The Top 500 One-Hit Wonders of the Rock Era Revisited: #460-451

We continue our salute today to The Top 500 One-Hit Wonders of the Rock Era*.  There's not only some amazing songs but many, many talented acts featured.

On several other Inside The Rock Era productions, including The Top 100 Albums of the Rock Era*, The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era* and The Top 100 Artists of the Rock Era*, while we had input into the factors, the specials featured mathematics-based formulas.  The Top 500 One-Hit Wonders*, however, is entirely subjective.  Some organizations base their ranking of One-Hit Wonders solely on the songs.  We feel that is unfair to the artists themselves.

Rather, we base the ranking on several factors, including the popularity of the one big hit, both then and now, the musicianship and talent displayed on the song, including playing of instruments and songwriting, the background and experience of each artist, the quality of any future releases and the level of subsequent success and accomplishments.  In short, we looked at "the surprise factor"; in other words, how surprised we are that the artist never had another big hit.  And again, we remind you that these evaluations are completely subjective.

Some organizations, most notably VH-1, do a Top One-Hit Wonders special, then use the occasion to mock the artists.  That is not what we are here to do.  The vast majority of these 500 artists are extremely talented and worked very hard to achieve their success, however fleeting it may have been.  Included in this music special are artists who are veteran session musicians, artists who went to prestigious music schools, who collectively have been nominated for and won numerous music awards, including Grammys, Academy Awards, and others, child prodigies, and artists saluted by various Hall of Fame organizaitons, including The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Vocal Hall of Fame, and others, and honored by their respective countries with Legendary Awards. 

To mock these artists is to damage the credibility of the organization doing the ranking.  We for one are here to salute these artists, to congratulate them for their amazing achievements.  Anyone who is aware of the blood, sweat, tears and toil that go into being successful in the music business  and then mocks these artists--well, I venture to say there is more than mild jealousy involved.

This One Hit Wonder was selling out concert halls before they had a recording contract:

#460:  Twisted Sister--" We're Not Gonna Take It"  

This hard-rockin' band from Long Island, New York formed in 1972 with lead singer Micheal Valentine, guitarist Billy Diamond, Mell Star on drums, bassist Kenneth Harrison Neill and Johnny Heartbreaker, who would soon change his name to Jay Jay French.

Twisted Sister was the resident band at the Mad Hatter in East Quogue, New York in 1973.  The group went through several lineup changes but were just a bar band.  In 1976, the group hired Dee Snider on vocals and drummer Tony Petri.  Dee and Jay Jay began to talk (rap) to the audience between songs and these raps began to overshadow the sets. The group began to sell out large halls, including the New York Palladium, with a recording contract or any airplay on radio.

There were yet more lineup changes with A.J. Pero taking over on drums and the group started its own record label.  They released two singles that caught the attention of Martin Hooker, president of Secret Records.  Twisted Sister signed with Secret and released their debut album, Under the Blade.  This gave them a cult following in the U.K., paving the way for the group to open for Motorhead.  Secret Records went out of business, but the group signed with Atlantic.  Twisted Sister then recorded You Can't Stop Rock 'n' Roll in 1983 and Stay Hungry in 1984.  The latter, spurred by sales of "We're Not Gonna' Take It", sold over two million copies.

However, a subsequent album paled by comparison and the accompanying tour flopped, leading to the band's eventual demise.

This artist's one big hit was an instrumental for a song you know better by Johnny Rivers:

#459: Lonnie Mack--"Memphis"

Mack began his career in the mid-1950's, and seldom has there been an artist who has come and gone more often. Mack was a great guitarist, but didn't have the songwriting ability to get his songs played. He utilized elements of R&B, country, bluegrass, rockabilly, soul and gospel in his music.

Mack began playing acoustic guitar at age seven. In his mid-teens, he began performing in roadhouses in Cincinnati, Ohio.  In the late 1950's, Mack recorded "Pistol Packin' Mama" on Dobbs Records. He then worked as a session guitarist for Fraternity Records, playing on singles by local R&B artists.
In 1963, at the end of a recording session, Mack and his band were offered the remaining twenty minutes of studio time. Mack recorded an instrumental loosely based on the melody of Chuck Berry's song "Memphis, Tennessee".

While Mack was touring with singer-songwriter Troy Seals, a friend told him that his song "Memphis" was climbing the charts. Mack was completely surprised, saying he had no idea what was happening. "Memphis" rose to #5.

But despite releasing 11 career albums, the best that Lonnie could do after that was "Wham!", which reached #24 later that year. Mack did several recordings through 1971, then slipping into relative obscurity for 14 years. Mack himself said, "Seems like every time I get close to really making it, to climbing to the top of the mountain, that's when I pull out. I just pull up and run". 

In the early 70's, Mack played guitar in Dobie Gray's band.  In 1975, Mack was shot during an altercation with a police officer.  Lonnie recovered, but once again virtually disappeared from the music business.  He recorded a few albums that attracted little attention.

Besides his solo career, Mack has also recorded with the Doors, James Brown, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Freddie King, Ronnie Hawkins, Roy Buchanan, Albert Collins and others.  In 2005, Mack was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

Other than his one big hit, this artist mostly stayed out of the limelight, but was a key force behind one of the biggest groups of the Rock Era:

#458:  Bob Crewe Generation--"Music to Watch Girls By" 

Bob Crewe co-wrote and produced a string of Top 10 hits for the Four Seasons and has written many great songs.  He learned music from 19th and 20th century classical composers and the giants of Jazz and Wwing, including Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Harry James and Tommy Dorsey.

Crewe initially landed recording contracts as a solo singing artist, but it was his songwriting that won him the greatest fame.  Crewe and pianist Frank Slay, Jr. formed a partnership that led to the creation of several hits.  Crewe was the singer on the Rays' hit "Silhouettes" in 1957, which reached #3, and the duo also wrote "Lah Dee Dah" for Billy Ford and Lillie Bryant and "Tallahassee Lassie" for Freddy Cannon.

As a solo artist, Crewe recorded two albums in 1961 that made him a teen heartthrob, with coverage in magazines such as 16 Magazine and to appearances on television variety shows.  

In the early 1960's, Crewe began writing with Bob Gaudio.  Their first work together was "Sherry" in 1962, which became one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era* by the Four Seasons.  The pair followed "Sherry" with many others, including "Big Girls Don't Cry", "Rag Doll", "Walk Like A Man" and "Ronnie" for the Four Seasons and "The Sun Ain't Gonna' Shine (Anymore)", which became a hit for the Walker Brothers.  

In addition, Crewe oversaw recording sessions by artists such as Dee Dee Sharp, Ben E. King and the Orlons.  In 1965, Crewe began his own record label, DynoVoice Records.  The label released songs such as "A Lover's Concerto" by the Toys and Crewe was chiefly responsible for the success of Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels.  With the guidance of Crewe, the group scored 11 Top 100 hits, capitalizing on Crewe's arrangements of "Devil with A Blue Dress On" and "Sock It To Me, Baby!".  Crewe also helped the career of the Tremeloes when they recorded "Silence Is Golden", a song originally recorded by the Four Seasons.

In 1967, Crewe, recording as The Bob Crewe Generation, released the instrumental single "Music to Watch Girls By".  The song became by far his biggest solo hit.  The Bob Crewe Generation also recorded the "Barbarella" Soundtrack in 1968.  

In 1967, Crewe and Gaudio teamed up to write "Can't Take My Eyes Off You", which reached #2 for Frankie Valli.  Crewe then collaborated with Oliver to produce his hits "Jean" and "Good Morning Starshine".  Bob continued to have a hand in  musical projects; in the mid-70's, he and Sir Monti Rock III formed Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes, who had the hit "Get Dancin'", and produced "My Eyes Adored You" for Valli.  In 1977, Crewe and Kenny Nolan wrote "Lady Marmalade", which became a #1 smash for Labelle.

In 1985, Crewe was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.  He has written or produced songs for Michael Jackson, Roberta Flack, Lesley Gore, Bobby Darin and Patti LaBelle, among others.  His songwriting and work behind the scenes obviously made Crewe a major talent, but "Music to Watch Girls By" was his only major success as a solo artist.

This former singer on The Tonight Show enjoyed one big hit, though he should have had many more...

#457:  John O'Banion--"Love You Like I Never Loved Before"

O'Banion began performing in theater at age 13 and joined the band Hog Honda & the Chain Guards in Kokomo, Indiana.  He hosted his own radio show on WIOU at age 15 and his own local television show at age 20.  

John was the lead singer in Doc Severinsen's band (of The Tonight Show fame).  Johnny Carson was a big fan and supporter of O'Banion, who also appeared on television shows of Merv Griffin and Mike Douglas, as well as on American Bandstand and Solid Gold.

O'Banion left The Tonight Show to pursue a solo career and was the winning singer on the first episode of Star Search.  John released the single "Love You Like I Never Loved Before" in 1981, which reached #24.  He won the prestigious Tokyo Music Festival Award in 1982 with "I Don't Want To Lose Your Love", which later became a country hit for Crystal Gayle.  O'Banion further endeared himself to Japanese fans with two songs in the movie Legend of the Eight Samurai.  

O'Banion also starred in the movies Borderline with Charles Bronson and the television movie Courage with Sophia Loren and Billy Dee Williams.  In 1995, he released an album of jazz covers that included his versions of 10 CC's "I'm Not In Love", "Hearts", made popular by Marty Balin and Bobby Caldwell's "What You Won't Do For Love".  

O'Banion should have been a star, so this one is on radio for ignoring him.  He released four career albums.

This English artist enjoyed a worldwide hit in 1972:

#456:  Daniel Boone--"Beautiful Sunday"

Boone (real name Peter Green and then Peter Lee Stirling) began his career as the guitarist and lead singer of the Beachcombers, who played gigs in Birmingham, England from 1958-1962.  The group met up with Tommy Bruce ("Ain't Misbehavin'" from 1960 who released several records as Tommy Bruce and the Bruisers).

The group landed an appearance on the British television show Thank Your Lucky Stars but their records were not successful.  Stirling wrote several songs during this period, including "I Think Of You" and "Don't Turn Around" for the Merseybeats.  The Bruisers broke up in 1967 and Stirling became the co-owner of a recording studio in London.  In 1971, he changed his name to Daniel Boone and joined Penny Farthing Records.

Daniel Boone co-wrote his One Hit Wonder that sold over two million copies worldwide.  It reached #15 in the United States and #21 in the U.K. in 1972.  Boone was especially popular in Germany, where "Beautiful Sunday" hit #1.  He released singles of both that song and the follow-up, "Annabelle", in German.  The song was also popular in much of Southeast Asia.  On the Japanese chart, "Beautiful Sunday" ranks 19th in all-time sales with nearly two million copies sold.

Here's one of many artists in the countdown who have made valuable contributions as a songwriter:

#455:  Van Stephenson--"Modern Day Delilah"

Stephenson played in several garage bands as a teenager, and after graduation, gained a reputation as a songwriter for Kenny Rogers, Crystal Gayle, Restless Heart and Dan Seals.  Stephenson scored a recording contract and released his first album, China Girl, in 1981.  In 1984, Van reached #22 With "Modern Day Delilah".

Stephenson released two more albums and three singles, but the best he could do after his One Hit Wonder was #45.  He did go on to enjoy a successful foray into the much-smaller country music field with the group BlackHawk in the 1990's.  

A group from America's Pacific Northwest lands at #455:

#454:  Nu Shooz--"I Can't Wait"

The husband and wife team of John Smith and Valerie Day formed this group in Portland, Oregon, in 1979 that originally included 12 members.  They eventually pared their act down to seven members and released six career albums, but it was their third, Poolside, that contained their one big hit.  

"I Can't Wait" was originally released in Portland in 1985 and became a big local hit, but still the major labels, in their infinite wisdom, turned them down.  Peter Slaghuis remixed the song in the Netherlands, and once the head honchos at Atlantic Records heard that mix, they signed Nu Shooz to a recording contract.  It was still the same song by the same group that radio had ignored earlier, just the mix was different, but I digress...

Upon release in 1986, the song became a huge hit, reaching #3 in the United States.  The group released the single "Point Of No Return", which made it to #28.  Nu Shooz was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist.  

In 1988, the group released the album Told 'U So.  The single "Should I Say Yes?" was a minor R&B hit but only reached #41 overall.     

Up next, the first of a husband and wife team who each enjoyed one big solo hit:

  
#453: Gwen McCrae--"Rockin' Chair"

McCrae began singing gospel music, then discovered the music of Aretha Franklin and Sam Cooke. Gwen began performing in local clubs as a teenager. In 1963, she recorded a duo with husband George, and signed a solo contract with TK Records. Singer Betty Wright discovered the pair in 1967 and helped them sign with Alston Records. Three singles by the duo were regional hits but that was all. They did manage to gain a reputation as excellent session vocalists, however.

Gwen signed another solo deal with TK subsidiary Cat Records and found some success on the much-smaller R&B chart. Then in 1975, she finally hit paydirt with the #9 song "Rockin' Chair". She signed with Atlantic Records and had a few more R&B hits after that. McCrae has recorded 14 albums in her career, but she could never match the success of "Rockin' Chair".

Here's the only living musician to be awarded the Order of Merit from the Jamaican government:

#452:  Jimmy Cliff--"I Can See Clearly Now"

Cliff was born in Somerton District, St. James, Jamaica.  He began writing songs while at Primary school.  In 1962, Jimmy went to the Kingston Technical School in Kingston.  Cliff attempted to attract producers to record his songs without success.  Finally, he persuaded Leslie Kong to go into the recording business to record Jimmy's songs.  "Hurricane Hattie" became a local hit for Cliff when he was 14 years old.

In 1964, Cliff was chosen to be one of his country's representatives at the World's Fair.  Afterwards, he signed a recording contract with Island Records and moved to the U.K.  Cliff made his international debut with the album Hard Road to Travel.  A song written for him by Nirvana's Alex Spyropoulos and Patrick Campbell-Lyons called "Waterfall" won the International Song Festival and was a hit in Brazil.

In 1969, Cliff released the album Wonderful World, Beautiful People, which contained the great protest song "Vietnam".  In 1972, Jimmy starred in the reggae movie The Harder They Come.  The soundtrack album sold well and is credited with bringing reggae music to a worldwide audience.  

After a break, Cliff toured for several years and recorded with Kool & the Gang.  His album Cliff Hanger in 1985 won a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.  But Jimmy still wasn't able to enjoy a popular hit.  Cliff collaborated with other artists on the song "Sun City" to protest the existing South African policy of apartheid.  He provided backing vocals for the Rolling Stones on their 1986 album Dirty Work, and Jimmy's song "Shelter of Your Love" was included in the movie Cocktail.  

Cliff performed at the Rock in Rio festival in 1991 and continued to have a following in his native country of Jamaica and the U.K.  He finally struck it big with his version of the Johnny Nash classic "I Can See Clearly Now".  The song was included on the "Cool Runnings" Soundtrack in 1993.  The song reached #18 overall and #9 on the Adult Contemporary chart in the United States, #23 in the U.K. and #1 in France.

Cliff performed at the closing ceremony of the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and his song "You Can Get It If You Really Want" was included in the soundtrack to the popular movie Something's Gotta' Give.  Cliff scored a big comeback in 2012 when his album Rebirth was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. 

In 2003, the Jamaican government honored Cliff with The Order of Merit in recognition of his contributions to the film and music of Jamaica.  In 2010, Cliff was inducted as one of the many artists in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  

At #451, a garage staple:

#451: Castaways--"Liar, Liar"

This garage group formed in the Twin Cities in Minnesota with James Donna on keyboards, guitarists Robert Folschow and Dick Roby, drummer Dennis Craswell and bassist Roy Hensley.  

Donna and Craswell wrote "Liar, Liar" with Donna's sister Joanne on a napkin at Donna's parents' house.  Donna and Craswell took the song to the other members of the Castaways who liked it.  The song found its way to Soma Records founder Amos Hellicher and the group signed a deal with Soma Records.  The song reached #12.  A follow-up was a regional hit but the group wasn't able to break through after their initial success.

The Top 500 One-Hit Wonders of the Rock Era Revisited:  #500-491

The Top 500 One-Hit Wonders of the Rock Era Revisited:  #490-481

The Top 500 One-Hit Wonders of the Rock Era Revisited:  #480-471

The Top 500 One-Hit Wonders of the Rock Era Revisited:  #470-461

We're now well into our feature of 500 One-Hit Wonders*.  We hope you notice that the talent level and potential of the artist is going up; at least that's the intention of the ranking itself.  In any case, we hope you are enjoying the special and will continue to check out the web site through August 22nd as we salute these 500 artists.  Tomorrow, artists ranked from #450 to 441.