2012 IS HERE

Since we're just a couple of weeks into the new year, I thought we'd travel back three decades and see how well you remember the album charts from 30 years ago. For the 52 weeks of 1982, only 10 albums made it to # 1...but which 10? These questions are all about those # 1 albums from '82...so here we go.

QUESTIONS

1. This was the first # 1 album in 1982. It was the week of January 9th and this album by Australian rockers AC/DC had also been the last # 1 album in 1981. It was produced by Mutt Lange, the former husband of Shania Twain. It took nearly a year for this album to make # 1. Can you name this AC/DC classic?

2. A soundtrack album took the # 1 spot for 4 weeks starting the week of April 17th, 1982. This movie won 4 Academy Awards, including "Best Picture". It also spawned a # 1 single. One of the most famous scenes showed a group of runners in slow motion running on a beach near the surf. Can you name this # 1 soundtrack album?

3. Nine weeks is a long time to remain in the # 1 album spot, but this American performer from Indiana did it starting on the week of September 11, 1982. David Bowie's manager gave him a catchy stage name, which this performer, who was no fool (HINT! HINT! HINT!) really didn't like it and eventually reverted to his real name, but for this # 1 album he was still going by his stage name. What's the name of the 1982 # 1 album by this famous Indiana native?

4. This album was # 1 for two weeks starting the week of May 15, 1982. It was replaced at the top of the chart by Paul McCartney's "Tug Of War". The group took back the top spot two weeks later where it remained for an additional 7 weeks. The album title was named for the group who recorded it. It's a one word name. If you know what continent China is in. then you know the name of the group as well as the # 1 album title. So, what is it already?

5. The final # 1 album of 1982 was sitting at the top of the album chart for 14 weeks, 7 of them at the end of 1982. Their success continued well into February 1983, when it was finally replaced at the top of the album chart by Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album. They are Australian (sort of) and had two # 1 single hits in '82 as well. This band won the 1983 Grammy Award for 'Best New Artist'. They come from the land down under and their name is...??? While you're at it, what's the name of their 1982 # 1 album?

ANSWERS

1. AC/DC was formed in 1973 and since then has sold nearly 71 million albums in the U.S. alone. The album, "For Those About To Rock We Salute You" was initially released in January 1981 and took almost a full year to make it to the top of the Billboard album chart, which it did for the week of December 26, 1981. It was the bands' 8th Australian album and 7th international studio release and was recorded in a rehearsal space on the outskirts of Paris, France. Not long after the album came out, AC/DC embarked on their first North American arena tour. You can check out the bands website at acdc.com.

2. "Chariots Of Fire" was the true story of two British athletes who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics. One, a devout Scottish missionary who ran for God. The other, a Jewish student who ran for fame and to escape prejudice. The film starred Ben Cross, Ian Holm and Ian Charleson. Vangelis wrote the music and had a # 1 Hit with the title theme as well as winning an Oscar for "Best original Score".

3. That would be John 'Cougar' Mellencamp's hot hit album, "American Fool". The name Johnny Cougar was given to him by David Bowie's manager Tony deFries. "American Fool" was the last album released still using that name before he reverted to his real name John Mellencamp. Mellencamp scored two Top 5 hits in 1982 from the "American Fool" album - "Hurts So Good", which made it to # 2, and Mellencamps' first # 1 single, "Jack & Diane".

4. It's "Asia" which was formed in 1981 from various other bands, including Yes, King Crimson, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. John Wetton, Geoff Downes, Steve Howe and Carl Palmer were the original members of Asia. The debut self-titled"Asia" album sold 10 million copies worldwide and featured two hit singles, "Heat Of The Moment", which went to # 4 on the singles chart, and "Only Time Will Tell", which only made it to # 17.

5. The Australian group Men At Work (although lead singer/songwriter Colin Hay is actually Scottish) had the final # 1 album of 1982 with "Business As Usual". In 1982, their two # 1 hit singles were "Who Can It Be Now?" and "Down Under". Men At Work performed "Down Under" during the closing ceremonies of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.