Whose Line Was It Anyway? UK Number One Hits 1978 Quiz

Answer: Althea and Donna

"Uptown Top Ranking" was written by Althea Forest/Donna Reid/Errol Thompson. It was number for one week on the UK singles chart for Althia and Donna in 1978. It did not chart in the US.

Althia Rose Forest and Donna Marie Reid were from Jamaica, they were 17 & 18 when "Uptown Top Ranking" hit the top in the UK. Although they released further singles and albums in the UK they never had another chart entry. "Uptown Top Ranking" was a re-write of "Three Piece Suit" by Jamaican singer Trinity, aka Junior Brammer.

The BBC helped the record on its way to number one when it was playlisted. This meant it was placed on a list of singles to be played on BBC Radio 1. This happened even though many people could not understand the Jamaican slang words used in the song.

Answer: Take A Chance On Me

"Take A Chance On Me" was written by Benny Andersson/Bjorn Ulvaeus. It was number one for three weeks on the UK singles chart for ABBA in 1978. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

ABBA were Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Bjorn Ulvaeus. Benny, Agnetha and Bjorn were born in Sweden and Anni-Frid was born in Norway, they came together as ABBA in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1972.

They won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with "Waterloo", which was the first Scandinavian number one hit in the UK. It was at the time, the biggest Eurovision Song Contest winning hit in the US.

Answer: Heathcliff and Cathy

Heathcliff and Cathy are the two characters in "Wuthering Heights" written by Kate Bush. It was number one for four weeks on the UK singles chart for Kate Bush in 1978. It did not chart in the US.

Catherine "Kate" Bush was born on the 30th July 1958 in Bexleyheath, Kent, England. This date was exactly 140 years after the birth of Emily Bronte, the writer of the novel "Wuthering Heights" who was born on the 30th July 1818.

When Kate Bush reached the top of the UK singles chart with "Wuthering Heights" she became the first female singer to reach number one with a self-penned song. She was also the first British female solo singer to top the UK album chart and the first female singer to enter the UK album chart at number one.

Answer: Laurence Lowry

"Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs" was written by Michael Coleman. It was number one for three weeks on the UK singles chart for Brian and Michael in 1978. It did not chart in the US.

The song was a tribute to the artist L. S. Lowry who was born in Stretford, Lancashire, England in 1887. He painted industrial life in North-West England, in Salford and particularly Pendlebury where he lived for more than 40 years, now both in Greater Manchester, England. He died of pneumonia in Glossop, Derbyshire, in 1976 aged 88.

Brian and Michael were Kevin Parrott and Michael Coleman. Michael Coleman had split from his original singing partner Brian Burke but kept the name Brian and Michael for performing. Brian and Michael remain one hit wonders on the UK singles chart.

Answer: Night Fever

"Night Fever" was written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. It was number one for two weeks on the UK singles chart for The Bee Gees in 1978. It was number one for eight weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

The Bee Gees were brothers Barry Alan Crompton Gibb born in Douglas, Isle Of Man, UK, in 1946, twins Robin Hugh Gibb and Maurice Ernest Gibb, born in Douglas, Isle Of Man, UK, in 1949. Between 1967 and 1998 they had 19 Top Ten hits on the UK singles chart which included the five number one hits, "Massachusetts" (1967), "I've Gotta Get A Message To You" (1968), "Night Fever" (1978), "Tragedy" (1979) and "You Win Again" (1987). Maurice died of a cardiac arrest while waiting for surgery in Florida, USA, in 2003 aged 53. Robin died of liver and kidney failure in London, England, in 2012 aged 62.

Answer: The Shadows

"You're The One That I Want" was written by John Farrar. It was number one for nine weeks on the UK singles chart for John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in 1978. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year. John Farrar was a member of Cliff Richard's backing group The Shadows (reformed in the '70s) from 1973 to 1977.

John Travolta was born John Joseph Travolta in Englewood, New Jersey in 1954. He first came to prominence in the US TV comedy "Welcome Back, Kotter" (1975-1979). He then starred in "Saturday Night Fever" (1977) and Grease (1978). His career took a downward turn in the '80s but he made a comeback in "Pulp Fiction" (1994). Olivia Newton-John was born in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, in 1948. Her family emigrated to Melbourne, Australia, in 1954. In the '60s she won a talent contest, her prize money was used on a trip to England. Her first UK record in 1966 "Till You Say You'll Be Mine" for Decca records, failed to chart. Her first UK hit was "If Not For You" which peaked at number seven in 1971.

Answer: Godley and Creme

"Dreadlock Holiday" was written by Eric Stewart/Graham Gouldman. It was number one for one week on the UK singles chart for 10cc in 1978. It peaked at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

10cc were Graham Keith Gouldman born in Salford, Lancashire, England, in 1946, Eric Michael Stewart born in Droylsden, Lancashire, England, in 1945, Kevin Michael Godley born in Prestwich, Lancashire, England, in 1945 and Laurence Neil Creme born in Prestwich, Lancashire, England, in 1947. Between 1972 and 1976 they had eight Top Ten hits on the UK singles chart which included the number one hits "Rubber Bullets" (1972) and "I'm Not In Love" (1975). Godley and Creme left the group in 1976 to pursue their own ideas which included video production. Gouldman and Stewart added new members and 10cc had three more Top Ten hits between 1976 and 1978, "Dreadlock Holiday" being the last one.

Answer: Rat Trap

"Rat Trap" was written by Bob Geldof. It was number one for two weeks on the UK singles chart for The Boomtown Rats in 1978. It did not chart in the US.

The Boomtown Rats were Bob Geldof (vocals), born Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof, in County Dublin, Ireland, in 1951, Pete Briquette (bass), born Patrick Martin Cusack in County Cavan, Ireland, in 1954, Gerry Cott (guitar), born in County Dublin, Ireland, in 1954, Simon Crowe (drums), born in County Dublin, Ireland, in 1954, Johnnie Fingers (keyboards), born John Peter Moylett in Northern Ireland, in 1956 and Garry Roberts (lead guitar), born Garrick Roberts in County Dublin, Ireland, in 1954.

Originally The Nightlife Thugs, they became The Boomtown Rats, named after a gang of children in the autobiography of Woody Guthrie, "Bound for Glory". Between 1977 and 1984 they had nine Top 20 hits on the UK singles chart, five of which made the Top Ten. Two, "Rat Trap" (1978) and "I Don't Like Mondays" (1979), made it all the way to number one.

Answer: Rod Stewart

"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" was written by Rod Stewart/Carmen Appice. It was number one for one week on the UK singles chart for Rod Stewart in 1978. It was number one for four weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979.

Roderick David Stewart CBE was born in Highgate, London, England, in 1945. He grew up being a big fan of Al Jolson and was influenced by Little Richard and Eddie Cochran. In 1960 he became a member of the skiffle group The Kool Kats playing Lonnie Donegan hits. In 1961 he got an audition with maverick independent producer Joe Meek who unceremoniously ended the session. In 1964 he got a break when singer Long John Baldry offered him a job at £35 per week. After being in various groups such as Steampacket and The Jeff Beck Group, he and Ronnie Wood joined the remaining members of The Small Faces, Kenney Jones, Ronnie Lane and Ian McLagan, coming up with the ingenious new name, The Faces.

Answer: Harry Belafonte

"Mary's Boy Child" was written by Jester Harrison. It was number one for seven weeks on the UK singles chart for Harry Belafonte in 1957/58. It peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Top 100 in 1956.

"Mary's Boy Child"-"Oh My Lord" was written by Jester Harrison/Frank Farian/Fred Jay. It was number one for four weeks on the UK singles chart for Boney M in 1978. It peaked at number 85 on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

Boney M formed in 1976 were, Bobby Farrell from Aruba, Marcia Barrett and Liz Mitchell from Jamaica and Maizie Williams from Montserrat. Strangely, Bobby Farrell and Maizie Williams did not sing on any of the studio recordings but both sang at live concerts by Boney M.