# What are your favorite one-hit wonders? (gathering nominations for a possible poll) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 19, 2018, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602 "2018-09-19T21:14:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/61 "2018-09-20T17:26:22Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I really can’t agree with this. “Here Comes The Rain Again” and “Would I Like to You?” were both huge here, too, top 5 hits. Calling them a one-hit wonder is really stretching the term beyond usefulness. Exactly. Let’s not confuse “one-hit wonder” with “signature song”. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2018, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/62 "2018-09-20T17:39:20Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Exactly. Let’s not confuse “one-hit wonder” with “signature song”. I was tempted myself to name the Knack with “My Sharona,” but “Good Girls Don’t” was enough of a hit that I _think_ that disqualifies them (and it only hit #11, where the Eurythmics had 3 top fives and 10 top forties.) That said, “My Sharona” does come up on one-hit wonder lists, so who knows. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/63 "2018-09-20T17:47:36Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Norman Greenbaum - Spirit in the Sky Hands down. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/64 "2018-09-20T19:03:04Z")
Barry McGuire - [Eve of Destruction](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfZVu0alU0I) Shocking Blue (in the US, anyway) - [Venus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPEhQugz-Ew) ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/65 "2018-09-20T19:31:33Z")
> [@EscAlaMike](#): > > Wallflowers - One Headlight > > seems like it deserves a mention They had 4 songs that charted on multiple formats and got overplayed on MTV from that 1 album alone. Plus, the “Heroes” cover. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/66 "2018-09-20T19:53:32Z")
Drift Away by Dobie Gray Great singer. I always wondered why he wasn’t more successful. Wikipedia indicates he was active for many years. Did some sound tracks. But never achieved any more hits. ---
**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:** [September 20, 2018, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/67 "2018-09-20T20:19:56Z")
> [@bmoak](#): > > “Driver’s Seat” by Sniff 'n The Tears > “Der Kommissar” but After The Fire These are two of my favorites, so I’m seconding them! Links: [Driver’s Seat](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blrHHRWKygw) [Der Kommissar](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBfFDTPPlaM) I also would have seconded Dung Beetle’s vote for Donnie Iris’s “[Ah! Leah!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH5Arbm47IQ)”, but as I think he was noting, Iris actually had two other top 40 singles in the US (“[Love Is Like a Rock](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcbndNeCO-s)” and “[My Girl](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcG7OPm1xCw)”). My nominations: [Tarney Spencer Band - No Time To Lose](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXjZy2LrlXo) [Martin Briley - Salt In My Tears](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=netMRfWRTTY) [Bobby Caldwell - What You Won’t Do For Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gru4IfbKlfU) [Kongos - Come With Me Now](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz2GVlQkn4Q) [M - Pop Muzik](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPoiv0sZ4s4) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/68 "2018-09-20T20:28:27Z")
“Love Is Like A Rock” is by far the best of the Donnie Iris hits. I also saw him live, as an opening act for Loverboy. He put on the better show, but that concert is remarkable to me because it was the show where I had the most fun, out of all the concerts I’ve ever attended. Argent also wrote and originally recorded “God Gave Rock & Roll To You,” which was covered by both KISS and the Christian band Petra. Petra wanted to change several of the words, which was approved by Argent, and the KISS song is a remake of the original version. I’ll also nominate “Head to Toe” by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam. Yeah, it’s totally commercial 80s music, but I’ve always loved that song. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/69 "2018-09-20T20:39:15Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I’ll also nominate “Head to Toe” by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam. Yeah, it’s totally commercial 80s music, but I’ve always loved that song. I like it too, but [they had more hits](https://www.billboard.com/music/lisa-lisa-and-cult-jam). How about “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/70 "2018-09-20T20:45:23Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > I already used up my picks and seconds, but I must agree that Procul Harum’s “Whiter Shade of Pale” is a great choice, and I hope someone seconds it. It was great but that band had several hits… even in the USA ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/71 "2018-09-20T20:48:05Z")
> [@Enlightening\_Meditation](#): > > “Louis Louis” by The Kingsmen. The recording is shoddy with a vocal miscue. This cover of the song is great in outsized influence. > . Kingsmen had several hits, including a cover of [_Money (That’s What I Want)._ ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/72 "2018-09-20T20:59:59Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > **Dexy’s** had only one hit in the US. We had a mention of the \*\*Grateful Dead \*\*and while technically correct, it was very odd as the group was hugely successful for 30+ years. Also I had assumed Truckin’ was a hit at some point but it only reached #64 on the charts. Well, do we define hit as top 100 or top 40? I will add both 1982- _Tainted Love_ – Soft Cell [Tainted Love - Search Videos](https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Tainted+Love&&view=detail&mid=68F70DAC0F82AB41B4A868F70DAC0F82AB41B4A8&&FORM=VRDGAR) _Mickey_ – Toni Basil [https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=mickey+toni+basil&&view=detail&mid=3F57F2532FFEACADC14F3F57F2532FFEACADC14F&&FORM=VRDGAR](https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=mickey+toni+basil&&view=detail&mid=3F57F2532FFEACADC14F3F57F2532FFEACADC14F&&FORM=VRDGAR) Mickey got a Weird Al parody, so that has to give extra points. [https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q="weird+al"+yankovic+ricky&docid=608037835492166997&mid=BF11C7CCFE9F98E6084FBF11C7CCFE9F98E6084F&view=detail&FORM=VIRE](https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=%22weird+al%22+yankovic+ricky&docid=608037835492166997&mid=BF11C7CCFE9F98E6084FBF11C7CCFE9F98E6084F&view=detail&FORM=VIRE) so did _Rico Suave_ – Gerardo [https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=gerardo+rico+suave&docid=608038252092392394&mid=018BB2DFB6D73D6804BC018BB2DFB6D73D6804BC&view=detail&FORM=VIRE](https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=gerardo+rico+suave&docid=608038252092392394&mid=018BB2DFB6D73D6804BC018BB2DFB6D73D6804BC&view=detail&FORM=VIRE) [https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=weird+al+rico+suave&&view=detail&mid=C801039FF07D337F1B36C801039FF07D337F1B36&&FORM=VRDGAR](https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=weird+al+rico+suave&&view=detail&mid=C801039FF07D337F1B36C801039FF07D337F1B36&&FORM=VRDGAR) And for something different-_Always Look on the Bright Side of Life_– Monty Python [https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q="Always+Look+on+the+Bright+Side+of+Life"+–+Monty+Python&&view=detail&mid=1A0CC91317615738DABF1A0CC91317615738DABF&&FORM=VRDGAR](https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=%22Always+Look+on+the+Bright+Side+of+Life%22+%E2%80%93+Monty+Python&&view=detail&mid=1A0CC91317615738DABF1A0CC91317615738DABF&&FORM=VRDGAR) It has grown beyond it’s source. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/73 "2018-09-20T21:01:08Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Arlo Guthrie - City of New Orleans (Alice’s Restaurant did not chart) Great song, I will second. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/74 "2018-09-20T21:02:41Z")
> [@Hook](#): > > If one-hit is defined as US charts, then **Friday on my Mind** by **The Easybeats** should qualify: > > They had many hits in Australia and the UK certainly but I am pretty sure this was their only charting song in the US. That’s true but it placed 180th, not quite a “hit”. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/75 "2018-09-20T21:05:45Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > How about “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon? Good choice and his only other “hit” was #57, so I second this. Question:“Well, I saw Lon Chaney walking with the Queen Doing the Werewolves of London I saw Lon Chaney, Jr. walking with the Queen Doing the Werewolves of London” did he see two seperate men, or just one? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/76 "2018-09-20T21:13:39Z")
Here is a strange one: _Me and Bobby McGee_, Janis Joplin’s only top 40 hit as a solo artist. \*Cry Baby \*and _Kozmic Blues_ placed just under Top 40. _Piece of My Heart_ placed #12 but as a member of Big Brother & The Holding Company. What do you dudes think? ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/77 "2018-09-20T21:26:21Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Here is a strange one: _Me and Bobby McGee_, Janis Joplin’s only top 40 hit as a solo artist. > > \*Cry Baby \*and _Kozmic Blues_ placed just under Top 40. > _Piece of My Heart_ placed #12 but as a member of Big Brother & The Holding Company. > > What do you dudes think? I would hold that this might qualify as a technicality, it just doesn’t pass the smell test. You could equally argue that Derek and the Dominoes is a one hit wonder because they only had one single (_Layla_) that charted in the top 30. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/78 "2018-09-20T21:30:48Z")
“Pass the Dutchie”-Musical Youth “Shaddap You Face”-Lou Monte “Pacman Fever”-Buckner & Garcia “Buffalo Stance”-Neneh Cherry “In The Meantime”-Spacehog ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/79 "2018-09-20T21:57:32Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Kingsmen had several hits, including a cover of [_Money (That’s What I Want)._ Is there anyone that didn’t cover that song? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/80 "2018-09-20T21:58:52Z")
> [@Scougs](#): > > If I was still eating my lunch, I would be choking on it again. David Essex? Eurythmics? At least there is an acknowledgement that Eurythmics had other hits, but over here their Greatest Hits CD was one of the biggest sellers ever. And it had more than one track on it… I just looked up David Essex, I see he was way bigger in the UK than in the US. Over here, he only had one song crack the top 70 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602.md?page=5)