# 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:** 2
**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 16, 2015, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/21 "2015-08-16T01:38:06Z")
Again, I remember “Torn Between Two Lovers” well. There were several songs about a woman with two lovers around that time. The best was [Triad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Aej9wmoQ7M)by the Jefferson Airplane (though written by David Crosby, who left the Byrds partly because they refused to record it). “I Honestly Love You” by Olivia Newton-John was another, a song that’s better then it seems at first. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/22 "2015-08-16T02:00:25Z")
Dude, go back and find **Smapti’s** pop song ranking thread for 1974. That song isn’t obscure; it is simply awful. And 1974 owns awful. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/23 "2015-08-16T02:07:37Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > **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. Each of these has a unique aspect that prevents them from being completely obscure. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/24 "2015-08-16T02:21:01Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > [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. I was born in the 70s so don’t remember it from the time, but I know the song well - it’s been on a movie soundtrack semi-recently: [The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Priscilla,_Queen_of_the_Desert_%28soundtrack%29) ---
**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, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/25 "2015-08-16T02:45:13Z")
I’ve seen that, so apparently I have heard the song at least once but just did not recognize it. There are some _good_ songs in that movie though. **WordMan** , if you are right (and please link me, if you could) what was it about 1974 that made the hit songs so bad? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/26 "2015-08-16T02:51:33Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > **WordMan** , if you are right (and please link me, if you could) what was it about 1974 that made the hit songs so bad? We’ve discussed several factors before. One is that the mid-70s were the high water mark for “album-oriented rock” – acts like Led Zeppelin explicitly avoided issuing singles. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/27 "2015-08-16T03:02:57Z")
> [@Leo\_Krupe](#): > > 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.” 🙂 Thats not even the half of it. Billy dont be a hero was a Paper Lace original. They got covered by Bo Donaldson for the American hit, and then released the night Chicago died on us all all in the same summer. Any song you don’t know is obscure. Anyone listening to the radio then knew it, quite obviously. Why is Bo D not even a one hit wonder? Grazin in the grass is one of the great instrumentals of the 60s. Big hit for an African dude. (He played trumpet on the Byrds Do you wanna be a rock and roll star?) You gotta listen to that. It was covered with an inferior vocal version, to avoid. Show and tell by Al Wilson is a great soul record. That whole list was passable esp the Manhattans. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/28 "2015-08-16T03:04:29Z")
I hadn’t heard the song, but I knew the title/phrase “Billy, don’t be a hero,” and I’m 30 FWIW… ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/29 "2015-08-16T03:08:13Z")
> [@Sir\_Prize](#): > > Each of these has a unique aspect that prevents them from being completely obscure. They are all novelty songs. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/30 "2015-08-16T03:08:49Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > **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. I remember all of those songs. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/31 "2015-08-16T03:11:14Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > 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 Things could be worse. Earlier this evening, I thought of the song “In The Year 2525” and had THAT going through my head. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/32 "2015-08-16T03:13:30Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > 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. 😕 The year before, Starland Vocal Band (how’s that for the worst band name ever?) took “Afternoon Delight” to #1, and that became a variety show that lasted several episodes, and had David Letterman on a few times. :o ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/33 "2015-08-16T03:13:45Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I’ve seen that, so apparently I have heard the song at least once but just did not recognize it. There are some _good_ songs in that movie though. > > **WordMan** , if you are right (and please link me, if you could) what was it about 1974 that made the hit songs so bad? I am on the road and in a hotel. I tried to search on the 1974 thread and couldn’t get a response. Just search on “billy don’t be a hero” and look for the 1974 ranking thread. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/34 "2015-08-16T03:18:57Z")
Ha. As soon as the first 2 notes played I knew exactly what song that was. My friend and I loved that song, and would play the 45 over and over. I can still picture the label, it was orange. Don’t judge, we also loved Fernando as well, though that was 2 years after. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/35 "2015-08-16T03:34:09Z")
Does anyone (besides me) remember the 1973 version of Deodato’s “Also Sprach Zarathustra” (2001)? Went to #2 on Billboard; the 45 version was under 4 minutes, the album version was 9 and change. Same year, Sister Janet Mead had a #4 hit with “The Lord’s Prayer.” You do NOT want to get me started on this. Christmas is coming. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/36 "2015-08-16T03:37:21Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Does anyone (besides me) remember the 1973 version of Deodato’s “Also Sprach Zarathustra” (2001)? Went to #2 on Billboard; the 45 version was under 4 minutes, the album version was 9 and change. Of course. At the time, I thought it was cool. Certainly better than A Fifth of Beethoven. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/37 "2015-08-16T03:40:57Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Of course. At the time, I thought it was cool. Certainly better than A Fifth of Beethoven. You mean by Walter Murphey and his Big Apple Band? I think I have the 45. :o ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2015, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/38 "2015-08-16T03:45:41Z")
“Little Willy.” By Sweet. #3 in 1972. ---
**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, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/39 "2015-08-16T03:49:55Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Why is Bo D not even a one hit wonder? They had two other top 40 songs (#15 and #39) and a number 95–four songs total in the Billboard Hot 100. That’s far from one hit wonder status (if their only other charting song was the #95, it could be arguable), yet I have never heard of them whatsoever. ---
**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, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953/40 "2015-08-16T03:51:17Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > “Little Willy.” By Sweet. #3 in 1972. Not a #1, and in any case I know the song because it was used to very good effect in the final scene (I believe) of a TV show a few years back. ETA: “Life on Mars” was the show. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-the-most-obscure-1-billboard-hit-song/727953.md?page=3)