And a fourth category:
Long-lived artist that just doesn’t appeal to the mainstream enough to hit the charts, except once: The Grateful Dead - Touch of Gray
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.
wolf_meister I’ve never heard that third Motels song. It’s a good one, huh?
** Murray Head **–“Superstar” and “One Night in Bangkok.”
one night in bangkok is from Chess (correct?) has anyone seen this stage show?
I think that Murray Head’s only hit was One Night in Bangkok. He may have releaed the single Superstar, but was it actually a hit?
Actually, on a related topic, I use to think that all singles were hits, but my wife pointed out that just because an artist/group releases a single on the radio, doesn’t necissarilly mean that it’ll become a hit.
Oh, and I just remembered a couple of others
Information Society - Pure Energy and Think
Erasure - Chains of Love and Respect
“Superstar” went up to 17 on the charts before the LP came out. Maybe not a huge hit, bit a good showing.
I saw Chess on and off-Broadway. I wish someone would bring it back and do the book and staging right.
What about Little Fighter, Tell Me, their remake of Radar Love, and something else I can’t think of?
Little fighter sounds vaugly familiar, but the other two I’m not familiar with at all. Were they actually hits, or just singles that the band released?
Well, so far as chart positions, I can’t help you there. But I DO recall Radar Love getting HUGE amounts of airplay when it was released. And it still pops up every once in a while. And, for the record, I DO mean the remake. Not the Golden Earring version. Who, by the way, also had the hit Twilight Zone. You know, the one that goes:
Golden Earring
5 man electrical band:
Signs
You’re absolutely right
Both songs sucked.
Also Looking Glass:
Brandy
Jimmy loves Maryann
compelling treacle.
Big Country:
“In a Big Country”
“Fields of Fire”
For those wondering about that 3rd Motels’ song, here is a link to the lyrics:
http://www.driko.org/lyrics/takethel.txt
The Left Banke – Walk Away Renee (#5) and Pretty Ballerina (#15). (They had a third song at #98, but that’s hardly a hit.)
Flash and the Pan had two single on the charts – Hey St. Peter and Media Man*, but neither rose particularly high.
**Moo the Magic Cow ** you can’t call Hammer a 2 hit wonder becasue he had 3 platnium albums. Even if he only had one legit hit on each on, thats still 3 hits.
riserius1 hit the nail on the head. Jus becasue they don’t play them much now, doesn’t mean there weren’t at one time.
And for my two cents
Arested Development: Everyday People. Tennesse
a case could be made for MR.Wendal, but I choose to ignore it. all three are great and you should go check them out.
Falco did have twp Top 40 hits in the US, but the other one was “Vienna Calling”.
How about the Thompson Twins, with “Lies” and “Hold Me Now”?
Ah, but you forget Doctor! Doctor! and Lay Your Hands on Me
“Take The L” (the whole title… I thought it was ‘el’ as in ‘elevated train’) wasn’t a Top 40 hit, but it had a fairly unusual/memorable video so you might call it an MTV hit.
The Motels other Billboard Hot 100 hits include “Shame” at 21 and “Remember The Nights” at 36… those I recall hearing. (no MTV)