# 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:** 8
**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, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/141 "2017-07-30T15:57:53Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > [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. 🙂 Pretty Flamingo, Doo wah diddy ---
**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, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/142 "2017-07-30T15:58:55Z")
> [@Shearer](#): > > Is there a more well known song in this thread? yes ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/143 "2017-07-30T16:43:56Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > 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. What else did Vanilla Ice really do though? Wiki says 9 albums. Motorhead is a good one, though people might know more of their stuff, but as a fan I wouldn’t know what else. Golden Earring is another favorite of mine. Been around for over 50 years and still perform, known for two, maybe three songs in the US. I’ve got two more: Europe, 11 albums, known for Final Countdown, and maybe Carrie. Been around since 1979 and have a new album coming out soon. Accept, 15 albums, known for Balls to the wall. Though if we’re going with who knows their name I don’t think most people would know it. ---
**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 30, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/144 "2017-07-30T17:15:28Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > Vanilla Ice is a _known performer_, but AFAIK, is just known for “Ice Ice Baby.” They are? 😕 [At the risk of just having been whooshed…] ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/145 "2017-07-30T21:51:02Z")
Dio: Holy Diver ---
**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, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/146 "2017-07-30T21:58:36Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > They are? 😕 > > [At the risk of just having been whooshed…] Before Eminem, Vanilla Ice was pretty much synonymous with “white rapper” (although considered a joke, unlike Eminem) and who isn’t aware of Ice Ice Baby"? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/147 "2017-07-30T22:07:26Z")
> [@blindboyard](#): > > Chumbawamba, known for Tubthumping, released sixteen albums. > > 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. I thought they were known for the theme to _Malcolm In The Middle_ in the rest of the world? It’s the only one of their songs I could name. ---
**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, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/148 "2017-07-30T22:37:18Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > 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. I don’t think it’s possible to know only one chicago song. It’s zero or a bunch. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/149 "2017-07-30T22:43:30Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > Accept, 15 albums, known for Balls to the wall. Though if we’re going with who knows their name I don’t think most people would know it. Midnight Mover. I remember the wild video from days of yore. ---
**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:** [July 30, 2017, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/150 "2017-07-30T23:38:25Z")
Not exactly a household name, but **Dream Theater** is pretty much known for its only radio hit “Pull Me Under” despite having released 13 albums over more than 30 years. In fact, they mocked this relative obscurity by naming their best-of compilation _Greatest Hit (And 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs)._ ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2017, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/151 "2017-07-30T23:55:17Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > Dio: Holy Diver Rainbow in the Dark? ---
**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 31, 2017, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/152 "2017-07-31T00:49:27Z")
Reading this thread makes me realize just how ignorant I am of large swaths of music, apparently. A good 10-20% of these songs I’ve never heard of. I only learned of “Balls to the Wall,” for instance, maybe a week or two ago when it was mentioned in another thread. (Or at least I think it was here that I came across it.) And I could never keep the continent-named bands Europe and Asia straight. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/153 "2017-07-31T01:29:17Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > I don’t think it’s possible to know only one chicago song. It’s zero or a bunch. Literally the only song by Chicago I’ve ever heard or know of is _Saturday In The Park_. ---
**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 31, 2017, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/154 "2017-07-31T01:42:00Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > Before Eminem, Vanilla Ice was pretty much synonymous with “white rapper” (although considered a joke, unlike Eminem) and who isn’t aware of Ice Ice Baby"? I know. I was commenting on them being caught lip synching that time. ---
**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 31, 2017, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/155 "2017-07-31T01:46:20Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > I know. I was commenting on them being caught lip synching that time. You’re thinking of Milli Vanilli. (“Girl You Know It’s True,” “Blame it on the Rain,” “Baby, Don’t Forget My Number.”) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/156 "2017-07-31T01:57:48Z")
In the States, the late singer and blues guitarist Jeff Healey, who was totally blind from infancy, is known for “Angel Eyes” and that’s about it. However, he released dozens of albums and performed with many other people. > **[Jeff Healey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Healey)** > > Norman Jeffrey Healey (March 25, 1966 – March 2, 2008) was a Canadian blues, rock and jazz singer, guitarist, and songwriter who attained popularity in the 1980s and 1990s. He reached No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart with "Angel Eyes" and reached the Top 10 in Canada with the songs "I Think I Love You Too Much" and "How Long Can a Man Be Strong". > Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Healey was raised in the city's west end. He was adopted as an infant; his adoptive father was a firefigh... He enjoyed performing but not touring, which certainly hindered his career to some degree. ---
**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 31, 2017, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/157 "2017-07-31T04:43:11Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Literally the only song by Chicago I’ve ever heard or know of is _Saturday In The Park_. I’m going to bet if you go on youtube and let it auto play you’ll be surprised. Beginnings, 25 or 6 to 4, make me smile, wishing you were here, **Does anybody know what time it is** … they had hit after hit from the late 60s through the late 70s (and after but I don’t go there) ---
**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 31, 2017, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/158 "2017-07-31T05:05:28Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > I’m going to bet if you go on youtube and let it auto play you’ll be surprised. > > Beginnings, 25 or 6 to 4, make me smile, wishing you were here, **Does anybody know what time it is** … they had hit after hit from the late 60s through the late 70s (and after but I don’t go there) I, too, would have thought they had quite a few recognizable songs. But, am I remembering correctly that **Martini Enfield** lives in Australia (or am I thinking of someone else)? A band that has lots of hits in one country can be a one-hit wonder in another. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/159 "2017-07-31T08:59:00Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > I’m going to bet if you go on youtube and let it auto play you’ll be surprised. > > Beginnings, 25 or 6 to 4, make me smile, wishing you were here, **Does anybody know what time it is** … they had hit after hit from the late 60s through the late 70s (and after but I don’t go there) I did and I wasn’t. Never heard any of those songs before. However, as **Thudlow Boink** correctly notes, I live in Australia - and I grew up in New Zealand. ---
**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 31, 2017, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324/160 "2017-07-31T12:35:07Z")
An answer which only applies in the USA. **Paul Weller** is, I believe, virtually unknown in the USA other than for his 1984 hit **My Ever Changing Moods** by his then band\*\* The Style Council.\*\* I would like to point out just how successful and well known he is in the UK. He rose to fame in his first band **The Jam**. They were one of the big three ‘renowned’ Punk Bands so as historic as **The Sex Pistols** and **The Clash**. **The Jam** had about 18 hit singles between 1977 and 1982 and any casual UK pop fan could name at least half a dozen. In an era when record sales were still high they had three singles actually enter the charts at No 1. In a time before the Internet they had a hit single which was only available on physical import. They once appeared twice in a single episode of famous (in the UK) half hour pop show **Top of the Pops**. A rare accolade only the **Beatles** had been honoured with previously. After he split **The Jam** he formed **The Style Council** where he had another 7 top ten hits between 1983 and 1989. Again, even a casual UK pop music fan should know two or three of those. Since then he has had a solo career with still further top ten hits. Known as The Modfather he is considered an influence and inspiration for the whole Britpop movement which included bands such as **Oasis, Pulp** and **Blur**. TL;DR **Paul Weller** is incredibly well known in the UK but virtually unheard of in the USA. TCMF-2L [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bands-with-the-most-material-known-only-for-one-song/792324.md?page=9)