Which 1974 song gave Carl Douglas his only US Billboard Hot 100 top-10 hit?

“Kung Fu Fighting” gave Carl Douglas his only US Billboard Hot 100 top-10 hit.

The song was written and recorded by Jamaican-born British singer Carl Douglas and released in 1974. Its catchy chorus and disco arrangement turned martial-arts imagery into a worldwide pop hit. It reached number one in the United States and the United Kingdom.

The record was produced by Biddu, who also helped shape its distinctive orchestral disco sound. The title is commonly shortened in conversation, but the canonical title includes “Fighting.”

Douglas had further releases, yet none matched this song’s international impact. It is therefore often included in one-hit-wonder discussions, especially in accounts focused on the US chart. The song also became one of the best-known disco-era novelty hits, helped by the popularity of kung fu films in the 1970s.