I know I am jumping the game a little bit, but I would love to point out an artist who is in this countdown as a songwriter twice, and that artist is the late Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne-fame and one-hit wonder “Stacy’s Mom.” Recently, Schlesinger was a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic, and his songwriting is going to be missed by me. To be honest, I became familiar with his work through his involvement in the great Tom Hanks project That Thing You Do. Schlesinger lent his talents to the project by writing or co-writing many of the songs on the soundtrack, most memorably the title song which itself is another one-hit wonder by the fictional band The Wonders.
Knowing I was in the middle of this multiple-part series, my older son sent me an article from Rolling Stone stating that The Wonders were reuniting to perform in a Zoom-type group performance for the first time in a quarter century to help raise many for Adam’s expenses. That film and soundtrack were special in the Keller household back in the mid-Nineties, as pre-teen boys are wont to do by playing a movie over and over again. So, the band originally known as The Oneders (pronounced “The O-needers,” or as guitarist Lenny once said, “That’s The O-netters.”) will be paying tribute to their famous song’s creator.
Unfortunately, neither Fountains of Wayne nor The Wonders are in today’s countdown. But, the timing of the story was impeccable and worthy enough for a mention today. See? A current story not only about a single one-hit wonder but TWO!
With that said, let’s move on with the countdown.
150. Nena – “99 Luftballons” (1984)
149. Icona Pop featuring Charli XCX – “I Love It” (2013)
148. Meredith Brooks – “Bitch” (1997)
147. Big Country – “In a Big Country” (1983)
146. Iron Butterfly – “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” (1968)
145. Oran “Juice” Jones – “The Rain” (1986)
144. Twisted Sister – “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (1984)
143. Flash & the Pan – “Hey! St. Peter” (1979)
142. Pilot – “Magic” (1974)
141. Spiral Starecase – “More Today Than Yesterday” (1969)
140. The Calling – “Everywhere You Will Go” (2003)
139. Shannon – “Let the Music Play” (1983)
138. American Hi-Fi – “Flavor of the Weak” (2000)
137. The Monotones – “The Book of Love” (1958)
136. Chumbawumba – “Tubthumping” (1997)
135. Blind Melon – “No Rain” (1993)
134. Vanilla Ice – “Ice Ice Baby” (1991)
133. Haircut One Hundred – “Love Plus One” (1982)
132. Dr. John – “Right Place, Wrong Time” (1973)
131. Alannah Myles – “Black Velvet” (1989)
130. Bertie Higgins – “Key Largo” (1981)
129. Jeff Healey Band – “Angel Eyes” (1989)
128. Philip Bailey & Phil Collins – “Easy Lover” (1984)
127. Shocking Blue – “Venus” (1970)
126. Tom Cochrane – “Life Is a Highway” (1991)
125. Katrina & the Waves – “Walking on Sunshine” (1985)
124. Joan Osborne – “One of Us” (1995)
123. House of Pain – “Jump Around” (1992)
122. Callaway – “I Wanna Be Rich” (1989)
121. Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock – “It Takes Two” (1988)
120. Swing Out Sister – “Breakout” (1986)
119. Anita Ward – “Ring My Bell” (1979)
118. Patrice Rushen – “Forget Me Nots” (1982)
117. Toni Basil – “Mickey” (1982)
116. Biz Markie – “Just a Friend” (1989)
115. MFSB featuring The Three Degrees – “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)” (1974). The theme song for Soul Train.
114. Bobby Day – “Rockin’ Robin” (1958)
113. General Public – “Tenderness” (1984)
112. Nick Lowe – “Cruel to Be Kind” (1979)
111. The Dream Academy – “Life in a Northern Town” (1985)
110. The Outsiders – “Time Won’t Let Me” (1966)
109. Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers – “Tomorrow People” (1988)
108. First Class – “Beach Baby” (1974)
107. Human Beinz – “Nobody but Me” (1968)
106. Sanford Townsend Band – “Smoke from a Distant Fire” (1976)
105. Natalie Imbruglia – “Torn” (1997)
104. Divinyls – “I Touch Myself” (1990)
103. The Outfield – “Your Love” (1986)
102. Steam – “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” (1969)
101. After the Fire – “Der Kommissar” (1982)
And all that’s left is my Top 100. Stay safe, stay healthy, wash your hands and wear a mask and gloves if you go out. Have a great weekend!
If My Records Could Talk 