Tougher One Hit Wonders Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Buchanan Brothers

The Buchanan Brothers weren't brothers and weren't named Buchanan. They were Terry Cashman, Gene Pistilli and Tommy West. 'Medicine Man' was their biggest hit, reaching number 22 in the summer of 1969. Later, under their real names in different combinations, they had modest recording success.

As writers and producers they were more productive. Their first album included their composition 'Sunday Will Never Be The Same' which was a hit for Spanky And Our Gang in '67. Cashman and West produced most of Jim Croce's recordings.

In 1981 Terry Cashman released 'Talkin' Baseball' which didn't do well on the charts but became a ballpark standard and is still heard frequently during the seventh inning stretch.

Answer: The Jeff Healey Band

'Angel Eyes' was Jeff Healey's only Hot 100 hit, reaching number five in September of 1989. Several of his records did well on the Billboard Rock chart and he was a regular on the Canadian and UK album charts during the 80s and 90s. He appeared in the 1989 Patrick Swayze film 'Roadhouse'.

Born in Toronto, Healey lost his vision as an infant to a rare cancer. He was known for playing his Fender Stratocaster while holding the guitar on his lap. He died of lung cancer in 2008 at age 41.

Answer: The Singing Dogs

Danish recording engineer Carl Weismann recorded five dogs (Dolly, Pearl,
Pussy, Caesar, and King) barking at different pitches. He edited the barks together to form the tune of Stephen Foster's 'Oh! Susanna'. Producer Don Charles added musical backing and RCA Victor released the single in 1955. The B-side was a medley of 'Pat-a-Cake', 'Three Blind Mice', and 'Jingle Bells'. 'Susanna' reached number 22 in December of 1955. 'Jingle Bell' was re-released as a single for Christmas of 1983 and continues to receive radio play every year during the holiday season.

Answer: Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids

Retro rockers Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids formed at the University of Colorado in the late 60's. They recorded a few albums and released three singles during the 70's but are best remembered for their appearance in the movie 'American Graffiti'. With a talkover by DJ Wolfman Jack (who also appeared in the film), 'Did You Boogie (With Your Baby)' peaked at number 29 in the fall of 1976.

Answer: The Sunshine Company

Mary Nance and Maury Manseau, later joined by bassist Larry Sims and drummer Merle Bregante formed The Sunshine Company and recorded a first album in 1967. Their initial single was to have been 'Up, Up And Away' but The Fifth Dimension's version was released first and jumped into the top ten. 'Back on the Street Again' reached number 36 late in 1967. Four follow-up singles failed to hit and the band broke up in 1968.

Answer: Charlene

Charlene D'Angelo was a solo artist signed by Motown in the 70's. In 1977 'I've Never Been To Me' was released from her first album but barely cracked the Hot 100. After the company declined to release a second album, Charlene left the music business, married and moved to England.

In '82 a Tampa disc jockey began playing the album version of the song and let Motown know about positive audience response. The company tracked Charlene down, signed her to a new contract and re-released the single. 'Never Been To Me' peaked at number three in May of 1982 and matched that mark in the 1991 book 'The Worst Rock 'n Roll Records Of All Time'. Further success has eluded Charlene although she has continued to record, releasing a new single on iTunes in 2012.

Answer: Claudine Clark

Raised in Philadelphia, Claudine Clark began a recording career at age 17. Her second single, which she wrote, 'Party Lights', reached number five in the US in September of 1962. Clark continued to write and record under her name and for a time using the name Joy Dawn.

Answer: Alan O'Day

'Undercover Angel' topped the US and Canadian charts and was top ten in Australia and New Zealand in July of 1977. Alan O'Day is one of a very small group of artists who have written and recorded a number 1 song and written a number 1 for another artist ('Angie Baby' for Helen Reddy).

After several years of successful songwriting, O'Day moved to television. He wrote music for Jim Henson's 'Muppet Babies' then for 'Really Wild Animals' a National Geographic production. O'Day died in 2013 at age 72.

Answer: The Chartbusters

The Chartbusters were a four man rock band from Washington, D.C. In August of 1964 their release 'She's The One' hit number 33 on the Hot 100 although it charted much higher in several markets. The song was very Beatle-esque, with rhythms, guitar riffs and harmonies reminiscent of several of the Fab Four's early hits. Tom Hanks told 'People' magazine that the Chartbusters were on of his inspiration for the band The Wonders (Oneders) in his film 'That Thing You Do'. The Chartbusters never approached the top 40 again, but served as house band at a club in Georgetown, D.C. throughout the 60s.

33 August 15, 1964

Answer: Sanford Clark

Clark began playing guitar and singing as a teenager around Phoenix, Arizona and formed a band while serving in the US Air Force in Hawaii. He began recording under the guidance of Lee Hazlewood who wrote 'The Fool' (giving writing credit to his wife, Naomi Ford). 'The Fool' is a rockabilly, lost love, drinking song which reached number 7 on the pop charts in September, 1956. Sanford Clark is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

Answer: Bob Moore and His Orchestra

Bob Moore was a native of Nashville who began playing bass professionally in his teens. The Musicians Union documents Moore playing on over 17,000 studio sessions including several backing Elvis Presley. Moore formed an orchestra in 1960. An album they recorded included 'Mexico' a song written by Boudleaux Bryant. It reached number 7 nationally in the fall of 1961.

Answer: Corona

Formed in 1992, Corona is an Italian techno/dance group featuring Brazilian singer Olga Maria De Souza. Their first single 'The Rhythm of the Night' reached the top ten in most of Europe and peaked at number 11 in the US early in 1993. Corona has had success with several follow-up singles in Europe, but hasn't hit the charts in the US again. Don't confuse Corona's song with the 1985 DeBarge hit 'Rhythm of the Night'.

Answer: Jerry Jaye

Jerry Jaye grew up in an Arkansas sharecropper's family. After military service he formed a rockabilly band touring the mid-south. Paying for his own recording costs, Jaye shopped 'Hello Josephine' to radio stations and began to get some airplay. Hi Records signed Jaye and released the single in 1967. 'Hello Josephine', originally a hit for Fats Domino in the 50's, reached number 29 in May, 1967. Jaye worked and recorded into the early 2000s but never repeated this success.

Answer: Mickey Mozart Quintet

Robert Maxwell, a harpist and graduate of the Juilliard School of Music became successful songwriter, author of 'Ebb Tide' and 'Shangri-La' both made famous by other artists. Recording himself under the name the Mickey Mozart Quintet, Maxwell released the instrumental 'Little Dipper' in 1958.

It's a simple, catchy melody recorded in an eccentric style with a clarinet lead. In July of '59 the song reached number 30 in the US. An earlier Maxwell song, 'Solfeggio' didn't reach the charts but was known to TV viewers of Ernie Kovacs' show as the 'Song of the Nairobi Trio' in Kovacs' skit.

Answer: The Bells

Montreal based, The Bells were a five person band featuring sisters Ann and Jackie Ralph. After a couple of Canadian hits in the early 70s, Jackie Ralph teamed with band member Cliff Edwards to sing 'Stay Awhile'. The syrupy love song became a top ten hit in several countries. It reached number seven in the US in the spring of 1971.