# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/101 "2017-07-29T15:22:28Z")
Make Me Smile by Chicago - it was practically an anthem back in the day for some of us. What good times, looking back now, our futures were so bright. ---
**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, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/102 "2017-07-29T16:35:50Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > 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. But that’s what I mean. I’ve never even heard casual listeners name that as a Santana song. It just seems so odd to me. If they could name one, it’d be either one of the modern songs (like “Smooth”) or maybe “Black Magic Woman.” ---
**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, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/103 "2017-07-29T16:53:31Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > But that’s what I mean. I’ve never even heard casual listeners name that as a Santana song. It just seems so odd to me. If they could name one, it’d be either one of the modern songs (like “Smooth”) or maybe “Black Magic Woman.” Word. Are we listing things that some people who may not even exist think? OK let’s go! Stairway to Heaven is the only song I know by the Clash. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/104 "2017-07-29T17:12:49Z")
Murray Head. 16 albums, but who knows any song of his but Superstar and One Night in Bangkok? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/105 "2017-07-29T17:26:43Z")
> [@blindboyard](#): > > They Might Be Giants, known in America for Istanbul (Not Constantinople) and in the rest of the world for Birdhouse In Your Soul, have nineteen albums. Funnily enough, the only song I know by them is “Particle Man”, because my friends and I from way back used to get high and play that song repeatedly and we _never_ could get the order of who fights who and wins correct. > [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > **Deep Purple** - 20 albums (according to Wikipedia) but do any non-metalheads know anything besides _Smoke on the Water_? Perfect Strangers ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/106 "2017-07-29T17:31:37Z")
What about \*The Outlaws \*with “Green Grass and High Tides Forever”? ---
**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, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/107 "2017-07-29T18:06:18Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > But that’s what I mean. I’ve never even heard casual listeners name that as a Santana song. It just seems so odd to me. If they could name one, it’d be either one of the modern songs (like “Smooth”) or maybe “Black Magic Woman.” Yeah, okay, I get the joke, but not as a real occurrence. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/108 "2017-07-29T18:08:04Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > Bad Girls > She Works Hard For Her Money > Last Dance > MacArthur Park > On the Radio > > She pretty much dominated the disco era. To those I’ll add _Love to Love You Baby_, her first big song. ---
**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, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/109 "2017-07-29T18:08:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Are there any other bands that have put out so much material that are primarily known for one song? > > > [@](#): > > > > 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. I agree with that but you’re fine-tuning the OP. How about Steppenwolf, then? With “Magic Carpet Ride” and “Born to Be Wild,” that’s two, so there are better examples, but they recorded almost 20 albums. This has always been my favorite: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0_2UYH360IQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Power Play ~ Steppenwolf") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_2UYH360IQ) ---
**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, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/110 "2017-07-29T18:23:07Z")
The Wiki entry for B.B. King indicates 45 albums, and I think most people can only name “The Thrill is Gone.” > **[B.B. King | Discography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B.B._King#Discography)** > > Years reflect the year in which the Grammy was awarded, for music released in the previous year. ---
**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, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/111 "2017-07-29T18:24:00Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > 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.” Even more unfair, Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht did many great things but are mostly known for “Mack The Knife”. ☹ Back to bands, how about the Bonzo Dog Band, which had one “hit” (Urban Spaceman) and is probably most recognized for The Intro And The Outro, but had lots of great songs, including my personal favorite, [Humanoid Boogie](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK88UMq-hvM): _Well, the Humanoid Boogie’s got the humanoid hip-types Jumpin’ and-a jivin’ Burnin’ out their energy cells like an infrared hot dog Motorbike heart beats flutter to the stutter Of the humanoid heart-throb sobbin’ out a ticker tape tune By the light of the moon Bleep, bleep, keep rockin’, daddy, do the stroll Because the Humanoid Boogie’s full of humanoid rock and roll_ ---
**Author:** ![Shearer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/57b2e6/32.png) [@Shearer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shearer)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/112 "2017-07-29T18:28:11Z")
Los del Río formed in 1962 and released 30+ albums up to 2012 ---
**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, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/113 "2017-07-29T19:25:42Z")
Iron Butterfly. 9 albums, still around, known for “Innagadadavida” or however you spell it. ---
**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:** [July 29, 2017, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/114 "2017-07-29T21:58:37Z")
While I am no fan of theirs I can name (and hum the chorus) of two **A-Ha** songs. The inevitable **Take On Me** but, in the UK, **The Sun Always Shines On TV** was also a big hit. As for **Dexys Midnight Runners** I can name (and hum) **Eileen** but also the earlier hit **Geno** plus **The Celtic Soul Brothers** plus I remember their cover version of **Jackie Wilson Said** … Or - for UK viewers of Top of the Pops - **Jocky Wilson Said** TCMF-2L ---
**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, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/115 "2017-07-29T23:40:53Z")
Well congratulations on living in such musically knowledgeable areas. Most of the 20-25 year olds I work with have never even heard of War. ---
**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, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/116 "2017-07-29T23:47:16Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > Well congratulations on living in such musically knowledgeable areas. Most of the 20-25 year olds I work with have never even heard of War. My kids know War! And Sly and the Family Stone, and James Brown, and Parliament / Funkadelic, and Aretha, Etta James and Billie Holiday. How can I claim to be a music geek here if I’m not one at home? 😉 They get mad at me if I play too much metal, or if the Jazz I put on is too far out, or if I put on harpsichord Bach vs piano Bach - too tinny for them. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/117 "2017-07-30T00:03:44Z")
> [@Shearer](#): > > Los del Río formed in 1962 and released 30+ albums up to 2012 This might be the thread winner. ---
**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 30, 2017, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/118 "2017-07-30T00:17:33Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Yeah, okay, I get the joke, but not as a real occurrence. Oh, is it meant as a joke? Then I was being whooshed, which would not be the first time. I took the tone as relating an actual experience. (And, serendipitously enough, today at the amusement park with the kids, “Black Magic Woman” was playing over the PA.) ---
**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 30, 2017, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/119 "2017-07-30T00:47:01Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > This might be the thread winner. Don’t you have to have a well known song to be the winner? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/120 "2017-07-30T01:21:24Z")
> [@CelticKnot](#): > > Iron Butterfly. 9 albums, still around, known for “Innagadadavida” or however you spell it. [Enjoy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIVe-rZBcm4)! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324.md?page=7)