Whose Line Was It Anyway? US Number One Hits 1957 Quiz

Answer: Sonny James

"Young Love" was number one on the US pop chart for one week for Sonny James in 1957. It reached number 11 on the UK chart the same year. Although Sonny, know as The Southern Gentleman only had one number one hit on the US pop chart he had 23 number one hits on the US country chart including 16 consecutive number one hits between 1967 and 1971.

Actor Tab Hunter reached number one a week later with his version and stayed there for six weeks. It reached number one for seven weeks on the UK chart the same year. The Crew-Cuts version reached number 17 on the US pop chart in 1957 but failed to chart in the UK. Rockabilly singer Ric Cartey who wrote the song with his girlfriend Carole Joyner recorded it in 1956 as the B-side of his single "Ooo-Ee". Unfortunately neither side of the single entered the chart.

Answer: Party

Buddy Knox took his "Party Doll" to number one for one week on the US pop chart in 1957. It reached number 29 on the UK chart the same year. With his group The Rhythm Kings, Buddy Knox only had one more US top ten hit with "Hula Love" which reached number nine in 1957.

Answer: Pat Boone

Pat Boone had a number one for seven weeks with "Love Letters In The Sand" on the US pop chart in 1957. It reached number two on the UK chart the same year. Pat had a busy time this year reaching number one on another two occasions, one behind Elvis with four number one hits.

Andy Williams had a number one hit for three weeks with "Butterfly" in 1957. It reached number one for two weeks on the UK chart the same year. Perry Como had a number one hit for two weeks with "Round And Round" on the US pop chart in 1957, it never charted in the UK. Johnny Mathis had a number one hit for one week with "Chances Are" on the US pop chart in 1957, it never charted in the UK.

Answer: Debbie Reynolds

Debbie Reynolds sugary sweet "Tammy" was a number one hit for five weeks on the US pop chart in 1957. It reached number two on the UK chart the same year. Debbie Reynolds, a singer, actress and dancer starred in many movies including the 1952 musical "Singin' In The Rain". In later years she had her own TV show and in 2000 won a Emmy award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance as Grace Adler's mother Bobbi, in "Will & Grace"

Debbie Reynolds and the other three alternatives were all married to singer Eddie Fisher and he is the father of Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia in Star Wars).

Answer: Paul Anka

Paul Anka took "Diana" to number one for one week on the US pop chart in 1957. It reached number one for nine weeks on the UK chart the same year. Multi-talented Canadian born Paul Anka was still only 16 when "Diana" hit the top spot in the US. He was the first solo teenager to reach the top in the UK.

As well as "Diana" he also wrote among others, "She's A Lady" a Tom Jones hit, the English words to Sinatra's "My Way" and "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" for Buddy Holly. In an article in the UK music paper the New Musical Express he said quote, "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" has a tragic irony about it now, but at least it will help look after Buddy Holly's family. I'm giving my composer's royalty to his widow, it's the least I can do" NME June 1959.
Ricky Nelson had a number three hit with "Be-Bop Baby" on the US pop chart in 1957. It failed to chart in the UK. Tommy Sands had a number two hit with "Teen-Age Crush" on the US pop chart in 1957. It failed to chart in the UK. Actor Sal Mineo had a number nine hit with "Start Movin' (In My Direction)" on the US pop chart in 1957. It reached number 16 on the UK chart the same year.

Answer: Honeycomb

"Honeycomb" gave Jimmie Rodgers his first hit and only number one hit on the US pop chart. It was number one for four weeks in 1957. It reached number 30 on the UK chart the same year. After his last chart entry in 1967 he was beaten up on the San Diego Highway allegedly by a Los Angeles police officer after being pulled over.

Although he could not remember much of what happened he later sued the Los Angeles police department and they settled out of court for $200,000.

Answer: That'll Be The Day

Buddy Holly and The Crickets only spent one week at number one on the US pop chart as a group or solo and that was with "That'll Be The Day" in 1957. It was number one for three weeks on the UK chart the same year. The song was written by Buddy Holly and Jerry Allison, the song title was inspired by the catchphrase "That'll Be The Day" used by John Wayne in the 1956 movie "The Searchers". Because of the complicated recording contracts Buddy and The Crickets had, this re-recording was issued under The Crickets name. Records issued under the name Buddy Holly still had The Crickets playing on them and some didn't, I hope that is all clear now.

"Oh Boy!" reached number ten on the US pop chart in 1958 and number three on the UK chart the same year. "Maybe Baby" reached number 17 on the US pop chart in 1958 and number four on the UK chart the same year. "Think It Over" reached number 27 on the US pop chart in 1958 and number 11 on the UK chart the same year. All four singles were released under The Crickets name.

Answer: Wake Up Little Susie

Phil and Don The Everly Brothers, had a number one hit for four weeks with "Wake Up Little Susie" on the US pop chart in 1957. It reached number two on the UK chart the same year.

The Everly Brothers were the most successful duo of the Rock'n'Roll era. They were inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of fame in 1986, being among the first ten artists to be inducted. They won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. They were inducted into The Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. They were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004. Strange that The Everly Brothers should follow The Crickets into the number one spot as Phil Everly was one of the pallbearers at Buddy Holly's funeral in 1959. Don Everly was too upset to attend.

Answer: Jailhouse Rock

"Jailhouse Rock" gave Elvis his fourth number one of the year and it spent seven weeks at the top on the US pop chart. It reached number one for three weeks on the UK chart in 1958. It was the first single to enter the UK chart at number one and the first to have 250,000 in advance sales in the UK.

"Too Much" was number one for three weeks on the US pop chart this year and reached number six on the UK chart the same year. "All Shook Up" was number one on the US pop chart for nine weeks this year. It reached number one for seven weeks on the UK chart and was his first UK number one. "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" was number one for seven weeks on the US pop chart this year and reached number three on the UK chart the same year. These four number one hits gave Elvis 26 weeks at number one on the US pop chart for the year.

Answer: Sam Cooke

"You Send Me" was Sam Cooke's first entry and his only number one on the US pop chart. It was number one for three weeks in 1957. It reached number 29 on the UK chart in 1958. It is surprising that among the 43 hits he had on the US pop chart between 1957 and 1966 he only had five top ten hits.

Chuck Berry had a number three hit with "School Day" on the US pop chart in 1957. It reached number 24 on the UK chart the same year. Fats Domino had a number two hit with "Blueberry Hill" on the US pop chart in 1957. It reached number six on the UK chart the same year. Jackie Wilson had a number 62 hit with "Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want To Meet) on the US pop chart in 1957. It reached number six on the UK chart the same year. It re-entered the UK chart in 1986 and spent four weeks at number one. At this time Jackie Wilson became the seventh posthumous UK chart topper.