# 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:** 5
**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, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/81 "2017-07-29T04:16:51Z")
> [@Claude\_Remains](#): > > Steve Miller. Final answer. Final answer to what? Fly like an Eagle. Jet Airliner. Jungle Love. The Joker. Even unfortunately Abracadabra. I’ve been driving hundreds of miles this past week checking out colleges with my daughter. On the classic rock stations, all we’ve freakin heard is Def Leppard, Steve Miller and the Doobies. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2017, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/82 "2017-07-29T05:29:57Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > Donna Summer had a good number of albums but few people know anything more than “Hot Stuff” Bad Girls She Works Hard For Her Money Last Dance MacArthur Park On the Radio She pretty much dominated the disco era. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/83 "2017-07-29T05:36:09Z")
The answer is every band from the grunge era, if they were lucky, except for 5 or 6 of them. ---
**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, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/84 "2017-07-29T05:43:00Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > Donna Summer had a good number of albums but few people know anything more than “Hot Stuff” And my knowledge would be “Love to Love You,” and “I Feel Love” (one of the great songs of all time.) ---
**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, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/85 "2017-07-29T05:46:32Z")
Oh, yeah that Steve Miller dude turned me on to Alan Parsons “Who is alan parsons” Alex? ---
**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:** [July 29, 2017, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/86 "2017-07-29T12:12:00Z")
> [@Claude\_Remains](#): > > Please don’t talk about Frank and or his image in such a way as to promote ignorance. ?? Thudlow’s post was spot-on. (And I’m a lifelong Zappa fan, in case that matters.) ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/87 "2017-07-29T12:59:22Z")
Louis Armstrong? The Wiki entry lists 28 EPs and LPs and he’s mostly remembered for “What a Wonderful World.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/88 "2017-07-29T13:23:30Z")
I don’t know if their discography would best be described as “extensive”, given how they’ve had two huge fallow periods where the band was all splitsville, but I did see the Verve in a Cracked article the other day described as a “One Hit Wonder” for “Bittersweet Symphony”, which really doesn’t seem right (and yes irked me more than a little). To me a OHW puts out no more than c. 2 albums in a very short period, and almost everybody who buys their stuff does so for the sake of that one huge hit. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/89 "2017-07-29T13:28:09Z")
I would say Santana is in a special category. Largely “known” for for a song that isn’t even theirs. They did a version of Low Rider of course, but for many people it is the first thing people think of when you say Santana. ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/90 "2017-07-29T13:46:12Z")
Except for a few outliers, the posts here mention rock and pop. I’ll be an exception, too. Enya. 11 albums (not including her time with Clannad). Outside of Celtic and New Age fans, does anyone know any song besides “Orinoco Flow”? ---
**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, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/91 "2017-07-29T13:46:48Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > I would say Santana is in a special category. Largely “known” for for a song that isn’t even theirs. They did a version of Low Rider of course, but for many people it is the first thing people think of when you say Santana. I first think of “Oye Coma Va” and "Black Magic Woman” which also aren’t theirs. I didn’t even know Santana did a cover of “Low Rider.” The original War version I would think is the most popular. ---
**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, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/92 "2017-07-29T13:49:35Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > I first think of “Oye Coma Va” and "Black Magic Woman” which also aren’t theirs. Wait, people think “Low Rider” is by Santana? Who? Your examples would be the ones I assume most people think of, plus maybe “Smooth.” ---
**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, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/93 "2017-07-29T13:52:04Z")
> [@jerez](#): > > Louis Armstrong? The Wiki entry lists 28 EPs and LPs and he’s mostly remembered for “What a Wonderful World.” Louis Armstrong is one of the creators of Jazz. His legacy is fine within that smaller-but-loved genre. **wolfman** - Santana did Low Rider? I think you mean War. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/94 "2017-07-29T13:57:59Z")
> [@CelticKnot](#): > > Except for a few outliers, the posts here mention rock and pop. > I’ll be an exception, too. > Enya. > 11 albums (not including her time with Clannad). Outside of Celtic and New Age fans, does anyone know any song besides “Orinoco Flow”? \*May it be \*was the closing song of the first Lord of the Rings movie. Surely lots of people remember that one? ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/95 "2017-07-29T14:22:48Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > **wolfman** - Santana did Low Rider? I think you mean War. That was the whole point of my post. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/96 "2017-07-29T14:33:24Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > “doom-bo-bo… chick… chika-chika” > > Some people know it as “that song from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and it’s been used in plenty of movies and ads. > The 1985 hit “Oh Yeah” by the Swiss duo Yello who have put out 13 studio albums between 1980-2016. You mean Day Bow Bow? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/q7i0V26wWiM/maxresdefault.jpg "Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia - Day Bow Bow") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7i0V26wWiM) ---
**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, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/97 "2017-07-29T14:35:03Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Louis Armstrong is one of the creators of Jazz. His legacy is fine within that smaller-but-loved genre. > > **wolfman** - Santana did Low Rider? I think you mean War. Yeah, he’s saying that if you ask someone to name a Santana song, “Low Rider” (incorrectly) comes to their minds. I have never heard of anyone mistaking “Low Rider” for a Santana song (does it even have a guitar part?) Maybe it’s because I and the people I know are more musically inclined and have an idea of what Santana sounds like, but I’ve seriously never heard of anyone making that mistake. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/98 "2017-07-29T14:44:01Z")
I was following the spirit of the OP in terms of people who would have trouble naming more than one Rush song, not the musically inclined. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2017, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/99 "2017-07-29T15:08:21Z")
OK, so I guess naming “Trees” as a possible distant second to “Tom Sawyer” was kind of a dumbass pick. :smack: “The Spirit of Radio”, “Limelight”, “New World Man”, “Subdivisions”, all probably got more airplay and are more well known than “Trees”. Oh well… There are some really good picks in this thread though, including some bands where I don’t think I could name _any_ songs of theirs. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/100 "2017-07-29T15:08:23Z")
> [@CelticKnot](#): > > Except for a few outliers, the posts here mention rock and pop. Composers aren’t bands, and classical (or Baroque) pieces aren’t exactly songs. But if you want to go that direction: I had to look up Johann Pachelbel to see if he’d written very much. Apparently “he composed a large body of sacred and secular music”; but I, and I’m sure lots of other people, only know him for “Pachelbel’s Canon.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324.md?page=6)