US Billboard Number Ones 1963 Online Quiz | 1960s Music

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. As always I will start with the first record to reach number one in 1963. Which record was this that was a hit for Steve Lawrence on January 12th for two weeks?

Answer: Go Away Little Girl

'Go Away Little Girl' was written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. This version was released in 1962 by Steve Lawrence; a cover version released by Mark Wynter reached number six in the UK charts in 1962.

*Useless information* 'Go Away Little Girl' by Steve Lawrence is the first of only nine recordings, to date, to have reached number one in the Billboard charts by two different artists. (Donny Osmond reached number one in 1971 with his version of the same song).

2. Who sang the song that reached number one on the Billboard 100 in 1963 and contained the lyrics?: 'Hey hey --- I've been waiting for you Hey hey --- I want to marry you too True love means planning our life for two, Being together the whole day through.' The missing words are the answer.

Answer: Paul and Paula

'Hey Paula' remained at number one throughout February 1963.

*Useless information* Paul and Paula were really Ray Hildebrand and Jill Jackson; they eventually signed to Mercury Records who insisted that they changed their name to Paul and Paula to match the lyrics.

3. 'Sukiyaki' by Kyu Sakamoto stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. What nationality was Kyu Sakamoto?

Answer: Japanese

Kyu Sakamoto was born in Japan in 1941. He died in a plane crash in 1985.

*Useless information* When Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen released the single in the UK in 1963 their record company, Pye, thought the original title 'Ue wo Muite Aruk�'(Translation: 'Let's walk looking up') would be too hard for English speaking people to pronounce. They chose the name 'Sukiyaki' (a type of Japanese stew) as sounding Japanese and being easy to pronounce (a Newsweek columnist is reported as saying that calling the song 'Sukiyaki' is similar to retitling 'Moon River' as 'Beef Stew' for the Japanese market).

4. July 6th 1963 and 'Easier Said Than Done' reached the number one spot for two weeks. What was the name of the group? (An English county?)

Answer: The Essex

Essex is a county in the South-East of England.
The Essex are an American band. 'Easier Said Than Done' was their biggest hit selling over a million copies, earning them a gold disc.

*Useless information* The Essex were all serving US Marines when they recorded 'Easier Said Than Done'.
The rhythm for the song is said to have been inspired by the sound of the teletype machines in the communications office at their base.
'Easier Said Than Done' was originally released as the 'B' side of 'Are You Going My Way', the band's debut single. It proved to be the more popular track.

5. The longest running number one single on the Billboard charts in 1963 was sung by Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs. It contained the words: 'There's this cute little girlie, she's a'workin' there A black leotard and her feet are bare I'm gonna drink a lotta coffee, spend a little cash Make that girl love me when I put on some trash You can understand why I've got to get back to that' Where was I trying to go to?

Answer: Sugar Shack

'Sugar Shack' is a song written in 1962 by Keith McCormack and Jimmy Torres and remained in the number one spot for five weeks.

*Useless information* 'Sugar Shack' was the top selling US single for 1963; it was also the last number one record on the Billboard R&B charts for 14 months. Billboard magazine stopped publishing the R&B chart from November 1963 until January 1965.

6. Bobby Vinton reached number one on the Billboard hot 100 in September 1963 with 'Blue Velvet'. The opening lines of this song are: 'She wore blue velvet Bluer than velvet was the night' What was the next line?

Answer: Softer than satin was the light

'Blue Velvet ' was originally a hit for Tony Bennett in 1951 when it reached number 16 on the Billboard Best Selling Pop Singles Chart which was the official US chart before the Billboard 100 came into existence.

*Useless information* Bobby Vinton was born in Canonsburg Pennsylvania - also the birthplace of Perry Como. The 'Town fathers' of Canonsburg wanted to erect a statue in Bobby's honour. Bobby Vinton rejected the idea as he thought the expected $100 000 dollar cost could be better spent in other ways.

7. Lesley Gore hit the top spot with a song entitled 'It's My Party'. According to the song, Judy and Johnny ruined the party because Judy was seen wearing Johnny's ring. What was being celebrated at the party?

Answer: A birthday

"Judy and Johnny just walked through the door
Like a queen with her king
Oh what a birthday surprise
Judy's wearin' his ring"

*Useless information* Lesley Gore was only 16 when she recorded this track.
Although the song is always associated with Lesley Gore, 'It's My Party' was originally recorded in February 1963 by Helen Shapiro for her album 'Helen in Nashville'. This album was released in October 1963 and Helen's version has, therefore, always been perceived as a 'cover version'.

8. 'Fingertips Pt 2' reached number one in the charts in August 1963. The artist was labelled as 'Little Stevie Wonder: The 12 Year Old Genius'.

Answer: True

Stevie Wonder (or 'Little' Stevie Wonder as he was known at the time) was only 12 years old when the single was recorded in 1962.

*Useless information* 'Fingertips Pt 2' was Stevie Wonder's first hit. It was the first 'live' recording to reach number one in the Billboard Hot 100 charts (in 1952 Johnny Standley's 'It's in the Book' reached number one but this was before the Hot 100 was introduced).

9. On August 31st 1963 a song reached the US number one and stayed there for three weeks. Who recorded 'My Boyfriend's Back' to take that coveted number one slot?

Answer: The Angels

'My Boyfriend's Back' sold over a million copies and earned a gold disc for The Angels.

*Useless information* The Angels originally recorded 'My Boyfriend's Back' as a demo made with a view to it being released by The Shirelles. The publishing company liked The Angel's version so much that they released it as it was.

10. The Christmas number one in the US in 1963 was entitled 'Dominique' a song in French by The Singing Nun. What nationality was Sister Luc Gabriel who sang the song?

Answer: Belgian

Born as Jeanine Deckers in Brussels, Belgium in 1933, Sister Luc Gabriel released 'Dominique' under the name Soeur Sourire (or The Smiling Sister). For English speaking countries this was altered to The Singing Nun.
Jeanine Deckers committed suicide in 1985. A number of films and stage plays have been made that have been based on her life, including a 1966 movie called 'The Singing Nun' which starred Debbie Reynolds in the title role.

*Useless information* 'Dominique' was the second foreign language song to reach number one in the US charts, (the first was 'Sukiyaki' also released in 1963). The next foreign language song to reach the top forty in the US was the Spanish single 'Eres t�' in 1973.
'Dominique' is, to date, the only Belgian song to reach number one in the US.

Source: Author DaveH1960

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Dalgleish before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

US Billboard Number Ones 1963 Trivia Quiz

One of my favourite years for music. See what you know.

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