Carl Douglas’s 1974 hit single is recognizable from the very first second. That unmistakable ‘oriental riff’ immediately makes whoever is listening want to dance uncontrollably.
In a time when kung fu movies were wildly popular around the world, Douglas seemed to strike gold with the hit song. Especially since martial arts king, Bruce Lee, had passed away some months before. Ironically, Carl Douglas was actually born in Jamaica.
"She's Not Just Another Woman" by 8th Day
Holland–Dozier–Holland was a songwriting and production team that was behind many of the hit Motown songs of the 60s and 70s. In fact, many people credit them for defining the Motown sound of the time. They were the creative geniuses behind the hit 1971 song "She's Not Just Another Woman", performed by R&B group, 8th Day.
The hit tune reached number 3 on the US R&B chart and number 11 on the US Pop chart. The single was released on a self-titled album by 8th Day, and sold over a million copies and was certified gold.
"Playground In My Mind" by Clint Holmes
Clint Holmes is a famous singer that topped charts around the world with his cheerful song, "Playground in my Mind". By 1972, when the song was released, Holmes had already been in the military for many years, singing for three years in the U.S. Army Chorus during the Vietnam War.
So, it came as no surprise that people went crazy for such a hopeful and happy song, which was made even sweeter by children's vocals heard in the background. Holmes never wrote another hit song again, but he went on to be wildly successful in other venues, like the Joan Rivers Show, and several performances in Las Vegas.
"The House of the Rising Sun" by Frijid Pink
Everybody knows the legendary song, "The House of the Rising Song". A traditional folk song about a life gone wrong in New Orleans, it was covered by many bands around the world, the most successful being the famous 1964 version of The Animals. However, Detroit-based band Frijid Pink also released a version in 1970 that went straight to the top of the charts.
A worldwide success, Frijid Pink's version of the song was a psychedelic blues and heavy metal rendition that was still catchy enough to be loved by any type of listener. The distorted guitar and frantic drumming were an interesting take on the folksy song. Friid Pink's version was certified gold in the US, and then they kind of faded in the years that followed.
"Ring My Bell" by Anita Ward
Even though Anita Ward didn't write the song, she brought it to life and made it the hit it still is today. Famous R&B singer Frederick Knight actually wrote the song, drawing inspiration on the teenagers of the time that were constantly talking on the phone. Knight wanted the song to be sung by Stacy Lattisaw, a known singer of the time. But, as it turns out, she signed with another label at the last minute. And then Anita Ward came along.
This couldn't have been a better turn of events, since Ward's 1979 version of "Ring My Bell" made it to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 list and the Soul Singles chart. Ironically, many people thought the lyrics of the song had a double meaning -implying its suggestiveness. Anita didn't like this one bit, as she was a devout catholic. Regardless, the song made it to the top and became a timeless hit.