# One hit wonders **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 30, 2002, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686 "2002-11-30T22:42:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![zeldarae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/f14d63/32.png) [@zeldarae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zeldarae)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/61 "2002-12-05T18:25:45Z")
I inherited a great K-Tel album from my mother called “I Believe In Music.” It has all the hits that came out in the summer of 1972, the majority being OHWs. The one that sticks out the most in my mind was “How Do You Do?” by Mouth and McNeal. Anybody else remember this one? I was 5 at the time, and recall riding to the beach and this song playing on our local AM station. Ah, how I long for the days of mono music in a car with only speakers in the front. ---
**Author:** ![zeldarae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/f14d63/32.png) [@zeldarae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zeldarae)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/62 "2002-12-05T18:31:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dougie\_monty \* > “When I Need You”–Leo Sayer \*\* I also recall he had an earlier hit with a song called “I Can’t Dance.” Why do I fill my head with this useless junk? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![zeldarae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/f14d63/32.png) [@zeldarae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zeldarae)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/63 "2002-12-05T18:32:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dougie\_monty \* > “When I Need You”–Leo Sayer \*\* I also recall he had an earlier hit with a song called “I Can’t Dance.” Why do I fill my head with this useless junk? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![zeldarae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/f14d63/32.png) [@zeldarae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zeldarae)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/64 "2002-12-05T18:39:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dougie\_monty \* > “When I Need You”–Leo Sayer \*\* I also recall he had an earlier hit with a song called “I Can’t Dance.” As a matter of fact, Drew Carey did one his song and dance numbers to this song. Why do I fill my head with this useless junk? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/65 "2002-12-05T18:41:47Z")
The actual title of that song is “Long Tall Glasses.” ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/66 "2002-12-05T18:49:49Z")
Another thing to keep in mind regarding OHWs is that a true OHW band has still done a pretty impressive thing. How many bands even get that far? How many bands would love to have even a single hit? While it’s certainly better to have a long successful career, one hit is nothing to sneeze at. ---
**Author:** ![sugaree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@sugaree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugaree)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/67 "2002-12-05T19:30:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lazymexicanamerican \* > \*\* Johnny Ray? i dunno if that was his name. He didn’t even last long enough for more than a single but i do remember the song… Are you johnny ray… who wants to know it basically repeats different rays followed by who wants to know… > \*\* Perhaps you are thinking of “C’mon on, Eileen,” which has been mentioned in this thread already. It starts with the line “Poor old Johnny Ray.” The Johnny Ray mentioned in “Eileen” was a sort of crooner in the early 50s. That was before my time, but I think that he was very popular with teenagers. His career died with the advent of rock and roll. Singer/moll Phyllis Maguire saw him dancing with gossip columnist Dorothy Kilgallen the night before she died. Yes, chalk me up as another person with a brain full of useless factoids. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/68 "2002-12-05T20:31:08Z")
How 'bout the infamous “Billy Don’t be a Hero” by Bo Donalson and the Heywoods? Great song the first time you hear it, but then it’s trapped in your brain forever. And then there was “The Night Chicago Died” by Paper Lace… ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/69 "2002-12-05T22:18:55Z")
“On Top of Old Smoky” by Sharon & The Lollipops (little girls’ singing group). “Telstar” by the Tornadoes. “You Belong to Ever-Lovin’ Me” by Patience & Prudence. (Dare I say it?) 😃 “MacArthur Park” by Richard Harris. “The D-O-D-G-E-R-S Song (Oh Really? No, O’Malley!” by Danny Kaye. “Chicago” by Graham Nash. “It’s a Heartache” by Bonnie Tyler. “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” by Spike Jones, Jr. “May the Bird of Paradise Fly up Your Nose” by Little Jimmy Dickens. “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter” by Billy Williams. (Note: Fats Waller recorded this song first) ---
**Author:** ![zeldarae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/f14d63/32.png) [@zeldarae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zeldarae)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/70 "2002-12-05T22:26:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dougie\_monty \* > “It’s a Heartache” by Bonnie Tyler. > \*\* Bonnie had a comeback in the States in the 80’s and 90’s with “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and “Hero”. “It’ a Heartache” is still my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![hegel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/cab0a1/32.png) [@hegel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hegel)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2002, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686/71 "2002-12-05T22:57:26Z")
It’s Jimmy Ray, not Johnny Ray. Here’s a link. [http://www.artistdirect.com/music/artist/card/0,,658462,00.html](http://www.artistdirect.com/music/artist/card/0,,658462,00.html) What about Skee-Lo? “I Wish,” anyone? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/one-hit-wonders/139686.md?page=3)