The Top 500 One-Hit Wonders of the Rock Era Revisited: #70-61

Inside The Rock Era is proud to bring back this favorite, updated in 2025!

The artist who recorded one of the all-time biggest sellers of the Rock Era is next:

#70:  Mungo Jerry--"In The Summertime"

Mungo Jerry got their name from the poem Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer, from T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.  The group made their debut at the Hollywood Festival at Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England the week that "In the Summertime" was released in 1970.  

The song topped the U.K. charts for seven weeks and reached #1 in 26 countries; it peaked at #3 in the United States.  The trade publication Melody Maker named Mungo Jerry the Best New Band in 1970 and group member Ray Dorset, who wrote the song, received three Ivor Novello Awards for his songwriting.

The song has now sold over 30 million copies worldwide. "In The Summertime" has been covered several times, including a 1995 version by Shaggy. 

Mungo Jerry has released 19 albums and 21 singles. They followed up "In the Summertime" with success in their native England and have had spot success in other countries, but never did anything close to their smash of 1971.

This group took an Ann Peebles song and remade it into a classic:

#69:  Eruption--"I Can't Stand The Rain" 

This disco group began as Silent Eruption in 1974 in Great Britain.  The following year, they won the RCA Soul Search Contest and released their debut single "Let Me Take You Back in Time".  

But as further success eluded them, lead singer Lindel Leslie left the group, and backing singer Precious Wilson became the new lead vocalist.  Eruption began touring in Germany, where they were discovered by Frank Farian, the producer of Boney M.  Eruption signed with Hansa Records and opened for Boney M. on tour.

"Party Party" became a minor hit, leading to the release of Eruption's remake of the Ann Peebles song "I Can't Stand The Rain" from the group's debut album.  "I Can't Stand The Rain" was a worldwide smash, reaching #1 in Australia and Belgium, #2 in Norway, #3 in Italy, #4 in New Zealand, Austria and the Netherlands, #5 in France and the U.K., #6 in Ireland, #7 in Germany, #18 in the United States, and becoming one of the biggest hits of the year in many areas.

Eruption followed with the album Leave a Light in 1978.  "One Way Ticket" became a #9 song in the U.K. but Eruption was not able to generate further worldwide interest.  Wilson left the band in 1979 to begin a solo career and was replaced by Kim Davis.  Eruption scored a Top 10 song in Germany with "Go Johnnie Go" from the album Fight Fight Fight.  

Tragedy struck when Davis suffered a fatal brain hemorrhage.  She was replaced by Jane Jochen, and Eruption signed with Jupiter Records in 1981.  However, the group had not been the same since the departure of Wilson, and Eruption's fourth album Our Way received little attention.  In 1985, the group broke up.

The group that gave us this worldwide hit in 1968 is next:

#68:  John Fred and the Playboys--"Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)"

This group formed in 1956 with lead singer John Fred, guitarist Jimmy O'Rourke, bassist Harold Cowart, Joe Miceli on percussion, Tommy Degeneres on organ, trumpet players Ronnie Goodson and Charlie Spinosa and bari-sax player Andrew Bernard.  The group released their first single "Shirley" in 1958.   In 1967, Fred, poet Jack Royerton and  Bernard co-wrote "Judy In Disguise", a play on the title of the Beatles' hit "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds".  

John Fred & His Playboy Band released "Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)" on Paula Records.  The song hit #1 in the United States, Germany and Switzerland and #3 in Great Britain.early 1968 and sold over one million copies.  Although the group was a talented road act, they suffered the fate of being branded a novelty act and were never able to enjoy further success.  

John Fred and His Playboy Band released four albums and 10 singles.

Here's another of a handful of #1 songs that One-Hit Wonders have collected in the Rock Era:

#67:  Jaggerz--"The Rapper"  

While at Slippery Rock University, Donnie Iris started a band called the Trivells, which became Donnie and the Donnelles.  Iris left college when he joined Jimmie Ross in a band called Gary and the Jewel Tones.  This band resulted in the Jaggers, which formed in 1965 and began playing night clubs.

In 1968, the Jaggers signed a recording contract with Gamble Records and began recording their debut album.  As their was another band with their name, manager Joe Rock suggested the group alter their name slightly to the Jaggerz.  In 1969, the group released the album Introducing the Jaggerz with moderate success.

In 1970, the group switched to Kama Sutra Records and released the album We Went to Different Schools Together. "The Rapper", written by Iris, was released as a single.  It became a smash hit, reaching #2 and selling over one million copies.

The group would never again come close to the success achieved by "The Rapper".  They released four albums and 11 singles through 1973, when they were dropped from the label.  Iris, however, enjoyed two Top 30 hits with "Ah!  Leah!" in 1981 and "My Girl" in 1982.

The number 13 was lucky for this unique English group:

   
#66:  Chumbawamba--"Tubthumping"

Allan Whalley, Danbert Nobacon, Midge and Tomi were in the band Chimp Eats Banana, and formed this group in Burnley, England in 1982.  Lou Watts joined shortly afterwards.  Chumbawamba recorded the song "Three Years Later" on Crass Records.  Alice Nutter, Dunstan Bruce, Harry Hamer and Dave Dillon soon joined.  The group released the cassettes Be Happy Despite It All and Raising Heck With Chumbawamba and were featured on many compilations.  The group had released several songs to only moderate success.

Then in 1997, the group released their 13th single "Tubthumping" on Universal Records and EMI Electrola.  The song reached #1 in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Italy, #2 in the U.K. and Norway and was #1 on the Modern Rock chart and #6 overall in the United States.  "Tubthumping" was played as a wake-up call on the final Space Shuttle mission and was used in the series premiere of the television show Dawson's Creek.

Chumbawamba has released 19 albums and 22 singles in their career, with "Tubthumping" being their only popular song.

A talented act that gave us a million seller in 1967 is at #64:

   
#65:  Music Explosion--"Little Bit O' Soul"

James Lyons (singer and percussion), guitarists Donald Atkins and Richard Nesta, bassist Burton Stahl and drummer Robert Avery formed this group in Galion, Ohio.  Ronald Bretone later replaced Stahl.  Producers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz discovered the group and signed them to a recording contract.

The group released the single "Little Bit O' Soul" in 1967, which reached #2 and sold over one million copies.  The song, written by John Carter and Ken Lewis, became the group's only big hit.

Music Explosion released one album and 13 singles in their career, with "Sunshine Games" being their next biggest hit at #63.  

Sound straight out of the psychedelic 60's is next:

#64:  Electric Prunes--"I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)"  

This group was formed in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles by guitarist Ken Williams, lead singer James Lowe, Michael Weakley on drums and bassist Mark Tulin.  They first called themselves the Sanctions and then Jim and the Lords.  Joe Dooley replaced Weakley on drums; in fact, their lineup changed several times, and at one time included Kenny Loggins.  

Lowe, Tulin, Williams and Weakley met RCA engineer David Hassinger, who arranged for the group to record demos at Leon Russell's home recording studio.  Hassinger suggested that the band change their name, and they settled on the Electric Prunes.  The group released the single "Ain't It Hard" from these sessions, but it was not successful.  

The Electric Prunes' follow-up was "I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)" in 1966, written by Annette Tucker and Nancie Mantz.  The song climbed to #11 in the United States and #49 in the U.K.  The group's lineup included Lowe, Williams and James Spagnola on guitar and drummer Preston Ritter.

The band released "Get Me To The World On Time", which only reached #27 in the United States and #42 in the U.K.  That was the next-best song in the group's catalog that included eight albums and 16 singles.  

Looking back, it's shocking that this band didn't become big stars:

#63:  Smith--"Baby It's You"  

This group formed from the band the Smiths, which featured two of the same members, Rich Cliburn and Jerry Carter.  Gayle McCormick, who began her career singing songs by Tina Turner and others, was added as the lead singer.  They were performing in a Los Angeles nightclub when Del Shannon discovered them. 

Shannon got Smith a recording contract with ABC-Dunhill Records and also arranged their first single "Baby It's You".  The song was written by Burt Bacharach, Luther Dixon and Mack David.  The Shirelles and Beatles had originally recorded the song, but Smith had the biggest hit with it at #5.  Smith released the album A Group Called Smith.  The group released their second album Minus-Plus, which was not as successful.  The were able to include their cover of "The Weight" on the "Easy Rider" Soundtrack.  

Smith broke up after just two albums and two singles, "What Am I Gonna' Do" and "Take a Look Around", which only made the middle of the chart.

The Carpenters remade the song just a few years later.  Numerous other artists, including Cliff Richard, Ace Frehley, Chrissie Hynde and Shakespear's Sister have covered "Baby It's You".

The group that recorded one of the biggest hits of the Rock Era is next:

  

   #62:  Los del Rio--"Macarena"

Antonio Romero Monge and Rafael Ruíz Perdigones formed Los del Rio in 1992.  The duo became a popular live act and  was invited to tour South America.  While attending a private party held by Venezuelan impresario Gustavo Cisneros, the duo witnessed a performance by a local flamenco teacher, Diana Patricia Cubillán Herrera.  The members of Los del Rio were quite surprised by her dance skills.  Antonio Romero Monge recited the chorus of what would become an international sensation on the spot, as an accolade to Cubillán, but naming her Ma'dalena.   Dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Ma'dalena, que tu cuerpo e' pa' darle alegría y cosa' güena'" ("Give your body some joy, Magdalene, 'cause your body is for giving joy and good things to").

After the night was over, Monge finished the song, and Los del Rio recorded it in 1992 as a rumba, the first of six versions of the song attributed to the duo.  Another version, a new flamenco rumba pop fusion with Spanish lyrics, became successful in Spain and Mexico.  That version was also used as the unofficial campaign theme song for the reelection campaign of then-governor Pedro Rosselló in Puerto Rico.  As Puerto Rico was a base for many cruise ships, visitors to the island were constantly exposed to the song while staying there.  Thus, the song spread to, and became a hit in, cities with significant Latino communities in the United States, such as Miami and New York City.

After the Bayside Boys remixed the song and English lyrics were written and added by producers Carlos de Yarza and Mike Triay, Los del Rio recorded the album A mi me gusta. On that album is one of the surprise hits of the Rock Era. "Macarena" was released as a single in 1995, and it became a huge international hit. The song reached was #1 for 14 weeks in the United States.  It reached #1 in Australia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Finland, Denmark, Spain and Belgium and was #2 in the U.K., New Zealand, Sweden and Norway.  By 1997, the single had sold 11 million copies.  

"Macarena" includes the laughter of Yazoo vocalist Alison Moyet.  The female singer on the remix was hired by the Bayside Boys, and at her request was uncredited.  A dance was designed around the song, and it got to be where you weren't "hip" if you didn't know the dance.  A crowd of over 50,000 people danced the Macarena in Yankee Stadium in New York City in 1996.  The song stayed on the chart for 60 weeks, the longest reign among number one songs.  

You will read and hear some people call "Macarena" one of "the greatest songs of all-time".  While it was a huge #1 hit, to be sure, the song had little competition when judged against other songs of the Rock Era.  #1 for 14 weeks in 1996 is not automatically better than #1 for 7 weeks in 1964.  You see, competition is the key.  And it is one of the key components used in my exclusive formula which is able to calculate The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.  When you consider the competition vying for #1 in the days of "Macarena", the song gets knocked down considerably.  We will update The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era* at some point, and you will see where the song truly ranks.

Los del Rio released six albums and five singles in their career--five of the albums contained different styles and remixes of "Macarena".  "Macarena Christmas" at #57 was their highest-ranking single after "Macarena".  The duo may not have been able to capitalize on their One-Hit Wonder, but they certainly gave us an international success at the time.

 A song about a river in Boston gave this group its one big hit:

  

   #61:  Standells--"Dirty Water"  

In 1961, bass guitarist Jody Rich and guitarist Tony Valentino were in a band called the Starlights, who recorded a demo of "Let's Go (Pony)".  Vocalist and keyboardist Larry Tamblyn joined the group, followed shortly afterwards by drummer Benny King, and the group changed their name to the Standells.  

The group gave their first major performance at the Oasis Club in Honolulu, Hawai'i.  Rich and King left the group, eventually replaced by Gary Lane and Gary Leeds (later known as Gary Walker of the Walker Brothers).  The Standells signed a recording contract with Liberty Records in 1964.  Leeds then left the band, replaced by vocalist and drummer Dick Dodd.   

The group released the album The Standells In Person At P.J.'s, which was later re-issued as The Standells Live and Out of Sight.  The group appeared on The Munsters television show performing "I Want to Hold Your Hand".  They released two singles on Vee-Jay Records before signing with MGM.   

Producer Ed Cobb wrote "Dirty Water", which the Standells recorded in 1965 on Tower Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records.  The song peaked at #8 and is considered a staple of garage rock.  The group released an album of the same name in 1966.   

In 1997, the Boston Red Sox adopted "Dirty Water" as their official victory anthem, played after every home victory.  The Standells played "Dirty Water" before the second game of the 2004 World Series at Fenway Park.  Also that year, two Boston area music stores assembled over 1,500 guitarists to perform "Dirty Water" for over 76 minutes adjacent to the Charles River. 

"Dirty Water" is listed in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll."  The Inmates remade the song in the 1980's and reached #51.  The Standells released five albums and four singles, with their next-best song being "Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White", which peaked at #43.

Tamblyn's niece is Amber Tamblyn, star of the movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

We've got great dance songs, great story songs, great melodies and more, all wrapped up in this Summer Spectacular in 2025.  Join us tomorrow!