# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Philosophocles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Philosophocles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philosophocles)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2001, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/81 "2001-08-04T22:00:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pesch \* > **"Bette Davis Eyes" / Kim Carnes** She’s precocious, and she knows just what it takes to make a crow blush. All the the boys think she’s a SPAZ, she’s got Bette Davis Eyes. Now there’s a compliment–someone has eyes like yours, and everyone (or at least every male) thinks she’s a spaz because of it. P.S. I realize that “crow” was supposed to be “pro”, and “spaz” was supposed to be “spy”. ---
**Author:** ![sewalk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@sewalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sewalk)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/82 "2001-08-05T02:27:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alessan \* > \*\*“End of the Line” - The Travelling Wilburys > > Those guys really had potential. \*\* You’re kidding, right? As far as other Wilbury hits, what about “Handle With Care”? It was a bigger hit than “End of the Line”. Of course the Wilburys had potential, I can’t think of any group with as many hits between them (well, OK, the Beatles had more), but it was never supposed to last. The second album (yes, I know it’s called _Vol. 3_) was a mistake and probably a bow to the marketing geeks. If ever a great band _should_ have been a one hit (album) wonder, it was the Traveling Wilburys. ---
**Author:** ![MysterEcks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MysterEcks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysterEcks)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/83 "2001-08-05T04:31:56Z")
**John O’Banion** , \*Love You Like I Never Loved Before,\*April 1981–not long before I graduated high school. I even have the album somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/84 "2001-08-05T05:24:29Z")
Time to haul out that database again… Definite one hit wonders: Boy Meets Girl - Waiting For a Star to Fall (Wonderful romantic song; never understood why they couldn’t follow up.) Take That - Back For Good (A footnote in the “boy band” craze. I recall someone telling me that they may or may not have had another hit in Europe, but I say close enough.) Johnny Hates Jazz - Shattered Dreams (IMHO, it kinda sucks for your one hit to be a bitter breakup song.) Deep Blue Something - Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Sounded every bit as good as anything by Goo Goo Dolls or Vertical Horizon; wonder why they never made it big.) Jefferson Starship - We Built This City (One of the last truly old-school rock songs. Loved it long before I found out what it actually was about.) Michael Sembello - Maniac (Did Philosophocles mention something about movie soundtracks? Damn shame; this was a great dance hit. I’m still surprised none of the Euro Beat bands have done it.) Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town (Pretty simple song notable for the “Indian chanting” as much as anything else. Don’t understand how it got on Pure Moods II.) Sir Mix-a-lot - Baby Got Back (Unquestionably the funniest rap song I’ve ever heard.) Tag Team - Whoomp, There It Is (One of many “jock jams” that didn’t quite pan out. This is the kind of song that almost doesn’t even need lyrics.) Pretty Poison - Catch Me I’m Falling (As good as anything by Paula Abdul or Whitney Houston; in fact, I nearly mistook her for Houston when I first heard this.) Possible one hit wonders (correct me if I’m wrong): The Drifters - Up On The Roof Dire Straits - Money for Nothing Force MD’s - Tender Love J. Geils Band - Centerfold Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity (Have some of their other songs; interesting stuff.) Level 42 - Something About You (They’re either a Belgian or German band, IIRC, so this goes back to Americentrism.) Toys - Lover’s Concerto (Old band, don’t know for sure.) Soul Sister - The Way To Your Heart (Ditto.) Yvonne Elliman - If I Can’t Have You (Ditto again.) Billy Dean - We Just Disagree Tiffany - I Think We’re Alone Now (See note on Shattered Dreams; replace “bitter breakup song” with “song already done by someone else”.) Not one hit wonders: MC Hammer. 2 Legit 2 Quit was his second (and IIRC final) hit. A-ha, as already noted. Los Del Rio (Macarena); American record shouldn’t even count since they’re a Spanish-language duo. Furthermore, the original version was not anything like the Bayside Boys Mix that became the #1 hit. Falco. Foreign language _and_ had at least one other hit, Der Komissar. No Doubt. At least two hits, Don’t Speak and I’m Just A Girl. Tracy Chapman. “Off the schneide” (to borrow a Bermanism) with Give Me One Reason. KD Lang. Finally had a successful follow up with Anywhere But Here. (After watching one of her televised performances, my mother noted that she had “a great voice”. :p) For the purposes of this discussion, I’d like to suggest that any non-mainstream genres not be considered, especially New Age (Enya - Orinoco Flow, Adiemus - Adiemus, Vangelis - Chariots of Fire), Dance/Euro Beat (Everything But the Girl - Missing), and gospel (Michael W. Smith - Somebody Love Me). ---
**Author:** ![MysterEcks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MysterEcks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysterEcks)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/85 "2001-08-05T06:27:52Z")
No offense, **DKW** , but you need a different database. > [@](#): > > Definite one hit wonders: > > Jefferson Starship - We Built This City (One of the last truly old-school rock songs. Loved it long before I found out what it actually was about.) No way–they had quite a few, including two other Top 40s on the same album as _We Built This City._ (_Sara_and _Tomorrow Doesn’t Matter Tonight._) > [@](#): > > Possible one hit wonders (correct me if I’m wrong): > The Drifters - Up On The Roof Not even close–they had 16 US Top 40s between 1959 and 1964, including \*On Broadway, Under The Boardwalk,\*and their only #1, _Save The Last Dance For Me._ > [@](#): > > Dire Straits - Money for Nothing And \*Sultans Of Swing,\*and \*Walk Of Life,\*and _So Far Away._ > [@](#): > > J. Geils Band - Centerfold Quite a few others, including _Freeze Frame_and _Angel In Blue_on the same album as _Centerfold_ ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/86 "2001-08-05T19:22:15Z")
Okay, I got ONE wrong, sue me. Got the information from Pop-Up Video…IIRC, Jefferson Airplane was quite successful, but the new band, Jefferson Starship, only had one hit before breaking up. Something like that. Little before my time, so I don’t know for sure. Didn’t I mention “correct me if I’m wrong” on the second part? Mistakes noted, corrections to be made. Real easy-like. ---
**Author:** ![MysterEcks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@MysterEcks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysterEcks)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/87 "2001-08-05T20:06:22Z")
_Pop-Up Video?_ Jesus… For the record, US Top 40 hits: **Jefferson Airplane** _Somebody To Love White Rabbit_ **Jefferson Starship** _Miracles With Your Love Count On Me Runaway Jane Find Your Way Back Be My Lady Winds Of Change No Way Out_ **Starship** _We Built This City Sara Tomorrow Doesn’t Matter Tonight Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now It’s Not Over ('Til It’s Over) It’s Not Enough_ ---
**Author:** ![Fish42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@Fish42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish42)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/88 "2001-08-05T21:17:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness \* > \*\*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. > \*\* Actually, Hendrix’s only US Top 40 hit is his cover of “All Along the Watchtower” (#20 in 1968), not “Purple Haze.” ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2001, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/89 "2001-08-05T23:40:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cmburns \* > \*\*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. \*\* Since **pldenison** hasn’t publicly smacked you for this (;)), I’m probably the one in the wrong here. But didn’t _China in your hand_ chart in the US? I mean, it was number one in many European countries in 1988. By that I mean the _year_ 1988, not just a particular week of it. Christ, I thought that song would never go away. [sub](Several years later, I got the song on one of those “Best 80’s Songs” CD’s, and I liked it again!)[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/90 "2001-08-06T12:40:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by cmburns \* > > \*\*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. \*\* > > Since **pldenison** hasn’t publicly smacked you for this (;)), I’m probably the one in the wrong here. But didn’t _China in your hand_ chart in the US? I mean, it was number one in many European countries in 1988. > > By that I mean the _year_ 1988, not just a particular week of it. Christ, I thought that song would never go away. > [sub](Several years later, I got the song on one of those “Best 80’s Songs” CD’s, and I liked it again!)[/sub] \*\* From the **T’Pau** entry in Wayne Jancik’s “The [U.S.] Billboard Book of One Hit Wonders” (page 451): _A half-dozen further chartings–including Top 10ers’ “Valentine” and “China in Your Hand”–quickly followed in Britain. Their debut album, Bridge of Spies, sold a million copies, but nothing further has charted in the United States._ I don’t know if this has come up before, but on the U.S Billboard 100 charts Rush is a One Hit Wonder, as their only Top 40 hit was New World Man, #21 in 1982. ---
**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:** [August 6, 2001, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/91 "2001-08-06T12:47:19Z")
YVONNE ELLIMAN? Christ, you never heard of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” from Jesus Christ Superstar. She was only the first person to sing it, played Mary on Broadway and in the movie. Oddly, the last time we had a thread like this, someone mentioned Murray Head’s “One Night In Bangkok.” He was the first one to sing “Superstar.” Has nobody heard the original songs from this song. Go out and buy “the brown CD” right away folks. You don’t know what you’re missing. What about Julian Lennon’s “Too Late for Good-byes.” Proving talent is sometimes more than mere genetics. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/92 "2001-08-06T13:05:03Z")
Julian Lennon? Nope. “Salt Water” was a Top 40 hit in Europe, at least. 1993 or so. ---
**Author:** ![Fish42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@Fish42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish42)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/93 "2001-08-06T15:39:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*Julian Lennon? Nope. “Salt Water” was a Top 40 hit in Europe, at least. 1993 or so. \*\* And, in the US he had two top 10 hits: “Valotte” and the previously mentioned “Too Late for Goodbye.” ---
**Author:** ![King\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7bcc69/32.png) [@King\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2001, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/94 "2001-08-06T17:19:40Z")
_Touch of Grey_… **Grateful Dead** To think that my favorite band is a one-hit wonder. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/95 "2001-08-07T03:04:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alessan \* > \*\*“End of the Line” - The Travelling Wilburys > > Those guys really had potential. \*\* You’re kidding right? George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison !!! I think it’s safe to say the boys had potential. ---
**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 7, 2001, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/96 "2001-08-07T04:02:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Mermaid \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Alessan \* > > \*\*“End of the Line” - The Travelling Wilburys > > > > Those guys really had potential. \*\* > > You’re kidding right? George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison !!! > > I think it’s safe to say the boys had potential. \*\* You know, I should try using smilies more often. Insert this into my previous post: 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/97 "2001-08-07T12:30:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Buck Nekked \* > **Paper Lace for _"The Night Chicago Died"_** Paper Lace also had a hit with the vomit-inducing “Billy, Don’t be a Hero”. Two hit wonder, yes. Ungodly bad? yes. One hit wonder? no. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/98 "2001-08-07T13:34:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Buck Nekked \* > > **Paper Lace for _"The Night Chicago Died"_** > > Paper Lace also had a hit with the vomit-inducing “Billy, Don’t be a Hero”. Two hit wonder, yes. Ungodly bad? yes. One hit wonder? no. > > Fenris \*\* Paper Lace’s version of “Billy Don’t Be a Hero” only got to #96 in the U.S., so it doesn’t qualify as a hit. Within the U.S., Paper Lace was indeed a “One Hit Wonder”. (The Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods version of this song was a #1 hit in the U.S., and they went on to have a couple more top 40 singles) ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/99 "2001-08-07T13:41:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sewalk \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Alessan \* > > \*\*“End of the Line” - The Travelling Wilburys > > > > Those guys really had potential. \*\* > > You’re kidding, right? As far as other Wilbury hits, what about “Handle With Care”? It was a bigger hit than “End of the Line”. \*\* Using the standard definition of a hit record as one apperaing in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 charts, the Travelling Wilburys were actually **No** Hit Wonders in the U.S., because Handle With Care only got to 45, and End of the Line peaked at #63. (No other songs charted) ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491/100 "2001-08-07T13:55:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DKW \* > Time to haul out that database again… > Definite [sic] one hit wonders: > > Boy Meets Girl - Waiting For a Star to Fall (Wonderful romantic song; never understood why they couldn’t follow up.) > **Oh Girl made it to #39 in the U.S.** > > Johnny Hates Jazz - Shattered Dreams (IMHO, it kinda sucks for your one hit to be a bitter breakup song.) > **I Don’t Want To Be A Hero reached #31.** > > Michael Sembello - Maniac (Did Philosophocles mention something about movie soundtracks? Damn shame; this was a great dance hit. I’m still surprised none of the Euro Beat bands have done it.) > **Automatic Man peaked at 34.** > > Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town (Pretty simple song notable for the “Indian chanting” as much as anything else. Don’t understand how it got on Pure Moods II.) > **The Love Parade made it to #36** > > Pretty Poison - Catch Me I’m Falling (As good as anything by Paula Abdul or Whitney Houston; in fact, I nearly mistook her for Houston when I first heard this.) > **Nightime got to #36.** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-name-the-one-hit-wonders-and-the-bands-that-sangem/74491.md?page=6)