The Top 500 One-Hit Wonders of the Rock Era Revisited: #290-281

We're happy to bring back one of our most popular music specials in the summer of 2025.  Let's continue!

This group signed with then was dropped by several record companies until their persistence finally paid off with one worldwide hit:

 

 #290:  Church--"Under The Milky Way" 

This song comes from the fifth album from Australia's rock group the Church.  The group consisted of Steve Kilbey on bass and lead vocals, guitarist Peter Koppes, Marty Willson-Piper playing guitar and Richard Ploog on drums and percussion.  While recording this song, however, they didn't like the drum track provided by Ploog, and eventually brought in ace session musician Russ Kunkel to play drums and percussion.

"Under The MIlky Way" stopped at #24 in the U.S.

There was a dispute over royalties in 2013 and lineup changes, but the Church continues to play and record, releasing their 27th album just last year.  They've released 42 career singles, with nothing else charting on the U.S. popular chart and very few getting airplay outside of their native Australia.

An 80's act checks in next:

#289:  -After The Fire--"Der Kommissar"  

Keyboardist Peter Banks formed After the Fire in London in the early 1970's.  After several lineup changes, the group found stability with Banks, guitarist and lead singer Andy Piercy, bassist Nick Battle and Ivor Twidell on drums.

After the Fire enjoyed local success and released the album Signs of Change on their own label.   Battle left the group, Piercy switched to bass and John Russell was hired to be the new guitarist.  After the Fire signed with CBS Records and released their first new wave album, Laser Love.  Twydell then left and Nick Brotherwood took over for him.  The group released "One Rule for You", which was only a hit in the U.K.

Pete King became the new drummer and the group recorded the album Batteries Not Included.  Then in 1983, After the Fire's remake of the Falco song "Der Kommissar" hit #5 in the United States and was #47 in the U.K.

However, success had come too late and musical differences led to the demise of the group.  After the Fire released six albums and 13 singles in their career. 

Born with music in his genes, this artist helped bring back the style of music that his father had helped make popular:

#288:  Rocky Burnette--"Tired Of Toein' The Line"  

Burnette, the son of early rock star Johnny Burnette, was part of the revival of rockabilly in the 1980's. He released his debut album Son of Rock 'n' Roll on EMI America in 1979.  The single "Tired of Toein' the Line" reached #8 in the United States, #1 in Australia and #3 in South Africa.  

Financial problems at EMI limited the promotional help that Burnette got on his second album, and was not successful.  Burnette toured Europe in 1981 and although several of his singles did well on that continent, "Tired of Toein' the Line" would be his only worldwide hit.

It may have been tough for some music publications to gauge popularity, but no one can deny that this artist enjoyed their one big hit in 1971:

#287:  Chase--"Get It On"

Bill Chase, Ted Piercefield, Alan Ware and Jerry Van Blair, were all excellent jazz trumpeters who were quite good at vocals and arranging. The four were backed by a rhythm section of Phil Porter on keyboards, Angel South on guitar, bassist Dennis Johnson and Jay Burrid on percussion. Terry Richards handled lead vocals on the first album.

With this lineup in 1971, the group released their self-titled debut album, which contained the great but highly underrated song "Get It On".  The single peaked at #24 while the album sold 400,000 copies, itself evidence that those making the chart didn't at the time adequately factor in album sales.  Chase was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards, but was edged out by rising star Carly Simon. 

Chase released four albums in their career, but their best work is definitely "Get It On". 

This group scored their one big hit with a little "Elvis magic":

#286:  Exciters--"Tell Him" 

The Exciters were originally a girl group (lead singer Brenda Reid, Carolyn Johnson and Lillian Walker), although Reid's husband Herb Rooney was added later.  

Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, famous songwriters for Elvis Presley, produced "Tell Him" for the Exciters, which reached #4 in 1962.  It was "Tell Him" that was the song that Dusty Springfield heard which inspired her to start a solo career.  The song would later be featured in the great movie My Best Friend's Wedding as well as in episodes of the television series Ally McBeal.

The group also recorded the original version of "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" in 1963 before it became an international hit for Manfred Mann a year later.

This artist did a major disappearing act after his One Hit:

#285:  Peter McCann--"Do You Wanna' Make Love"  

Bridgeport, Connecticut's Peter McCann became a staff writer with ABC Music, and wrote "Right Time of the Night", which became a huge hit for Jennifer Warnes in 1977.  Three months later, McCann hit #5 in the United States and #11 in Australia with his own recording, "Do You Wanna' Make Love".  Then, he was never heard from again.

This group from the 90's is next in our special: 

#284:  Filter--"Take A Picture"

Singer Richard Patrick played guitar on tour for Nine Inch Nails but left the band shortly afterwards. In 1993, he formed Filter with guitarist Brian Liesegang. The group signed a recording contract with Reprise Records in 1994.

Filter released their debut album Short Bus in 1995 that included the single "Hey Man, Nice Shot".  In order to tour, Filter recruited Geno Lenardo on guitar, bassist Frank Cavanagh and drummer Matt Walker.  The new group recorded the video for the single "Dose".

Filter then recorded several songs for soundtracks, including "Thanks Bro" on Songs in the Key of X:  Music from and Inspired by the X-Files and "Jurassitol" for Crow:  City of Angels.  Liesegang left the group in 1997.

Patrick kept Filter going with Lenardo, Cavanagh and drummer Steve Gillis, who joined after Walker left for the Smashing Pumpkins.  Filter recorded their second album Title of Record, which included the mellow ballad "Take a Picture", which reached #12.

The Amalgamut featured the singles "Where Do We Go From Here?" and "The Only Way (Is the Wrong Way)", but neither received much airplay.  

Patrick joined the Damning Well in 2003 and then Army of Anyone and Filter was on hiatus.  Liesegang and Matt Walker played in Billy Corgan's touring band in 2005. 

Patrick began working on the Filter album Anthems for the Damned, released in 2008.  After the release of a Greatest Hits album, Filter began working on a new album that has yet to be released.

Beethoven may be long gone, but he had a hand in this artist achieving success:

#283:  Walter Murphy--"A Fifth Of Beethoven"

Murphy grew up in Manhattan, New York, and began studying several instruments, including the piano and organ, at age four.  Walter studied classical piano and went to Mount Saint Michael Academy, where he studied jazz and performed his own compositions.  Murphy enrolled in the Manhattan School of Music in 1970 and wrote songs for the school jazz ensemble.

In 1972, a fellow student introduced Murphy to Doc Severinsen, musical director of The Tonight Show, who heard Murphy's arrangements. Severinsen was so impressed that he had The Tonight Show Band play them live. Murphy also wrote radio jingles for companies such as Woolworth's, Revlon and Lady Arrow.

In 1974, Murphy was writing a disco song for a commercial when the producer suggested he use an updated version of classical music. Murphy recorded a demo tape of these songs and sent them to record companies in New York City. Murphy's version of Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5 in C Minor", however, caught the ears of Larry Uttal, the owner of Private Stock Records. Murphy signed a recording contract and recorded "A Fifth of Beethoven" in 1976.

The song was credited to Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band at the urging of Private Stock, which believed it would have a better chance of being played if it were credited to a group. Two days after release, however, Private Stock discovered there was already a band by the name of The Big Apple Band, and changed the credit to The Walter Murphy Band.

"A Fifth of Beethoven" climbed to #1 and became one of The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era*. Murphy released an album of the same title and included his version of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee" entitled "Flight '76". The follow-up single hit #44.

Murphy released three more albums but "Themes From E.T. (The Extra-Terrestrial)" at #47 was his only other song of note.

 Here's a singer that Rick James helped become a recording artist:

#282:  Teena Marie--"Lovergirl" 

Mary Christine Brockert grew up in Mission Hills, California, a natural performer. She began singing "Banana Boat Song" by age two. She also loved Motown music and began singing the popular songs of the 60's and 70's.  

At eight years old, Brockert began performing auditions, which landed her an acting role on The Beverly Hillbillies. Brockert learned to play piano and later taught herself to play guitar, bass and congas.

Mary soon formed a semi-professional R&B band with her younger brother Anthony and friend Paul Saenz. Brockert attended Venice High School in Oakland and joined the Summer Dance Production. After graduation, Mary auditioned for record companies while studying English Literature at Santa Monica College.

In 1976, Brockert was introduced to Hal Davis of Motown Records.  Eventually, label head Berry Gordy signed her as a solo artist.  She recorded several songs that were unreleased before Rick James heard her and was impressed.  James produced the album Wild and Peaceful, credited to Teena Marie.  

The album yielded the Top 10 R&B song "I'm a Sucker for Your Love", a duet with James. A second album in 1980, Lady T, included "Behind the Groove", #6 in the U.K. but largely ignored everywhere else.

In 1980, Teena Marie wrote and produced all the songs, the horn and rhythm arrangements and handled the backing vocals on her third album, Irons in the Fire. The single "I Need Your Lovin'" became a #37 song in the United States and #28 in the U.K. Later that year, Teena Marie sang the duet "Fire and Desire" with James.

But in 1982, Teena Marie and Motown were embroiled in a legal battle over her contract and disagreements about releasing her new material. The result was known as "The Brockert Initiative", which made it illegal for a record company to keep an artist under contract without releasing new material that the artist recorded.

Epic Records contacted Teena Marie and signed her to a contract that also allowed her to establish her own publishing company, Midnight Magnet. Teena Marie released the album Robbery, which included the minor R&B hit "Fix It". Still, the talented Teena Marie was mostly unknown. 
Then finally in 1984, Teena Marie released Starchild, which contained the #4 smash "Lovergirl". She followed that up with the rock album Emerald City, which didn't sit well with her fans and did not do well. Teena Marie also recorded "Lead Me On" for the movie Top Gun. In 1988, her song "Ooo La La La" was a #1 R&B song but again, largely ignored.

Further releases fared no better and despite 13 albums and 29 single releases, "Lovergirl" is by far the only song Teena Marie did that will be remembered.

This next singer was so popular it seemed as if the entire record industry was rooting for her:

#281: Nicolette Larson--"Lotta' Love"

Larson graduated from high school in Kansas City, Missouri and attended the University of Missouri before leaving to begin a music career.  This led Nicolette to San Francisco, where she worked in a record store and volunteered for the Golden Gate Country Bluegrass Festival.  Larson made her public debut opening for Eric Andersen at a club in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 

Larson performed with Hoyt Axton when he opened for Joan Baez in 1975, and sang on her first record when she provided background vocals for Commander Cody.  Nicolette continued her work for Commander Cody on two further albums, and also sang for Rodney Crowell, Jesse Colin Young and Jesse Winchester.  Larson's work with Emmylou Harris in 1977 enabled her to meet Harris' friend Linda Ronstadt.  

Larson was at Ronstadt's home in Malibu, California, when neighbor Neil Young called to ask Ronstadt if she could recommend a female vocalist.  Ronstadt suggested Larson, becoming the third person that day to recommend her to Young.  

The next week, Ronstadt and Larson recorded vocals for Young's American Stars 'n Bars album.  Nicolette also provided vocals on Young's Comes a Time album in 1977.

This led to Larson signing a recording contract with Warner Brothers.  Larson's debut single "Lotta Love" (written for her by Young) hit #8 overall and was a #1 Adult Contemporary song.  She also continued her session work with the Doobie Brothers (on the Minute by Minute album), Emmylou Harris and Crowell.

Larson recorded a performance of "Lotta Love" at Madison Square Garden for the "No Nukes" Soundtrack album in 1979.  Larson's second single, "Rhumba Girl" only peaked at #48.

In 1980, Larson released her second album In the Nick of Time featuring the single "Let Me Go Love".  While that song would only reach #35, Larson continued to do well as a backing vocalist, featured prominently on "Say You'll Be Mine" by Christopher Cross and "Make a Little Magic" by the Dirt Band.  The lack of a major hit limited impact of future albums Radioland and All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go.

Larson continued her session career with credits on albums by Ronstadt (Mad Love), the Doobie Brothers (One Step Closer), Van Halen (Women and Children First), Rita Coolidge, John Stewart and Tom Johnston.  She charted a few more times on the minor country chart, but Nicolette could never repeat her success with the general public before dying in 1997 of cerebral edema.

That brings an end to this segment, but we've got more lined up for you tomorrow, exclusively on Inside The Rock Era!