# Artists with a big volume of works who are only known for one or two **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 28, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778 "2010-06-28T13:25:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/21 "2010-06-28T17:21:00Z")
A few more obvious ones: **Bram Stoker** – despite the existence of a wonderfully bad movie version of _Lair of the White Worm_, starring Hugh Grant, and other books that are still in print, it seems pretty clear that Stoker is really only remembered for **Dracula**. Similarly, although **Mary Wollestonecraft Shelley** did write other books, including other speculative fiction, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who remembers anything but **Frankenstein** I know that he wrote _The Yellow Room_, too, but I couldn’t even begin to tell his other works. **Gaston Leroux** is pretty much known only for **The Phantom of the Opera**. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/22 "2010-06-28T17:25:24Z")
And a few classic ones: You can buy his other works in paperback from Penguin, but most people only now **Niccolo Machiavelli** for **The Prince** Similarly, **Chaucer** wrote other things besides **The Canterbury Tales**. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/23 "2010-06-28T17:34:01Z")
[nonchalantly waving his hand at the other mentions in the thread]These are not the droids you’re looking for.[/nwhhatomitt] ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/24 "2010-06-28T17:39:32Z")
> [@](#): > > [nonchalantly waving his hand at the other mentions in the thread]These are not the droids you’re looking for.[/nwhhatomit If you’re referring to the other mention of Shelley and Stoker – sorry. I posted after lunch, and didn’t see that they’d posted those. I’ll be sure to as discreetly point out your failings in the future. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/25 "2010-06-28T17:47:55Z")
[Warwick Deeping](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warwick_Deeping) wrote dozens of novels, but is only really known for _Sorrell and Son_, which has been filmed three times. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/26 "2010-06-28T18:07:51Z")
Quoting Wikipedia: He composed a large body of sacred and secular music, and his contributions to the development of the chorale prelude and fugue have earned him a place among the most important composers of the middle Baroque era … Pachelbel’s music enjoyed enormous popularity during his lifetime; he had many pupils and his music became a model for the composers of south and central Germany. **Today, Pachelbel is best known for the Canon in D** ---
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/27 "2010-06-28T18:20:54Z")
A fair list of works but only one most people can name > **[List of compositions by Gustav Holst](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compositions_by_Gustav_Holst)** > > Below is a sortable list of compositions by Gustav Holst. The works are categorized by genre, H. catalogue number (A Thematic Catalogue of Gustav Holst's Music by Imogen Holst, London, Faber Music Ltd., 1974), opus number, date of composition and title. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/28 "2010-06-28T18:36:23Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > If you’re referring to the other mention of Shelley and Stoker – sorry. I posted after lunch, and didn’t see that they’d posted those. > I’ll be sure to as discreetly point out your failings in the future. Heh, no. I was doing an Alec Guinness impression. As in, Alec “look people, I’ve done a _lot_ more than Star Wars so please stop asking me about it” Guinness. 😃 Of course, I still hope that you’re discrete in pointing out my failings. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/29 "2010-06-28T18:41:23Z")
Isn’t Roald Dahl known for lots of other things? Granted, not so much his adult fiction, which is great, but he’s definitely known for lots of children’s books like Mathilda, James and the Giant Peach, and the Witches. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/30 "2010-06-28T19:34:48Z")
MUSIC Golden Earring and Status Quo have been among the most popular hard rock bands in Europe for decades, but in the USA, they’re regarded as “one-hit wonders,” and remembered solely for “Radar Love” and “Pictures of Matchstick Men,” respectively. LITERATURE Among authors… William Golding had a long, productive career, but is known almost exclusively for _ **Lord of the Flies.** _ And Erskine Caldwell is known almost exclusively for _ **Tobacco Road.** _ ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/31 "2010-06-28T19:41:57Z")
Jazz buffs, of course, know that Dave Brubeck has been a remarkably prolific composer and musician over his astonishingly long career, but I’d wager "Take Five"is the only Brubeck piece 99% of the population could name. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/32 "2010-06-28T19:48:00Z")
James M. Barrie wrote more than 2 dozen works, mostly plays, but is known mainly for “Peter Pan”. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/33 "2010-06-28T19:48:09Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The Band – one of the biggest groups of the early 70s – is only known to modern audiences for “The Weight.” I think if you asked a lot of people they’d know only “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” If they know “The Weight,” they might recognize the tune but have no idea what the name of the song is or who did it. Little Feat: “Dixie Chicken.” ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/34 "2010-06-28T19:50:35Z")
I don’t think I could listen to _Afternoon Delight_ one more time; but **Starland Vocal Band** had a _lot_ of songs I adored! ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/35 "2010-06-28T19:50:42Z")
The OP saved me the effort of writing a post as I’ve been considering doing since re-configuring Pandora – to the effect that the Gin Blossoms sure did produce a sizable volume of albums that no one’s really heard of (or probably needed to) after Hey Jealousy and Found Out About you got big airplay off of their second (?) album. But that might need an asterisk attached to it, because their return to relative obscurity came after their main songwriter on the hit songs killed himself, so technically you’re not talking about the same “artist” you could argue. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/36 "2010-06-28T19:58:24Z")
S. Morgenstern wrote a ridiculous number of scholarly works while at Columbia University, but is only really remembered for his satirical allegory of European monarchies. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/37 "2010-06-28T20:00:43Z")
Would Da Vinci count? I’m guessing most people could only come up with Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/38 "2010-06-28T20:35:38Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > How many people can name a single book by Robert Bloch other than Psycho? Not a book, but the first thing that comes to my mind if you mention Robert Bloch is the story “Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper.” ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/39 "2010-06-28T20:36:52Z")
Louisa May Alcott wrote Litle Women and Little Men. And a whole [lot](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisa_May_Alcott#Selected_works) of other works. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2010, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778/40 "2010-06-28T20:54:07Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > Agreed. It’s just as legitimate to say “I hate Andrew Lloyd Webber because he wrote Phantom of the Opera\*” 😃 > > \*[sub]Or Evita, or Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, or Starlight Express. _Especially_ Starlight Express. But, hey, I don’t like musicals so what do I know?[/sub] [sub]You forgot The Likes of Us, Jesus Christ Superstar, Jeeves, By Jeeves, Tell Me On A Sunday, Variations, Song & Dance, Requiem, Cricket, Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard, Whistle Down the Wind, The Beautiful Game, The Woman in White and Love Never Dies.[/sub] 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artists-with-a-big-volume-of-works-who-are-only-known-for-one-or-two/544778.md?page=3)