Most people know “Stuck in the Middle With You” from that brilliant, albeit overly violent scene from Tarantino’s classic film, ‘Reservoir Dogs’. The extremely cheery and catchy tune was recorded by Stealers Wheel in 1973, and it became the Scottish band’s ticket to fame. The song topped BBC’s ‘Top of the Pops’ when it was released.
The band’s Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan recorded the song, but they enlisted the help of songwriters Mike Stoller and Jerry Leiber. The pair had helped the king of rock ‘n roll himself, Elvis Presley, reach star status back in the day.
"Jungle Fever" by The Chakachas
The Chakachas were a group of Latin-soul studio musicians from Belgium, and they were brilliant. In 1972, they produced a hit tune titled "Jungle Fever", which reached number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 29 in the UK. In the US, the single sold over a million copies, and was certified gold.
This groovy funk gem was also famously featured in the 1997 cult classic film, 'Boogie Nights'. It also appeared in a 2004 videogame, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and three other films, including 'Next Friday', 'Just Like Heaven, and 2019's 'Good Boys'. "Jungle Fever" has also been sampled by famous rappers throughout the years. However, The Chakachas never topped a chart in the US again.
"Do You Wanna Make Love" by Peter McCann
This sweetly innocent song about intimacy, written by Peter McCann, was the number 5 song on 1977's Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Do You Wanna Make Love" was so saccharine that even parents wouldn't freak out when they heard it playing on the radio.
Unfortunately, nobody ever heard from Peter McCann again. But hey, he'll always have his hit single.
"Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)" by Deodato
A funky fusion instrumental arranged by Brazilian pianist, Eumir Deodato, "Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)" reached number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1973. The first single on Deodato's 'Prelude' album, the hit song was a rendition of the classical piece by Richard Strauss that was featured in the famous film, '2001: A Space Odyssey'.
The jazz-funk rendition was a perfect combination of jazz and disco and made Deodato known around the world. The song also reached number 7 on the UK Singles Chart. On another, completely random note, Eumir Deodato is Stephen Baldwin's father-in-law.
"Wildflower" by Skylark
The Vancouver-born Skylark was a known pop/rock band that hit it big with their 1972 single, "Wildflower". The soft rock, southern boogie sounding tune reached number one in Canada and number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and Skylark sold over a million copies.
Even though the band stopped recording in 1973, "Wildflower" lived on, being sampled by hip hop legends like Tupac and Kanye West decades later.