70 Fun Facts About 1970s One-Hit Wonders

Who had a worldwide 1974 number one with 'Kung Fu Fighting'?

It went on to sell eleven million copies and topped Channel 4's UK poll of the greatest one-hit wonders in 2000 and again in 2006.

Who wrote and recorded 'Spirit in the Sky', a 1970 US hit that later topped the UK chart?

Norman Greenbaum wrote and sang 'Spirit in the Sky', a US top-five hit and UK number one in 1970; Doctor and the Medics (1986) and Gareth Gates (2003) later took it back to UK number one.

Which band took 'Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)' to number one in the US in 1972?

Looking Glass, a New Jersey band formed at Rutgers University, took 'Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)' to number one in the US in August 1972; guitarist Elliot Lurie wrote and sang it.

'Play That Funky Music' (1976) was the only Top 40 hit for which Ohio band?

Wild Cherry, led by Rob Parissi, formed in Mingo Junction, Ohio, as a hard-rock cover act; 'Play That Funky Music' topped the US chart in September 1976 and was the band's only Top 40 hit.

Which Canadian singer had a worldwide hit in 1974 with 'Seasons in the Sun'?

Terry Jacks, from Winnipeg, took 'Seasons in the Sun' to number one in the US and UK in 1974; his version reworks Rod McKuen's English adaptation of a 1961 French-language chanson.

'Seasons in the Sun' adapts 'Le Moribond', a 1961 song by which singer-songwriter?

Jacques Brel wrote and recorded 'Le Moribond' in 1961; Rod McKuen's English adaptation was first recorded by the Kingston Trio a decade before the 1974 hit version.

'The Night Chicago Died', a US number one in 1974, was recorded by which British group?

Paper Lace, a group from Nottingham, took 'The Night Chicago Died' to number one in the US in August 1974; it describes a fictional shoot-out between Chicago police and Al Capone's gang.

Which American act took 'Billy Don't Be a Hero' to number one in the US in 1974?

Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods, from Cincinnati, took 'Billy Don't Be a Hero' to number one in the US in June 1974, beating the original British version, which had topped the UK chart earlier that year.

Starland Vocal Band's 1976 number one 'Afternoon Delight' took its title from what?

A restaurant's happy-hour menu: Bill Danoff borrowed the title from the 'Afternoon Delights' appetizer menu at Clyde's of Georgetown; the song topped the US chart in July 1976 and won a Grammy for Best Arrangement for Voices.

Starland Vocal Band beat which band, whose 1976 debut is among the best-selling debuts ever, to Best New Artist?

Boston, whose self-titled 1976 debut sold over 17 million copies in the US, lost Best New Artist at the 1977 Grammys to Starland Vocal Band, a result often cited when the award is called a curse.

Ram Jam's 1977 hit 'Black Betty' reworked a work song usually credited to which bluesman?

Lead Belly recorded 'Black Betty' a cappella in 1939 and the song is usually credited to him; what the title means is disputed, with a whiskey bottle, a whip and a prison transfer wagon all proposed.

'Hooked on a Feeling', the 1974 'ooga chaka' number one, was recorded by a group from which country?

Sweden: the group was from Stockholm and its version topped the US chart in April 1974; B. J. Thomas had taken the song to the US top five in 1969, and the 'ooga chaka' cut later appeared in Reservoir Dogs.

The 1974 'Hooked on a Feeling' took its 'ooga chaka' intro from whose 1971 cover?

Jonathan King added the 'ooga chaka' chant to his 1971 UK top-30 cover of 'Hooked on a Feeling', and the 1974 US number one copied it note for note.

'My Sharona' was named after a real teenager who went on to become what?

Doug Fieger's girlfriend: Sharona Alperin, 17 when Fieger met her, became his girlfriend and posed for the single's sleeve; it was Capitol's fastest-selling debut single to go gold since the Beatles' 'I Want to Hold Your Hand'.

How many weeks did the Knack's 'My Sharona' spend at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979?

Six: 'My Sharona' topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks from late August 1979 and finished as Billboard's number one single of the year.

'Video Killed the Radio Star' by the Buggles became famous in 1981 for being what?

The first thing MTV ever aired: 'Video Killed the Radio Star' opened MTV on 1 August 1981, and in February 2000 it became the millionth video the channel played.

Which producer, later behind Frankie Goes to Hollywood, was in The Buggles with Geoff Downes?

Trevor Horn formed the Buggles with Geoff Downes; after 'Video Killed the Radio Star' topped the UK chart in 1979, both briefly joined Yes, and Horn went on to produce Frankie Goes to Hollywood's 'Relax'.

'Popcorn', a 1972 worldwide hit for Hot Butter, was originally composed in 1969 for which electronic instrument?

The Moog synthesizer: Gershon Kingsley wrote 'Popcorn' for his 1969 album 'Music to Moog By'; Hot Butter's 1972 cover, led by Stan Free, reached the US top ten and was later covered by Crazy Frog.

'Convoy' (1975) was credited to C. W. McCall, a character voiced by which advertising man?

Bill Fries, an Omaha advertising executive, created C. W. McCall for an Old Home Bread commercial campaign and voiced the character on 'Convoy'; co-writer Chip Davis went on to found Mannheim Steamroller.

Rick Dees, who sang the 1976 US number one 'Disco Duck', worked at the time as what?

A Memphis radio DJ: Rick Dees was on WMPS, which refused to play 'Disco Duck' and fired him for plugging it on air; rival WHBQ hired him as the single climbed to US number one in October 1976.

Anita Ward's 1979 hit 'Ring My Bell' was originally written for which eleven-year-old singer?

Stacy Lattisaw: writer-producer Frederick Knight wrote 'Ring My Bell' as a teen pop song for the eleven-year-old, then reworked it for Anita Ward, whose version topped the US chart in June 1979 with its Synare drum 'pew'.

'Pop Muzik', a 1979 US number one credited to M, was the project of which English musician?

Robin Scott recorded 'Pop Muzik' under the name M; it reached number two in the UK and topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in November 1979.

Ray Dorset wrote 'In the Summertime' in about ten minutes while working in a lab for which company?

Timex: Ray Dorset was a lab worker at the watchmaker when he wrote 'In the Summertime'; the recording ran only about two minutes, so producer Barry Murray played it twice with a motorbike sound in between.

'Wildfire', a 1975 US top three hit about a girl and her lost horse, was recorded by which singer?

Michael Martin Murphey took 'Wildfire' into the US top five in 1975; he said the song came to him in a dream, and the Western Writers of America later voted it among the top 100 Western songs.

Pilot, the band behind the 1974 hit 'Magic', formed in which Scottish city?

Edinburgh: Pilot was formed there in 1973 by David Paton and Billy Lyall, both former members of the Bay City Rollers; 'Magic' reached number eleven in the UK and number five in the US.

Ace's 1974 hit 'How Long' sounds like it's about infidelity, but Paul Carrack wrote it after discovering what?

The bassist was secretly playing with another band: Paul Carrack wrote 'How Long' after learning Ace's bassist Terry Comer had been moonlighting with the Sutherland Brothers and Quiver; Carrack later sang for Squeeze and Mike + the Mechanics.

King Harvest's 1972 hit 'Dancing in the Moonlight' was covered in 2000 by which English band?

Toploader's 2000 cover of 'Dancing in the Moonlight' reached the UK top ten; writer Sherman Kelly composed the song while recovering from a gang assault in St. Croix, imagining a peaceful celebration instead.

Which future 'Piña Colada Song' star wrote 'Timothy', the Buoys' 1971 hit about a cannibalism-tinged mine cave-in?

Rupert Holmes wrote 'Timothy' hoping a radio ban would generate publicity for the Buoys; many stations did refuse it, yet it reached number 17 in the US in 1971, eight years before his own 'Escape (The Piña Colada Song)'.

Shocking Blue, whose 'Venus' topped the US chart in February 1970, came from which country?

Netherlands: Shocking Blue formed in The Hague, and 'Venus' was the first Dutch record to top the US Billboard Hot 100, in February 1970; Bananarama's 1986 cover also reached US number one.

Shocking Blue's 'Venus' is based on 'The Banjo Song', a reworking of which Stephen Foster tune?

Oh! Susanna: 'The Banjo Song', recorded by the Big 3 in 1963, set Stephen Foster's 'Oh! Susanna' lyrics to a new melody, and Shocking Blue's Robbie van Leeuwen lifted that tune for 'Venus'.

Les Emmerson wrote 'Signs' after being annoyed by billboards blocking the scenery on which highway?

Route 66: Les Emmerson wrote 'Signs' after billboards along Route 66 spoiled a drive to California; first buried as a B-side, it was reissued in 1971, reached the US top five and was covered by Tesla in 1990.

How many weeks did Nick Gilder's 'Hot Child in the City' take to reach number one in 1978, a record?

21: 'Hot Child in the City' crawled up the Hot 100 for 21 weeks before reaching number one in October 1978, then the slowest climb ever; Gilder had earlier fronted Sweeney Todd on the Canadian chart-topper 'Roxy Roller'.

'Driver's Seat' hit number one in the Netherlands in 1991, twelve years after release, thanks to an advert for what?

Pioneer car stereos: a Dutch Pioneer commercial used 'Driver's Seat' in 1991, sending Sniff 'n' the Tears' 1979 single to number one there; singer Paul Roberts had nearly given up music for painting before the band got a deal.

The singer of 1977's 'You Light Up My Life' is the daughter of which 1950s crooner?

Pat Boone's daughter Debby Boone took 'You Light Up My Life' to ten weeks at US number one in 1977; writer Joseph Brooks won the Oscar for it, though the film version was sung by Kasey Cisyk.

Which songwriter-arranger recorded the 1975 disco hit 'The Hustle' with his Soul City Symphony?

Van McCoy wrote 'The Hustle' after business partner Charles Kipps watched patrons doing the dance at the New York club Adam's Apple; the record topped the US chart in July 1975 with Steve Gadd on drums.

Which trio recorded "Rock the Boat", a US number one in July 1974 often called one of the first disco hits?

The Hues Corporation, a Los Angeles trio, saw 'Rock the Boat' languish for months until New York discos adopted it; it reached number one on the Hot 100 in July 1974, a week ahead of George McCrae's 'Rock Your Baby'.

'Dueling Banjos', a 1973 hit for Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell, was made famous by which film?

Deliverance (1972) made 'Dueling Banjos' famous through its porch scene; Arthur 'Guitar Boogie' Smith had written it as 'Feudin' Banjos' in the 1950s and successfully sued for credit after the film version became a hit.

'Hocus Pocus', a 1973 US top ten instrumental featuring yodelling and flute, was by which Dutch band?

Focus, led by Thijs van Leer and guitarist Jan Akkerman, took 'Hocus Pocus' to number nine in the US in 1973, van Leer supplying the yodels and flute; Nike's 2010 'Write the Future' World Cup advert revived it.

Warner Bros. set up Pacific Records, whose first release was Alan O'Day's 'Undercover Angel', for what kind of artist?

Songwriters who also performed: Warner Bros. Music created Pacific Records as an outlet for its staff writers, and O'Day, who had written 'Angie Baby' for Helen Reddy, gave the label a US number one in 1977.

The Floaters' 1977 hit 'Float On' went to number one in which country?

In the US it stalled at number two behind Andy Gibb and the Emotions, and the group never returned to the Hot 100.

Henry Gross's 1976 hit 'Shannon' mourns a dog that belonged to a member of which band?

The Beach Boys: Henry Gross wrote 'Shannon' after learning that Carl Wilson's Irish setter of that name had died; the Sha Na Na founder's ballad reached the US top ten in 1976.

Sammy Johns' 1975 hit 'Chevy Van' features backing by which famous group of session musicians?

The Wrecking Crew, the Los Angeles session pool famous for Phil Spector's Wall of Sound, backed Sammy Johns on 'Chevy Van'; ignored on its 1973 release, the 1975 reissue reached the US top five.

'Torn Between Two Lovers', a 1977 US number one, was co-written by a member of which folk trio?

Peter, Paul and Mary member Peter Yarrow co-wrote 'Torn Between Two Lovers' with Phillip Jarrell and produced Mary MacGregor's recording at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio; it topped the Hot 100 and the Easy Listening chart in February 1977.

'Escape (The Piña Colada Song)', a 1979 hit, holds what distinction in Billboard chart history?

The final US number one of the 1970s: 'Escape (The Piña Colada Song)' hit number one on 22 December 1979 and returned to the top in January 1980; its narrator finds the personal ad was placed by his own partner.

Sugarloaf's 1970 hit 'Green-Eyed Lady' was written about whose girlfriend?

Keyboardist and singer Jerry Corbetta's girlfriend inspired 'Green-Eyed Lady', which he co-wrote; the Denver band's single reached the US top five in October 1970, trimmed from a much longer album track.

The Stampeders' banjo-driven 1971 hit 'Sweet City Woman' spent four weeks at number one in which country?

It swept the 1972 Junos, including Best Single and Songwriter of the Year for guitarist Rich Dodson.

The seven-year-old boy duetting on Clint Holmes' 1973 'Playground in My Mind' was whose son?

It stalled at number two in the US behind Paul McCartney and Wings' 'My Love' but topped the Canadian chart for three weeks.

Lieutenant Pigeon's 1972 UK No. 1 'Mouldy Old Dough' is the only British chart-topper with which family combination?

A mother and son: Rob Woodward's mother Hilda played piano on 'Mouldy Old Dough', recorded in the front room of his semi-detached house in Coventry; it spent four weeks at UK number one in October 1972.

'Fly, Robin, Fly' (1975) made Silver Convention only the second act from which country to top the US chart?

West Germany: the Munich-based Silver Convention followed Bert Kaempfert as the second German act with a US number one when 'Fly, Robin, Fly' topped the chart in November 1975; its whole lyric repeats just a few words.

Which soap actor took a cover of David Essex's 'Rock On' to number one in 1989?

Michael Damian, then of The Young and the Restless, took 'Rock On' to number one in the US in 1989 after it appeared in the film Dream a Little Dream; David Essex's original reached the US top five in 1974.

Nicky Chinn wrote Exile's 1978 number one 'Kiss You All Over' with which producer, who cited Barry White?

Mike Chapman co-wrote and produced 'Kiss You All Over', a four-week US number one in autumn 1978; Exile never had another big pop hit but reinvented themselves as a country act with a string of number ones in the 1980s.

Morris Albert, singer of the mid-1970s hit 'Feelings', is from which country?

Brazil: Morris Albert, born Maurício Alberto Kaisermann in São Paulo, wrote and sang 'Feelings', which reached the US top ten in 1975; French composer Louis Gasté later won a plagiarism suit over its melody.

Joey Levine, lead singer of Reunion's 1974 hit 'Life Is a Rock', had earlier fronted which bubblegum act?

Ohio Express: Joey Levine sang lead on its 1968 bubblegum hit 'Yummy Yummy Yummy', which he co-wrote; in 1974 his rapid-fire patter carried Reunion's 'Life Is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)' into the US top ten.

Middle of the Road, who had a 1971 UK No. 1 with 'Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep', came from which country?

Scotland: Middle of the Road formed in Glasgow and recorded 'Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep' while working in Italy, where writer Lally Stott's own version had already charted; it spent five weeks at UK number one in 1971.

What did Andy Kim put on the B-side of his self-financed 1974 hit 'Rock Me Gently'?

An instrumental version of the same song: Kim pressed 'Rock Me Gently' on his own Ice label with an instrumental 'Part II' on the flip; the Montreal-born co-writer of 'Sugar, Sugar' took it to US number one in September 1974.

Which star had a 1994 hit covering Vicki Sue Robinson's disco classic 'Turn the Beat Around'?

Gloria Estefan recorded 'Turn the Beat Around' for the 1994 film The Specialist and took it into the US top 20; Vicki Sue Robinson's 1976 original reached the top ten and earned a Grammy nomination.

In which town did Benny Hill deliver milk, inspiring 'Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)'?

Eastleigh, Hampshire: as a teenager Benny Hill drove a milk float for Hann's Dairies there, the basis for Ernie and his horse Trigger; the song was the UK Christmas number one of 1971 and won an Ivor Novello Award.

Melanie's 1971 number one "Brand New Key" picked up what nickname because of its chorus?

The Rollerskate Song: the chorus 'I've got a brand new pair of roller skates' gave 'Brand New Key' its nickname; Melanie said she wrote it in about fifteen minutes and was surprised by the Freudian readings.

Jim Peterik, who wrote the Ides of March's 1970 hit "Vehicle", went on to found which rock band?

Survivor, co-founded by Jim Peterik in 1978, went on to record 'Eye of the Tiger'; eight years earlier his horn-driven 'Vehicle' had reached number two in the US and was often mistaken for Blood, Sweat & Tears.

Which bandleader had "One Toke Over the Line" performed on his TV program in 1971, calling it a modern spiritual?

Lawrence Welk introduced Gail Farrell and Dick Dale's rendition of 'One Toke Over the Line' on his show in 1971 as 'a modern spiritual'; the same year the FCC warned radio stations about songs glorifying drug use.

How many consecutive weeks did Player's "Baby Come Back" spend at number one in January 1978?

Three: 'Baby Come Back' topped the Hot 100 for three weeks in January 1978; Peter Beckett and J. C. Crowley wrote it after their own break-ups, and Player never matched it.

Which disco act behind "Boogie Oogie Oogie" won the Grammy for Best New Artist in February 1979?

A Taste of Honey beat Elvis Costello, the Cars and Toto to Best New Artist at the 1979 Grammys; 'Boogie Oogie Oogie' had topped the US chart in September 1978 and was Capitol's first platinum single.

Mickey Thomas, who sang "Fooled Around and Fell in Love", was then invited to front which band?

Jefferson Starship recruited Mickey Thomas in 1979 after Grace Slick and Marty Balin left; Elvin Bishop had handed him 'Fooled Around and Fell in Love' because he felt his own gravelly voice would not suit the ballad.

Which band's only Top 40 hit was the 1970 nautical rocker "Ride Captain Ride"?

Blues Image, a Tampa band, reached number four in the US with 'Ride Captain Ride' in 1970; co-writer Mike Pinera left soon afterwards to join Iron Butterfly, and the band never returned to the Top 40.

Redbone's "Come and Get Your Love" found a new audience after appearing in which 2014 film?

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) opens with Chris Pratt's Star-Lord dancing to 'Come and Get Your Love'; Redbone had taken it to number five in 1974, the first US top five hit by a Native American band.

Which session singer fronted Edison Lighthouse, White Plains and Brotherhood of Man on TV in early 1970?

Tony Burrows sang lead on 'Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)', the first new UK number one of the 1970s, fronting several different 'groups' on one Top of the Pops; a band was hastily assembled to tour as Edison Lighthouse.

'Music Box Dancer', a 1979 US top-five piano instrumental, was composed and played by whom?

Frank Mills, a Montreal-born pianist, first recorded 'Music Box Dancer' in 1974; reissued in 1978, it reached the US top five early in 1979 and won him a Juno Award.

"Precious and Few", a big North American hit in early 1972, was recorded by which group?

Climax, a Los Angeles band fronted by Sonny Geraci, formerly of the Outsiders, took 'Precious and Few' into the US top five in 1972; guitarist Walter D. Nims wrote it.

Minnie Riperton's 1975 US number one 'Lovin' You' was co-produced by which Motown star?

Stevie Wonder co-produced Minnie Riperton's album Perfect Angel under the pseudonym El Toro Negro; 'Lovin' You', with its whistle-register high notes, topped the Hot 100 in April 1975.

Dan Hill wrote the words of "Sometimes When We Touch"; which Brill Building veteran wrote the music?

Barry Mann, who wrote 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'' with Cynthia Weil, composed the music for 'Sometimes When We Touch' to Dan Hill's lyric; the ballad reached the US top five in 1978.