What are your favorite jazz "One Hit Wonders"?

Mine = David Blamires Group - Deep is the Midnight Sea

Cliff Sarde "Take My Love" from the album Waiting released 1986. He plays/played Alto & Tenor Sax and did his own drum programming.

He had Dave Samuels and Paulinho DaCosta playing with him. The whole thing was very upbeat, kind of funky, very different at the time.

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Oceans "Nights on the Harbor" from the CD second chance also released 1986. It was very fresh, I still love this song like I did the first time I heard it.
Lineup:
Warren (vito) Wiegratz--Saxes & Keys
Duane Stuermer--Bass, Vocals
Pete Safir--Keys
Brian Nielsen--Keys
Ernie Adams--Drums
McKinley Perkins--Percussion
Danny Torroll--Guitar

One Wish by Hiroshima! They've done nothing but boring since!

Warren Hill===Marathon Man
Lenny White===Thick

Those were the first to come to mind.

Geez, Dave, have you heard any of Hiroshima's older stuff? San Say is pretty hot.
But then, when it comes to jazz, what exactly is a one-hit wonder? Considering how little jazz actually reaches hit status.
Thinking of what's in my collection, I can't think of a single artist/group who made one good record and I didn't like anything else they did. I can say that about those whose music has become more R&B - Patti Austin, Sade, Boney James, etc. - but not about the rest.

Around 1990 when the smooth jazz station stated here in Philadelphia they played a cut called ‘Slider Inside’ by a group called ‘Porcupine’ (not Porcupine Tree). This thing was so good I ran out and bought the CD the first time I heard it. The CD featured Gerald Albright on some tracks but I don’t think he was a core member. I waited and waited but never heard anything from them again. Since then I found out that the CD ‘Porcupine’ is out of print. If you are ever able to stumble onto this CD get it, it’s that good.

hiroshima are awesome. the whole album of Go is top quality, start to finish.

i dont quite understand the concept of one hit wonder when applied to jazz. its not like there are singles that never get backed up by great albums is there?

cause surely garden party by mezzoforte and morning dance by spyro should be one hit wonders cause they broke into the popular music charts.

Well, I was going by tunes that charted as 'hit's'! I don't recall anything else by Hiroshima really charting after 'One Wish'. I could be wrong. The 'Go' album wasn't too bad but I only liked 2-3 songs on it.

How about Stories Without Words by Mark Sloniker? He's had nothing charted or even on contempo/smooth jazz radio since (that I know of)!

Hey txjzlady, Oceans were a local Milwaukee band that actually were the leftovers from SweetBottom after Daryl Stuermer left the band. They used to play at all the Milwaukee Bucks games and have had solo and studio careers as well. In fact I will be attending a CD release party for the band SweetBottom on the 23rd of May. They are releasing a live recording from last year’s concert at Shank Hall. I was there for the first of the two shows they put on last December and have to say that I’m looking forward as much to this CD as The Rippingtons Let It Ripp. Daryl Stuermer and Warren Wiegratz play at and with each other with a fire and a passion that is comparable to Russ Freeman and Eric Marienthal.

Fishman

Well, yeah, you're right. But is that a fair standard?
As I recall, One Wish got lots of airplay on popular music stations as well as the jazz and "adult contemporary" stations. For the last decade or so, those stations haven't played Hiroshima (not even "One Wish"), Chuck Mangione, Spyro Gyra or any of the cjazz groups that had "hits."
I just think the very idea of having a jazz chart is bogus.
Matt makes a good point, referring to Spyro's Morning Dance.
As far as I know, that was the group's only "hit", but would you say they're a one-hit wonder, despite 24 albums that followed that one?
What about Bob James? "Angela - Theme from 'Taxi'" was a hit, but I don't recall seeing Bob's name (Fourplay notwithstanding) on anybody's charts since then.

Thank you Fishman for the information, I'm glad to know the guys from Oceans are still making music, they were awesome.

My thoughts on what qualifies as a "one hit wonder" would be a relatively unknown musician or group. I don't think that someone of Bob James, Warren Hill's, or Hiroshima's caliber should be on this list, but that's just my 2 cents worth.

I do understand why you would/could say that if said person/group only had one song chart then never had another big song it would technically fit the category.

I have it. It's a great cd but wasn't radio friendly enough. Jimmy 'Flim' Johnson is playing bass on it.

Actually there were two Porcupine CDs and they did well at radio, remember, 1990 is pre-smooth and cjazz radio stations were actually programmed by people who lived in the market, worked at the station and cared about the music..so things were much more open then. 90% of what would never be considered "radio friendly" now is stuff that went top 10 back then. One of the big things the major consultant did when they took over the format and de-localized it in 94-95 was take all that wonderful stuff off the air..so in retrospect I guess it wasnt radio friendly..we just didn't know that until Sony/Warner Networks told us.
I have one of their CDs somewhere now i am gonna have to dig it up.

Hiroshima has had several smooth jazz chart hits, I think one of the songs on the CD they put out 3 years ago went top 10...
how bout Lesley Lettven: Bittersweet

Roger Smith! The shoulda-been multi-hit dude, kicked azz at #1 with his track "Off the Hook." Unfortunately, the whole kit-and-caboodle fell through on the follow up.
Two great albums, one hit. He & I recorded a Christmas track for KSSJ’s holiday sampler. To our surprise, it got a ton of regional airplay. His new stuff is really awesome, and I am sure he will change that ‘one hit wonder’ status very soon!

Say hello to Roger at:
http://www.rogersmith.net/

Porcupine....hmmmm....I remember hearing about that band some years back. I meant to buy the CD. I heard some nice things said about the first record in a jazz mag. One of the nice things was that their guitarist was one Mr. Tim Weston.

He is a great fusion player, and he previously played in a band called "Wishful Thinking"..That band lasted four or five records. First one is outstanding from first track to last. "Think Again" and "Way Down West" were not as good, but had some great stuff on them.

Michael Brecker sang WT's praise on the back of the first record.

Peace!
paul

I'm in agreement with Woody on this, I think the term "one hit wonder" is not something that can be fairly applied in the sj/cj world. We all know that the charting system does not work for jazz, and it does not validate an artists' popularity for us. We still buy the CD's, we still attend their shows. Case in point, since we're using Hiroshima as an example: I was very fortunate to see them in concert last summer, after about a 3 year absence from my part of the world. It was one of the best shows I'd seen that year. It was a near sellout crowd (venue holds about 500 people.)The audience gave the band a standing O before they even picked up their instruments. (Love San Say, BTW!)

And just to stir the pot a little....maybe if we revisit this thread a year from now, we'll be discussing that "one hit wondergirl" - Norah Jones!

I hear ya but I don't remember hearing much of anything from either band in the NY market (CD101.9). NY probably has the blandest rotation in the country, IMO! They play more R&B vocal stuff than actual jazz/smooth jazz. Here in Virginia, it's a little better rotation but not by much! I don't even listen to the radio anymore. I buy cd's, burn compilations and listen to them in the car!

Kiluaea would be on my short list of disappointing after a great start, if that's what we're really talking about here. I'm kinda with DW on the Hiroshima thing, liked a few of the cuts, but most of it didn't do anything for me, no where NEAR as good as T-Squared.
Don't know that I can say it's true by radio chart hits, but Dave Koz would be on that list too. I bought one of his used (I should have known it wasn't great, since they had a lot of copies)and it was terrible. But, I have heard some of his other stuff on the radio, and it's quite good.
I will have to keep an eye out for Porcupine, I've been looking for Flim and The BB's stuff too, and J Johnson played bass on early Ripps CD's- he's excellent.
Shannon is so right- none of what went top ten 10 or 15 years ago would stand a chance today....radio is dying, at least to me- I'm not wasting any more time with it.
Later
TonyY

Wow Tony, such strong words about DK's music. "Sucked" is not an adjective I would use to describe anybody's music, even if I didn't like it. Which release are you referring to? I think I know which one you'll say, and it's probably the same one that either everyone loves or hates - no middle ground, but, just out of curiosity, I'd be interested to know.

Was CD 101.9 even in the format in 1990??
IMO Dave Koz is one of the best instrumental songwriters out there..he writes great melodies and has consistently had hit songs since his first CD came out. True if you are jazz police or only into super progressive stuff he might not be your "thing" but for contemporary/pop instrumental he is one of the best out there..he has accomodated radio by toning down his studio work as has everyone who wants to do live gigs and pay the rent but go back to "Lucky Man", which was pre smooth, and check out some of the songs that would now be "not radio friendly" on that one! I didn't like the vocals and covers on "The Dance" but the instrumentals were great.

I can't even remember to be honest with you but I traveled around a lot (playing with a tournament level softball team and various musical situations) and had a chance to listen to jazz radio stations all over the country and CD101.9 was always behind in playing new music. But I was listening hard back then. I actually heard One Wish, Are You Going With Me (Pat Metheny) and a tune by the Brazilian band Azymuth on an R&B station and not on the Jazz station!! Frankie Crocker (RIP) was a very innovative DJ back then and took short moments to play some Jazz on a non-jazz station. NY did have another station back then that played a lot of fusion material but it didn't last long I guess to the ever changing formats! Believe me, I was all over radio in my youth listening and searching for good music!

Wow! Frankie Crocker! Now we're talking! Frankie Crocker used to be one of the radio personalties back on WBLS. Was it Crocker who used to sign off everynight playing "Moody's Mood for Love"? I think it was, and I remember Vaughn Harper (with a voice that made women swoon) came on right after him. It's funny how things go. Frankie Croaker, who was periodically removed from the airwaves due to his involvement with the whole payola thing, would fit right into todays radio scams. He's laughing in his grave! Talk about a man ahead of his time.

Anyway, as far as the fusion station, are you referring to WRVR? (106.7) They played mostly straight ahead and I think, fusion, before they were converted to a country western station many years ago.

Not sure what CD101.9 was prior to becoming an all smooth jazz station (all smooth by radio definition, of course).) In the beginning, they only played it at night, after 8 or 9 pm. I know they were in the format in 1990. They may have just been getting started then. Back then, I thought they were pretty good. They were more innovative, and I heard things there that I could never hear on other radio stations. Nowadays, they sound pretty much like all the others - old songs, lots of r&b, soft rock, nothing new and innovative.

Hey LibraLady, I think back then they played a LOT of GRP stuff in addition to some other 'hits' so to speak. Yeah, Frankie Crocker played 'Moody's Mood' when signing off. And in between the DJ switch they used to play a jazz tune or 2 before the next DJ came in.

I have seen Dave Koz three times in the past year and he would be OK if he would get rid of his pretty boy act. Not only that but he tries to get everyone else into the same act which makes me sick. I do think he is one of those you either like or don’t.

Fishman

I remember listening to Frankie Crocker around the late 60's on WWRL 1600 AM. It was easy to find it was like the last station on the dial. Frankie's show and WWRL were the official word for 'Soul' music back then.

WRVR I remember that tragic day in 1980. I was driving to work and couldn't find 'my jazz'. I kept hearing this country music where RVR was suppose to be. I thought I had hit a pocket of bad reception but on the way home I still couldn't find it. Then i heard on another station's news that RVR had gone country . Talk about being bummed! They had a really cool DJ named Les Davis. He used to play all the great 'CTI Records' stuff.

JazzWriter . . .

"Spyro Gyra or any of the cjazz groups that had "hits." I just think the very idea of having a jazz chart is bogus. Matt makes a good point, referring to Spyro's Morning Dance. As far as I know, that was the group's only "hit", but would you say they're a one-hit wonder, despite 24 albums that followed that one?"

I understand where you're coming from on this subject. It's interesting though that Jay Beckenstein himself during many of the band's "live" concerts will poke fun at the band affectionately as the "one hit wonder" band. I'm sure he's heard that reference many times from the band's detractors.

Having a top 40 hit can make an artist at times, but it will not break one. I've never gone to a Spyro Gyra concert simply to hear them play "Morning Dance." There is a whole library of their stuff that I prefer over "Morning Dance." However, there's little doubt that many of the band's fans relate to this arrangement since it was probably a time in their lives they highly regard and the band provides them with a certain nostalgic feeling of that period.

LibraLady- yeah, I was a bit too strong in the criticism there, forgot that "sucks" can be taken more seriously by some than others...I didn't mean it to come off that strong..(my kid's friends use it all the time, it's lost it's "bite" with them)....but it was a poor CD, in my opinion. I went to Koz's website and couldn't find what I remember the cover looking like (I have long since traded it on something else), so I can't say for sure which one it was. The very first one looks similar, but I think it just said "Koz" on it, and the pose was different. Maybe it was a bootleg....It must not have sold well, though, since the used CD store wouldn't have had that many copies (maybe 10, it's not a mega store) unless it was a "stock reduction" purchase from another store. From what I remember it had lots of covers on it and vocals that I really didn't care for. I have heard others of his and like them just fine, just haven't bought any after that...bad taste in my mouth.
Anyway, I edited the post to remove that.

gotta go
TonyY

Koz does nice work on Bob James "Morning, Noon and Night," but I won't buy one of his discs - unless by some fluke I see him live and am forced to reconsider.
It's kind of ironic, but here's my spin on it.
I love the sax. Of all instruments in popular music, the sax is my favorite. When I first started to really listening to jazz, it was sax solos by Tom Scott, Mark Colby (on Maynard Ferguson's "Primal Scream," "Conquistador" and "Soar Like an Eagle"), David Sanborn and the guy who played with Chuck Mangione (can't think of his name now) that hooked me on the jazz of that time.
But thanks to the G-man and corporate interference in determining what qualifies as radio-friendly, I'm very picky about which sax players I'll listen to.
I was interested in Koz when I saw him play with the house band on the Arsenio Hall Show. But when I got his CD, I was not pleased. No, I'm not saying it's too smooth or is watered-down jazz. In fact, it's been so long since I played it, I'm not sure what turned me off. But it DID turn me off. I found it boring.
Then came Boney James and Najee. Liked one CD by each. Tried another - same effect as Koz ... BORING.
Are they talented? Yes. Are they good in live shows? Well, I know Boney has been at least once. Haven't heard the others live. After hearing Boney live on "Always There" and Rick Braun's "Notorious", I decided to give him another shot. I bought "Ride."
Oops!
And for a long time I wasn't interested Kirk Whalum, but because he appears on so many discs with other artists - George Duke, Larry Carlton, Bob James, The Rippingtons, etc. - I've been able to experience his sound more and have come to like it. (That's Kirk on the Ripps' "Miles Away".) Now, he's one of my favorites.
Dave Koz? Y'all can have him. I need a bit more convincing.

I'll gladly take him off your hands, and ears.

Tony - no harm, no foul.

Wow! It's like "old home week". First Frankie Crocker, now WWRL. I won a Barry White album from them!

My parents played a lot of RVR while I was growing up. I think the first time I heard Sanborn was on RVR. Yeah, that was a bad day when they switched formats - one day you were listening to some cool instrumentals, the next day, some cowboy was crooning about how his girl left him for his best friend.