One Hit Wonders of the UK

Neil Reid – Mother Of Mine 01/1972

America – Horse With No Name 12/1971

Holly Sherwood – Day By Day 02/1972

Les Crane – Desiderata 02/1972

Pagliaro – Loving You Ain’t Easy 02/1972

Peter Straker And The Hands Of Dr Teleny – The Spirit Is Willing 02/1972

Blue Haze – Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 03/1972

Jo Jo Gunne – Run Run Run 03/1972

Ramsey Lewis – Wade In The Water 04/1972

Dave Newman – The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh) 04/1972

Angelettes – Don’t Let Him Touch You 05/1972

Chakachas – Jungle Fever 05/1972

Frederick Knight – I’ve Been Lonely For So Long 06/1972

Terry Dactyl And The Dinosaurs – Sea Side Shuffle 07/1972

Faron Young – It’s Four In The Morning 07/1972

Hot Butter – Popcorn 07/1972

Derek And The Dominoes – Layla 08/1972

Mardi Gras – Too Busy Thinking About My Baby 08/1972

Duncan Browne – Journey 08/1972

Seashells – Maybe I Know 09/1972

Parchment – Light Up The Fire 09/1972

Python Lee Jackson – In A Broken Dream 09/1972

Harley Quinne – New Orleans 10/1972

Holland-Dozier – Why Can’t We Be Lovers 10/1972

Bobby Crush – Borsalino 11/1972

Jeff Collins – Only You 11/1972

Listen to: America – Horse With No Name

Hot Butter – Popcorn

Derek And The Dominoes – Layla

Python Lee Jackson – In A Broken Dream

I’d have love to been there in ’72 to hear “Popcorn” for the first time. It sounds like nothing else from this list. To today’s ears, it’s far too primitive to be impressive but back then it must have been like something from another world. Mad. “Horse With No Name”? Classic. “Layla”? One of the greatest songs of all time. “In A Broken Dream”? A uncredited Rod Stewart crooning over a cool Aussie effort. But “Popcorn”? Come on. I really don’t have much to say about the rest of the list other than I bagsy Terry Dactyl for my drag name.

Mixtures – Pushbike Song 01/1971

Jackie Lee – Rupert 01/1971

John Paul Joans – The Man From Nazareth 01/1971

Ashton, Gardner And Dyke – Resurrection Shuffle 01/1971

Grand Funk Railroad – Inside Looking Out 02/1971

Lynn Anderson – Rose Garden 02/1971

Stephen Stills – Love The One You’re With 03/1971

Fantastics – Something Old Something New 03/1971

Waldo De Los Rios – Mozart Symphony No 40 04/1971

Sovereign Collection – Mozart 40 04/1971

East Of Eden – Jig-A-Jig 04/1971

Severine – Un Banc, Un Arbre, Une Rue 04/1971

Keith Mitchell – I’ll Give You The Earth 03/1971

Tami Lynn – I’m Gonna Run Away From You 05/1971

St Cecilia –  Leap Up And Down 06/1971

Fascinations – Girls Are Out To Get You 07/1971

Curtis Mayfield – Move On Up 07/1971

Curved Air – Back Street Luv 07/1971

Velvelettes – These Things Will Keep Me Loving You 07/1971

Formations – At The Top Of The Stairs 07/1971

Linda McCartney with Paul – Back Seat Of My Car 08/1971

Rock Candy – Remember 09/1971

Danyel Gerard – Butterfly 09/1971

Titanic – Sultana 09/1971

Redbone – The Witch Queen of New Orleans 09/1971

Scott English – Brandy 10/1971

Los Pop Tops – Mammy Blue 10/1971

Springwater – I Will Return 10/1971

Autumn – My Little Girl 10/1971

Settlers – The Lightning Tree 10/1971

Burundi Steiphenson Black – Burundi Black 11/1971

Congregation – Softly Whispering I Love You 11/1971

Ronnie Dyson – When You Get Right Down To It 12/1971

Johnny Pearson Orchestra – Sleepy Shores 12/1971

Vienna Philharmonic – Theme From “The Onedin Line” 12/1971

San Remo Golden Strings – Festival Time 12/1971

Listen to: Grand Funk Railroad – Inside Looking Out

Stephen Stills – Love The One You’re With

Curtis Mayfield – Move On Up

Curved Air – Back Street Luv

Some nice variety this year! We have a 9 minute hard rock cover of The Animals song “Inside Looking Out”, courtesy of Grand Funk Railroad, who, despite their successes Stateside, only managed to scrape in at number 40. Stephen Stills brings out the acoustic guitar for his hit with a little help from his friends Crosby and Nash on backing vocals. The seminal “Move On Up”, one of the greatest funk/soul tracks ever, is Curtis Mayfield’s only UK entry (I guess Britain didn’t really like Supafly). And to round up my picks is a nice bit of Prog Rock from Curved Air. 1971 also includes Linda McCartney’s only credited hit (along side Paul) and “Brandy” by Scott English which will probably more familiar as Barry Manilow’s cover, “Mandy”.

Edison Lighthouse – Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) 01/1970

Shocking Blue – Venus 01/1970

Contours – Just A Little Misunderstanding 01/1970

Lee Marvin And Clint Eastwood – Wand’rin’ Star 02/1970

Sacha Distel – Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head 01/1970

Steam – Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye 01/1970

BJ Thomas – Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head 02/1970

Rare Bird – Sympathy 02/1970

Juicy Lucy – Who Do You Love 03/1970

Pipkins – Gimme Dat Ding 03/1970

Norman Greenbaum – Spirit In The Sky 03/1970

Frijid Pink – House Of The Rising Sun 03/1970

Rufus Thomas – Do The Funky Chicken 04/1970

Mr Bloe – Groovin’ With Mr Bloe 05/1970

Deep Feeling – Do You Love Me 04/1970

Butterscotch – Don’t You Know 05/1970

The Guess Who – American Woman 05/1970

Tony Joe White – Groupie Girl 06/1970

Nicky Thomas – Love Of The Common People 06/1970

Ten Years After – Love Like A Man 06/1970

Ides Of March – Vehicle 06/1970

Hotlegs – Neanderthal Man 07/1970

Fair Weather – Natural Sinner 07/1970

Miguel Rios – Song Of Joy 07/1970

Ray Morgan – The Long And Winding Road 07/1970

Poppy Family ft Susan Jacks – Which Way You Goin’ Billy? 08/1970

Horace Faith – Black Pearl 09/1970

Matthew’s Southern Comfort – Woodstock 09/1970

Clarence Carter – Patches 10/1970

Rattles – The Witch 10/1970

Bobby Sherman – Julie Do You Love Me? 10/1970

Clive Dunn – Grandad 11/1970

Listen to: Edison Lighthouse – Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)

Shocking Blue – Venus

Norman Greenbaum – Spirit In The Sky

The Guess Who – American Woman

Nicky Thomas – Love Of The Common People

The Rattles – The Witch

Golly, we’re up to our ankles in pop music now, ay! Some absolutely cracking tunes from the bunch, most of which have been made more famous (?) by artists such as Bananarama, Doctor and The Medics, Lenny Kravitz and Paul Young. I could take or leave any of their cover versions but The Guess Who’s swagger is very hard to beat (sorry Mr. Kravitz). The only group you might not know here are The Rattles, a German Beat turned Psychedelic Rock band who played the same clubs as The Beatles when they were starting out. Also in the mix, we have all sorts of novelty in the shape of Lee Marvin’s earth rumbling singing voice, the annoyingly catchy “Gimme Dat Ding”, Rufus Thomas instructing us on how to do the Funky Chicken, and the wholesome sincerity of “Dad’s Army” actor, Clive Dunn.

Harmony Grass – Move In A Little Closer 02/1969

Neil MacArthur – She’s Not There 02/1969

Consortium – All The Love In The World 02/1969

Charlie Foxx with Inez Foxx – Mockingbird 02/1969

Noel Harrison – The Windmills Of Your Mind 03/1969

Dick Emery – If You Love Her 03/1969

Joe South – Games People Play 03/1969

Bob And Earl – Harlem Shuffle 03/1969

Les Troubadours Du Roi Baudouin – Sanctus 04/1969

Jefferson – Colour Of My Love 04/1969

Blood Sweat & Tears – You’ve Made Me So Very Happy 05/1969

Microbe – Groovy Baby 05/1969

Edwin Hawkins Singers – Oh Happy Day 05/1969

Crazy Elephant – Gimme, Gimme Good Loving 05/1969

Flamingos – Boogaloo Party 06/1969

Thunderclap Newman – Something In The Air 06/1969

Family Dogg – Way Of Life 06/1969

Max Romeo – Wet Dream 06/1969

Steppenwolf – Born To Be Wild 06/1969

The Dells – I Can Sing A Rainbow 07/1969

Zager And Evans – In The Year 2525 08/1969

Fairport Convention – Si Tu Dois Partir 07/1969

Oliver – Good Morning Starshine 08/1969

Jane Birkin And Serge Gainsbourg – Je T’aime… Mon Non Plus 08/1969

Humble Pie – Natural Born Bugie 08/1969

Sounds Nice ft Tim Mycroft – Love At First Sight (Je T’aime… Mon Non Plus) 09/1969

Upsetters – Return Of Django 10/1969

Archies – Sugar, Sugar 10/1969

Harry J. All Stars – The Liquidator 10/1969

Neville Dickie – Robin’s Return 10/1969

Trash – Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight 10/1969

Pat Campbell – The Deal 11/1969

Checkmates Ltd – Proud Mary 11/1969

Delaney And Bonnie And Friends – Comin’ Home 12/1969 

Listen to: Bob And Earl – Harlem Shuffle

Steppenwolf – Born To Be Wild

The Archies – Sugar, Sugar

Quite the mix this year; cool Soul music brought to us by Bob And Earl, an absolute rocking jam by Steppenwolf and the crème de la crème of Bubblegum Pop by the session musicians in the guise of The Archies. I prefer “Sugar, Sugar” over the previous years’ entry “Yummy, Yummy, Yummy” by Ohio Express, simply due to the performance and writing. Rounding out the decade, there’s naughtiness in “Je T’aime… Mon Non Plus”, terrible predictions as heard in “In The Year 2525” and an Academy Award Winner in “The Windmills Of Your Mind”.

Brenton Wood – Gimme Little Sign 01/1968

Plastic Penny – Everything I Am 01/1968

John Fred And The Playboy Band – Judy In Disguise (With Glasses) 01/1968

Symbols – (The Best Part Of) Breaking Up 01/1968

Tony Blackburn – So Much Love 01/1968

American Breed – Bend Me Shape Me 02/1968

Lemon Pipers – Green Tambourine 02/1968

Paul Mauriat – Love Is Blue (L’Amour Est Bleu) 02/1968

Reparata And The Delrons – Captain Of Your Ship 03/1968

1910 Fruitgum Company – Simon Says 03/1968

Paper Dolls – Something Here In My Heart (Keeps A-tellin’ Me No) 03/1968

Honeybus – I Can’t Let Maggie Go 03/1968

Dorian Gray – I’ve Got You On My Mind 04/1968

Jacky – White Horses 04/1968

Julie Driscoll And The Brian Auger Trinity – This Wheel’s On Fire 04/1968

Massiel – La La La 04/1968

Associations – Time For Livin’ 05/1968

Nirvana – Rainbow Chaser 05/1968

Ohio Express – Yummy Yummy Yummy 06/1968

Richard Harris – MacArthur Park 07/1968

Crazy World Of Arthur Brown – Fire! 07/1968

Sue Nicholls – Where Will You Be 07/1968

New Generation – Smokey Blues Away 07/1968

The Nice – America 07/1968

Pigmeat Markham – Here Comes The Judge 07/1968

Shorty Long – Here Comes The Judge 07/1968

Timebox – Beggin’ 07/1968

Mason Williams – Classical Gas 09/1968

Hugo Montenegro – The Good The Bad And The Ugly 09/1968

Jeannie C. Riley – Harper Valley P.T.A. 10/1968

Locomotive – Rudi’s In Love 10/1968

Aphrodite’s Child – Rain And Tears 11/1968

Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band – I’m The Urban Spaceman 11/1968

Gun – Race With The Devil 11/1968

Judy Clay with William Bell – Private Number 11/1968

Love Sculpture – Sabre Dance 12/1968

Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus – Quick Joey Small (Run Joey Run) 11/1968

Bedrocks – Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da 12/1968

Danny La Rue – On Mother Kelly’s Doorstep 12/1968

Listen to: Crazy World Of Arthur Brown – Fire!

Timebox – Beggin’

Gun – Race With The Devil

Love Sculpture – Sabre Dance

Look, there’s really only one song I want to talk about. Yes, mention one hit wonders to someone over 60 and they might reply with Arthur Brown’s song first. No, the UK didn’t get The Four Seasons original back then and so we ended up with a okay cover. Yes, Gun is pretty rocking. But, “Sabre Dance” by Love Sculpture is something else. I’ve passively listened to all the songs mention on this blog thus far and when I tell you the bolt to my system when this got going. If you’re looking for the birth of punk rock, look no further. Dave Edmunds’ arrangement might have been a sped up Blues oddity in 1968 but in hindsight, it was the sound of the future.

Keith – 98.6 02/1967

Kim Weston with Marvin Gaye – It Takes Two 02/1967

Casinos – Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye 03/1967

Whistling Jack Smith – I Was Kaiser Bill’s Batman 03/1967

Skatalites – Guns Of Navarone 04/1967

Topol – If I Were A Rich Man 04/1967

Arthur Conley – Sweet Soul Music 05/1967

Warm Sounds – Birds And Bees 05/1967

Judith Durham – Olive Tree 06/1967

Marvelettes – When You’re Young And In Love 06/1967

Young Idea – With A Little Help From My Friends 07/1967

Scott McKenzie – San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair) 07/1967

Johnny Mann Singers – Up, Up And Away 07/1967

Vanilla Fudge – You Keep Me Hanging On 08/1967

Flowerpot Men – Let’s Go To San Francisco 08/1967

Frankie McBride – Five Little Fingers 08/1967

The Bar-Kays – Soul Finger 08/1967

Ethiopians – Train To Skaville 09/1967

Felice Taylor – I Feel Love Coming On 10/1967

Pyramids – Train Tour Rainbow City 11/1967

Simon Dupree And The Big Sound – Kites 11/1967

Lester Flatt And Earl Scruggs – Foggy Mountain Breakdown 11/1967

Mireille Mathieu – La Derniere Valse 12/1967

Listen to: Kim Weston with Marvin Gaye – It Takes Two

Arthur Conley – Sweet Soul Music

I swear I would have heard “Sweet Soul Music” somewhere before researching this year but for the life of me, I can’t figure out where. It’s a film maybe? It doesn’t feature on a compilation I’ve ever owned. On the other hand, “It Takes Two” is one of the songs. Arthur Conley’s ode to Soul’s greats might be comparable to the turmeric in my kitchen (do I have that? I can’t remember) which would make Kim Weston’s (alongside Marvin Gaye) hit like paprika. I know it, I love it, I don’t reach for it every time but it’s always there. Sure, Scott Mackenzie might wanna give you advice on San Franciscan fashion and I do enjoy Fiddler On The Roof, but these two do it for me.

Overlanders – Michelle 01/1966

St. Louis Union – Girl 01/1966

Pinkerton’s Assorted Colours – Mirror, Mirror 01/1966

Second City Sound – Tchaikovsky One 01/1966

The Truth – Girl 02/1966

Eddy Arnold – Make The World Go Away 02/1966

Mitch Ryder And The Detroit – Jenny Take A Ride! 02/1966

The Statler Brothers – Flowers On The Wall 03/1966

Bob Lind – Elusive Butterfly 03/1966

Kenneth McKellar – A Man Without Love 03/1966

Staff Sargeant Barry Sadler – Ballad Of The Green Berets 03/1966

Graham Bonny with Johnny Scott And His Orchestra – Super Girl 03/1966

Master Singers – Highway Code 04/1966

Neil Christian – That’s Nice 04/1966

Cryin’ Shames – Please Stay 04/1966

Norma Tanega –  Walking My Cat Named Dog 04/1966

Bobby Fuller Four – I Fought The Law 04/1966

Roy C – Shotgun Wedding 04/1966

David McCallum – Communication 04/1966

Merseys – Sorrow 05/1966

Phil Upchurch Combo – You Can’t Sit Down 05/1966

Twice As Much – Sittin’ On A Fence 06/1966

Joy Marshall – The More I See You 06/1966

Critters – Younger Girl 07/1966

Napoleon XIV – They’re Coming To Take Me Away Ha Haa! 08/1966

Robert Parker – Barefootin’ 08/1966

Zoot Money And The Big Roll Band – Big Time Operator 08/1966

Billy Stewart – Summertime 09/1966

Creation – Painter Man 11/1966

? And The Mysterians – 96 Tears 11/1966

Listen to: Bobby Fuller Four – I Fought The Law

? And The Mysterians – 96 Tears

Two stone cold garage classics this year, cemented by being covered by punk rock legends; The Clash did “I Fought The Law” in 1979 and The Stranglers version of “96 Tears” came out some time later in 1990. Obviously, nothing can take away from the originals though. We also have one of the more strange songs (full stop?) to have charted in “They’re Coming To Take Me Away Ha Haa!” by Napoleon XIV. I have listen to his full album in the past and I can see why that was the single but I don’t know why people bought it.

Dodie West – Goin’ Out Of My Head 01/1965

Jimmy Radcliffe – Long After Tonight Is Over 02/1965

Sue Thompson – Paper Tiger 01/1965

Doris Troy – Whatcha Going To Do About It 11/1964

Goldie And The Gingerbreads – Can’t You Hear My Heart Beat 03/1965

Dobie Gray – The ‘In’ Crowd 03/1965

Keely Smith – You’re Breaking My Heart 03/1965

Jewel Akens – The Birds 03/1965

Shirley Ellis – The Clapping Song 05/1965

Burt Bacharach – Trains And Boats And Planes 05/1965

Sir Douglas Quintet – She’s About A Mover 06/1965

Dudley Moore with Peter Cook – Goodbye-ee 06/1965

Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs – Wolly Bully 06/1965

Charles Dickens – That’s The Way Love Goes 07/1965

Horst Jankowski – Walk In The Black Forest 08/1965

Marcello Minerbi – Zorba’s Dance 07/1965

Nini Rosso – Il Silenzio 09/1965

The McCoys – Hang On Sloopy 09/1965

Barry McGuire – Eve Of Destruction 09/1965

The Sorrows – Take A Heart 09/1965

Silkie – You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away 09/1965

Hedgehoppers Anonymous – It’s Good News Week 10/1965

Billy Joe Royal – Down In The Boondocks 10/1965

Lance Percival – Shame And Scandal In The Family 11/1965

P.F. Sloan – Sins Of The Family 11/1965

Roy Head – Treat Her Right 11/1965

Bert Kaempfert – Bye Bye Blues 12/1965

Listen to: Shirley Ellis – The Clapping Song

Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs – Wolly Bully

The Sorrows – Take A Heart

Lance Percival – Shame And Scandal In The Family

Latter half of the decade now and we’re getting a bit silly. Shirley Ellis’ “The Clapping Song” is almost a childish playground ditty but her delivery really sells it. “Wolly Bully” is a goofy little garage rock tune with tongue firmly in cheek. And let’s not forget Lance Percival’s cover of “Shame And Scandal In The Family” (perhaps the whitest man to do so) with the help of George Martin, yes that George Martin, behind the desk. The only other tune from this year I would suggest is The Sorrows, a sort of precursor to groups like The Doors. I get a feeling that “Take A Heart” was a year or two ahead of it’s time? This would have been hotcakes in ’67.

The Dowlands – All My Loving 01/1964

The Kingsmen – Louie Louie 02/1964

The Paramounts – Poison Ivy 01/1964

Major Lance – Um Um Um Um Um Um 02/1964

Tommy Tucker – Hi-Heel Sneakers 04/1964

Terry Stafford – Suspicion 05/1964

Mary Wells – My Guy 05/1964

The Dennisons –  Walkin’ The Dog 05/1964

Joao Gilberto with Stan Getz – The Girl From Ipanema 07/1964

The Zombies – She’s Not There 08/1964

The Naturals – I Should Have Known Better 08/1964

Simon Scott – Move It Baby 08/1964

The Cherokees – Seven Daffodils 09/1964

Tony Jackson And The Vibrations – Bye Bye Baby 10/1964

Helmut Zacharias – Tokyo Melody 11/1964

The Poets – Now We’re Thru 11/1964

Tommy Quickly And The Remo Four – Wild Side Of Life 10/1964

Lou Johnson – Message To Martha 12/1964

Sounds Orchestral – Cast Your Fate To The Wind 12/1964

Lorne Greene – Ringo 12/1964

Gunter Kallmann – Elisabeth Serenade 12/1964

Larry Cunningham And The Mighty Avons – Tribute To Jim Reeves 12/1964

Listen to: The Kingsmen – Louie Louie

Mary Wells – My Guy

The Zombies – She’s Not There

Man, what a year! And I think it’s only going to get better. If you’ve looked elsewhere on this blog, you might have figured out that I’m a fan of rock music and it’s various offshoots, so two of my recommendations probably make sense. But the other? I mean, quintessential Motown. Pop distilled to it’s finest point. Love it. Erstwhile, at the very start of the year, we have our first Beatles cover, “All My Loving” by The Dowlands. The Beatles made a lot of One Hit Wonders as we’ll see in throughout the rest of the decade. Talking of the Fab Four, Lorne Greene’s track isn’t about a drummer, it’s a Western pastiche. It’s undecided if the name confused the record buying public. Oh look, there’s Stan Getz again.

The Routers – Let’s Go 01/1963

The Orlons – Don’t Hang Up 01/1963

The Chucks – Loo-Be-Loo 01/1963

David Thorne – The Alley Cat Song 01/1963

The Rooftop Singers – Walk Right In 02/1963

Ned Miller – From A Jack To A King 02/1963

Steve Race – Pied Piper (The Beeje) 03/1963

The Cougars – Saturday Night At The Duck Pond 03/1963

Count Basie with Frank Sinatra – My Kind Of Girl 03/1963

The Cascades – Rhythm Of The Rain 03/1963

Johnny Cymbal – Mr. Bass Man 03/1963

Skeeter Davis – End Of The World 03/1963

Ruby And The Romantics – Our Day Will Come 04/1963

Don Spencer – Fireball 03/1963

The Chantays – Pipeline 04/1963

James Gilreath – Little Band Of Gold 05/1963

Mike Cotton’s Jazzmen – Swing That Hammer 06/1963

Kyu Sakamoto – Sukiyaki 07/1963

Jimmy Soul – If You Wanna Be Happy 07/1963

Ken Thorne – Theme From ‘The Legions Last Patrol’ 07/1963

The Surfaris – Wipe Out 07/1963

Houston Wells – Only The Heartaches 08/1963

Miss X – Christine 08/1963

Allan Sherman – Hello Muddah! Hello Fadduh! 09/1963

Little Peggy March – Hello Heartache, Goodbye Love 09/1963

Dave Berry And The Cruisers – Memphis Tennessee 09/1963

Los Indios Tabajaras – Maria Elena 11/1963

Chad Stuart And Jeremy Clyde – Yesterday’s Gone 12/1963

The Singing Nun – Dominique 12/1963

Wilfred Brambell And Harry H Corbett – At The Palace (Parts 1 And 2) 12/1963

Big Dee Irwin – Swinging On A Star 11/1963

Dora Bryan – All I Want For Christmas Is A Beatle 12/1963

Chris Sandford – Not Too Little – Not Too Much 12/1963 

Listen to: The Surfaris – Wipe Out

The Surfaris’ story is pretty wild and I think I’m going to save it for another day but aside from that, I love this song. When I picture the USA in the 60’s, this is what plays in my head. Simple, rhythmic; it doesn’t really go anywhere, just stays on that groove and rides it out, baby. Other entries of note: “Dominique” by The Singing Nun had it’s viral moment in 2021 and is truly bad to listen to all the way through, I’ve seen comparisons recently of The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black” to The Chantay’s “Pipeline”, I don’t have the evidence but I’m suspect that “Sukiyaki” might be the first ever Asian inclusion on the charts and if it wasn’t for Dora Bryan, how else could you tell who was dominating the music scene at this time?