This morning I was itching to add The Korgis’ gorgeous Everyone’s got to learn sometime to Tigger’s forgotten singles thread. But what’s this? An interesting article in this morning’s Guardian about how it was made. Clearly, it’s not forgotten at all. (see comments for article)
Any other suggestions of singles by less well-known artists that have no been forgotten? Singles by the bigger names somehow stay in the public eye far longer.
As @Mike_H commented, many of the “forgotten singles” were not so much forgotten as never-heard-of! And nothing wrong with that! That thread meant that I was reminded of old favourites like CousteauX, House of Love, The Motors, Elkie Brookes and Joe Jackson. And discovered Shriekback, Boss Hog and the Adventures. To name just a few
Forgotten? The sturdy Pop and Rock pachyderms of the Afterword never forget a single tune!
Here’ s the article:
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/jan/13/how-the-korgis-made-everybodys-got-to-learn-sometime
Here’s Beck’s cover of the song.
And here for good measure is Pomplamoose’s cover of Beck’s cover.
That song is definitely not forgotten.
Talking of elephants, here’s a song that surely has not been forgotten?
And I am convinced that this tune of the same vintage must still be fondly remembered back there in Blighty? I fear it was not a hit here in Sweden.
One definition of definitely not forgotten: cheesy dance cover in the nineties:
Complete with a rap in the middle, solid.
“You never get nowhere if you’re too ‘asty…”
Norman Greenbaum’s Spirit in the Sky seems determined to be remembered in perpetuity. Covered by two other acts – Doctor & the Medics as well as The Kumars. Both number ones too.
Let’s not forget (although we might want to) the version by We’ve Got a Fuzzbox and We’re Going to use it. Click if you dare.
Cripes, that really is bad. And I have a soft spot for the idea of the band.
The answer to the question no one asked: “What would a band with four Yokos in it sound like?”
Arf!
Funnily enough they did cover a Yoko song, “Walking on Thin Ice” – definitely not a single and it wasn’t a hit but it’s quite nice in Propoganda-type way.
Did you say Propaganda?
They definitely belong here. What superb pop band!
I just have to choose one more!
Unusual for a German band to be successful in the UK.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_(band)
Although you posted the same song twice, in error I think there’s irony going on there. They released Duel as a single c/w Jewel. Jewel is the same song but very different tempo and shouty vocals.
Theme music for the Rallying when it was on BBC2 no less. Cue William Woollard!
Fascinating @Milkybarnick. Propaganda’s music being used by an RAC rally programme! that was unexpected.
Let’s listen to the whole piece! (which was mentioned by Black Celebration above)
“Abba on Acid”. They were rather remarkable!
You are quite right @black-celebration. Thanks. I had intended to post Heaven give me words. I should have checked.
But that is very interesting about Jewel and Duel being the same song. A pun! Those witty Germans!
I’m not particularly a fan of Yoko Ono, but Walking on Thin Ice is ace, I reckon.
Sometimes being a one hit wonder makes you even more memorable.
Thunderclap Newman for example and Their Something in the Air.
The fact it was used in a film soundtrack which must have helped to get it to the top of the charts.
In the world of dance music no good single is ever forgotten, as remixers and producers strip mine them for parts quicker than you can get a catalytic converter out of a Prius. The keyboard part of this stone cold classic (1:08) gets endlessly recycled for example.
I can ‘t believe this gem from 1960 has been forgotten.
The guitar playing is magnificent.
The wonderful Eilen Jewell does a fine cover version.
What makes you think it’s been forgotten, KFD?
I don’t think it’s been forgotten, Fitter. I hope not anyway.
The same goes for Kid Creole and the Coconuts. Surely everyone remembers them?
But how many remember August Darnell’s previous combo? Dr Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band.
They were rather successful in the USA.
I listen to the Dr Buzzard album quite often, really quite unappreciated August Darnell
Or the off shot band Elbow Bones & the Racketeers
and a bit of Coati Mundi
That Elbow Jones track is superb. Here’s a little background.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbow_Bones_and_the_Racketeers
@Alias is another fan of Coati Mundi.
All these guys are certainly not forgotten!
Me No Pop I was one of the very best of the Ze records, and that’s a high bar!
I don’t remember Elbow Bones at all. I don’t know why it passed me by., but it is great. It wouldn’t be out of place on one of the Mutant Disco comps. I thought I recognised the singer Stephanie Fuller’s voice, but can only find Don’t Take My Coconuts as a song I know that she sang on.
I am curious too about that whole scene around Kid Creole in the 80s and Stephanie Fuller @Alias.
This fills in a few gaps.
https://playitandbedamned.blogspot.com/2008/02/back-to-80s-elbow-bones-and-racketeers.html
Here’s a discography for Stephanie Fuller.
https://www.discogs.com/artist/234727-Stephanie-Fuller
I was interested to read that Kid Creole had three Top 10 hits in the UK from his third album Tropical Gangsters!
https://www.discogs.com/artist/32620-Kid-Creole-And-The-Coconuts
That is rather impressive.
But Dr Buzzard had a US Number One with Cherchez la Femme,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherchez_La_Femme
Which is even more impressive.
It’s surprising isn’t it? It seemed to me that the Americans didn’t get Kid Creole, but obviously did get Dr Buzzard.
How could we forget Slim Dusty’s Pub with No Beer from 1957?
I seem to remember it was a great favourite os Uncle Mac’s on his Saturday moring request show.
The Dubliners did a rather successful cover of that one. Here they are with one of their own songs, which was also frequently requested by Uncle Mac’s young listeners.
This was Slim’s only other No.1 in Oz – a shameless grab at pissed-up pub community singing immortality.
And then there are the Slim Dusty sequels:
The Answer To A Pub With No Beer
Sequel To A Pub With No Beer
I loved those two Dusty sequels, Rigid. Clever chap! He had a hit so he milked it for all it was worth.
Let’s have a few more fabulous unforgotten Aussie and Kiwi Hitmakers!
Empire of the Sun
Split Enz
The Bamboos
The Church
And of course Afterword favourite Martha Marlow
Come on Australia and New Zealand! Let’s have some more remembered and forgotten hits!!
PS
A little more Martha!!
Nearly had a place on the “forgotten” thread, but it does get a twice yearly outing on 6Music (normally with Steve Lamacq).
So it can go here instead …
Camper Van Beethoven – Take The Skinheads Bowling
I’ll respond for NZ, KFD. I hear this all the time because it’s a great song and advertisers seem to adopt it from time to time. OMC* – How Bizarre.
*Otara Millionaires’ Club. Otara is a neglected suburb of South Auckland – home of very few millionaires. A similar joke was used by Julian Clary when he performed solo as “The Joan Collins Fan Club”.
Fab!
@Kaisfatdad – more NZ? You asked for it. The greatest single ever – just about – from this part pf the world. Genius songwriter/guitarist/singer Phil Judd (co-founder of Split Enz and still making great music (https://philjudd.com/) and the late rhythm section of Buster Stiggs on drums and Bones Hillman on bass (better known these days as longtime bassist with Midnight Oil).
Counting the Beat by The Swingers was a massive hit on both sides of the Tasman.
Great stuff! Smart video too.
Thanks a lot @Mousey and @black-celebration.. Two very fine tracks and both extremely catchy.
While we’re in your neck of the woods, here is a famous Aussie Beatles tribute band, the Beatnix, with a song you all know.
I was trying to come up with an Irish example and this mainstay of Irish radio seems to fit the bill. I don’t remember hearing it played anywhere at all in my London days.
In the same vein @bamber, here’s a song that was a number one hit in Sweden and Norway (and number 4 in Germany) but which I suspect was not played much on Radio 1 in the UK. Or indeed in Dublin!
»Bobby Brown« also has a parallel history as the most-played wedding song at Turkish/Arabian weddings in Germany. And no, they don’t get the lyrics (or the irony…), they’re just all clapping along until »I’m going down!« – which is the moment when the boy gets down to his knees and begs the bride for a kiss.
I’ve watched this several times over the years, and beside all the embarrassment it sure is better than »Dancing Queen«.
Thanks KFD and Fatima. What a weird song! Certainly wouldn’t get played anywhere mainstream now. Bizarre that it gets played at weddings. Reminds me of watching my School Principal tapping his toes along to Frigging in the Rigging at a teenage disco oblivious to the content.
I never liked Zappa as a musician although in many ways he seems to have been a unique and admirable person. I enjoyed his biography more than anything I’ve heard by him.
Thanks @fatima-xberg. That is the strangest and most amusing story I’ve heard for yonks.
I am in no doubt that in Sweden and Norway most young people do understand that it is a very rude song. Which is why it was a hit.
I do enjoy that cheesy, poppy doo wop side of Frank.
Matty told Hattie ’bout a thing she saw ..
I’m having a Propaganda binge this week. I’d never heard this before.
The video was one of Anton Corbijn’s first promo videos.
From the same year, and also on ZTT, a song you could not get away from in 1984. A guaranteed floorfiller!
Thanks @kaisfatdad – Dr Mabuse was my intro to the band after seeing the video on TV. I didn’t know it was a Corbijn production but it seems so obvious now in light of the kind of thing he did for Depeche Mode in the years that followed. The single deserved to do better in the charts – the 12” extended version remix is completely brilliant too, with Trevor Horn throwing everything at it.
When Duel was released I bought the 12” single without hearing it first as a leap of faith. And then that led to the LP, A Secret Wish. All of it still sounds fresh and wonderful now.
Good on you @black-celebration!
I knew nothing about the band back in the day except for hearing Heaven give me words on a car radio may years ago and thinking what a wonderful song it was.
Yours is the kind of comment which makes this site so enjoyable. Each of us is on their own musical journey.
Some of us discover an artist/band before they’ve even released a single.
Others root for them as they are starting to make a name for themselves.
Johny-come-latelies jump on the bandwagon when that first album has got rave reviews.
And Johny-come-decades-later discover them after they’ve split up or poped their clogs.