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.
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.
"Cruel to Be Kind" by Nick Lowe
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.
"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'.
"No Woman, No Cry" by Bob Marley & The Wailers
It's hard to believe that 'No Woman, No Cry' was released in 1974, and has been part of our life's soundtrack for more than 50 years. The love song, written by Marley, is about the rough days of living in the ghettos of Trench Town, pleading with his girlfriend to wipe her tears and look up since everything was going to be all right.
Things were going to get better. The lyrics, the melody, and Marley's unique and addictive vocals made this song one of the best in his rich and influential song resume. The live version, recorded in 1975, has become the most recognized one.
"Wuthering Heights" by Kate Bush
Kate Bush was just 19 years old when she released Wuthering Heights, which she wrote by herself. She was inspired by the novel of the same name written back in 1847. This remarkable creation is one of the few songs based on a book. It was a phenomenon back then and is even considered to be one today. Not too many pop songwriters based their songs on classic novels like this. It would be impossible to live up to it.
Bush has always been seen as an artist who is positioned off the boundaries and is unique in the way she expresses herself, and although 'Wuthering Heights' was a little hard to swallow at first, it became one of the greatest songs, not only in the UK (Bush's homeland) but all over the world.