The Greatest One-Hit Wonder Songs of the '70s

Ranker Music ^ | 1/1/24 | Ranker Music

[DallasBiff]

We see flash-in-the-pan artists come and go with every decade, but one-hit wonders of the '70s ironically always seem to stick around. For example, you’ve probably heard the classics “American Pie” by Don McLean or “Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum despite not knowing any of their other songs or discography. Below, music lovers have ranked the greatest songs of the '70s by one hit wonders in order to increase awareness for them—and also because they kick ass. So if you like “American Pie” or “Spirit in the Sky,” you’re sure to love the other one hit wonders of the '70s below. Also be sure to vote for your favorite '70s one-hit wonders below or add any you feel should be on the list

[dfwgator]

10cc also had The Things We Do For Love.

[CommerceComet]

I don't think I saw this one listed:

Beautiful Sunday by Daniel Boone

The song was a hit in 1972 but the video was done in 1996. That's why everything other than the song seems like the 1990s but I really liked the crowd enthusiasm in this video.

[Mean Daddy]

Thunder Island by Jay Ferguson

[Tijeras_Slim]

I think Sweet also had “Foxy Fox on the Run”.

[dennisw]

1968 or 1969. They played some Tommy songs and it was very thin sounding, which is your raw. Roger was hyperactive, with plenty of microphone tossing, to try to make up for this. Boring shyte!

[BarbM]

Albert Hammond - It never rains in Southern California.
____________
With all the rain California is getting, I’ve been humming this song. It pours, man it pours.

[CtBigPat]

Sniff'n the Tears - Driver's Seat, Diesel - Sausolito Summer Nights.

Two of my favorite songs. I have those and a ton of other songs on a USB stick in my car stereo.

[BarbM]

Afternoon Delight by Starland Vocal Band
________________________
One summer I may or may not have made out with Ben Nater all summer long listening to that song. He was not the best kisser, but it beat being bored.

[CtBigPat]

M - Pop Muzik

[Dr. Sivana]

there weren’t as many people that I never heard from again.

Especially in the era of MTV. DEVO counts as a One Hit Wonder ("Whip It!"), but EVERYone knows them for other songs as well (Freedom of choice, for instance) and their videos had high production values and earned heavy rotation ("Love without Anger" cracked me up, with stop motion Barbie chucking things at Ken before ripping his head off).

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

American Pie shouldn’t count - Don McLean had some other hits.

Brandy is a true one-hit wonder and is a favorite of mine - brings back memories when I hear it. And Looking Glass never had anything else close to a hit.

[Charles Martel]

I don’t recall Looking Glass ever having another radio hit aside from “Brandy”. Unless one of their other recordings got airplay in the UK or something.

[Giuseppe Nova]

Thumbs up. They’re both great driving tunes.

[Blue Collar Christian]

“Ballroom Blitz”?

The Sweet

They had “Love is Like Oxygen” also

[mmichaels1970]

Baroom Blitz

Ballroom Blitz + Fox on the Run + Love is Like Oxygen. Radio may only play Ballroom NOW. But Sweet was cool.

[mmichaels1970]

They had “Love is Like Oxygen” also

And “Fox on the Run” to me is their best.

[mmichaels1970]

I think Sweet also had “Foxy Fox on the Run”.

Nice to see people sticking up for Sweet. They rocked my Walkman back in the day.

[dfwgator]

Especially in the era of MTV. DEVO counts as a One Hit Wonder ("Whip It!"), but EVERYone knows them for other songs as well (Freedom of choice, for instance) and their videos had high production values and earned heavy rotation ("Love without Anger" cracked me up, with stop motion Barbie chucking things at Ken before ripping his head off).

Uncontrollable Urge is their best, and I just heard it used in a recent commercial.

[gnickgnack2]

All these nice thoughts about Sweet. Now I’m really pissed I passed on seeing them a month ago.

[Blue Collar Christian]

Yes.