Why This 70s Band Has To Be History’s UNLUCKIEST One Hit Wonder! | Professor of Rock

Coming up, an interview with the singer Phil Wright of the 70s band Paper Lace, with one of the most fascinating song stories of the 70s. Paper Lace had two #1 hits in the 70s but was a one-hit-wonder hit in America with The Night Chicago Died. There were two hits that were written by the same songwriting team. First, Paper Lace recorded Billy Don't Be a Hero and it hit #1 in the UK but out of nowhere, before they could release it in America another band beat them to the punch and put out their version that went straight to #1. So Paper Lace band hurried and recorded The Night Chicago Died and it became their 2nd massive hit in the UK and only #1 hit in America. People have tried to figure out if the song was a true story or fiction. Find out next on Professor of Rock.
Thank you to this episode’s sponsor, Zenni
GET ZENNI Glasses HERE: imp.i279709.net/vn5gLd
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executive Producer
Brandon Fugal
Honorary Producers
ZaffronStaghelm, Laurie Buckland, Dale Nadeau, Robert Taylor, Missy D
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out my Hand Picked Selection Below
Professor's Store
- Van Halen OU812 Vinyl Album amzn.to/3tLsII2
- The 80s Collection amzn.to/3mAekOq
- 100 Best Selling Albums amzn.to/3h3qZX9
- Ultimate History of 80s Teen Movie amzn.to/3ifjdKQ
- 80s to 90s VHS Video Cover Art amzn.to/2QXzmIX
- Totally Awesome 80s A Lexicon amzn.to/3h4ilrk
- Best In Ear Headphones (I Use These Every Day) amzn.to/2ZcTlIl
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check Out The Professor of Rock Merch Store -bit.ly/ProfessorMerch
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check Out Patron Benefits
bit.ly/ProfessorofRockVIPFan
Help out the Channel by purchasing your albums through our links! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you, thank you for your support.
Click here for Premium Content: bit.ly/SignUpForPremiumContent
bit.ly/Facebook_Professor_of_...
bit.ly/Instagram_Professor_of...
#classicrock #70smusic #vinylstory #onehitwonder
Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock always. here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If you remember the Church Lady getting smacked by Sean Penn on Saturday Night Live, you’ll dig this channel, Subscribe below to get our features stories of the song from the legends. Our new merch is below.
It’s time for another edition of our series Bottled Lightning where we celebrate a great one-hit wonder that captured our hearts and our ears… Today’s story is a strange one It’s about a band that had four big hits in the UK but only had one hit in America. They would’ve had two straight #1 hits in America… but another band beat them to the punch. I have the lead singer of the band in question with us today to tell us the story. Here's the interview
Leave us a comment about Paper Lace and their bottled lightning classic the Night Chicago Died. What are your memories of this novelty hit?

[@ProfessorofRock]

Poll: What is your pick for the most memorable ONE HIT WONDER of the 70s?

[@Sweet--Richard.4981]

Disco Duck

[@surlechapeau]

Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum

[@Code.Name.V]

Walter Egan - Magnet and Steel

[@christineml1476]

"Play That Funky Music" Wild Cherry

[@freezer8530]

I'll nominate ... "Afternoon Delight" by Starland Vocal Band. Honorable mention: "Disco Duck" by Rick Dees & His Cast of Idiots.

[@dranet47]

I have to tell you about my Paper Lace story. I had the 8-track back in the 1970s. I played that thing until I had every song memorized! Then one day, it happened - the tape got stuck around the rollers and I thought it was destroyed. I managed to get the tape out of the player, but it had snapped in a couple of places. I pried open the case of the tape and spliced the pieces back together, but in the process, I DROPPED IT! The entire roll fell out. I rolled it back up, put it all back together, and (after cleaning my 8-track player), put it in to see if it would play. IT PLAYED!!! Backwards. I had put the tape in BACKWARDS. Ugh. So apart it goes, unwound the tape again, wound it up, put it back in and everything all together. It worked. I kept that tape for years, but I bought the album anyway. Paper Lace was worth it. I did what I did for Maria... I mean, Paper Lace.

[@adreanmarantz2103]

Amazing. I've done similar surgery on cassettes when it's beyond what a pencil can fix. It's almost hard to imagine the things we would go through to repair our stuff in this throw away world now.

[@JS-TexanJeff]

Fun story. It's amazing how a song can take us back to old memories that we haven't thought about in decades.

[@Richard-od7yd]

Music and Love make men do strange things 🤣🤣😉

[@greggwagner875]

Many 8tracks got thrown away because many people didn't take the trouble to fix them...but I did! I have spent hours fixing many of them, mostly after the foil became unglued. And yes, I have fixed many cassettes and vhs tapes.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

And the band name is so accurate in this situation.

[@user-mh6wn3pq5f]

I am married to the original drummer from Bo Donaldson and I remember this so well. I remember Paper Lace, it was an exciting time for the band when Billy went number one, I believe it beat Wings out of that number one spot. I knew instantly, when I heard your intro, what band you were speaking of. 50 years ago…a blast from the past. Thank you!

[@oldiesgeek454]

@user. Thanks for sharing that. It's always especially interesting when someone with a personal connection to a band, leaves a comment. 😊 👍

[@johnglielmi6428]

Growing up in Chicagoland, I was born in Chicago on the south side. Hearing "The Night Chicago Died", always brought to mind The St. Valentine's Day Massacre for me. I'm second generation Italian American. my father (God rest his soul) was born in 1920. Al Capone was very big in the neighborhood where he grew up. So my cool dad would tell us stories from his youth and his uncle's speakeasy.

[@QueenOfTheNorth65]

Oh, how I loved this song. I still remember the speaking part at the beginning: “Daddy was a cop. On the east side of Chicago. Back in the USA. Back in the bad old days.” Nine year old me would ride my bike around the neighborhood with my transistor radio swinging from the handlebars.😊

[@ProfessorofRock]

Love that memory! Thanks for sharing!

[@bluejayfan5584]

Banana seat with high handle bars?

[@genngeorge9909]

The east side of Chicago, eh?

[@bongodave13]

@@genngeorge9909 There's an east side.

[@genngeorge9909]

@@bongodave13 The cops had a massive firefight w/Capone's henchmen on the Indiana border?

[@kwilliams1958]

As a teen of the 70's, these two songs were forever submerged into your musical memory bank. What an uplifting chat, Professor!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks for watching!

[@ilionreactor1079]

Some of the very best music of the 1970s were the One (or Two) Hit Wonders. Keep 'em alive and in the spotlight, Prof!

[@treeskier802]

Adam - you should actually be a professor teaching rock history at a university. I’m glad you’re presenting videos on KZbin. This is another great one: 10/10.

[@edryba4867]

NO! We NEED The Professor right here, where we can all enjoy the hard work he’s done!

[@treeskier802]

He can do both silly!

[@amazed92]

my mum used to play "Billy don't be a hero" over and over ❤❤❤ rip mum

[@ProfessorofRock]

Great memories!

[@LazyIRanch]

I'm sorry for your loss. We never stop missing our parents, at least the lucky ones like us who had wonderful parents who loved us. My mom died June 6th, 2000, so it's been 24 years. She loved music from every decade, and sang and danced beautifully. She sang everything from 19th century bluegrass "murder ballads" her mother taught her and her siblings to sing (in 4-part harmony!) to Michael Jackson songs (she was quite fond of "Billie Jean" and she taught herself to moonwalk in her 60s!). When I was feeling down, she would make me laugh by singing "These Foolish Things (remind me of you)" in crooner style, mimicking Rudy Vallee. It was the verse about "a tinkling piano in the next apartment" that made me giggle, as I imagined a grand piano with bladder control issues. After she died, I started hearing that song everywhere! Rod Stewart had just released an album of old standards, but it wasn't just his version I would hear over the store PAs, at antique car shows, etc. There was Louis Armstrong, Bryan Ferry, Ella, Sinatra, and other versions I heard so much I came to expect it when I was out in public. My nine year old son would gleefully say, "There's Meemaw's song!" when we heard it, and it brought us comfort and happy memories. After I'm dead, I wonder if my son will think of me when he hears a John Prine song, or Tom Waits.😃

[@Eatpoopandexpire]

That song was sooooo popular, but I was four and had no idea what Vietnam was, so I hated it.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Sad. R.I.P.

[@dawnyoung8]

I love that song and I sing it too ! And the night Chicago died ! It takes me back . I haven’t heard Billy don’t be a hero in forever ! I’m going to go purchase it now lol . Thanks for sharing and reminding me ❤

[@richardhowell4137]

I remember back in 1974 when "The Night Chicago Died" , "Can't Get Enough", "Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)" and "Takin' Care Of Business" were all getting heavy rotation on the Radio Stations. I never knew Paper Lace did not Tour the US.

[@Beecher_Dikov]

74...I was 14 and remember this playing over and over...and over...

[@ProfessorofRock]

So cool! Great memory!

[@jameswalker4225]

Wow… ‘74. Music. #eyeroll. It was a good song

[@Gerard_Mulligan]

and over...and over...

[@stephenhanft1226]

I always thought 1974 was a very interesting year for music on the pop charts. Two of my favorite #1 hits from that year were "The Night Chicago Died" by Paper Lace and "Billy, Don't Be Hero" by Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods. I was 9 years old and remember them very well. I did not know that both songs were written by the same songwriting team. That's one of the many reasons why I regularly come to this channel. I learn new information about my favorite songs.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Awesome! Thanks Stephen!

[@ogam5]

.....noted this in OTHER threads, Stephen - but, a THIRD cover single of theirs that year was John Carter's / 'Kincade's "Dreams Are Ten A Penny".....kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaqvf6WcrJWosM0

[@ogam5]

.....while Donaldson & The Heywoods followed up "Billy..." with a pre-"Sky High" Jigsaw (THEIR catalog is WELL worth investigating otherwise) hit....kzbin.info/www/bejne/noKrZH9-ppd4gpY

[@krierp8]

Don’t forget the cover “Hooked on A Feeling” by Blue Swede. Oom ba Jaka, Oom ba Jaka!!

[@jamieblossom5686]

The Night Chicago Died, Billy don’t be a Hero and Seasons in the Sun were the songs I kept in rotation. I was 9-10.

[@scottburton9701]

Love "The Night Chicago Died"-It's a certifiable guilty pleasure.

[@jonfargo7321]

One of the things I love about your show is seeing these artists from days gone by, no longer in the public eye getting a moment to reminisce about a time when they were on top. They seem genuinely thrilled to share their story. And we’re here to take it all in. Well done professor.

[@hugome778]

Oh, I loved this episode. Brings back memories of weekend sleepovers! My pre teen friends and I would always bring our collection of '45s; and 2 songs in particular were favorites for our dramatic interpretations for each other. One was The Night Chicago Died, and the other was Billy Don't Be a Hero. I can still see us acting out the gangster shootout and mama's reaction when daddy stepped inside. We also took turns being Billy's fiancee, pleading for his return. Thanks for the memories!

[@ProfessorofRock]

That's so great to hear! Love it!

[@Jimi-ld2vw]

Great story.

[@catserver8577]

So, weirdly, my babysitter had a stack of records we kids could play if we were "careful", and in the stack was The Night Chicago Died but also, Billy Don't Be A Hero by Bo Donaldson. Not sure why the family got that one instead of the original. But we played the living heck out of The Night Chicago Died, and us kids would hold our breath during the clock ticking in anticipation. Personally I was always afraid the dad wouldn't make it back home this time......love the song. Thanks for it, made a real impact on my childhood.

[@cylonred8902]

Always loved Billy Don't Be a Hero...

[@georgemathie8123]

This is the home of lost forgotten gems and the stories of why these songs still live on thank you professor for giving these artists their true credit and letting the artists have their story heard this is why I tune in everyday ☺️

[@ProfessorofRock]

Awesome George! Thanks!

[@georgemathie8123]

@@ProfessorofRock you are so very welcome

[@ChrystalMagic]

Billy don't be a hero was the very first 45 i ever bought when I was 7 years old. Played it to death!

[@judymusselman567]

I can remember me and my sister's standing on the kitchen chairs (when we wer supposed to be doing dishes singing Billy Don't be a Hero with spatulas laddles and spoons at the top of our lungs and my mom would just come in shaking her head laughing. Hey guess she couldn't get mad cause we were still doing our chores lol. Some of the best memories of my life and my sisters were the coolest and my mom was our angel.

[@cheaplaughkennedy2318]

I remember this song , I was 15. Music back then was very diverse with many great songs. Music has never been the same.

[@trinaq]

Shame that Paper Lace didn't have more staying Power. "The Night Chicago Died" has always been a bop.

[@LazyIRanch]

I LOVE "The Night Chicago Died" but _hated_ "Billy Don't Be a Hero". I had no idea they were both written by the same songwriters! I think their fashion choice of dressing like gangstas was the right one. They look cool as all git out!😍

[@ProfessorofRock]

I agree. An ear worm!

[@ProfessorofRock]

@@LazyIRanch I think you're right!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It’s so sprightly!

[@lindaward6459]

I am now happy in the knowledge I have found my true source of rock and roll information . I am 72 years old and I've had a long history of love for rock and roll. You cast The Line and I caught it. You drew me in I have now decided there is no one better. Keep On Keepin On. Now find The Moody blues. They were my first love.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Rock on!

[@smdias65]

It's great to hear the stories behind this! "The Night Chicago Died" was my favorite song for many years. I still have the 45 (with "Billy Don't Be a Hero" on the flip side). It's a pity they didn't tour or anything in the US. This makes me want to check out their other music.

[@ImZiraTheFirst]

I had the 45 and played it over and over again. What a classic! Happy childhood memories!

[@leeaycock8602]

When I was 7, I wore the grooves out on that 45. That and, "Billy, Don't Be a Hero".

[@mowm88]

I was 8 in '74, end of the school year and they held an annual Talent show, whole school was there. I remember this black girl up on stage playing her 45 of Billy and doing her baton dance. It's weird that is what I remember most about the song. I liked both, very 1974.

[@cindyrobinson3077]

What great songs.... You can feel them and see them. Billy Don't be a Hero, you were screaming, Billy don't go!!! Then see the heartbreak and anger of his fiancee. Then there's Night Chicago Died... You can feel the tension. The hope. Then Daddy walks in!! Great songs, great memories. I still have the 45 of Night Chicago Died

[@debbie4503]

My Brother passed away a couple of years ago. It still feels like the day it did when I got the call. He loved this song. He was interested in the old Mob and watched a lot of movies about them. I can still hear this song playing loud and my Brother on his Bass Guitar playing right along with it. 💔

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

So sorry for your loss.

[@cindyheun6936]

This song is what I call an earworm. It gets stuck in my head and it won’t get out for days. I love the song I also love Billy don’t be a hero. I remember my sister introducing me to that song when we were kids but I never really appreciated it until I grew up and listen to the lyrics of both songs.

[@neilperry2224]

It’s a faint one as l four years old, but have a strange memory of hearing the track in my first bed of my own and falling asleep to it…..those were the days my friends lol. Peace 🎉

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks Neil!

[@rogertemple7193]

Paper Lace, Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods were a couple of many bands that i had heard millions of times on AM radio during the 1970's and 1980's Thanks for the Memories Professor. 🎵🎶🎼🎸🎸🎤🎹🥁🎼🎶🎵

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks for watching my friend.

[@oldiesgeek454]

@POR. Remember the Heywood's follow up hit "Who Do You Think You Are"? I actually prefer that one over "Billy"... But hey that's just me. 😊

[@teresasullivan4588]

So glad you’re doing this song!!! A great blast from the past and I loved Billy don’t be a Hero!!! Two songs that make me smile and take me back to my childhood!!!❤💗💕❤️💜😍🥰🫶

[@catherine6653]

I used to sing the chorus of The Night Chicago Died when I was a kid. It was one of the songs that would get stuck in my head. 😊

[@ProfessorofRock]

Ha ha!! It's an earworm for sure! Thanks Catherine !

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It’s pretty much an earworm..

[@80s-el9vc]

The 70's were a great Decade to grow up in. We had ALL of the Great bands and Musicians from he 50's and 60's too. We got, Heart, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Cassidy Brothers, Leif Garret, Elton John, Aerosmith, Kiss, Neil Diamond Etc. Besides, The Night Chicago Dies. I Loved listening to the song, Billy Don't Be A Hero... Then we got the 80's Thank GOD for the 80's Music!🥂

[@ProfessorofRock]

So many great songs and bands. I wanna go back!

[@thaismatsumoto]

Van Halen came with their debut Album too.. Talk about diverse.

[@80s-el9vc]

@@thaismatsumoto Yes, and AC/DC, Alice Cooper, Hall &Oates, Supertramp, Journey,, etc...

[@johnnygoodman2003]

As long as you weren't drafted to fight in Vietnam, the 70s were the best.

[@80s-el9vc]

@@johnnygoodman2003 I grew up in the 70's an the 80's. I'll take the 80's everytime. Especially since I was able to listen to music from the 50's, 60' and the 70's.

[@j.graham8068]

I never knew there was a cover of Billy Don't Be a Hero at the same time. We only heard the Paper Lace version here in Toronto and it was huge!

[@DodgeDartSongs]

One of my fave episodes you’ve done, Adam. Good one!

[@SCVIndy]

This song was on AM radio all the time .. still sounds great !

[@yvettevitacaponigro]

Thank you for the post! 👍🏻✌🏼😊

[@kyleb3754]

OH! Several songs from this band illuminated my childhood, and for 50 years I could not name them. Here, at last, you bring it all into focus and put a name on it. Thank you Adam. And thank you, Paper Lace!

[@andrewlast1535]

My sister had this album. I remember every song on this album. Even the cover is iconic to me. Lol Such a core memory.

[@SamanthaMunitz]

The Night Chicago Died was one of the first songs I remember very well listening in my dad's yellow Volkswagen convertible in the early 70s. Very fun memories!

[@ProfessorofRock]

So cool that it spawned that memory for you!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Awesome!

[@thetitleisours1]

Have not heard this song in a long time. Nice!

[@joycesikma3263]

I loved the Night Chicago Died. I was a kid at the time but I loved it.

[@davidford7064]

I was 9 years old when this song came out. I remember it well ,great memories 🎶

[@therrdon1841]

Thanks Adam! To set the stage, I was born in 1955. To me, the music from the period from 1965 to about 1979 will never be equaled. Almost every video brings back a memory for me. Again, thank you

[@DC8091]

definitely a track I don’t listen to enough, but every time I hear The Night Chicago Died I love it & crank it up!!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Right? It's a classic!

[@DC8091]

@@ProfessorofRocki’m bettin Paper is a huge Paul Rogers fan . . .

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Yeah it’s been a few months since I listened to it lol

[@danlongosky7652]

Dad was stationed at Lakenheath from 1973-1976. This whole album was incredible and we spent many hours singing along on family road trips. Paper Lace has always been special to us. Can’t get the album in streaming but you can find most of the songs. Worth a listen.

[@brentcox7772]

Great memories! Thanks Professor!🤘🔥

[@ProfessorofRock]

You bet!

[@DonitaSilk]

Good interview!

[@jaynefurze9942]

The night Chicago died will always remind me of summer and the beach!

[@aeh8446]

The Night Chicago Died, among my all time favs, to this day!!! I was 11 when it hit, going to a lot of school dances, varied school, trying to learn how to dance...the song gave me fits on the dance floor!!! lol 🎵💜🎵 Of course, Billy...Hero, all time classic, too!!!

[@jennifer...7384]

😊 My 11 year old self loved this song when it was on the radio. I bought the single with my allowance. I memorized it. 50 years later I still have it on my play list. Great memories.

[@t.y.5565]

Both songs bring back good times! Whenever I heard TNCD I remember my grandmother telling me about when she lived in Chicago during the 20's and she and a friend ran into Al Capone a couple of times.

[@deantoso5376]

I bought the Paper Lace version of Billy Don't Be A Hero back in the day. It sounded exactly the same as Bo Donaldson. It was years before I knew the version that was played on the radio from Bo Donaldson. 1974 was so different from today!!

[@t.o.408]

Awesome video professor! Brought me right back to my childhood. It was probably 1979 or 1980 when I heard this song for the first time as a 10 year old. I was given one of those cheap K-Tel records that had a bunch of random songs on it, and this was one of the songs. I can't remember any of the other songs on that album other than The Night Chicago Died, probably because I loved that song so much it was pretty much the only one I played. I remember picking up the needle and putting it at the start of this song, and then three minutes and thirty seconds later repeating the process, over and over again. I think I'm going to have to go find an mp3 of this song now so I can do that again, this time without needing to pick up the record player needle.

[@rjsweda]

i love this song. great to learn it's story. great interview. as always.

[@6StringPassion.]

This is a great story! Nice work.

[@nicholassheffo5723]

One of the greatest one hit wonders ever!

[@mikeenders1010]

Thank you for doing a video on this song and band. I loved Paperlace growing up and The Night Chicago Died was the first song I heard that really got me interested in rock music. I love your videos and channel. Thanks for all you do Adam - Mike Enders, Ashland, Kentucky, USA

[@ProfessorofRock]

Very cool!

[@mowm88]

Nice job Prof!! '74 is a fave yr for top 40 here.

[@duromusabc]

Great interview ! Loved that song on the radio as a boy in elementary school in the mid to late 70s decade !

[@ProfessorofRock]

Great memories!

[@duromusabc]

@@ProfessorofRock great iconic song !

[@tomreidy1237]

Always loved both of those songs. They are both on a playlist I simply titled- Songs I Like. Never knew that Paper Lace also released, Billy Don’t Be A Hero.

[@TRICK-OR-TREAT236]

GREAT TUNE !

[@thecollective1584]

The one band I was in (years ago) was a standard classic rock band. The singer came into rehearsal singing it one night. We figured it would be a fun "dick around" song and worked it up. The next week, the guitar player hit the opening note, the drummer hit the beat, and the audience brought the roof down. This was 20 years after people stopped caring about Paper Lace and not even classic/oldies stations were playing it... and, the audience fuh-reeked

[@stratman1021]

This song definitely takes me back when we were vacationing in California in the summer of '74. There's even one specific moment I remember of traveling down a hill sideways and that clock ticking part playing.

[@Lam_3-22-23]

So fascinating that a band with a hit this huge couldn't tour the states . Came out when I was in 6th grade. Still love it Don't think it's such a bad thing that Billy got ripped off, nobody remembers TWO- hit wonders. Thanks, Prof

[@ProfessorofRock]

That's really true!

[@Whisper_292]

I couldn't help thinking that if Mercury had let them tour, they would have had more than one or two hits.

[@Lam_3-22-23]

​@@Whisper_292 that's very likely..

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

In fact I thought they were from America!

[@Ajrockin66]

Great story , just brought back a lot of memories from the 75 or 76 not knowing English at the time but still try to sing along ... Bought the 45 in 79 still have it some where.

[@monyx2926]

OMG. Thank you! I had forgotten about "The Night Chicago Died" and Paper Lace. I was punk kid, but I enjoyed this song.

[@SThompsonRAMM_1203]

I had this song on a greatest hits of the 70s collection, which contained songs like England Dan and John Ford Coley‘s, I’d really love to see you tonight, bachman-turner overdrive’s, you ain’t seen nothing yet, and this song. For some reason, this song always used to move me to tears when the dad walks in to the house and kisses his wife’s face. Even as a 12 year old, I understood the magnitude of the story of the song, and it didn’t hurt that my dad was a deputy sheriff.

[@brianvernon249]

I was in college in the late 1990s. Both version of this band were on an infomercial for Time Life Songs of the 70’s. These were songs that time forgot by 1997. Andy Kim, First Class, White Plains…. All on there. But the singer/drummer’s hair of Paper Lace! That ‘fro was thrusted in me, on multiple channels, at multiple times, for years. The same songs, the same snippets of songs.

[@CarolineinCanada]

I love this song so much, what a great birthday present THANK YOU🥰❤️🇨🇦

[@walterrutherford8321]

My family was on a road trip vacation when that song came out. We picked up Chicago radio station WGN someplace far west of Illinois, I think in the Dakotas, and listened to it all the way to Pennsylvania. We heard this song probably at least five times a day.

[@davidstrother496]

To be honest, these songs would have never crossed my mind if you had not made this episode. I was a rather busy young man back in the mid 70s, and I can't even remember seeing either video, no matter how hard I try. It is nice to have old songs brought back, thanks to your channel. Thank you, Professor.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks for watching!

[@christineml1476]

I remember hearing this on the radio as a kid, but didn't know the song name. Great deep dive Prof!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks for watching Christine!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It’s one of those songs where the title isn’t explicit.

[@markastoforoff7838]

I grew up in Canada, in 1974 I would have been 5 but I remembered both songs and from what I remembered they were both done by Paper Lace. I don't even recognize the name Bo Donaldson but I checked it out before I watched the video and it's definitely the Paper Lace version of Billie Don't Be a Hero. I still listen to both songs sometimes.

[@LMacNeill]

I was today years old when I learned that Billy Don't Be A Hero wasn't originally sung by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods. I had no idea Paper Lace had sung it originally!! I need to go listen to both and compare them!

[@keithkarbel2000]

Thanks for the memories

[@ReverendDr.Thomas]

The very first album I ever owned was a compilation cassette called "Explosive Hits of '74", which featured "Billy, Don't be a Hero". I also distinctly recall "The Night Chicago Died" and liked both songs!

[@tnrodgers]

Oh AM radio are both of these up. They are a part of my childhood music memories. Thanks Adam!

[@rogerdeahl9629]

❤🎉 Wow! This is a deep dive! When I was a wee lad back when dinosaurs 🦖 roamed the earth, I thought The Night Chicago Died was about Mrs. O'Leary's cow. 😂 Thanks for this Professor. Keep digging these deep dives.

[@LazyIRanch]

I'm digging the heck out of this deep dive! I hadn't thought of these songs in decades. I love it when Adam finds these talented people from our past, and they are as charming and fun as this gentleman. Thank you, Adam!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks Roger!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

But was Mrs. O’Leary’s cow the real cause of the fire though?

[@CowGirlKat8691]

Great song, heard it on The Bridge channel on Sirius radio Sunday going through the carwash! Wonderful interview too 🤠

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks for listening!

[@Whisper_292]

I was a little girl when this came out, and I thought he was singing about El Kabong trying to make that town his own. 😂

[@ProfessorofRock]

Ha ha! Love it!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I love how you changed his name like that!

[@jenniferdnoseworthy2348]

Lol that’s great! I loved El Kabong 😁

[@Whisper_292]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Didn't mean to, but it has made for a good story!

[@badgerpa9]

People talk about the police being on Al Capone's payroll, but they were not the only ones, the phone company was also. Capone traveled in the tunnels under the street that Ma Bell had. Multiple old AT&T techs told me they would hear a bike bell and get against the wall and Al would be riding on a 3 wheeler bike with someone peddling him and others running behind and ahead of him. That is how he would appear across town when he went in a place. Nice video, great song glad you covered it.

[@petercena9497]

I believe Paper Lace version hit the charts first. I remember not liking the song when it was first released. I did eventually get nostalgic for mid seventies top 40, but it took awhile. Both songs were written by the Murray/Calendar songwriting team, who also penned "Hitching a Ride".

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It’s kind of a cheesy song.

[@TheNightBadger]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 There were lots and lots of those at the time - many of the artists didn't sell that many albums because they were thought of as bubblegum - all the Chinn & Chapman stuff from that period, and all the Producer lead acts like Paper Lace and Edison Lighthouse had almost no credibility, but their songs were catchy and so radio played them and kids bought the singles - but the older kids (who bought albums) didn't buy their albums. There's still a naive charm to the songs, though, and it's nice to be able to wallow in them without the baggage from the time.

[@brucejones1867]

Both tunes were very good songs. I remember them well. Still sing along when they come on the radio.

[@VelveteenRabbitinRedFern]

Great music era indeed! I loved this song.

[@1970sthrowback]

I live in England and remember watching Paper Lace win the talent show Opportunity Knocks in 1974 with Billy Dont Be A Hero.

[@soulscanner66]

4:14 The "Ol' east side" of Chicago is somewhere in Lake Michigan. It's just like "South Detroit" in Journey's "Don't stop believing" being in Windsor, Canada.

[@geoffstrickler]

I’ve been singing “The Night Chicago Died” at karaoke for more than a decade, and it’s always popular. Sometimes people aren’t familiar with the song and ask me the name of the song afterward. It’s just a fun song, fun to perform, fun to listen to, fun for people to sing along with.

[@FistandFootMartialArts]

I was in Junior High at the time. I had always thought that it *WAS* a true story. Though, TBH I hadn't really thought much about it. It was a cool tune, to me, and then gone, like so many others This is another one of those POR stories I didn't realize that I wanted to know until I heard it. Thx again, Prof!

[@robertl.9039]

Great song from 74. Remember it well especially on Kasey Kasem's ATF.

[@gomogo2000]

Maybe the first 45 I ever bought...age 11. My crush way down the street, Scott S., walked all the way to my house to listen to my record. We walked back to his house and listened to it on his driveway on his portable record player. I was so happy! Then I found out that he was "dating" Sandy D from 1 street away. What a letdown. Then he moved away before junior high... But I'll always love the song and the memories!

[@matthewclark9652]

Their 1st song "Billy, Don't Be A Hero" went to # 96 (Hot 100) in May 1974. Their 3rd & final Hot 100 song "The Black-Eyed Boys" went to # 41 on November 9 & 16, 1974 & never heard from again in the US!!!

[@brianbushue]

sweet video, yeah def always loved this song, interesting story

[@andrewfischer8564]

just loved love loved this song . i was 9 my brother and friend were 7. my friend got this for christmas. we played it on loop

[@MyName-pl7zn]

Never knew the story of Paper Lace or the fact they never toured the US even with a #1 hit. One of my first 45s i had was the Night Chicago Died and played it over and over. Even acting out the different lyrics in the song in the mirror, i was a goofy kid, lol. What a great interview. I had Billy don't be a Hero 45 too.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Hey My Name! hope you're well!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I’m not surprised. There’s a reason some people have never heard of Paper Lace!

[@debbralehrman5957]

Thanks Professor👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@jasoncameron6501]

Great song! hadn't heard it in years....always brings a smile!

[@emerald1805]

Mitch Murray had a great understanding of 1930s American music style, and did a very good job recreate it with a rock band!