RETRO POP::
LFO (Lyte Funky Ones) - LFO [1999]

LFO singer Rich Cronin died today from leukemia. Remember LFO? Flash back to 1999 and their breezy summer hit "Summer Girls.” That song put LFO, who were also known as Lyte Funky Ones to their fans, on the popular music charts for the first time when the song reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Although they followed "Summer Girls” with "Girl on TV” soon afterward, the song people remember is "Summer Girls.” So even though "Girl on TV” reached #10 on the Billboard Top 40, we’re still counting LFO as one-hit wonders even though they are actually two-hit wonders. Yes, we realize we’re breaking our rules here, but check out our explanation of "What is a one-hit wonder” for more details around the types of songs that qualify.

The most memorable part of "Summer Girls” has to be the first two lines of the chorus. They’re pure nonsense:
New Kids on the Block had a bunch of hits
Chinese food makes me sick
And I think its fly when girls stop by for the summer
I like girls that wear Abercrombie and Fitch
I’d take her if i had one wish
But she’s been gone since that summer

Are you kidding me? That nonsense sold 1.5 million copies.

LFO never reached the Billboard Top 40 again, even though their debut record sold 2.5 million copies worldwide. They released their last single, "Life is Good” in 2002, and then they broke up.

Although they planned a reunion in 2009, singer and "Summer Girls” songwriter Rich Cronin’s death on September 9, 2010 from leukemia means LFO is SOL. But we’ll always remember them for the silly goodness of "Summer Girls.”

If you have to go early (Cronin was only 35-years-old), at least he left a mark.

Track listing

    "Summer Girls" (Brad Young; Dow Brain; Rich Cronin)
    "Girl on TV" (Brad Young; Dow Brain; Rich Cronin)
    "Cross My Heart" (D. Kopatz; Steve Kipner)
    "Can't Have You" (Barry Gibb; Maurice Gibb; Rich Cronin; Robin Gibb)
    "I Don't Wanna Kiss You Goodnight" (D Deviller; D Zero; S Hosein; Steve Kipner)
    "West Side Story" (Brad Young; Dow Brain; Rich Cronin)
    "Think About You" (G. Curgis; Rich Cronin; Steve Kipner)
    "I Will Show You Mine" (D Deviller; Rich Cronin; S Hoseiri; Steve Kipner)
    "All I Need to Know" (Full Force; L'Shawn)
    "Baby Be Mine" (Dakari; Jimmy Jam; Rich Cronin; Terry Lewis)
    "Your Heart Is Safe with Me" (D Warren)
    "My Block" (C. Smith; D. Thomas; G. Brown; L. Heywood; M. Mohamed; R. Bell; T. Quaites; Toon, Taylor E.)
    "Forever" (Gregg Jakobson; Terence "TQ" Quaites)