Again, I remember “Torn Between Two Lovers” well. There were several songs about a woman with two lovers around that time. The best was Triadby 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.
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.
Each of these has a unique aspect that prevents them from being completely obscure.
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
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?
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.
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.
I hadn’t heard the song, but I knew the title/phrase “Billy, don’t be a hero,” and I’m 30 FWIW…
They are all novelty songs.
I remember all of those songs. :smack:
Things could be worse.
Earlier this evening, I thought of the song “In The Year 2525” and had THAT going through my head. :smack:
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
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.
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.
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.
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
“Little Willy.” By Sweet. #3 in 1972.
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.
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.