Between late 1979 and the end of 1989, there were nearly 500 (real) one-hit wonders of the 80s that reached the BILLBOARD Hot 100 just one time, a list that includes Soft Cell, Gary Numan, Timbuk 3, The Church, Bronski Beat, Nik Kershaw, The Buggles, The Waitresses, Ultravox and two different bands named The Silencers. Once a week, I’ll highlight a (real) one-hit wonder for you.
The Coventry, England New Wave band King was named after lead singer Paul King, who sported a “cockatoo” haircut and spray-painted Doc Martens, a look once described in the COVENTRY TELEGRAPH tabloid newspaper as “like the Child Catcher from CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG” (which, was, not a compliment).
Between 1984 and 1986, however, Paul King and his band had much more success on the U.K. charts than with the local tabloid paper. The band released two albums – 1984’s STEPS IN TIME (No. 6) and 1985’s BITTER SWEET (No. 16), and in the U.K., both albums were certified Gold. They also had five U.K. Top 40 hits between January 1985 and January 1986, including the No. 8 hit, “Alone With You,” and “Love And Pride,” which reached No. 2.
Around the globe, “Love And Pride” also reached the Top 10 in Australia, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Ireland and Switzerland.
Over here in the U.S., “Love And Pride” reached the BILLBOARD Hot 100 in July 1985, and spent a week at No. 55 in early. An extended mix of “Love And Pride,” heavy on some kick-ass percussion, was a Top 20 hit on BILLBOARD’s Dance chart and is a personal favorite.
Though the band broke up in 1986, they had a really great year in the mid-80s, replete, I’m sure, with a lot of memorable love…and pride.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlXtrnh-Ejo
FOREVER YOUNG 