If you’re a 90’s child, you might remember “Cruel to Be Kind” as a song performed by alt-rock band Letters to Cleo in the cult classic film ’10 Things I Hate About You’. But this song was actually released in 1979 by English singer/songwriter Nick Lowe.
Reaching number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 made Lowe into a one-hit wonder. “Cruel to Be Kind,” tells the story of a man who’s confused about his lover’s harsh treatment, but when he asks why, she simply says that “You’ve gotta be cruel to be kind.” And we do agree that sometimes it is a necessary evil to be unkind in order to achieve overall happiness.
"The Rapper" by The Jaggerz
Many people still believe that this band's name was a play on Mick Jagger's name, but that couldn't be further from the truth. The rock band from Pennsylvania released their hit song "The Rapper" right in the middle of Rolling Stones mania in 1970, so it's not surprising that people got confused at first.
However, the band explained that they chose the name after Pittsburgh slang word for a type of thorny bush. The hit song was a fun boogie with groovy electric guitar riffs that was only surpassed in popularity by "bridge Over Troubled Water", by Simon & Garfunkel. The Jaggerz wrote many other singles that made the Billboard Hot 100 charts, but they never topped them like "The Rapper."
"I Love The Nightlife" by Alicia Bridges
Even though Alicia Bridges might look like a punk chic, she's definitely a disco princess. Her hit song "I Love the Nightlife", released in 1978, was Bridges's personal love letter to nightlife. Needless to say, she loved parties and dancing, and she wanted listeners to love it as much as her.
Her voice had a cheekiness to it that made it one of a kind, but Alicia was clear from the start - this would be her only venture into disco music. Apparently, she simply said she wasn't interested in making a full album in the disco genre, even though producers made her a very generous offer.
"Driver’s Seat" by Sniff ‘n’ the Tears
You won't find anything more seventies than Sniff 'n' the Tears and their hit "Driver's Seat". Complete with huge hairdos, a frantic drum beat, synthesizer falsettos, and very heavy guitar riffs, this song has it all and more. The British-born band saw huge success with their 1979 chart-topping hit.
But it seems worldwide success wasn't enough to keep the band together, as shortly after "Driver's Seat" broke chart records, many of the band's members left, and the next singles weren't nearly as good. One thing's for sure though, the song will also forever be remembered as part of the legendary soundtrack of the epic film, 'Boogie Nights'.
And now that you're thoroughly caught up on the one-hit-wonder obscurities, here are some 70s' actual hits by actual hitmakers to add to your playlist.
"Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine" by James Brown
Most love songs, and it doesn't matter if they are from the 1970s or not, fail to make any couple feel close and intimate, however, when James Brown delivers ‘Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine,’ whoever is around is in the mood for love. Bobby Byrd is responsible for the backup vocals, and with Brown, they created one of the best songs of the era.
After its release in 1970, it became number two on the R&B hit list and number 15 on the Hot 100 Billboard. Today, the song is considered one of the best songs ever and ranked 196, and although Brown himself is considered one of the greatest lyric writers, this performance is what he is remembered for most.