Formed in 1971, in Chicago, Illinois, the R&B and soul group Brighter Side of Darkness definitely had its fifteen minutes of fame. And this is already impressive considering their lead singer, Darryl Lamont, was only 12 years old! Their 1972 hit single “Love Jones”, topped the charts and was certified gold by the RIAA.
The hit soul song became so popular that it was even parodied by Cheech and Chong, who called their version “Basketball Jones”. Funnily enough, the spoof managed to reach one spot higher on the charts. Sadly, Brighter Side of Darkness disbanded in 1974.
"Put Your Hand in the Hand" by Ocean
Although "Put Your Hand in the Hand" might sound like an odd title for a song, that didn't stop it from becoming number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Now, once you know that the song was a gospel pop song, the title starts to make more sense.
For those who din't live through the 70s, Christian pop became mainstream music back in 1971, with the help of musicals like 'Jesus Christ Superstar', and Ocean, a Canadian gospel rock band, decided to capitalize on it. It was a very soft and Christian hit single, and Ocean's only one.
"Angel in Your Arms" by Hot
Even though you may only be familiar with Barbara Mandrell's 1985 version of "Angel in Your Arms", it was originally written and recorded by Hot, in 1977. This country music hit topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 6, and went on to top R&B and other charts across the country.
The sassy song became a popular hit, maybe because it told the story of a woman that wants her lover to know he's not the only one cheating around town. Good for her, and good for Hot, who managed to have at least one hit song through their career.
"Love Hurts" by Nazareth
Released in 1974, Nazareth's lead singer Dan McCafferty certainly sang his heart out with the legendary tune "Love Hurts". The song, which instantly became a worldwide anthem for breakups and heartaches, was one of the most memorable and successful of its kind.
Nazareth's band members were all Scottish, but their hit still topped charts in the U.S., Norway and the Netherlands when it was released. Even though the song was a cover, McCafferty's unmistakable yell over the otherwise soft ballad is what gives it the special something that made "Love Hurts" into one of the most epic heartbreak songs in history.
"O-o-h Child" by Five Stairsteps
In a time when the Vietnam war was at its worst and people were struggling to keep their hopes up, Five Stairsteps positive, heartwarming song, "O-o-h Child" was like a breath of fresh air. The 1970's hit-filled the radio waves with much-needed hope, and listeners loved it.
The band was certainly unique, as they were all siblings that came from the soul music scene in Chicago. But one of them, singer Alohe, took the spirit of the '70s a little too literally; he left the band a few years after their hit came out to find enlightenment.