My Favorite One Hit Wonders of the 80s: Just Got Lucky (#1)

@FourWalls (86949)
United States
June 30, 2016 10:18am CST
Scott (@teamfreak16 ) finished off his list of his ten favorite one-hit wonders of the 1980s. When he started the list he encouraged me to do one as well. And, as a prime example of how diverse the music of the 80s was, we listed twenty different songs. #1: Just Got Lucky - JoBoxers So my #1 song isn't some superstar act that never had the "luck" of being on the top 40 (for instance, the Grateful Dead is a one-hit wonder, with their only top 40 hit being "A Touch of Gray"), or acts such as those on Scott's list like the Church or Love and Rockets (or Delbert McClinton from my list), who have a massive "cult" following to the point where it's hard to believe that they are one-hit wonders. No, I go with a band that was around for about four years, and if you blinked you missed them. JoBoxers was a mixed US/UK group (their lead singer was American, the rest British) who enjoyed success thanks to the diversity of the early 80s and the advent of MTV and their open playlist. "Just Got Lucky" is an infectious, catchy post-punk pop song that caught my ear the minute I heard it. I was about the only one. Yes, this song did make the US top 40 (and was a hit in several other countries), but it only got to #36. (By then, as John Hiatt said in "Radio Girl," anything that didn't reach the top 20 has basically been forgotten ["don't worry about a little hit now, honey, 'cause it's only top 20"].) Heavy rotation on MTV did give it a wider exposure, though. But that was that. By 1985 the band went their separate ways. One of the members formed a band with the Eurythmics' Dave Stewart, but other than that the JoBoxers are relegated to a small -- but terrific -- moment in time in the musically diverse 1980s. Just Got Lucky Written by Chris Bostock and Dig Wayne Recorded by JoBoxers From Like Gangbusters, 1983 The JoBoxers' moment in the sun:
1st album - like gangbusters
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6 responses
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
30 Jun 16
i had to listen first in case there was another song with the same title. yup, 'just got lucky' was a big pop hit in the philippines and there was a dance step associated with it. i didn't even know the name of the band. you'll always hear it on the radio when they play '80s music.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
1 Jul 16
i forgot to add that when they play 'just got lucky,' it's always follow by '(build me up) buttercup' or vice versa
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43685)
• Denver, Colorado
30 Jun 16
Oh yeah, nice #1! At first I thought you went with Dokken. But that made no sense, even if they were the best of the hair metal bands.
1 person likes this
@Jotomy (6322)
• India
2 Jul 16
I am listening to this for the first time, very nice song with nice music. thank you so much
@crossbones27 (53005)
• Mojave, California
30 Jun 16
I like your guys collaborative posts. You guys work well together.
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111937)
• United States
30 Jun 16
just finish playing this.I can cope with this.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
30 Jun 16
You and Steve Ganschow scored 80s home runs this morning. Long live the 80s. Just Got Lucky is a great song and received heavy play on alternative radio alongside Talking Heads, Cure, Blondie and all "the big boys." This the true definition of a one hit wonder. There's a bit of ska influence. You really nailed your #1. It's a joyous song.
1 person likes this