# Bands with the most material, known only for one song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 28, 2017, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324 "2017-07-28T14:27:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![Lorne\_Armstrong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@Lorne\_Armstrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorne_Armstrong)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2017, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/261 "2017-08-13T10:51:56Z")
Mike + The Mechanics - All I Need Is A Miracle (I don’t think The Living Years is as well remembered, despite going to #1 in America.) Peter Schilling - Major Tom King Crimson - 21st Century Schizoid Man Joey Scarbury - Believe It Or Not Simple Minds - Don’t You Forget About Me Michael Sembello - Maniac Lionel Ritchie - All Night Long The Tubes - She’s A Beauty Sonny & Cher - I Got You Babe Survivor - Eye of the Tiger Laurie Anderson - Excellent Birds ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2017, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/262 "2017-08-13T14:28:29Z")
In the UK at least: Scottish Band \*\*Simple Minds \*\*had loads of hits - **Waterfront, Alive and Kicking, Promised You A Miracle** amongst them. **The Tubes** are best known for **Prime Time** and **White Punks on Dope**. **Lionel Ritchie** had loads of solo hits including \*\*Hello, Dancing On The Ceiling \*\*and **Running With The Night** **Laurie Anderson** is better known (probably only known other than by her own fans) for **O, Superman** **Mike + The Mechanics** are definitely best known for **The Living Years** here and also for **Silent Running** TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2017, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/263 "2017-08-13T21:35:19Z")
Thinking about it, I’m surprised nobody’s made an AC/DC joke yet. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/264 "2017-08-14T02:21:25Z")
In the US, I would also think “The Living Years” as being the main Mike + Mechanics song. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/265 "2017-08-14T02:39:31Z")
I thought Laurie Anderson’s one hit was “O Superman.” ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/266 "2017-08-14T05:51:20Z")
mike and co is also known for “all I need is a miracle” ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/267 "2017-08-14T06:20:52Z")
Joseph “Afroman” Foreman is a very talented artist who is known almost exclusively for “Because I Got High” which is not one of his better songs. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/268 "2017-08-14T07:37:33Z")
> [@dzeiger](#): > > Thinking about it, I’m surprised nobody’s made an AC/DC joke yet. “Back in Black”, “You Shook Me All Night Long”, “Highway to Hell”, “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”, “Whole Lotta Rosie”, plus many many others… …unless the “joke” you’re suggesting is that those are all the same song? ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/269 "2017-08-14T12:41:46Z")
Peter Frampton…Wikipedia lists many albums, and he \*was \*well known in the 70s, but these days everyone knows him as the guy with the talking guitar bit in “Do you feel like we do?” (a song I love to listen to–as soon as I hear that intro riff on the radio I smile and settle in for a long ride). A distant second is “Baby, I love your way” ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/270 "2017-08-14T13:02:27Z")
When I think of Mike + Mechanics, “Silent Running” (“Can you hear me? Can you hear me running?”) and the crazy “My Dad is an alien emissary” music video is what always comes to mind. ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/271 "2017-08-14T18:05:58Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > “Back in Black”, “You Shook Me All Night Long”, “Highway to Hell”, “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap”, “Whole Lotta Rosie”, plus many many others… > > …unless the “joke” you’re suggesting is that those are all the same song? Yes, there’s a long-standing joke that all AC/DC songs are the same. The supposed band response is usually along the lines of “We may only know one song, but it’s a hell of a song!” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/272 "2017-08-14T22:13:41Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > mike and co is also known for “all I need is a miracle” That was **Lorne Armstrong’s** ’s original point, that they are more well known in the US for that particular song. (The words used were “I don’t think The Living Years is as well remembered.”) I think both songs are well remembered. I think of them for “The Living Years,” but that may be because of my age. “The Living Years” came out when I was 13, so it’s probably more memorable than something that came out when I was 10. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/273 "2017-08-18T02:21:27Z")
Willie Nelson. 72 studio albums, but known almost exclusively for “On the Road Again”. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/274 "2017-08-18T03:45:21Z")
There’s another Willie song, can’t remember the name but it’s always on my mind… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/275 "2017-08-18T15:50:03Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > Willie Nelson. 72 studio albums, but known almost exclusively for “On the Road Again”. While I do agree with you that that is what I would consider his best known song (along with “Always on My Mind”), it’s not even in the [Top 10 Billboard hits](http://www.billboard.com/articles/list/1560094/willie-nelsons-10-biggest-billboard-hits) of his, surprisingly. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/276 "2017-08-19T15:27:45Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > Willie Nelson. 72 studio albums, but known almost exclusively for “On the Road Again”. Based on requests during my years playing in bar bands: Good Hearted Woman (with Waylon) Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys (also with Waylon) Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain Funny How Time Slips Away Always on My Mind Nighlife ---
**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:** [August 19, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/277 "2017-08-19T17:12:36Z")
And [City of New Orleans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_New_Orleans_(song)). Nelson’s version topped the singles charts and won a Grammy. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2017, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/278 "2017-08-23T11:45:55Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I’ll nominate T.Rex and, as you probably guess, Bang a Gong. They don’t have a huge catalog of recorded material (8 studio albums) but that’s the song you are likely to hear on a classic rock station. “Bang A Gong” is the best-known hit but I would have added “20th Century Boy” and “Children of the Revolution” just off the top of my head. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324.md?page=13)