The Buggles were a quirky British New Wave band that covered the popular hit “Video Killed the Radio Star”, which you probably remember very well, even though it was released in 1979. The single topped the music charts around the world, in sixteen different countries, to be exact. However, it wasn’t just the song that made The Buggles wildly popular, it was its music video.
The very odd, trippy video was actually the first-ever music video shown on MTV. What’s ironic is that it got its fair share of criticism from viewers who deemed the video way too violent because it featured a TV blowing up in the end scene. It’s safe to say that people’s definition of violence has dramatically changed over the last 30 years.
"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.
"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.
"Stuck in the Middle With You" by Stealers Wheel
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.
"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.