwide and won the UK Variety Club's award for best single of 1983.