Women On Top: '60s Number One Hits UK Quiz

Answer: Sailor

"Sailor" written by Fini Busch/Werner Scharfenburger, gave Petula Clark a number one hit for one week on the UK singles chart in 1961. It did not chart in the US.

Petula Clark was born Petula Sally Olwen Clark in Epsom, Surrey, UK, in 1932. "Sailor" was the first UK number one hit of the '60s by a woman. Petula Clark who was 28 at the time had been having hits on the UK chart since 1954. She would have to wait another three years to break into the US chart with "Downtown" and six years to top the UK chart again. She topped the UK singles chart for the second and last time with "This Is My Song", a number one for two weeks in 1967. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

"This Is My Song" was written by Charlie Chaplin for the 1967 movie "A Countess from Hong Kong" which he wrote and directed. He wanted Al Jolson to sing it but didn't know that Jolson had died in 1950. It was included in the movie as an instrumental. Petula Clark recorded the song in French, German and Italian but did not want to record it in English and tried to block its release as a single. At the time Chaplin was the oldest person to have composed a number one hit. It was produced by Ernie Freeman, (he played piano on the original version of "Nut Rocker" by Jack B. Nimble and The Quicks, not the hit version by B. Bumble and The Stingers).

Answer: Helen Shapiro

"You Don't Know" written by John Schroeder/Mike Hawker, gave Helen Shapiro a number one hit for three weeks on the UK singles chart in 1961. It did not chart in the US.

Helen Shapiro was born Helen Kate Shapiro in Bethnal Green, London, UK, in 1946. She was 14 and still at school when she became the youngest female singer to reach number one on the UK singles chart. By the time she was 16, she had notched up five UK Top 10 entries which included two number one hits. Starred in a teenage pop movie "It's Trad Dad" ("Ring-A-Ding Rhythm" in the US), been voted the UK's top female singer and headlined a national tour with The Beatles as a supporting act.

The writing was on the wall and her last UK chart hit was "Fever" in 1964 which reached number 38. She was associated with the fashions and music of the pre-Beatle era and new female singers were in the ascendancy like Cilla Black, Lulu, Sandie Shaw and Dusty Springfield. A missed opportunity might have given her career a boost and a change of direction. While on tour with The Beatles it was suggested by Norrie Paramor (Helen's A&R man and record producer for many singers) that they should write a song for Helen and Lennon/McCartney came up with "Misery" but Paramor turned it down without Helen even hearing it. Instead the song was given to singer Kenny Lynch who was also on the tour, it was not a hit but he became the first singer to cover a Beatles song. He later appeared on the cover of Paul McCartney's "Band On The Run" album.

Answer: Shirley Bassey

"Reach For The Stars"/"Climb Ev'ry Mountain" written by Udo Jurgens/Norman Newell - Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II, gave Shirley Bassey a double A-Sided number one hit for one week on the UK singles chart in 1961. It did not chart in the US.

Dame Shirley Bassey was born Shirley Veronica Bassey in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, Wales, UK, in 1937. She has been of of the UK's most popular singers since the '50s. Her first UK chart entry was "The Banana Boat Song" which reached number eight in 1957. Although an international star she has only had a few hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Her biggest hit in the US was the theme song from the James Bond Movie "Goldfinger" which reached number eight in 1965. It reached number 21 on the UK singles chart in 1964.

Shirley Bassey has recorded three James Bond movie themes, "Goldfinger" in 1964 starring Sean Connery, "Diamonds Are Forever" in 1971 starring Sean Connery and "Moonraker" in 1979 starring Roger Moore. In later years Shirley Bassey has collaborated with various artists ranging from the Swiss duo Yellow to the UK group the Propellerheads. In 2005 her vocal from "Diamonds Are Forever" was sampled on the Kanya West single "Diamonds From Sierra Leone" which reached number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number eight on the UK singles chart.

Answer: Dionne Warwick

"Anyone Who Had A Heart" written by Burt Bacharach/Hal David, gave Cilla Black a number one hit for three weeks on the UK singles chart in 1964. It did not chart in the US.

Cilla Black was born Priscilla Maria Veronica White in the tough area of Scotland Road in Liverpool, UK, in 1943. She had part-time jobs as a cloakroom attendant at the Cavern club and a waitress at the Zodiac coffee lounge. She was a sometime guest singer with various Liverpool groups such as Rory Storm and The Hurricanes, King Size Taylor and The Dominoes and The Big Three. These three being among the best Liverpool groups that missed the ferry as far as national fame goes during the Merseybeat era and later international fame during the US chart invasion by British groups. She signed up with Brian Epstein but her first record "Love Of The Loved" written by Lennon/McCartney only reached number 35 on the UK singles chart. After her singing career declined in the '70s she went on to host two of the most popular shows of the '80s and '90s on UK TV, "Surprise, Surprise" 1984-2001 and "Blind Date" 1985-2003.

Dionne Warwick who "Anyone Who Had A Heart" had been written for was not happy with the fact that Cilla Black had covered her song and had a UK number one hit with it while her version only reached number 47. In a 1995 interview for the PBS TV show "Great Performances" Cilla Black said "Dionne was dead choked and she's never forgiven me to this day". A third version by Mary May reached number 49 on the UK chart the same year. The song was also recorded by Dusty Springfield and Petula Clark who did not record an English version.

Answer: Jackie Trent

"Where Are You Now (My Love)" written by Tony Hatch/Jackie Trent, gave Jackie Trent a number one hit for one week on the UK singles chart in 1965.

Jackie Trent was born Yvonne Burgess in Newcastle-under-Lyme, UK, in 1940. Her first single was "Pick Up The Pieces" in 1962. Her first UK chart entry and only number one hit was "Where Are You Now (My Love)" in 1965. She only had two more minor chart hits in the UK between 1965 and 1969. In 1966 she married Tony Hatch and they would write many hits together such as "Don't Sleep In The Subway", "I Couldn't Live Without Your Love" and "Colour My World" for Petula Clark and "Joanna" for Scot Walker.

They moved to Dublin in 1978 and hosted their own TV shows "Words And Music" and "It's A Musical World". In 1982 they moved to Australia were they found more fame, having a big hit on the Australian singles chart with the self penned "The Two Of Us". They also wrote the theme tune to Australia's longest running TV drama series "Neighbours". The show has been sold to over 50 counties and has been very popular in the UK for years.

Answer: Boots

"These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" written by Lee Hazlewood, gave Nancy Sinatra a number one hit for four weeks on the UK singles chart in 1966. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

Nancy Sinatra was born Nancy Sandra Sinatra in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA, in 1940. She is the daughter of Frank Sinatra and was signed to his Reprise record label in 1961. Her first single "Cuff Links And A Tie Clip" disappeared without trace. Although she had hits in Europe and Japan success at home eluded her until she had a minor hit in 1965 with "So Long Babe" and started working with Lee Hazlewood. She then had four US Top 10 hits in two years which included two number one hits. The second number one hit was "Somethin' Stupid", a duet with her father Frank.

Lee Hazlewood was born Barton Lee Hazlewood in Mannford, Oklahoma, USA, in 1929. He studied for a medical degree, served with the army during the Korean war, became a disc jockey and then a songwriter/producer. Before working with Nancy Sinatra he was best known as co-writer with and record producer for Duane Eddy.

Answer: You Don't Have To Say You Love Me

"You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" written by Pino Donaggio/Vito Pallavicini/Vicki Wickham/Simon Napier-Bell, gave Dusty Springfield a number one hit for one week on the UK singles chart in 1966. It reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

Dusty Springfield was born Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien in West Hampstead, London, UK, in 1939. In 1958 after answering an advert in the entertainment newspaper "The Stage" she joined Riss Chantelle and Lynne Abrams in The Lana Sisters. Dusty quit the trio in 1960 and formed The Springfields with her brother Tom and Rashed Feild who was replaced by Mike Hurst in 1962. The Springfields had five UK chart hits that included "Island Of Dreams" and "Say I Won't Be There" which both reached number five but never charted in the US. They had one Billboard Top 20 hit "Silver Threads And Golden Needles" which reached number 20 but never charted in the UK.

Dusty left The Springfields in October 1963 and had her first solo hit with "I Only Want To Be With You" in November 1963. It reached number four on the UK singles chart that year and number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. She went on to have 10 UK Top 10 hits which included her only number one hit "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me". She returned to the UK Top 10 in 1987 with the Pet Shop Boys on the single "What Have I Done To Deserve This". It reached number two on the UK singles chart and on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988.

Answer: Puppet On A String

"Puppet On A String" written by Bill Martin/Phil Coulter, gave Sandie Shaw a number one hit for three weeks on the UK singles chart in 1967. It did not chart in the US.

Sandie Shaw was born Sandra Ann Goodrich in Dagenham, Essex, UK, in 1947. While working at the Ford car plant in Dagenham and doing some part-time modeling she entered a local talent contest and came second. Fortunately for her singer Adam Faith was there and he introduced Sandie to his manager Eve Taylor. She not only got Sandie signed up to Pye records in 1964 but gave her the stage name of Sandie Shaw.

Singer/songwriter Chris Andrews wrote her first single "As Long As You're Happy Baby" which sank without trace. For her next single her manager suggested the Bacharach/David song "(There's) Always Something There To Remind Me" which had been a number 49 hit for Lou Johnson on the Billboard Hot 100 earlier in 1964. "(There's) Always Something There To Remind Me" was number one for three weeks on the UK singles chart and reached number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965. Between 1964 and 1969 she had eight UK Top 10 hits which included three number one hits. "Puppet On A String" was the first British winner of the Eurovision Song Contest and it gave Sandie Shaw her third UK number one which made her the first female singer to achieve three number one hits on the UK singles chart.

Answer: Those Were The Days

"Those Were The Days" written by Gene Raskin/Boris Fomin, gave Mary Hopkin a number one hit for six weeks on the UK singles chart in 1968. It reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year.

Mary Hopkin was born in Pontardawe, Wales, UK, in 1950. She began singing with a group called the Selby Set and Mary. She entered and won the UK TV talent show "Opportunity Knocks". UK model Twiggy saw the show and recommended Mary to Paul McCartney and she was signed up to the Apple record label. Gene Raskin put the English words to a Boris Formin melody that originally had lyrics by Konstantin Podrevskii, which was first recorded in 1925.

"Those Were The Days" was produced by Paul McCartney and released with the catalogue number Apple 2. It sold over 1,500,000 copies in the US and was awarded a Gold Disc, it sold more than 8,000,000 copies world wide. There was a rival version by the well established singer Sandie Shaw but the public ignored it and it never made the UK chart. Mary's second single "Goodbye" was written by Paul McCartney but credited to Lennon/McCartney. It reached number two on the UK chart but was kept from being a number one by guess what? "Get Back" by The Beatles. In 1970 she represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest with her fourth single "Knock Knock Who's There", she came second to Dana who won for Ireland with "All Kinds Of Everything"

Answer: I'll Never Fall In Love Again

"I'll Never Fall In Love Again" written by Burt Bacharach/Hal David, gave Bobbie Gentry a number one hit for one week on the UK singles chart in 1969. It did not chart in the US.

Bobbie Gentry was born Roberta Lee Streeter in Chickasaw County, Mississippi, USA, in 1944. She chose her stage name from the 1952 movie "Ruby Gentry" starring Charlton Heston, Jennifer Jones and Karl Malden. Her first recordings in 1964 were duets with Rockabilly singer Jody Reynolds who had a number five hit on the Billboard Top 100 with "Endless Sleep" in 1958.

Her first US single was "Mississippi Delta" but it was the B-Side of "Ode To Billie Joe" which received most air play and reached number one for four weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967. It reached number 13 on the UK singles chart the same year. The single also reached number 17 on the Billboard Country chart and the album of the same name knocked The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" off the top of the Billboard album chart. A re-issue of the original single reached number 54 and a new version from the movie "Ode To Billie Joe" reached number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976.

Her biggest hit after "Ode To Billie Joe" was a duet with Glen Campbell "All I Have To Do Is Dream" which reached number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970. It reached number three on the UK singles chart in 1969. Her 1978 single "He Did Me Wrong, But He Did It Right" did not chart and she retired from the music business. In 2012 UK radio BBC 2 broadcast a documentary entitled "Whatever Happened To Bobbie Gentry?", it was presented by the eldest daughter of Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash.