The Analog Kid’s iTunes music folder contains over 80,000 songs, but even a collection that large has some true one-hit wonders and/or obscurities. In this continuing series, I will feature an artist that has exactly one song in my library. After all, one is the loneliest number…
Bullet: “White Lies, Blue Eyes” (Flax/Lambert)
Big Tree Records, 1971
I stumbled upon Bullet’s “White Lies, Blue Eyes” on a Rhino Super Hits Of the ’70s compilation CD about four or five years ago. I didn’t recognize the title when I scanned the disc’s track list, but I was amazed to find myself singing along the moment it began. How did I know every word to this song? Sure, “White Lies, Blue Eyes” made it up to #26 in 1971, but I was four years old at the time and I don’t recall hearing it on the radio at any point since. Is it simply so catchy that it stayed trapped in the chasms of my mind all these years?
Yeah, I think that’s it: “White Lies, Blue Eyes” is one hell of a power-pop song, with a chorus that worms itself into your subconscious and (apparently) stays there. I have never really been able to find much information on Bullet– like Paul Williams and Rodney Allen Rippy, they seem to have disappeared into the same polyester black hole that swallowed some pretty famous ’70s celebrities. Bullet produced three singles for Big Tree Records in 1971/1972, but they never made a full-length album. Singer Ernie Sorrentino went on to write and produce some very minor hits for other artists, and hired-hand trumpet player Roger Pontbriand ended up as a member of both K.C. & The Sunshine Band AND Wild Cherry. [I shall now resist the urge to make any jokes about white boys playing funky music. I am finding it extremely difficult to do so. Must…fight…hard…]
Bullet may be the ultimate one-hit wonder– they never made an album. but “White Lies, Blue Eyes” should always be remembered as a true power-pop classic.
__________________________________________________________
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.
Wild Cherry: “Play That Funky Music” (Robert Parissi)
From the album Wild Cherry
Epic Records, 1976
Note: This is the second appearance of Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky Music” as a bonus track, making it the first song to be featured twice on the Analog Kid blog. Congratulations!
The Analog Kid 
Is it simply so catchy that it stayed trapped in the chasms of my mind all these years?
Yeah, I think that’s it: “White Lies, Blue Eyes” is one hell of a power-pop song, with a chorus that worms itself into your subconscious and (apparently) stays there.
—
Agreed my friend. We are alike you and I, we follow and find our bliss in three minute moments or power pop perfection. A catchy chorus, a tasty riff or two, a clever hook, an angelic harmony. A few moments of bliss.
Thank you my friend, very much needed now.
You are welcome, my friend. Glad you are enjoying the tunes. See you Saturday I hope!