# Artists Most Known for That One Song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 16, 2020, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945 "2020-04-16T20:19:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/21 "2020-04-17T13:04:20Z")
Bobby McFerrin has done so much more than “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/22 "2020-04-17T14:19:59Z")
> [@bizerta](#): > > When I think of oldies many artists have but one song that stands the test of time. They probably had other hits, but only one is remembered through the ages. > […] > It’s not Unusual Wait, you seriously think Sir Tom is just known for one song, or that that one is the only one that will last? Why, why, why, would you think that? > [@](#): > > Goldfinger Dame Shirley has done 2 other Bond themes … and they’re not even her best work…I like [_Never Never Never_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzkYpx_-V1Y), myself. > [@Aspenglow](#): > > _Tubular Bells_, by Mike Oldfield. [Moonlight Shadow](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e80qhyovOnA) is also quite well known. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/23 "2020-04-17T14:24:34Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Bobby McFerrin has done so much more than “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. Like most all jazz artists who have a crossover hit. Brubeck is best known for “Take Five”, but has a huge body of work. Same for Stan Getz and the Gilbertos, who are best known (in this country) for “The Girl From Ipanema”. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/24 "2020-04-17T16:03:24Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > **Jona Lewie**. Also fondly remembered (by me, at least) for the anonymous (well, as Terry Dactyl And The Dinosaurs) forgettable pop classic, [Seaside Shuffle](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p62dmF2Bdpw). Listening to those two side by side, as I just did, is … interesting. Still, he isn’t likely to sue himself. In the U.S., there was a famous case where John Fogerty’s old record company sued his new one for plagerism: [The Time John Fogerty Was Sued for Ripping Off John Fogerty](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/27501/time-john-fogerty-was-sued-ripping-john-fogerty). > [@AHunter3](#): > > I doubt many people have heard any songs by Chumbawamba that aren’t called “Tubthumping”. Comedian Ryan George addressed this in [Chumbawamba Cover Band](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6vCPmH8XzI). ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/25 "2020-04-17T16:13:24Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > Mason Williams’s _Classical Gas_ Have you tried listening to the rest of the songs on that album? They’re pop drivel with lyrics. If Williams ever did another good song I’ve never heard of it. I’d nominate Thomas Dolby. He’s the “She Blinded Me with Science” guy, even though he had several other hits and the later magnificent album _Astronauts and Heretics_. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/26 "2020-04-17T19:38:58Z")
[Moderating] The OP turned out to be a spammer, so I banned it. But there seems to be a lot of discussion in this thread, so counter to usual practice, I’m not deleting it. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/27 "2020-04-17T20:42:28Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > _Tubular Bells_, by Mike Oldfield. **Professor Periwinkle** ’s reference to Classical Gas made me think of it. > [@MrDibble](#): > > [Moonlight Shadow](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e80qhyovOnA) is also quite well known. Also “[Shadow On The Wall](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_euDhMDDRq4)” with Roger Chapman and “[Get To France](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkQJk5wMomU)”, like “Moonlight Shadow” with Maggie Reilly. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/28 "2020-04-17T20:48:31Z")
> [@TCMF-2L](#): > > I’d call him a two hit wonder (in the UK) because I could immediately add **You’ll Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties.** > > TCMF-2L Yeah, I remember both songs being some kind of novelty hits also in Germany (at least that’s how I felt about them) from the early eighties. I haven’t thought about Jona Lewie in a long time before this thread, but the name brings up childhood memories of listening to “[Schlagerralley](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlagerrallye)” on WDR2 radio. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/29 "2020-04-17T22:26:23Z")
Arlo Guthrie? ---
**Author:** ![Manwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Manwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manwich)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2020, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/30 "2020-04-17T22:28:16Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > I doubt many people have heard any songs by Chumbawamba that aren’t called “Tubthumping”. Or bough their album Pictures of Starving Children Sell Records ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/31 "2020-04-20T17:03:19Z")
Another “two hit” wonder: Jonathan Edwards has been recording since 1971, has about fifteen albums to his credit, but I’d be surprised if many people are familiar with anything other than “Sunshine” or “Shanty” from his first album. ---
**Author:** ![Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/59ef9b/32.png) [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorkshire_Pudding)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/32 "2020-04-20T19:58:50Z")
> [@lobotomyboy63](#): > > She’s Not There > Time of the Season > Tell Her No > > (When he was with the Zombies :D) Well…I’d have said God Gave Rock & Roll To You was the barn-door obvious answer, but maybe that didn’t make it any further across the Atlantic than into Kiss’s record collection. ---
**Author:** ![Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/59ef9b/32.png) [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorkshire_Pudding)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/33 "2020-04-20T20:03:21Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > Isn’t that true for most non-US/UK bands though? A-ha has scored three No.1 albums in Germany and 7 top tens in the UK, while in the US they only had three charting albums total. Just like Nena and Falco, they’re icons in their home countries but have only one recognizible song in the U.S. But in a Channel 4 (UK) poll of Greatest One Hit Wonders, Take On Me scored pretty highly. I was pretty disgusted with my compatriots, but I can’t deny it suggests a-ha aren’t as well remembered here as they should be. Perhaps even because they’re so well-known as a one hit wonder in the US, their status as such has been absorbed into British cultural consciousness? ---
**Author:** ![Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/59ef9b/32.png) [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorkshire_Pudding)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/34 "2020-04-20T20:05:29Z")
One of my favourite bands ever ever ever, who are responsible for _so_ much more than Stacy’s Mom. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/35 "2020-04-20T21:13:24Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Arlo Guthrie? His _Alice’s Restaurant Massacre_ is a Thanksgiving day staple, but he’s also known for _City of New Orleans_. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/36 "2020-04-20T21:28:46Z")
José Feliciano has done a lot more than “Feliz Navidad”, and had pretty widespread popularity in the 1960s. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/37 "2020-04-20T21:55:58Z")
Fountains of Wayne had a lot of better songs than “Stacey’s Mom”, but’s that’s what they’re known for. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/38 "2020-04-20T22:10:52Z")
> [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](#): > > Well…I’d have said God Gave Rock & Roll To You was the barn-door obvious answer, but maybe that didn’t make it any further across the Atlantic than into Kiss’s record collection. New one to me. Nice! No, it didn’t make it to me in either form. > [@Shoeless](#): > > Another “two hit” wonder: Jonathan Edwards has been recording since 1971, has about fifteen albums to his credit, but I’d be surprised if many people are familiar with anything other than “Sunshine” or “Shanty” from his > first album. I only know “Sunshine” but the other is good too. Let’s see. Sorry if I missed these upthread… BW Stevenson/My Maria: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdBvTvxHy7E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdBvTvxHy7E) Jo Jo Gunne/Run, Run, Run: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS7pOaEEOTs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS7pOaEEOTs) OMC/How Bizarre [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2cMG33mWVY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2cMG33mWVY) Shocking Blue/Venus: Listening on the radio, I could never tell whether the lead singer is male or female and other songs of theirs never charted near me. Then I found the video. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/aPEhQugz-Ew/hqdefault.jpg "Shocking Blue - Venus (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPEhQugz-Ew) ---
**Author:** ![Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/59ef9b/32.png) [@Yorkshire\_Pudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorkshire_Pudding)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/39 "2020-04-20T23:03:49Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > Fountains of Wayne had a lot of better songs than “Stacey’s Mom”, but’s that’s what they’re known for. Actually, I think it’s a great song, for all the need my fellow fans feel to apologise for it! Fantastic powerpop tune - and that’s really not an easy thing to create - and the classic Fountains young-suburban-longing vibe. It’s easy to deride as maybe a bit puerile, but I think it’s spectacular. But yeah, five albums (and Out of State Plates) of utter brilliance, not just one drunk high school party song. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2020, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945/40 "2020-04-20T23:32:56Z")
“Werewolves of London” is not even in the top 10 best Warren Zevon songs, but it’s the only one most people know. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-most-known-for-that-one-song/851945.md?page=3)