Worth Another Listen - Walter Egan

Aside from my graduating from high school, another notable happening in 1978 was the release of the Walter Egan song, Magnet & Steel. The song, co-produced by the amazingly talented Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, scampered it's way up to charts to a high of #8, big news for an unknown artist, and something that will forever hold him as a one hit wonder in fine standing. I remember the song, and it played at the prom, and almost every other event that year. I have many fond memories attached to it.



Egan continued putting out music, but never again achieved the heights he did with Magnet & Steel. He still plays when he can, although he also settled in Tennessee where he is also a substitute teacher at Centennial High School in Franklin. You can find out more about Egan at his official website here.

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Worth Another Listen - Benny Mardones

Benny Mardones, then and now.

In 1980, an unknown songwriter named Benny Mardones shot up the Billboard charts with a Top 20 hit, Into The Night. The song was all over the airwaves, and the single sold well. It was a favorite at dances and seemed like a popular 'make out' song. Mardones' raspy voice was perfect for the power ballad. Unfortunately, Mardones only found himself on the charts one other time, and that is in 1989 when a radio DJ decided to do a 'Where Are They Now' segment on him, and once again his only hit, Into The Night, hit the charts once again. This seemed to be a movement across the country, and it again hit the Billboard Top 20.



This left Mardones in an interesting position. He falls decidedly into the 'One Hit Wonder' category, with just one song on the charts, yet he had two hits with that one song, nine years apart. There are estimates that Into The Night has been played on the radio more than 4 and a half million times. It appears Mardones still tours, and recently released a new album, Let's Hear It For Love. To find out what Benny has been up to, click here.

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Worth Another Listen - Looking Glass

Their sound epitomized the sound of the Jersey show in the 70s, and their sales defines one hit wonder. Looking Glass formed in 1969, and in 1972 released Brandy (You're A Fine Girl) which became the #1 song of summer the the fall of that year. Looking Glass were Elliot Lurie with lead vocals and guitar, Lawrence Gonsky on keyboards, Pieter Sweval on bass and Jeff Grob on drums. Lurie's voice was hard to forget, although follwoing his time with Looking Glass, he tried a solo career that didn't work, and eventually was involved in the production end of music.

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