# Two hit wonders **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 15, 2003, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387 "2003-11-15T05:05:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/61 "2003-11-17T19:16:44Z")
Someone mentioned **Big Country**. Aside from “In a Big Country” and “Fields of Fire”, they also had a single called “Look Away” that got some airplay. **Simple Minds** also had a pretty successful single called “All the Things She Said” (In addition to “Don’t You Forget About Me” and “Alive and Kicking”. There was a group called **Talk Talk** that had two hit singles I can remember. The first called “Talk Talk”, and the other called “It’s My Life” (which I recently heard in a cover version by I-don’t-know-who). **Real Life** had “Send Me An Angel”, followed up by “Catch Me I’m Falling” (not the same as the single by **Pretty Poison** ). **Haircut 100** had “Love Plus One” and “Boy Meets Girl”. **GTR** had “When The Heart Rules The Mind” and “The Hunter”. I have no backup to support the hit/not hit judgement on any of these. Only fond memories of MTV back before it took itself seriously. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/62 "2003-11-17T19:41:43Z")
Note: I just wanted to say that your forgetting the big ABC hit, “How to be a Millionaire” (well, big for ABC), which is the song I and my (mid-80s new waver) friends most associate with them So they are at least a five-hit wonder, which is 5 more hits than I have. Mr. Mister, did they have any other hits besides “Broken Wings” and “Is it Love?”. Don’t remember… ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/63 "2003-11-17T20:14:23Z")
I think **Procol Harem** would qualify as a two-hit wonder. “A Whiter Shade of Pale” is their best known hit. Their second hit “Conquistador” is lesser known and played. **Corey Heart** would also fit into this category. “Sunglasses at Night” was his first hit, followed by “Never Surrender.” I was going to nominate **Tears for Fears** with “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” and “Shout”, but as I thought about it I realized they’re actually a four-hit wonder. They also had “Head Over Heels” and “Sowing the Seeds of Love.” I don’t recall every hearing anything from them after this. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/64 "2003-11-17T21:09:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Laughing Lagomorph \* > \*\*He did but there was a cover version by another band/artist that received more airplay here in the States (After the Fire, or something?). I did hear Falco’s version on the radio at the time but I don’t think it was a big hit here. > \*\* Actually i think Falco was in After the Fire when they recorded Der Kommissar and then went solo. If you wanna get picky and need a second Falco song then use Vienna Calling Oh we also shouldn;t forget Ultravox - Vienna and Dancing With Tears in My Eyes ---
**Author:** ![dbygawdcapn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dbygawdcapn/32/3995_2.png) [@dbygawdcapn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbygawdcapn)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/65 "2003-11-17T21:51:19Z")
Blue Oyster Cult - “Don’t Fear The Reaper”, “Burning For You” Fabulous Thunderbirds - “Tuff Enuff”, “Wrap It Up” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_scratch\_fever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/73ab20/32.png) [@Cat\_scratch\_fever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_scratch_fever)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2003, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/66 "2003-11-17T23:06:03Z")
marky mark and the funky bunch good vibrations walk on the wild site (even though it was a cover) these were the only 2 that got popular ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/67 "2003-11-18T00:11:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SirRay \* > \*\*Note: I just wanted to say that your forgetting the big ABC hit, “How to be a Millionaire” (well, big for ABC), which is the song I and my (mid-80s new waver) friends most associate with them > So they are at least a five-hit wonder, which is 5 more hits than I have. > > Mr. Mister, did they have any other hits besides “Broken Wings” and “Is it Love?”. Don’t remember… \*\* Kyrie Eleison was their other hit, but I think they stopped at three. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/68 "2003-11-18T00:45:53Z")
Well, most of these are getting shot down, but I’ll try **The Zombies** : _Time of the Season_ and _Tell Her No_. _Friends of Mine_ was an attempt at a hit, but I don’t think it was. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2003, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/69 "2003-11-18T01:27:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BurnMeUp \* > \*\*Actually i think Falco was in After the Fire when they recorded Der Kommissar and then went solo. > \*\* There’s no indication on [After the Fire’s All Music Guide profile](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70311112100192619&sql=1AFTER%7CTHE%7CFIRE) that Falco was ever in the group. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/70 "2003-11-18T01:41:53Z")
Hey, a couple of things. First off, I just thought about it, and I realized that since I’m an American, I’ve been only thinking in terms of the American charts. Are any of you British? Maybe the reason some of the bands that I or others have listed have hits credited to them that I, and some others haven’t heard of is because they were hit’s in the UK but not in the US? Just a theory. Also, I thougth of a few others \*Breathe - **How Can I fall** and **Hands to Heaven** _Johny Hates Jazz_ - **Shattered Dreams** and **I Don’t wanna be a Hero** And finally, and I’m not sure about this… _Swing Out Sister_ - **Twilight World** and **Break Out** Although there’s one other song I’m thinking of, I can’t remeber the name, but it might be a third hit from them. ---
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/71 "2003-11-18T02:04:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bup \* > \*\*Well, most of these are getting shot down, but I’ll try **The Zombies** : _Time of the Season_ and _Tell Her No_. _Friends of Mine_ was an attempt at a hit, but I don’t think it was. \*\* No but_She’s Not There_ actually was a hit. Chris W ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/72 "2003-11-18T04:04:05Z")
I just remembered the _Swing Out Sister_ song I was thinking of, **Am I the Same Girl** , so I guess they have more than two hits. ---
**Author:** ![widdershins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@widdershins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/widdershins)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/73 "2003-11-18T05:01:16Z")
BTW, the cover of Talk Talk’s “It’s My Life” is by No Doubt. Part of the problem here is that we are kind of comparing apples and oranges when we deal withmostly the US and UK pop charts. There are songs that are hit on one side of the Atlantic but not the other. Slade had a long run of hits in the UK, but are only a two hit wonder in the US with “Run Run Away” and “My My Oh My”, both from relatively late in their career. The Status Quo’s only real US hit was “Pictures Of Matchstick Men”, but they also had a long series of hits in the UK. I may be wrong but there are groups who hit it big in the US like Foghat that made little impact overseas (even though most of their members were Brits). Did people like Styx or Billy Squier ever have hit songs overseas? ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/74 "2003-11-18T05:26:59Z")
I just want to thank you people for sticking the ghosts of Corey Hart and Rick Astley in my head. AUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH!!! **dbygawdcapn** - BOC also had a hit with Godzilla. Very popular when I was a junior in high school - this would be 1981. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/75 "2003-11-18T06:21:49Z")
Corey Hart also had a song called _Boy In the Box_, which received moderate airplay, as I recall. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/76 "2003-11-18T06:25:11Z")
Did **Skid Row** have any hits besides **18 and Life to Go** and **I Remember You**? ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/77 "2003-11-18T14:22:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Joel \* > \*\*Did **Skid Row** have any hits besides **18 and Life to Go** and **I Remember You**? \*\* “Youth Gone Wild” was their first hit. I don’t recall ever hearing “I Remember You.” ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/78 "2003-11-18T15:28:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ddgryphon \* > \*\*Kyrie Eleison was their other hit, but I think they stopped at three. \*\* Yeah, I kinda remember that after I posted, but as you know whatever you post on the SDMBn is carved in stone (or some fairly hard substance anyway). I believe the problem here is that "back in the day"™ the opening notes of “Kyrie”, or Squeeze’s “Black Coffee in Bed”, or Thomas Dolby’s “Hyperactive”, or Cyndi Lauper’s “Time after Time”, or anything by Simply Red or Icehouse or Cory Hart … hell, any of a host of other “songs” would instinctively cause my finger to push the radio button for another station (which, unfortunately, may very well be have been playing Greg Khin or Rod Stewart or Rick Springfield :eek: - life was tricky and dangerous back then) ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/79 "2003-11-18T18:06:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lisa-go-Blind \* > \*\*There’s no indication on [After the Fire’s All Music Guide profile](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70311112100192619&sql=1AFTER%7CTHE%7CFIRE) that Falco was ever in the group. \*\* Actually you’re right… i made a mistake… but in further looking Falco wrote Der Kommissar in 1982 as a single. After the Fire released the english version in 1983. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387/80 "2003-11-18T21:45:15Z")
> [@](#): > > Long-lived artist that just doesn’t appeal to the mainstream enough to hit the charts, except once: The Grateful Dead - Touch of Gray Umm, at least twice, I’d think: “Uncle John’s Band”? > [@](#): > > Jethro Tull (!) > Living in the Past (#11, 1972) > Bungle in the Jungle (#12, 1974) And what about “Aqualung”? OK, for my own nomination: did Kansas put anything into major play other than “Carry on My Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-hit-wonders/213387.md?page=5)