Shipyardbernie's Greatest Hits:UK London Label Quiz

Answer: Little Richard

"Long Tall Sally" entered the UK chart in Feb 1957 and reached number three. It entered the US pop chart in Apr 1956 and reached number six.

Written by Richard Penniman (Little Richard)/Enotris Johnson/Robert "Bumps" Blackwell, "Long Tall Sally" was released on the Speciality record label in the US. It was Little Richard's highest ever US pop chart position. After Pat Boone had covered Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" the writers decided to write a song so fast that Pat Boone would not be able to cover it. He did and his version entered the US pop chart a week after Little Richard's version and reached number eight. It reached number 27 on the UK chart the same year.

Answer: Pat Boone

"Love Letters In The Sand" entered the UK chart in Jul 1957 and reached number two. It entered the US pop chart in May 1957 and was number one for seven weeks.

Written in 1931 by J. Fred Coots/Charles Kenny/Nicholas Kenny "Love Letters In The Sand" was released on the Dot record label in the US. Pat Boone had six US and one UK number one hits between 1955 and 1961. He had his last Top 10 hit on the US and UK pop charts with a song about a Mexican rodent "Speedy Gonzales", it reached number six on the US pop chart and number two on the UK chart in 1962.

Answer: Sweet Little Sixteen

"Sweet Little Sixteen" entered the UK chart in Apr 1958 and reached number 16. It entered the US pop chart in Feb 1958 and reached number two.

Written by Chuck Berry "Sweet Little Sixteen" was released on the Chess record label in the US. It was Chuck Berry's highest US chart position until he scored his only US & UK number one hit with "My Ding-A-Ling" in 1972. After litigation by Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys 1963 hit "Surfin' USA" which had the same melody as "Sweet Little Sixteen" is now credited to Berry/Wilson.

Answer: C'mon Everybody

"C'mon Everybody" entered the UK chart in Mar 1959 and reached number six. It entered the US pop chart in Nov 1958 and reached number 35.

Written by Eddie Cochran/Jerry Capehart "C'mon Everybody" was released on the Liberty record label in the US. On re-release on the Liberty record label it reached number 14 on the UK chart in 1988. Eddie Cochran was revered in the UK by the British Rock'n'Roll singers of the time (Billy Fury, Marty Wilde, Joe Brown etc.) and the teenagers who would become the groups of the '60s. He was killed in a car crash in the UK on his way to the airport to fly home.

Answer: Ahmet Ertegun/Jerry Wexler

"Dream Lover" entered the UK chart in May 1959 and was number one for four weeks. It entered the US pop chart in Apr 1959 and reached number two.

Written by Bobby Darin and featuring Neil Sedaka on piano, "Dream Lover" was released on the Atco record label in the US. Atco was a division of Atlantic records whose joint founder and president was Ahmet Ertegun. What can you say about the singer/songwriter/actor Bobby Darin? He sang in many styles acted well in the few movies he made and like so many others died too soon.

Answer: Henry Mancini

Written by Henry Mancini, his version was the title music for the US TV private eye series "Peter Gunn" starring Craig Stevens which ran from 1958 to 1961. Duane Eddy's version of "Peter Gunn" entered the UK chart in Jun 1959 and reached number six. It entered the US pop chart in Oct 1960 and reached number 27.

Duane Eddy's version was released on the Jamie record label in the US. The Art Of Noise featuring Duane Eddy reached number eight on the UK chart with "Peter Gunn" in 1986, making Duane Eddy the only instrumentalist to have hits on the UK chart in four different decades. It reached number 50 on the US pop chart the same year.

Answer: When Will I Be Loved

"When Will I Be Loved" entered the UK chart in Jul 1960 and reached number four. It entered the US pop chart in May 1960 and reached number eight.

Written by Phil Everly "When Will I Be Loved" was released on the Cadence record label in the US after they had signed a reputed 10 year multi-million dollar contract with the Warner Brothers record label. They had a US number one hit with their first Warner Brothers single "Cathy's Clown" but never hit the top again. They hit the top three times on the Warner Brothers label in the UK with "Cathy's Clown", "Walk Right Back/Ebony Eyes" and "Temptation".

Answer: Rocking Goose

"Rocking Goose" entered the UK chart in Sep 1960 and reached number three. It entered the US pop chart in Sep 1960 and reached number 60.

Written by King/Mack/Fowler "Rocking Goose" was released on the Big Top record label in the US. Johnny (Johnny "Paris" Pocisk) And The Hurricanes were very popular in the UK. They had four Top 10 hits on the UK chart but only one in the US, their home country. When they were performing in Hamburg (Germany) in December 1962, one of their supporting acts was The Beatles. The Beatles had just scraped into the UK Top 20 at number 17 with their first UK chart hit "Love Me Do" two months earlier in October 1962.

Answer: Dreamin'

"Dreamin'" entered the UK chart in Sep 1960 and reached number five. It entered the US pop chart in Jul 1960 and reached number 11.

Written by Barry DeVorzon/Ted Ellis "Dreamin'" was released on the Liberty record label in the US. After unsuccessful years in the '50s singing rockabilly songs in the Johnny Burnette Trio with his brother Dorsey and Paul Burlison, Johnny went solo and turned to pop songs and found success but it was short lived. Johnny Burnette was killed in a boating accident on Clear Lake California in 1964 when his small fishing boat was hit by a cabin cruiser after dark and he was thrown into the water and drowned.

Answer: Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller

"Save The Last Dance For Me" entered the UK chart in Nov 1960 and reached number two. It entered the US pop chart in Sep 1960 and was number one for three weeks.

Written by Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman and produced by more songwriting giants Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller "Save The Last Dance For Me" was released on the Atlantic record label in the US. Ben E. King was still The Drifters lead singer on this record but left the group the same year. He stayed with Atlantic records but his records were released on one of their other record labels, Atco.

Answer: The Ventures

"Perfidia" entered the UK chart in Dec 1960 and reached number four. It entered the US chart in Oct 1960 and reached number 15.

Written by Alberto Dominguez in 1939. "Perfidia" was released on the Dolton record label in the US. The Ventures were founded by Bob Bogle and Don Wilson, they asked Nokie Edwards to join and Skip Moore joined on drums. After they had recorded their first hit "Walk Don't Run" Skip Moore had a Pete Best moment and left the group (it was his choice). He settled for a $25 payment instead of a percentage of the royalties. The Ventures went on to sell over 100 million albums world wide and are still big in Japan. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.

Answer: Ray Charles

"What'd I Say" by Jerry Lee Lewis entered the UK chart in May 1961 and reached number 10. It entered the US pop chart in Apr 1961 and reached number 30.

Written by Ray Charles "What'd I Say" was released on the Sun record label in the US. Jerry Lee Lewis (a '50s Rock'n'Roll icon) never made the UK or US Top 20 again but did have many hits on the US Billboard country chart through to the '00s which included three number one hits in the '70s.

Answer: Mother

"Mother In-Law" entered the UK chart in May 1961 and reached number 29. It entered the US pop chart in Mar 1961 and reached number one for one week.

Written by Allen Toussaint "Mother In-Law" was released on the Mint record label in the US. Ernie K-Doe, born Ernest Kador Jr never had another Top 40 hit in the UK or US. His 1970 release "Here Come The Girls" which failed to chart, was used in an advertising campaign in the UK in 2007 by the beauty & pharmaceutical store Boots. On re-release it reached number 43 on the UK chart in 2007. He died in 2001 and was buried in the same tomb as his mother in-law in New Orleans.

Answer: Gene Pitney

"Hello Mary Lou" entered the UK chart in Jun 1961 and reached number two. It entered the US pop chart in May 1961 and reached number nine.

Written by Gene Pitney/Cayet Mangiaracina "Hello Mary Lou" was released on the Imperial record label in the US.
Gene Pitney had a UK number one hit for four weeks with "Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart" as part of a duo with Marc Almond in 1989. It was not released in the US as Marc Almond is gay and the record company thought that US record buyers might think it was a gay love duet. "Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart" was originally Gene Pitney's last UK Top 10 hit in 1967.

Answer: Stand By Me

"Stand By Me" entered the UK chart in Jun 1961 and reached number 27. It entered the US pop chart in May 1961 and reached number four.

Written by Ben E. King/Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller "Stand By Me" was released on the Atco record label in the US. Ben E. King left the Drifters in 1960. He had his first solo hit the following year when "Spanish Harlem" reached number 10 on the US pop chart in 1961. In 1986 "Stand By Me" was used as the theme tune for the movie "Stand By Me" and also in a Levi jeans advertisement and was re-released. It reached number nine on the US pop chart and was number one for three weeks on the UK chart in 1987.

Answer: Goffin/King

"Take Good Care Of My Baby" entered the UK chart in Oct 1961 and reached number three. It entered the US pop chart in Aug 1961 and was number one for three weeks.

Written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King "Take Good Care Of My Baby" was released on the Liberty record label in the US. It was Bobby Vee's only US number one hit and it was his biggest UK hit. "Take Good Care Of My Baby" was Goffin/King's second hit and second US number one, their first was "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" by The Shirelles. Goffin/King were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Rock and Roll Hall of fame in 1990.

Answer: Drums

"Let There Be Drums" entered the UK chart in Dec 1961 and reached number three. It was Sandy Nelson's biggest UK hit. It entered the US pop chart in Oct 1961 and reached number seven.

Written by Sandy Nelson/Richard Podolor "Let There Be Drums" was released on the Imperial record label in the US. In the instrumental genre there was not much scope for repeated chart success for drum instrumentals. This was the last time that Sandy Nelson made the UK & US Top 20. And he had no hits after 1962 in the UK & 1964 in the US. "Let There Be Drums" remains one of my favourite instrumental hits of the '60s.

Answer: Fats Domino

Antoine Dominique Domino Jr. (Fats Domino) to you and me sang "I Hear You Knocking", it did not enter the UK chart. It entered the US pop chart in Dec 1961 and reached number 67.

Written by Dave Bartholomew/Pearl King "I Hear You Knocking" was released on the Imperial record label in the US. Fats Domino was with the Imperial record label from 1949 to 1962. His first release was "The Fat Man" and it sold over 1,000,000 copies. Although there is argument as to which was the first Rock'n'Roll record, "The Fat Man" is regarded as the first Rock'n'Roll record to sell a million.

Answer: Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)

"Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)" entered the UK chart in Mar 1962 and reached number two. It entered the US pop chart in Feb 1962 and reached number four.

Written by Cindy Walker who wrote 100's of hits which produced Top 10 hits for many singers over five decades. "Dream Baby (How Long Must I Dream)" was released on the Monument record label in the US. In Jan 1989 after a 20 year gap The Big O returned to the UK chart on the Virgin record label with "You Got It" which reached number three. It was a number nine hit on the US pop chart the same year. Unfortunately Roy Orbison died from a heart attack a month earlier in Dec 1988.

Answer: Hey! Little Girl

"Hey Little Girl" entered the UK chart in Mar 1962 and reached number two. It entered the US pop chart in Nov 1961 and reached number 38.

Written by Del Shannon "Hey! Little Girl" was released on the Big Top record label in the US, it was the first record I ever bought.
Written by Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman the UK B-side "You Never Talked About Me" was featured as a film clip in the 1962 UK pop movie "It's Trad Dad" ("Ring-a-Ding Rhythm" in the US) starring UK singers Helen Shapiro and Craig Douglas. In the US "I Don't Care Any More" was the B-side of "Hey! Little Girl" and "You Never Talked About Me" was the B-side of "The Swiss Maid". In the UK "Ginny In The Mirror" was the B-side of "The Swiss Maid", thus were the vagaries of record releases in the US & UK at the time.

Answer: The Loco-Motion

"The Loco-Motion" entered the UK chart in Sep 1962 and reached number two. It entered the US pop chart in Jun 1962 and was number one for one week.


Written by married songwriting partners Gerry Goffin/Carole King for their baby sitter Eva Boyd (Little Eva) "The Loco-Motion" was released on the Dimension record label in the US. On re-release it reached number 11 on the UK chart in Jul 1972. After her fame waned she retired from showbiz in 1971 sometimes living on welfare. After the success of Kylie Minogue's version of "The Loco-Motion" in 1988 Little Eva made a comeback and joined the "Oldies" circuit. She died in 2003 aged 59 from cervical cancer.

Answer: Pipeline

"Pipeline" entered the UK chart in Apr 1963 and reached number 16. It entered the US pop chart in Mar 1963 and reached number four.

Written by group members Brian Carman/Bob Spickard it was released on the Dot record label in the US. The Chantays had one big hit and although they sounded like The Ventures they deserved to be more than one hit wonders. Unfortunately The Chantays came late to the instrumental party, the British were coming and everything changed. You can see them on YouTube, songwriter & rhythm guitar player Brian Carmen looks like a young Matthew Broderick but Bob Marshall on electric piano does a strange dance while playing, what was he on? I also like their version of Del Shannon's "Runaway".

Answer: Doris Troy

"Just One Look" by Doris Troy was released in Jul 1963 but did not enter the UK chart. It entered the US chart in Jun 1963 and reached number 10.

Written by Gregory Carroll/Doris Payne (Doris Troy) it was released in the US on the Atlantic record label. She worked as a backing singer for The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd on their album "Dark Side Of The Moon" and George Harrison among many others. She was signed to the Apple record label in 1969 and released an album which she co-produced with George Harrison. She died in Las Vegas from emphysema aged 67 in 2004.

Answer: Phil Spector

The Crystals sang "Then He Kissed Me" which entered the UK chart in Sep 1963 and reached number two. It entered the US pop chart in Aug 1963 and reached number six.

Written by Phil Spector/Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich and produced by Phil Spector it was released on the Phillies record label in the US. Who are The Crystals I hear you ask? Well that depended upon who Spector had singing under The Crystals name or which lead singer was on the record. "He's A Rebel" had Darlene Love and The Blossoms under The Crystals name. "Da Doo Ron Ron" had Dolores "Lala" Brooks as lead singer backed by The Blossoms and Cher was also in the mix somewhere. "Then He Kissed Me" had Dolores "Lala" Brooks singing lead. I don't know anymore, my head hurts.

Answer: You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'

The Righteous Brothers sang "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and it entered the UK chart in Jan 1965 and was number one for two weeks. It entered the US pop chart in Dec 1964 and was number one for two weeks.

Written by Phil Spector/Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil and produced by Phil Spector it was released on the Phillies record label in the US. It re-entered the UK chart in 1969 and reached number 10, again in 1977 and reached number 42 and again in 1990 and reached number three. "Never My Love" by The Association, "Yesterday" by The Beatles and "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King have all been played more that 7,000,000 times.