Unearth The Voyage
Think you know the ’70s? You probably remember the hooks, but not the names behind them. These songs ruled charts, soundtracked movies, and still pop up on playlists, yet their creators slipped from memory. Rediscover 13 massive hitmakers whose tunes you can hum instantly, even if their names draw a blank. Dive in and meet the artists behind the riffs, whistles, and choruses that never really left.
1. Norman Greenbaum – “Spirit in the Sky” (1969/1970)
That gritty, fuzzed-out guitar and gospel-choir lift are instantly recognizable, even if Norman Greenbaum’s name isn’t. Released at the tail end of 1969, “Spirit in the Sky” soared to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970 and topped charts across the UK, Canada and Australia. Greenbaum never replicated that success, cementing one of rock’s most enduring one-hit wonder tales. Yet the song refuses to fade. Directors keep resurrecting it for films from Apollo 13 to Guardians of the Galaxy, guaranteeing the riff lives forever while its creator remains frustratingly under-credited among casual listeners.
2. Mungo Jerry – “In the Summertime” (1970)
Skiffle rhythms, jug-band bounce, and carefree whistling gave Mungo Jerry the ultimate warm-weather earworm. “In the Summertime” dominated 1970, sitting seven weeks atop the UK Singles Chart and reaching No. 3 in the US. The band enjoyed additional European hits, but internationally they remain tied to this breezy breakout. Its sun-drenched vibe resurfaces each year on summer throwback playlists, keeping the single immortal. Meanwhile, the group’s name often escapes listeners who assume the tune is some anonymous oldies-radio staple. For sheer seasonal joy, few tracks from the decade pack a more instant feel-good punch than this classic.
3. Edison Lighthouse – “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” (1970)
Sunshine pop rarely shimmered brighter than Edison Lighthouse’s debut. “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” became the first new UK No. 1 of the 1970s, basking for five weeks at the summit. Built around session ace Tony Burrows, the project epitomized the era’s studio-assembled hit factories. Though the song found new life on TikTok, the band’s name remains elusive to many who belt the chorus with abandon. It’s pure ear-candy: chiming guitars, buoyant rhythm, and a hook tailor-made for eternal radio rotation. The single’s glow endures, even as the group’s identity stays hazy for casual fans.
4. Shocking Blue – “Venus” (1970)
Before Bananarama rebranded it for the ’80s, Dutch band Shocking Blue crowned the Billboard Hot 100 with “Venus” in early 1970. Mariska Veres’s commanding vocal cut through psychedelic-pop guitars and a stomping beat, defining a cross-continental hit. In Europe, they scored more chart entries, but in the US they’re remembered primarily for this single. Many listeners wrongly credit the later cover as the original, proof of how thoroughly the remake eclipsed its source. Still, the opening riff and sultry declaration remain irresistible. It’s a formative moment for global pop exchange, with the Netherlands sending a thunderbolt to America.
5. Middle of the Road – “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep” (1971)
Middle of the Road turned a whimsical title into a global phenomenon. Their version of “Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep” shot to No. 1 in the UK in 1971 and racked up more than 10 million physical sales worldwide. It’s the sort of novelty-adjacent smash that embeds in pop culture while the band’s identity fades. Decades later, the track pops up in meme culture and quirky playlists, provoking instant recognition and occasional disbelief. The group themselves? Often a trivia-night stumper. Yet the song’s bright, bubblegum chorus remains a time-capsule snapshot of early-’70s European pop exuberance.
6. Paper Lace – “The Night Chicago Died” / “Billy Don’t Be a Hero” (1974)
Paper Lace burned bright with two melodramatic story-songs in 1974. “The Night Chicago Died” topped the Billboard Hot 100 and stormed North America, while “Billy Don’t Be a Hero” hit No. 1 in the UK. Their cinematic narratives and marching rhythms were tailor-made for radio, but momentum evaporated quickly. Critics later mocked the lyrics, yet the choruses still hit with unabashed theatricality. Few bands pulled off dual mega-hits in different markets so swiftly. Today, they’re a capsule of mid-’70s pop storytelling excess, recalled more for sing-along refrains than for the musicians behind the studio glass.
7. Carl Douglas – “Kung Fu Fighting” (1974)
Few singles bottle pop-culture zeitgeist like Carl Douglas’s “Kung Fu Fighting.” Riding the martial-arts craze, it blasted to No. 1 across the US, UK, and beyond in 1974, pairing disco pulse with playful lyrics. The song became shorthand for chop-socky cinema and Saturday-night dance floors. Douglas never matched its impact, and he’s routinely cited as a definitive one-hit wonder. Yet the track persists in commercials, kids’ films, and party playlists, refusing to retire. It’s a snapshot of disco’s reach and novelty’s power, with a chorus kids learn long before they learn who sang it.
8. Van McCoy & the Soul City Symphony – “The Hustle” (1975)
Producer-arranger Van McCoy stepped from the control room onto the charts with “The Hustle,” a whistle-laced instrumental that defined 1975 dance floors. It hit No. 1 on both the Hot 100 and the soul chart, sold over a million, and won a Grammy. Despite McCoy’s deep industry résumé, the general public mostly remembers the dance, not the man. That breezy string hook and insistent groove turned discos into choreography labs. Beyond hardcore fans, his name rarely travels with the tune. Still, the record captures the precise moment instrumental disco conquered mainstream radio with effortless cool.
9. Starland Vocal Band – “Afternoon Delight” (1976)
Starland Vocal Band harmonized their way to a summer blockbuster with “Afternoon Delight.” The cheeky, soft-rock confection topped the Hot 100 in July 1976 and netted the group two Grammys, including Best New Artist. Yet success proved fleeting, and their catalogue receded as the decade shifted. Pop culture kept the flame alive: the song’s winking innuendo resurged in comedies like Anchorman, where its sugary harmonies steal scenes. The band name, though, seldom sticks in memory. For a blissful snapshot of ’70s AM radio innocence spiked with knowing humor, this is the definitive bite-sized time machine.
10. Blue Swede – “Hooked on a Feeling” (1974)
That “ooga-chaka” intro made Blue Swede’s cover a phenomenon in 1974, when it hit No. 1 on the Hot 100. The Swedish band’s galloping beat and stacked vocals reimagined the tune into a pop juggernaut. Despite broad global success, they never landed another US smash, turning the chant into their legacy. Guardians of the Galaxy reintroduced it to new audiences, who often know the hook but not the group. The recording’s playful bombast and handclaps still feel combustible on any playlist. It’s a masterclass in how a bold arrangement can rewrite a song’s cultural footprint.
11. Terry Jacks – “Seasons in the Sun” (1974)
Terry Jacks transformed Jacques Brel’s stark farewell into an English-language elegy that conquered global charts in 1974. “Seasons in the Sun” reached No. 1 in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, pairing gentle acoustic strums with bittersweet final goodbyes. Critics still debate whether it’s disarmingly tender or cloying, but its emotional imprint is undeniable. Jacks released more music, yet history largely tags him a one-hit wonder. The song survives as a fixture of melancholic mixtapes and pop history think pieces, its plainspoken farewell lodged in the collective memory even as the singer’s name blurs.
12. Anita Ward – “Ring My Bell” (1979)
“Ring My Bell” distilled late-’70s disco into a sparkling, minimalist groove anchored by Anita Ward’s bright vocal. It rang the bell at No. 1 on US pop, disco, and soul charts, and topped the UK Singles Chart in 1979. While Ward logged a minor follow-up, she’s chiefly remembered for this definitive dance-floor callout. The single’s crisp hi-hats and synth chimes remain remix fodder, ad-friendly, and endlessly sampleable. Despite eternal club life, Ward’s name often trails the track. It’s the sound of mirror-ball midnight, preserved in four glittering minutes that refuse to leave the party.
13. Debby Boone – “You Light Up My Life” (1977)
Debby Boone scored the decade’s defining US single with “You Light Up My Life,” holding No. 1 for ten straight weeks in 1977. The sweeping ballad’s inspirational glow crossed radio formats and etched itself into pop memory. Boone continued with country and Christian successes, but mainstream audiences mostly link her to this towering hit. It’s the archetype of late-’70s adult contemporary: sentimental, soaring, and omnipresent at ceremonies and TV specials. Ask people who sang it and you’ll get hesitation, even as the title rolls off tongues. The song endured; the singer’s fame quietly receded.
