Whose First UK Chart Hit Am I? Quiz

Answer: Little Richard

"Rip It Up" was written by Robert Blackwell/John Marascalco. It peaked at number 30 on the UK singles chart for Little Richard in 1956. It peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Top 100 the same year.

"Rip It Up" peaked at number four on the UK singles chart for Bill Haley and His Comets in 1956. It peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Top 100 the same year. Elvis presley had a number 27 hit with the song on the UK singles chart in 1957 but it did not chart in the US.

Answer: Paul Anka

"Diana" was written by Joe Sherman/Paul Anka. It was number one for nine weeks on the UK singles chart for Paul Anka in 1957. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Top 100 the same year.

Paul Anka was the first solo teenager to top the UK singles chart. "Diana" was recorded in one take and has sold in excess of 10,000,000 copies. As well as singing he was an actor and a songwriter. He wrote "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" for Buddy Holly. After Buddy Holly died in a plane crash in 1959, Anka gave his composer's royalties to Buddy's widow Maria Elena.

Answer: Billy Fury

"Maybe Tomorrow" was written by Billy Fury. It peaked at number 18 on the UK singles chart for Billy Fury in 1959. It did not chart in the US.

Billy Fury scored 11 Top 10 hits on the UK singles chart in the '60s but never had a number one hit. He never had a hit of any kind in the US. On the 10 May 1960 at the Wyvern Social Club in Liverpool, England, Billy Fury and his manager Larry Parnes held auditions for a backing group. The Silver Beatles (John, Paul, George and Tommy Moore) failed the audition. John Lennon did get Billy Fury's autograph though.

Answer: Del Shannon

"Runaway" was written by Del Shannon/Max Crook. It was number one for three weeks on the UK singles chart for Del Shannon in 1961. It was number one for four weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

Del Shannon was my first musical hero and his fifth single "Hey! Little Girl", was the first record I bought even though I didn't have a record player at the time. Although he made some great records in the '60s and had eight UK Top 10 hits, he never achieved another number one hit in the UK or US.

Answer: The Rolling Stones

"Come On" was written by Chuck Berry. It peaked at number 21 on the UK singles chart for The Rolling Stones in 1963. It did not chart in the US.

The position on the UK singles charts of "Come On" at number 21 was the lowest for The Rolling Stones until they equaled it with "Street Fighting Man" in 1971. In between they had 14 consecutive Top 10 hits which included their eight UK number one hits, "It's All Over Now" (1964), "Little Red Rooster" (1964), "The Last Time" (1965), "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (1965), "Get Off Of My Cloud" (1965), "Paint It Black" (1966), "Jumpin' Jack Flash" (1968) and "Honky Tonk Women" (1969).

Answer: The Who

"I Can't Explain" was written by Pete Townshend. It peaked at number eight on the UK singles chart for The Who in 1965. It peaked at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

"I Can't Explain" was The Who's first hit under that name, their previous release was "Zoot Suit" as The High Numbers. You can clearly hear shades of The Kinks in the song as they were a big influence on the group. The Who went on to have 14 Top 10 hits on the UK singles chart between 1965 and 1981 but never reached the number one spot.

Answer: Glen Campbell

"Wichita Lineman" was written by Jimmy Webb. It peaked at number seven on the UK singles chart for Glen Campbell in 1969. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

Songwriter Jimmy Webb was inspired to write the song when driving past an endless row of telephone poles in Washita County, Oklahoma, USA. He then noticed a solitary lineman working at the top of one of the poles. I wonder if that lineman ever knew that he had inspired such a great song. "Wichita Lineman" gave Glen Campbell his second of three number one hits on the Billboard Country chart in the '60s.

Answer: Paul McCartney

"Another Day" was written by Paul McCartney/Linda McCartney. It peaked at number two on the UK singles chart for Paul McCartney in 1971. It peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

Paul McCartney was the third ex-Beatle to make the UK singles chart. The first was John Lennon then it was George Harrison and Ringo was the last. Paul was the second ex-Beatle to have a UK number one hit, George was first and John was the third. Ringo is still waiting for a UK number one hit which seems unlikely to ever happen now. Paul only made the UK number one spot with "Mull Of Kintyre", after having 10 Top 10 hits.

Answer: 10cc

"Donna" was written by Kevin Godley/Lol Creme. It peaked at number two on the UK singles chart for 10cc in 1972. It did not chart in the US.

All the members of 10cc were singers/multi-instrumentalists/songwriters and producers. Eric Stewart was a member of Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders later becoming the Mindbenders when Wayne Fontana left for solo career. Graham Gouldman joined The Mindbenders but also had written a sting of hits for other groups such as "For Your Love", "Heart Full of Soul" and "Evil Hearted You" for The Yardbirds. He also wrote "Look Through Any Window" and "Bus Stop" for The Hollies.

Answer: Blondie

"Denis" was written by Neil Levenson. It peaked at number two on the UK singles chart for Blondie in 1978. It did not chart in the US.

The original song "Denise", was a number 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for Randy & The Rainbows in 1963. In the UK between 1978 and 1999 Blondie had 11 UK Top 10 hits which included the five number one hits "Heart Of Glass" (1979), "Sunday Girl" (1979), "Atomic" (1980), "Call Me" (1980), "The Tide Is High" (1980) and "Maria" (1999). In the US between 1979 and 1999 only four of their hits made the Top 20 but all four went to number one, "Heart Of Glass" (1979), "Call Me" (1980), "The Tide Is High" (1981) and "Rapture" (1981).