US Groups That Have Topped the UK Charts. Quiz

Answer: The Walker Brothers

The Walker Brothers took "Make It Easy on Yourself" to Number One in the UK in 1965 and followed up the next year with the Number One "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore". Gary Leeds had performed with P. J. Proby in England and convinced his band mates that their sound could be a hit in England.
After releasing a few minor hits success eluded the group until they recorded a lavish production of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Make It Easy on Yourself". Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio of The Four Seasons composed "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Any More" for Frankie Valli. The Walker Brothers recorded a version and enjoyed their second Number One UK hit.

The Righteous Brothers topped the UK charts with "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin" and "Unchained Melody". The highest The Isley Brothers reached in the UK was Number Three with "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)" in 1966. "Time Has Come Today" was recorded by The Chambers Brothers in 1967.

Answer: When Will I See You Again

"When Will I See You Again" nudged the top of the charts in the US but spent two weeks at the top of the UK charts. The trio was initially reluctant to record the song because they believed it was a simple song that wouldn't showcase their talent.
When they recorded "When Will I See You Again" the Philadelphia based group's lineup consisted of Valerie Holiday, Fayette Pinkney and Sheila Ferguson. The group persevered through the nineties with several personnel changes but never charted another Number One record.

"Want Ads" was a 1971 single from Honey Cone, Sister Sledge recorded "We Are Family" in 1979 and "Lady Marmalade" was a 1974 release by Labelle.

Answer: Bad Moon Rising

"Bad Moon Rising" was Creedence Clearwater Revival's first single release from the 1969 "Green River" album. "Bad Moon Rising" reached Number Two on the US Billboard singles chart but spent three weeks atop the UK charts in the fall of 1969.
Front man John Fogerty composed the apocalyptic tune.

"Green River" and "Lodi" were two other singles from the "Green River" LP. "Lodi" didn't make the charts in the UK. "Green River" made the UK Top Twenty. "Susie Q" was a 1968 US Number 11 single that failed to dent the UK singles chart.

Answer: True

Blondie first hit the top of the UK charts with "Heart of Glass" in 1979. The song also topped the US charts as well as several other countries. "Sunday Girl" made the top of the UK charts the same year. The following year the group had a Trifecta of UK chart toppers with "Atomic", "Call Me" and "The Tide Is High". Their comeback single, "Maria", hit the Number One spot in 1999.
Blondie became part of the New York music scene in 1974. They were not considered a mainstream band until the 1978 recording of their "Parallel Lines" album and the release of "Heart of Glass" as a single from the LP.
The group disbanded in 1982 after releasing the "The Hunter" LP and reformed 15 years later. In 2006 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Answer: Nut Rocker

B. Bumble and the Stingers reached the pinnacle of the UK charts in 1962 after releasing "Nut Rocker". The group was comprised of session players backing Ernie Freeman on double tracked pianos. Their first single was "Bumble Boogie" based on "Flight of the Bumble Bee" by Rimsky-Korsakov. The group followed with "Nut Rocker", reaching Number 23 in the US and topping the UK charts. The popularity of "Nut Rocker" was so great in England that a touring group had to be assembled to perform UK engagements.

"Alley Cat" by Bent Fabric and his Piano was a 1962 US Top Ten. Booker T. and The MGs' "Green Onions" was a 1962 US Top Ten in 1962 and "Let's Go (Pony)" by The Routers was a 1962 US Top Twenty.

Answer: Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show

Ray Sawyer began performing as a drummer in his early teens around his native Alabama. He assembled a band that became the house band at a local joint and released "Rockin' Satellite" in 1960. He later joined a band called Chocolate Papers in the sixties that morphed into Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show in 1975. They scored several hits in the seventies including "Sylvia's Mother", "A Little Bit More" and "The Cover of the Rolling Stone" but "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" was their only UK chart-topper.
Ray's stage persona included an eye patch that he received after an injury due to a car accident.

"Bustin' Loose (Part 1)" was a US Top Forty by Chuck Brown and The Soul Searchers. Wilton Place Street Band had a 1978 US Top Forty hit with "Disco Lucy ("I Love Lucy" Theme)". "Whispering / Cherchez La Femme / Se Si Bon" as done by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band made it to Number Number 27 on the US charts in 1977.

Answer: Eternal Flame

"Eternal Flame" was composed by band member Susanna Hoffs with Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg. When the song was released as a single from their 1989 "Everything" album the band became the third US girl group to score multiple Number One hits in America after The Shirelles and The Supremes.
"Eternal Flame" stayed on top of both the UK and US charts for one week.

"Walk Like an Egyptian" was a UK Number Three single. Despite two releases the highest that "Going Down to Liverpool" reached was Number 56 in the UK. "Manic Monday" almost topped the UK charts in 1986, stalling at the Number Two spot.

Answer: Mr. Tambourine Man

After they released a single that failed to make the charts called "Don't Be Long" the Byrds' second release, "Mr. Tambourine Man", became a Number One on both sides of the Atlantic.
Earlier in 1965 Bob Dylan had written and recorded the song on his "Bringing It All Back Home" album. The Byrds was comprised of musicians from Folk and Rock backgrounds so their recording of "Mr. Tambourine Man" helped usher in the Folk Rock era. The success of "Mr. Tambourine Man" resulted in the band using the title for their debut album.

"Eight Miles High" was a Number 24 UK hit in 1966 and reached Number 14 in the US. While "Turn! Turn! Turn!" topped the charts in the US it only managed to make it to Number 26 on the UK charts. "So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star" was a US Top Forty but failed to chart in the UK.

Answer: Tony Orlando and Dawn

Tony Orlando and Dawn went to the top of the UK charts in 1971 with "Knock Three Times" and followed up two years later with "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree". They enjoyed Top Forty success in the UK with other singles including "What Are You Doing Sunday", "Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose" and "Who's in the Strawberry Patch with Sally".
After having moderate success during a ten-year career Tony Orlando decided to call it quits in 1970. He came across the song "Candida", paired up with backing vocalists Telma Hopkins and Joyce Wilson then had an impressive career resurgence.

Bill Haley and His Comets only had one Number One in the UK with "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock" in 1955. "Y.M.C.A." went to the UK top spot for The Village People and despite a string of US Number One hits The Supremes only managed to reach the top of the UK charts in 1964 with "Baby Love".

Answer: I'm a Believer / (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone

Despite a strong UK connection with singer Davy Jones "I'm a Believer/(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" became the only UK Number One hit for The Monkees. Producer and budding filmmaker Bob Rafelson was inspired to create The Monkees after being influenced by "A Hard Day's Night" (1964).
Songwriters Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart were instrumental in composing many of the group's early hits such as "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" and "Last Train to Clarksville". Neil Diamond composed "I'm a Believer" and had recorded the song on his 1967 "Just for You" album.

"Words/Pleasant Valley Sunday" and "What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?/Mary, Mary" failed to chart in the UK. "Take a Giant Step/ Last Train to Clarksville" was a UK Top Forty in 1966.