"Oh Babe" ... one of my favs.
What is your favorite 1 hit wonder from the 70's?
Many on Audiogon agree the 1970's was the best decade for popular music. Whether it was the quality of songwriting or the diversity of music. The decade also produced many unforgettable 1 hit wonders. My personal favorite is Afternoon Delight by Starland Vocal Band, what's yours?
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Iron Butterfly was 1968. I also wouldn't describe Mott the Hoople as a one hit wonder. Prior the their alliance with David Bowie they had released 4 albums, of which 2 are quite good, and were considered one of the great live acts of the period. Dylan meets early heavy metal. You should also remember Mick Ralphs went on the form Bad Company. |
Nobody mentioned yet.. but from my part of the world, hits like.. -Do That To Me One More Time (Captain & Tenille) -Please Don't Go (KC & The Sunshine Band) -Love Is In The Air (John Paul Young) -First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Roberta Flack) Are some that certainly made their marks during the '70's--while not exactly a one hit wonder, but.. Miss those great eras, the '70s & '80s. |
Little switch to the soul/disco side: first, Disco Inferno by the Trampps- I think the lead singer went to prison for a while after he pistol whipped his girlfriend on Valentine's Day; and... Shuggie Otis, covered by the Bros Johnson: Strawberry Letter #23- classic soul. Doesn't get any better than that. |
Hello Bvdiman - Must confess I wasn't familiar with Johnnie Wilder. (back in the day, more into hard rock than R&B or "Soul"). I checked out the link you posted. Regardless of category, talent is talent and that man had a gift. Beautiful voice. Thanks for sharing. Did you know the William De Vaughn single? It is such a smooth groove. Can just do a loop of it over and over. Ciao. |
Hi Ghosthouse, Yesss.. used to listen to the more up-tempo versions of William DV but, love both! Another must share all time classic great soul of '70s.. -What's Going On (Marvin Gaye) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzs1K3caXJk&feature=related This one that has been mentioned earlier, but I particularly like this later live version.. -Fool If You Think It's Over (Chris Rea) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ0IYHHzIN8 Johnnie Wilder Jr. before the accident and still with the band. One of their more popular hits.. -Dreamin' You (Heatwave) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZvc7hFGrdU&feature=related Happy listening all! |
I just heard Argent "Hold Your Head Up" on ATT Music Channel and then found out they never had another charting US single. "Hold Your Head Up" peaked at #5(Billboard)in 1972. Not sure if it was mentioned in previous posts. FWIW could anyone comment on the music content/sound quality of the 7 lp's they released. |
argent were basically the zombies without the great singer colin blunstone and were very good in their own right--sort of a poppier, less bombastic elp. i actually chanced to revisit them recently and was surprised how little they've dated. not exactly a one-hit wonder--their songs like "liar" and "god gave rock and roll" were big for other bands, and "dance in the smoke" (my favorite)is still an fm classic. there's a bunch of best-ofs and anthologies, which are probably the best place to start, but of the studio albums the first one, just called "argent" is probably the best. |
Several others posted "Jackie Blue" but since OMD had fairly strong LP sales I thought they just might have another top 40 hit. "If You Wanna Get To Heaven" off the first(ST) LP hit #25 on the Billboard Hot 100. Here is my top 10 1 hit wonder(no other top 40 US hits) list for the 70's, so Far... 1-Afternoon Delight-Starland Vocal Band 2-How Long-Ace 3-Hocus Pocus-Focus 4-Argent-Hold Your Head Up 5-Because the Night-Patti Smith Group 6-Smoke of a Distant Fire-Sanford Townsend Band 7-Dancing in the Moonlight-King Harvest 8-Funky Nassau-The Beginning of the End 9-Rock On-David Essex 10-Put Your Hand in the Hand-Ocean I'm pretty sure these bands/performers never had another Top 40 US hit. Not saying my list can't be improved upon. |
I agree, "Afternoon Delight" would be right up there with "Feelings" by Morris Alpert. It has that melancholy feel found throughout Brazilian music that I didn't have a clue about until I married a Brazilian woman and really discovered after the many visits over the years. Alpert was a Brazilian who never made it in Brazil, the irony is how Brazilians really have an affinity for popular American music but NOT Alpert. It isn't the words of "Feelings" but the music, decidedly NOT American pop music but something so different than what I had heard up to that time. |
"Drift Away" and "Black Betty" are good choices but(IMO) don't enter my top ten. Gerry Rafferty had a mega #2 Billboard hit "Baker Street" in case you forgot? "Feelings" not a bad choice(don't like song)but have no problem with it being a top ten possibility along with "Chevy Van"/"Shannon"/"Please Come to Boston". |