“My Maria” by B. W. Stevenson
Buckwheat Stevenson, or B.W. Stevenson, was a bearded country singer who hit it big with his 1973 song “My Maria.” The single reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed in the Top 40 for twelve more weeks.
One year later, in 1974, Stevenson went on to perform for the Austin City Limits pilot episode. Regrettably, the recording was apparently not clear enough and the poor quality caused the episode producers to scrap it.
"Jungle Fever" by The Chakachas
The Chakachas were a group of Latin-soul studio musicians from Belgium, and they were brilliant. In 1972, they produced a hit tune titled "Jungle Fever", which reached number 8 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 29 in the UK. In the US, the single sold over a million copies and was certified gold.
This groovy funk gem was also famously featured in the 1997 cult classic film, 'Boogie Nights.' It also appeared in a 2004 video game, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and three other films, including 'Next Friday,' 'Just Like Heaven, and 2019's 'Good Boys. "Jungle Fever" has also been sampled by famous rappers throughout the years. However, The Chakachas never topped the chart in the US again.
"Afternoon Delight" by Starland Vocal Band
"Afternoon Delight" is one of those songs you can't hear without cracking a smile and singing along. What was brilliant about this song is that, even though it was clearly incredibly suggestive and naughty, it was still whimsical enough to be played on the radio.
Skyrockets definitely took flight with this song, as it topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts when it came out in 1976, and more success and fame followed after Starland Vocal got its own TV show. The song was nominated for four Grammys, of which it won two, among them for Best New Artist. Unfortunately, this was definitely a one-hit wonder since that was the last hit anyone heard of Starland Vocal.
"Tighter, Tighter" by Alive N' Kickin'
"Tighter, Tighter" was a poppy rock song that reached number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1970. Originally written by American singer/songwriters Tommy James and Bob King, it was the Brooklyn-based band Alive N' Kickin' that made the song into a smashing hit single.
The tune was an interesting mix of psychedelic guitars, bubblegum harmonies, and horns that sounded like the opening of a game show.
"Just When I Needed You Most" by Randy VanWarmer
This 1979 soft rock hit by Randy VanWarmer reached number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100. "Just When I Needed You Most" is the ultimate heartbreak song, telling the story of a man who is destroyed after his love relationship ends.
Obviously, you only need to read the song's title to figure out that the singer paints a grim picture of the woman who left him "in the rain without closing the door", but there are always two versions to a relationship. Whatever happened to this guy, at least he managed to have one hit single in his lifetime.