3 One-Hit Wonders From the 1970s That Sum up the Decade

What do you get when you combine a lot of heavy rock music with a feeling that the world is your oyster? That’s right, you get the 1970s! While there is, of course, more to a decade than just the music, it’s also true that certain songs can sum up a decade’s feel or vibe. Some tracks just sound like an era in human history. Below, we wanted to examine that very phenomenon.

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We wanted to explore three songs from the 1970s that sound like that very time period. More specifically, we wanted to take a look at a trio of one-hit wonders from the decade. You know, those songs that rocketed up the charts but whose composers never quite had the same success again. Indeed, these are three one-hit wonders from the 70s that simply sum up the decade.

“One Toke Over The Line” by Brewer & Shipley from ‘Tarkio’ (1970)

When the freewheelin’ 60s led into the 1970s, there was still some leftover freewheelin’ energy. And that is just what Brewer & Shipley displayed in this 1970 acoustic-driven track. The song, which hit No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, is a funny storytelling offering about being a little too high at a train station. It’s the kind of song that was born during the social revolution of the 1960s but solidified by the rock revolution of the 1970s. For those who have ever been one toke over the line, this song sees you!

“The Hustle” by Van McCoy from ‘Disco Baby’ (1975)

Here, we’d like to introduce you to a little thing we like to call disco music. When you talk about popular songs from the 1970s, you can’t leave out disco from the conversation. The glimmering dance culture led to many a hit song, including this one from Van McCoy. Indeed, “The Hustle” peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 thanks to its rich strings and light-on-your-feet melodies that get your shoulders swaying and your hips shaking. Disco was the 1970s, and “The Hustle” was disco.

“The Boys Are Back In Town” by Thin Lizzy from ‘Jailbreak’ (1976)

Just like you can’t talk about the 1970s and not mention disco, you really can’t talk about the decade and not mention hefty classic rock music. And that’s exactly what Thin Lizzy created when they released their 1976 song, “The Boys Are Back In Town”. The song, which hit No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, that honors friend groups also honors big, buzzing guitars and heavy rhythms. Ever since its release, it’s become an anthem for fun and communal joy. Play it at your next high school reunion and watch the crowd get hyped!

Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns