Han’s Worst Hits of the 70’s- today goes with an instrumental- “Music Box Dancer” by Frank Mills that believe it or not went to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979. The song was originally on an album by Mills in 1974 and did nothing- as it deserved to do. I knew this had to have some kind of freak history- Mills a Canadian- [not meaning to pick on our Canadian friends- I featured the lame DeFranco Family a couple days ago} in 1978 the song was the b-side of a new single which was being played on easy listening stations in Canada but a copy was mistakenly sent to a pop station. When they got it they shook their heads after hearing the a-side- Why was this sent to us? So the program director flipped it over and played the b-side Music Box Dancer. He added it to the playlist. The song began being played on easy listening stations in Canada and became a hit. It then hit America in 1979. I had totally forgotten the song- hadn’t heard it in decades until last spring on an American Top 40 replay it was played. My wife’s reaction summed up my thoughts- “This is horrible, this was a hit?” Yes it was.Repetitive and not a bit interesting but the record buying people dug it. Needless to say it was Frank Mills only hit.
slicethelife 
“Easy Listening” music at the time included the likes of Barry Manilow and Christopher Cross. It was about the record companies targeting people who liked “safe” and melodic music. In my opinion It tainted an otherwise epic era of music. But it was perhaps a sign of things to come i.e. pop music became weaker overall in the 80s.
I agree. There was an audience for this stuff obviously- non-threatening.. commercial.
um struggling to find something — anything — to say about it and failing….
I thought it was a Bach rip off at first. Then it reminded me of the classical music + bass guitar + drums that we we forced to endure as we waited for school assembly to start.
That would be painful! You couldn’t turn it off.
Oh no, this is another one I seriously loved. :p
LOL.. that’s ok!
After I wrote my first comment, I remembered that I actually have a hammered dulcimer cover version of that song in my Youtube favorites playlist. Maybe I should just turn in my music appreciation good taste card? 😉
you are fine! if you like it that is all that counts!
I know why it was a hit… it’s still in my head after listening to it this morning.