The Daily Dose/July 7, 2021
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
LEADING OFF, DRY, TECHNICAL MATTER: In today’s popular On This Date feature, Anita Ward’s #1 song from 1979 Ring My Bell is featured. With typical thoroughness, it’s noted Ring My Bell was her only Top 40 hit and only her follow-up peaking at #87 kept her from being an ultimate one-hit wonder on the Hot 100: an act whose only Hot 100 entry hits #1.
Oh, Jesus H: Ms. Ward misses out on membership in a rather exclusive club because the list of one-hit wonders is not long. Last February – when we last updated you on this vital topic – there had been 15 ultimate one-hit wonders. It hasn’t changed, either, as everyone who has hit #1 on the Hot 100 since has had either previous and/or following Hot 100 hits.
Wow, Dry, Technical Matter: Now, it should be noted the list only includes acts who’ve appeared on the Hot 100, which debuted in August 1958. Before that, Billboard issued assorted pop charts and for many years these had fewer than 100 positions and a one-hit-wonder on those charts doesn’t really have the statistical significance as being a Hot 100 one-hit-wonder does.
Please Pass The Dry, Technical Matter: Seven of the ultimate one-hit wonders have come this century. The first was The Elegants, who hit #1 in 1958 with Little Star while the biggest song by a one-hit wonder was In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans, which spent six weeks at the top.
The Dry, Technical Bottom Line: The staff here at On This Date knows you’re busy and may not have the time required to keep track of every goddamned one-hit wonder. You can count on us to do that for you. We’re here to help.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow spills coffee on the scratch paper. Today’s Diary.
The coffee cup was off to the left, almost touching both the scratch paper pile (SPP) and that metal desk organizer deal and yours truly was reaching for something or another and somehow the coffee cup was backhanded…
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On This Date
The long march to today.
In 1846 – In the Mexican-American War, the Conquest of California begins when US troops occupy Monterey and two days later taking Yerba Buena – present day San Francisco – both without firing a single shot. Hostilities in California would end the following January, the war itself in February 1848 and California would be admitted to the Union in 1950.
In 1931 – The Chicago White Sox and the St Louis Browns establish a new major league record for the longest game without a strikeout in a 10-8, 12-inning Chicago victory. The game featured five pitchers, seven walks, 103 combined plate appearances and 93 at-bats. Research into whose record the teams broke was inconclusive and the record still stands.
In 1979 – Anita Ward is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the second and final consecutive week with Ring My Bell. Despite Ward not particularly liking the song, it went to #1 in four other countries, including Norway and Great Britain, peaked at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart and was Billboard’s ninth biggest song of the year. It remains Ward’s only Top 40 hit and only a #87 hit later in the year prevented Ward from being an ultimate one-hit wonder, an artist whose only chart single goes to #1.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
He forged fiercely a path for his truth, until at last kings, popes, and emperors catered to him, thrones trembled before him, and half the world listened to catch his every word.
Will Durant
Regards Voltaire
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
Phil Collins’ biggest hit on BillBoard’s soul chart was Easy Lover, a duet with Philip Bailey, which peaked at #3 in 1985.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
Who was the first California governor after it achieved statehood? – Answer next time!
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