One Word Title US Top Forty Hits of 1976 Quiz

Answer: Steve Miller Band

As a teenager William Royce "Boz" Scaggs joined Steve Miller's band, The Marksmen, in Texas. They both went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison where they played with various Blues bands. Scaggs headed for London upon graduation but returned to San Francisco in 1967 and reunited with Miller's band. The following year The Steve Miller Band released the "Children of the Future" and "Sailor" LPs with Boz providing guitar and vocals.
By 1969 Boz had signed a contract with Atlantic Records as a solo artist and released the "Boz Scaggs" album. The album was met with a lukewarm reception. It wasn't until he released the million selling "Silk Degrees" in 1976 which included the singles "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" that he had major hit singles.

Alex Chilton was the lead singer for the Memphis based Box Tops. In 1968 Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" rose to Number 30. The Human Beinz scored a 1976 Top Ten with "Nobody But Me".

Answer: Renegade

"Renegade" squeaked into the Top Forty at Number 39. Growing up around Dallas instilled a fondness for Cowboy songs in Michael. His first professional engagements were singing around campfires at summer camps while in his early teens. He formed a band that became popular in the Dallas area. After graduation Michael relocated to University of California at Los Angeles. When his friend Michael Nesmith joined The Monkees they recorded his composition "What Am I Doing Hangin' Round". In the early seventies he returned to Texas and became part of the Outlaw movement in Country Music.
In 1975 the single "Wildfire" from his "Blue Sky - Night Thunder" album went to Number Three.

"Shannon" was a 1976 Top Ten by Henry Gross. "Emotion" was a 1975 Number 22 single from Helen Reddy. "Fire" by The Ohio Players" was a 1975 Number One single.

Answer: Peter Criss

Peter Criss shared composing credits on "Beth" with Stan Penridge and producer Bob Ezrin. The song was released as a single from the band's 1976 "Destroyer" album.
Peter was still a member of a band called Chelsea when he wrote "Beth" which was originally titled "Beck" after a band mate's wife named Backy. Stan Penridge was a guitar player in Chelsea.
Although Gene Simmons suggested Peter change the name to "Beth" he did not want the ballad on the "Destroyer" album. Manager Bill Aucoin pushed for the song to be included on the LP and placed "Beth" on the flip-side of "Detroit Rock City" when it was released as a single. "Beth" became the more popular song and would become the first KISS single to be certified as a Gold Record.

Answer: Cupid

"Cupid" was written by Cooke for Perry Como to sing on his popular television show. When he performed it for his label's producers they decided that it could be a hit for Cooke and decided to have him record his own version for RCA Records. The song went to Number 17.
In 1969 Johnny Nash released a successful Reggae version of "Cupid". Seven years later Tony Orlando and Dawn had Top Forty success with "Cupid". The trio had been releasing successful singles since "Candida" made it to Number Three in 1970 but "Cupid" would be their final US Top Forty single.

"Crying" by Roy Orbison was a 1961 Number Two single. Dee Clark took "Raindrops" to Number Two the same year. "Tragedy" by The Fleetwoods was a 1961 Top Ten.

Answer: Lorelei

"Lorelei" was the only single from Styx's "Equinox" LP to make the US Top Forty. Dennis DeYoung sang and co-wrote "Lorelei" with guitarist James Young. "Equinox" was the fifth Styx album and their first for A and M Records. "Equinox" peaked at Number 58 on the US album charts. Upon completion of the album guitarist and synthesizer player John Curulewski left the band. Styx hired Tommy Shaw to tour with them in support of the "Equinox" album.

In 1974 "Lady" from their "Styx II" album made the US Top Ten. "Renegade" was a 1979 Number 16 single from the "Pieces of Eight" LP. In 1979 "Babe" from the "Cornerstone" album topped the US charts. "Lights" from the same album failed to chart when released as a single.

Answer: England

British band Wainwright's Gentlemen entered a contest and eventually won the national finals. Vocalist Ian Gillan signed on in 1964. After recording some unsuccessful singles Gillan left and eventually joined Deep Purple.
In 1967 the band reformed at Sweetshop. When they learned that another group had the same name they simply shortened their name to Sweet. Sweet had personnel problems while seeking to define a style. They released the "Funny How Sweet Co-Co Can Be" album in 1971.

The band began appearing on musical shows until deciding to be part of the Glam Rock scene. By 1975 they were writing their own material including "Fox on the Run" and "Action". Based on the success of "Action" Sweet embarked on a US concert tour.

Answer: Brass Construction

Brass Construction originally called themselves Dynamic Soul when they formed in Brooklyn in 1968. In 1975 the Funk group signed with Epic Records and released a self-titled album containing "Movin'". "Changin'" and "Movin'" were both Dance Chart hits but "Movin'" also made the Pop charts.
Members Randy Muller and Wade Williamston wrote "Movin'". In 1977 "Ha Cha Cha (Funktion) made it to Number 51 and would be their final entry into the Billboard Hot 100.
Randy Muller later worked with the Rhythm and Blues group Skyy.

Salsoul Orchestra had a Number 18 Instrumental hit with a Disco version of "Tangerine". "Summer" was a 1976 Top Ten vocal single from War. "Also Sprach Zarathustra (Theme from 2001)" by Deodato reached Number Two in 1973.

Answer: Hurt

Timi Yuro signed with Liberty Records in the late fifties and released a version of a Roy Hamilton recording titled "Hurt" as a single in 1961. "Hurt" was Timi's debut single and became her highest charting single. Phil Spector produced her 1962 follow up, the Number 12 "What's a Matter Baby (Is It Hurting You)". That same year Burt Bacharach co-wrote her Number 44 single "The Love of a Boy" but Timi turned down his offer to record "What the World Needs Now Is Love".
In 1976 Elvis' version from his "From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee" album made it onto the Pop and Country charts. It was also a popular number during his live shows.

Timi took the Standard "Smile" to Number 42 in 1961. "Fool" was the flip-side to Elvis' 1973 "Steamroller Blues" single. "Saved" was a 1961 Top Forty from LaVern Baker.

Answer: Getaway

Earth, Wind and Fire topped the charts in 1975 with "Shining Star". The following year "Getaway" from their "Spirit" LP was a US Top Twenty hit, their fourth since first entering the charts in 1971 with the Number 93 "Love Is Life". "Saturday Nite" from the "Spirit" album reached Number 21 as a single.
Maurice White was a session drummer for Chicago's Chess Records when he formed Salty Peppers in 1969. The group relocated to Los Angeles in 1971, changed their name to Earth, Wind and Fire and signed with Warner Brothers records.

"Fopp" was a Number 30 single from Ohio Players in 1976. Paul Davis released the Top Forty "Superstar" in 1976. "Sunrise" by Eric Carmen reached Number 34.

Answer: Deniece Williams

"Free" was a single from Williams' debut album "This Is Niecy". It became the first Top Forty single for June Deniece Chandler. The Indiana native began training as an anesthetist but also enjoyed performing in local clubs while attending school. In the early seventies she joined Stevie Wonder's backing group. In 1975 she left to embark on a solo career, signed with Columbia Records and released "This Is Niecy" the following year. In 1978 she topped the charts singing a duet with Johnny Mathis titled "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" and topped the charts again in 1984 as a solo artist with "Let's Hear It for the Boy".

Natalie Cole had a Number 32 single with "Inseparable" in 1976. "Dance wit' Me" by Rufus featuring Chaka Khan barely made the 1976 Top Forty at Number 39. "Just You and I" from Melissa Manchester was a Number 27 single in 1976.