Mr. Oldie Knows!

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One Hit Wonders

It’s not planned out like this…An artist comes along, has one hit and then opts for retirement.  For example, Undisputed Truth had one hit with "Smiling Faces Sometimes."  In 1974, they tried to consolidate their careers with "Help Yourself."  But the song fizzled out at #63 on the charts.  Also, David Essex had a top five hit earler in 1974 with "Rock On."  He attempted to follow-up with "Lamplight," which didn't make the top forty.  There are a couple of prime examples.   

Dreams-Fleetwood Mac

I bought "Rumours" when the first single, "Go Your Own Way," was hot on the radio.  I was hooked immediately on side one track two of this album, so much that I played it over-and over.  The song "Dreams," a mesmerizing Stevie Nicks number, became the second of four singles.  This month in 1977, it was climbing the charts to become this quintet's only chart topper.  "Rumours" yielded two more hit singles with the optimistic "Don't Stop" and the playful "You Make Loving Fun."  All four made the top ten, and helped "Rumours" sell 25 million copies.

The Loco-motion

This is from our "who would thunk it" department.  "The Loco-Motion" by Little Eva was first popular in the Summer of 1962.  At that time, hard bluesy guitar solos and a more aggressive groove weren't even invented.  But sure enough it happened.  In May, 1974, a hard rock trio from Flint, Michigan remade this sprightly dance number into a rocking tour de-force.  By the time summer arrived, this remake by Grand Funk Railroad hit the top.  It’s one of the few instances that a song was number one twice.  In 1988, Kylie Minogue did a synth-dance version, but it peaked at number three.

Crazy Elephant

Valley Roller Drome hosted rock and roll gigs by mainly one hit wonders.  A prime example would be a group that could have been called a "demented pachyderm."  Get it? Crazy Elephant had a hit this time in 1969 with the bubblegummy "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’.  Originally, I thought it was on Buddah records for the song possessed that "bubblegum" sound like 1910 Fruitgum Company.  "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'" was produced by Jerry Kasenatz and Jeff Katz, the same two guys who produced the Fruitgum Company, Ohio Express and get this, the Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus.  However, the Crazy Elephant's only hit was originally issued on Bell Records.  I understand that Buddah records rejected "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'."  It peaked at #12 on the charts.  The group did an album. Collectors note: The album version.of "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'" is an alternate take.  As mentioned earlier I saw them at Valley Roller Drome-and for a "one hit wonder," they weren't bad.