# One hit wonders who don’t deserve to be. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 28, 2018, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628 "2018-01-28T01:27:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/21 "2018-01-29T16:32:31Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > In Europe, Status Quo has been popular and prolific, making great hard rock for 40+ years. Same with **Golden Earring**. They’re a two-hit wonder, and they’ve been around since 1961 (one year after The Beatles formed). ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/22 "2018-01-29T16:41:26Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Fountains of Wayne should be known for more than Stacy’s Mom. Lots of great music. Definitely. They had one other ‘Hot 100’ song ([“Radiation Vibe”](http://www.musicvf.com/Fountains+of+Wayne.art)), and (bizarrely) a second Top 40 hit in the U.K. (“I Want An Alien For Christmas”), a novelty song if ever there was one. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/23 "2018-01-29T17:00:49Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Same with **Golden Earring**. They’re a two-hit wonder, and they’ve been around since 1961 (one year after The Beatles formed). They were going to be my nomination to this thread, as well. Their [discography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Earring_discography) on Wikipedia indicates that they’ve had considerably more success in their native Netherlands and a few other European countries, but never really broke through elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/24 "2018-01-29T17:06:39Z")
I want to nominate **Folk Implosion** even though they had two known songs, and I’m not sure either of them was quite a hit. But people seem to know only one of their songs or the other, so I’m going to argue for their inclusion. [Natural One](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiD2MxSaSG4) was a mainstay on alternative stations in the mid-90s, especially after it was included on the _Kids_ soundtrack. [Free to Go](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=136Cx-tXc0k) had some success when it was included on the _American Beauty_ soundtrack, but their entire album _One Part Lullaby_ was worthy of significant play on radio. ---
**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 29, 2018, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/25 "2018-01-29T17:12:35Z")
Dexy’s Midnight Runners has a lot of fantastic music and albums, but, here in the US, they are only known for “Come On, Eileen.” ---
**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 29, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/26 "2018-01-29T17:14:31Z")
Also, might The Knack qualify? They also had the “Good Girls Don’t” single, so I don’t know, but they are primarily known for “My Sharona.” That first album is pure power pop gold from first track to last. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/27 "2018-01-29T17:21:48Z")
From a U.S. standpoint, I’ll also nominate [Bruce Cockburn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Cockburn). He’s had a long, successful career as a singer and songwriter in Canada, and has won a ton of awards and honors there, but he only had one song make the Top 40 in the U.S. (“[Wondering Where the Lions Are](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6Lpx6JIMmk)” hit #21 in 1979). Parenthetical: when I was attending the University of Wisconsin in the 1980s, Cockburn performed at the theater in the student union there. I saw his tour bus parked outside the union; the “name plate” on the front of the bus read “NO 1 U NO” (no one you know). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/28 "2018-01-29T18:58:35Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > I want to nominate **Folk Implosion** even though they had two known songs, and I’m not sure either of them was quite a hit. But people seem to know only one of their songs or the other, so I’m going to argue for their inclusion. > > [Natural One](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiD2MxSaSG4) was a mainstay on alternative stations in the mid-90s, especially after it was included on the _Kids_ soundtrack. [Free to Go](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=136Cx-tXc0k) had some success when it was included on the _American Beauty_ soundtrack, but their entire album _One Part Lullaby_ was worthy of significant play on radio. Folk Implosion was an offshoot of Sebadoh, which was Lou Barlow’s (from Dinosaur Jr.) next group. It’s indie rock, meaning it’s not about singles very much. It’s good to have a hit but i don’t think it was intentional. So it’s not wrong if they don’t have any more. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/29 "2018-01-29T19:04:00Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Dexy’s Midnight Runners has a lot of fantastic music and albums, but, here in the US, they are only known for “Come On, Eileen.” Which in my mind will now forever be attached to [this scene in Preacher](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-0WuFYM4Bw). ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/30 "2018-01-29T19:21:09Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Which in my mind will now forever be attached to [this scene in Preacher](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-0WuFYM4Bw). Not a shite song at all! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/31 "2018-01-29T19:24:04Z")
The Divinyls were much better than only “I Touch Myself.” Same with Concrete Blonde and “Joey.” ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/32 "2018-01-29T20:28:48Z")
In my mind, it’s not fair to label someone who had a long successful career but only one song that charted a one hit wonder. That label should be reserved for artists whose one hit is pretty much all they did. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/33 "2018-01-29T22:37:46Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > In my mind, it’s not fair to label someone who had a long successful career but only one song that charted a one hit wonder. That label should be reserved for artists whose one hit is pretty much all they did. Yes, I agree, for example, Janis Joplin had one, count em _one_ top 40 hit, which did get all the way to #1. (she had two others _almost_ get to Top 40 and two other singles chart). The Dead only had one hit in the BillBoard top 40. (six charted in the Top 100) But of course you had to see them in concert, they were a concert band. Now, Norman Greenbaum was a true “One Hit Wonder” but damn, what a hit! ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/34 "2018-01-29T22:58:58Z")
Dada only got airplay for “[Dizz Knee Land](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daa9pZDxfIY),” which is a good song and all but they turned out a lot of good moody '90s indie rock and had a very good sound. I’d say “[Ask The Dust](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLMbQ5FwmuA)” is fairly quintessential for them and should have gotten more attention than it did. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/35 "2018-01-30T00:02:53Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, I agree, for example, Janis Joplin had one, count em _one_ top 40 hit, which did get all the way to #1. Actually, she had two. _Me and Bobby McGee_ went to number 1 and was in the top 40 for 12 weeks. _Piece of My Heart_ went to number 12 and was in the top 40 for 8 weeks. The point is well-taken, though. I wouldn’t call Janis Joplin a two-hit wonder, either. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/36 "2018-01-30T00:17:34Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Actually, she had two. _Me and Bobby McGee_ went to number 1 and was in the top 40 for 12 weeks. _Piece of My Heart_ went to number 12 and was in the top 40 for 8 weeks. > > The point is well-taken, though. I wouldn’t call Janis Joplin a two-hit wonder, either. True, good point, altho that was as a member of Big Brother & The Holding Company. Kids will pretty much only know her from _Me and Bobby McGee_. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/37 "2018-01-30T00:26:57Z")
I nominate Glenn Yarbrough. He had initial success as part of The Limelighters folk group, but his only real single hit was “Baby The Rain Must Fall”, which hit #12 on the pop charts and #2 on easy listening. But the man recorded prolifically, and had a beautiful tenor voice that lent itself well to love songs and ballads. I probably owned 7 or 8 of his albums, particularly the ones where he put Rod McKuen’s poems to song, and I saw him in concert when I was in college. When I looked him up just now, I was sad to see that he died two years ago at 86 from dementia and other issues. And without much fanfare, either. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/38 "2018-01-30T00:58:13Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I nominate Glenn Yarbrough. He had initial success as part of The Limelighters folk group, but his only real single hit was “Baby The Rain Must Fall”, which hit #12 on the pop charts and #2 on easy listening. But the man recorded prolifically, and had a beautiful tenor voice that lent itself well to love songs and ballads. I probably owned 7 or 8 of his albums, particularly the ones where he put Rod McKuen’s poems to song, and I saw him in concert when I was in college. When I looked him up just now, I was sad to see that he died two years ago at 86 from dementia and other issues. And without much fanfare, either. I love the Limelighters myself. Nice sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/39 "2018-01-30T01:14:47Z")
Australia’s The Church briefly broke thru in the US with [“Under the Milky Way”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWxJEIz7sSA)–then pretty much vanished from the charts here. They have close to 20 studio albums now. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628/40 "2018-01-30T01:18:45Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > From a U.S. standpoint, I’ll also nominate [Bruce Cockburn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Cockburn). He’s had a long, successful career as a singer and songwriter in Canada, and has won a ton of awards and honors there, but he only had one song make the Top 40 in the U.S. (“[Wondering Where the Lions Are](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6Lpx6JIMmk)” hit #21 in 1979). > > Parenthetical: when I was attending the University of Wisconsin in the 1980s, Cockburn performed at the theater in the student union there. I saw his tour bus parked outside the union; the “name plate” on the front of the bus read “NO 1 U NO” (no one you know). 🙂 I think he could have done with a stage name. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders-who-don-t-deserve-to-be/807628.md?page=3)