One Hit Thunder

In an episode that first aired on the day that both Chrissy Teigen AND Kaley Cuoco were born, Mr. Belvedere develops an addiction to pinball.

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It’s hard to believe that we can do an episode of One Hit Thunder about the song “Easy Lover.” You MAY have been under the false assumption that it’s a Phil Collins song, which is only partly true. He co-wrote, produced, and sang on the song, along with Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire fame, but it was part of Philip’s 1984 solo album Chinese Wall. It is only on a technicality that Bailey can be discussed on a podcast about one hit wonders, but we’ll hop on the chance to talk about one of the best songs o...

Matt was given the opportunity to talk to Mark Pellington today about his new documentary THIS IS BUZZ. Mark you may remember as the director of hit films like The Mothman Prophecies & Arlington Road or iconic music videos like Pearl Jam's "Jeremy" and R.E.M.'s "Drive". THIS IS BUZZ is about the short lived early 90's MTV series BUZZ that was co-created by Mark and is not basically lost media. Mark discusses the creation of Buzz, the state of music videos in 2026 and where you can see the documentary later this year!

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In an episode of Mr. Belvedere that first aired on November 22nd, 1985, Kevin plays an entire season of high school football without the rest of the family knowing. When he gets grounded right before the big game that takes place on Thanksgiving, he decides to move into a motel room instead of inviting them to watch him play. We also discover that Belvedere Bro Jim Logrando has a controversial take on pumpkin pie.

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You’d be hard pressed to find someone of ANY age who isn’t familiar with “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” This timeless 1961 single from the Brooklyn doo-wop group The Tokens is one of the most fun songs ever to sing along with, and its legacy spans from the top of the charts to Disney film soundtracks. Unfortunately, the song’s original writer Solomon Linda wasn’t properly credited or compensated until more recent years, long after his passing. In fact, despite the song’s massive and unending popularity, his family couldn’t even afford a tombstone when he died. This week, we’re...

In the eighth episode of the second season of Mr. Belvedere (which originally aired on November 15th, 1985), the Owens family discovers that Belvedere is simultaneously wealthy and careless.

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By the time that Australian guitar virtuoso Orianthi was a teenager, she was sharing stages with legends such as Steve Vai and Carlos Santana. After relocating to Los Angeles, she not only signed to Geffen, but was also recruited to become Michael Jackson’s lead guitarist. It was during this career whirlwind that she released “According to You,” a pop rock single that at certain moments showcased her shredding abilities. The song was a modest hit, but Orianthi never achieved mainstream chart success again. The question is: does she even care? This week, we dive into the life and career...

When George and Marsha reluctantly decide to renew their wedding vows, the Owens children discover a deep, dark secret about their parents’ past. Meanwhile, Wesley continues to play the accordion.

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A chance subway encounter between two singers with a shared love of Marvin Gaye led to a major label contract and the hit song “Would I Lie To You?”, a soulful early 90s hit with an unforgettable chorus. Charles & Eddie cracked the Top 20 in the US, but the throwback sound of the single helped them top the charts in Canada and overseas. After one more album and some soundtrack placements, however, the duo disbanded and went their separate ways. In this episode, we explore the fascinating careers of Charles Pettigrew and Eddie Chacon, both before and after their short and...

In this episode of Mr. Belvedere, Marsha writes up a contract for Kevin to sign before he goes to prom, promising that if he drinks, he’ll call home for a ride instead of driving drunk. 

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We start a lot of episodes by apologizing to our listeners in the UK, so we’ll go ahead and do that again…we realize that Madness were breaking UK singles chart records in the 80s, and yet we’re still calling them one hit wonders on our show. Here’s the thing though: we’re dumb Americans, and here in the US, they DID only have one hit. “Our House” went to #7 on the Hot 100 in 1983, and apparently, we couldn’t even handle the actual album it was on…we instead needed our own compilation of the band’s greatest hits. Hav...

In a Mr. Belvedere episode that first aired on October 18th, 1985, Lynn and George join forces to deliver a baby on the very same couch that Mr. Zabriskie just died on. 

One Hit Thunder (and also Belvedere Bros) is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner for taking your music to the next level. Our listeners get 30% off your first YEAR with DistroKid by signing up at ⁠http://distrokid.com/vip/onehitthunder⁠

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Break out your Pepe jeans and get ready to learn all about T’Pau, the English group who mixed spoken word verses with one of the biggest choruses of the 80s on their 1987 hit, “Heart and Soul.” Produced by Roy Thomas Baker (yes, THAT Roy Thomas Baker, who produced some of the most iconic songs of all time from Queen and The Cars), this song has lived on for decades, ESPECIALLY among the One Hit Thunder community, who recently placed it surprisingly high on The Thundred countdown of the 100 greatest one hit wonders of all time. Although T’Pau actually...

In the fourth episode of the second season of Mr. Belvedere, Wesley believes the he has committed murder with his mind when his accordion teacher dies in front of him.

One Hit Thunder (and also Belvedere Bros) is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner for taking your music to the next level. Our listeners get 30% off your first YEAR with DistroKid by signing up at ⁠http://distrokid.com/vip/onehitthunder⁠

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A hard-hitting rap song about slam dancing and letting the boys be boys? Yes please! In the summer of 1993, the New York City hardcore hip hop group Onyx were all over the radio and MTV with their ode to letting loose, “Slam.” Their sound marked a move toward more aggression in rap, as when you peruse the charts around this time, you’ll also see contemporaries such as Cypress Hill and Fu-Schnickens. So why is “Slam” the only Onyx song that the average person knows? And does Onyx, who have been insanely prolific and are still releasing music and touring to...

Football season is just around the corner, and in this special episode, One Hit Thunder host Chris Fafalios is joined by special guest analysts Johnny Yetsconish and Garrett DeRienzo to go division by division through the league in preparation for what is sure to be a wild six months. The guys provide their picks for everything from first season-ending injury to Super Bowl LXI champion, and as an added bonus, Chris matches a one hit wonder song with every team in the NFL. 

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Heather making the cheerleading team is not the birthday gift that Marsha wanted. In fact, not even Belvedere’s lobster thermidor can make up for the regret Marsha is feeling about her younger self. This week on Belvedere Bros, we explore everything from George’s questionable gifts to what Wesley may have been playing at the arcade. 

One Hit Thunder (and also Belvedere Bros) is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner for taking your music to the next level. Our listeners get 30% off your first YEAR with DistroKid by signing up at ⁠http://d...

We can do an Amy Winehouse episode of One Hit Thunder based on her US chart performance, as “Rehab” was her only hit single in the States. Before you cuss us out and unsubscribe (ESPECIALLY if you live in the UK), please realize the high regard in which we hold this legendary artist, and know that when this week’s guest Johnny Yetsconish requested to do an episode about her, we let it slide JUST so we’d have an excuse to talk about Amy for an hour. Stay tuned to hear our in-depth conversation about her life, her music, a...

When a tornado hits Beaver Falls, it’s time for Belvedere to start breaking windows! In this Season 2 episode (which originally aired four days before Bruno Mars was born), Mr. Belvedere’s missteps don’t end with his terrible decision to start smashing glass…in fact, one of his missteps is right onto George’s foot when he decides to rewrite George’s article, unbeknownst to Mr. Owens himself. Will the Owens family survive both the tornado outside AND the storm brewing in the basement between Belvedere and George? Tune in for a complete breakdown of this action-packed episode.

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Over the course of the past 300+ episodes of One Hit Thunder, the 1994 #1 single “Here Comes the Hotstepper” has come up in conversation many times, and every single time, it’s been a real joy to hear Matt stumble over the pronunciation of the artist’s name. That Jamaican reggae singer would be Ini Kamoze, and it was his collaboration with producer Salaam Remi and some irresistible interpolations within the song that helped take it to the top of the charts. The success led to a seven-album deal with Elektra, but we’re left here still waiting for most of those. Thi...

In the Season 2 premiere of Mr. Belvedere, Marsha gets a glow up, Kevin gets a video camera, and George develops a snoring problem. Meanwhile, Mr. Belvedere goes on a quick and mysterious trip to Europe. 

One Hit Thunder (and also Belvedere Bros) is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner for taking your music to the next level. Our listeners get 30% off your first YEAR with DistroKid by signing up at ⁠http://distrokid.com/vip/onehitthunder⁠

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You might recognize the name Rick Dees as the guy who ran down The Weekly Top 40 for decades. What you might NOT know is that he himself once held the top spot on those very charts. In 1976, Rick was a Memphis AM radio host, searching for ANYTHING to fill the airwaves and entertain listeners. A chance encounter with a guy at the gym who could do a passable duck impression paired with a then-bubbling music revolution led to “Disco Duck,” a song that has since become an outdated punchline but once was a multi-million selling phenomenon. This week, we’re joi...

In the season finale of Mr. Belvedere, the Owens kids bring home an unhoused woman. Meanwhile, George’s simultaneous resentment and jealousy of Belvedere leads to a real crossroads in their relationship.

One Hit Thunder (and also Belvedere Bros) is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner for taking your music to the next level. Our listeners get 30% off your first YEAR with DistroKid by signing up at ⁠http://distrokid.com/vip/onehitthunder⁠

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Do you think that the fact that a song is an instrumental from 1959 is gonna stop us from discussing it on One Hit Thunder? Definitely not, especially if you’re referring to Santo & Johnny’s classic single “Sleep Walk.” You might not know the name of the song or the duo who wrote it, but you FOR SURE know the haunting steel guitar melody. This week, we’re joined by Punchline guitarist and vocalist Paul Menotiades to dive into what he claims might be his favorite song ever.

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In the penultimate episode of the first season, Wesley hires a sex worker for Mr. Belvedere. Meanwhile, George and Marsha throw caution to the wind during a hurricane in Florida, and Heather decides that Belvedere has no actual authority to stop her from going to a Prince concert. This week, we dive into deep discussions about sewing machine injuries, Sid Bream, seedy motel rooms, and season finale predictions.

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The band Trapt had a moment in late 2003. The song “Headstrong” is a what a person who doesn’t listen to heavy music might consider heavy, and it captured the attention of the mainstream for a minute. In a sea of countless radio rock band that more or less sounded the same, Trapt could’ve easily maintained a career of decent tours and festivals based on the success of “Headstrong” alone. Their vocalist, however, had other ideas of how they should make their mark…a string of hateful internet posting on the band’s accounts. What followed was OBVIOUSLY the whiny cries...

In an episode of Mr. Belvedere that centers around the oldest of the Owens kids, Kevin is seduced into caring about animal rights. A bold move lands him in jail, but his stint in the clink leads to a little more exposition about Belvedere’s backstory. Is this the best episode yet? And will Sinbad the seal become a regular character on the show? Tune in to hear our thoughts on this action-packed show, including a wild (but possibly correct) theory about Jennifer’s intentions.

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THE GOLDEN BOYS are here to draft the VERY BEST albums of 1986! Chris and Matt are joined by draft regulars Matthew Milligan and Tony Hartman to try to win the best collection of albums from the year that The Golden Girls won its first Emmy. Each person starts with a theoretical 100 dollars to bid on everything from So to Invisible Touch to Control to Master of Puppets. Put your hand inside the puppet head, walk like an Egyptian, and tune in to see who drafts the greatest collection!

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Released a mere five days after the first ever Wrestlemania, Episode 4 finds George in the midst of a full-blown midlife crisis. After Mr. Belvedere has to come to his rescue at a local wrestling event, George feels the effects in a myriad of ways, from his relationship with Wesley to his performance in the bedroom. In this week’s edition of Belvedere Bros, we dive into this surprisingly adult-themed episode.

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Of course you know all about Beatlemania, but did you know about Mungomania? You probably think that’s some sort of joke, but it’s not…Mungomania was a real thing. Off the back of the hype from ONE good festival performance in 1970, Mungo Jerry’s “In the Summertime” went on to become one of the top-selling singles of all time, topping the charts in 20 countries. This week, we’re joined by actor and musician Danny Tamberelli to discuss muttonchops, washboards, jug-blowing, drinking and driving, and all the reasons we don’t know MORE songs from Mungo Jerry.

One Hit Thun...

Originally released on March 29th, 1985, the third episode of Mr. Belvedere finds Wesley taking an interest in ballet (much to George’s chagrin.) Though the family tries to keep Wesley’s lessons a secret from George, the cat is soon let out of the bag when he finds Wesley’s slippers. Can George handle his son’s pirouettes and pliés? This week, we explore this classic episode in which the family’s patriarch is forced to grow beyond his outdated ideas of what makes a man. 

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In late 1982, Toni Basil took a break as one of the most accomplished choreographers and dancers on the planet to, ya know…have a #1 smash hit single. Rising above everyone from Lionel Richel to Michael Jackson to Paul McCartney to Marvin Gaye, the almost 40 year old Toni subverted all expectations of a female pop star to grab the top spot. The song and music video are now permanently affixed to our brains, and she’ll continue to be a part of one hit wonder discussions for decades to come. This week, we’re joined by drummer and friend Pj Caruso...

In the second ever episode of Mr. Belvedere (which was originally released on March 22nd, 1985), Wesley feels like an outcast when he isn’t invited to his friend Howie’s party. Mr. Belvedere comes to the rescue, suggesting that Wesley instead throw a party of his own. This week, we get into how young Wesley handles the situation, whether or not the alternative party was a good idea, and if George is in fact striking his children. 

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In the summer of 2000, Vertical Horizon seemed to be EXACTLY what the US wanted. The heartfelt and longing sounds of the single “Everything You Want” skyrocketed the band to #1, and the song went on to become one of the biggest songs of the year. For a band who had paid their dues and started their career with a very DIY approach, their mainstream success was maybe cut shorter than it could’ve been by the age old story of major label mismanagement. This week, we dive into the story and music of Vertical Horizon to find out if their catalog...

On March 15th, 1985, the world was introduced to Mr. Belvedere, a sitcom on ABC about an accomplished British housekeeper who shows up at the door of a Pittsburgh family. What followed was six seasons of heartwarming hilarity, anchored by Broadway veteran Christopher Hewett’s portrayal of Lynn Aloysius Belvedere. In this episode, Matt and Chris dive into the pilot episode of the show, exploring everything from the show’s unforgettable theme song to its sometimes questionable jokes.

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Oh SNAP! This week, we’re joined by Five Iron Frenzy vocalist Reese Roper to explore the life and times of Biz Markie, otherwise known as the Clown Prince of Hip Hop. The unforgettable chorus of “Just a Friend,” which was an interpolation of a 1968 Freddie Scott song, became instantly iconic, and Biz’s less-than-perfect performance gave the song endless charm and personality. Whether Biz was inevitably bound for one hit wonderdom is up for debate, but a landmark court case against a sample on his next album may have been what cemented it. Regardless, he had a long and inte...

We recently did a listener-sourced Thundred countdown of the 100 greatest one hit wonders of all time, which was a balanced mix of the expected and the surprising. One of the most shocking songs to make the list was Scritti Politti’s “Perfect Way”, mostly because NEITHER guy who hosts a 300+ episode podcast ABOUT one hit wonders even KNEW the song! It landed at #70 on the list, putting it above names you’d expect to see, such as Joan Osborne, Harvey Danger, Sir Mix-A-Lot, and Tom Cochrane. So how did this synth-pop gem manage to avoid our ears for all these year...

In the summer of 1982, the punky, upbeat sound of Bow Wow Wow’s cover of “I Want Candy” served as a perfect compliment to both the warm weather and the music revolution that was MTV. The band was fronted by the very young Annabella Lwin, whose energy, style, and mohawk made her as memorable as the song itself. It was the controversial vision of fashion designer, manager, lyricist, and provocateur Malcolm McLaren that helped propel the band to stardom, but once they achieved success, he grew bored and moved on. The band’s demise soon followed, leaving a legacy of quirk...

Now that the entire one hit wonder Thundred list is out there, Chris and Matt discuss the songs that got SNUBBED from the list! They even let everyone know what landed at #101 through #110 on the list.

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In the midst of the late 2015 charts that featured the likes of Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Adele, and Drake, you’ll find Elle King, the raspy-voiced singer-songwriter whose sound was a cross between country and rock. Her Top 10 hit “Ex’s & Oh’s” was a critically acclaimed track that describes Elle’s past relationships with needy men and how they tend to come back to haunt her. The music video flipped gender roles and satirized the objectification of women by featuring a whole host of scantily-clad men, and Elle seemed to be a strong feminist voice that would be in our lives...