Whose Line Was It Anyway? US Number One Hits 1978 Quiz

Answer: Stayin' Alive

"Stayin' Alive" was written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. It was number one for four weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Bee Gees in 1978. It peaked at number four on the UK singles chart the same year.

The Bee Gees were brothers Barry Alan Crompton Gibb born in Douglas, Isle Of Man, UK, in 1946, twins Robin Hugh Gibb and Maurice Ernest Gibb, born in Douglas, Isle Of Man, UK, in 1949. Between 1967 and 1997 they had 15 Top 10 hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 which included the nine number one hits, "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" (1971), "Jive Talkin'" (1975), "You Should Be Dancing" (1976), "How Deep Is Your Love" (1977), "Stayin' Alive" (1977), "Night Fever" (1978), "Too Much Heaven" (1979), "Tragedy" (1979) and "Love You Inside Out" (1979). Maurice died of a cardiac arrest in Florida, USA, in 2003 aged 53. Robin died of liver and kidney failure in London, England, in 2012 aged 62.

Answer: Yvonne Elliman

"If I Can't Have You" was written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for Yvonne Elliman in 1978. It peaked at number four on the UK singles chart the same year.

Yvonne Elliman was born Yvonne Marianne Elliman in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, in 1951. Singing in bars and clubs in London in 1969 she was discovered by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. They invited her to sing the Mary Magdalene part on the recording of "Jesus Christ Superstar". She then spent the next four years as part of the show's travelling cast. Her first chart hit on either side of the Atlantic was "I Don't Know How To Love Him" from "Jesus Christ Superstar. Yvonne Elliman and actor/singer/writer Barry Dennen were the only cast members to have been on the original recording, in the two stage productions and the movie of "Jesus Christ Superstar".

Answer: With A Little Luck

"With A Little Luck" was written by Paul McCartney. It was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Wings in 1978. It peaked at number five the same year.

Paul McCartney was born James Paul McCartney in Liverpool, England, in 1942. In 1957 he joined a Rock and Roll/Skiffle group named The Quarrymen, who had been formed in 1956 by a certain John Lennon. This group, after many name changes became The Beatles in 1960. After becoming the most successful music group in the world, McCartney left the group in 1970 and later that year filed suit for the dissolution of The Beatles. The actual dissolution of The Beatles was not formalised until 29th December 1974. In some configuration or other Paul McCartney has had nine number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 since leaving The Beatles. Only one of which "Ebony And Ivory", was number one in the UK.

Answer: Johnny Mathis/Deniece Williams

"Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" was written by John Vallins/Nat Kipner. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams in 1978. It peaked at number three on the UK singles chart the same year.

Johnny Mathis was born John Royce Mathis in Gilmer, Texas, USA, in 1935. When he enrolled at San Francisco State University in 1954 he intended to become an English and physical education teacher. Instead he had 10 Top 20 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1957 and 1978. This included his first number one hit "Chances Are" (1957).
Deniece Williams was born June Deniece Chandler in Gary, Indiana, USA, in 1950. Later she attended Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, hoping to become a registered nurse and an anesthetist. She had three Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1978 and 1984. This included her second number one hit "Let's Hear It For The Boy" (1984).

Answer: Shadow Dancing

"Shadow Dancing" was written by Andy, Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb. It was number one for seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Andy Gibb in 1978. It peaked at number 42 on the UK singles chart the same year.

Andy Gibb was born Andrew Roy Gibb in Manchester, England, in 1958. He was just six months old when the Gibb family emigrated to Queensland, Australia, in 1958. In 1974 with the family back on the Isle Of Man he formed a group named Melody Fayre which was managed by his mother Barbara. Later that year he returned to Australia, recorded with minor success and appeared on TV. He moved to Miami in 1976. Between 1977 and 1980 he had six Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. This included three consecutive number one hits, "I Just Want To Be Your Everything" (1977), "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water" (1978) and "Shadow Dancing" (1978). He died of heart failure in London in 1988 aged 30.

Answer: Miss You

"Miss You" was written by Mick Jagger/Keith Richards. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Rolling Stones in 1978. It peaked at number three on the UK singles chart the same year.

The Rolling Stones were formed in 1962, but pianist Ian Stewart was dropped from the official line-up in 1963. That line-up was Mick Jagger born Michael Philip Jagger in Dartford, Kent, England in 1943, Brian Jones born Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, in 1942, Keith Richards born in Dartford, Kent, England, in 1943, Charlie Watts born Charles Robert Watts in Kingsbury, London, England, in 1941 and Bill Wyman born William George Perks Jr. in Lewisham, London, England, in 1936. Between 1964 and 1989 they had 23 Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. This included eight number one hits starting with "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (1965), their fourth UK number one hit.

Answer: Grease

"Grease" was written by Barry Gibb. It was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Frankie Valli in 1978. It peaked at number three on the UK singles chart the same year.

Frankie Valli was born Francesco Stephen Castelluccio in Newark, New Jersey, USA, in 1934. Named Frankie Valley he made his first single, "My Mother's Eyes" in 1953. He had a minor hit in 1956 as a member of The Four Lovers with "You're The Apple Of My Eye". He struck the big time with The 4 Seasons, who had with various group members 15 Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1962 and 1976. They included the number one singles "Sherry" (1962), "Big Girls Don't Cry" (1962), "Walk Like A Man" (1963), "Rag Doll" (1964) and "December '63 (Oh, What A Night)" (1976). Between 1967 and 1978 he had four solo Top 10 hits including two number one hits "My Eyes Adored You" (1975) and "Grease" (1978).

Answer: You Needed Me

"You Needed Me" was written by Randy Goodrum. It was number one for one week on the Billboard Hot 100 for Anne Murray in 1978. It peaked at number 22 on the UK singles chart the same year.

Anne Murray was born Morna Anne Murray in Springhill, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1945. After graduating in 1966 she taught physical education at a high school in Summerside, Prince Edward Island for a year. Later she appeared regularly on the CBC-TV show "Sing Along Jubilee" and the CBS-TV show "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour". She has racked up more than 20 number one hits on the Canadian Country chart but her first international hit was "Snowbird". It peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 23 on the UK singles chart in 1970. She made history in 2003 at the Kaluhyat Golf Club, Turning Stone Resort, Verona, New York, being the first woman to score a hole in one at the 17th hole.

Answer: Donna Summer

"MacArthur Park" was written by Jimmy Webb. It was number one for three weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Donna Summer in 1978. It peaked at number five on the UK singles chart the same year.

Donna Summer was born LaDonna Adrian Gaines in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, in 1948. She had her first chart success in Europe with the album "Lady Of The Night". It was a hit in Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands and Sweden. Her first chart hit at home came with "Love To Love You Baby" which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976. Between 1976 and 1989 she had 14 Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. This included the four number one hits "MacArthur Park" (1978), "Hot Stuff" (1979), "Bad Girls" (1979) "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" (1979). She died of lung cancer in Florida, USA, in 2012 aged 63 and was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

Answer: Neil Diamond

"You Don't Bring me Flowers" was written by Neil Diamond/Alan Bergman/Marilyn Bergman. It was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond in 1978. It peaked at number five on the UK singles chart the same year.

Barbra Streisand was born Barbara Joan Streisand in Brooklyn, New York, New York, USA, in 1942. She first hit the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964 when "People" peaked at number five. Since then the singer/songwriter/actress/producer/director has won a plethora of awards. She is among the few who have won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards.
Neil Diamond was born Neil Leslie Diamond in Brooklyn, New York, New York, USA, in 1941. He first hit the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966 when "Solitary Man" peaked at number 55. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984 and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. This singer/songwriter/musician/actor has sold in excess of 100 million records.