One Hit Wonders - 1970s Trivia

1. In the United States, who took the song, "Brother Louie" to Number One in 1973?

From Quiz One Hit Wonders of the 70s

Answer: Stories

Tony Wilson and Errol Brown of the group Hot Chocolate wrote and sang "Brother Louie" first and it was in the top ten of the UK charts. The Stories had better success with it and took it to Number One on August 25th, 1973.

From Quiz Obscure One Hit Wonders of the Seventies

Answer: Mississippi

"Mississippi" was the only successful release from John's first solo effort. The "John Phillips (John, the Wolf King of L.A.)" LP contained an album version along with a shorter single release version of "Mississippi". Successive efforts to record solo albums became difficult because of his increasing drug abuse. In 1981 Phillips faced a drug distribution charge and along with his daughter, Mackenzie, he made the talk show circuit counseling kids about drug abuse as part of his sentence. Upon release he reformed various touring lineups of The Mamas and the Papas and co-wrote the Beach Boys' 1988 hit, "Kokomo". "Somebody's Been Sleeping" was a 1970 release by 100 Proof Aged in Soul. "Long Lonesome Highway" was a Top Twenty by Michael Parks and Crabby Appleton had a 1970 Top Twenty single with "Go Back".

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 13 - The Year 1970

Answer: Pacific Gas and Electric

Billboard number 14, August 1, 1970. The band was formed in 1967 and was one of the first multi-racial bands on the L. A. music scene. The success of this hit was never duplicated, and after many line-up changes, the group disbanded in 1973.

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 12

Answer: Blues Image

Billboard number four, July 11, 1970. This was a critically acclaimed band, formed in 1966 in Tampa Florida. They moved to Miami in 1968 and were a house band for a club called "Thee Image". Jimi Hendrix, in an interview, said they were one of the best up and coming rock bands around. I guess everyone can make a mistake. However, after this song, and their subsequent breakup later in 1970, the members went on to become parts of such groups as Iron Butterfly, Steppenwolf, and Three Dog Night, and others played with Alice Cooper and Crosby Stills and Nash. Maybe Hendrix was right, in an individual sort of way.

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 11

Answer: White Plains

Billboard number 13, June 27, 1970. This was a manufactured British pop group which was formed in 1969. Its lead singer, Tony Burrows, was also the voice of other one hit wonder groups of the early 70's, notably, The Brotherhood of Man (United We Stand), The Pipkins (Gimme Dat Ding), and Edison Lighthouse (Love Grows). Two other members of the group, Pete Nelson, and Robin Shaw, would hook up again in 1974, doing First Class' "Beach Baby".

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 9

Answer: Norman Greenbaum

Billboard number three, April 18, 1970. Greenbaum actually was a one hit wonder twice. He had written and recording the novelty hit "The Eggplant That Ate Chicago" in 1967 under the name Dr. West's Medicine Show and Junk Band. Although this song (Sky) was thought to have a heavy Christian spiritual message, Greenbaum practices the Jewish faith. The song is still popular today, and is used in many commercials and movies. Ahh..royalties.

From Quiz 70's One Hit Wonders Vol. 8

Answer: Mountain

Billboard number 21, April 4, 1970. These guys couldn't make up their mind. They were formed in 1969, broke up in 1972, reformed in 1974, broke up again, and then reformed. One of the group's members, Felx Pappalardi was shot to death by his wife in 1983. The band reformed (again) in 1985. They are still around today.

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 7

Answer: Frijid Pink

Billboard number seven, April 4, 1970. A Detroit rock band, formed in 1967, they toured Michigan in the late 60s with marginal success. This song was recorded during a studio session in late 1969 and was really never intended to be the hit that it was. However, the group became such a local success in the Detroit area, that during some of their shows, they needed an opening act. Who, you ask? Well of course, Led Zeppelin!

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 6

Answer: Edison Lighthouse

Billboard number five, March 28, 1970. This studio group had only this song to fall back on, or so you would think. However, lead singer Tony Burrows had at least four other hits under different names, which will remain a secret since they all qualify as "one hit wonders" in their own right, and will appear in other volumes of this series.

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 5

Answer: The Jaggerz

Billboard number two, March 21, 1970. Formed in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, they made this their signature hit. It was written by Dominic Ierace, who would later go on to the group "Wild Cherry". This group was managed by Joe Rock, who also managed the 50's group The Skyliners("Since I Don't Have You"). After this recording, and with little success following, the group disbanded. Another member of the group, Jimmie Ross, went on to join The Skyliners and toured with them for many of the oldies shows in subsequent years.

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 4

Answer: Tee Set

Billboard number five, March 14, 1970. Formed in the Netherlands in 1966, this group disappeared in 1971, after releasing one more song called "If You Do Believe In Love" which only charted at number 81.

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 3

Answer: Eddie Holman

Billboard number two, February 21, 1970. Born in Virginia, and raised in New York, Holman won an amateur night contest at the world famous Apollo Theater at age 10. He moved to Philadelphia in the 60s and began recording songs on his own in 1965. He did backup work for The Stylistics, and Delfonics, before scoring this hit on his own.

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 2

Answer: Jefferson

Billboard number 23, February 14, 1970. Jefferson (Geoff Turton) was a member of Britain's Rockin Berries from 1961-1968. After leaving the group he embarked on a solo career, and had some minor success in Europe before this song was released. Ironically, this song was not a hit in the U.K.

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 1

Answer: Shocking Blue

Billboard number one, February 7, 1970. Formed in The Hague, Netherlands, in 1967, this was originally an all-male group, but never took off until a female lead singer named Mariska Veres joined the group. Hers is the voice you hear on this song. It was also widely alleged at the time, although never definitively stated, that the band spoke no English, and sang the song phonetically for American audiences.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders - The Seventies

Answer: Carl Douglas

This song hit #1 in the U.S. and the U.K. in 1974. This Jamaican-born singer currently resides in Germany where he runs a publishing company.

From Quiz One Shot to the Top #2

Answer: Grazing in the Grass

Lyrics were later added to this melody, and the result was a hit for The Friends of Distinction.

From Quiz 1970's One Hit Wonders

Answer: Bobby Bloom & Bloom

"Montego Bay" reached the Top 10 in the United States and the Top 3 in the United Kingdom in 1970.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders at No.1 : Pt.2

Answer: Shocking Blue

This Dutch group consisted of Mariska Veres, Robbie van Leeuwen, Klassie van der Wal and Cor van Beek.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders of the 70s

Answer: Terry Jacks

"Seasons in the Sun" was originally written in French as "Le Moribond" by Belgian singer songwriter Jacques Brel and record on 22nd February 1961 It was translated into English lyrics by American singer-poet Rod McKuen (rleased bhy The Kingston Trio in 1963). Terry Jacks of Canada adapted the lyrics and took the song to Number One on 2nd March 1974 (i.e. the lyrics are not identical to the McKuen translation).

From Quiz Obscure One Hit Wonders of the Seventies

Answer: Wadsworth Mansion

Wadsworth Mansion guitarist Steve Jablecki wrote their only hit, "Sweet Mary". In 1970 the group released a self-titled album on the Sussex Label and released "Sweet Mary " as a single. The song made Number Seven the following year. Wadsworth Mansion took their name from a historical building in Middletown, Connecticut. While touring in support of their hit the band's equipment was damaged in a flood in Pennsylvania, forcing them to cancel remaining tour dates. By the time they assembled more equipment their label failed to back them with further releases and the band split up. "Hallelujah" was a Top Forty release by Sweathog. Gary Criss fronted Glass Bottle when they had their only hit, "I Ain't Got Time Anymore". "1900 Yesterday" was a 1971 Top Forty by Liz Damon's Orient Express.

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 13 - The Year 1970

Answer: Alive and Kicking

Billboard number seven, August 8, 1970. A Brooklyn band, formed in the late 60s, they began recording for Tommy James on the Roulette record label. This song was supposed to be Tommy's next solo release in 1970, but due to some medical problems, he bowed out and used these guys to record the vocals.

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 12

Answer: Five Stairsteps

Billboard number eight, July 18, 1970. A soul group formed in Chicago, they were all brothers and sisters from one big family. The fascinating fact about this one hit wonder is that they had 18 charting hits in the Top 100 in the years 1966 through 1972, and this was the only one to crack the Top 40. Not a good percentage!

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 11

Answer: Free Movement

Billboard number five, November 13, 1971. They had a real quick pop, forming in 1970, in Los Angeles, cut this hit, released one other song in 1972, which made it to #50, and promptly disppeared. You may remember this song which was about a couple who had both found new lovers.

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 10

Answer: The Ides Of March

Billboard number two, May 23, 1970. The band began in the suburbs of Chicago in 1964, as "The Shon-Dels". They changed their name in 1966, and almost didn't make it to this category. The had a song on the charts called "You Wouldn't Listen" which made it to number 42 on the Billboard charts. "Vehicle" though, was a smash hit for them in 1970, and many said it sounded like Blood Sweat and Tears had recorded it. The group disbanded in 1973, and later, one of the founding members, Jim Peterik, founded the group Survivor and wrote all of their smash hits.

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 9

Answer: Jean Knight

Billboard number two, August 14, 1971. Born as Jean Caliste in New Orleans, she cut a demo in 1965 which went nowhere. She then changed her name to Jean Knight, so it would be more recognizable. No luck. She quit in the late 60's and became a baker. She accidentally was re-discovered and recorded "Mr Big Stuff" in a recording session in 1970. The song actually ended up going double platinum, and was nominated for a Grammy award in 1971.

From Quiz 70's One Hit Wonders Vol. 8

Answer: Tom Clay

Billboard number eight, August 14, 1971. Clay was a DJ in the Detroit area, who was involved in the payola scandals of the late 50s. In the 60s, during the Beatles craze, he was working in Detroit and had people send $1 to join "The Beatles Boosters Club", and promised that all would get an item used by the Beatles. Clay received over $80,000. The listeners got cigarette butts, used tissues, etc. Oops! Fired again. Clay's career then turned to voice over work. He died of stomach cancer in 1995.

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 7

Answer: Daddy Dewdrop

Billboard number nine, May 8, 1971. This was a novelty song by a studio group, led by Richard Monda of Cleveland. The original song was written for a cartoon called "Sabrina and the Groovie Goolies" by Monda, and was modified to its release format by the record company he was working with.

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 5

Answer: Brewer and Shipley

Billboard number ten, April 10, 1971. Billed as a folk-rock duo, these guys wrote a lot of socially conscious type songs with marginal success. This particular song was actually written as a joke. Later President Richard Nixon had some harsh words to say about them, calling them "public miscreants", but they laughed it off. This song probably earned them more money than Nixon made. Subsequently, they toured with the likes of Stephen Stills, Bruce Springsteen, and Black Sabbath, among others

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 4

Answer: Sammi Smith

Billboard number eight, March 27, 1971. This song was written by Kris Kristofferson. Sammi was born in California and moved to the Southwest as a child. She got married at age 15 and had four children. She then moved to Nashville in 1967, and was "discovered" by Johnny Cash. She continued to have country hits into the 1980s. She passed away in 2005.

From Quiz 70s One Hit Wonders Vol. 3

Answer: Janis Joplin

Billboard number one, March 20, 1971. I could write a book on Janis, but rather than take up all that space, I'd just say that her death was sad, and a waste of a talent who was loved more than she knew.

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