Whose Line Was It Anyway? UK number One Hits 1979 Quiz

Answer: Y.M.C.A.

"Y.M.C.A." was written by Jacques Morali/Victor Willis. It was number one for three weeks on the UK singles chart for The Village People in 1979. It peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

The Village People were created by Jacques Morali, Henri Belolo and Victor Willis. They needed a group to promote the music so they put this add in a trade magazine "Macho Types Wanted: Must Dance And Have A Moustache". The original line-up was Alex Briley (G.I./Sailor), David Hodo (Construction Worker), Glenn Hughes (Leather-Clad Biker), Randy Jones (Cowboy), Felipe Rose (Native American) and Victor Willis (Cop). The line-up changed many times over the years.

Between 1978 and 1979 The Village People had two Top 10 hits on the UK singles chart, the number one hit "Y.M.C.A.", in 1978 and the number two hit "In The Navy", in 1979. A re-mix of "Y.M.C.A." peaked at number 12 on the UK singles chart in 1993 and at number 35 in 1999. A re-mix of "In The Navy" peaked at number 36 on the UK singles chart in 1994.

Answer: The Blockheads

"Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick" was written by Ian Dury/Chaz Jankel. It was number one for one week on the UK singles chart for Ian Dury and The Blockheads in 1979. It did not chart in the US.

Ian Dury was born Ian Robins Dury in Harrow Weald, Middlesex, England, in 1942. After WW11 the family moved to Switzerland but moved back to England in 1946. At the age of seven he contracted Poliomyelitis during the 1949 epidemic and spent 18 months in hospital. He attended the Royal College of Art and studied under the British artist Peter Blake in 1964. From 1967 he taught art at a number of south of England colleges. He died of metastatic colorectal in London, England, in 2000 aged 57.

The groups changing line up started in 1977 with Charlie Charles, Ian Dury, Mick Gallagher, Chaz Jankel, John Turnbull, Davey Payne and Norman Watt-Roy. They signed with Stiff records and had their first hit with "What A Waste" which peaked at number nine on the UK singles chart in 1978. "A re-mix of "Hit Me With You Rhythm Stick" peaked at number 55 in 1985 and at number 73 in 1991 on the UK singles chart. Ian Dury and The Blockheads had no hit records in the US.

Answer: Heart Of Glass

"Heart Of Glass" was written by Debbie Harry/Chris Stein. It was number one for three weeks on the UK singles chart for Blondie in 1979. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

Blondie, were formed in Brooklyn, New York by members Debbie Harry and Chris Stein in 1974. The group, after some personal changes were in 1975 Debbie Harry (vocals), Chris Stein (guitar), Clem Burke (drums), Gary Valentine (bass guitar) and Jimmy Destri (keyboards). They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

Their first success was in Australia when the B-side of "X-Offender" "In The Flesh", peaked at number two in 1976. In the UK they had three Top 10 hits in 1978, before their first hit at home on the Billboard Hot 100 where "Heart Of Glass" hit the top spot. In the UK between 1978 and 1999 they had 11 Top 10 hits which included the six number one hits "Heart Of Glass" (1979), "Sunday Girl" (1979), "Atomic" (1980), "Call Me" (1980), "The Tide Is High" (1980) and "Maria" (1999).

Answer: Art Garfunkel

"Bright Eyes" was written by Mike Batt. It was number one for six weeks on the UK singles chart for Art Garfunkel in 1979. It did not chart in the US.

Art Garfunkel was born Arthur Ira Garfunkel in Queens, New York, New York, USA, in 1941. With Paul Simon he was part of Simon & Garfunkel, one of the most successful singing duo's of the '60s. Between 1965 and 1975 they had 8 Top 10 hits on the Billboard hot 100 which included the three number one hits "The Sound Of Silence" (1966), "Mrs. Robinson" (1968) and "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (1970) which was their only UK number one hit.

They parted company in 1970 but have got back together on a number of occasions over the years. In 1973 Art Garfunkel had his only US Top 10 hit when "All I Know" peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK he scored two number one hits with "I Only Have Eyes For You" (1975) and "Bright Eyes" (1979). His only other UK chart entry was "Since I Don't Have You" which peaked at number 38 in 1979. Art Garfunkel was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as one half of Simon & Garfunkel in 1990.

Answer: Anita Ward

"Ring My Bell" was written by Frederick Knight. It was number one for two weeks on the UK singles chart for Anita Ward in 1979. It was also number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

Anita Ward was born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, in 1956. She attended Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi, USA, from where she obtained a degree in psychology. She had then become a school teacher before signing a recording contract.

After disputes with record label owner Frederick Knight and a severe car accident which left her in a critical condition, Anita Ward faded from the charts on both sides of the Atlantic. She is still a one hit wonder in the UK but did have a number 87 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Don't Drop My Love" in 1979.

Answer: Cliff Richard

"We Don't Talk Anymore" was written by Alan Tarney. It was number one for four weeks on the UK singles chart for Cliff Richard in 1979. It peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980.

Cliff Richard was born Harry Rodger Webb in Lucknow, India, in 1940, he has had UK number one hits in the '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s. Between 1958 and 2008 he had 68 Top 10 hits on the UK singles chart which included 14 number one hits. Many of his hits especially during the first ten years were with his backing group The Shadows. Between 1960 and 1979 The Shadows had 17 Top 10 hits on the UK singles chart in their own right, which included five UK number one hits. They are the most successful instrumental group ever in the UK.

Cliff Richard & The Shadows were the biggest act in the UK pre-Beatles but their careers did not decline post Beatles as many others did. They were still having hits long after The Beatles and many other groups of the '60s disbanded. Although The Shadows did not break into the US Billboard chart, Cliff Richard had a number of US hits. His first was "Living Doll" which peaked at number 30 in 1959, his biggest US hit was "Devil Woman" which peaked at number 6 in 1976.

Answer: Cars

"Cars" was written by Gary Numan. It was number one for one week for Gary Numan in 1979. It peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980.

Gary Numan was born Gary Anthony James Webb in Hammersmith, London, England, in 1958. A pioneer of electronic music, he was the lead singer of The Tubeway Army when they had their only UK chart entry and number one hit with "Are Friends Electric?" in 1979. "Cars" was his next UK chart entry and only other number one hit.

He had five other Top 10 hits on the UK singles chart between 1979 and 1982. He had numerous UK chart hits during the '80s & '90s but never made the Top 10 again. A remix of "Cars" peaked at number 17 on the UK singles chart in 1996.

Answer: A Beautiful Woman

"When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman" was written by Ron Haffkine. It was number one for three weeks on the UK singles chart for Dr. Hook in 1979. It peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

Dr. Hook were formed as Dr. Hook and The Medicine Show in 1967. The original members were George Cummings (guitar) born in Meridian, Mississippi, USA, in 1938. Billy Francis (keyboards, vocals) born in Sacramento, California, USA, in 1942, Dennis Locorriere (bass guitar) born in Union City, New Jersey, USA, in 1949, Popeye Phillips (keyboards) born in Mobile, Alabama, USA, in 1941 and Ray Sawyer (vocals, he's the one with the eye-patch) born in Chickasaw, Alabama, USA, in 1937.

Between 1972 and 1980 Dr Hook had six Top 10 hits on the UK singles chart which included their only number one hit "When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman" (1979). They did not have a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA.

Answer: Walking On The Moon (The Police)

"Walking On The Moon" was written by Gordon Sumner. It was number one for one week on the UK singles chart for The Police in 1979. It did not chart in the US.

The Police, formed in London in 1977 were Stewart Copeland (drums), born Stewart Armstrong Copeland in Alexandria, Viginia, USA, in 1952. Andy Summers (lead guitar), born Andrew James Summers in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, UK, in 1942 and Sting (lead vocals & bass guitar), born Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner in Wallsend, Northumberland, UK, in 1951. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.

Between 1979 and 1983 The Police had 10 Top 10 hits on the UK singles chart. This included the five number one hits "Message In A Bottle" (1979), "Walking On The Moon" (1979), "Don't Stand So Close To Me" (1980), "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" (1981) and "Every Breath You Take" (1983). They had five successive albums enter the UK album chart at number one.

Answer: Another Brick In The Wall (PT.2)

"Another Brick In The Wall (PT.2)" was written by Roger Waters. It was number one for five weeks on the UK singles chart for Pink Floyd in 1979/80. It was number one for four weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980.

Pink Floyd were formed in London in 1965. The four original members were Syd Barrett (guitar) born Roger Keith Barrett in Cambridge, England, in 1946. Nick Mason (drums) born Nicholas Berkeley Mason in Birmingham, England, in 1944. Roger Waters (bass) born George Roger Waters in Great Bookham, England, in 1943. Richard Wright (keyboards) born Richard William Wright in Hatch End, England, in 1943. Dave Gilmour (guitar) born David Jon Gilmour in Cambridge, England, in 1946 joined in 1967. Syd Barrett left in 1968 due to mental health problems. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

Pink Floyd are primarily known for their albums and up until "Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2)" in 1979 they had only charted two singles in the UK. They were "Arnold Layne" which peaked at number 20 in 1967 and "See Emily Play" which peaked at number 6 in 1967. Between 1967 and 1979 they had 11 Top 10 albums in the UK which included two number one albums. Their first Top 10 album was "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" and in 1973 came "Dark Side Of The Moon" which peaked at number two in the UK and number one in the US. It became their best selling album with estimated world wide sales of around 45 million and is ranked as one of the best albums of all time.