I remember the first time I heard Iron Butterfly explode with their opening riff to “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” The year was 1968, and I thought that here was a group to change the landscape of music. Later there was the majestic sound of A-Ha singing “Take On Me,” then the soulful rendition of “Walkin’ in Memphis” by Marc Cohn and the foot-stompin’ energy of “Cotton-Eyed Joe” by Rednex. The list goes on and on. Popular music is littered with groups who had one big hit before disappearing into the mist of passing time. Whatever happened to so many “can’t-miss” acts that came and went so quickly? Is there a one-hit wonder that still sings in your memory?

A number of years ago Tom Hanks wrote, directed, and produced a great little movie called That Thing You Do. It’s the story of a garage band that creates that one mega-hit that allows them to burst from the garage onto the national stage — at least for a while. The band is appropriately called “The Wonders.” They have some talent, they have some energy, they catch some breaks, but personal chemistry (or lack thereof) eats the group away from the inside. Their descent from fame and glory proves more rapid than their rise to it. We are told that the lives of the individual musicians go on, in various careers and to various degrees of success. But the phenomenon has vanished. If you haven’t seen this film in a while, it’s fun to watch all over again.

If you can’t find the movie, just look around at the world we live in. There are so many “limited-time offers” in our society. Many we only recognize in our rear-view mirrors, realizing that their time has already passed. But while they shine, they are really something.

So, is there a “one-hit wonder” that you still hear in your memory? Maybe there is something around you now that you think will only have a short shelf-life, and you want to record your prediction here. Either way, we’d love to hear your thoughts. — Bob Tatum

Sound Traveler participated in the Praise and Worship Writer’s Night at the Riverside Presbyterian Church in Cocoa Beach last night. There was a lot of high energy praise music filling that facility. Sound Traveler will also be at the Original Portabella’s Italian Restaurant in Rockledge on Saturday night and at Faith Lutheran on Merritt Island on Sunday morning.

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3 Comments to “SongTravelin’: 12.10.10 — Whatever Happened to…?”

• December 10, 2010 at 10:18 am
  Jacques says:

  The act of creation is the important thing. Anything that happens after that is insignificant. The artist is relatively unimportant; only the art matters. Artists that have long exposure on the national stage rarely produce art that is any better than that produced by those of more limited public careers.
• December 10, 2010 at 11:28 am
  Ellie Hjemmet says:

  Loved that movie too, Bob. Thanks for the reminder.

  A couple for me, perhaps not “one hit wonders” but gone far too soon…
  Tim Hardin, who sang the most beautiful version of Bobby Darrin’s “Simple Song of Freedom,” and Richard Farina who produced two incredible albums with his young wife, Mimi Baez, dying in a motorcycle wreck the day of his party for newly released book “Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me” in 1966. He was a shooting star and VERY talented. I still listen to their albums.
• December 10, 2010 at 1:23 pm
  Bob says:

  Thanks, Ellie. Tim Hardin was indeed a master. I have limited knowledge of Farina, but what I remember had its own perfection. Of course, you mentioned Bobby Darrin. For a little while it looked like his career might eclipse that of Frank Sinatra with such edgy songs as “Mack the Knife.”