78: Harry Chapin, “W.O.L.D.” (no.34, 1974)

From the elite group of one-hit performers to have been nominated for an Academy Award. (Chapin directed the 1968 documentary Legendary Champions, about boxing’s earliest prize-fighters: clearly, his storytelling instincts ran deep.) The tale of an ageing DJ on his travels, desperately looking to connect with the one woman who can no longer bear to listen to him, “W.O.L.D.” remains Chapin’s second best-known track - behind the same year’s “Cat’s In The Cradle”, as later covered by Ugly Kid Joe - yet his only UK chart hit, owing much of its success over here to the support of then-Radio One fave Noel Edmonds. Still, listen again to that chorus. “The great good morning voice who’s heard but never seen/Feeling all of 45, going on fifteen”: this is destined to be the Chris Moyles story, isn’t it?