One Hit Wonders as
deemed by the official panel, consisting of myself and
a group of old codgers who stand at the bar of the Speedwell
Inn. I'm trying to use the one's that became classics
and not any of the rubbish.
Special thanks to Janis and Ruth (ex GoGo
Dancer) who after 2 hours of deliberation, contributed
one song between them. With suggestions like Relax (Frankie
Goes to Holywood) and Blinded By The Light (Manfred Mann)
I can only assume that most of their earlier years was
spent in bed or on drugs.
I've put them in order of the
date of their highest UK chart position and I will
be adding to the list when I can.
PUBLISHED - Oct
2007
Top selling single of 1965
"Tears"
Ken (No Taxes) Dodd
"Eve
of Destruction" sung
by Barry
McGuire, No3 in 1965. Not what I'd call a classic
but I've been pestered to include it. Watch the dancers
in the background, the choreography is something else
and why has Barry got an aerosol can down his trousers?
All very strange to me.
Just look at the rest from this year. Some proper
classics!
"MacArthur
Park" sung by Richard
Harris, No4 in 1968. He released
singles right through the 60's and 70's but none made
an impact on the charts like this one.
"The
Good, The Bad and The Ugly" by Hugo
Montenegro, No1 in 1968. From the
film score of the same name and written by Ennio
Morricone. I can't find the Hugo version so here's
Ennio in concert, it's just missing the "break
um"
bit in the background.
"Eloise" sung
by Barry
Ryan,
No2 in 1968. Written by his twin brother Paul
Ryan and both were the apple
of their mothers eye Marion
Ryan. He did have a couple of other chart entries
but this was a cracker. I remember feeling a right
plonker trying to dance to it, I didn't know what to
do with myself during the slow bit.
"Classical
Gas " by Mason
Williams, No9 in
1968. I know this chap has done many
music scores but this was his only venture into the singles
charts and it won a few Grammy awards.
Top selling single of 1970
"The Wonder of You"
Elvis Presley
"Venus" sung
by Shocking
Blue,
No8 in Jan 1970. The Dutch
group topped the US charts a month later. Much covered
song, notably by Bananarama who
had a No1 UK hit with it in 1986.
Top selling single of 1972
"I'd Like to Teach
the World to Sing"
New Seekers
"Horse
With No Name" sung
by America,
No3 in 1972. All three band
members had American servicemen fathers and British mothers
and were educated in London. The song was written whilst
they were in England.
Top selling single of 1973
"I Love You Love Me Love"
Gary Glitter
"Radar
Love" sung
by Golden
Earing,
No7 in 1973. Dutch group who are the longest existing
rock band in the world. Many hits in Europe & US but
only this one in the UK. Voted best Drive Time song on
Radio 2, I think.
Top selling single of 1974
"You Won't Find Another
Fool Like Me"
New Seekers
"W*O*L*D" sung
by Harry
Chapin, No34 in 1974.
Although he was an accomplished singer/song writer in
the US, this was his only UK hit. It was hardly a hit
but was and still is played so much on radio stations.
It must be about a DJ.
Top selling single of 1975
"Bohemian Rhapsody"
Queen
"I
Believe in Father Christmas " sung
by Greg
Lake,
No2 in Dec 1975. A member of the hugely successful Emerson,
Lake & Palmer, this was his only solo entry into the
singles chart.
Top selling single of 1976
"Save Your Kisses for Me"
Brotherhood of Man
"Howzat" sung
by Sherbet,
1976 reached No.4 in the UK charts. Aussie band who were
big downunder.
Top selling single of 1977
"Mull of Kintyre"
Wings
"Lido
Shuffle " sung
by Boz
Scaggs,
1977 reached No.10 in the UK charts. He did have another
No10 hit earlier that year and a couple of other top
40 songs but not many remember them.
Top selling single of 1979
"Bright Eyes"
Art Garfunkel
"Escape" sung
by Rupert
Holmes, No23 in 1980. Better known as 'The Piña
Colada Song'. He did have one more chart entry at
No31 but we'll ignore that. I can't remember a Sunday
morning without hearing this on the radio. Great story
in the lyrics (I can be a romantic nob at times).
Top selling single of 1981
"Don't You Want Me"
Human League
"Shaddap
You Face" sung
by Joe
Dolce.
Sold millions of copies all over europe in 1981. No.1 in
UK charts and stopped Ultravox reaching No.1 with Vienna.
I know I said "no rubbish" but this has got to be the quintesential
OHW.
Top selling single of 1982
"Come On Eileen"
Dexy's Midnight Runners
"Zoom" sung
by Fat
Larry's Band,
No2 in 1982. By request this one. They did get to No31
five years earlier with Center City but we'll not count
that.
Top selling single of 1985
"The Power of Love"
Jennifer Rush
"Duel" sung
by Propaganda,
No21 in 1985. German band but were based in London so
a very British sound. They had limited success with an
album A Secret Wish so not quite a OHW but it's worth
a place.
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