4 Underrated One-Hit Wonders That Could Form a Soundtrack of the 1970s

One-hit wonders were in abundance in the 1970s, and lots of solitary hitmakers from that era are still loved today. Still, there are a few underrated one-hit wonders from the 70s that have been more or less forgotten over time. Let’s jog your memory and take a look at a few forgotten one-hit wonders that could easily make it to any soundtrack of the 1970s!

“Money” by The Flying Lizards

Remember The Flying Lizards? This post-punk art pop outfit was around until the mid-1980s. They are best known for their cover of Barrett Strong’s “Money”. The song would be the experimental outfit’s only hit to make it to the American charts. It was also the only one to reach the Top 40 on the UK charts. This 1979 one-hit wonder is an excellent one that made it to several film soundtracks, including Empire Records and The Wedding Singer.

“Don’t Give Up On Us” by David Soul

David Soul had made it big as an actor on the show Starsky And Hutch. However, he was a musician before that era of superstardom. While still enjoying the career high of his time on the show, David Soul released some music. Notably, he was known for the song “Don’t Give Up On Us” from 1976. The tune was a No. 1 hit across the board globally. And it would be Soul’s only single to top the charts with such success. His follow-up tunes “Going In With My Eyes Open” and “Silver Lady” did decently, but neither hit the Top 10 in the US.

“I Can Help” by Billy Swan

Who doesn’t love a little bit of rockabilly? The early-to-mid-1970s were full of music like this; it was quite an excellent time that predated the golden era of country rock in the late 1970s. “I Can Help” by Billy Swan was one rockabilly tune from 1974 that made it big on the charts. It was Billy Swan’s debut single, and his only track to make it to the Top 50 of the Hot 100 chart.

“When The Morning Comes” by Hoyt Axton

Underrated one-hit wonders often fell into the country category in the 1970s, and it’s a shame. A lot of great country music came out during that era. One hit from the country scene in the 70s was “When The Morning Comes” by Hoyt Axton, released in 1974. This country tune, which featured Linda Ronstadt, hit No. 10 on the country charts and No. 54 on the Hot 100 chart, as well as No. 1 in Canada. It would be Axton’s only single to chart in the Top 60 on the Hot 100, though he did enjoy a string of decently charting hits on the US country charts.

Photo by RB/Redferns