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Sunday, August 06, 2023

The Wiz's Quiz - Billboard's 70's one hit wonders

Answers are at the bottom of this post
one hit wonders

1. Early spring of 1970 brought not only flowers that grow, but also "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)". What group was responsible for this growth?

Edison
Lighthouse
Brownsville Station
ClimaxThe Outisders

2. This spiritual hit almost made it to the top of the charts in the spring of 1971. "Put Your Hand In The Hand" was a smash for one of these groups. Which one?

Bloodrock
Prelude
Think
Ocean

3. "Jungle Fever" was a Top 10 instrumental hit in 1972 for this group. Name them.

The Swahilis
The Chakachas
The Rythym Aces
The Soul Children

4. 1973 saw the romantic "Pillow Talk" become a Top 5 hit for this sweet-sounding lady. Name her.

Merrie Wilson
Pink Lady
Gwen McCrae
Sylvia

5. The Chicago Massacre was immortalized in this 1974 number one hit. Who turned organized crime into a smash hit with "The Night Chicago Died"?

Bullett
Paper Lace
The Fuzz
Redeye

6. Summer 1975 was a good time for this guy who brought us the romantic "Love Won't Let Me Wait". Who was he?

Major Lance
Herman Brood
Johnny Ace
Major Harris

7. A harmonic tune with a strong sexual innuendo occupied the top of the charts in the summer of 1976. "Afternoon Delight" was a smash for whom?

Sexual Chocolate
Starland Vocal Band
Sanford/Townsend Band
Lady Flash

8. Which artist in the summer of 1977 got right to the point when he asked "Do You Want To Make Love?"

Mike Love
Nick Gilder
Peter McCann
Eddie Holman

9. In 1978 this comedian laid down the tracks for a novelty record called "King Tut". Which comedian?

Rodney Dangerfield
Robin Williams
Bill Murray
Steve Martin

10. This duo recorded the Top 20 hit "Ain"t No Stoppin Us Now" in the summer of 1979. Who were they?

Leblanc and Carr
McFadden and Whitehead
Clark and Hillman
Cashman and West






1. 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.

2. Ocean
Billboard number two, May 1, 1971. A Canadian gospel-rock band, they had their one hit in 1971, and disbanded in 1975.

3. The Chakachas
Billboard number eight, March 25, 1972. A group of Latin soul studio musicians formed this group in Belgium. One of the members of the group was the wife of Latin band leader Tito Puente. They had been recording since the late 50's with limited success. This song actually was banned in the UK for the provocative sounds of a woman and man moaning in the background of the song. The title was controversial for the time as well. The song re-appeared and was part of the soundtrack for the movie "Boogie Nights".

4. Sylvia
Billboard number three, June 9, 1973. Sylvia Robinson did actually have another hit way back in 1957. She is the same lady who was part of Mickey and Sylvia and recorded "Love Is Strange", but this is her only entry as a solo artist.

5. Paper Lace
Billboard number one, August 17, 1974. From Nottingham England, the group had already had a number one UK hit called "Billy Don't Be a Hero". Yes, the same song that charted here in the US in a version by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods. Lace's version only got to number 96 in the US. "The Night Chicago Died" did much better, although only it only got to number 3 in the UK.

6. Major Harris
Billboard number five, June 21, 1975. Harris sang with a number of groups before joining The Delfonics in the early 70's. He quit the group to become a solo artist in 1974, and this song followed. After his solo career died out, he returned to the Delfonics, and still tours these days.

7. Starland Vocal Band
Billboard number one, July 10, 1976. The group actually won two Grammys for this song and their self titled album. They were given a variety TV show, which lasted for a short number of weeks in the summer of 1977. One of the participants in the show was a young comic named David Letterman.

8. Peter McCann
Billboard number five, August 6, 1977. This singer/songwriter from Connecticut had this Top 5 five hit as a singer, and also had a hit as a songwriter when "The Right Time Of The Night" reached the Top 10 for Jennifer Warnes.

9. Steve Martin
Billboard number 17, August 12, 1978. The song was performed on "Saturday Night Live" during the craze when the original King Tut artifacts were touring the U.S. He was backed on the record by "The Toot Uncommons". They were actually members of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (Mr. Bojangles).

10. McFadden and Whitehead
Billboard number 13, July 21, 1979. Although this was their only Top 40 hit as singers, they have a strong history of writing and producing hits for others. They started touring with Otis Redding in the 60's until his death. They have written such songs as "Backstabbers" (O'Jays). Unfortunately Whitehead was apparently a victim of a random street crime in 2004, and Gene McFadden died of liver cancer in 2006. May they rest in peace.

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