#1 One-Hit Wonders from 1970-1974 #4M
Good morning, Kittens and Dawgs! This is “freebie week” which means there is NO THEME and it’s your choice to share whatever mewsic moves you! Today, I’m picking up again my “One-hit Wonders” series with these #1 charting classics from 1970-1974!
- “Venus” – Shocking Blue (1970) Dutch musician, background vocalist, and songwriter, Bobbie Van Leeuwen wrote this classic one-hit wonder that went #1 in nine countries by Dutch band, Shocking Blue, and it returned to the top of the chart in 1986 by the all-girl group, Bananarama.
- “Me and Bobby McGee” – Janis Joplin (1971) Kris Kristofferson & Fred Foster penned this song and first performed by Roger Miller. Several artist recorded the song but it Joplin’s cover that topped the chart, making it her only #1 hit. Interesting, she recorded this song for her Pearl album two days before her death in 1970.
- “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” – Paul & Linda McCartney (1971) The husband/wife duo stitched together several unfinished songs making this McCartney’s first post-Beatles’ #1 hit. It’s said this song’s interpretation is an apology to McCartney’s Uncle Albert’s generation from his generation with mixed depression over the Beatles’ breakup. The song is particular noted for its thunder and rain sounds, telephone effects added to the vocals, chirping birds and seashore wind.
- “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” – Vicki Lawrence (1973) Bobby Russell wrote this southern gothic song. The spine-tingling tale of a man wrongly accused of murdering his wife and lover told by the real killer the man’s baby sister. Bobby was married to Vicki when he penned the song. He didn’t like it and had no intentions of recording it but Lawrence felt different, deciding to recorded it for her album with the same name and the rest is history.
- “Brother Louie” – Stories (1973) is a song about an interracial affair written by UK Hot Chocolate band members Errol Brown & originally recorded by the group which did well but six months later Stories covered the song taking it to #1 in the USA and Canada.
- “Seasons in the Sun” – Terry Jacks (1974) Jacks’ song is an English-translation of “Le Meribond” written by Belgian singer/songwriter, Jacques Brell. Originally the song was written as a farewell from a dying husband to his wife but Jacks’ rendition in version one he sings to a trusted friend he’s known since childhood, the second version he down plays the regret and the 3rd he bids goodbye to his little daughter. This song stayed at #1 for three weeks and remained in the top 40 six months after it’s release.
- TSOP (The Sounds of Philadelphia) – MFSB (1974) is an instrumental piece depicting Philadelphia soul by Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers featuring vocalists, The Three Degrees. It became Soul Train’s theme and the first TV show song to reach #1. Don Cornelius expressed regret for making a stink about not allowing MFSB original reference in the song to the Soul Train.
- The Night Chicago Died – Paper Lace (1974) The Valentine’s Day massacre where Capone’s men killed several members of the Bugs Moran gang (no police involvement) inspired the songwriters Paper Lace band members, Peter Callender and Mitch Murray spinning a fictitious blood bath between mobsters and coppers with the anxious await of news for a mother about her husband’s fate, a Chicago policeman.
- “I Can Help” – Billy Swan (1974) Usually one-hit wonder artists don’t have little success outside their one time hit but that’s not the case with Swan. I Can Help is consider his biggest hit but what made so special is that it’s crossover smash hit Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Singles charts. It peaked at #1 on several international charts as well.
- “Kung Fu Fighting” – Carol Douglas (1974) This one-hit wonder is a case of another song needed for side B (I Want To Give YOu My Everything) and not taken seriously; recording it in the last ten minutes of a three-hour recording session in only two takes but after Robin Blanchflower of Pye Records heard it, insisted “Kung Fu Fighting” be the A-side. Sales and radio play time were slow in the first five weeks but then gained momentum going on to be one of the best-selling singles of all times with more than 11M record sales worldwide.
I like to fit in at least one post in this series each month but honestly I don’t believe there’s a snowball chance in heck that, that will happen, so I will resume with in January with more #1 One-Hit Wonders!
Are you ready to groove? My partners XmasDolly, Stacy, & Colette are ready to boogie with you and you’re invited to step out on the dance floor with us now!
This is a weekly hop for mewsic enthusiasts regardless if you follow our weekly theme or not if you have mewsic to share then we’re ready to dance with you. Otherwise, I ask that you do not link non-mewsic posts below to boost traffic to your site. You’re welcome to leave your URL in comments with a brief description inviting me to check it out. Thank you!
[tweetthis]Tell a friend & hit the dance floor with “freebie style” #music with the #4M gals! @xmasdolly [/tweetthis]
What mewsic moves you today? ?
I invite you hop over to McGuffy’s Reader for more “Sparks” of inspiration/encouragement. Let’s make the world a better place, one person at a time beginning with #1! 😉
I can honestly say I have a happy heart because I am thankful for everything in my life, the good and the not-so good. Every experience is meant to shape me into the person God wants me to be and it’s truly up to me to use these moments to grow from and to enrich another person’s life. Do you have a thankful heart? What are you thankful for today?
Keep those tunes playing and your body swaying, I’ll see ya around the cyber block!
29 Comments
John Holton
Considering next week’s theme is “one-hit wonders from your high school years,” and considering my high school years were 1970-1974, maybe I’ll just reblog yours…. HAHAHAHAHAHA! I’ll try and come up with some unique stuff… OR… maybe, since next Monday is my brother Kip’s birthday, I’ll pick songs from *his* high school years (1972-1976)…
Great list here!
Colette S
Of ocurse Kung fu fighting has to be a hit! Love that one!
Thanks for the list and dancing Cathy.
Happy Wednesday!
thereinvintagedlife
These are great, Cathy! I think my favorite of the bunch is “The Night Chicago Died”, but the rest are all pretty great, too!
Cathy Kennedy
Kim,
It’s great seeing you on the dance floor and Blogosphere again, my friend. We sure did miss you!
Ida P. Krause
It’s fun to look back on those old songs. I really like the Seasons in the Sun song even though it’s sort of sad. Music is good for the soul.
15andmeowing
Great Spark. I am going to have that Kung Fu Fighting song in my head all night now 🙂
Peter B
Love those one hit wonders! There are some good ones in there, and some I wouldn’t have expected (Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey). Oh, and thanks so much for the comment on my blog, and sorry for the technical glitch. Sometimes I think Blogger is just out to get us!
Cathy Kennedy
Peter,
I don’t know what the problem with Blogger but it seems like I suspected what the problem was by my 3rd try. I can’t remember now what it was, though. lol Oh well…at least I finally got to leave a comment. 😀 Thanks for dropping by to listen to some mewsic!
Myke Todd
I love your one hit wonder features… Getting to see Mariska Veres perform “Venus” was a treat.
Thank you, Cathy.
Cathy Kennedy
Myke,
I’m delighted you came by hear these classics from the 70s. I never get tired of the old sounds!
Birgit
The moment I read your header, The Night Chicago Died, went through my head. I’m glad to see it here. Some great songs here including Kung Fu Fighting which must have been inspired by Bruce Lee
Cathy Kennedy
Birgit,
I think John shared “The Night Chicago Died” recently, so when I did the research I was surprised to learn that it was a one-hit wonder. There were a lot of great tunes from this era!
Joyce Lansky
You’ve got it! What fun songs. Thanks!
Cathy Kennedy
Joyce, thank you for joining me!
XmasDolly
Love your pics, love your tunes, love your twitter & luv U!!!! We really need to make this a theme! One hit wonders… there’s just so many of them and so many are a huge surprise to me too! Bobby McGee a one hit wonder????? hmmmmm I better go reread that one. LOL Maybe I’m not awake yet… bwahahahahaha Gotta love ya girlfriend, and so you know next week our “Spotlight Dancer” will resurrect and I’ve already sent the email. The theme will be posted ASAP! big hugs and have a rockin’ week! You really have to teach me how to do that twitter/tweet thing so I can do that for my Posts too! BIG HUGS
Cathy Kennedy
Marie,
It’ll be great fun to feature one of our dancers in the spotlight. To insert the “Tweet This”, you need the WP plugin. Do you know how to add a plugin in to your site? Just let me know and I’ll step you through the process. 😉 Thanks for dancing with me, my friend!
darlamsands
I must say that I’m thankful for music. Thanks for the interesting information. And Happy Sparks Monday!
Cathy Kennedy
Darla,
FIt’s always nice to have someone new to stop in for a visit but I’d like to point out, hopefully you’re reading this, that you do not have a link back to your website either in your comment or on your gavatar profile for others to find you easier. The only clue I have is your email address and thankfully I was able to go back to McGuffy’s Reader to find you on her “Sparks” link up. 😉 I agree, I’m thankful for mewsic, too. I can’t imagine life without it. Mewsic gives me lots of joy! 🙂
Arlee Bird
I remember them all. Didn’t realize that Billy Swan song went back so many years.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Cathy Kennedy
Lee,
Not knowing mewsic artists very well in my earlier days, I did not recall his name but I do remember his one-hit wonder, “I Can Help”. Wikipedia shared that Swan got his first break as a song writer in 1962 with “Lover Please” recorded by Clyde McPhatter which became a #7 pop hit. At the time of its release I was only one but given it did so well on the charts I thought I would’ve heard it played during my childhood but I do not remember it.
Patrick Weseman
Great songs. I enjoyed listening to them again. Loved them.
Cathy Kennedy
Patrick,
It’s hard to not enjoy listening to the classics, isn’t it?
McGuffy's Reader
Well, I love most of these songs. Venus has always been a fun song. And, Janis is a favourite of mine. You just cannot go wrong with her, in my humble opinion. We lost a great when we lost her. You chose one of my favourite McCartney songs, too. Ah, memories!
Your Sparks is similar to my Thankful Theme. I agree totally, too. Thank you, Cathy, for being such a wonderful person and friend. HUGS.
Cathy Kennedy
Annie,
I only remembered Janis Joplin for her song “Me and Bobby McGee”. Well, I thought it was her song until doing the research. Although I do not remember any of her other mewsic I recall being saddened by the news of her death. She died the year my sister was born.
Comedy Plus
I remember those one hit wonders. I was so into music in my youth.
I’m most thankful every single day.
Have a fabulous day, Cathey. ☺
Cathy Kennedy
Sandee,
I remember singing along with all these hits from the 70s. It’s funny I can remember the words to a song from 40 years ago but can’t recall what I said yesterday. 🙂
messymimi
Most of these i remember and enjoyed, and haven’t thought about them in years. Thanks for the memories!
Cathy Kennedy
Mimi,
I know what you mean. I often do not think about most songs from the past unless someone shares it or I hear it on the radio. Either way, it’s rare. Have a dancetastic week!
Alana Mautone (@RamblinGarden)
I knew all the songs (these were my college years) and had forgotten most of them, and am now slapping myself because I should have put MFSB into today’s instrumental post. Now, I’m just going to have to have another one. I can now start my day Kung Fu Fighting though, because I actually loved that song! Thank you for the mewsic!