DAILY DIRT: Retiring can be tiring

April 1, 2025 | By Steve Eighinger, Muddy River News Minister of Culture and Doctor of Love

Opinion

Enjoy the days while you still have them. Especially today. This date.

Daily Dirt for April 1, 2025

Why was I hooked on a feeling? Because I was in a New York groove, silly.

Has anyone seen my Sharona? … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,245 of The Daily Dirt

1. Keeping with our recent 1970s music theme, how about a look at the top one-hit wonders of that memorable 10-year period?

Here are my picks for the top songs produced by individual artists or groups that we basically never heard from again after the following songs. Sit back, strap in and enjoy the music:

1. “Hooked On A Feeling,” by Blue Swede (1974): Blue Swede was the first Swedish band to land a No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. The group was also the first to have a No. 1 hit with a lead singer named Bjorn. (Last name Skifs.)

2. “New York Groove,” by Ace Frehley: Yes, the same Ace Frehley who gained fame with KISS, enjoyed his moment in the solo sun with this catchy hit.

3. “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Grows)” (1970): Lead singer was a guy named Tony Burrows, who was basically a session musician and used to front several groups at the time. They were “groups” in a studio form only. He was the voice behind other one-hit wonders like “United We Stand” by Brotherhood of Man, “My Baby Loves Lovin’” by White Plains, “Gimme Dat Ding” by the Pipkins and “Beach Baby” by First Class.

4. “Brandy,” by Looking Glass (1972): The group released two follow-up albums following their self-titled debut, but neither of those LPs — or any songs on them — came remotely close to matching the success of “Brandy,” who the sailors say is still a fine girl.

5. “Nice To Be With You,” by Gallery (1972): “Honey, I got the notion, You’re causin’ commotion in my soul” … yeah, it was the ’70s, a great, great time.

6. “My Sharona,” by the Knack (1979): Interestingly, the guy who produced this song (Mike Chapman) was the man behind Blondie’s success. Obviously, his golden touch did not automatically transfer, but for six weeks in ’79 this song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

7. “In The Summertime,” by Mungo Jerry (1970): Remember those massive muttonchop sideburns of lead singer Ray Dorset?

8. “I Can Help,” by Billy Swan (1974): This was also a country hit in some circles. Swan was a good friend of Kris Kristofferson.

9. “Ride Captain Ride,” by Blues Image (1970): The group disbanded shortly after this song reached No. 1, but it remains a classic to this day.

10. “Driver’s Seat,” by Sniff ‘N The Tears (1979): This song will always hold a place in my musical heart. It was the first song my wife (at the time) and I heard on the radio on the way home from the hospital following the birth of our first child, Geoff.

2. Did you know (Part 320)

That the fear of cooking and/or preparing food is called magirocophobia.
That the fear of work is called ergophobia.
That the best facial paint in pro wrestling history has belonged to: 1. Road Warriors, 2. The Ultimate Warrior, 3. Sting.
That 17 U.S. presidents served without a vice-president. The most recent was Gerald Ford in 1974.
That Fox Sports college football analyst says the top five rivalries in the sport are: 1. Ohio State vs. Michigan (“It’s the greatest rivalry in all of sports”), 2. Army vs. Navy, 3. Oklahoma vs. Texas, 4. Alabama vs. Auburn, 5. USC vs. Notre Dame.

3. In tribute to Rod the Mod, “Tonight’s the Night”

I will pen (type) my final Daily Dirt this evening for all to enjoy. I hope you’ve enjoyed all 1,246 of them as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them. I’ll still be at the Broadway Bullring, writing about the Daredevils of the Dirt, so I won’t be completely gone. Thanks to JRG and the crew for all of the editing. I know there’s been A LOT of it.