How well do you know your music? Let’s find out with a quiz that accompanies this week playlist.
The subjects du jour are : Donny Osmond, George Benson, The Human League, Blue Zone, Amazulu, Bobby Brown, Go West, Earth Wind & Fire, Marc Almond, The Fall, Kirsty MacColl, Boney M.
They are the performers of twelve vintage dance tunes that were ranked in various charts, this week (47/52) BUT … in the EIghties 80s.
1. When was “Groove” by Donny Osmond first released in the UK?
- A April 1989
- B November 1987
- C January 1987
2. Which positions did George Benson’s “Inside Love (So Personal)” achieve on the Billboard charts?
- A Number 3 on Hot Black Singles
- B Number 1 on Dance/Disco
- C Number 43 on Hot 100
3. Which music video produced on a limited budget features The Human League performing “I Need Your Loving”?
- A Directed by Steven Spielberg
- B Directed by Andy Morahan
- C Directed by Stanley Kubrick
4. What was a significant reason for the withdrawal of Blue Zone’s “On Fire” single from the UK market?
- A Easter weekend
- B King’s Cross fire
- C St. George’s Day
5. Which TV show featured Amazulu’s “All Over The World” performance, boosting their exposure?
- A Top of the Pops
- B The Young Ones
- C Fame
6. Who provided background vocals on Bobby Brown’s song written by Babyface?
- A Madonna
- B Kayo and Karyn White
- C Lisa Stansfield
7. What achievement is associated with the remixed version of Go West’s “Don’t Look Down” in the US?
- A First top 10 hit
- B First top 40 hit
- C Grammy award
8. Which instrument was notably absent from Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Magnetic” in favor of synthesizers?
- A Guitar
- B Brass section
- C Drums
9. Marc Almond included “The Desperate Hours” in a 1993 live album recorded at which venue?
- A Wembley Stadium
- B The Royal Albert Hall
- C Madison Square Garden
10. Which previous The Fall track inspired “Big New Prinz”?
- A Hip Priest
- B Mr. Pharmacist
- C Rebellious Jukebox
11. Kirsty MacColl’s “Terry” was initially meant for which artist before her version charted at No. 82 in the UK?
- A Tracey Ullman
- B Cyndi Lauper
- C Madonna
12. Which track from Boney M.’s album “Boonoonoonoos” featured lead vocals by Marcia Barrett?
- A Rivers of Babylon
- B Brown Girl in the Ring
- C The track from the double A-side single “Boonoonoonoos”
For TWELVE more ‘Music For The Dancers’ – Vintage 80s Music Videos – week 47/52 – click here
Tracklist
|
1 . Donny Osmond – GrooveFeatured on the 1989 album “Donny Osmond”.
|
 |
2 . George Benson – Inside Love (So Personal)Featured on the 1983 album “In Your Eyes”.
|
|
|
3 . The Human League – I Need Your LovingFeatured on the 1986 album “Crash”.
|
|
|
4 . Blue Zone – On Fire (w/ Lisa Stansfield)Featured on the 1987 album “Big Thing”.
|
|
|
5 . Amazulu – All Over The WorldFeatured on the 1985 album “Amazulu”.
|
|
|
6 . Bobby Brown – RoniFeatured on the 1988 album “Don’t Be Cruel“.
|
|
|
7 . Go West – Don’t Look DownFeatured on the 1985 album “Go West”.
|
|
|
8 . Earth Wind & Fire – MagneticFeatured on the 1983 album “Electric Universe”.
|
|
|
9 . Marc Almond – Desperate HoursFeatured on the 1990 album “Enchanted”.
|
|
|
10 . The Fall – Big New PrinzFeatured on the 1990 album “45 84 89 : A Sides”.
|
|
|
11 . Kirsty MacColl – Terry
|
|
|
12 . Boney M. – We Kill The WorldFeatured on the 1981 album “Boonoonoonoos”.
|
And the correct answers (in case you missed one or two) are:
1. “Groove” by Donny Osmond was first released in the UK in November 1987, well before the album’s official release in April 1989. This early release provided a preview for UK fans.
2. George Benson’s “Inside Love (So Personal)” achieved several chart positions, notably reaching number 3 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart. While it didn’t top all charts, it had a strong presence across multiple categories.
3. The music video for The Human League’s “I Need Your Loving” was directed by Andy Morahan. It was noted for its studio-centric aesthetic despite a limited production budget.
4. Blue Zone’s single “On Fire” was withdrawn from the UK market after the King’s Cross fire, an unfortunate timing that affected its promotion due to the sensitivity of the event.
5. Amazulu’s “All Over The World” gained attention from being featured on the TV show “The Young Ones.” This exposure was particularly influential despite the track’s limited chart success.
6. Bobby Brown’s track, produced by Babyface, features background vocals from Kayo and Karyn White. Their contributions helped shape the new jack swing style of the song.
7. The remixed version of Go West’s “Don’t Look Down” helped them achieve their first top 40 hit in the US, marking a breakthrough in their American market presence.
8. In Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Magnetic,” Maurice White replaced the band’s traditional brass section with synthesizers for a more modern sound aligning with 1980s trends.
9. Marc Almond’s “The Desperate Hours” was included in his 1993 live album recorded at The Royal Albert Hall. This live performance captured Almond’s distinct artistry in a prestigious setting.
10. “Big New Prinz” by The Fall was inspired by their earlier track “Hip Priest.” Mark E. Smith often revisited past materials, but this connection was particularly infrequent and notable.
11. Kirsty MacColl wrote “Terry” for Tracey Ullman. Ultimately, MacColl released her own version, which charted modestly in the UK at No. 82.
12. The Boney M. track from the double A-side single “Boonoonoonoos” featured lead vocals by Marcia Barrett. It enjoyed success in several countries despite varying versions and edits.
For THE FULL ‘MUSIC FOR THE DANCERS’ COLLECTION click here
