h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Christmas quiz - Million-sellers

Up to a couple of years ago, there were 82 single records (not albums) which had sold at least a million copies in the UK. Your task is to identify them. Some are obvious, but there are some big surprises too.



You may post up to 5 guesses per day each - please include both the artist and the song title (at least one song is in there twice under different artists)



These are probably not difficult to look up, so if you prefer to do that, please don't share your search results here. This is a fun quiz.



I'll pop back regularly, acknowledge the correct answers and post a few clues (like for example).



So, over to you: Guess those million-sellers:

Bing Crosby - White Christmas
Rolf Harris - Two little boys
Melanie Thornton - that coca cola song
Clive Dunn - Grandad
Harry Belafonte - Mary's Boy Child

You score for:

51. Harry Belafonte - Mary's Boy Child (1.175 million sold)
81. Bing Crosby - White Christmas (1.005m)



But no Melanie Thornton, Clive Dunn or Rolf Harris in the list...

White Christmas is the second-biggest selling single worldwide, with 30 million sales. Only 1 million of these were in the UK.

Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Candle in the Wind Diana Version - Elton John
Summer Holiday - Cliff Richard and the Shadows
Amazing Grace - some bagpipe band
Mull of Kintyre - Paul McCartney

You're approaching from the other end, Gnomon.

You score for:

1. Elton John - Candle in the Wind (4.865m)
3. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody (2.176m)
4. Wings - Mull of Kintyre (2.050m)

The Pipes & Drums & Military Band Of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards had the biggest-selling single of 1972, but it didn't sell a million.

Cliff does appear in the list, but not with Summer Holiday.

...and I should add that Candle in the Wind is the biggest worldwide seller, with 37 million copies shifted.

For some reason, I assumed we were looking for Christmassy songs.

Can I have another go? I'll bet there are some James Bond themes in there.

Is the Cliff Richard one Misteltoe and Wine?

Sorry, I must be strict about the 5 guesses per person per day rule.

But if other players are nice, they might reserve that one for you tomorrow

The Beatles - Hey Jude
Wet Wet Wet - Love is All Around
Bryan Adams - Everything I Do (I do it For You)

<BB<

Wham! - Last Christmas
Band Aid (and/or II, 20, 30, 92, million, infinity etc) - Do They Know It's Christmas?

<BB<

Hey Jude is one of the surprises. It's sold 10 million worldwide, but less than a million in the UK.

You do however score for:

12. Wet Wet Wet - Love Is All Around (1.785m)
18. Bryan Adams - Everything I Do I Do It For You (1.545m)

You score a bonus point for Band Aid, as it's in the list twice:

2. Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas? (3.575m)
24. Wham - Last Christmas (1.485m)
58. Band Aid 20 - Do They Know it's Christmas? (1.138m)

Is that last one the one that nobody liked because it was too popular?

Babylon Zoo - Spaceman (I bought one and the album)
Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall
Lady Gaga - Poker Face

Hi Magwitch

You score for:

63. Babylon Zoo - Spaceman

But there are no Pink Floyd or Lady Gaga singles in the list.

Pink Floyd do however have the 5th best-selling album of all time, Dark Side of the Moon, which has sold 40 million worldwide (bonus points if you can name any of the four which have sold more)

Well, we've got 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Gnomon and Bluebottle), so that deserves a pat on the back.

Now I've managed to get my mind out of Christmas mode, I'll go for

Ernie - Benny Hill
She loves you - The Beatles
Twist and Shout - The Beatles
Sailing - Rod Stewart
Satisfaction - Rolling Stones

For any that date from about 1976 - 2006, I'm a bit out of what went on in the UK at that time.

Great selection, but the only million-seller in there is:

8. The Beatles - She Loves You (1.89m)

If there's a clue I should give, it's that all styles are represented in this list: Easy Listening, Rock and Roll, Punk/New Wave, Indie Rock, Disco, Boy Bands, Club/Dance, Hip Hop/Rap, Charity anthems, talent show winners, - you name it.

Kate Bush, Wuthering Heights
The Beatles, I Want to Hold Your Hand
Elvis, I Can't Help Falling in Love with You
Cliff, Congratulations
Abba, Dancing Queen