3 One-Hit Wonders From the 1970s That Just Make You Feel Good

There are many reasons to put on a piece of music. Maybe you want to dance to the beat. Maybe you want to sing along to it. Maybe you want to remember where you were when you first heard it. Or maybe it reminds you of a time in your life you just want to feel again for a few brief minutes. Other times, though, you just want the song to help you feel good.

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And there may be no better song in the world to put a smile on your face than a one-hit wonder. Often silly, usually unique, one-hit wonders are simply smile-inducing. Here, we wanted to examine three offerings from the 1970s that don’t do anything besides make you feel happy. Indeed, these are three one-hit wonders from the 70s that just make you feel good.

“In The Summertime” by Mungo Jerry from ‘Electronically Tested’ (1970)

First of all, who doesn’t like the summertime? So a jaunty song about it will almost always be a crowd pleaser. And this tune from the 1970 LP Electronically Tested by Mungo Jerry is a prime example. The tune, which hit No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, feels almost like a jam that was born in some green room on tour in some random city. The song is an example of the power of music and the power of coming together to play it. It’s evidence that sometimes more is more, that the sum of parts can make for more than the parts themselves. It’s why we play music, why we listen, and why we love it.

“One Toke Over The Line” by Brewer & Shipley from ‘Tarkio’ (1971)

Similar to the song above, this tune by Brewer & Shipley from their 1971 LP Tarkio is just fun and rollicking. Of course, whether you are a fan of wacky tabacky is beside the point. The great point of this song is the bubbling harmony, the floaty guitars, and the freedom the song exhibits, talking about your mind state and your willingness to be open and content. It’s impossible not to feel your heart feel a few pounds lighter when this track, which hit No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, comes on.

“Stuck In The Middle” by Stealers Wheel from ‘Stealers Wheel’ (1972)

A song seemingly directly inspired by Bob Dylan, this 1972 tune by Stealers Wheel from their self-titled LP is another that just gets your spirit soaring. Acoustic guitars, vivid lyrical imagery, and a rhythm that makes your toes want to tap, this is just a feel-good number that has brought about as many smiles as it has dance moves. Famously, it was used in the brutal movie, Reservoir Dogs, but even then, the pleasant tune was placed in juxtaposition to a violent scene. Even with that bloody imagery, you couldn’t take the joy from this jaunt.

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