# One hit wonders.... but it's the wrong hit! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 25, 2005, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023 "2005-04-25T14:04:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![laughingboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@laughingboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laughingboy)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/21 "2005-04-26T00:20:05Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > The Knack was really a three-hit wonder. Besides “My Sharona” and “Good Girls Don’t” (which I actually heard at the time much more than “My Sharona”), “Baby Talks Dirty” also had a very respectable chart placing. Uh, maybe a four-hit wonder. I recall a “comeback single” called “Rocket of Love” getting lots of airplay, but I don’t know how well it actually sold. ---
**Author:** ![Anastasaeon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/22 "2005-04-26T00:29:57Z")
> [@Mycroft H.](#): > > In America, the band _Nena_ had, to the best of my knowledge, only one popular hit – ‘99 Red Balloons/99 Luftballoons.’ (They may have had more in their native Germany.) On the album of the same name there are a bunch of other songs that are great! Going from memory some songs were ‘I Want to Be Your Pirate’, ‘?’ and a couple of others I can’t remember. It’s an album I still enjoy listening to, but I’ve never heard any of the other songs get any air-play. Where I’m from, in New Brunswick, Canada, Nena had one other hit that got decent airplay: “Just a Dream”. Nothing else to add, really, just a bit of trivia, and now I’ve got that song stuck in my head. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/23 "2005-04-26T15:20:33Z")
I don’t dislike the hit itself…it’s an eerie good and disturbing listen, no doubt about it. But Bloodrock — of whom most folks have only encountered the creepy dying-to-the-sound-of-ambulance-sirens song [“DOA”](http://lyrics.webfitz.com/index.php?option=com_webfitzlyrics&Itemid=27&func=fullview&lyricsid=4575) — actually racked up several albums of dark-mooded but quite listenable stuff, sort of “underground comics hard rock” —songs like “Breach of Lease”, “Kool-Aid Kids”, “Jessica”, “The Hangman’s Dance”, “Whiskey Vengeance”, “It’s a Sad World”, etc… ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2005, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/24 "2005-04-26T22:21:41Z")
This one really isn’t a “one hit wonders but it’s the wrong hit” kinda thing, but more of a “doesn’t seem like they coulda been a one-hit wonder since they had at least one other good song on the same album” thing. Jerry Buckner and Gary Garcia were a duo who didn’t do much in the '80s, but had one hit- didn’t make it to number one, but did crack the top ten- since it was about a fad that was big, and I guess they were in the right place at the right time: _Pac-Man Fever_. Listening to the 1999 re-recording of the album of the same name, I’m surprised that some of the other songs on that same album weren’t as popular as well. The single’s B-side, _Do The Donkey Kong_, is pretty darn catchy. (Then again, I guess Buckner & Garcia were truly of their time: some of their other songs involved such 1980s luminaries as E.T. and Mr. T. In the book _Arcade Fever_- which I’m guessing is a more generalized strain of Pac-Man Fever- they comment on how their record company refused to release the Mr. T song. I guess what with the Be-Sharps already having one, the public was tired of the idea already. Couldn’t have been as bad as the one about C. Everett Koop.) ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/25 "2005-04-27T00:21:08Z")
> [@Mycroft Holmes](#): > > [The Knack](http://www.knack.com/) are often considered to be the quintessential one hit wonders. Who doesn’t know “My Sharona” but then draws a blank trying to name any other hits they might have had? Well, I happen to be a Knack fan, and I think “Good Girls Don’t” which is also from their debut album “Get The Knack” is a better song than “My Sharona”, but the latter is still the only song they’re famous for. > > Does anyone else have any examples of one hit wonders that actually had other good songs that were never as successful? Frankie Goes To Hollywood–“Relax” got all the airplay (and still does), but “Two Tribes” is a MUCH better song! ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2005, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/26 "2005-04-27T03:01:00Z")
Although it didn’t get the airplay deserved IMHO, _Maybe Tonight_ was a great song. I love The Knack. Someone else posted a few months back about Emmitt Rhodes (solo)-I remember loving his album, too. How about Melanie? Her sappy tunes got airplay, but IIRC she did some respectable stuff on “Candles in the Rain.” I can see you folks have created a storm in my brain that will only be calmed with suitable application of vinyl. _To the record room, Kato-we have listening to do!_ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/27 "2005-04-27T03:09:56Z")
Don’t forget Chuck Berry, whose most memorable songs never charted well, until he finally got a #1 song with _My Ding-a-Ling_. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2005, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/28 "2005-04-27T03:51:39Z")
Ryan Adams (one of my favorite musicians) had his one-hit (minus a few other blips like his **Wonderwall** cover) with spectacular timing, having a song **New York, New York** receiving minor radioplay just prior to 9/11 and quite a lot afterward. I could rattle off about a dozen songs better than **New York** , not even including his Whiskeytown work before going solo. Shawn Mullins had his one-hit with **Lullabye** (…(gravely spoken) they hung out with famous people like Dennis Hopper, Bob Seger, and Sonny and Cher…(sung) Everything’s gonna be alright, rockabye…), but had been recording for years before, as well as after. Even on that one album featuring **Lullabye** , I’d still take a few other songs instead. His cover of Kris Kristofferson’s (best known as performed by Johnny Cash) **Sunday Morning Coming Down** is my favorite version of the song. Pete Yorn scored moderate success with **For Nancy (Cos It Already Is)**, but I prefer **Just Another** and **On Your Side** from the same album. David Gray is pretty much just known for **Babylon** , and as good as it is, **Flame Turns Blue** is better. Clearly I’m showing my preference for contemporary singer-songwriter rock. ---
**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:** [April 27, 2005, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/29 "2005-04-27T04:48:05Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Don’t forget Chuck Berry, whose most memorable songs never charted well, until he finally got a #1 song with _My Ding-a-Ling_. A bit of an overstatement there. “Maybellene,” “School Days,” “Rock & Roll Music,” “Sweet Little Sixteen,” “Johnny B. Goode,” and “No Particular Place to Go” were all Top 10 hits. “Sweet Little Sixteen” was #2 for three weeks. Not too shabby if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![Reepicheep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@Reepicheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reepicheep)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2005, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/30 "2005-04-27T05:22:21Z")
**Chris De Burgh** has _Lady in Red_ as his big hit here in the US. However I happen to think he has done much better songs. The ones that come immediately to my mind are:\* Patricia the Stripper\*, _Moonlight and Vodka_, _Borderline_ and _Devil’s Eye_. _Don’t Pay the Ferryman_ was a minor hit that most people in the US don’t remember, which was also better than\* Lady in Red\*. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/31 "2005-05-10T22:05:51Z")
The Romantics had a big hit with “Talking in Your Sleep”, but I always thought “One in a Million” was a better song. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/32 "2005-05-10T22:11:39Z")
**Head East** only got airplay for “Save My Life” but every song on “Flat as a Pancake” was good. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/33 "2005-05-10T23:32:40Z")
> [@Snakescatlady](#): > > **Head East** only got airplay for “Save My Life” but every song on “Flat as a Pancake” was good. Agreed, but to nitpick, that song’s called “Never been any Reason”. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/34 "2005-05-10T23:48:00Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > The Romantics had a big hit with “Talking in Your Sleep”, but I always thought “One in a Million” was a better song. Yeah, but they’re even better known for “What I Like About You,” so they’re hardly one-hit wonders. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/35 "2005-05-11T00:12:32Z")
> [@Lisa-go-Blind](#): > > Yeah, but they’re even better known for “What I Like About You,” so they’re hardly one-hit wonders. 🙂 I forgot about that one, but I stand by my comment. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/36 "2005-05-11T00:32:13Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > Agreed, but to nitpick, that song’s called “Never been any Reason”. You are entirely correct - I was just too lazy to walk into the house and look at the CD. Apologies are hereby tendered. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/37 "2005-05-11T00:46:02Z")
**Lucious Jackson** had a hit with “Sate of the World” but that’s the worst song on that CD _Natural Ingredients_. Their earlier CD, _Ask For Manny_, is also exceptional. **Portishead** had one hit with “Sour Times” but again that’s the worst song on that CD **Dummy**. (Some of the all-time best booty music ;)) ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/38 "2005-05-11T01:23:20Z")
In addition to In-a-Gadda-da-Vidda, **Iron Butterfly** did a song called _Scorching Beauty_. It gets some airplay as a K-SHE Classic in St Louis. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/39 "2005-05-11T04:25:54Z")
> [@Dooku](#): > > **Lucious Jackson** had a hit with “Sate of the World” but that’s the worst song on that CD _Natural Ingredients_. Their earlier CD, _Ask For Manny_, is also exceptional. The song in question is “Citysong.” The CD is _In Search of Manny._ ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2005, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023/40 "2005-05-11T05:35:18Z")
Well, Bobby McFerrin’s known on the charts for his “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” but went on to very cool and successful career as a jazz singer, and his work as a jazz singer is pretty much completely better than “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-but-its-the-wrong-hit/301023.md?page=3)