The Top 500 One-Hit Wonders of the Rock Era: #175-151

We hope you have enjoyed the special thus far. If we've done our homework, the next 25 should be the best yet...

#175:  One More Try--Timmy T

The sound produced by this group made them one of the most promising newcomers of their time:

 

  #174: Life in a Northern Town--Dream Academy  

Singer/guitarist Nick Laird-Clowes and keyboardist Gilbert Gabriel met in the late 1970's while Laird-Clowes was in a group called the Act.  The two sought to create a sound by emphasizing strings, woodwinds, percussion and synthesizers, instruments which had not figured prominently in the Rock Era before.  Originally, they called the project the Politics of Pop.

Multi-instrumentalist Kate St. John was asked to join and the trio were known as the Dream Academy.  Demos were sent out, but ever record label rejected the group until Warner Brothers signed them in 1985.  David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, a friend of Laird-Clowes, produced their first two albums.

"Life in a Northern Town" was a hit around the world, reaching #7 in the United States and #15 in the U.K.  The Dream Academy went on a worldwide tour and appeared on the television shows Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show, Top of the Pops and American Bandstand.

But soon after, Gabriel and St. John left the group to pursue solo interests.  Laird-Clowes eventually did the same, helping Gilmour with lyrics for the Pink Floyd album The Division Bell before recording a solo album. 

The Dream Academy released three albums and 11 singles, with "Life in a Northern Town" being their one claim to fame.

You won't find too many better love songs that the one which this act recorded:

 
#173: Love (Can Make You Happy)--Mercy  

Jack Sigler, Jr. started Mercy with former members of his high school, Brandon High School in Brandon, Florida.  The group performed from Tampa to Miami, and after some lineup changes, consisted of Sigler, Brenda McNish, Debbie Lewis, Ronnie Caudill, Ann Sigler, John Hudson, Roy Schultz and Lou Vasenda.

Jack's father provided the cash so Mercy could record their songs, and "Love (Will Make You Happy)" was released as a single on Sundi Records.  Jack Sigler joined the Navy, but the song was released.  It took off in Florida, with Jamie/Guyden Records distributing it nationally.  The song was a huge hit, reaching #2 overall and also #2 on the Easy Listening charts, and selling over one million copies.

But without Sigler, there was no group for promoter Gil Cabot to schedule for live appearances, and no group to record an album.  Cabot thus found a trio of background vocalists to perform as "Mercy".  Sigler returned from the military to find this trio performing under the name of his group.  He filed suit against Cabot, but Cabot countered by renaming the group "the Mercy".  The trio not only toured North America, but also recorded all the tracks on the Mercy album except "Love (Can Make You Happy)".

But Mercy went to Warner Brothers Records, which signed them, and produced their own album.  It clearly outsold that of the fake "Mercy", yet Mercy was never able to enjoy another big hit after their One Hit Wonder.

At #172, one of Ireland's biggest musical exports:

 

  #172: The Boys Are Back in Town--Thin Lizzy

Guitarist Eric Bell and organist Eric Wrixon, who had played with the group Them, went to see the group Orphanage, which included drummer Brian Downey and lead singer/bassist Phil Lynott.  The four decided to form Thin Lizzy in Dublin, Ireland in 1969.  The following year, the group signed a recording contract with Decca Records, though Wrixon had left the band by then.

Thin Lizzy recorded their self-titled debut album, which sold a few copies but did not chart.  The group moved to London in 1971 and began recording their second album Shades of a Blue Orphanage.  A third album followed in 1973--Funky Junction Play a Tribute to Deep Purple, though no credit was given to Thin Lizzy.

The group toured the U.K. with Slade and Suzi Quatro and released their remake of "Whiskey in the Jar" as a single.  The song went to #1 in Ireland and #6 in the U.K., but was not a worldwide hit.  Bell left the band in 1973 after the group released the album Vagabonds of the Western World.  Ex-Skid Row guitarist Gary Moore was brought in to replace him, though Moore only played on one album (Nightlife) and stayed until the next year. 

Guitarists Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham joined the band, and Thin Lizzy negotiated a new deal with Phonogram Records.  In 1975, the group toured the United States, opening for Bob Seger and Bachman-Turner Overdrive.  Thin Lizzy then opened for BTO on their tour of Europe that year.  

Thin Lizzy returned from their successful tour to record Jailbreak, which was their breakthrough.  The album finally gave the group their first worldwide hit, "The Boys Are Back in Town".  The song hit #8 in the U.K. and #12 in the U.S.  The title song received some airplay but it wasn't popular with the general public.  Thin Lizzy opened for acts such as Aerosmith, REO Speedwagon and Rush on a U.S. tour.  

The group recorded the album Johnny the Fox in 1976, but tensions flared between Lynott and Robertson.  After Robertson got into a ruckus at a London pub, Lynott replaced him with Moore for a tour of the United States.  Moore left the group again and eventually Robertson got back in good graces to help record the album Bad Reputation in 1977.

But Robertson's time was short, and after a live album, Moore once again joined Thin Lizzy.  The group toured the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, before recording Black Rose:  A Rock Legend.  The sessions were dragged down by the drug use of Lynott and Gorham.  The album sold well in the U.K. but Thin Lizzy was never able to sustain success in North America.    

After Lynott's death in 1986, the group has endured through various lineups.

The next featured artist recorded this unique song:

#171: She Blinded Me With Science--Thomas Dolby

Thomas Robertson was born in London but since his family moved often, he also lived or worked in France, Italy and Greece.  Robertson attended Abingdon School in 1975-76.  He sang in choir at age 11 and played folk songs on guitar.  He then began playing piano, bought a synthesizer in the mid-70's and never looked back.

Thomas acquired the nickname of Dolby when he was a teenager, because he was always occupied with keyboards and tapes.  When he was 18 or 19, he adopted the stage name so as to avoid confusion with British singer Tom Robinson.  

Dolby got his start as a session musician, playing keyboards on the debut album of Bruce Wooley and the Camera Club. Thomas played synthesizer on the album Set by the Thompson Twins and played keyboards on Robyn Hitchcock's first solo album.  Dolby's most significant contribution, however, was the synthesizer sound on Foreigner's "Urgent", one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.  Dolby also played the synthesizer intro on "Waiting for a Girl Like You" for Foreigner on that same 4 album.

In 1982, Dolby released the album The Golden Age of Wireless.  It didn't include his One Hit Wonder until the release of the five-song EP Blinded By Science; in fact, "She Blinded Me With Science" was the fifth single released.  After "She Blinded Me With Science" reached #1 in Canada, #5 in the United States, and #7 in New Zealand, the album was re-released to include the hit.

In 1983, Dolby worked with other artists including George Clinton in the studio project Dolby's Cube, which allowed Dolby to release more dance-oriented material.   Dolby released his album The Flat Earth in 1984.  "Hyperactive!" became his next-biggest song, placing at #17 in the U.K. but only #62 in the United States. 

Up next, this talented songwriter, arranger and producer:

#170: Also Sprach Zarathustra (Theme From 2001)--Deodato  

Eumir Deodato de Almeida began playing the accordion at age 12 and recorded his first session at age 17. He began playing piano and arranging in Rio de Janeiro before moving to New York City.

Deodato released his first album Prelude in 1972.  In 1973, his version of Richard Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra" hit #2 in the United States, #3 in Canada and #7 in the U.K. and won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

The album Deodato 2 did not sell well, while its lead single "Rhapsody In Blue" peaked at #41.  Deodato released 23 albums and 9 singles, but could never match his early success.  He did achieve dance hits in 1985 with "S.O.S., Fire In The Sky" and "Are You For Real".  

Deodato has arranged music on more than 500 albums, ranging from Kool and the Gang to Bjork and including Frank Sinatra.  

At #169, a group assembled by the famous duo of Kennny Gamble and Leon Huff:

 

  #169: TSOP--MFSB  

MFSB (Mother Father Sister Brother) was actually a pool of over thirty studio musicians based at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  The project was the work of famed producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff.  The lineup included Karl Chambers and Earl Young on drums, guitarists Norman Harris, Roland Chambers, Bobby Eli and T.J. Tindall, Winnie Wilford and Ronnie Baker on bass, Vincent Montana, Jr. and Larry Washington on vibes and percussion, Harold Ivory Williams on keyboards, Huff and Thom Bell on keyboards and Don Renaldo on strings and horns featuring Rocco Bene on trumpet.   

MFSB became the house band for Philadelphia International Records.  Over their career, they sang backing vocals for the Spinners, the Stylistics, the O'Jays, Wilson Pickett, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes and Billy Paul.

In 1972, they released the single "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)", which was also the theme to the popular television show Soul Train.  The song hit #1, sold over one million copies and became one of The Top 500 Instrumentals of the Rock Era*.

MFSB also gained exposure with the inclusion of "K-Jee" on the all-time successful "Saturday Night Fever" Soundtrack.  After a disagreement with Gamble & Huff, however, several members left to form the Salsoul Orchestra.  MFSB was through, but they left us with that one great #1 song.

#168:  Voices Carry--'Til Tuesday

#167:  Poetry Man--Phoebe Snow

   

His song contributed greatly to the musical magic of Flashdance.  Here is #166:

  
#166:  Maniac--Michael Sembello

Sembello played on Stevie Wonder's classic album Fulfillingness' First Finale.  Michael also played on the landmark Songs in the Key of Life album for Wonder, playing lead and rhythm and lead guitar and co-writing "Saturn" with Wonder.  Sembello also worked with Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Donna Summer, Diana Ross, the Temptations, George Benson, Chaka Khan, Stanley Clarke and David Samborn, among others.

Sembello released his debut album Bossa Nova Hotel in 1983.  One of the tracks on that album, "Maniac", was selected to be in the movie Flashdance.  "Maniac" was released as a single, rose to #1 and became the third highest-grossing song from a soundtrack.  The "Flashdance" Soundtrack won the Grammy for Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special.

Afterwards, Sembello spent most of his time writing and producing for other artists.  He has scored numerous soundtracks for movies, including those for Independence Day, Cocoon and Gremlins, among others.

In 2008, Sembello's work with saxophonist Michael Lington on the album Heat was nominated as Jazztrax Album of the Year.  

Despite his enormous talent and recognition, the best Sembello could do other than "Maniac" was #34 with "Automatic Man".



This artist gave us one of the biggest sellers of the Rock Era:

  
#165:  Kung Fu Fighting--Carl Douglas    

Born in Kingston, Jamaica and based in the United Kingdom, Douglas released "Kung Fu Fighting" in 1974.  It rocketed to #1 in the United States and the U.K. and sold over one million copies.  "Kung Fu Fighting" has now sold over 11 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles of all-time.

Douglas released two other singles, but the success of "Kung Fu Fighting" overshadowed the rest of his career.

Collectively, the efforts of Joey Levine are considerable.  But he participated in so many one-off projects that he could be called the One-Hit Wonder King:

  
#164:  Life is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)--Reunion            

Joey Levine founded Crushing Enterprises in New York City in 1969.  In the 1970's, Joey Levine began working on jingles for television commercials, with one of his most memorable being "Sometimes You Feel Like A Nut" for Mounds and Almond Joy chocolate bars.  Other popular campaigns were "Pepsi - The Joy of Cola", "Gentlemen Prefer Hanes", "Just For the Taste of It - Diet Coke", "Come See the Softer Side of Sears", "Heartbeat of America - Chevy", "You Asked For It, You Got It, Toyota" and "This Bud's For You" for Anheuser-Busch.

Levine sang for and participated in many bubblegum groups, including the Ohio Express.  Reunion was an ad hoc group of studio musicians.  "Life is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)" is a fast patter of disc jockeys, musicians, songwriters, record labels, song titles and lyrics, broken only by the chorus.

"Life is a Rock" rolled to #8 in the United States and #33 in the U.K.  But the was the last we heard of the "group" Reunion.

You can't keep a good man down, nor a good song.  When many had given up on the song, it finally took off and gave this next artist his one big hit:

  
#163:  Polk Salad Annie--Tony Joe White

White grew up in Oak Grove, Louisiana and at age 16, began learning how to play the blues on guitar.  Tony Joe began performing at school dances, then after graduation, at nightclubs in Louisiana and Texas.  He formed the band Tony White & His Combo in his teens.  The group performed six nights a week for eight consecutive months at a nightclub in Kingsville, Texas.

White continued to perform at the small clubs of the South with various groups over the next seven years.  In 1967, he signed with Monument Records and released four singles.  None caught on with a worldwide audience, but "Soul Francisco" was a hit in France.  

"Polk Salad Annie" had been released for ninth months and written off as a failure until it entered the charts in the United States in 1969.  It finally climbed to #8 and White opened for acts such as Creedence Clearwater Revival, Sly & the Family Stone and Steppenwolf in England, Germany, France, Sweden and Belgium to promote the album Black and White.  In 1970, White penned "Rainy Night in Georgia", which became a huge hit for Brook Benton. 

In 1973, White appeared in the movie Catch My Soul.  Later in the year, White sat in on the Memphis sessions for Jerry Lee Lewis's Southern Roots album.  Between 1976 and 1983, White released three albums, each on a different label, with little success.  At this point, he gave up on singing and concentrated on writing songs. 

In 1989, White played several instruments and produced Tina Turner's Foreign Affair album.  He also wrote the hit "Steamy Windows" for the album.  White recorded three more albums after the fame gained from working with Turner.  He toured with Joe Cocker and Eric Clapton, and played the Montreux Festival in 1992.  

White released 21 albums and 21 singles in his career. 

This group's light sound made them a most promising newcomer in 1976:

 

#162:  Moonlight Feels Right--Starbuck  

Starbuck formed in Atlanta, Georgia with keyboardist/vocalist/producer Bruce Blackman, marimba player Bo Wagner and guitarist Johnny Walker.  All three had previous success in the group Eternity's Children ("Mrs. Bluebird" in 1968).

Starbuck struck gold in 1976 with the single "Moonlight Feels Right", which hit #3.  They toured with groups such as ELO, Hall & Oates, Boston and K.C. & the Sunshine Band and appeared on The Midnight Special, American Bandstand, The Merv Griffin Show, Dinah!, The Mike Douglas Show and Solid Gold.

Subsequent singles "I Got To Know" (#43) and Everybody Be Dancin' (#38) were minor hits but the group could never capitalize on their smash One Hit Wonder.

At #161, this Native American group which formed with encouragement from Jimi Hendrix:

#161:  Come and Get Your Love--Redbone

Brothers Patrick (bass and vocals) and Lolly (guitar and vocals) Vasquez moved to Los Angeles in 1969 and formed the group Redbone with drummer Peter DePoe and guitarist Tony Bellamy.  Jimi Hendrix, himself part Native American, talked Patrick into forming an all-Native American rock band.  The brothers had been performing under the stage surname Vegas.

Redbone signed with Epic Records and released their self-titled debut album in 1970.  Their first taste of success came with the single "Maggie" from their second album Potlach.  "The Witch Queen of New Orleans" (#21 in 1971) just missed giving the group their first Top 20 hit in 1971.

Butch Rillera replaced DePoe in 1972.  Redbone released "Come and Get Your Love", written by Lolly, in 1974, and the single rose to #5 in the United States and sold over one million copies.  The group released "We Were All Wounded at Wounded Knee", telling the story of the massacre of Lakota Sioux Indians by the Seventh Cavalry in 1890.  The song reached #1 in The Netherlands and charted in several other European countries.  But it was not a worldwide success as it was initially withheld from release in the United States and was banned by several politically conservative radio stations.

At #160, the group named after a famous Canadian rodeo:

  
#160:  Sweet City Woman--Stampeders  

Rich Dodson, Len Roemer, Brendan Lyttle, Kim Berly and Race Holiday formed in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1964 as the Rebounds.  Ronnie King and Van Louis replaced Roemer and the band renamed themselves the Stampeders in 1964.  In 1966, the group moved to Toronto, Ontario, and then became a trio in 1968 when Lyttle, Louis and Holiday left.  

The group released the single "Sweet City Woman" (written by Dodson) in 1971. It reached #8 and sold over one million copies in the United States and won Juno Awards for Best Single, Best Group and Best Composer. 

The Stampeders broke up in 1977, but reunited at the Calgary Stampede in 1992.  They enjoyed two other Top 5 hits in Canada ("Carry Me" and "Wild Eyes"), but "Sweet City Woman" was their only worldwide hit.   

This group at #159 is going to warm things up:

#159:  California Sun--Rivieras  

Marty "Bo" Fortson (vocals and guitar), bassist Doug Gean, guitarist Joe Pennell, organist Otto Nuss and drummer Paul Dennert formed this band while they were teenagers at South Bend Central High School in Indiana.  They originally were known as the Playmates, but since there was already a group with that name, they changed to the Rivieras.

The group released the single "California Sun" in 1964, and it became a #5 song.  The Rivieras released three more songs in 1964, but "Little Donna" at #93 was the next-best they could do.  Fortson and Pennell left the group for the United States Marine Corps shortly after recording "California Sun".  Other members left the group to focus on education, which led to the breakup of the band in 1966 after they had released three albums and seven singles.

At #158, we celebrate the success of the common man, who went from being the chauffeur of the Who to achieving an international success:

   

#158:  Something in the Air--Thunderclap Newman  

Pete Townshend of the Who and Kit Lambert formed Thunderclap Newman in 1968 to showcase the songwriting talent of John "Speedy" Keen (vocals, drums and guitar), then the chauffeur for the Who.  Pianist Andy "Thunderclap" Newman and 15-year-old guitarist Jimmy McCulloch joined Keen in forming the nucleus for Thunderclap Newman.  

The group released the album Hollywood Dream and three other singles.  Townshend played bass on the album under the pseudonym Bijou Drains.  Keen, Newman and McCulloch met for the first time when they gathered in Townshend's home studio to record "Something in the Air".

Keen had written the song "Revolution" for the movie The Magic Christian, but the Beatles had already released a song of that name, so the title was changed to "Something in the Air".  The single rose to #1 in the U.K. for three weeks, holding off releases by the Beatles and Elvis Presley,  and it peaked at #37 and sold over one million copies in the United States.    

The group recruited bassist James Pitman-Avery and drummer Jack McCulloch on a tour of England and Scotland to open for Deep Purple, before folding in 1971.  The single "Accidents" was the next-best song by the group in 1970, reaching #44 in the U.K. but failing to chart in the United States.  

McCulloch went on to join John Mayall and Paul McCartney & Wings before dying at the age of 26 because of heroin.  Keen recorded briefly before producing, credited with Motorhead's first album among others.   

This group originally included a singer/guitarist by the name of Jon Bon Jovi:

#157:  The Warrior--Scandal

Guitarist Zack Smith formed Scandal in New York City in 1981.  The other original members included guitarist Jon Bon Jovi, bassist Ivan Elias, guitarist Keith Mack, keyboardist Benjy King, drummer Frankie LaRocka and vocalist Patty Smyth.  Bon Jovi quit shortly after the group was formed and of course achieved superstar status in the band that bears his name.

Scandal scored a huge hit when "The Warrior" took off in 1984, reaching #7 in the United States, and #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart.  

The group released two albums and seven singles.  Although "Goodbye to You" remains one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era* (#65), its failure represented the group's next best effort.  Scandal also released the minor hits "Beat of A Heart" (#41) and "Love's Got A Line On You (#59).  Obviously, the group had great potential.  But because of internal struggles and arguments with their record company, the members of Scandal split one by one until by the time their tour arrived, Smyth and Mack were the only two remaining original members.  Scandal broke up shortly after the tour ended.

Just ahead of Scandal, the story of two accomplished musicians who met and recorded one of The Top Instrumentals of the Rock Era*:

  
#156:  Canadian Sunset--Hugo Winterhalter and Eddie Heywood

Winterhalter graduated from Mount St. Mary's near Emmitsburg, Maryland, where he played saxophone in the orchestra and sang in two choirs.  He then studied violin and reed instruments at the New England Conservatory of Music.  Winterhalter taught school for several years before becoming a backing musician and arranger for Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey and others.

Winterhalter also arranged for singers including Dinah Shore and in 1948, he became musical director at MGM Records.  In 1950, Winterhalter signed with RCA Victor, arranging for artists such as Perry Como, Eddie Fisher and the Ames Brothers.  Winterhalter recorded several instrumental albums, and, with pianist Eddie Heywood, reached #2 with "Canadian Sunset" in 1956.

Heywood was popular in the 1940's, playing with several jazz musicians such as Wayman Carver and Clarence Love before moving to New York City.  Heywood backed up Billie Holiday in 1941 before putting together his own sextet that became popular. 

But in 1947, Heywood suffered partial paralysis of his hands and could not play at all.  Gradually, he regained the use of his hands and made a comeback in the 1950's, achieving his widest fame with Winterhalter on "Canadian Sunset".  Heywood earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Winterhalter recorded several other albums, but never enjoyed another big hit.

We're up to the artist who achieved his big hit with a retelling of David Bowie's "Space Oddity":

  
#155:  Major Tom (Coming Home)--Peter Schilling    

Schilling was born in Stuttgart, Germany.  He recorded the album Error in the System in 1983, which contained "Major Tom (Coming Home)".  He recorded the song originally in German, then re-recorded it in English to release it internationally. 

Schilling achieved his only major worldwide success with "Major Tom (Coming Home)".  The German version reached #1 in Germany, Switzerland and Austria in Netherlands, while the English version hit #1 in Canada, #4 in South Africa, #14 in the United States and #42 in the U.K.  Schilling recorded 17 albums and released 30 singles, with his next-best effort being "Die Wuste Lebt" in 1983.  That song peaked at #5 in Austria, #7 in Germany and #10 in Switzerland.



If you were a Deadhead, you likely saw these two musicians:

  
#154:  One Toke Over the Line--Brewer and Shipley 

Singer-songwriters Mike Brewer and Tom Shipley formed this duo, known for their great guitar work, harmonies and socially conscious lyrics.  Both from the Midwestern United States, Brewer and Shipley met several times at various coffeehouses, before moving to Los Angeles to write music together.

The duo recorded two albums, Down in L.A. and Weeds before moving to Kansas City, Missouri.  They subsisted on gigs in college towns in 1969, then recorded the album Tarkio, named for a gig they had in Tarkio, Missouri. 

Tarkio included "One Toke Over the Line", the only hit Brewer and Shipley would have.  The two released seven albums in their career.  Though their music was much deeper than this song would indicate, this was the song that most people would remember them by.

Brewer and Shipley have performed with Bruce Springsteen, Stephen Stills, Black Sabbath and Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead.  Brewer and Shipley continue to perform together. 

This group showed great promise with a song in 1977 that has stood the test of time very well:

  
#153:  Smoke from a Distant Fire--Sanford Townsend Band  

Keyboardists Ed Sanford and Johnny Townsend originally formed this group in Alabama. After reuniting in Los Angeles, Sanford and Townsend signed a publishing contract with Chappell Music and began writing songs. Loggins and Messina recorded "Peacemaker", a son that Sanford and Townsend co-wrote with Kenny Loggins.

In 1976, the Sanford Townsend band recorded their self-titled album, that took off when the single "Smoke from a Distant Fire" reached #9 in the United States.  The group opened for Fleetwood Mac on their Rumours Tour, as well as concerts with Foreigner, Heart, Jimmy Buffett, Charlie Daniels and the Marshall Tucker Band.

The group's albums that followed were not near as successful, so Sanford and Townsend resumed their careers as songwriters and session musicians.  Sanford co-wrote "I Keep Forgettin'" with Michael McDonald, while Townsend formed the Toler/Townsend Band with Dan Toler.

The one hit which this group recorded caused many a phone number to be cancelled:

  

#152:  867-5309--Tommy Tutone

Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Tommy Heath and lead guitarist Jim Keller founded the band in 1978 as Tommy and the Tu-Tones.  The rest of the group has been a revolving door of musicians that originally included Terry Nails on bass and Mickey Shine on drums.  Shortly after forming, the group changed the name to Tommy Tutone and released "Angel Say No" in 1980, which reached #38.  

In 1982, the group hit paydirt with "867-5309/Jenny", which landed at #4.  John Cowsill of the Cowsills played drums and sang on the song.  Various lineups have recorded five albums, but nothing else caught on like "867-5309/Jenny".

This hard rock group achieved their big success with a song that has become an anthem of the anti-establishment:

  
#151:  Smokin' in the Boy's Room--Brownsville Station  

This group formed in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1969 with Cub Koda (guitarist and vocalist), Mike Lutz (guitarist and vocalist), drummer T.J. Cronley and bassist Tony Driggins.  The group's first albums included covers from groups that inspired them.  

In 1970, Brownsville Station released their debut album No BS on a label owned by Warner Brothers Records.  

In 1973, the group released the album Yeah!  "Smokin' In the Boys Room", written by Lutz and Koda, reached #3 in the United States and #27 in the U.K. and sold over two million copies.

Henry Weck replaced Cronley on drums.  Brownsville Station became a popular live act featuring Koda's onstage antics.  The group's second-best song was "Kings of the Party", which peaked at #31 in 1974.  

In 1977, Brownsville station recorded the novelty song "Martian Boogie", which was played on Dr. Demento's radio show.  The group released the album Air Special in 1978 and broke up the following year.  Lutz went on to produce many artists, including Ted Nugent.  Weck engineered and co-produced the Blackfoot album Strikes. 

Brownsville Station released eight albums and 13 singles in their career. 

We are just six days from the conclusion of The Top One-Hit Wonders*.  We remind you that the rankings are highly subjective, although we did do our level best given the criteria we outlined at the beginning.  The Top 10, we believe, stand out as the ten artists who had the best chance of having another hit or showed the best potential with their one hit.  Tune in tomorrow for #150-126.