Looking back at the 1970s music scene, many artists went on to have top records in several decades. The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Aerosmith, and AC/DC are just a handful of big names with multiple hits. Other artists didn’t do as well and go down in history as one-hit wonders from the ’70s.
One thing that stands out to me from the music I grew up with is that it spanned so many styles. You had ABBA bursting onto the scene with their enthusiastic pop melodies that were easy to dance to and harmonize with. Bell-bottom jeans, bright colors, paisley, tie-dye, and floral patterns, and even satin pants and shirts all borrowed from the fashions worn on stage by these artists.
There were heavier bands like The Who, Styx, and Pink Floyd who dabbled a bit with music that theater shows could be built around, aka “Tommy”, “Paradise Theatre,” and “The Wall.” Disco was big with bands like Kool & The Gang, The Pointer Sisters, and The Village People flooding the charts with hits. However, you had just as many artists that hit the charts and didn’t last.
A one-hit wonder is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a musical group that has achieved recognition on the basis of one widely popular song.” The 1970s were full of them. From Disco to rock, many artists achieved fame for one song and seemingly disappeared. Join me as I look back at 20 one-hit wonders from the ‘70s that are hard to forget. They’re in alphabetic order by song title. (Also read up on the One-Hit Wonders From the ‘80s You Can’t Get Out of Your Head.)
“Afternoon Delight” – Starland Vocal Band
Imagine a song about passionate afternoon encounters skyrocketing up the charts with the couples’ lush harmonies. It’s a slower song with airplane sounds adding to the chorus. They won “Best New Artist” with this song, but failed to climb back up the charts with subsequent releases and broke up in 1981.
- Year: 1978
- Billboard Rank: #1 in the U.S. and Canada
“Baby Come Back” – Player
This rock band reached #1 with this song from their debut album. They tried to get back up the charts with other releases but failed to find repeat success. By 1980, the band wasn’t doing much so bassist and singer Ronn Moss opted to move on to acting, taking on the role of Ridge Forrester on “The Bold and the Beautiful” for 25 years. He also spent several years on “The Bay.”
- Year: 1977
- Billboard Rank: #1 in the U.S. and Canada
“Beach Baby” – The First Class
This British band has a Beach Boys-ish feel. It’s a catchy bubblegum pop song with great harmonies and catchy instrumentals. I cannot hear it playing and not join in on the harmonies.
- Year: 1974
- Billboard Rank: #4 in the U.S. and #1 in Canada
“Billy, Don’t Be a Hero” – Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
Coming from Ohio, this pop group covered a song originally by England’s Paper Lace, who also had a #1 hit with it. It’s a song about a man who heads off to war despite his fiancée pleading to stay safe and return to her. I knew of the Paper Lace version first, but this one is also a top choice of mine for ’70s songs you can’t help but sing.
- Year: 1974
- Billboard Rank: #1 in the U.S. and #1 in Canada
“Black Betty” – Ram Jam
Electric guitar player on a stage with colorful blue and purple scenic illumination
It’s surprising that this rock band only had this hit. Members would go on to play with bands like the Allman Brothers. In the end, the song’s popularity and fantastic guitar weren’t enough to launch them into the mainstream.
- Year: 1977
- Billboard Rank: #18 in the U.S. and #3 in Australia
“Chevy Van” – Sammy Johns
Johns received a guitar from his dad when he was a kid. He never slowed down and ended up years later with a song about picking up a hitchhiker and having a one-night stand. It’s been covered many times over the years, including a cover by Waylon Jennings.
- Year: 1975
- Billboard Rank: #5 in the U.S.
“Don’t Leave Me This Way” – Thelma Houston
She’s of no relation to the late Whitney Houston, but her voice was just as powerful. “Don’t Leave Me This Way” is a ’70s one-hit wonder that I got to know from The Communards and Sarah Jane Morris cover in 1986. Houston’s version was also a cover of a Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes song where Teddy Pendergrass sang the lead.
- Year: 1976
- Billboard Rank: #1 in the U.S. and #4 in Canada
“Emotion” – Samantha Sang
With the Bee Gees backing her up, Sang’s slow song features lush harmonies and her lead vocals are just as gorgeous. Her smooth vocals on the chorus left me stunned that she never did as well as I think she should have. “Emotion” is definitely one of my top songs that get stuck in your head.
- Year: 1977
- Billboard Rank: #3 in the U.S. and #2 in Australia
“Hot Child in the City” – Nick Gilder
Coming from the band Sweeney Todd, a band also known for starting the career of Bryan Adams, Gilder had one big hit with this song. It earned him a Juno for “Single of the Year.”
- Year: 1978
- Billboard Rank: #1 in the U.S. and #1 in Canada
“Hot Rod Lincoln” – Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen
“My pappy said son you’re going to drive me to drinking if you don’t stop driving that hot rod Lincoln.” That line kicks off a rocking, half-spoken story song about late-night racing. The bass and guitars in this country-rock song add to the build-up before the police stop him.
- Year: 1972
- Billboard Rank: #9 in the U.S. and #7 in Canada
“How Long” – Ace
If you’ve heard of Paul Carrack (Squeeze and Mike & The Mechanics), you’re already familiar with his voice. “How Long” was Ace’s only hit, and Carrack re-recorded it in 1996 and found success with it a second time when it went to #32.
- Year: 1974
- Billboard Rank: #3 in the U.S. and Canada
“The Hustle” – Van McCoy
McCoy’s success never topped “The Hustle,” which also created a dance to go with it. He did write songs that became hits for others, such as Melba Moore and David Ruffin. Tragically, McCoy had a heart attack before his 40th birthday. He never had the chance to top the success this one song brought him.
- Year: 1975
- Billboard Rank: #1 in the U.S. and many other countries
“Just When I Needed You Most” – Randy VanWarmer
I’ve always loved this heartbreaking song about being left behind. Oddly enough, the inspiration for this song wasn’t just about his girlfriend breaking up with him. He also wrote it after his favorite car broke down.
- Year: 1978
- Billboard Rank: #4 in the U.S. and #1 in U.S. Adult Contemporary
“Knock on Wood” – Amii Stewart
Stewart’s biggest hit was a cover of an Eddie Floyd song. While she never had the same success, she did go on to be a Goodwill Ambassador for Unicef.
- Year: 1979
- Billboard Rank: #1 in the U.S. and Canada
“Kung Fu Fighting” – Carl Douglas
It’s his only hit, but it’s put him on the charts in two decades. After the reissue in 1998, he ended up at #15 in the U.S. and #1 in New Zealand. It’s also been covered by CeeLo Green and Jack Black and The Vamps for the Kung Fu Panda movies.
- Year: 1974
- Billboard Rank: #1 in the U.S. and #1 in Canada
“The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” – Vicki Lawrence
The actress well known for her work with Carol Burnett also had a #1 hit that put her on the list of ‘70s one-hit wonders. As she’s best known for her acting, people don’t often realize she’s also a talented singer.
- Year: 1973
- Billboard Rank: #1 in the U.S. and #1 in Canada
“Play That Funky Music” – Wild Cherry
The band originally broke up in the early 1970s but reformed in 1978. It’s a good thing as this second run led to this #1 hit. They didn’t have the same success after it though. The band went their separate ways and worked on other projects.
- Year: 1976
- Billboard Rank: #1 in the U.S. and #2 in Canada
“Stuck in the Middle With You” – Stealers Wheel
This Scottish band had a very catchy song with “Stuck in the Middle With You.” Lead singer Gerry Rafferty would go on to have three solo hits. It’s a catchy ‘70s song that was covered by Grace Potter as the theme song for “Grace & Frankie” and was a key addition to Quentin Tarantino’s “Reservoir Dogs.”
- Year: 1973
- Billboard Rank: #6 in the U.S. and #2 in Canada
“Stumblin’ In” – Chris Norman and Suzi Quatro
Suzi Quatro’s appearance as Leather Tuscadero on “Happy Days” caught my attention. When she agreed to sing with Britian’s Norman on this duet, it quickly became a song I sang over and over. His gravelly voice and her more melodic tone work well together.
- Year: 1978
- Billboard Rank: #4 in the U.S.
“You’re Only Lonely” – J.D. Souther
I had such a crush on Souther and loved his voice. He had plenty of hits writing for the Eagles, but he only had this hit as a solo artist. He also appeared in James Taylor’s “Her Town Too” in 1984.
- Year: 1979
- Billboard Rank: #1 in the U.S. (Adult Contemporary)
I originally had 43 songs on my list, and it was tough cutting them down. This list is solely catchy ’70s songs that I’ve enjoyed over the years and find it impossible to avoid singing along when they’re playing. While you’re taking a trip back to the one-hit wonders of the ‘70s, also check out the fashions from the 1970s.