One Hit Thunder

In a Mr. Belvedere episode that first aired on January 17th, 1986, Marsha fails a law exam, leading to a transformation into a stereotypical 50s housewife. Meanwhile, Heather has a date, Wesley punches a classmate, and Kevin is making lots of noise with his drumsticks. One Hit Thunder (as well as Belvedere Bros) is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner for taking your music to the next...

What started as a song about a serial killer became a song about passion for dance, and that in turn became a #1 hit for Michael Sembello in 1983. “Maniac” was featured in the wildly popular film Flashdance, shooting the song from this relatively unknown artist to the top of the charts. Though Michael was far from a household name, his past session work was beyond impressive, and it’s a great stor...

The focus of this week is the thirteenth episode of the second season of Mr. Belvedere, which first aired on January 10th, 1986. In this episode, Mr. Belvedere gets himself a sugar mama, which unfortunately ends up being Wesley’s teacher. Lynn also manages to insult the entire city of Altoona, Pennsylvania. One Hit Thunder (and also Belvedere Bros) is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate part...

“Slick” and “cool” are actually GREAT descriptors for the sound of Digable Planets. This hip hop trio paired jazz samples with unforgettable hooks, and by 1993, they had a huge hit with the inescapable “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat).” A gold record and a Grammy followed, and Digable Planets seemed to be on their way to superstardom. A more experimental and politically charged sophomore release,...

It’s no secret that the Belvedere Bros are HUGE Marsha Owens fans, and in this episode, the beautiful and talented Ilene Graff sits in for a fun conversation about her time on Mr. Belvedere! This installment of the show is filled with Ilene’s infectious laughter as she answers several burning questions about her experience as the inspiring mother on our favorite show. For any Belvies in the Los An...

This week, we’re exploring the career of Nico & Vinz, the Norwegian duo who brought us the 2014 hit “Am I Wrong.” The song combines huge pop hooks with African musical influences, and they even used the music video as an opportunity to show the beauty of the continent. Their breakout album Black Star Elephant combined socially conscious lyrics with ultra-catchy, genre-bending tracks, but would it...

In the first Mr. Belvedere episode of 1986, George receives a prestigious award, Kevin gets “married”, and Marsha takes everyone’s breath away. One Hit Thunder 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 ⁠Join our Patreon⁠ ⁠Buy so...

If you’re either of the hosts of the One Hit Thunder podcast, you really didn’t need to do much prep work for an episode about The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. This legendary, well-dressed band was a Boston institution, blending ska with hardcore and putting on unforgettable live shows. In 1997, they made an impression on more than just the underground scene when “The Impression That I Get” became an...

In the eleventh episode of the second season of Mr. Belvedere, Wesley breaks the school’s cookie-selling record, Heather weighs the pros and cons of cheating, and Kevin makes a house of cards for no reason. Also, Mr. Belvedere uses insider trading to anonymously do a good deed. Get a copy of Seth Olenick’s book Funny Business by going to https://funnybusiness.bigcartel.com/ . Use the discount code...

The swing revival of the 90s came and went in an instant, but the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies were able to ride that wave all the way to the bank. Despite having quite possibly the worst band name of all time, “Zoot Suit Riot” helped the band sell 2 million copies of their album of the same name, which was actually a compilation of songs from previous albums that fit with the throwback sound of the sin...

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. 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 ⁠J...

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 b...

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. Mar...

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 tak...

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...

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. 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...

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...

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. 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...

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,...

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.  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 a...

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,...

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://di...

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 Th...

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...

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-Schnicken...