Category: One Hit Wonders

One Hit Wonders

The Vince Guaraldi Trio – A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) and Peanuts Greatest Hits (2015)

December 23, 2024

As one of the most acclaimed and beloved Christmas albums of all time, jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi mixed childlike wonder and post modern sophistication together for his soundtrack of the classic holiday special “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” A look at the special relationship between Vince Guaraldi and the world of Charles Schulz’ “Peanuts,” and how he created the perfect soundscape, as well as modern holiday classics, for Charlie Brown, Snoopy and all their friends. Extra: “Cast Your Fate to the Wind,” “Linus and Lucy,” “Little Birdie” and the problematic “Christmastime is Here” sessions.

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – At Home with Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (1958)

October 25, 2024

In 1956 Cleveland Ohio musician Jay Hawkins went into OKeh Records studios to lay down his blues ballad “I Put a Spell On You.” But after a feast of chicken and ribs and beer, the once traditional song turned into an orgy of grunts, groans and howls. Although he claimed to have no memory of recording it, a strange thing happened that night. The young blues pianist emerged out of the studio as Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and the sub genre of shock rock was born. The story of “I Put a Spell On You,” and how Screamin’ Jay Hawkins reluctantly became the forefather of shock rock.

The Gentrys – Keep On Dancing (1965)

October 2, 2024

In 1965 Memphis based garage band The Gentrys were catipulted to fame with the release of “Keep On Dancing.” One of rock n’ roll’s most enduring party songs, the track would keep generations of music lovers dancing for nearly six decades. A look at the short and fast career of The Gentrys, and the continuing legacy of “Keep on Dancing.” Extra: The Bay City Rollers, Pink Lady and Sam Tweedle meets Jimmy “The Mouth of the South” Hart.

Scott McKenzie – The Voice of Scott McKenzie (1967)

August 19, 2024

In 1967 reluctant singer Scott McKenzie had one of the biggest hits of the era with “San Fransisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair,” which became both an anthem for the entire “flower power” movement, and inspired thousands of wayward youth to migrate to California. However, despite its success, Scott McKenzie managed to get lost in the shuffle of the Summer of Love. A look at the origins of “San Fransisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)” and the voice of Scott McKenzie. Extra: How the Montery Pop Festival gave birth to “San Fransisco,” and Scott McKenzie’s life long friendship with “Papa” John Phillips.

The Rose Garden – The Rose Garden (1968)

June 14, 2024

In 1967 Los Angeles band The Rose Garden hit the Billboard Top 20 with their folk-rock single “Next Plane to London.” However, struggling to find their identity and divided internally by a production team who sought to put female singer Diana De Rosa into the spotlight, after one hit and a single album The Rose Garden was nothing more than bitter weeds. The quick rise and fall of a promising sunshine pop band, and the story of their break out hit “Next Plane to London.”

Various Artists – Wild in the Streets Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1968)

May 10, 2024

A perennial garage band favorite, “The Shape of Things to Come,” originally released by a studio group credited as Max Frost and the Troopers, may be one of the most timeless and prophetic political anthems ever released. Capturing the eternal struggle of the generation gap in the face of revolution and change, the song is as relatable now as when it was releaased in 1968. But who were Max Frost and the Troopers? A look at the origins and continuous importance of “The Shape of Things to Come” and how it took a life of its own beyond the problematic film that introduced it, “Wild in the Streets.”

Arthur Brown – The Crazy World of Arthur Brown (1968)

October 26, 2023

In 1968 performance artist Arthur Brown brought his Faustian nightmare journey through hell to music audiences via his album “The Crazy World of Arthur Brown” and became the godfather of “shock rock.” Through his high pitched wails and the helmet that shot flames from his head, Brown would be considered a “one hit wonder,” but changed the face of rock performance forever. A look at the career of “The God of Hellfire,” the birth of shock rock and Arthur Brown’s continuing influence on the rock n’ roll landscape today.

Sonny and Cher – The Wondrous World of Sonny and Cher (1966)

June 23, 2023

After getting thrown out of a Hollywood restaurant in 1965, a fed up Sono Bono wrote an emotional manifesto titled “Laugh at Me,” which became his only hit record, A look at “Laugh at Me,” Sonny’s fight for respect, and why he allowed the laughter to continue through the 1970’s and beyond. Extra: The lasting legacy of Sonny and Cher, and Chaz Bono’s attempt to reinvent “Laugh at Me” as a transgender anthem.

Various Artists – Nadia’s Theme (The Young and the Restless) (1976)

May 19, 2023

Whether you know it as the theme song to “The Young and the Restless,” “Nadia’s Theme” or “Cotton’s Dream,” Perry Botkin Jr and Barry De Vorsan’s composition has become one of the most recognizable instrumentals of the 20th Century. A deep dive into the song’s many incarnations and lives from “Bless the Beasts and the Children,” to the 1978 Olympics to….David Hasselhoff?? Extra: Who were The Sounds of Sunshine, and why did they successfully sue The Dead Kennedys?