Six stunning one-hit wonders from the 1970s

Stealers Wheel - Stuck In The Middle With You

I find it hard to believe this was a one-hit wonder. It’s so good there surely should have been more. I am stretching the definition a little though. Stealers Wheel was a band formed and led by Joe Egan and Gerry Rafferty. The latter went on to have more commercial success and hits, notably “Baker Street”. But as a band, this was Stealers Wheel’s one and only hit across two albums before they broke up in 1975.

And what a song it is, thoroughly deserving of being a huge hit. Co-written by Rafferty and Egan it has clever lyrics, simple acoustic guitar backing, and has Rafferty doing his best Bob Dylan-style vocals. Rafferty had a great voice anyway and didn’t need to cover it up by copying Dylan, but it worked very well on the song. It’s a great example of early work from Rafferty which signposts much more great music to come from him. 

Released in April 1973, “Stuck In The Middle With You” was a number 8 hit in the UK and number 6 in the US, while celebrating top twenty success around Europe, Australia, and Canada. Once again, those unfamiliar with the song from its 1970s heyday may know it better from a hit movie. The song was on the soundtrack for Quentin Tarantino’s debut film Reservoir Dogs featuring in the notorious warehouse scene.