Imagine a Dutch version of ABBA; that’s simply the best way to describe the Netherlands-born duo Mouth & MacNeal. The puffy-haired duo released a hit single in 1971 titled “How Do You Do?” and it completely skyrocketed. The song was number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 for nineteen weeks and number one in the Netherlands, Denmark, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Belgium.
Even though the song was written by Hans van Hemert and Harry van Hoof, two famous Dutch composers, it was the cheery duo that performed it so well. The sing-along tune took the Mouth & MacNeal to the 1974 Eurovision Contest as the Netherlands representatives. Unfortunately, in December of 1974, the duo split up.
"My Sharona" by The Knack
"My Sharona" is one of those songs that everybody knows the chorus to - even today. It is simply one of the most catchy tunes ever! The riff, the drums, the bass- all work in perfect harmony to create a song that stays stuck in your head for days. It's no surprise that this song by The Knack topped all charts back in 1979, and they were set to top them again with another single, "Good Girls Don't." But it never happened.
The Knack was very hated by some people who claimed the popular song was about underaged girls, and there was even a famous California-based artist named Hugh Brown who started a 'Knuke the Knack' campaign against them. Other people said they were mediocre Beatles imitators.
"Dynomite" by Bazuka
If you were born in the 60s, you might remember the famous 1974 American sitcom, 'Good Times'. And if you do, you'll know exactly where Jimmie Walker's famous catchphrase "Dynomite!" came from. Perhaps this also helped the 70s R&B group Bazuka to reach number 10 on the US Billboard chart with their song "Dynomite".
The group, formed by record producer Tony Camillo, released their self-titled album in 1975, and its hit single was the famous "Dynomite". Even though Bazuka didn't top the charts again, this one-hit wonder is definitely worth mentioning for its funky grooves and unique dance rhythms.
"Hooked On A Feeling" by Blue Swede
ABBA wasn't the only Swedish '70s band to have hit songs. Blue Swede topped the charts with their 1974 single "Hooked on a Feeling", and to be honest, it is one of the happiest, funnest songs to listen, sing and dance to. The rock group made their hit tune by mixing two different cover songs - one Swedish and the other American.
Funnily enough, the famous “ooga-chaka” opening line in the song was to become insanely famous many years later because of an entirely different reason. Remember the dancing baby from 'Ally McBeal'? Yeah, that was the song that he was dancing to in one of the world's first viral videos that came out in the 90s.
"Turn the Beat Around" by Vicki Sue Robinson
You might know this popular song from Latin queen Gloria Estefan, but the original was actually sung by a New York diva called Vicki Sue Robinson. Back in 1976, Robinson topped the disco charts around the world with "Turn the Beat Around" and went on a national tour to perform on stages big and small. And audiences loved her.
Robinson may not have had any more hit singles after this, but she didn't exactly fade away, either. She went on to score a gig as a backup singer in the wildly popular song "Fame" by the late Irene Cara. What's more, she spent most of the '80s working with musicians like Michael Bolton and Cher.