Whose Line Was It Anyway? US Number One Hits 1971 Quiz

Answer: Apple

The Osmonds had a number one hit for five weeks on the US pop chart with "One Bad Apple" in 1971. It never charted in the UK.

In 1971 The Osmonds were Wayne (lead guitar), Alan (rhythm guitar), Merrill (vocals and bass guitar), Jay (vocals and drums), Donny (vocals and keyboards). They had four Top Ten hits on the US pop chart and this was their only number one hit. In the UK they had five Top Ten hits including one number one hit "Love Me For A Reason" in 1974.

Answer: Me And Bobby McGee

"Me And Bobby McGee" was number one for two weeks on the US pop chart in 1971. It did not chart in the UK.

When she was with Big Brother & The Holding Company they had a US number 12 hit with "Piece Of My Heart" in 1968. Solo, she had a number 41 hit with "Kozmic Blues" in 1969 and a number 42 hit with "Cry Baby" in 1971. Janis Joplin never had any hits on the UK singles chart but did have three albums on the UK album chart. "Pearl" reached number 20 in 1971. It was number one on the Billboard album chart for nine weeks the same year. "Janis Joplin In Concert" reached number 30 in 1972 and number four on the Billboard album chart the same year. "The Ultimate Collection" reached number 26 on the UK album chart in 1998.

Answer: Brown Sugar

Sir Michael Philip Jagger and his English gentlemen friends aka. The Rolling Stones had a number one hit for two weeks on the US pop chart with "Brown Sugar" in 1971. It reached number two on the UK chart the same year.

"Would you let your daughter marry a Rolling Stone?" said the newspaper headlines. Their manager Andrew Loog Oldham was probably behind it all as he tried to portray The Rolling Stones as the rivals to The Beatles but gone over to the dark side. The Rolling Stones first hit the UK chart with a cover version of "Come On" written and released by Chuck Berry in 1961. The Rolling Stones version reached number 21 in 1963 but did not chart in the US. Their other UK chart hit that year was a cover of a song by The Beatles written by Lennon/McCartney "I Wanna Be Your Man" which reached number 12; it did not chart in the US.

Answer: Carole King

"It's Too Late" was a number one hit for five weeks on the US pop chart for Carole King in 1971. It reached number six on the UK chart the same year.

Carole King was one of the songwriters from the famous Brill Building at 1619 Broadway on 49th Street Manhattan, New York City. This is the actual address of the building but the musicians, composers and singers associated with the Brill Building Sound were also located in other buildings on Broadway. Among the most famous songs written by Goffin/King were "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" by The Shirelles, "Take Good Care Of My Baby" by Bobby Vee, "The Loco-Motion" by Little Eva, "One Fine Day" by The Chiffons, "Up On The Roof" by The Drifters and many many more.

Answer: Paul Revere And The Raiders

The Raiders had a number one hit for one week with "Indian Reservation (The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian)" in 1971. It did not chart in the UK.

Paul Revere and the Raiders (formed by Revere, born Paul Revere Dick, as The Downbeats in Boise Idaho in 1958) had their first US chart entry in 1961. Although they made the US top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 on four occasions in the mid '60s, they had to wait until 1971 for their one and only US number one hit. They did not have any chart success in the UK. The song was written by John D. Loudermilk and first recorded as "The Pale Faced Indian" by Marvin Rainwater in 1958 but sank without trace. The song first hit the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968 as "The Lament Of The Cherokee Indian Reservation" sung by UK singer Don Fardon and reached number 20. It reached number three on the UK chart in 1970.

Answer: How Can You Mend A Broken Heart

"How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" was number one for four weeks for The Bee Gees on the US pop chart in 1971. It was released as a single in the UK but failed to chart.

The Bee Gees were Barry (born in 1945) and twins Maurice and Robin Gibb (born 1949) on the Isle Of Man. They moved to Manchester UK and then in 1958 emigrated to Queensland, Australia. They performed as The Rattlesnakes and Wee Johnny Hayes & The Bluecats - well, everyone has to start somewhere. Their lack of success spurred them to return to the UK and in 1967 while traveling by boat they heard that they had just had a number one hit in Australia, "Spicks and Specks"; it failed to chart in the UK and US. Their first chart hit in the UK and US was "New York Mining Disaster 1941". It reached number 12 on the UK chart and number 14 on the US pop chart in 1967. The record may have been helped by the fact that The Bee Gees has been signed by Brian Epstein. The demo record given to DJs had no name on it and some DJs thought it was the new single by The Beatles and gave it heavy air play. I always thought DJs were a sandwich short of a picnic, but to mistake The Bee Gees for The Beatles, really!

Answer: Paul and Linda McCartney

"Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" was number one for one week for Paul and Linda McCartney on the US pop chart in 1971. It was not released as a single in the UK.

No, it wasn't a trick question, blame McCartney for releasing records as Paul McCartney, Paul and Linda McCartney, Wings and Paul McCartney and Wings. This was the second US number one for an ex-Beatle, the first being "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison in 1970. In the strange but true department is the fact that only one of Paul McCartney's nine US number one hits reached number one in the UK. "Ebony and Ivory" by Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder entered both charts on the same day, 10 Mar 1982. It was number one for seven weeks in the US and for three weeks in the UK.

Answer: Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves

"Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves" was number one for two weeks for Cher on the US pop chart in 1971. It reached number four on the UK chart the same year.

Born Cherilyn Sarkisian in 1946, she was a backup singer for Phil Spector. She recorded as Bonnie Jo Mason and Cherilyn, then as Caesar & Cleo and Sonny & Cher with Sonny Bono. "Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves" was her first solo US number one hit. Sonny & Cher had their own US TV show from 1971 to 1974. She has also starred in movies and won The Best Actress Oscar for her role as Loretta Castorini in the 1987 movie "Moonstruck".

Answer: Theme From 'Shaft'

The "Theme From 'Shaft'" was a number one for two weeks for Issac Hayes on the US pop chart in 1971. It reached number four on the UK chart the same year.

Issac Hayes was under the impression that he might get the part of Shaft but it was not to be. The part went to Richard Roundtree who was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer (male). Issac Hayes on the other hand won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score and a Grammy for Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture. He was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, the Academy Award for Best Music, Original Dramatic Score and the BAFTA Award for Best Film Music. He topped all that however, by becoming the voice of Chef on "South Park".

Answer: Brand New Key

Melanie had a number one hit for three weeks on the US pop chart with "Brand New Key" in 1971. It reached number four on the UK chart in 1972.

Born Melanie Anne Safka in Queens, New York but first had hit records in Europe. She had a number one hit in France with "Bobo's Party" and a hit in Holland with "Beautiful People", both in 1969. She appeared at the Isle of Wight festival in 1970 and appeared there again 40 years later in 2010. "Big Yellow Taxi" was a number 67 hit on the US pop chart for Joni Mitchell in 1970. It reached number 11 on the UK chart the same year. "Combine Harvester (Brand New Key)" was a number one hit parody by The Wurzels on the UK chart in 1976. It did not chart in the US. "Brand New Love Affair" was a number 61 hit on the US pop chart for Chicago in 1975. It did not chart in the UK.