# 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:** 7
**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, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/121 "2017-07-30T01:32:32Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Don’t you have to have a well known song to be the winner? “Macarena.” Known the world over, for better or worse. That actually is a pretty good suggestion and might be the thread winner thus far. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/122 "2017-07-30T01:43:35Z")
> [@Wilson](#): > > Lou Reed probably qualifies - around 20 albums, and most only know him for “Walk on the Wild Side”. > > … Lou’s a good answer for this. Also Steve Earle: He’s got _tons_ of songs and everybody and their mother knows Copperhead Road, but only Steve Earle fans know any others. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/123 "2017-07-30T01:51:12Z")
Ahhh. As I think about it, people in Nashville and points south may all be familiar with Steve Earle’s Guitar Town, as well. So that’s 2 songs. Nevermind… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/124 "2017-07-30T02:22:55Z")
> [@TCMF-2L](#): > > 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. I don’t know the latter, but I of course know the former. But I can name and hum a _different_ one of theirs, since Timothy Dalton is my all-time favorite James Bond and so I know they did **The Living Daylights**. ---
**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, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/125 "2017-07-30T02:26:31Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Lou’s a good answer for this. Also Steve Earle: He’s got _tons_ of songs and everybody and their mother knows Copperhead Road, but only Steve Earle fans know any others. I just listened to Copperhead Road, and I’m drawing a complete blank. I don’t think I’ve ever heard it before or, if I had, it was just relegated to the background. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/126 "2017-07-30T03:42:28Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > 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. Life During Wartime. One of my favorite songs and MTV videos. ‘This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco, this ain’t no fooling around.’ ---
**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 30, 2017, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/127 "2017-07-30T05:37:01Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Life During Wartime. One of my favorite songs and MTV videos. ‘This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco, this ain’t no fooling around.’ “Stay Up Late” ---
**Author:** ![Dante\_1111](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a587f6/32.png) [@Dante\_1111](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante_1111)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/128 "2017-07-30T07:20:52Z")
Manfred Mann’s Earth Band - Blinded By The Light (Springsteen cover) Sent from my XT1045 using Tapatalk ---
**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 30, 2017, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/129 "2017-07-30T11:41:11Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I don’t know the latter, but I of course know the former. > > But I can name and hum a _different_ one of theirs, since Timothy Dalton is my all-time favorite James Bond and so I know they did **The Living Daylights**. Reading your mention I thought that I surely MUST remember **The Living Daylights**. Went onto YouTube but… I must have heard it previously but I still don’t find it memorable. However continuing onto Wiki and I was reminded of **Hunting High and Low**. Once reminded I do recall the chorus of that so I am up to three **A-Ha** songs! TCMF-2L ---
**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 30, 2017, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/130 "2017-07-30T11:44:58Z")
> [@Dante\_1111](#): > > Manfred Mann’s Earth Band - Blinded By The Light (Springsteen cover) > > Sent from my XT1045 using Tapatalk I know them better for **Davy’s On The Road Again** plus they did a cover of **The Mighty Quinn.** TCMF-2L ---
**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 30, 2017, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/131 "2017-07-30T11:51:54Z")
> [@Dante\_1111](#): > > Manfred Mann’s Earth Band - Blinded By The Light (Springsteen cover) > > Sent from my XT1045 using Tapatalk [Our very own Cecil Adams](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1120/in-blinded-by-the-light-what-exactly-is-the-lyric-following-the-title-phrase) says they’re as much well known for their cover of Dylan’s “Mighty Quinn.” (Cecil, hilariously IMHO, deals with the broader and narrower definitions of the band later in the article – but you’ll need to use the broader definition to contend with other entries in this thread.) ETA: Ninja’d – but I did add the link to the Perfect Master. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shearer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/57b2e6/32.png) [@Shearer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shearer)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/132 "2017-07-30T12:04:33Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Don’t you have to have a well known song to be the winner? Is there a more well known song in this thread? ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/133 "2017-07-30T12:14:28Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > I would think Rush would have to be the poster child for this. After 40 years and twenty-something albums, ask most people to name a song by Rush and I’ll bet the vast majority would say “Tom Sawyer” (maybe with “The Trees” coming in a distant second). > > Are there any other bands that have put out so much material that are primarily known for one song? Hammer meet nail. Yep. And the thing is Rush is/was amazing live. I would say Spirt of the Radio or Limelight are among their top 5 songs. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/134 "2017-07-30T12:53:20Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > Bad Girls > She Works Hard For Her Money > Last Dance > MacArthur Park > On the Radio > > She pretty much dominated the disco era. No love for “I Feel Love”? ---
**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 30, 2017, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/135 "2017-07-30T13:04:47Z")
> [@Shearer](#): > > Los del Río formed in 1962 and released 30+ albums up to 2012 But they’re not a _known_ band. Everyone knows “Macarena”, but almost no one knows who performed it. ---
**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, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/136 "2017-07-30T13:58:43Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > But they’re not a _known_ band. Everyone knows “Macarena”, but almost no one knows who performed it. Ah, important distinction. Good point. That would take Los Del Rio (and probably several other suggestions) out of the running. ---
**Author:** ![Shearer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/57b2e6/32.png) [@Shearer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shearer)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/137 "2017-07-30T14:02:19Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > But they’re not a _known_ band. Everyone knows “Macarena”, but almost no one knows who performed it. When did that become part of the question? ---
**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, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/138 "2017-07-30T14:14:14Z")
> [@Shearer](#): > > When did that become part of the question? A strict reading of “bands [with the most material] known only for one song” does suggest that the band is known. I guess it depends on how you want to parse the question or define “known.” ---
**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 30, 2017, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/139 "2017-07-30T14:33:35Z")
> [@Shearer](#): > > When did that become part of the question? What pulykamell said. It’s right in the title - “known only for one song.” Motörhead is known for “Ace of Spades” (and for their image) but not any other songs. Vanilla Ice is a known performer, but AFAIK, is just known for “Ice Ice Baby.” Los del Río aren’t a household name, even though they have a song that is known worldwide. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/140 "2017-07-30T15:56:27Z")
I believe the criteria is not only being known for one song, but also having a significant body of other work to back it up but which is relatively unknown. John Otway ‘Really Free’ - I don’t know if this even crossed the atlantic, but if you were of a certain age and were familiar with new wave and punk then you likely know it, but not a single thing on his 13 albums [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPi42fj78IM) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324.md?page=8)