Sound and the Fury: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow- The 'One Hit Wonders'...

Redartz:  Don't know about you, but I've been listening to a lot of music lately. Which is saying something, as I listen to quite a bit of music during 'ordinary' times. Anyway, among the extensive tunes by the Beatles, Steely Dan and the  Moody Blues, I am also enjoying the likes of The Champs, Terry Jacks and Jump 'n' the Saddle. To clarify, those charming acts known collectively as 'one hit wonders'. Incidentally, the singular hits from those acts just mentioned were "Tequila", "Seasons in the Sun", and "The Curley Shuffle".  But you knew that.

Those single-hit sensations take numerous forms. Some represent the sole chart appearance of an act with a more extensive catalogue. One such example is Thomas Dolby, who gave the word "She Blinded Me With Science". Some know him only from that excellent tune, but I found his album cuts most enjoyable. 

Some one-hitters are basically novelty hits. The above- mentioned "Curley Shuffle" fits that category. And then, other one hit acts are just that, acts that made one brief splash and then disappeared into the ether. Anyone remember Clint Holmes and "Playground in my Mind"? 

So, here for your auditory assessment are a few of my favorite 'one hits'. What other such hits do you remember (or prefer to forget)? What acts do you know of that had great material that went undiscovered  by the majority of the listening public? And perhaps you might even consider some acts that should have been 'one hit wonders'; that is, they should have quit while they were ahead.
Let the discussion  begin!

Norman Greenbaum: "Spirit in the Sky"

Daddy Dewdrop: "Chick-a-Boom"

Rockwell: "Somebody's Watching Me"

Short Cuts: Songs You Loved From the First Hearing...

Redartz:  You've heard of  "love at first sight". How about "love at first hearing"?  There are countless tunes I've come to enjoy, often growing to like them after several initial listenings. Some songs took much longer to 'grow on me'. First time I ever heard Devo- I thought "you gotta be kidding, what the heck are these guys pulling?".  But songs that grabbed me right from the start? Not very many. 



Among them, aside from the two illustrated here:

Thomas Dolby, "She Blinded Me With Science": first time I heard that song, I had to have it. It was perfect in every way. And I still love it (another related question- if you like a song from the start, does it become tiring to you faster?).

Adele, "Skyfall": Adele is incredible, and who doesn't like a good Bond theme? So it had a lot going for it already, but it won me over right off the bat.

The Sweet, "Ballroom Blitz": The driving beat and raucous lyrics fired my cylinders from the start. It helped make the bus ride to school fun (almost).

So what songs captured your ears from the get-go? Did they still appeal to you years later, or did they burn brightly for awhile then fizzle? Let us all hear...

Riding the Retro Metro: Destination Thursday June 2, 1983

Redartz:  Quick, jump on board! You're just in time for another trip baaaaaack.......aboard the Retro Metro! Today we return to those fabulous 80's, specifically the year 1983. The US and the USSR  (and President Ronald Reagan and Premier Yuri Andropov) remain at odds, but many folks are talking  about the recent premiere of "Return of the Jedi". Your humble host has just completed another year at college, and is driving a delivery route. Working Sundays, I always tune in "American Top 40"; and this week they are playing:

Tops on the  Billboard Hot 100:  Irene Cara, "Flashdance...What a Feeling"

And rounding out the top five: 
2. David Bowie, "Let's Dance"
3. Men at Work, "Overkill"
4. Culture Club, "Time (Clock of the Heart)"
5. Thomas  Dolby, "She Blinded Me With Science"

The phenomenally popular Michael Jackson still has two songs in the top 40, "Beat It" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'".  Listening to AT40 lately is most rewarding,with so many cool tunes popping up. One of the coolest, currently rising the chart: Eddy Grant with "Electric Avenue":

And I am nuts for that Thomas Dolby song at number 5. "Hit me with technology", indeed.

Tops in the UK: The Police, "Every Breath You Take"

Of course, no matter how fascinating the pop music world is currently, there is much more out there to explore. Tonight's tv offerings, for example...

American television schedule:

ABC:  Benson, Condo, Too Close for Comfort, It Takes Two, 20/20

CBS:  Magnum, P.I., Simon and Simon, Tucker's Witch

NBC:  Fame, Gimme a Break!, Cheers, Hill Street Blues

 

BBC1:  Tomorrow's World, Top of the Pops, Fame, Nine O Clock News, Jury
BBC2:  Party Election Broadcast, Norman Mailer at Sixty, Behind the Scenes With..., Food and Drink, The Young Ones, Nobody Minded the Rain, Newsnight featuring Campaign 83











Robert Guillaume is great on Benson. I've been following him since his appearances on Soap. Every now and then I'll catch Fame , and Hill Street Blues is never to be missed. But Condo and Tucker's Witch? Not a clue. Not on my radar, apparently. 

What is on the radar, every week, is whatever is to be found on the spinner racks. Or more frequently, found on the shelves at the local comic book shop. The selection there is extensive, and you can pick up some of the new Independent comics sprouting up all over. First's "E-Man" is terrific; Joe Staton is having all kinds of fun with the book. Additionally, I'll grab Amazing Spider-Man (rather enjoying the current Hobgoblin storyline). Of course, John Byrne's FF Annual is on my list. On yours? Oh, and Marvel Fanfare- interesting book. Not all great, but many nice stories and some unusual art choices (Barry Windsor-Smith on the Thing!).

Ah well, time to tuck our comic purchases into the backpack, climb on and make the return trip back to the future (say, that sounds like a good title). Be sure to keep your ticket stub for free admission next time when we take the Retro Metro!

Rank and File: New Wave Acts, UK edition

Redartz: Greetings all! For today's discussion, we tackle the first part of a planned two-part subject: New Wave music! And to honor the integral role UK acts had in originating and popularizing the trend, we will give them the first shot. Soon to follow: New Wave, US edition; so you can start formulating your lists.

And as to those lists: the term "best" is so subjective, and dependent upon many variables. So to keep it simpler, we will list our "favorite" acts. So if your favorite was Wham!, no further explanation is necessary.

My Fave Five, in random order :

1.  Depeche Mode- producers of some of the most intense, dynamic, powerful synth music ever. The mind reels back and forth between their lyrical and melodic wonders. They bring to my mind the 'wall of sound' made famous by Phil Spector in the 60's. And the Mode can truly put on a SHOW. Saw them in Chicago; best concert I've ever seen. Phenomenal. Here: "Everything Counts"

2. The Police- One of the earliest tastes I had of the 'new music', when the meaning of "Regatta de Blanc" was a mystery. Sting was incredible; some of the most literate songwriting you can find. Loved the hints of World music in their repertoire. And they scored infinite points in my book with the lyrics to "King of Pain"; great imagery: "There's a fossil that's trapped in a high cliff wall". Ok, it appealed to the paleontologist within me. Here they are sending you a "Message in a Bottle":

3. ABC-  The "New Romantic" appellation is most apt here. Their "Lexicon of Love" was a lush, sophisticated, heavy brew of musical richness. Martin Fry felt those emotions. No, he ached those emotions. That debut album will be on frequent rotation in my head forever. Check out "Poison Arrow"...

4. Thomas Dolby- Thomas Dolby might have made my list solely on the strength of his hit single "She Blinded Me With Science". I was hooked on the song from the first time I heard it. Buying the 45 wasn't enough, I picked up the lp "The Golden Age of Wireless" and heard many more reasons to love Mr. D. Imaginative , technological lyrics, very catchy tunes, great synth work, the album offered so much. And his follow up "The Flat Earth" was equally solid, from the manic "Hyperactive" to the picturesque, haunting "Mulu the Rain Forest". For your musical enjoyment: "Windpower"...

5. Duran Duran-  They found great popular success in the USA. And deservedly so, imho. First encountered them on video screens at a new wave club in Indianapolis (they showed videos on Friday nights, still several years before MTV). Seeing "Girls on Film" and "Planet Earth" got me interested. By the time of "Rio", they were my favorite band. Pop music at its' best. And like Depeche Mode, they have shown some staying power, keeping active well into the 21st. Century. Here they are with "Save a Prayer", my favorite cut from "Rio".

Honorable Mention: Ultravox, Human League, Thompson Twins


Now the stage is yours- which acts were the 'top of the pops' for you?