# Let's Name the One Hit Wonders and The Bands that Sang'em **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 1, 2001, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491 "2001-08-01T15:47:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/61 "2001-08-02T22:54:13Z")
Mandy certainly did not chart in Holland the first time around, when it made #1 in the USA. Did they re-release it after copacabana? I don’t recollect that. ---
**Author:** ![deepbluesea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba9def/32.png) [@deepbluesea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deepbluesea)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/62 "2001-08-03T00:16:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dragon Phoenix \* > **I might as well call Barry Manilow a one hit wonder. For Holland, that’s what he is - only Copacabana charted. Well, let’s be thankful for that…** Permission to immigrate humbly requested. I don’t care what kind of music you’ve got instead. I don’t even care if Barry had two hits instead of just one. Here’s what matters: I want my children to grow up in a country where Barry Manilow is not an ever-present shadow on the soul of the populace. And **Superdude** and **Munch** , I became a teenager in 1986 and I remember all the songs **pldennison** cited, even though I rarely listened to the radio or watched MTV. (Of course, this may be attributable to my older sister’s music obsession. But still.) Just to stay on topic, here’s some one-hit wonders that I recall, although I’m willing to be corrected. “Love Plus One” by Haircut 100 “I Want Candy” by Bow Wow Wow “Whisper to a Scream” by Icicle Works “Boyz in the Hood” by Dynamite Hack (?) - but only if we’re allowed to submit much more recent ones; how much time do they get to prove they aren’t? This is harder than I thought it would be - I can think of plenty of bands who only really had one song but never charted even with that. ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/63 "2001-08-03T14:18:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fish42 \* > \*\*How about the ultimate in one-hit wonderdom: Bands that made the Hot 100 only once, but topped the chart with that one hit: > > “Open the Door, Richard” by The Three Flames (1947) > “The ‘Third Man’ Theme” by A. Karras\* (1950) > _Blanking out on the man’s first name. > [snip]_\* I believe that would be Anton Karras, the only zither player to have a #1 hit…or even a Top 100 appearance as far as I know ---
**Author:** ![TurdFerguson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@TurdFerguson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TurdFerguson)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/64 "2001-08-03T15:16:38Z")
Len - “Steal My Sunshine” Even though it was only 2 years ago when it was released, but based on their other music, I’d say this is the only thing they’ll ever chart. My best friend is still trying to give away the CD, but no takers. Others: Rockwell - Somebody’s Watching Me (Just thinking about that video still creeps me out) Giuffria - Call to the Heart ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/65 "2001-08-03T16:30:37Z")
Hold Your Head Up - Argent ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/66 "2001-08-03T17:35:14Z")
I know the OP wants “bands that sang 'em,” but there were a few instrumentals: **Wipe Out** , by the Surfaris **Popcorn** , by Hot Butter. Yes, they tried again with “Percolator,” but their novelty was long gone by then. **Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)**, by Deodato **Feels So Good** , by Chuck Mangione. He may have been on other charts before or since. But in the summer of 1978, you heard him on every Top-40 AM station. ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/67 "2001-08-03T18:10:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by deepbluesea \* > I want my children to grow up in a country where Barry Manilow is not an ever-present shadow on the soul of the populace. I have nothing to add. I just wanted to note that this would make an excellent .sig. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/68 "2001-08-03T19:20:32Z")
If you take a strictly literal interpretation of one-hit wonder, **Jimi Hendrix** qualifies. “Purple Haze” was his only single to make the US Top 40. Then again, with a strict interpretation, **The Ramones** are a no-hit wonder, which is just a travesty. > [@](#): > > I don’t remember who did “What I Like About You” - the Romantics? Did they have other hits? Did they ever get royalties for “WILAY”? **The Romantics** were a 2-hit wonder. “Talking in Your Sleep” was huge in the summer of 1983. One of the first videos to provoke outcry and handwringing about how sexist MTV was. (This was back in the days when MTV actually showed videos.) Come on, it was just a room full of models in skimpy lingerie pretending to be sleeping while standing up. What’s wrong with that? > [@](#): > > Wipe Out, by the Surfaris Fun fact. Wipe Out was the B-side of the “real” single “Surfer Joe”, which only reached #62. “Wipe Out” hit #2. Let’s see… who can I remember… **King Missile** “Detachable Penis” was more of a novelty hit, and I doubt it charted. Oooh oooh!! **Men Without Hats** - “Safety Dance”!! Can’t believe I’m first with this one. **Escape Club** - “Wild Wild West”. ---
**Author:** ![Palandine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/958977/32.png) [@Palandine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palandine)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/69 "2001-08-03T19:37:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness \* > \*\*Oooh oooh!! **Men Without Hats** - “Safety Dance”!! Can’t believe I’m first with this one. \*\* Men Without Hats also had “Pop Goes the World,” which was popular but not quite as big as Safety Dance. Did Tracey Ullman ever have a hit besides “They Don’t Know About Us (They’ve Never Heard of Love)”? ---
**Author:** ![cmburns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@cmburns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmburns)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/70 "2001-08-03T21:00:48Z")
Not sure, but I think as far as U.S. charts, “Heart and Soul” was T’Pau’s only hit. I hated that song when it came out and love it now, it still gets played all the time on the 80’s station here. ---
**Author:** ![sewalk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@sewalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sewalk)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/71 "2001-08-03T21:31:58Z")
_Mindbender_ - Stillwater ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/72 "2001-08-03T21:33:10Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Palandine_ > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally posted by ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness > > Oooh oooh!! Men Without Hats - “Safety Dance”!! Can’t believe I’m first with this one. > > Men Without Hats also had “Pop Goes the World,” which was popular but not quite as big as Safety Dance. D’oh, I’d forgotten that one! Did **Haysi Fantayzee** have any other hits besides “Shiny Shiny”? Does “Send Me an Angel” by \*\* Real Life\*\* count? The song was a hit twice, once in 1983, and a remix was an even bigger hit chartwise in 1989. So does that make them a one-hit or a two-hit wonder? ---
**Author:** ![deepbluesea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba9def/32.png) [@deepbluesea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deepbluesea)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/73 "2001-08-04T01:26:30Z")
Oh, does “Da Da Da” by Trio count? I think they’ve had some other hits in Germany, but this does appear to be the American One-Hit Wonders Thread, so I’m not going to worry about trying to find out. (Also, I don’t know if the song was a hit the first time it came out. If it was, they’re another Real Life-type One-Hit-Times-Two Wonder.) ---
**Author:** ![Rossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@Rossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rossarian)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/74 "2001-08-04T01:48:28Z")
I don’t know if this has been mentioned, but seeing **deepbluesea’s** name reminded me of _Breakfast at Tiffany’s_ by Deep Blue Something. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/75 "2001-08-04T02:10:17Z")
“Take My Breath Away” by Berlin. Awesome tune. “Voices Carry” by til tuesday ---
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/76 "2001-08-04T03:26:43Z")
Two from the “Rod Stewart in Drag” hit list: “Bette Davis Eyes” / Kim Carnes “Total Eclipse of the Heart” / Bonnie Tyler And “Gloria” by a woman who’s name I can’t remember and it’s too generic for google. ---
**Author:** ![Skijumper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3e96dc/32.png) [@Skijumper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skijumper)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/77 "2001-08-04T04:43:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pesch \* > \*\*And “Gloria” by a woman who’s name I can’t remember and it’s too generic for google. \*\* That would be Laura Branigan. And I remember her videos for ‘Self-Control’ and ‘Spanish Eddie’ as well. But that’s just me and my memory for 80s music videos. ---
**Author:** ![Genseric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Genseric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genseric)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/78 "2001-08-04T07:17:37Z")
Here’s a few more Barry McGuire - Eve Of Destruction The Archies - Sugar Sugar Norman Greenbaum - Spirit In The Sky Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds - Don’t Pull Your Love Strawberry Alarm Clock - Incense And Peppermints The Trashmen - Surfin’ Bird Jonathan Edwards - Sunshine Go Away Today Ides Of March - Vehicle Scott McKenzie - San Francisco(Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair) ? And The Mysterians - 96 Tears Joe South - Games People Play I could go on for a while. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/79 "2001-08-04T14:51:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pesch \* > “Bette Davis Eyes” / Kim Carnes Nope. Had two other hits: A cover of The Miracles’ “More Love,” and a duet with kenny Rogers, “Don’t Fall In Love With A Dreamer.” > [@](#): > > “Total Eclipse of the Heart” / Bonnie Tyler Already coverered. Had Top 10 hits before and after “Eclipse.” {QUOTE}And “Gloria” by a woman who’s name I can’t remember and it’s too generic for google. [/QUOTE] Laura Branigan. Had 3 other Top 10 hits in “Solitaire,” “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You” and “Self Control.” Also had at least 3 other Top 40 hits. > [@](#): > > Berlin, “Take My Breath Away” “No More Words” was at least a Top 30 hit, and may have charted even higher. Not that this thread is terribly meaningful in the scheme of things, but can we for the purposes of discussion agree on a definition of “hit” that’s useful. I don’t think anyone with 3 or 4 Top 10 hits can reasonably be called a “one-hit wonder,” even if someone only remembers one of the songs. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/80 "2001-08-04T16:57:05Z")
“End of the Line” - The Travelling Wilburys Those guys really had potential. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491.md?page=5)