A New Chance to Prove You’re a Singles Savant

You won’t get any points for knowing that Elvis Presley was the most popular singles artist during rock’s first half decade. But you will be off to a good start in this pop-by-the-decades quiz if you can name the act that finished second during that period.

That’s the first question in a quiz drawn from information in “Top Pop Singles, 1955-1999,” the latest in Joel Whitburn’s invaluable series of pop reference books.

1. Elvis Presley was the most popular singles artist from 1955 through 1959. Who was second?

(a) Chuck Berry

(b) Pat Boone

(c) Fats Domino

(d) The Everly Brothers

(e) Buddy Holly

2. The Beatles were the biggest singles act of the ‘60s. Who was second in this time?

(a) The Beach Boys

(b) Ray Charles

(c) Brenda Lee

(d) Elvis Presley

(e) The Supremes

3. Paul McCartney came close to topping all singles artists in the ‘70s, but he and Wings had to settle for second place. Who beat them?

(a) The Bee Gees

(b) The Carpenters

(c) The Eagles

(d) The Jackson 5

(e) Elton John

4. Thanks to “Billie Jean” and “Beat It,” Michael Jackson was the dominant singles artist of the ‘80s. But it was close. Who finished second?

(a) Elton John

(b) Madonna

(c) Prince

(d) Lionel Richie

(e) Stevie Wonder

5. Women occupied five of the top seven places among the most popular singles artists of the ‘90s. Who finished first?

(a) Mariah Carey

(b) Celine Dion

(c) Whitney Houston

(d) Janet Jackson

(e) Madonna

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See Page 64 for answers

Answers to the Pop Quiz

He hasn’t made it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but Pat Boone gave Elvis Presley the strongest competition on the pop charts in the 1950s. The pop-minded singer, whose career was launched on polite remakes of hits by Fats Domino and Little Richard, accumulated 2,851 points in Whitburn’s scoring, which awards points for every hit single, along with bonus points for highest chart positions achieved by each single.

Boone’s total trailed Presley’s 3,704 points, but far outdistanced Domino (1,908), the Everly Brothers (1,105), Berry (902) and Little Richard (863).

Other answers to the pop quiz (see Bonus Track, Page 62):

2. Elvis Presley: His 4,279 points were about 400 short of the Beatles’ figure for the decade, but led runners-up Brenda Lee and Ray Charles by about 1,600 each.

3. Elton John: He topped McCartney 2,202 to 2,147, with the Bee Gees third at 2,007.

4. Prince: He generated 2,056 points, 46 points behind Jackson but 75 ahead of Madonna.

5. Mariah Carey: The easy winner with 3,017 points, followed by Jackson with 2,298 and Madonna with 2090.

Whitburn’s book offers a pop chart history of more than 23,000 recordings. For information on it and other Whitburn books, covering albums and singles and focusing on genres including R&B; and country, call (800) 827-9810 or e-mail books@recordresearch.com. *