LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE!

This week, our 5 questions revolve around # 1 albums from the past 50 years. It takes a lot to make it to the top of the charts.

               

QUESTIONS

1.  This Hall of Fame singer/songwriter was writing hits for other artists long before she charted herself.  She did chart one mid chart hit as herself in 1962, “It Might As Well Rain Until September”, but it took until 1971 for her to have a # 1 under her own name.  Her real last name is Klein, but she changed to a slightly shorter, more regal sounding name.  “The Loco-Motion” was another # 1 song she co-wrote.  Little Eva and Grand Funk Railroad both took it to the top of the charts, in 1962 and 1973 respectively.  For the week of November 9th, 1974 her album “Wrap Around Joy” was # 1.  Her life story was recently made into a highly successful, Tony Award winning Broadway play.  Who’s that lady?        

2.  For the week of November 12th, 1994, this soundtrack album was # 1 on Billboards’ Top 100 Album chart.  It sold more than two million copies.  The 18 minute film starred Snoop Doggy Dogg (as he was then called) and was directed by Dr. Dre and Fab Five Freddy.  The plot revolves around the (fictional) death of Snoop Dogg and his resurrection after he’d made a deal with the devil.  Now I totally understand that this question might be a little tougher than most, so if you need to use Google, feel free.  What’s the name of this # 1 album from 1994?    

3.  This performer is a quadruple threat – singer, songwriter, actress, film director.  She first made her major Broadway debut in 1962 in “I Can Get it For You Wholesale”,  which led to a Columbia Records contract.  She is the biggest selling female recording artist of all time (besting even Celine Dion and Whitney Houston).  In Hollywood, she starred in such films as “Hello Dolly”, “Up The Sandbox”, “What’s Up, Doc?” and “The Owl and The Pussycat”.  She’s directed several of her films and written songs for others.  For the entire month of November 1964, she had the # 1 album on Billboard Magazine’s album chart.  So who is this ‘People’ person already?             

4.  This singer/songwriter’s album was # 1 for 21 weeks in 1984 from the week of August 4th until the week of December 22nd, 1984.  It remained at # 1 for the first two weeks in 1985 as well.  It was the soundtrack to a motion picture also starring this performer.   He goes by one name and for awhile was identified by only a symbol.  Who is this ‘prince’ of a guy and what’s the name of his ‘colourful’ album?  (I’ve just got to stop giving the answers away)  

5. For the first three weeks in 1975, this British singer/songwriter had the # 1 album on Billboards’ album chart with “Rock of The Westies”.  He’s been at the top of the album chart over a half dozen times and has had at least 10 # 1 singles.  On stage, he used to wear outrageous costumes and outlandish glasses, although he’s tamed down considerable since those days.  In May 1979, he became the first western rock star to ever perform in Russia.  His real name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight, but what did he change it to?

ANSWERS

1.  Carole Klein was her real name. She came from Brooklyn, New York and had a knack for writing melodies.  As Carole King, she married her writing partner, lyricist Gerry Goffin in 1959.  The duo’s first co-written number one was The Shirelles 1960 hit, “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”.  Carole was all of 17 years of age.  Goffin & King’s hit writing career during the 1960’s is the stuff of legends.  In fact, both Goffin and King have been inducted into two Halls of Fame – The Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.  In 2013, Carole was awarded The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.  That same year, Carole King became the first female recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song.  The Broadway play, “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” won two Tony Awards earlier this year. 

2.  The soundtrack to ”Murder Was The Case” was # 1 on Billboards’ Hot Album chart for the weeks of November 5th and 12th in 1994.  “What Would You Do”, one of the singles released from the album also appeared on the soundtrack to the Oliver Stone directed film, “Natural Born Killers”.  It was also nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of ‘Best Rap Performance By A Duo or Group’ in 1996.    

    

3.  It’s Barbra Streisand.  Her album “People” was # 1 during the final week of October and all four weeks of November in 1964.  She’s had eight # 1 albums and five # 1 hit singles: “The Way We Were” in 1974, “Love Theme From A Star Is Born (Evergreen)” in ’77; “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers”, a 1978 duet with Neil Diamond, who went to school with Barbra at Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, New York; “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)” in 1979 and “Woman In Love” in 1980 (a sixth # 1, “Sleep In Heavenly Peace (Silent Night)” went to the top of the Christmas singles chart only in 1966).  She played Ben Stiller’s mother in 2004’s “Meet The Fockers” and “Little Fockers” in 2010.  Her latest movie was 2012’s “Guilt Trip” with Canadian Seth Rogan.  Barbra Streisand has won nearly every major show business award.  She has five Emmys, a Tony award, two Oscars and ten Grammys along with 10 Golden Globes and other honours.  Barbra’s sold over 70 million albums during her career.   

                  

4.  Well that was pretty easy since I essentially handed you the answer.  The album was the soundtrack to the movie “Purple Rain” from Prince, who also starred in that movie.  Prince was born Prince Rogers Nelson in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he still lives, although he did have a home in Toronto for a few years.  Prince doesn’t eat meat and in 2006 in PETA’s annual on-line poll,  he was voted ‘world’s sexiest vegetarian’.  At the 57th annual Academy Awards ceremony held on March 25th, 1985, “Purple Rain” won for ‘Best Original Song Score’.  At the ’85 Grammy Awards, “Purple Rain” won for ‘Best Score Soundtrack Album For A Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media’.  The title song won for ‘Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group‘ With Vocal’.  “I Feel For You”, a song Prince had written and recorded on his 1979 self-titled album.  Chaka Khan covered the song in 1984 and she  took home the Grammy statue for ‘Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female’ on February 26th, 1985.  “I Feel For You” also won a Grammy as ‘Best Rhythm & Blues Song”, an award given to the songwriter.                    

  

5.  Elton John is the answer.  “Rock of The Westies” was Elton’s 10th studio album.  It was released on October 24th, 1975 and debuted at # 1 on Billboard Magazine’s album chart for the week of November 8th.  It remained at the top for three weeks.  “Rock of The Westies” was recorded at Caribou Ranch in Colorado, owned by Jim Guercio, producer of The Buckinghams and Chicago.  The most successful single to come from the album was “Island Girl”, a # 1 single for three weeks in November 1975.