Some classic rock one hit wonders have staying power. Maybe their creators and performers couldn't follow them up with another smash of equal caliber, but they nevertheless had momentum in their day. That propulsion lingers decades later. People still listen to them, dance to them, and sing along to them. Call them fads or gimmicks, they caught the public's imagination and hung on tight. These songs are worth recalling. Let's fondly remember them just one more time, shall we?
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'Spirit in the Sky' by Norman Greenbaum (1970)
Per yardbarker.com, "Singer-songwriter Norman Greenbaum had four songs chart on the Hot 100 in the U.S during his career. However, only this one from the start of the decade made it into the top 45, peaking at No. 3. More than 50 years after its release, 'Spirit in the Sky' is still a classic rock favorite."
Greenbaum, 82, has a web site called spiritinthesky.com. It states that the song sold a whopping.two million copies in 1970. On top of that, no less a music genius than John Lennon professed a liking for it the following year. "Spirit" has also made appearances in a gaggle of commercials..TV shows, and movies. Call it what you will - psychedelic, catchy, kooky, other-worldly, whatever. This fun tune will be around for a long, long time.
'Vehicle' by The Ides Of March (1970)
I love finding out the stories behind songs. Sometimes they are more fascinating than the songs themselves. There is a wonderful story behind "Vehicle." Per Songfacts, Jim Peterik, lead singer and guitarist of The Ides Of March, met a beautiful chick at a concert. They hit it off and started dating. He was head-over-heels smitten. Then she broke up with him. Morose and inconsolable, Peterik was beside himself. He finally heard from his dream girl again. She needed a ride to modeling school. That pattern of giving her transportation continued, as did the unsatisfyingly platonic nature of their relationship.
Per the outlet, Peterik said, "One day in a fit of frustration, I heard myself blurt out to her 'You know, all I am to you is your Vehicle' (The word baby was added later). Just then the light bulb popped up on top of my head and I thought about all the guys like me who don't mind being taken for a ride by a beautiful girl. I said 'See you later' and started writing the song."
'Stuck in the Middle with You' by Stealers Wheel (1973)
A lot of distinguished folks worked on this classic rock one hit wonder. Per neonmusic.co.uk, Leiber_Stoller Productions had a role in it. They achieved renown for working with The Drifters, Elvis Presley, and The Coasters. Geoffrey Emerick, who was connected with the Beatles, produced it.
According to the outlet, "The song was also a parody of Bob Dylan's style and lyrics, as the band admired his work but also felt pressured to imitate him. The song's vocal impression, subject, and styling were so similar that listeners have wrongly attributed the song to Dylan since its release."
Per Screen Rant, director Quentin Tarantino was absolutely bent on using "Stuck" in his iconic 1992 film, Reservoir Dogs. He "was so set on using 'Stuck in the Middle with You' that he spent his entire music budget to license the one song (via the BBC)."
'My Sharona' by The Knack (1979)
This song was a blockbuster. Per American Songwriter, "'My Sharona' was the most popular song of 1979 and was later called the 'song of the decade.' From another point of view, it has also been called 'the death of disco.' It ushered in the rise of the New Wave era, leaving disco music firmly in the 1970s."
The outlet also notes that "My Sharona" presaged another hit - "Beat It" by Michael Jackson. With its moderately risque lyrics and irresistible beat, this OHW is worth looking back at.
