# 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:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/61 "2017-07-29T00:37:35Z")
> [@Patx2](#): > > Love Locomotive Breath Don’t forget: Cross Eye Mary Hymn 43 Teacher Nothing is Easy Thick as a Brick and Bourée ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/62 "2017-07-29T00:53:22Z")
A-ha and Chris Isaak are definitely contenders for the best entry. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/63 "2017-07-29T00:58:57Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Seriously? I can think of a dozen hit songs of theirs. And I never bought their albums; I’m talking about songs I remember because they got a lot of play on the radio when I was in high school and college. > > The band that came to mind when I saw this thread was “Yes”. I only know two songs they did. I can think of a lot of one-hit bands, but I have no idea if they had a large body of work. Where as I can name dozens of Yes songs ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/64 "2017-07-29T01:06:25Z")
what no one mentions the ramones ? they had almost 20 albums and I maybe think half a hit ? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/65 "2017-07-29T01:54:18Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > what no one mentions the ramones ? they had almost 20 albums and I maybe think half a hit ? But now their songs are well known. The Ramones are the Vincent Van Gogh of rock. Seriously. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2017, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/66 "2017-07-29T01:54:54Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > what no one mentions the ramones ? they had almost 20 albums and I maybe think half a hit ? I think Rock & Roll High School, I Wanna Be Sedated, Blitzkrieg Bop, are reasonably well known. Maybe Sheena is a Punk Rocker, too. ---
**Author:** ![Flare4roach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7cd45c/32.png) [@Flare4roach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flare4roach)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/67 "2017-07-29T01:56:56Z")
I’d nominate The Faces. I absolutely adore them and know their entire catalog. I contend they were one of the greatest 70’s rock band of all time. But most folks have no idea who they are and if they do they only know “Stay with Me”. What a shame. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/68 "2017-07-29T02:14:42Z")
> [@Flare4roach](#): > > I’d nominate The Faces. I absolutely adore them and know their entire catalog. I contend they were one of the greatest 70’s rock band of all time. But most folks have no idea who they are and if they do they only know “Stay with Me”. > > What a shame. Three Button Hand Me Down!!! ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/69 "2017-07-29T02:18:36Z")
I really don’t understand people mentioning KISS. Off the top of my head, I can remember: Rock n Roll All Night Forever I Love It Loud Detroit Rock City Lick It Up God gave Rock n Roll To U I’m not exactly a diehard KISS fan either. I mean I am child of the 80s and I mostly listened to what was played on MTV. KISS got pretty good airplay on MTV. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/70 "2017-07-29T02:54:36Z")
Molly Hatchet - Flirtin’ with Disaster Dexys Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen Baha Men - Who Let the Dogs Out? Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby Survivor - Eye of the Tiger (If it wasn’t for “Burning Heart” this would be a contender, but they are _known_ for “Eye of the Tiger.”) ---
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/71 "2017-07-29T02:57:20Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Frank Zappa might be in a similar boat with _his_ novelty tune “Valley Girl,” except that I don’t think he’s known for that song so much as known for being an avant-garde musician. I suspect there are a lot of people who know who he is/was (and what he looks like) without being familiar with his music. > And yeah, I don’t think Chicago are one-hit-wondery enough to qualify. Please don’t talk about Frank and or his image in such a way as to promote ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/72 "2017-07-29T03:03:28Z")
Talking Heads - _Burning Down the House_. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/73 "2017-07-29T03:05:19Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Talking Heads - _Burning Down the House_. That’s their one song to you?? Dude. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/74 "2017-07-29T03:07:25Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Talking Heads - _Burning Down the House_. I’d say they are about equally well known for other songs such as “Psycho Killer”, “Take Me to the River”, “Once in a Lifetime” and maybe a couple of others. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/75 "2017-07-29T03:11:02Z")
[quote=“casdave, post:29, topic:792324”] Rennaisance - 13 Studio albums plus live albums and various collections, but you will only know them from Northern Lights [/quote] Good song, but I think of others equally (including Mother Russia, Ocean Gypsy, The Vultures Fly High, A Trip To The Fair, Scheherazade etc.). It's not as if they had a top 40 hit and otherwise labored in obscurity. [quote=Wilson] How about Los Lobos, with La Bamba? [/quote] I thought they had a big hit, Black Is Black, but then realized that was Los Bravos, not Los Lobos. :smack: Los Lobos has done lots of good things that haven't gotten major airplay (including other songs on the La Bamba movie soundtrack such as Come On Let's Go), and offbeat releases like [Kiko and the Lavender Moon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ornSpLMUzbw), plus what may be the best cover of a Buddy Holly song ever (Midnight Shift). ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/76 "2017-07-29T03:16:24Z")
> [@Wilson](#): > > Steely Dan has a whole bunch of songs that get regularly played on Classic Rock stations - > > Peg > Deacon Blues > Black Friday > Do It Again > Kid Charlemagne > … “Josie” is one the songs I’d take with me to a desert island. ---
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/77 "2017-07-29T03:29:38Z")
Todd Rundgren [- YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsezr0qiFIc) ---
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/78 "2017-07-29T03:40:08Z")
Jimmy Buffet? ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/79 "2017-07-29T03:44:24Z")
Donna Summer had a good number of albums but few people know anything more than “Hot Stuff” ---
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/80 "2017-07-29T03:45:11Z")
Steve Miller. Final answer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324.md?page=5)