Blast from the Past: What's your favorite "One-Hit Wonder" song/artist?

one man's opinion...

[ken5050]

I was clicking through some links on Wikipedia last night, and stumbled across the "List of One-hit Wonders" in the United States." Amazingly, they have separate, detailed individual lists for each decade ( I've posted the links below..)I was astonished at how many there were, how many I'd liked, and many I'd pretty much forgotten; and I spent several hours on YouTube, reminiscing, and then downloading some of the tunes. So, enjoy.. if you have a favorite, opine below...

[OldPossum]

Bookmark.

[Mase]

The Flamin' Groovies - "Shake Some Action"

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Back in my college days in Iowa City, I remember a pin that said, “Agnew President in The Year 2525.”

[LowOiL]

Big Country - In a Big Country....

They did have great success overseas even in Russia (they were quite liberal). The UK gave them lots of chart success as well..I loved their first 4 albums/mini albums, but their second "full" album was my favorite though it never charted a song in the US

Big Country - In a Big Country

Big Country - Steeltown Album

[shove_it]

The Del Vikings “Come Go With Me”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18FyQYmRN_E

Now that’s DOO WOP

[Liberty Valance]

I liked the whole movie and soundtrack as well. One of Hanks best. I’d say every kid who had a garage band in the 60’s (including myself)enjoyed that film.

[SeaDragon]

Walk on the Wild Side by Lou Reed

1992

[Scoutmaster]

The list is based on artists who reached the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, which is Billboard's national pop music chart.

Billboard has a myriad of different lists, including R&B, country, and rock.

As in your example, Emmylou Harris has many, many hit songs; however, they were hits on the Billboard Country chart and (with the one exception) not the pop chart.

So she's a 'One Hit Wonder" according to the criteria on which this list is based, as are many country singers with multiple Top 40 Country hits but only one Top 40 pop song.

[Scoutmaster]

Red Rubber Ball doesn’t qualify as a one-hit wonder. The Cyrkle also had Top 40 hit with Turn Down Day in 1966, the same year that Red Rubber Ball hit the Top 40.

[Scoutmaster]

Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) doesn't qualify as a one-hit wonder according to the criteria of having only one Top 40 Song on the Billboard Hot 100 pop list.

In 1968, The First Edition also hit #19 on the Top 40 with But You Know I Love You.

[Scoutmaster]

Kim Carnes and Bette Davis Eyes wouldn't qualify as a One Hit Wonder according to the criteria of this list - only one Top 40 hit on Billboards Hot 100 pop chart.

Carnes hit the Top 40 with her solo hits in 1980 with More Love (Billboard Pop #10).

She followed Bette Davis Eyes with I Pretend (# 9), "What About Me?" (#1), and "Crazy in Love" (# 10), all of which were solo hits.

She also hit the Top 40 with duets such as You're A Part of Me (#36) with Gene Cotton and Make No Mistake, He's Mine with Barbra Streisand (#9).

[Scoutmaster]

Wooly Bully by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs is not a one-hit wonder according to the criteria of this list. The group also broke the Billboard Top 40 on the Hot 100 pop chart with Juju Hand (#9), L’il Red Riding Hood (#2), The Hair On My Chinny Chin Chin (#22), and How Do You Catch A Girl (#27).

[Scoutmaster]

No, I’m not going through and disputing all non-One Hit Wonders. As I skim the posts, I notice nominations for groups that I know also had additional Top 40 hits.

[Revolting cat!]

The problem with One Hit Wonders is that after the corporatification of the music business in the late 1960s, we have been fed by the Geffens and other Davises what should have been one hit wonders, as Great Artists For All Ages instead. Take for example Jackson Browne or Neil Young, the latter one I’m not even sure if he’s had one hit. There have been many others.

[NEWwoman]

Back in my college days in Iowa City, I remember a pin that said, “Agnew President in The Year 2525.”

Ever see Futurama? Agnew is still vice president in 3000. (But he doesn't have his head.)

[Cheerio]

Be my baby - The Ronettes

[Boiler Plate]

I believe the title is “Reflections of my life”. A beautiful song for sure.

[ckilmer]

“Questions Of My Life” by the Marmalades.

That’s “Reflections of my Life” by the Marmalades.

[matthew fuller]

Thanks for posting this list of one-hit wonders. I will be referring back to them.

[mdmathis6]

Puttin’ on the Ritz was TACO’s only hit in the US and that was 1983.