The Analog Kid’s iTunes music folder contains over 96,000 songs, so you may think that I own everything by everybody. Not so fast, my friends– even a collection that large is bound to have some true one-hit wonders and/or obscurities mixed in with the 881 Depeche Mode songs. In this continuing series, I will feature an artist that has exactly one song in my entire digital library.
Today’s “One Is The Loneliest Number” post comes directly from Mrs. Analog Kid, who sent me this simple instant message earlier today:
“Do you have a song called “Double Dutch Bus?”
My head exploded on impact.
“I have “Pass The Dutchie” but not “Double Dutch Bus.” I remember it though– big hit in like 1981. I’ll work on it. :) ”
“Joe is blasting it on his speakers. It’s awesome!” Joe is one of her co-workers who usually listens to Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus. Apparently, I have greatly misjudged Joe.
I then performed a quick Google search. 1981! I knew it.
“Nailed the year: 1981, and I probably haven’t thought of it since!”
“Of course you did,” she replied.
My response twelve seconds later:
“That is 89 cents well spent! Got the 12″ version, of course.”
Then I listened to “Double Dutch Bus” for the first time since 1981.
“Holy shit does this take me back! Looks like we have today’s blog topic.”
“Haha,” she said. “I’m glad to have inspired you. :) ”
It really is amazing that you can completely remember every note of a song you haven’t heard since you were thirteen, but that’s what happened to me today with “Double Dutch Bus.”
“Oh my God, I haven’t heard this in 33 years and I still remember every bit of it. The little kid in the middle!”
“It’s hilarious,” replied Mrs. Analog Kid. “Also that’s become a really famous sample.”
“Oh yeah,” I said. “Thanks for reminding me of its awesomeness!”
“I thought you would appreciate it,” she said.
I appreciated it so much that I had to play “Double Dutch Bus” again, and this time it hit me like a ton of bricks.
“HOLY SHIT, it’s “Word Up!”
Frankie Smith: “Double Dutch Bus” (Frankie Smith/Bill Bloom)
From the album Children Of Tomorrow
WMOT Records, 1981
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Bonus Tracks!
The first rule of The Analog Kid blog is that if you write about a song on the Analog Kid blog, you share the song on the Analog Kid blog.
Cameo: “Word Up! [12″ Version]” (Larry Blackmon/Tomi Jenkins)
From the 12″ single Word Up!
Atlanta Artists Records, 1986
Musical Youth: “Pass The Dutchie” (Freddie Waite)
From the album The Youth Of Today
MCA Records, 1982
Filed under: One-Hit Wonders, Soul/R&B Tagged: Analog Kid, Cameo, Double Dutch Bus, Frankie Smith, Musical Youth, Pass The Dutchie, Word Up!
