Continuing our countdown of One Hit Wonders – today Numbers 41-45.
Unbelievable (45) is a song written and recorded by British band EMF, originally appearing on their debut album, Schubert Dip. It was released as a single in the UK in 1990, peaking in the UK Singles Chart at number three in December 1990. It was the 32nd-best-selling single of 1990 in the UK. In the United States, it hit number one on the Billboard in 1991. A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by American music video director Josh Taft.
“Barbados” (44) is the debut single by English band Typically Tropical, released in May 1975. “Barbados” entered the UK Singles Chart at number 37 in late June 1975, and five weeks later it hit number one for a week. In total, “Barbados” spent eleven weeks on the chart. The track also reached number one on the Irish Singles Chart, the South African Singles Chart, and number 20 on the Australian Singles Chart (Kent Music Report). The track was later released on an album in 1975 by Gull Records, named Barbados Sky.
“Whispering Grass” (43) was a 1975 UK number-one single by Windsor Davies and Don Estelle. Davies and Estelle were actors in the successful sitcoom It Ain’t Half Hot Mum. It was number one in the UK for three weeks from 7 June 1975. The record is a comic version of ‘The Ink Spots’ 1940 recording, and was sung in character. This version of the song also peaked at number 59 in Australia. The notion of Whispering Grass extends back to Greek mythology, notably the myth of Midas.
“Groove Is in the Heart” (42) is a song by American dance band Deee-Lite, released in August 1990 as the lead single from their debut album, World Clique. It was a hit in many countries, reaching number-one in Australia and on both the Canadian and US dance chart. In the UK, the record was equally popular and was released as a double A-side with “What Is Love”, and, with the UK single released with the subtitle “peanut butter mix” (because the single was heavily edited and completely omitted the contributions by Bootsy Collins and Q-Tip), it eventually reached number two during September 1990.
“Spaceman” (41) is a song by British band Babylon Zoo, released in January 1996 as the lead single from their debut album, The Boy with the X-Ray Eyes (1996). Featuring heavily distorted guitars and metallic, robotic sounding vocals, the song entered the UK Singles Chart at number one in January 1996 following its use in a Levi’s jeans television advertisement the previous year; “Spaceman” was the sixth song to reach number one in the UK after being featured in Levi’s advert.
