Carl Douglas' 1974 song "Kung Fu Fighting" was such an unlikely smash that Soundcheck features it in the intro theme for our occasional series That Was A Hit?!? But the song itself has gone unexplored. Until now.  

The Jamaican-born Douglas and his Indian producer Biddu wrote the song after walking past a group of kids shadow-boxing to the music coming out of a pinball machine. Douglas remarked, "It looks like everyone is kung fu fighting," and he immediately heard the whole song in his head, and had to write it down.

The song was recorded as a throwaway B-side in ten minutes, but became a number one hit in more than a dozen countries, and made Douglas the first Jamaican to top the American charts. "Kung Fu Fighting" has sold more than 11 million copies. 

Despite attempts to capitalize on the song's success -- see 1975's "Dance The Kung Fu" -- Douglas remains a one-hit wonder. The song's place in the cultural consciousness seems secure, however; witness the recent remake of the tune by Cee-lo Green and Jack Black for the Kung Fu Panda film franchise.  

In a conversation with Soundcheck host John Schaefer, Chris Molanphy, pop chart analyst and contributor to NPR Music, Pitchfork, Slate, and elsewhere, gives context to what he calls "one of the most accidental hits of all time."

Check out this not-at-all lip sync'ed performance of "Kung Fu Fighting":