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Obscure 1980s Music 3 Trivia Quiz

Remember the groups and solo artists that had minor success in the 1980s?

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

Author
JimBailey

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
231,345

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
3711

Last 3 plays: briandoc5 (8/10), Johnmcmanners (10/10), Guest 174 (4/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. This group had a #53 hit in the U.S. with the song "China" in 1983. Hint: The group recorded for the San Francisco label 415. Can you name them? Hint

Red Rider

Red Rockers

Translator

Green On Red

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Question 2 of 10

2. Simon Townshend, brother of Pete of The Who, scored this minor hit in early 1984 with this song from his debut album "Sweet Sound". What is it? Hint

I'm The One You Need

I'm Losing You

I'm On Fire

I'm The Answer

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Question 3 of 10

3. "Someday, Someway" was the sole chart hit for this prolific singer/songwriter, reaching #36 in the U.S. in 1982 from his self-titled debut album. Hint

Steve Earle

John Hiatt

Marshall Crenshaw

Graham Parker

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Question 4 of 10

4. The first Hot 100 single from the band The Smithereens was which of the following songs? Hint

Blood And Roses

House We Used To Live In

Behind The Wall Of Sleep

Only A Memory

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Question 5 of 10

5. John Oates of Hall and Oates fame co-wrote the first and only U.S. Top Ten hit, "Electric Blue", by which of the following groups? Hint

Icicle Works

Icehouse

That Petrol Emotion

The Smiths

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which of the following groups had the early MTV hit "Practicing First Aid", but no chart success in the U.S? Hint

The Fall

Tones On Tail

Horizontal Brian

Dali's Car

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Question 7 of 10

7. Frank Zappa allowed this group to record its debut album in his home recording studio. Hint

The Call

Missing Persons

Cock Robin

Planet P

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Question 8 of 10

8. Martin Chambers played drums for which of these 1980s bands? Hint

The Yachts

The Undertones

The Subway Sect

Pretenders

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which group (actually only singer/guitarist/songwriter Roddy Frame) scored a U.S. radio hit with a cover of the Van Halen song "Jump"? Hint

Big Country

The Three O'Clock

The Tourists

Aztec Camera

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Question 10 of 10

10. The lead singer of an extremely popular Anglo-American group sang backing vocals on Bryan Adams' 1983 hit "This Time". Can you name the singer? Hint

Lou Gramm

Robin Zander

Kevin Cronin

Mark Farner

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 14 2024 : briandoc5: 8/10
Apr 09 2024 : Johnmcmanners: 10/10
Apr 04 2024 : Guest 174: 4/10
Mar 31 2024 : Guest 24: 5/10
Mar 26 2024 : Guest 73: 3/10
Mar 20 2024 : Guest 107: 5/10
Mar 19 2024 : Guest 137: 2/10
Mar 15 2024 : Guest 73: 5/10
Mar 11 2024 : Guest 62: 1/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This group had a #53 hit in the U.S. with the song "China" in 1983. Hint: The group recorded for the San Francisco label 415. Can you name them?

Answer: Red Rockers

The Red Rockers hit #53 in the U.S. with the song "China" in 1983, and followed up this hit with the minor hit "Gold" later in the year. Both songs were featured on the debut album 'Good As Gold'. The Red Rockers met with little success with their second album, which featured a cover of Barry McGuire's "Eve Of Destruction".

2. Simon Townshend, brother of Pete of The Who, scored this minor hit in early 1984 with this song from his debut album "Sweet Sound". What is it?

Answer: I'm The Answer

Simon Townshend had the minor hit "I'm The Answer" from his debut album 'Sweet Sound' in early 1984. Townshend released a second album in 1985 before sliding into relative obscurity. In the late 1990s, Townshend did some work with The Who.

3. "Someday, Someway" was the sole chart hit for this prolific singer/songwriter, reaching #36 in the U.S. in 1982 from his self-titled debut album.

Answer: Marshall Crenshaw

Marshall Crenshaw reached #36 in 1982 with the second single from his debut album. Crenshaw went on to release three more records by the end of the 1980s to little chart success but great critical acclaim.

4. The first Hot 100 single from the band The Smithereens was which of the following songs?

Answer: Only A Memory

The Smithereens scored their first Hot 100 single with the song "Only A Memory", featured on their sophomore album "Green Thoughts". The Smithereens reached the top 40 with the first single from their 1989 album "11", "Girl Like You" and with "Too Much Passion" from their 1991 release "Blow Up".

5. John Oates of Hall and Oates fame co-wrote the first and only U.S. Top Ten hit, "Electric Blue", by which of the following groups?

Answer: Icehouse

John Oates co-wrote with head Icehouse member Iva Davies the 1988 hit "Electric Blue", from the album "Man Of Colours". Oates is also featured as backing vocalist on the song. Icehouse reached the top 20 in late 1987 with the song "Crazy". The album "Man Of Colours" was the biggest U.S. commercial success for the band, and featured the top 80 single "My Obsession", as well.

6. Which of the following groups had the early MTV hit "Practicing First Aid", but no chart success in the U.S?

Answer: Horizontal Brian

British group Horizontal Brian received a lot of airplay for the video "Practicing First Aid" during the early days of MTV.

7. Frank Zappa allowed this group to record its debut album in his home recording studio.

Answer: Missing Persons

Most of the members of Missing Persons had worked for Frank Zappa either on stage or on his recordings. Zappa allowed the group to use his studio to record their first EP. Missing Persons went on to score such hit songs as "Destination Unknown", "Words", "Walking In L.A.", and "Give".

8. Martin Chambers played drums for which of these 1980s bands?

Answer: Pretenders

Martin Chambers played drums on the first four releases by the group, up through the album "Learning To Crawl". Chambers was slated to play on the fifth album, but was fired from the band in 1985. He returned to the group in the mid-1990s.

9. Which group (actually only singer/guitarist/songwriter Roddy Frame) scored a U.S. radio hit with a cover of the Van Halen song "Jump"?

Answer: Aztec Camera

Aztec Camera recorded an acoustic version of the Van Halen hit "Jump" in 1984. The cover version was the featured track on an extended-play record issued as a stopgap between the band's first two albums.

10. The lead singer of an extremely popular Anglo-American group sang backing vocals on Bryan Adams' 1983 hit "This Time". Can you name the singer?

Answer: Lou Gramm

Lou Gramm of Foreigner sang backing vocals on the third hit single from Adams' U.S. breakthrough album "Cuts Like A Knife".

Source: Author JimBailey

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gretas before going online.
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