# Trivia Quiz on Billboard #1 Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 26, 2005, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124 "2005-04-26T05:25:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/1 "2005-04-26T05:25:52Z")
To test all the Dopers I have accumulated the following questions concerning songs that reached the pinnacle of success by achieving the vaunted #1 Position on the Billboard charts for popular songs (singles) for the period of 1955 to the Present. I’m counting on all of you to provide speedy and responsive answers. [ol] [li]From 1955 to 1958 Billboard used four charts - Best Sellers, Jockey, Juke Box ,and Top 100 - for reporting the #1 song. Which was the first song to achieve consensus Number #1 ranking on all four charts?[/li][li]What song is the first foreign langauge song to reach #1 (no cheating - the name must be original song title not the cover version title used so frequently later)?[/li][li]The #1 Song led by the chief A&R Man for Columbia Records in the mid to late 50’s who did everything in his power to keep his label out of the rock-n-roll era?[/li][li]The only Number #1 song recording (i.e. same version with same studio recording) to reach #1 on two separate occasions?[/li][li]Name three songs (same songwriter) that became #1 songs by two different artists?[/li][li]The bitter and misunderstood 1970 song by one of the R&B (or soul) artists that essentially marked the end of his and his band’s career?[/li][li]Phil Spector’s First #1 Song?[/li][li]Name three #1 song titles that included the names of US Cities in their titles?[/li][li]The only Beatles #1 song that was also accredited to another artist?[/li][li]Two songs that were released and reached #1 after the artist had had died?[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/2 "2005-04-26T05:35:12Z")
> [@](#): > > The #1 Song led by the chief A&R Man for Columbia Records in the mid to late 50’s who did everything in his power to keep his label out of the rock-n-roll era “Yellow Rose of Texas” by Mitch Miller > [@](#): > > The only Number #1 song recording (i.e. same version with same studio recording) to reach #1 on two separate occasions? I think that’s “The Twist” by Chubby Checker > [@](#): > > Two songs that were released and reached #1 after the artist had had died? “Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding and “Me and Bobbie McGee” by Janis Joplin ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/3 "2005-04-26T06:22:47Z")
[QUOTE=WatermanName three #1 song titles that included the names of US Cities in their titles? [/QUOTE] Educated guess: Tony Bennett’s _I Left my Heart in San Francisco_, Frank Sinatra’s _Theme from “New York, New York”_, and Wilbert Harrison’s _Kansas City_. ---
**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/4 "2005-04-26T07:09:16Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > Educated guess: Tony Bennett’s _I Left my Heart in San Francisco_, Frank Sinatra’s _Theme from “New York, New York”_, and Wilbert Harrison’s _Kansas City_. “…San Francisco” peaked at #19, “… New York, New York” peaked at #32 and “Kansas City” did make it to #1 in 1959. Good try! One other song with the name of a city made it to number #1 in 1959 - care to venture a guess? ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/5 "2005-04-26T10:17:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Name three #1 song titles that included the names of US Cities in their titles? There must be so many, out of my head: Galveston - Glenn Campbell Comin’ into Los Angeles - Arlo Guthrie By the Time I Get to Phoenix - I forget who did this originally Do You Know The Way to San Jose - Dionne Warwick L.A. Woman - The Doors Viva, Las Vegas - Elvis Presley ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/6 "2005-04-26T11:37:28Z")
What song is the first foreign langauge song to reach #1? Would that be “Sukiyaki” by Kyu Sakomoto? Or “Dominique” by the Singing Nun? (both 1963) ---
**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/7 "2005-04-26T14:07:50Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > There must be so many, out of my head: > > Galveston - Glenn Campbell > Comin’ into Los Angeles - Arlo Guthrie > By the Time I Get to Phoenix - I forget who did this originally > Do You Know The Way to San Jose - Dionne Warwick > L.A. Woman - The Doors > Viva, Las Vegas - Elvis Presley Unfortunately none of the songs you listed made it to #1. ---
**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/8 "2005-04-26T14:10:10Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > What song is the first foreign langauge song to reach #1? > > Would that be “Sukiyaki” by Kyu Sakomoto? Or “Dominique” by the Singing Nun? (both 1963) Both of your listed songs did make #1, however, neither was the first. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/9 "2005-04-26T14:13:08Z")
> [@Waterman](#): > > To test all the Dopers I have accumulated the following questions concerning songs that reached the pinnacle of success by achieving the vaunted #1 Position on the Billboard charts for popular songs (singles) for the period of 1955 to the Present. I’m counting on all of you to provide speedy and responsive answers. > > [ol] > [li]From 1955 to 1958 Billboard used four charts - Best Sellers, Jockey, Juke Box ,and Top 100 - for reporting the #1 song. Which was the first song to achieve consensus Number #1 ranking on all four charts?[/li][li]What song is the first foreign langauge song to reach #1 (no cheating - the name must be original song title not the cover version title used so frequently later)?[/li][li]The #1 Song led by the chief A&R Man for Columbia Records in the mid to late 50’s who did everything in his power to keep his label out of the rock-n-roll era?[/li][1]The only Number #1 song recording (i.e. same version with same studio recording) to reach #1 on two separate occasions? > [li]Name three songs (same songwriter) that became #1 songs by two different artists?[/li][li]The bitter and misunderstood 1970 song by one of the R&B (or soul) artists that essentially marked the end of his and his band’s career?[/li][li]Phil Spector’s First #1 Song?[/li][li]Name three #1 song titles that included the names of US Cities in their titles?[/li][2]The only Beatles #1 song that was also accredited to another artist? > [3]Two songs that were released and reached #1 after the artist had had died? > [/ol] 1: _The Twist_, Chubby Checker 2: _Get Back_, Billy Preston 3: _Sitting on the Dock of the Bay_, Otis Redding. _Bad, Bad Leroy Brown_, Jim Croce. ? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/10 "2005-04-26T14:15:47Z")
Dammit, forgot to remove the [list] coding from the above. Anyway, my answers are to questions # 4, 9, and 10. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/11 "2005-04-26T14:18:06Z")
> [@Waterman](#): > > One other song with the name of a city made it to number #1 in 1959 - care to venture a guess? “The Battle of New Orleans” by Johnny Horton ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/12 "2005-04-26T14:23:16Z")
> [@Waterman](#): > > To test all the Dopers I have accumulated the following questions concerning songs that reached the pinnacle of success by achieving the vaunted #1 Position on the Billboard charts for popular songs (singles) for the period of 1955 to the Present. I’m counting on all of you to provide speedy and responsive answers. > > [7]Phil Spector’s First #1 Song? > [8]Name three #1 song titles that included the names of US Cities in their titles? > > [/list] 1. “To Know Him Is to Love Him,” The Teddy Bears 2. Two have already been mentioned. For a third: “Last Train to Clarksville,” The Monkees ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/13 "2005-04-26T14:27:34Z")
> [@Waterman](#): > > Both of your listed songs did make #1, however, neither was the first. OK, then it would have to be “Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu” (“Volare”), by Dominico Modugno. (1958) ---
**Author:** ![Waterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Waterman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waterman)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/14 "2005-04-26T16:07:18Z")
42Fish - yes but there are more out there if you care to keep looking (songs with cities). Labdad - yes JohnT - Croce’s song did not make #1 though see NPD’s reply up above for correct two entries for this question. **Still many unsolved questions!** ---
**Author:** ![ZeroGyro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47774/32.png) [@ZeroGyro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZeroGyro)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/15 "2005-04-26T16:11:56Z")
[QUOTE=Waterman] [li]The bitter and misunderstood 1970 song by one of the R&B (or soul) artists that essentially marked the end of his and his band’s career?[/li][/QUOTE] Some guesses: “Tears of a Clown” - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (More Likely) “Family Affair” - Sly and the Family Stone (Not Likely) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/16 "2005-04-26T16:22:00Z")
> [@Waterman](#): > > 42Fish - yes but there are more out there if you care to keep looking (songs with cities). > > Labdad - yes > > JohnT - Croce’s song did not make #1 though see NPD’s reply up above for correct two entries for this question. > > **Still many unsolved questions!** Actually, [this site](http://www.recordresearch.com/numones/numone_pop_1970s.html) states that BBLB was #1 for two weeks. However, the Croce song that reached #1 after he died was _Time in a Bottle_ (December 1973). While the song was already released as part of the album _You don’t mess around with Jim_, I’m _pretty_ sure that the single was released after his death in September 1973 - but I have to go home to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/17 "2005-04-26T19:17:25Z")
What’s Chuck Berry’s only #1 Hit on Billboard’s Pop Singles chart? What band has the most #2 hits without ever reaching a #1 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. (I heard this question about 10-15 years ago. It’s possible the answer has changed, but I somehow doubt it.) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/18 "2005-04-26T19:22:01Z")
“My Ding-A-Ling” James Brown? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/19 "2005-04-26T19:26:34Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > “My Ding-A-Ling” > > James Brown? Right on number one. Wrong on number two. More info on question two: This band had 7 number two hits, 1 number three, 2 number fours, 1 number six, and 2 number 8s, for a total of 13 Top Ten hits, but never once topped the Pop Singles charts. They did have two number one albums, though. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124/20 "2005-04-26T19:56:33Z")
The Rolling Stones? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trivia-quiz-on-billboard-1-songs/301124.md?page=2)