Here’s my final installment of Two Hit Wonders:
Naked Eyes – “(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me” and “Promises, Promises”
Another 80s band that I was not particularly fond of (and that is putting it mildly) was Naked Eyes. They hit the charts in 1983 with their weepy love song while I was more interested in the new wave music that was becoming more popular. The duo of Pete Byrne and Rob Fisher soon broke up after the release of their second album Fuel for the Fire, which was not well received.
Naked Eyes Update: Any chance of a reunion of Naked Eyes was dashed when Rob Fisher died in 1999 from complications of a surgery. Pete Byrne released a solo album in 2001 and “(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me” was used in the trailer of the Vince Vaughn/Jennifer Aniston film The Breakup.
The Power Station – “Some Like It Hot” and “Get It On (Bang a Gong)”
Okay, does your second hit really count if it is a remake of a previous hit? I guess it does when you are a super group. Formed of vocalist Robert Palmer, Duran Duraners John Taylor and Andy Taylor (no relation), and Chic drummer Tony Thompson, the Power Station’s hit “Some Like it Hot” peaked at #6 in 1985. “Get It On (Bang a Gong”), a former hit by the band T.Rex, peaked at #9. Apparently, after that, the guys were just too busy with their own projects to reunite.
The Power Station Update: Drummer Tony Thompson was nearly killed in a car wreck in 1986 and died in 2003 after being diagnosed with kidney cancer. That was two months after lead singer Robert Palmer died of a heart attack. Andy Taylor rejoined Duran Duran in 2001, but left again in 2006. John Taylor reunited with Duran Duran and he continues to tour with them to date.
Ugly Kid Joe – “(I Hate) Everything about You” and “Cat’s in the Cradle”
Ah, Ugly Kid Joe started out hot with the 1992 hit “(I Hate) Everything about You.” That song peaked on the charts at #9. The band did even better with its1993 follow-up “Cat’s in the Cradle,” which hit #6. Wait, “Cat’s in the Cradle?” Yes, the band followed up their funny yet mean-spirited first hit with the remake (did they not learn anything from The Power Station?) of the 1974 tearjerker by Harry Chapin. Boy, if that isn’t a way to confuse and lose your fans, I don’t know what is.
Ugly Kid Joe Update: Ugly Kid Joe disbanded in 1997 and as of yet, the former members have not expressed interest in a reunion. Drummer Shannon Larkin is a member of the band Godsmack and lead singer Whitfield Crane has collaborated with other members of Godsmack on a project titled Another Animal.