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Morning Edition
Cathy Wurzer

50 years since Steam was No. 1 with ‘Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye’

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These days, you might best know the song "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" as a chant at sports games, but fifty years ago it was a number one hit for a group known as Steam.

The song was actually recorded as a throwaway B-side to a more serious release by singer Gary DeCarlo. He and two friends slapped the song together using some old lyrics they'd written and a lot of filler.

DeCarlo’s label loved the recording, and released it as a single under the band name Steam. Accounts differ as to why the trio never toured as Steam to promote the song, but a different band was eventually recruited in their place, and Steam had no other Top 40 hits.