One-Hit Wonders

For many aspiring singers and bands, the one-off hit can be a bitter-sweet affair. A really big hit can transform lives in uplifting, positive (and financially rewarding) ways. New careers, exciting opportunities and a Rock & Roll pension can follow.

And if the hope of finding a successful follow-up becomes an elusive phantom, there is always solace in the sense of achievement. Many one-hit wonders will answer their critics defiantly; “Well, at least I had one more hit than you!”.

Many argue that pop/rock music is more about merit than market forces. But the big question is; “Do people find themselves whistling the song?”. If the answer is yes, then you can bet staff will be working overtime at record companies all over the world while the artist eagerly prays their song will be #1.

But what strange alchemy transmutes one record into pure gold while so many others flop? Strangely, artists always seem to know when they have recorded such a gem. They emerge from the studio with unnerving confidence. They know the record is special.

Many former chart-toppers have continued with a musical career with varying degrees of success. And even if record companies have dropped them, many carry on via the cabaret circuit or turn to the internet and market themselves online.

Some turn to other areas of the music business, and many former teenage tunesmiths are now engaged in other grown-up businesses, working as financial advisers, pilots, commercial artists, teachers or actors. Some work in a bar or sell burgers from a van.

Only a small minority seem damaged by the experience, and certainly, none seem to regret that opportunity knocked (albeit just once).

The majority of One Hit Wonders feel only pleasure at the memory of those extraordinary days when the charts ruled their lives, fans cheered, and studio lights glared.

Here then, is a selection of memorable One Hit Wonders from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s;

1950s

• Bernard Bresslaw – Mad Passionate Love (1958)
• Bobby Day – Rockin’ Robin (1958)
• The Champs – Tequila (1958)
• The Chords – Sh-Boom (1954)

• The Monotones – The Book of Love (1958)
• The Penguins – Earth Angel (1955)
• Sheb Wooley – Purple People Eater (1958)
• The Silhouettes – Get a Job (1958)

1960s

• Bob Lind – Elusive Butterfly (1966)
• Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band – I’m The Urban Spaceman (1968)
• Bruce Channel – Hey Baby (1962)
• The Capitols – Cool Jerk (1966)
• The Cascades – Rhythm Of The Rain (1963)
• The Castaways – Liar Liar (1965)

• The Chantays – Pipeline (1963)
• Arthur Brown – Fire (1968)
• Desmond Dekker – The Israelites (1969)
• Dora Bryan – All I Want For Christmas Is A Beatle (1963)
• The Exciters – Tell Him (1962)
• Frank Ifield – I Remember You (1962)
• The Gentrys – Keep On Dancing (1965)
• Hedgehoppers Anonymous – It’s Good News Week (1965)
• Honeybus – I Can’t Let Maggie Go (1968)
• The Honeycombs – Have I The Right? (1964)
• Horst Jankowski – A Walk In The Black Forest (1965)
• Iron Butterfly – In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (1968)
• Jeannie C Riley – Harper Valley PTA (1968)
• John Fred & His Playboy Band – Judy In Disguise (With Glasses) (1967)

• Jonathan King – Everyone’s Gone To The Moon (1965)
• Keith West – Excerpt From A Teenage Opera (1967)
• Leapy Lee – Little Arrows (1968)
• The Lemon Pipers – Green Tambourine (1967)

• Love Sculpture – Sabre Dance (1968)
• Max Harris – Gurney Slade (1968)
• Napoleon XIV – They’re Coming To Take Me Away (1966)
• The Nashville Teens – Tobacco Road (1964)
• Noel Harrison – The Windmills Of Your Mind (1969)
• The Overlanders – Michelle (1966)
• Pinkerton’s Assorted Colours – Mirror Mirror (1966)
• Richard Harris – MacArthur Park (1968)
• Sgt. Barry Sadler – Ballad Of The Green Berets (1966)
• Simon Dupree & The Big Sound – Kites (1967)
• The Singing Nun – Dominique (1963)
• The Standells – Dirty Water (1966)
• The Surfaris – Wipe Out (1963)
• Thunderclap Newman – Something In The Air (1969)

• Tommy Cooper – Don’t Jump Off The Roof Dad (1961)
• The Tornados – Telstar (1962)
• Twinkle – Terry (1964)
• Zager & Evans – In The Year 2525 (1969)
• ? and The Mysterians – 96 Tears (1966)

1970s

• Ace – How Long? (1975)
• The Adverts – Gary Gilmore’s Eyes (1977)
• Alan O’Day – Undercover Angel (1978)
• Anita Ward – Ring My Bell (1978)
• Argent – Hold Your Head Up (1972)
• Benny Hill – Ernie (1971)
• Billy Swan – I Can Help (1974)
• Bob Welch – Ebony Eyes (1977)
• Brian & Michael – Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs (1978)
• Brownsville Station – Smokin’ In The Boys Room (1973)
• Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting (1974)
• Christie – Yellow River (1970)
• City Boy – 5.7.0.5 (1978)
• Clive Dunn – Grandad (1971)
• The Congregation – Softly Whispering I Love You (1971)
• Curved Air – Backstreet Luv (1971)
• C W McCall – Convoy (1975)
• David Dundas – Jeans On (1976)
• David Soul – Don’t Give Up On Us Baby (1976)
• The Dead End Kids – Have I The Right? (1977)
• Edison Lighthouse – Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) (1970)
• Elvin Bishop – Fooled Around And Fell In Love (1976)
• Eruption – I Can’t Stand The Rain (1978)
• Exile – Kiss You All Over (1978)
• Fiddlers Dram – Day Trip To Bangor (1979)
• First Class – Beach Baby (1974)
• Floaters – Float On (1977)
• Flying Lizards – Money (That’s What I Want) (1979)
• Frijid Pink – House Of The Rising Sun (1970)
• George McRae – Rock Your Baby (1974)
• Harpo – Movie Star (1976)

• Hot Butter – Popcorn (1972)
• Hurricane Smith – Oh Babe, What Would You Say? (1972)
• Jasper Carrott – Funky Moped (1975)
• Jigsaw – Sky High (1975)
• Judie Tzuke – Stay With Me Till Dawn (1979)
• Kraftwerk – Autobahn (1975)
• Kursaal Flyers – Little Does She Know (1976)
• Lynn Anderson – Rose Garden (1970)
• M – Pop Muzik (1979)

• Maria Muldaur – Midnight At The Oasis (1974)
• Mary MacGregor – Torn Between Two Lovers (1976)
• Minnie Riperton – Loving You (1975)
• Nick Gilder – Hot Child In The City (1978)
• Odyssey – Native New Yorker (1977)
• Our Kid – You Just Might See Me Cry (1976)
• Patrick Hernandez – Born To Be Alive (1979)

• Pete Wingfield – Eighteen With A Bullet (1975)
• The Piglets – Johnny Reggae (1971)
• Pipkins – Gimme Dat Ding (1970)
• Promises – Baby, It’s You (1979)
• Quantum Jump – The Lone Ranger (1979)
• Racing Cars – They Shoot Horses Don’t They? (1977)
• Ralph McTell – Streets Of London (1974)
• Ram Jam – Black Betty (1977)

• Rick Dees – Disco Duck (1976)
• Roger Voudouris – Get Used To It (1979)

• Sanford Townshend Band – Smoke From A Distant Fire (1977)
• Scott Fitzgerald – If I Had Words (1978)
• Shocking Blue – Venus (1970)
• Sister Janet Mead –  The Lord’s Prayer (1974)
• Sniff ‘n’ The Tears – Drivers Seat (1979)
• Starland Vocal Band – Afternoon Delight (1976)
• Steve Gibbons Band – Tulane (1977)
• Stevenson’s Rocket – Alright Baby (1975)
• Terry Jacks – Seasons In The Sun (1974)
• Typically Tropical – Barbados (1975)
• Voyager – Halfway Hotel (1979)

• Walter Egan – Magnet and Steel (1978)
• White Plains – My Baby Loves Lovin’ (1970)
• Wild Cherry – Play That Funky Music (1976)

1980s

• A-ha – Take On Me (1985)
• Aled Jones – Walking In The Air (1985)
• Aneka – Japanese Boy (1981)
• Anita Dobson – Anyone Can Fall In Love (1986)
• Blow Monkeys – Digging Your Scene (1986)
• Bobby McFerrin – Don’t Worry Be Happy (1988)
• Breakfast Club – Right On Track (1987)

• Charlene – I’ve Never Been To Me (1982)
• Charlie Dore – Pilot Of The Airwaves (1980)
• Charlie Sexton – Beats So Lonely (1986)
• Club Nouveau – Lean On Me (1987)
• Danny Wilson – Mary’s Prayer (1988)
• Doctor & The Medics – Spirit In The Sky (1986)
• Dream Academy – Life In A Northern Town (1985)
• Falco – Rock Me Amadeus (1986)
• Flock Of Seagulls – I Ran (1982)
• Haysi Fantayzee – Shiny Shiny (1983)
• JoBoxers – Just Got Lucky (1983)
• Joe Dolce – Shaddap You Face (1981)

• Kajagoogoo – Too Shy (1983)
• Keith Harris & Orville – Orville’s Song (1982)
• The Korgis – Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime (1980)
• Limahl – Never-Ending Story (1985)
• Lipps Inc – Funkytown (1980)
• The Look – I Am The Beat (1980)
• The Maisonettes – Heartache Avenue (1982)

• M/A/R/R/S – Pump Up The Volume (1987)
• Men Without Hats – Safety Dance (1982)
• Michael Sembello – Maniac (1983)
• Morris Minor & The Majors – Stutter Rap (1987)
• Moving Pictures – What About Me? (1984)
• Murray Head – One Night In Bangkok (1983)
• Musical Youth –  Pass The Dutchie (1984)
• Nena – 99 Luftballons (1984)
• Owen Paul – My Favourite Waste Of Time (1986)
• Paul Hardcastle – 19 (1985)
• Rocky Burnette – Tired Of Toein’ The Line (1981)

• Roman Holliday – Don’t Try To Stop It (1983)
• Soft Cell – Tainted Love (1982)
• Splodgenessabounds – Two Pints Of Lager & A Packet Of Crisps (1980)
• Steve Forbert – Romeo’s Tune (1980)
• Sugarhill Gang – Rapper’s Delight (1980)
• Technotronic – Pump Up The Jam (1989)
• Thomas Dolby – She Blinded Me With Science (1983)
• Tommy Tutone – 867-5309 Jenny (1982)
• Toni Basil – Mickey (1982)

• Tracie Young – The House That Jack Built (1983)
• Twisted Sister – We’re Not Gonna Take It (1984)
• The Vapors – Turning Japanese (1980)
• The Waitresses – I Know What Boys Like (1982)
• Wall of Voodoo – Mexican Radio (1982)

1990s

• 4 Non Blondes – What’s Up? (1993)
• Alannah Myles – Black Velvet (1989)
• Aqua – Barbie Girl (1997)
• Bic Runga – Sway (1997)
• Big Mountain – Baby, I Love Your Way (1994)
• Blind Melon – No Rain (1992)
• The Cardigans – Lovefool (1996)
• Charles and Eddie – Would I Lie To You? (1992)
• Chumbawamba – Tubthumping (1997)
• Cornershop – Brimful of Asha (1997)

• Counting Crows – Mr Jones (1993)
• Deee-Lite – Groove Is In The Heart (1990)
• Deep Blue Something – Breakfast at Tiffanys (1995)
• EMF – Unbelievable (1991)
• Extreme – More Than Words (1990)
• Faith No More – Epic (1990)
• Fastball – The Way (1998)
• Frente – Accidentally Kelly Street (1992)
• Gina G – Ooh Aah . . . Just a Little Bit (1996)
• The Goo Goo Dolls – Iris (1998)
• Hanson – MMMBop (1997)
• The La’s – There She Goes (1990)

• Los Del Rio – Macarena (1993)
• Lou Bega – Mambo No. 5 (1999)
• Macy Gray – I Try (1999)
• Madison Avenue – Don’t Call Me Baby (1999)
• Marcy Playground – Sex and Candy (1997)
• MC Hammer – U Can’t Touch This (1990)
• Meredith Brooks – Bitch (1997)
• Natalie Imbruglia – Torn (1997)

• New Radicals – You Get What You Give (1998)
• OMC – How Bizarre (1996)
• Sixpence None The Richer – Kiss Me (1997)
• Sophie B Hawkins – Damn, I WIsh I Was Your Lover (1992)
• Spacehog – In The Meantime (1995)

• Spin Doctors – Two Princes (1992)
• Tal Bachman – She’s So High (1999)
• Tasmin Archer – Sleeping Satellite (1992)
• Third Eye Blind – Semi-Charmed Life (1997)
• Tom Cochrane – Life Is a Highway (1991)
• Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby (1990)

• Vengaboys – We Like To Party (1999)
• White Town – Your Woman (1997)
• Whigfield – Saturday Night (1992)
• Wilson Phillips – Hold On (1990)