Great One Hit Wonders of 1979

Like I did with 1978, I thought I would take a moment to talk about the a few of the one hit wonders of 1979. Those who were famous for that one song but even the album that it appeared on didn't warrant its own spot here on 80smetalman's blog. Although there is an exception to the rule in the post, so without any further procrastination, here we go!.

Amii Stewart

You're all probably thinking that I lost the plot here. I know that Amii Stewart's 1979 hit "Knock On Wood" was a disco song. However, I have decided to include it because throughout the whole disco era of the late 1970s, this was the only disco song I almost, sort of, kind of liked. It did have a catchy bass line which is why I never immediately reached for the volume knob to turn it down when it came on the radio. Funny thing was that when I was in the service on liberty in Toulon, France in 1982, she played a disco there and this was the song used to advertise her appearance.

Patrick Hernandez

Keeping in the French theme, the second one hit wonder of 1979 tribute goes to French singer Patrick Hernandez for his hit "Born to Be Alive." Like "Knock on Wood," this song wasn't a hard rocking song but unlike it, it wasn't disco either. I just thought and so did many others at the time, that it was a good fun song that didn't take itself seriously. I also liked the guitar bit in the musical interlude between the verses. Ten years ago, I saw him being interviewed on television and he fully acknowledges the fact that he was a one hit wonder and he seemed quite proud of that accomplishment.

The Boomtown Rats

I'll be the first person to say that the Boomtown Rats are not one hit wonders. The only reason I included them here is because their song "Don't Like Mondays" wins my favourite song of 1979 award and is up there in the all time list. Back in 2000, I used to follow a metal band around the pubs of Bristol, England and although many of their originals were quite good, I liked the fact that they did an excellent cover of "Don't Like Mondays." Saying that, I will give the Boomtown Rats the respect they deserve and visit their 1979 album in the very near future.

There could have been more hits in that year but these are the ones I knew the most. I can point to the three months I was on Parris Island, South Carolina where I was starved musically as the reason why. Still two of the songs here are still worth a good listen and if I'm in the right mood, I can listen to "Knock On Wood" as well.

Next Post: Saxon

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Also available on Amazon, Froogle and Barnes & Noble and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Rock Albums of 1979: Jefferson Starship- Freedom at Point Zero

This is one of my favourite albums of all time and definitely my favourite album from Jefferson Starship. Back then they were my favourite band and with this album, Jefferson Starship was progressing in the same way my personal music tastes were progressing. They had abandoned their more mellow progressive sound of the mid to late 70s and took on a much harder, rockier sound and I loved it, still do. Not everyone agreed with the change at the time, Rolling Stone stated that Jefferson Starship had become just another heavy metal band. My reaction to such a claim would have been the same as rhythm guitarist Paul Kantner's reaction but I won't tell you what that was til I get to their next album.

Some less informed persons have claimed that the reason why this was their best album was all down to the absence of Grace Slick. I can't say that I agree with that either. I put the success of "Freedom At Point Zero" down to two other factors: a) Lead guitarist Craig Chaquico is given much more liberty to show what he can do with his guitar on the album and b) Paul Kantner does more of the song writing on it. If you are scratching your head over the last one, listen to the title track and the track "Lightning Rose" and you should see what I mean.

Craig Chaquico

After the departures of lead singers Grace Slick and Marty Balin from the band, Jefferson Starship did leave their mellow out approach behind and took up a more heavier sound. There is their big single "Jane" which starts the album off with a rocky vibe that sticks with you. Other tracks like "Things to Come," "The Girl With the Hungry Eyes" (that title has always amused me) and "Rock Music" are good rocking sounds that bear the banner for this album. Even the more laid back songs like "Fading Lady Light" don't totally abandon this and the one thing I can say that despite the harder sound, their creativity from those earlier years still is evident. This is why it's my favourite Jefferson Starship album.

Track Listing:

1. Jane

2. Lightening Rose

3. Things to Come

4. Awakening

5. Girl With the Hungry Eyes

6. Just the Same

7. Rock Music

8. Fading Lady Light

9. Freedom at Point Zero

Pete Sears- bass, keyboards

Ansley Dunbar- drums

David Freiberg- bass, keyboards, vocals

Paul Kantner- rhythm guitar, vocals

Craig Chaquico- lead guitar, vocals

Mickey Thomas- vocals

"Freedom At Point Zero" is considered the best album by Jefferson Starship in the opinion of myself and many others. They made a major transformation to the world of hard rock and did so with some impressive ease, although I always knew they had it in them. I thought there would be no better way of ending the great rock albums of 79 tour than this. I will be going into the great metal albums of that year after a one stop detour. However, I will pass on the advice that Jefferson Starship give in one of their songs: "Rock and roll is good time music, listen to it."

Next post: Rock One Hit Wonders of 1979

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London.

Great Soundtracks of 1979: The Rose

This 1979 film starring Bette Midler is a great film about a female rock star in the late sixties. Many have said that the film was based on Janis Joplin and that's not a bad thing. After all, Janis was the primitive archetype of what the modern rock chick is today. It is also the reason why I enjoyed the film so much when I first saw it. It was a real experience when Bette Midler, in character, rushed onto the stage during one of the concert scenes and shouted to the audience, "Hey you mother fuckers!" It was also the first time I heard the terms sex, drugs and rock and roll used together. From then on, its been that for me all the way.

Janis Joplin

Not only was it a cool film, but the soundtrack is very good. There are some real good rocking tracks on it like "Sold My Soul to Rock and Roll" and "Keep On Rockin," the latter co-written by Sammy Hagar. It also reminded me that if done right, a horn section can go very well with some straight ahead rock and roll. Of course, there is the more tender moments like the song the bears the title of the film and soundtrack, obviously made for the top 40 singles charts at the time. And although this sounds morbid, I do like the song "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" where the character dies in the film while singing it on stage. Nonetheless, this soundtrack for me rivals the soundtrack to "The Warriors" for best film soundtrack for the year.

Track Listing:

1. Who's Side Are You On

2. Midnight in Memphis

3. Concert Monologue

4. When A Man Loves A Woman

5. Sold My Soul to Rock and Roll

6. Keep on Rockin'

7. Love Me With A Feeling

8. Camellia

9. Homecoming Monologue

10. Stay With Me

11. Let Me Call You Sweetheart

12. The Rose

Bette Midler as The Rose

Bette Midler- Lead Vocals

Danny Weis- guitar

Steve Hunter- guitar

Mark Leonard- bass

Robbie Buchanan- keyboards

Pentti "Whitey" Glan- drums

Norton Buffalo- harmonica and trombone, background vocals

Jerry Jumonville- saxophone

Mark Underwood- trumpet

Billy Champlin- background vocals

Donny Gerrard- background vocals

Visiting this soundtrack makes me want to see the film again, I haven't seen it in about twenty years so I'm about due. This is a great film with a great soundtrack and you should like both.

Next post: Jefferson Starship- Freedom At Point Zero

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London