Whose Line Was It Anyway? US Number One Hits 1974 Quiz

Answer: Ringo Starr

"You're Sixteen" was written by Robert B. Sherman/Richard M. Sherman. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for Ringo Starr in 1974. It peaked at number four on the UK singles chart the same year.

Ringo Starr was born Richard Starkey in Liverpool, England, in 1940. He was a member of various Liverpool groups, most notably Rory Storm and The Hurricanes. He left them to join The Beatles, replacing drummer Pete Best and the rest as they say is history. Among the musicians on "You're Sixteen" were fellow ex-Beatle Paul McCartney who made the sound of a Kazoo with his voice and singer Harry Nilsson who sang backing vocals. It was Ringo's second and last US number one hit.

"You're Sixteen" was first recorded by Johnny Burnette, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960 and number three on the UK singles chart in 1961. It was his biggest hit in the US and UK. Among the musicians on Burnette's version were drummer Jerry Allison (a member of The Crickets) and Ernie Freeman on piano.

Answer: The Way We Were

"The Way We Were" was written by Alan Bergman/Marilyn Bergman/Marvin Hamlisch. It was number one for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Barbra Streisand in 1974. It peaked at number 31 on the UK singles chart the same year.

Singer/songwriter/author/actress/producer/director Barbra Streisand was born Barbara Joan Streisand in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, U. S. A., in 1942. She has won numerous awards and is among the few entertainers to have won Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Awards. Her first record to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 was "People" which peaked at number five in 1964. Her first album to chart on the Billboard album chart was "The Barbra Streisand Album" which peaked at number eight in 1963. Her first movie was "Funny Girl" in 1968 for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a tie with Katharine Hepburn for "The Lion in Winter".

Between 1964 and 1996 she had 12 Top Ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 which included five number one hits. "Woman In Love" was her only UK number one hit.

Answer: Cher

"Dark Lady" was written by Johnny Durrill. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for Cher in 1974. It peaked at number 36 on the UK singles chart the same year.

Cher was born Cherilyn Sarkisian in El Centro, California, U. S. A., in 1946. In the '60s while working for Phil Spector as a backing singer for such as The Ronettes and The Righteous Brothers she made her first single "Ringo, I Love You" under the name Bonnie Jo Mason; it disappeared without trace. After more unsuccessful records with Sonny Bono as Caesar & Cleo they changed their name to Sonny and Cher and had a number one hit in the US and UK with "I Got You Babe".

Cher went solo in 1964; her first record "Dream Baby" failed to chart. Her first chart hit, Bob Dylan's "All I Really Want To Do" peaked at number 15. Between 1965 and 1999 she had 11 Top Ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 including four number one hits. The fourth "Believe", was number one for four weeks 25 years after "Dark Lady".

Answer: Grand Funk

"The Loco-Motion" was written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King. It was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Grand Funk in 1974. It did not chart in the UK. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for Little Eva in 1962. It peaked at number two on the UK singles chart the same year.

Grand Funk were a group formed in 1969 in Flint, Michigan, U. S. A., as Grand Funk Railroad. The group members were Don Brewer (drums), Mark Farmer (guitar) and Mel Schacher (bass guitar). The name was inspired by the Grand Trunk Western Railroad Company which operates in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio and runs through their home town of Flint. Out of ten chart hits between 1969 and 1972, none made the Billboard Top 20.

In 1972 they fired their manager Terry Knight, added keyboard player Craig Frost to the line-up and dropped Railroad from their name. Their very next single "We're An American Band" was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973. It did not chart in the UK.

Answer: Sunshine On My Shoulders

"Sunshine On My Shoulder" was written by John Denver/Dick Kniss/Mike Taylor. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for John Denver in 1974. It did not chart in the UK.

John Denver was born Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. in Roswell, New Mexico, U. S. A., in 1943. He died aged 53 when the aircraft he was flying crashed into the sea off the coast of Pacific Grove, California, U. S. A., in 1997. "Sunshine On My Shoulders" was originally released on John Denver's 1971 album "Poems, Prayers & Promises". In 1973 it was released as the B-Side of his single "I'd Rather Be A Cowboy" which peaked at number 62 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Between 1971 and 1975 he had seven Top Ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100, four of which peaked at number one. He only had one solo hit on the UK singles chart with "Annie's Song", number one for one week in 1974. An instrumental version by flautist James Galway peaked at number three on the UK singles chart in 1978.

Answer: Paul Anka

"(You're) Having My Baby" was written by Paul Anka. It was number one for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Paul Anka in 1974. It peaked at number six on the UK singles chart the same year.

Paul Anka was born Paul Albert Anka in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, in 1941. He had his first chart hit with "Diana" which was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1957. It was number one for nine weeks on the UK singles chart the same year. Between 1957 and 1975 he had 12 Top Ten hits which included the three number one hits, "Diana" (1957), "Lonely Boy" (1959) and "(You're) Having My Baby" (1974), 15 years after "Lonely Boy".

Even though "(You're) Having My Baby" was a number one hit it was panned by some critics for being chauvinistic. In 1974 "Ms." magazine awarded Paul Anka their Male Chauvinistic Pig of the Year award. In 2006 it was voted the number one worst song of all time in a poll by CNN.

Answer: Eric Clapton

"I Shot The Sheriff" was written by Bob Marley. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for Eric Clapton in 1974. It peaked at number nine on the UK singles chart the same year.

Eric Clapton was born Eric Patrick Clapton in Ripley, Surrey, England, in 1945. After leaving Kingston College of Art under a cloud he started busking around London. From 1963 he was a member of various groups that would include The Yardbirds, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers and Cream. He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times, as a member of The Yardbirds (1992), as a member of Cream (1993) and as a solo artist (2000).

Between 1974 and 1996 he had six Top Ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 including one number one hit. Between 1972 and 1995 he had five Top Ten hits on the UK singles chart including the number one hit "Love Can Build A Bridge". This was a record for the UK charity Comic Relief with Cher, Neneh Cherry and Chrissie Hynde.

Answer: The Spinners

"Then Came You" was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for Dionne Warwicke And Spinners in 1974. It peaked at number 29 on the UK singles chart as by Dionne Warwicke And The Detroit Spinners, the same year.

Dionne Warwick was born Marie Dionne Warrick in East Orange, New Jersey, U. S. A., in 1940. Her first US chart hit also gave her the new spelling of her name. "Don't Make Me Over" written by Burt Bacharach/Hal David peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963. On the record label her name was spelled Warwick not Warrick and she began to use the new spelling personally as well as professionally.

Between 1964 and 1985 she had 12 Top Ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 which included two number one hits. Both number one hits, "Then Came You" (1974) and "That's What Friends Are For" (1986) have been collaborations with other artists. First with The Spinners, then with Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder.

Answer: Whatever Gets You Thru The Night

"Whatever Gets You Thru The Night" was written by John Lennon. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for John Lennon in 1974. It peaked at number 36 on the UK singles chart.

John Lennon was born John Winston Lennon in Liverpool, England, in 1940. He died from gunshot wounds received outside the Dakota building. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the nearby Roosevelt Hospital in New York, New York, U. S. A., in 1980, aged 40. He was the last ex-member of The Beatles to have a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100. He was the third ex-member of The Beatles to have a number one on the UK singles chart as Ringo Starr has never achieved it as of 2014.

Between 1969 and 1984 he had nine Top Ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 which included two number one hits. Between 1969 and 1999 he had 11 Top Ten hits on the UK singles chart which included three number one hits.

Answer: I Can Help

"I Can Help" was written by Billy Swan. It was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Billy Swan in 1974. It peaked at number six on the UK singles chart the same year.

Billy Swan was born William Lance Swan in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, U. S. A., in 1942. He was in a local group named Mirt Mirly & the Rhythm Stoppers but his career got a major boost when Clyde McPhatter recorded his song "Lover Please". It gave Clyde McPhatter a number seven hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962. It did not chart in the UK.

To date "I Can Help" has been the only Billboard Top 50 hit for Billy Swan although he did produce a Top Ten single for Tony Joe White. His "Polk Salad Annie" peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969. It did not chart in the UK.