# 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:** 5
**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, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/81 "2018-09-20T22:06:26Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > 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. I concur, so also The Dead don’t qualify. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/82 "2018-09-21T01:07:11Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > It was great but that band had several hits… even in the USA I didn’t know that. It looks like another song went to #34 — I’d still call them a one-hit wonder, myself. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/83 "2018-09-21T01:18:14Z")
The following tunes have been seconded and are in the poll (no need to nominate/second): After the Fire – Der Kommissar A-ha – Take On Me Arlo Guthrie – City of New Orleans Blind Melon – No Rain Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Come On Eileen Focus – Hocus Pocus Fountains of Wayne – Stacy’s Mom Gary Numan – Cars Georgia Satellites – Keep Your Hands To Yourself Harvey Danger – Flagpole Sitta Hurricane Smith – Oh, Babe What Would You Say Iron Butterfly – In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida Looking Glass – Brandy Men Without Hats – Safety Dance Mungo Jerry – In the Summertime Natalie Imbruglia – Torn Norman Greenbaum – Spirit in the Sky Ram Jam – Black Betty Sniff ‘n the Tears – Driver’s Seat Starland Vocal Band – Afternoon Delight Swingin’ Madalions – Double Shot (of My Baby’s Love) The Buggles – Video Killed the Radio Star The Easybeats – Friday On My Mind The Kings – The Beat Goes On/Switching To Glide The Kingsmen – Louie, Louie The Raspberries – Go All the Way Tommy Tutone – 867-5309/Jenny T’Pau – Heart and Soul mmm ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/84 "2018-09-21T01:20:01Z")
The following Dopers still have nominations or seconds to give (for various reasons) if desired: 5 time champ – may submit 1 more Aceplace57 – 4 more Ahunter3 – 4 Ambivalid – 4 Annie-Xmas – 4 Blondebear – 3 BobLibDem – 4 Cell Guy – 4 Chefguy – 3 Clawdio – 3 Enlightening Meditation – 3 EscAlaMike – 4 Hook – 4 Jerseymule – 1 JKellyMap – 1 Just Asking Questions – 1 Lancia – 1 Marvin the Martian – 3 Nearwildheaven – 2 PastTense – 4 Projammer – 3 Psychonaut – 2 Sefton – 3 Suburban Plankton – 1 Wesley Clark – 1 What Exit? – 4 Xizor – 1 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/85 "2018-09-21T01:28:27Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > The following tunes have been seconded and are in the poll (no need to nominate/second): > The Kingsmen – Louie, Louie The Kingsmen are not a one hit wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/86 "2018-09-21T01:46:57Z")
If you have noms to give, and you’re stuck, here are a few suggestions: Ace – How Long Billy Paul – Me and Mrs. Jones Bobby McFerrin – Don’t Worry, Be Happy Bow Wow Wow – I Want Candy Brewer & Shipley – One Toke Over the Line Bruce Channel – Hey! Baby Devo – Whip It Eddy Grant – Electric Avenue Edison Lighthouse – Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) Five Stairsteps – O-o-h Child Free – All Right Now Gnarls Barkley – Crazy Human Beinz – Nobody But Me Kajagoogoo – Too Shy King Harvest – Dancing in the Moonlight Lipps Inc. – Funkytown M – Pop Muzik Midnight Oil – Beds Are Burning Sir Mix-A-Lot – Baby Got Back Spiral Staircase – More Today Than Yesterday Steam – Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye Sugarhill Gang – Rapper’s Delight The Ataris – The Boys of Summer The Breeders – Cannonball The Capitols – Cool Jerk The Contours – Do You Love Me The Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup The Knickerbockers – Lies The Proclaimers – I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) The Standells – Dirty Water The Vapors – Turning Japanese Thunderclap Newman – Something in the Air Wild Cherry – Play That Funky Music ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/87 "2018-09-21T01:55:03Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > “Shaddap You Face”-Lou Monte “Pepino the Italian Mouse” charted at #5 in 1962 for Lou Monte. Probably drove my parents crazy playing that, and the flip side “What did Washington say when he crossed the Delaware?” on my little mono record player. Let me take your suggestion for **Midnight Oil** Beds are Burnin’. Didn’t necessarily think Midnight Oil was a OHW. ---
**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 21, 2018, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/88 "2018-09-21T02:38:28Z")
My seconds Looking Glass - Brandy Tommy Tuton 867-5309/Jenny Starland Vocal Band - Afternoon Delight Wild Cherry – Play That Funky Music That’s 5 total including my nominated Drift Away ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/89 "2018-09-21T02:49:34Z")
Eddy Grant had another hit with the theme song from “Romancing The Stone.” Ace’s lead singer, Paul Carrack, later had multiple hits as the singer for Mike + The Mechanics. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/90 "2018-09-21T03:00:09Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Looking Glass - Brandy > > Starland Vocal Band - Afternoon Delight > > Wild Cherry – Play That Funky Music I love all three. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/91 "2018-09-21T03:00:12Z")
Putting Zevon in there because Werewolves is the only one that charted well, is like putting the Grateful Dead in there because their only big hit was Touch of Grey. Both are kind of missing the point for those artists. Like dinging Kate Bush for only charting well with, “Running Up That Hill.” I haven’t read through the rest of the thread, but why was Nena’s, “99 Luftballons” excluded? Did we get Taco, “Puttin on the Ritz,” yet? As for “Der Kommissar,” if we give the credit to After the Fire’s cover, then I guess we can also call Falco a one hit wonder for “Rock me Amadeus.” Some bands that have been mentioned already: Soft Cell had a few hits besides Tainted Love. “Memorabilia” was much bigger in nightclubs than on the charts, and “Sex Dwarf,” was a funny song that should have been a bigger dance hit than I guess it was. Midnight Oil had “Blue Sky Mine” that charted really high in the US too. 47 on the Billboard Hot 100, but 1 in the Modern Rock chart, so sez the wiki: [Blue Sky Mine - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Sky_Mine) (Why yes, I was in middle school/high school in the 80s; why do you ask?) Do we count The Tubes as a 1-hit wonder for “She’s a Beauty.”? ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/92 "2018-09-21T03:13:50Z")
Others: Thomas Dolby had a modest hit with “Airhead,” off of “Aliens ate My Buick.” The album is great if you are a fan of his, and it really shows the influence that playing with George Clinton had on him. Devo’s cover of “I Can’t Get No (Satisfaction)” charted higher in the UK than did Whip It. Per this site: [DEVO | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company](http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/16832/devo/) It’s definitely a cover they made their own. Gnarls Barkley had two singles off of The Odd Couple that made top 100 for various Billboard charts in the US: “Run (I’m a Natural Disaster)” and “Going On.” I don’t see Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” in the list. About as hard to avoid when it came out as Murray Head with “One Night In Bangkok.” Though I guess Head’s work with Jesus Christ Superstar makes it not a one-hit wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/93 "2018-09-21T03:23:16Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > That’s true but it placed 180th, not quite a “hit”. Not sure I understood this;\* Friday On My Mind\* was Top 20 in the U.S. Noms: _[Pipeline](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=omG-hZfN6zk)_ by the Chantays (my favorite surf tune). And, yeah _Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye_ by Steam A couple of mentions: _Sweet City Woman_ by the Stampeders (they had a #40 follow-up, and hits in Canada). _How Do You Do?_ by Mouth and McNeal (they had some EuroHits). ---
**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:** [September 21, 2018, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/94 "2018-09-21T03:25:06Z")
**Sukiyaki** (_Ue o Muite Arukō_), by Kyu Sakamoto has to be one of the biggest single hits. It sold 13 million copies and hit #1 on the Billboard chart, #1 on the Japanese charts, #18 on the R&B chart, #1 in Canada, Australia and Norway, #2 in Germany, and #1 on the US Contemporary chart. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/95 "2018-09-21T03:41:19Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Ace’s lead singer, Paul Carrack, later had multiple hits as the singer for Mike + The Mechanics. I knew Carrack was in another band in between, and that band was Squeeze. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/96 "2018-09-21T03:52:14Z")
> [@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. > [@DrDeth](#): > > The Kingsmen are not a one hit wonder. Explain this. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/97 "2018-09-21T04:13:36Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Not sure I understood this;\* Friday On My Mind\* was Top 20 in the U.S. > > . :smack: You are correct. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/98 "2018-09-21T04:16:37Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Explain this. > **[The Kingsmen | Singles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kingsmen#Singles)** > > 1.Original Great Northwest Hits, Volume 1 (Jerden JRL 7001, 1964) – "Louie Louie" | > 2.Original Great Northwest Hits, Volume 2 (Jerden JRL 7002, 1964) – "J.A.J." | > 3.The Groups are the Greatest – The Greatest of the Groups (Scepter 518, 1964) – "Louie Louie", "Money", "Bent Scepter" | > 4.Murray The K – The Fifth Beatle Gives You Their Golden Gassers (Scepter 524, 1964) – "Louie Louie", "Money" | > 5.The Greatest on Stage (Wand 661, 1965) – "David's Mood", "Money", "Louie Louie" | > 6.How to Stuff ... “Money” / “Bent Scepter” (Wand 150) 1964 ( **#16** ) The Jolly Green Giant" / “Long Green” (Wand 172) 1964 (**#4)** \*The Kingsmen’s 1964 follow up to “Louie Louie” was a party version of “Money (That’s What I Want)” which hit the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 16 and on Cashbox at No. 17. Then came “Little Latin Lupe Lu” peaking on Billboard at No. 46 and Cashbox at No. 49. After that it was “Death of An Angel” No. 33 on Cashbox and No. 42 on Billboard. 1965 saw the Kingsmen return to the Top 10 nationally with “The Jolly Green Giant” reaching No. 4 on Billboard and No. 8 on Cashbox. The follow-up song was “The Climb” No. 45 on Cashbox and No. 65 on Billboard. “Annie Fanny” was released next reaching No. 43 on Cashbox & No. 47 on Billboard. Next came “(You Got) The Gamma Goochee” No. 98 on Cashbox & No. 122 on Billboard. The group also appeared in the beach party movie How To Stuff A Wild Bikini singing “Give Her Lovin’”. Their recording of the title song was also on the soundtrack album. In 1966 the Kingsmen continued to hit the charts, with “Killer Joe” reaching No. 77 on Billboard & No. 81 on Cashbox. In 1967 they made the chart for the last time with “Bo Diddley Bach” reaching No. 128 on Billboard.\* ---
**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 21, 2018, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/99 "2018-09-21T04:25:33Z")
> [@5\_time\_champ](#): > > Let me take your suggestion for **Midnight Oil** Beds are Burnin’. Didn’t necessarily think Midnight Oil was a OHW. Yeah, it looks like “Beds are Burning” was the only one to hit the Hot 100, but I remember Forgotten Years, Blue Sky Mine, Truganini, and King of the Mountain getting play on the alternative stations here (WXRT and Q101) back in the day. Looks like all of those hit top 5 on the Alternative Charts. I’m actually a bit surprised neither “Blue Sky Mine” nor “Truganini” made the Hot 100, as I’ve heard them loads (and I don’t own a single Midnight Oil album. I did see them live in Tasmania, though, back in the summer of '93.) So if “Louie Louie” is withdrawn, I’ll replace that vote with one for Midnight Oil and Beds are Burning. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/100 "2018-09-21T05:41:08Z")
Ignorance fought! Well done! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602.md?page=6)