One Hit Wonders of the UK

Mobiles – Drowning In Berlin 01/1982

Alton Edwards – I Just Wanna 01/1982

Lindsay Buckingham – Trouble 01/1982

Rhoda with the Special AKA – The Boiler 01/1982

Theatre Of Hate – Do You Believe In The Westworld 01/1982

Mike Post and Larry Carlton – Theme From Hill Street Blues 01/1982

Toni Basil – Mickey 02/1982

Adrian Gurvitz – Classic 01/1982

Goombay Dance Band – Seven Tears 02/1982

Classix Nouveaux – Is It A Dream 03/1982

Monsoon – Ever So Lonley 04/1982

Bardo – One Step Further 04/1982

PHD – I Won’t Let you Down 04/1982

Joan Jett And The Blackhearts – I Love Rock ‘N Roll 04/1982

Sharon Brown – I Specialize In Love 04/1982

Nicole – A Little Bit Of Peace 05/1982

Charlene – I’ve Never Been To Been Me 05/1982

Natasha – Iko Iko 06/1982

Cheri – Murphy’s Law 06/1982

Trio – Da Da Da 07/1982

The Brat – The Umpire Strikes Back 07/1982

Wavelength – Hurry Home 07/1982

Boys Town Gang – Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You 07/1982

Toto Coelo – I Eat Cannibals Pt 1 08/1982

David Christie – Saddle Up 08/1982

Wonder Dog – Ruff Mix 08/1982

Jennifer Holiday – And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going 09/1982

The Pinkees – Danger Games 09/1982

Raw Silk – Do It To The Music 10/1982

Blue Zoo – Cry Boy Cry 10/1982

Renee And Renato – Save Your Love 10/1982

Incantation – Cacharpaya 12/1982

Maisonettes – Heartache Avenue 12/1982

Listen to: Toni Basil – Mickey

Classix Nouveaux – Is It A Dream

Joan Jett And The Blackhearts – I Love Rock ‘N Roll

Natasha – Iko Iko

Trio – Da Da Da

The Pinkees – Danger Games

When I first saw that “I Love Rock ‘N Roll” was released as the world was shin deep in the Eighties, I was kinda taken aback. Then I looked and found out it is a cover! Even further aback! Very aback! In fact, so is “Mickey” and “Iko Iko”. In the mix, we also have Trio’s delightfully odd and minimalistic hit “Da Da Da”, The Pinkees with the power pop of “Danger Games” and Classix Nouveaux only top 40 “Is It A Dream”.

Susan Fassbender and Kay Russell – Twilight Cafe 01/1981

Honey Bane – Turn Me On Turn Me Off 01/1981

Fred Wedlock – Oldest Swinger In Town 01/1981

Passions – I’m In Love With A German Film Star 01/1981

Sheila Hylton – The Bed’s Too Big Without You 01/1981

Barbara Jones – Just When I Needed You Most 01/1981

Joe Dolce – Shaddap You Face 02/1981

Tony Capstick – Capstick Comes Home 03/1981

Graham Bonnet – Night Games 03/1981

Sugar Minott – Good Thing Going 03/1981

Keith Marshall – Only Crying 04/1981

Department S – Is Vic There? 04/1981

Kim Carnes – Bette Davis Eyes 05/1981

Champaign – How ‘Bout Us 05/1981

Paul Shayne and the Yellowcoats – Hi-De-Hi (Holliday Rock) 05/1981

Kate Robbins and Beyond – More Than In Love 05/1981

Grover Washington Jr. – Just The Two Of Us 05/1981

Red Sovine – Teddy Bear 06/1981

Dead Kennedys – Too Drunk To Fuck 05/1981

Evasions – The Wikka Wrap 06/1981

Carl Carlton – She’s A Bad Mamma Jamma 07/1981

Voggue – Dancin’ The Night Away 07/1981

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – Hooked On The Classics 07/1981

Startrax – Startrax Club Disco 08/1981

Aneka – Japanese Boy 08/1981

Hi-Gloss – You’ll Never Know 08/1981

Tweets – The Birdie Song 09/1981

Portsmouth Sinfonia – Classical Muddly 09/1981

Electronica – Dance Little Bird 09/1981

Laurie Anderson – O Superman 10/1981

The Fureys – When You Were Sweet Sixteen 10/1981

The Exploited – Dead Cities 10/1981

Arthur Adams – You’ve Got The Floor 10/1981

Blue Rondo A La Turk – Me And Mr Sanchez 11/1981

Snowmen – Hokey Cokey 12/1981

Holly And the Ivys – Christmas on 45 12/1981

Brown Sauce – I Wanna Be A Winner 12/1981

Christopher Cross – Arthur’s Theme (Best You Can Do) 10/1981

Listen to: Honey Bane – Turn Me On Turn Me Off

Graham Bonnet – Night Games

Kim Carnes – Bette Davis Eyes

Grover Washington Jr. – Just The Two Of Us

Dead Kennedys – Too Drunk To Fuck

Carl Carlton – She’s A Bad Mamma Jamma

The Exploited – Dead Cities

Some absolute Songs​ᵀᴹ in this year’s list; “Bette Davis Eyes” and “Just The Two Of Us” are certified classics. It’s weird that Bill Withers co-wrote and was the sole singer but Grover Washington Jr. is the only credited artists but that’s life I guess. Nice bit of punk with The Exploited And Dead Kennedys and to some extent Honey Bane. I do love the fact that obviously the BBC banned “Too Drunk To Fuck” but it must have fuelled interest. Graham Bonnet (fresh off his short stint in Rainbow (the band, not the show)) has a tale of love in “Night Games” and Stevie Wonder sound-a-like Carl Carlton has gifted humanity with a funky jam worthy of a stank face.

Azymuth – Jazz Carnival 01/1980

Styx – Babe 01/1980

Captain Beaky –  Captain Beaky 01/1980

The Chords – Maybe Tomorrow 02/1980

Fern Kinney – Together We Are Beautiful 02/1980

Sammy Hagar – I’ve Done Everything For You 02/1980

The Vapors – Turning Japanese 02/1980

Jon Pertwee – Worzel’s Song 03/1980

Tony Rallo – Holdin’ On 02/1980

Bodysnatchers – Let’s Do Rock Steady 03/1980

Leon Haywood – Don’t Push It Don’t Force It 03/1980

Bobby Thurston – Check Out The Groove 03/1980

Martha And The Muffins – Echo Beach 03/1980

Sky – Toccata 04/1980

Rodney Franklin – The Groove 04/1980

Mystic Merlin – Just Can’t Give You Up 04/1980

Four Bucketeers – The Bucket Of Water Song 05/1980

Junior Murvin – Police And Thieves 05/1980

Lipps Inc. – Funkytown 05/1980

Surface Noise – The Scratch 05/1980

Stacy Lattisaw – Jump To The Beat 06/1980

Yellow Magic Orchestra – Theme From The Invader 06/1980

Gerard Kenny – Fantasy 06/1980

Tom Browne – Funkin’ For Jamaica 06/1980

George Duke – Brazilian Love Affair 07/1980

Sue Wilkinson – You Gotta Be A Hustler If You Want To Get On 08/1980

Nick Straker Band – A Walk In The Park 08/1980

The Barracudas – Summer Fun 08/1980

Split Enz – I Got You 08/1980

Black Slate – Amigo 09/1980

Coffee – Casanova 09/1980

Sweet People – And The Birds Were Singing 10/1980

Air Supply – All Out Of Love 09/1980

Young And Co – I Like What You’re Doing To Me 11/1980

Wilton Felder – Inherit The Wind 11/1980

The Look – I Am The Beat 12/1980 

Yarborough & People – Don’t Stop The Music 12/1980

Listen to: The Chords – Maybe Tomorrow

Sammy Hagar – I’ve Done Everything For You

The Vapors – Turning Japanese

Martha And The Muffins – Echo Beach

Junior Murvin – Police And Thieves

Lipps Inc. – Funkytown

The Barracudas – Summer Fun

The Look – I Am The Beat

More power pop! The Chords, The Vapors, The Barracudas, The Look, Martha And The Muffins; all very fun songs. I’d even maybe throw Sammy Hagar (post Montrose, pre Van Halen) in there. Hey, if it’s good enough for Rick Springfield to cover than it’s alright in my book (blog). Talking of covers, “Police And Thieves” is here, not because of The Clash version but in spite of it. It’s just a good reggae song. Plus “Funkytown” dropped this year, catching the tail end of the disco craze. Outside my choices, “All Out Of Love” is a song I could only enjoy five pints in, Nick Straker Band’s “A Walk In The Park” was on my listen to list for a bit but I think I fell out of love with it and Yellow Magic Orchestra might win for shortest OHW at 22 seconds long.

Doll – Desire Me 01/1979

Phoebe Snow – Every Night 01/1979

Chanson – Don’t Hold Back 01/1979

Gary’s Gang – Keep On Dancing 02/1979

Dennis Brown – Money In My Pocket 03/1979

Violinski – Clog Dance 02/1979

Players Association – Turn The Music Up 03/1979

John Cooper Clarke – Gimmix! Play Loud 03/1979

Late Show – Bristol Stomp 03/1979

Gonzalez – Haven’t Stopped Dancing Yet 03/1979

Milk And Honey – Hallelujah 04/1979

Monks – Nice Legs Shame About Her Face 04/1979

Linda Clifford – Bridge Over Troubled Water 05/1979

Cheap Trick – I Want You To Want Me 05/1979

McFadden And Whitehead – Ain’t No Stopping Us Now 05/1979

Bombers – (Everybody) Get Dancin’ 05/1979

Anita Ward – Ring My Bell 06/1979

Tubeway Army – Are ‘Friends’ Electric? 05/1979

Quantum Jump – The Lone Ranger 06/1979

Kevin Keegan – Head Over Heels In Love 06/1979

Thom Pace – Maybe 05/1979

Janet Kay – Silly Games 06/1979

Voyager – Halfway Hotel 05/1979

Slick – Space Bass 06/1979

Carrie Lucas – Dance With You 06/1979

Patrick Hernandez – Born To Be Alive 06/1979

After The Fire – One Rule For You 06/1979

Rickie Lee Jones – Chuck E’s In Love 06/1979

The Knack – My Sharona 06/1979

Judie Tzuke – Stay With Me Til Dawn 07/1979

Spyro Gyra – Morning Dance 07/1979

Telex – Rock Around The Clock 07/1979

Randy Vanwarmer – Just When I Needed You Most 08/1979

Flying Lizards – Money 08/1979

Me And You – You Never Know What You Got 07/1979

Merton Parkas – You Need Wheels 08/1979

Crusaders – Street Life 08/1979

Bill Lovelady – Reggae For It Now 08/1979

Frantique – Strut Your Funky Stuff 08/1979

The Planets – Lines 08/1979

Jags – Back Of My Hand 09/1979

Al Hudson And The Soul Partners – You Can Do It 09/1979

Lena Martell – One Day At A Time 09/1979

Charlie Daniels Band – The Devil Went Down To Georgia 09/1979

John Du Cann – Don’t Be A Dummy 09/1979

Errol Dunkley – OK Fred 09/1979

Matumbi – Point Of View 09/1979

Cats UK – Luton Airport 10/1979

The Ramblers – The Sparrow 10/1979

Iris Williams – He Was Beautiful (Cavatina) 10/1979

Dynasty – I Don’t Want To Be A Freak 10/1979

Robert John – Sad Eyes 10/1979

Dan-I – Monkey Chop 11/1979

Lowrell – Mellow Mellow Right On 11/1979

Fiddler’s Dram – Day Trip To Bangor 12/1979

Greedies – A Merry Jingle 12/1979

Positive Force – We Got The Funk 12/1979

The Inmates – The Walk 12/1979

Regents – 7 Teen 12/1979

Listen to: Cheap Trick – I Want You To Want Me

McFadden And Whitehead – Ain’t No Stopping Us Now

Anita Ward – Ring My Bell

Tubeway Army – Are ‘Friends’ Electric?

Voyager – Halfway Hotel

Rickie Lee Jones – Chuck E’s In Love

The Knack – My Sharona

The Planets – Lines

The Jags – Back Of My Hand

Gun to my head, backed into a corner and arm twisted, I would tell you that the greatest One Hit Wonder of all time is “My Sharona” by The Knack. Pound for pound, I just don’t think there is a better song. It’s ripping second guitar solo, the excellent bass tone, the drum work, the crescendoing ohhhs. Per. Fect. Tion. 28 years into the UK Charts and I’m pretty sure I’ve found what I set out to discover. However, there is still another four decades to go. Can any other song reach these heights? I don’t know. But I’m excited to find out.

Scott Fitzgerald And Yvonne Keeley – If I Had Words 01/1978

Paul Henry And Mayson Glen Orchestra – Benny’s Theme 01/1978

El Coco – Cocomotion 01/1978

Gordon Giltrap – Heartsong 01/1978

Rich Kids – Rich Kids 01/1978

Tonight – Drummer Man 01/1978

Samantha Sang – Emotions 02/1978

Radio Stars – Nervous Wreck 02/1978

Brian And Michael – Matchstick Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs 02/1978

Player – Baby Come Back 02/1978

Dan Hill – Sometimes When We Touch 02/1978

The Vibrators – Automatic Lover 03/1978

Richard Myhill – It Takes Two To Tango 04/1978

The Michael Zager Band – Let’s All Chant 04/1978

Dee D Jackson – Automatic Lover 04/1978

Raffaella Carra – Do It Do It Again 04/1978

Maggie Bell – Hazell 04/1978.

Richard Denton And Martin Cook – Theme From ‘The Hong Kong Beat’ 04/1978

Patti Smith Group – Because The Night 04/1978

Gene Farrow – Move Your Body 04/1978

The Rutles – I Must Be In Love 04/1978

John Paul Young – Love Is In The Air 04/1978

Izhar Cohen And Alphabeta – A Bi Na Bi 05/1978

Blue Oyster Cult – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper 05/1978

Guy Marks – Loving You Has Made Me Bananas 05/1978

James Galway – Annie’s Song 05/1978

Goldie – Making Up Again 05/1978

Sine – Just Let Me Do My Thing 06/1976

San Jose – Argentine Melody 06/1978

A Taste Of Honey – Boogie Oogie Oogie 06/1978

Clout – Substitute 06/1978

Saturday Night Band – Come On Dance, Dance 07/1978

Jackson Browne – Stay 07/1978

Steel Pulse – Prodigal Son 07/1978

Renaissance – Northern Lights 07/1978

Jilted John – Jilted John 08/1978

Rezillos – Top Of The Pops 08/1978

Exile – Kiss You All Over 08/1978

Hylda Baker And Arthur Mullard – You’re The One That I Want 09/1978

Ivor Biggun – The Winker’s Song (Misprint) 09/1978

Cleveland Eaton – Bama Boogie Woogie 09/1978

Jeff Wayne – Eve Of The War 09/1978

Streetband – Toast 11/1978

Becker Brothers – East River 11/1978

Luisa Fernandez – Lay Love On You 11/1978

Phil Hurtt – Giving It Back 11/1978

Alicia Bridges – I Love The Night Life 11/1978

999 – Homicide 11/1978

Mankind – Dr Who 11/1978

Funkadelic – One Nation Under A Groove 12/1978

Sally Oldfield – Mirrors 12/1978

Driver 67 – Car 67 12/1978

Listen to: Rich Kids – Rich Kids

Tonight – Drummer Man

The Radio Stars – Nervous Wreck

The Vibrators – Automatic Lover

Patti Smith Group – Because The Night

John Paul Young – Love Is In The Air

The Rezillos – Top Of The Pops

Now arriving at Punk City, Punkville, USA! Fast drums, fast guitars, barely capable vocalists, great songs! “Automatic Lover” is my absolute choice here. I’m infatuated with the interplay of guitars and shouty chorus. But it’s not all safety pins and mohawks. John Paul Young’s string laden disco classic “Love Is In The Air” is here along with Patti Smith’s oft covered hit “Because The Night”. A lot of big names this year and hey, if you like The Rutles, Blue Oyster Cult, Jeff Wayne, Funkadelic or Ivor Biggun, that’s bully for you but they’re just not my bag.

David Parton – Isn’t She Lovely 01/1977

Boston – More Than A Feeling 01/1977

Brothers – Sing Me 01/1977

Al Stewart – Year Of The Cat 01/1977

Thelma Houston – Don’t Leave Me This Way 02/1977

Racing Cars – They Shoot Horses Don’t They 02/1977

Brick – Dazz 02/1977

Mary McGregor – Torn Between Two Lovers 02/1977

Les Gray – Groovy Kind Of Love 02/1977

Berni Flint – I Don’t Want To Put A Hold On You 03/1977

Marilyn McCoo And Billy Davis – You Don’t Have To Be A Star 03/1977

Brendon – Gimme Some 03/1977

Lynsey De Paul And Mike Moran – Rock Bottom 03/1977

Dead End Kids – Have I The Right 03/1977

Michael Nesmith – Rio 03/1977

Joe Tex – Ain’t Gonna Bump No More 04/1977

Delegation – Where Is The Love (We Used To Know) 04/1977

Piero Umiliani – Mah-Na, Mah-Na 04/1977

Blue – Gonna Capture Your Heart 04/1977

Joy Sarney – Naughty Naughty Naughty 05/1977

Martyn Ford – Let Your Body Go Downtown 05/1977

Rock Follies of ‘77 – OK? 05/1977

Trinidad Oil Company – Calendar Song 05/1977

Carole Bayer Sager – You’re Moving Out Today 05/1977

Honky – Join The Party 05/1977

Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Fanfare For The Common Man 06/1977

Bo Kirkland And Ruth Davis – You’re Gonna Get Next To Me 06/1977

Alessi – Oh, Lori 06/1977

Tony Etoria – I Can Prove It 06/1977

Saints – This Perfect Day 07/1977

Floaters – Float On 07/1977

Steve Gibbons Band – Tulane 08/1977

Mink De Ville – Spanish Stoll 08/1977

Space – Magic Fly 08/1977

De Etta Little & Nelson Pigford – You Take My Heart Away 08/1977

Meri Wilson – Telephone Man 08/1977

Bruce Johnston – Pipeline 08/1977

Black Gorilla – Gimme Dat Banana 08/1977

La Belle Epoque – Black Is Black 08/1977

Philadelphia International All-Stars – Let’s Clean Up The Ghetto 08/1977

Ram Jam – Black Betty 09/1977

Patsy Gallant – From New York To L.A. 09/1977

Danny Mirror – I Remember Elvis 09/1977

Meco – Star Wars Theme 10/1977

Pratt And McClain – Happy Days 10/1977

Mary Mason – Angel Of The Morning 10/1977

Peter Blake – Lipsmackin’ Rock ‘N’ Rollin’ 10/1977

Peter Mac Junior and Godiego – The Water Margin 10/1977

Stella Parton – The Danger Of A Stranger 10/1977

Rokotto – Boogie On Up 10/1977

Mike Vickers and Kenny Everett – Captain Kremmen 11/1977

Lenny Williams – Shoo Doo Fu Fu Ooh 11/1977

Brighouse And Rastrick Brass Band – Floral Dance 11/1977

Kenny Williams – (You’re) Fabulous Babe 11/1977

Wild Willy Berry and John Otway – Really Free 12/1977

Dooley Wilson – As Time Goes By 12/1977

Yannis Markopoulos – Who Pays The Ferryman 12/1977

Althia And Donna – Uptown Ranking 12/1977

Banned – Little Girl 12/1977

Imperials – Who’s Gonna Love Me 12/1977

Listen to: Boston – More Than A Feeling

Thelma Houston – Don’t Leave Me This Way

The Saints – This Perfect Day

Mink De Ville – Spanish Stoll

Space – Magic Fly

Black Gorilla – Gimme Dat Banana

Ram Jam – Black Betty

Althia And Donna – Uptown Ranking

The Banned – Little Girl

I’ve been a music lover for a long time, so I already knew about half of my picks before hand. But the tracks I hadn’t heard previously have quickly become firm favourites. I really surprised that The Saints turned up at all on the UK Charts, because I genuinely thought they were this undiscovered Australian Punk gem who originally went unnoticed. I love the jangle on “Little Girl”, I think I need to dive into The Banned back catalogue at some point. I love “Gimme Dat Banana” in a way I can’t really articulate nor rationalise but you’ll catch my driving about town shouting along to it every now and then. Space essentially kickstart the Eighties three years too soon. “Magic Fly” is a great driving song too, a way to make your journey that bit more dramatic and melancholic.

R And J Stone – We Do It 01/1976

Claude Francois – Tears On The Telephone 01/1976

David Ruffin – Walk Away From Love 01/1976

Wing And A Prayer Fife And Drum Corps – Baby Face 01/1976

Yvonne Fair – It Should Have Been Me 01/1976

Faith, Hope And Charity – Just One Look 01/1976

L.J. Johnson – Your Magic Put A Spell On Me 02/1976

C.W. McCall – Convoy 02/1976

St Andrews Chorale – Cloud 99 02/1976

M And O Band – Let’s Do The Latin Hustle 02/1976

Eddie Drennon And BBS Unlimited – Let’s Do The Latin Hustle 02/1976

Rainbow Cottage – Seagull 03/1976

Emmylou Harris – Here There And Everywhere 03/1976

Surprise Sisters – La Booga Rooga 03/1976

Hank Mizell – Jungle Rock 03/1976

Chris White – Spanish Wine 03/1976

Rodger Collins – You Sexy Sugar Plum (But I Like It) 04/1976

Keith Emerson – Honky Tonk Train Blues 04/1976

Eric Carmen – All By Myself 04/1976

Laurie Lingo And The Dipsticks – Convoy G.B. 04/1976

Harpo – Movie Star 04/1976

Johnnie Taylor – Disco Lady 04/1976

J.J. Barrie – No Charge 04/1976

Robin Sarstedt – My Resistance Is Low 05/1976

Mistura ft Lloyd Michaels – The Flasher 05/1976

Elvin Bishop – Fooled Around And Fell In Love 05/1976

Our Kid – You Just Might See Me Cry 05/1976

Lee Garrett – You’re My Everything 05/1976

Maureen McGovern – The Continental 06/1976

Flintlock – Dawn 05/1976

Linda And The Funky Boys – Sold My Rock ‘N’ Roll (Gave It For Funky Soul) 06/1976

Walter Murphy – A Fifth Of Beethoven 07/1976

Lou Rawls – You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine 07/1976

Starland Vocal Band – Afternoon Delight 08/1976

Twiggy – Here I Go Again 08/1976

Georghe Zamfir – (Light Of Experience) Doina De Jale 08/1976

Henry Gross – Shannon 08/1976

Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson – I Need It 08/1976

Can – I Want More 08/1976

Rick Dees And His Cast Of Idiots – Disco Duck 09/1976

Ritchie Family – The Best Disco In Town 09/1976

Sherbet – Howzat 09/1976

Wild Cherry – Play That Funky Music 10/1976

England Dan And John Ford Coley – I’d Really Love To See You Tonight 09/1976

Climax Blues Band – Couldn’t Get It Right 10/1976

Hot Blood – Soul Dracula 10/1976

Hank C. Burnette – Spinning Rock Boogie 10/1976

Kursaal Flyers – Little Does She Know 11/1976

Listen to: Hank Mizell – Jungle Rock

Walter Murphy – A Fifth Of Beethoven

Starland Vocal Band – Afternoon Delight

Wild Cherry – Play That Funky Music

Climax Blues Band – Couldn’t Get It Right

Disco, baby! Boy, I do hope there’s not a new music genre that develops in the next year as a sort of reactionary backlash. Anyway, “A Fifth Of Beethoven” is great and I dare you to listen and sit still for the entirety of the song, “Afternoon Delight” is fun and I dare you not sing along during the chorus and “Play That Funky Music” is fantastic and I dare you to not get out your air guitar whilst enjoying. Climax Blues Band wasn’t a name I recognised but I’ve definitely hear “Couldn’t Get It Right” somewhere in my life and it doesn’t hurt that it’s a smooth jam. Hank Mizell is a different story though. He record “Jungle Rock” in ’58 but it didn’t take off until it appeared on bootlegs at the start of the 70’s. It was re-issued this year and made it as high as number 3 on the charts. Mizell by this time had become a preacher and had no idea this was all going on.

Kevin Johnson – Rock And Roll (I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life) 01/1975

Johnny Wakelin And The Kinshasa Band – Black Superman 01/1975

Helen Reddy – Angie Baby 01/1975

Shirley And Company – Shame, Shame, Shame 02/1975

Telly Savalas – If 02/1975

Gary Lewis And The Playboys – My Heart’s Symphony 02/1975

Dean Parrish – I’m On My Way 02/1975

Moments & Whatnauts – Girls 03/1975

Jim Gilstrap – Swing Your Daddy 03/1975

Mike Reid – The Ugly Duckling 03/1975

Labelle – Lady Marmalade 03/1975

Tam White – What In The Worlds Came Over You 03/1975

Gilbert Becaud – A Little Love And Understanding 03/1975

Yin And Yan – If 03/1975

Teach-In – Ding-A-Dong 04/1975

B.T. Express – Express 03/1975

Minnie Riperton – Lovin’ You 04/1975

Tammy Jones – Let Me Try Again 04/1975

Sharonettes – Papa Oom Mow Mow 04/1975

Ian Hunter – Once Bitten Twice Shy 05/1975

Windsor Davies & Don Estelle – Whispering Grass 05/1975

Retta Young – (Sending Out An) S.O.S. 05/1975

Blackbyrds – Walking In Rhythm 05/1975

Tony Camillo’s Bazuka – Dynomite (Part 1) 05/1975

Pete Wingfield – Eighteen With A Bullet 06/1975

Typically Tropical – Barbados 07/1975

Lyn Paul – It Oughta Sell A Million 06/1975

Linda Carr And The Love Squad – Highwire 07/1975

Adrian Baker – Sherry 07/1975

Rimshots – 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (Blow Your Whistle) 07/1975

Bimbo Jet – El Bimbo 07/1975

Gary Benson – Don’t Throw It All Away 08/1975

Mike Harding – Rochdale Cowboy 08/1975

Mike Batt with New Edition – Summertime City 08/1975

Major Harris – Love Won’t Let Me Wait 08/1975

Jasper Carrott – Funky Moped 08/1975

Al Matthews – Fool 08/1975

Chris Spedding – Motor Biking 08/1975

George Baker Selection – Paloma Blanca 09/1975

Carl Malcolm – Fattie Bum Bum 09/1975

Diversions – Fattie Bum Bum 09/1975

Hamilton, Joe Frank And Reynolds – Fallin’ In Love 09/1975

Morris Albert – Feelings 09/1975

Esther Phillips – What A Diff’rence A Day Makes 10/1975

Exciters – Reaching For The Best 10/1975

John Lodge and Justin Hayward – Blue Guitar 10/1975

Austin Roberts – Rocky 10/1975

John Inman – Are You Being Served Sir? 10/1975 

John Asher – Let’s Twist Again 11/1975

Impressions – First Impressions 11/1975

Laurel And Hardy With Avalon Boys ft Chill Wills – The Trail Of The Lonesome Pine 11/1975

Stevensons Rocket – Alright Baby 11/1975

Greg Lake – I Believe In Father Christmas 12/1975

Billy Howard – King Of The Cops 12/1975

Paul Davidson – Midnight Rider 12/1975

Ethna Campbell – The Old Rugged Cross 12/1975

Listen to: Labelle – Lady Marmalade

Huh. What an odd duck of a year. Telly Savalas and Mike Reid try their hand at… well, I guess you’d call it music. You might like “Lovin’ You” or “I Believe In Father Christmas” but I certainly don’t. I do enjoy the trend of almost every April in every year having the winning Eurovision entry pop in to say hello but “Ding-A-Dong” is a just this side of annoying. And I’m assuming that some retrospective thing happen concerning Laurel and Hardy considering “The Trail Of The Lonesome Pine” was recorded 38 years prior to it charting. “Lady Marmalade” is the best of a bad bunch and let’s leave it at that.

London String Chorale – Galloping Home 12/1973

Love Unlimited Orchestra – Love’s Theme 02/1974

Prelude – After The Goldrush 01/1974

Candlewick Green – Who Do You Think You Are 02/1974

Brownsville Station – Smoking In The Boys Room 03/1974

Beginning Of The End – Funky Nassau 02/1974

Ragtimers – The Sting 03/1974

Sunny – Doctor’s Orders 03/1974

Marvin Hamlisch – The Entertainer 03/1974

Mouth And MacNeal – I See A Star 05/1974

Act One – Tom The Peeper 05/1974

Harry Chapin – W.O.L.D. 05/1974

First Class – Beach Baby 06/1974

Gary Puckett And The Union Gap – Young Girl 06/1974

Thunderthighs – Central Park Arrest 06/1974

Main Ingredient – Just Don’t Want To Be Lonely 06/1974

Maria Muldaur – Midnight At The Oasis 06/1974

William DeVaughn – Be Thankful For What You Got 07/1974

Rain with Stephanie De Sykes – Born With A Smile On My Face 07/1974

Paul Da Vinci – Your Baby Ain’t Your Baby Anymore 07/1974

John Denver – Annie’s Song 08/1974

Andy Kim – Rock Me Gently 08/1974

Brian Protheroe – Pinball 09/1974

Don Covay – It’s Better To Have (And Don’t Need) 09/1974

Reunion – Life Is A Rock (But Radio Rolled Me) 09/1974

Gary Shearston – I Get A Kick Out Of You 10/1974

Mike McGear – Leave It 10/1974

Eddie Holman – (Hey There) Lonely Girl 10/1974

Peppers – Pepper Box 10/1974

Splinter – Costafine Town 11/1974

Javells And Nosmo King – Goodbye Nothing To Say 11/1974

Ace – How Long 11/1974

Wayne Gibson – Under My Thumb 11/1974

Billy Swan – I Can Help 12/1974

John Holt – Help Me Make It Through The Night 12/1974

Listen to: Maria Muldaur – Midnight At The Oasis

Rain with Stephanie De Sykes – Born With A Smile On My Face

Paul Da Vinci – Your Baby Ain’t Your Baby Anymore

John Denver – Annie’s Song

Ace – How Long

In the South West of England, they have Carnivals in the weeks around Bonfire. These mainly consist of highly decorated floats, blasting out music and laden with gaudily dressed actors either standing deadly still or singing and dancing in place. If you’ve never seen one, I highly recommend having a look, YouTube has a bunch uploaded. My Grandparent’s lived in Weston-Super-Mare and they even owned a VHS of the 1989 Carnival. I don’t remember watching it a lot but I tell you, when I heard “Born With A Smile On My Face”, I was transported back to their living room, cross legged on the carpet, enjoying the illuminated festivities on the TV. One of the floats used this song and somewhere in the deep recessed of my memories, recognition shot forth. I welled up. I’m getting misty now just typing. What a hug of a song.

Miki Anthony – If It Wasn’t For The Reason That I Love You 02/1973

Timmy Thomas – Why Can’t We Live Together 02/1973

Jimmy Helms – Gonna Make You An Offer You Can’t Refuse 02/1973

Cockerel Chorus – Nice One Cyril 02/1973

Deliverance – Duelling Banjos 03/1973

Stuart Gillies – Amanda 03/1973

Roy Buchanan – Sweet Dreams 03/1973

David Williams with Andy Williams – I Don’t Know Why 03/1973

Handley Family – Wam Bam 04/1973

Highly Likely – Whatever Happened To You 04/1973

Anne-Marie David – Wonderful Dream 04/1973

Deodato – Also Sprach Zarathustra 05/1973

James Boys – Over And Over 05/1973

Edgar Winter Group – Frankenstein 05/1973

Hot Shots – Snoopy Versus The Red Baron 06/1973

Joe Simon – Step By Step 06/1973

Albert Hammond – The Free Electric Band 06/1973

Todd Rundgren – I Saw The Light 06/1973

New York City – I’m Doing Fine Now 07/1973

Guy Darrell – I’ve Been Hurt 08/1973

Bloodstone – Natural High 08/1973

Bobby Boris Pickett And The Crypt Kickers – Monster Mash 09/1973

Simon Park Orchestra – Eye Level 09/1973

Michael Ward – Let There Be Peace On Earth (Let It Begin With Me) 09/1973

Glyn Poole – Milly Molly Mandy 10/1973

Don Downing – Lonely Days, Lonely Nights 11/1973

Drupi – Vado Via 12/1973

Golden Earring – Radar Love 12/1973

Listen to: Edgar Winter Group – Frankenstein

New York City – I’m Doing Fine Now

Golden Earring – Radar Love

I started this project to find the best one hit wonder. None of my three picks are near my top 10 but they’re decent songs. But if you look at the above and think, “What about Monster Mash? Duelling Banjos is also there?”, please be assured that you are welcome to your opinion but for me, they are kitsch novelty I’ve heard decades prior. If you want something a bit different, try Deodato’s 9 mintues jazz funk rendition of “Also Sprach Zarathustra”. As for my actual choices, Golden Earring and Edgar Winter Group are both rocking good stuff and if it wasn’t for the fact that New York City were named for their hometown, I could have sworn this was a Motown song.