10 One-Hit Wonders From The 1970s For Your Next Run
The latest workout playlist from Run Hundred features 10 one-hit wonders from the 1970s.
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1970s One-Hit Wonders
When compiling a list of one-hit wonders from the 1970s, I presumed it was going to comprise of a string of disco anthems. In the process, those certainly turned up. But I was surprised to see the breadth of material represented, as the era featured more variety than folks tend to recall. With that in mind, let’s review the tunes that broke through.
The list kicks off with one tune about boogieing and closes out with another about hustling. Both provide a reminder that disco was the genre of the decade, and going to discos was generally the subject of songs within the genre—thereby creating an entirely self-contained universe. With that in mind, the last of the songs below that was both intended for a club environment and about a club environment is “I Love the Nightlife.”
Elsewhere, you’ll find an eight-minute version of the much-covered “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” and the Undertones’ lean signature single “Teenage Kicks.” There are also songs generally attributed to other eras, like “Beach Baby” (which would have been right at home in the 1960s surf craze) or Gary Numan’s “Cars,” which you’ll often hear played during 1980s-themed events. Finally, this playlist delivers a novelty hit in the form of “Hot Rod Lincoln” and a Stealer’s Wheel tune that gained renewed interest after its prominent appearance in Reservoir Dogs.
All told, the playlist below presents some of the glitz and grime present in this decade’s musical output. So, when you’re ready to move, there are lots of angles from which you can approach the mix. Just pick the one that gets you going—then go.
Heatwave – Boogie Nights – 119 BPM
Santa Esmeralda – Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – 120 BPM
Stealer’s Wheel – Stuck in the Middle – 125 BPM
Alicia Bridges – I Love the Nightlife (Disco ‘Round) – 124 BPM
Undertones – Teenage Kicks – 136 BPM
Romantics – What I Like about You – 160 BPM
Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen – Hot Rod Lincoln – 130 BPM
The First Class – Beach Baby – 137 BPM
Van McCoy – The Hustle – 112 BPM
To find more workout songs, folks can check out the free database at Run Hundred. Visitors can browse song selections there by genre, tempo and era to find the music that best fits their particular workout routines.
Related:
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John Hancock Releases Pro Athletes’ Running Playlists On Spotify