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British One Hit Wonders Trivia Quiz

One single, one number one and nothing afterwards. Thats the qualification here: how well do you know them? NB: this refers solely to the UK charts. I have used the 'Guiness British Hit Singles' for reference.

A multiple-choice quiz by high_is_low. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
high_is_low

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
48,615

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
5295

Last 3 plays: Guest 86 (2/15), Guest 62 (9/15), Guest 92 (10/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. In 1954 Kitty Kallen was the very first 'one hit wonder'. She sang 'Little Things Mean _____ '? Hint

Nothing

Whatever You Want Them To

Everything To Me

A Lot

NEXT>

Question 2 of 15

2. In 1960, teen idol Ricky Valence topped the charts with the ballad 'Tell Laura I Love Her', his only hit, about a boy who died in a stock car race. But what was the ill fated racer's name? Hint

Bobby

Tommy

Frankie

Ricky

NEXT>

Question 3 of 15

3. In 1966, the year England won the World Cup, and Merseybeat group The Overlanders have their one and only hit with a cover of a Beatles song. But which one? Hint

'Lady Madonna'

'With A Little Help From My Friends'

'Michelle'

'Slow Down'

NEXT>

Question 4 of 15

4. A short hop to 1968, and The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, who sung about a particular element. Which one? Hint

'Water'

'Earth'

'Fire'

'Air'

NEXT>

Question 5 of 15

5. In 1970, Lee Marvin hit the top with 'Wand'rin' Star'. The B side of this single was called 'I Talk To Trees', sung by whom? Hint

Clint Eastwood

Yul Bryner

John Wayne

Robert Vaughn

NEXT>

Question 6 of 15

6. Whatever you might think of the fashions of the mid seventies, a listen to this number 1 by Typically Tropical will NOT spark warm feelings of nostalgia. Which island did they sing about in 1975? Hint

'Jamaica'

'Barbados'

'Bermuda'

'Island In The Sun'

NEXT>

Question 7 of 15

7. In 1978 two Northern folkies Brian and Michael had a surprise hit with 'Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs'. About whose paintings was this song? Hint

Picasso

Lowry

Hockney

Van Gogh

NEXT>

Question 8 of 15

8. The theme from which TV series made the top of the charts in 1980? Hint

Crossroads

M*A*S*H

The Avengers

Top Of The Pops

NEXT>

Question 9 of 15

9. 1980 was something of a bumper year for one hit wonders, with three number ones drawn from this select band. St Winifred's School Choir for example. Which relation did they sing about? Hint

'Mum'

'Grandad'

'Grandma'

'Dad'

NEXT>

Question 10 of 15

10. Joe Dolce reached number 1 in 1981 with a song advising us to do what precisely? Hint

'Just Shut Up'

'Shut Your Mouth'

'Shaddap You Face'

'Keep Quiet'

NEXT>

Question 11 of 15

11. In 1982, Charlene got to number 1, saying 'I've never been to _____'? Hint

You

Hebden Bridge

Heaven

NEXT>

Question 12 of 15

12. Fast forward to 1988, the year of the yuppie. Robin Beck had her first and only hit called, appropriately enough 'First Time'. It was initially featured in a commercial for which product? Hint

Levi Jeans

Irn Bru

Pepsi Cola

Coca Cola

NEXT>

Question 13 of 15

13. In 1991 a Comic Relief charity record called 'The Stonk' made number one. Which comic duo recorded it? Hint

Smith and Jones

Reeves and Mortimer

Hale and Pace

Little and Large

NEXT>

Question 14 of 15

14. And so to 1994, with 'Doop' by the imaginatively named 'Doop' made number 1. This was a song based on an old time dance, but which one? Hint

The Waltz

The Polka

The Foxtrot

The Charleston

NEXT>

Question 15 of 15

15. This one's not strictly a one hit wonder, but anyway ... Dance group and modern art exponents The KLF topped the charts in 1988 under a different name with 'Doctorin' the Tardis', which sampled the theme from 'Doctor Who'. What were they called on that release? Hint

The Daleks

The Timelords

The Cybermen

The Doctors

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 17 2024 : Guest 86: 2/15
Apr 11 2024 : Guest 62: 9/15
Apr 10 2024 : Guest 92: 10/15
Mar 19 2024 : Guest 89: 13/15
Mar 06 2024 : Guest 176: 9/15
Feb 22 2024 : Guest 82: 12/15
Feb 21 2024 : Guest 86: 11/15
Feb 20 2024 : Hayes1953: 14/15
Feb 19 2024 : Guest 82: 10/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In 1954 Kitty Kallen was the very first 'one hit wonder'. She sang 'Little Things Mean _____ '?

Answer: A Lot

23 weeks on the chart in 1954, but nothing else on this side of the pond for the American songstress.

2. In 1960, teen idol Ricky Valence topped the charts with the ballad 'Tell Laura I Love Her', his only hit, about a boy who died in a stock car race. But what was the ill fated racer's name?

Answer: Tommy

Seems strange that this was Valence's only British hit.

3. In 1966, the year England won the World Cup, and Merseybeat group The Overlanders have their one and only hit with a cover of a Beatles song. But which one?

Answer: 'Michelle'

One of several non-Beatles singles which became hits for other artists, 'With A Little Help From My Friends' for Joe Cocker, 'Ob La Di Ob La Da' for Marmalade, for example.

4. A short hop to 1968, and The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, who sung about a particular element. Which one?

Answer: 'Fire'

This track was sampled by dance group The Prodigy for their 1992 hit of the same name.

5. In 1970, Lee Marvin hit the top with 'Wand'rin' Star'. The B side of this single was called 'I Talk To Trees', sung by whom?

Answer: Clint Eastwood

Neither effort was quite as embarrasing as certain other records by actors were: anyone remember William Shatner's 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds', or Telly Savalas doing 'If'?

Answer: 'Barbados'

Recently turned into something even worse by The Vengaboys, at least if you're in the States you probably haven't had to suffer 'We're Going To Ibiza'.

7. In 1978 two Northern folkies Brian and Michael had a surprise hit with 'Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs'. About whose paintings was this song?

Answer: Lowry

Brian and Michael: the most famous band to come out of Oldham?

8. The theme from which TV series made the top of the charts in 1980?

Answer: M*A*S*H

The song was subsequently taken to number 7 in 1993 by The Manic Street Preachers.

9. 1980 was something of a bumper year for one hit wonders, with three number ones drawn from this select band. St Winifred's School Choir for example. Which relation did they sing about?

Answer: 'Grandma'

An obvious number one in the year of new wave.

10. Joe Dolce reached number 1 in 1981 with a song advising us to do what precisely?

Answer: 'Shaddap You Face'

Joe followed this up with a remake of 'If You Want To Be Happy' (thanx to Dalgleish for that one!)

11. In 1982, Charlene got to number 1, saying 'I've never been to _____'?

Answer: Me

Nothing to do with a certain Aussie ex soap starlet, Charlene's hit was released on the Motown label.

12. Fast forward to 1988, the year of the yuppie. Robin Beck had her first and only hit called, appropriately enough 'First Time'. It was initially featured in a commercial for which product?

Answer: Coca Cola

One of those cases of an ad which effectively made number 1. This continued a trend which revived the chart careers of the likes of Free and the Steve Miller Band.

13. In 1991 a Comic Relief charity record called 'The Stonk' made number one. Which comic duo recorded it?

Answer: Hale and Pace

I suppose that just goes to show that people will do anything for charity.

14. And so to 1994, with 'Doop' by the imaginatively named 'Doop' made number 1. This was a song based on an old time dance, but which one?

Answer: The Charleston

Doop were a Dutch techno group, the 'song' contained one word: 'Doop'.

Answer: The Timelords

Of course The KLF later achieved notoriety (and in my view much respect!) by burning a million (real!) pounds in the name of art.

Source: Author high_is_low

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