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Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

In the Year 2525 - Zager and Evans

3 votes

Baby It's You - Smith

0 votes

More Today than Yesterday - Spiral Starecase

6 votes

Smile a Little Smile for Me - Flying Machine

1 votes

Black Pearl - Checkmates

2 votes

When I Die - Motherlode

1 votes

Chad Ochoseis Jul 06 2014 08:13 PM

In honor of this Wednesday's 45th anniversary of Tom Seaver's one hit wonder of an "imperfect game", here's a poll of musical one-hit wonders of 1969. These are also, to varying degrees, imperfect. In the Year 2525 - Zager and Evans The most recognizable of the 1969 one-hitters are Denny Zager and Rick Evans. This musically upbeat, lyrically depressing song got endless airplay and made it to #26 in the 1969 Billboard Top 100. Zager and Evans' musical fame, unfortunately, didn't last beyond the year 1970. Zager, however, has found success and happiness as a guitar maker, and Wikipedia is happy to report that Z&E remain friends. [youtube]izQB2-Kmiic[/youtube] Baby It's You - Smith What was the deal with metal headbands in the sixties, anyway? #34 in the Billboard Top 100. [youtube]O6atUODsWGs[/youtube] More Today than Yesterday - Spiral Starecase I always thought this was Jay and the Americans. No. Spiral Starecase. Jay and the Americans was "Cara Mia Mine", and probably a few other songs. No one-hit wonder, that Jay. But Spiral Starecase never cracked the Billboard Top 100 after reaching #50 with this 1969 song. There's actually an album that was released called "Best of Spiral Starecase". Is it just a 45 with this one track? If I cared just slightly more, I'd google it. [youtube]YuqHlv1YPe0[/youtube] Smile a Little Smile for Me - Flying Machine No, the song is not called "Rose Marie". #76 in 1969 [youtube]BR3xcZ-osqE[/youtube] Black Pearl - Checkmates One of two songs in this poll of which I was blissfully unaware until I decided to start this poll. Produced by Phil Spector, famed for creating The Wall of Sound and being A Freaking Lunatic, this song made it to #66. [youtube]mcA2IoE68rc[/youtube] When I Die - Motherlode Another song I'd never heard until this evening. Half an hour after playing it, I can't tell you what it sounds like. But it was #71 in '69. [youtube]8MyPSFnyaTQ[/youtube]

smg58 Jul 06 2014 08:42 PM Re: Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

Wasn't "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" from 1969?

d'Kong76 Jul 06 2014 08:46 PM Re: Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

Took 2525, song is freaky.

Mets Guy in Michigan Jul 06 2014 08:48 PM Re: Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

Went with the Staircase because it was not depressing and no one was hearing headbands with stuff dangling between their eyes.

Zvon Jul 06 2014 09:14 PM Re: Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

I've loved three of those songs for a long, long time. 1969? Wow. I'll have to decide which gets my vote.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 06 2014 09:37 PM Re: Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

The flat-ish harmonies on the chorus of the Flying Machines/"Rosemary" one-- which I'm pretty sure I only know because of an oldies-station-pumping barber I went to for, like, a decade while growing up-- always sounded to me like the song was kind of, like, melting. Which may not be much, but, y'know, it beats the living hell out of another mother-folkin' apocalyptic strummer.

batmagadanleadoff Jul 06 2014 09:51 PM Re: Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

I like 'em all. I'm into one-hit wonders of the late '60's. I'll probably go with 2525. But you could post a whole page worth of OHW of 1969. How about Thunderclap Newman's Something In the Air, for example? Not only is that a OHW, it's also the only song they ever recorded, as far as I know.

G-Fafif Jul 06 2014 10:35 PM Re: Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

Spiral Staircase too transcendent to pass up, but Zager & Evans had the No. 1 hit in the nation on October 16, 1969, which is worth a little something in a place like this. Eff you Jimmy Qualls.

Chad Ochoseis Jul 07 2014 04:56 AM Re: Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

smg58 wrote: Wasn't "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" from 1969? I stayed with the Billboard Top 100, because I knew that if I just did this off the top of my head, I'd forget a bunch of songs. It looks like Na Na... was released in late 1969, too late to make the top 100 for 1969 and too early for 1970. I came up with the idea for this thread a few months ago, when I couldn't get "Ma Belle Amie" by Tee Set out of my head. I was almost certain that was a 1969 one-hit wonder, but it was another late 1969 song that peaked in 1970 (and actually did make #81 for that year). "Something in the Air" was indeed a 1969 one-hit wonder, but it only charted in the UK. All the same, I bow before the music trivia knowledge of batmags.

Edgy MD Jul 07 2014 06:13 AM Re: Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

I have a few theories. One is that Spiral Staircase, by 1970, would become the Chicago Transit Authority, and later Chicago. Another is that the Flying Machine would later become the Bay City Rollers. Tell me that guy doesn't look like the Bay City Rollers guy. Anyhow, "Smile a Little Smile" is a good song, but wanting in it's execution here. It's practically begging for Freedy Johnston to come along and redeem it. I'm going with the InSpiral Staircases here. Given half a chance, I might go with the Newmans, but I can live with my choice.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 07 2014 06:34 AM Re: Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

Oh, there's more than a little pity in my vote. (Probably having something to do with the S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y-Night-worthy 'do.)

Edgy MD Jul 07 2014 07:32 AM Re: Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

Tony Newman and Les McKeown

sharpie Jul 07 2014 07:34 AM Re: Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

These songs are squarely in my AM radio listening wheelhouse and I had the 45 of most of these. In the Year 2525 -- Liked it then but it bugged me that they always had to go 1,100 years in the future for every verse except the last one. Hasn't worn well at all. Baby, It's You -- Always liked the emphasis on "Baby" in that version, a version which is superior to the Beatles cover of the same song. More Today Than Yesterday -- A nice little song that runs through my head every now and again. My cousin liked it. My mother too. Smile a Little Smile For Me -- Sludgy. Was released around the same time as "Take a Letter, Maria" so I sometimes conflate them. Black Pearl -- Love this song. A Phil Spector production. This one easily got my vote and I'm disappointed that others don't feel the same way. When I Die -- Was released around the same time as Blood, Sweat and Tears' "And When I Die." This is kind of a nothing song and I barely remember it.

cooby Jul 07 2014 02:40 PM Re: Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

I remember "When I Die". It reminds me of Scot Myers for some reason. I voted for it. 2525 scared the crap out of me. As a kid I did the math and realized I'd be 600 years old but it was still too close for comfort. Then my brother told me the Bible claims the world would last a thousand but not thousands of years (thanks, Del) so I stopped worrying about 2525 and started worrying about 1999. However, I did the math again and realized I'd be 40 years old, so who cared? I'd be almost dead anyway. Why 40 years old was okay but 600 years old wasn't is anyone's guess. I was always worried about dying. Does anybody remember the song "Everyone's Gone to the Moon?" Holy bejeebers that one knocked me about silly.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 07 2014 09:54 PM Re: Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

I'm really thrilled the Desert Island Mix Tape came back, and this is an interesting iteration. I kinda like Black Pearl here, never heard it before I don't think. I do think the weird chick in the head jewelry is a powerful vocalist.

Zvon Jul 07 2014 11:01 PM Re: Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

Glad I listened to all of them and I knew them all. Didn't recognize Black Pearl, And When I Die, & Baby It's You until I heard them. All songs I heard on the radio and liked. I went with which song brought back the most memories, and 2525 gets the nod. I love songs with a story, albeit a overly long and dismal one. It's not like I completely understood the words-because of the quality of my radio. Like, I thought we'd be picking our sons and daughters from a long black shoe.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jul 07 2014 11:30 PM Re: Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

I love the production of "Black Pearl." I kinda like the song "Black Pearl." But "Smile A Little Smile For Me"-- like, say, "The Air That I Breathe"-- makes me feel like I've had too much Robitussin. Which is pretty impressive to me, in a mostly-good way.

Edgy MD Jul 08 2014 04:52 AM Re: Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

Great poll. Surprised to see so much love fore "2525."

cooby Jul 08 2014 08:00 AM Re: Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

Just took the time and listened to them all. "Black Pearl" was a better song than I remembered....love this video, too. That girl in Smith is wearing that weird dangle thing to keep that itchy looking wig in place, I'll betcha

Edgy MD Jul 08 2014 08:13 AM Re: Desert Island Poll: One-Hit Wonders of 1969

Oh, no doubt. Respectfully but unambiguously disagree that this is a better interpretation of "Baby, It's You" than that of the early Beatles.