The Top 500 One-Hit Wonders of the Rock Era Revisited: #170-161

You'll find many of your favorite songs in these 500--we have 10 more lined up for you now!

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

  

   #170:  Dream Academy--"Life In A Northern Town"  

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 every 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:

   
#169:  Mercy--"Love (Can Make You Happy)"  

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 #168, one of Ireland's biggest musical exports:

  

   #168: Thin Lizzy--"The Boys Are Back In Town"

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:

#167:  Thomas Dolby--"She Blinded Me With Science"

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:

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

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

 

   #165:  MFSB--"TSOP"  

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.

Had "Coming Up Close" been the hit it should have been (It is one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*), this group would not be a One-Hit Wonder* but instead may have gone on to become superstars

 

#164:  'Til Tuesday--"Voices Carry"

This talented act won Boston's WBCN Rock & Roll Rumble in 1983, just six months after they formed.  The fame led to a recording contract with Epic Records.

"Voices Carry", backed by a tremendous video which was nominated for several awards, reached #8.

Lead singer Aimee Mann was beginning to take over the songwriting, but the title song from their follow-up album, What About Love, stalled at #26 and the aforementioned "Coming Up Close" shockingly peaked at only #59.  Mann left to pursue a solo career and the group was finished.

At #163, only the second song that this artist wrote:

 

 #163: Phoebe Snow--"Poetry Man"

While she was a student, Phoebe Snow (real name Phoebe Laub) took her treasured Martin 000-18 acoustic guitar with her from club to club in legendary Greenwich Village, New York, performing on amateur night at clubs such as The Bitter End.    Phoebe said that she wrote the framework for this song in about 5 or 10 minutes, and completed it in about an hour. She recorded it on a demo and on the strength of that demo, was signed to Shelter Records.  Phoebe composed more songs to put on her debut album, released late in 1974.

"Poetry Man" rose to #4 in Canada and #1 on the Easy Listening chart and #5 overall in the United States.  Phoebe was nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards for her debut effort.

Snow opened on tour for Paul Simon and Jackson Browne, and lent her great voice to Simon for his Top 500* hit "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover".

Snow sang several commercial jingles in the 1980's and 90's, including General Foods International Coffees and Stouffer's.  She released eight more studio albums, but despite the promise of her first release, would get no higher than #23 with "Gone At Last", a duet with Simon.

Snow suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on January 19, 2010 and slipped into a coma, battling blood clots, pneumonia and congestive heart failure.  Phoebe died on April 26, 2011.

His song contributed greatly to the musical magic of Flashdance.  Here is #162:

   
#162:  Michael Sembello--"Maniac"

Michael Sembello played on Stevie Wonder's classic album Fulfillingness' First Finale.  He 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 Stevie.  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:

   
#161:  Carl Douglas--"Kung Fu FIghting"    

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.

160 One-Hit Wonders will be in there fighting for position.  See how it all shakes out tomorrow on Inside The Rock Era!