Several charting albums but no hit singles.
I think what you’re referring to is the Billboard definition of a one-hit wonder, which refers to artists whose only chart hit reached No. 1. Very few artists have done that. One that springs to mind is the Davis Sisters with “I Forgot More Than You’ll Ever Know.”
Several of the Pixies’ singles placed high on the Modern Rock charts and their three original Elektra albums made the Top 100.
They Might Be Giants have had one top 40 hit - thanks to Malcolm in the Middle.
From this book (which I’m looking at as we speak):
The following is paraphrased:
Exceptions are listed as “one time” pairings of artists (Donna Summer & Barbara Stresiand, for example) or any group who has made “cosmetic” changes to its name (Harvey & the Moonglows had one hit, but came back as The Moonglows and had two more, therefore, Harvey & the Moonglows is not a One-Hit Wonder).
I was referring to Billboard’s Top Country Singles 1944-1993, which identifies only three artists in the entire book as “One-Hit Wonders,” explaining that these “artists’ only chart hit reached the #1 position.”
Obviously they had to expand that definition quite a bit to fill a book with “one-hit wonders.”
In his syndicated oldies column, Jerry Osborne expresses what I believe is the most common definition of a one-hit wonder, which is any group or artist who places only one single in the Top 100.
Further confusing matters is the fact that Billboard didn’t publish the only charts. If you take Cash Box into account, for example, then the Bob Knight Four, who never charted in Billboard, become a one-hit wonder since they had a Cash Box hit.
I have that book, too!
For many years, Billboard was THE authority. It does seem odd they would have differing views on what constitutes a “One-Hit Wonder”. Since the Top 40 chart was the yardstick by which sucess was measured, I would go by Jancik’s definition.
I have the Top 100 book as well, so I’m sure I could whittle down the Top 40 One Hit Wonders.
Just out of curiosity, who did they influence? I thought I’ve had most of my musical bases covered for the 90s, but I’ve never even heard of these guys. What style are they?
Billboard has definitely become the standard, partly because of Whitburn’s indefatigable promotion of their charts. I have heard some people express a preference for the Cash Box charts because they were sales-based, whereas Billboard tried to combine airplay and sales into a chart position that, some have argued, was the product of voodoo. That said, it’s surprising how similar the Billboard and Cash Box chart positions are overall. Unfortunately, all of the Cash Box chart books have gone out of print and seem unlikely to be reprinted, so Billboard will probably reign forevermore.
I don’t know… There were some very successful singles that never reached the Top 40. One good example I can think of right off is the Sego Brothers & Naomi’s “Sorry I Never Knew You,” a million-selling gospel single that never charted higher than #50 on the country charts. Like Jim Nabors’ records, it sold steadily over a long period of time and racked up big sales numbers without substantially impacting the charts.
From the All Music Guide:
I have never heard of them either.
I think now now use SoundScan exclusively to track sales. If they had used sales as the basis of their charts in the past, I don’t believe Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon would not have stayed on the charts for 740 consecutive weeks!
If you like this sort of thing (Billboard books, that is), you should check out their Top Albums book. The best thing about it that is gives all the tracks from every charted album and their Top 100 position (where applicable).
How far back can we go?
Clearly Robert Johnson is a highly well known and admired Delta bluesman but barely made any recordings at all during his short career, let alone hit the charts of the time.
Has Sonic Youth ever actually had a hit?
“Teen Age Riot” charted, peaking at #20 on the Modern Rock charts. I also wouldn’t be surprised if something from “Dirty” made Billboard’s lists (Perhaps “100%”, “Sugar Kane” or “Youth Against Fascism”.)
Their newest album, Sonic Nurse debuted at number 64 on Billboards 200.
Were there charts at that time? He traveled pretty far for a Delta blues guy at that time, so I think he was at least reasonably successful. Definitely most of his commercial popularity came after The Complete Recordings in 1990.
Pork Soda was got as high as #7, believe it or not. And My Name is Mud was more than mildly popular. It peaked at #9 on the Modern Rock chart.
Did The Who ever have a single that placed number 1 on the charts? I could have swore I heard on the radio that they did not, and the question has been bugging me for months…
Having grown up with “indie” rock in the 80s, I’d nominate Husker Du and The Replacements. OK, neither one was around for long, but the main songwriters (Bob Mould and Paul Westerberg, repsectively) have continued to produce music after the bands split (although Paul Westerberg has admittedly gotten progressively worse as time’s gone on). Maybe not exactly huge sellers, but, like Big Star, hugely influential.
Also, although I loathe them, did Rush ever have a hit? I don’t think even “Tom Sawyer” charted here, and they’ve been around for what, 47 years?
“Ana Ng” (1988) reached #1 on the Billboard College Charts, and “Birdhouse In Your Soul” (1990) reached #6 on the UK charts.
I’m fairly sure Richard Thompson has never hit the charts in the U.S., though I believe Fairport Convention may have in the U.K.
If I recall correctly, the only song of theirs to crack the Top 40 was New World Man. They’re a band who has pretty respectable album sales and they do well on tour.
They’re currently touring for their 30th anniversary. I saw them twice last weekend. And they were very, very good. 
You knew I’d mention this: The Bonzo Dog Band never had a hit (in the US), even though they’re highly influential with people like Monty Python and Death Cab for Cutie.
Livingson Taylor (James’s brother) cracked the charts a few times, but never higher than #30. He is still a great performer and songwriter (saw him the other day).
Otis Taylor (no relation) is one of the best blues musicians working today, but has never had a hit.
In fact, most blues musicians have never had a top 40 hit, except on specialized charts. Some names include Paul Butterfield, Al Kooper, Roomful of Blues, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Howlin’ Wolf, Charlie Musselwhite, Muddy Waters, and B. B. King.