# Is this the most obscure #1 Billboard hit song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 15, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953 "2015-08-15T23:34:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/1 "2015-08-15T23:34:35Z")
[This](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qlK9TJvuSk) was #1 on the Billboard charts only a decade before I started getting into pop music, but I had NEVER heard of the song or the group before today (thanks to the Meat Loaf thread). If it’s not this one, what is it? I get the sense that there would be a lot of sappy '70s light rock on a list of now-forgotten #1s. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/2 "2015-08-15T23:40:08Z")
Researching a little deeper, I see \*\*astorian \*\*mentioned this song in a [post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17418817&postcount=81) from about a year ago, with a big list of #1 songs that have kind of faded away. There aren’t many recording artists on that list I have never even heard of, however. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/3 "2015-08-15T23:42:36Z")
You are young, aren’t you? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/4 "2015-08-15T23:42:39Z")
Oh, I remember that piece of crap, though I didn’t recall it was #1 (I wasn’t paying much attention to singles, anyway). ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/5 "2015-08-15T23:46:07Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > You are young, aren’t you? It’s all relative…I don’t feel all that young, as the dad of four kids ranging from three to fifteen. But I’m definitely too young to remember that song if that’s what you mean. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/6 "2015-08-15T23:47:23Z")
Anyone care to mention what song it is, for someone who can’t watch a video right now? I’m curious! ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/7 "2015-08-15T23:48:30Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Oh, I remember that piece of crap, though I didn’t recall it was #1 (I wasn’t paying much attention to singles, anyway). For two weeks running! BTW, those outfits they are wearing are just…:smack: If ever I’m tempted to think people exaggerate the ridiculousness of '70s fashion, I will definitely fire this video up as a reminder/rebuttal. ETA: **ITD** , it’s Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods - “Billy, Don’t Be a Hero” (1974). Per Wikipedia, this group cannot even qualify as one-hit wonders! Amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/8 "2015-08-15T23:48:58Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Anyone care to mention what song it is, for someone who can’t watch a video right now? I’m curious! You really don’t want to know. Trust me, ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/9 "2015-08-15T23:49:40Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > You really don’t want to know. Trust me, I’m sure you’re right. Tell me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/10 "2015-08-15T23:49:42Z")
Not obscure at all. I remember it well ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/11 "2015-08-15T23:49:52Z")
Got tired of that song fast. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/12 "2015-08-15T23:50:58Z")
You sure? It’s stuck in my head now, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. But if you really want to risk it… Billy Don’t Be a Hero by Bo Danaldson and the Heywoods… sorry ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2015, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/13 "2015-08-15T23:52:28Z")
That one! I was 7 at the time and we’d sing it on the bus to camp or school or something. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/14 "2015-08-16T00:00:20Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > If it’s not this one, what is it? Telstar? ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/15 "2015-08-16T00:42:46Z")
Not obscure at all. I saw a couple of joking references to it (with regard to a real person named Billy) just last week. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/16 "2015-08-16T00:44:40Z")
**Is this the most obscure #1 Billboard hit song?** Let’s see. There was\* Dominique\*, which was not only in a foreign language, but recorded by a nun. _Sukiyaki_, a Japanese song that had absolutely nothing to do with sukyaki. _Ballad of the Green Berets_, a pro-Vietnam ditty. _The Streak_, which was about, well, someone running around naked. _Disco Duck_, where only some of the lyrics were sung by the duck. And not a single one of them was a sappy, light-rock '70s song. Those would be a different group of now-forgotten hits. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/17 "2015-08-16T01:17:42Z")
Quickly perusing the list of Billboard Hot 100 #1’s from 1978 onward, I came across [“Shake You Down” by Gregory Abbott](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shake_You_Down), a rare example of me never having heard of the song OR the artist before. From _astorian’s_ list (linked in post #2) I’ve never heard of Hugh Masekela “Grazing in the Grass”, The Stories “Brother Louie”, Al Wilson “Show And Tell”, Andy Kim “Rock Me Gently”, Neil Sedaka “Bad Blood” or The Manhattans “Kiss And Say Goodbye”. The rest I’m at least familiar with, even if I’m not familiar with the song itself – many of them I’ve only heard from those endless “Time/Life’s Top Hits of the 70’s” commercials from late night TV. “Billy…Hero” would fall into that category. It’s not uncommon for even the biggest hit songs to sometimes fade away into obscurity – for example, when was the last time Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical” got played on the radio? ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/18 "2015-08-16T01:28:04Z")
Found another one: [“Torn Between Two Lovers” by Mary Macgregor](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIFBQnwXjCI), #1 for two weeks in 1977. Apparently it was popular enough to inspire a TV movie based on the song. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Krupe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@Leo\_Krupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Krupe)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/19 "2015-08-16T01:34:30Z")
I always couple the OP’s song with Paper Lace’s “The Night Chicago Died,” although I won’t say that went to #1, but I heard them on the radio about the same time frame. It was a good time in my life, although the music pretty much sucked. But good memories going to sleep listening to Hues Corporation’s “Rock the Boat.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/20 "2015-08-16T01:37:23Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Not obscure at all. I remember it well To clarify, I’m sure anyone old enough to have listened to top 40 radio at that time would remember this. You don’t get to be on the top of the charts for two weeks running without a lot of radio play. But I guess what I mean is songs that people who came of age after the time they were released have never heard of, and haven’t heard of the artist either. Oh, and I should probably add a third criterion: even if you don’t know the song by name and have not heard of the artist, it’s disqualified if it sounds familiar when you listen to it. There are a few listed upthread that satisfy the first two criteria, but I will spend some time later tonight looking them up and listening to them to see if they satisfy all three, at least for me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953.md?page=2)