# Lame Artists Who Made One Good Song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 24, 2005, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370 "2005-01-24T04:39:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/1 "2005-01-24T04:39:52Z")
Sometimes an artist who is considered really bad or mediocre will come up with a really decent song. Sometimes it gets recognized as such, but sometimes it goes unknown because people couldn’t get past their image of the artist. Can you think of any of these? Did bands like Air Supply, or Abba, or MOR artists like Kenny G ever do anything you’d consider really good? I wouldn’t consider singers like Van Morrison or Don McLean to count, because both of them have gotten a lot of critical respect even if couldn’t translate it into lasting popularity. An obvious one for me would be John Denver. Most people thought his music was vapid because he wrote so many sugary ballads, but he had a couple of great songs like “Rocky Mountain High” and “Calypso” that are just first rate songs. Another for me would be Jim Stafford. He was mostly a joke comedian, doing clever little songs like “My Girl Bill” and “Cow Patti”, but he had a couple of early hits that were quite decent - especially “The Swamp Witch”. And of course, cows with guns. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/2 "2005-01-24T04:46:26Z")
Captain Hook and the Medicine Show, “Cover of the Rolling Stone.” Al Stewart, “Year of the Cat.” These were both otherwise undistinguished careers. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/3 "2005-01-24T04:52:04Z")
“Year of the Cat” was just Stewart’s hit. He has written much better songs that went nowhere. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/4 "2005-01-24T05:07:15Z")
3 Doors Down - Kryptonite ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/5 "2005-01-24T05:14:05Z")
Given the number of albums they’ve sold, their following, and even the retro bands, ABBA is a far stronger presence in musical history than you give them credit for. Don’t sell Kenny G short, either. He’s a talented musician who has no problem packing a coliseum for a show. We all know that the musical graveyard is filled with one-hit-wonders, but those two aren’t. **Dr.** Hook and the Medicine Show (Captain Hook was a pirate, arrr!) also got some mileage out of Sylvia’s Mother, so they’re a half step above one-hit. For some reason, I always think of Mungo Jerry-In the Summertime when it comes to bands that were 1 and done. ---
**Author:** ![bookbuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9bd4f/32.png) [@bookbuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bookbuster)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/6 "2005-01-24T05:21:14Z")
Justin Timberlake – Rock Your Body ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/7 "2005-01-24T05:35:26Z")
There are a few artists for whom this is true for me, personally. The most striking one (which, obviously, not many people share) is Smashing Pumpkins. I think “Rhinocerous” is one of the best rock and roll songs ever recorded; the rest of their ouvre ranges from mediocre to unlistenable (to me). There were a couple of songs from Mariah Carey’s “MTV Unplugged” album that I thought were not bad, in an old-school soul kind of way. I have never heard anything else from her that was anything short of insipid. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/8 "2005-01-24T05:38:35Z")
I dislike Celine Dion immensely. But she did a cover of “Here, There, and Everywhere” for George Martin’s album that was just amazing. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/9 "2005-01-24T05:39:03Z")
Billy Swan - I Can help Bobby Russel - Saturday Morning Confusion Gilbert O’Sullivan - Alone Again (Naturally) Mouth & Macneal - How Do You Do Sailcat - Motorcyle Mama Melanie - Brand New Key Jo Jo Gunne - Run Run Run Gallery - Nice To Be With You ---
**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:** [January 24, 2005, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/10 "2005-01-24T05:41:06Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > Can you think of any of these? Did bands like Air Supply, or Abba, or MOR artists like Kenny G ever do anything you’d consider really good? Abba are pop gems. I can’t believe they’re mentioned in the same sentence as Kenny G! :eek: I tend to be a music snob with tastes towards the obscure, but Abba have done so many great tunes, it amazes me that anyone would dismiss them out-of-hand. They are an exceptional band, and one of the best pop bands of the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/11 "2005-01-24T05:41:12Z")
There are very few artists that only have one good song that I have also heard enough from that I can tell if they are a misunderstood one hit wonder or truly a “lame artist who made one good song.” Why is this? I try to only buy albums when I like the majority of the songs on them. I steer clear of obvious one hit wonders for that reason. But there are a couple groups who I’ve heard enough to qualify: SR-71: Right Now the Refreshments: Banditoes (their theme to KotH notwithstanding.) Chumbawamba: Amnesia Fun Lovin’ Criminals: Scooby Snack Song. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/12 "2005-01-24T05:43:17Z")
I forgot one: Suicide Machines: New Girl. All the rest of the songs by them are too ska for my tastes. ---
**Author:** ![bookbuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9bd4f/32.png) [@bookbuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bookbuster)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/13 "2005-01-24T05:45:48Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Abba are pop gems. I can’t believe they’re mentioned in the same sentence as Kenny G! :eek: I tend to be a music snob with tastes towards the obscure, but Abba have done so many great tunes, it amazes me that anyone would dismiss them out-of-hand. They are an exceptional band, and one of the best pop bands of the 70s. i wanted to say something about this, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/14 "2005-01-24T06:29:49Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > We all know that the musical graveyard is filled with one-hit-wonders, but those two aren’t. **Dr.** Hook and the Medicine Show (Captain Hook was a pirate, arrr!) also got some mileage out of Sylvia’s Mother, so they’re a half step above one-hit. Quite a BIT better than that, actually. While “Sylvia’s Mother” and “Cover of Rolling Stone” were both big hits, Dr. Hook scored again in the late 70s with two songs you canNOT get out of your head: “When You’re In Love With a Beautiful Woman” and “Sharing The Night Together.” In addition, their country-tinged pop sound was a staple for country music lovers, covering Waylon Jennings song “Clyde” Waylon & Jessi Colter’s song “Storms” and a couple of songs written by Shel Silverstein. ---
**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:** [January 24, 2005, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/15 "2005-01-24T07:32:52Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > I wouldn’t consider singers like Van Morrison or Don McLean to count, because both of them have gotten a lot of critical respect even if couldn’t translate it into lasting popularity. Sorry, Sam…you know I’m usually in agreement with you on most things, but I gotta take up for Van Morrison here. That guy is a great musician with tons of albums on his resume that are filled with good songs. He’s not a prolific hit-maker, a la Elton John, but he’s done a lot of good music and he’s been selling albums since the mid-sixties. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/16 "2005-01-24T11:10:05Z")
Sean “Stupid girly nickname” Combs. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/17 "2005-01-24T14:24:42Z")
I detest Barry Manilow, but **Copacabana** is a fun little song. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/18 "2005-01-24T14:29:33Z")
I could gladly do without **Loggins and Messina** ’s entire career except for the bitchen “Angry Eyes.” ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/19 "2005-01-24T14:47:12Z")
**Astro** said: > [@](#): > > Billy Swan - I Can help > > Bobby Russel - Saturday Morning Confusion > > Gilbert O’Sullivan - Alone Again (Naturally) > > Mouth & Macneal - How Do You Do > > Sailcat - Motorcyle Mama > > Melanie - Brand New Key > > Jo Jo Gunne - Run Run Run > > Gallery - Nice To Be With You Those sound like run of the mill one-hit wonders. Most of those songs wouldn’t be considered great - just popular. **Starving Artist** said: > [@](#): > > Sorry, Sam…you know I’m usually in agreement with you on most things, but I gotta take up for Van Morrison here. That guy is a great musician with tons of albums on his resume that are filled with good songs. He’s not a prolific hit-maker, a la Elton John, but he’s done a lot of good music and he’s been selling albums since the mid-sixties. That’s what I meant. Van Morrison doesn’t quality because even though he had only one big hit, he’s still a great songwriter. What I meant were the bands who clearly didn’t have either talent or much to say, but for one or two songs rose above themselves and knocked something out of the park. I don’t care if it was a hit, just something of really high quality where usually there is none. Don McLean and Van Morrison don’t count because they both did LOTS of stuff of very high quality. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2005, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370/20 "2005-01-24T14:48:06Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > I detest Barry Manilow, but **Copacabana** is a fun little song. What he said…with knobs on it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lame-artists-who-made-one-good-song/286370.md?page=2)