# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/141 "2018-09-22T12:10:53Z")
Huh, Falco [died 20 years ago.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falco_(musician)#Death) Who knew? ---
**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 22, 2018, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/142 "2018-09-22T17:32:28Z")
Okay. One more nomination: _Smoke From A Distant Fire_ by Sanford-Townsend Band ## And my last four secondings (lemmee look at the list up above…) Dream Academy: _Life in a Northern Town_ Redbone: _Come and Get Your Love_ Gale Garnett: _We’ll Sing In the Sunshine_ Lee Michaels: _Do You Know What I Mean?_ Notes: Procol Harum’s _Conquistador_ reached #16 in the U.S., and the album (with the Edmonton Symphony) reached #5. Their “Salty Dog” album sold well and is often considered a classic. I like _Crash_ by the Primitives, but Wikipedia says they had four other songs in the Top 40, with two of those in the top 25. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/143 "2018-09-22T18:15:04Z")
Haven’t read thread, so no idea if [The Rapper](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm_cpA5mkus) by the Jaggerz has been mentioned yet. King Missile’s [Detachable Penis](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byDiILrNbM4) ---
**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 22, 2018, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/144 "2018-09-22T18:19:21Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Notes: Procol Harum’s _Conquistador_… I totally forgot about Conquistador. Procol Harum is now off the table. 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 22, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/145 "2018-09-22T18:31:06Z")
The following tunes are in need of a second to make the poll: Alice Merton - No Roots Big Country - In a You-Know-What Billy Thorpe - Children of the Sun Blur - Song no. 2 Bob Kuban - The Cheater Bobby Caldwell - What You Won’t Do For Love Bram Tchaikovsky - Girls of My Dreams Buckner & Garcia - Pacman Fever Buffalo Springfield - For What It’s Worth Charlene - I’ve Never Been To Me Chumbawumba - Tubthumping Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen - Hot Rot Lincoln Coven - One Tin Soldier Crash Test Dummies - Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm Cutting Crew - I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight David Essex - Rock On Dean Friedman - Ariel Deee-Lite - Groove Is In the Heart Diesel - Sausalito Summer Nights Digable Planets - Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat) Disclosure - Latch Dobie Gray - Drift Away Eagle Eye Cherry - Save Tonight EMF - Unbelievable Eumir Deodato - Also Sprach Zarathustra Falco - Rock Me Amadeus Four Jacks and a Jill - Master Jack Gerardo - Rico Suave Gnarls Barkley - Crazy Golden Earring - Radar Love Hot Butter - Popcorn John Fred and his Playboy Band - Judy in Disguise (with glasses) Kate Bush - Running Up the Hill King Missile – Detachable Penis Kongos - Come With Me Now Love and Rockets - So Alive Madness - Our House Martika - Toy Soldiers Martin Briley - Salt In My Tears Masters of Reality - She Got Down Michael Penn - No Myth Midnight Oil - Beds Are Burning Mountain - Mississippi Queen Mouth and MacNeal - How Do You Do Musical Youth - Pass the Dutchie Napoleon XIV - They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha, Ha! Nena - 99 Luftballoons O-Zone - Dragstea Din Tei Player One - Space Invaders Propellerheads - History Repeating Ray Parker, Jr. - Ghostbusters Redbone - Come and Get Your Love Right Said Fred - I’m Too Sexy Rob Jungklas - Memphis Thing Sammy Johns - Chevy Van Sanford-Townsend Band – Smoke from a Distant Fire Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back Spacehog - In the Meantime Spirit - I Got a Line on You Starbuck - Moonlight Feels Right Steve Forbert - Romeo’s Tune Taco - Puttin’ on the Ritz Tarney Spencer Band - No Time To Lose Tasmin Archer - Sleeping Satellite The Beta Band - Dry the Rain The Chantays - Pipeline The Icicle Works - Whisper to a Scream The Jaggerz – The Rapper The Knack - My Sharona The La’s - There She Goes Again The Monroes - What Do All the People Know? The Music Explosion - Little Bit O’ Soul The Normal - Warm Leatherette The Open Mind - Magic Potion The Pipkins - Gimme Dat Ding The Polecats - Make a Circuit with Me The Primitives - Crash The Stampeders - Sweet City Woman The Surfaris - Wipe Out The Swingers - Counting the Beat The Wallflowers - One Headlight The Weather Girls - It’s Raining Men Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me with Science Timmy Thomas - Why Can’t We Live Together Toadies - Possum Kingdom Toni Basil - Mickey Ultravox - Vienna US3 - Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia) Zager & Evans - In the Year 2525 The Cascades – Rhythm of the Rain The Exciters – Tell Him Doris Troy – Just One Look Barrett Strong – Money (That’s What I Want) Gale Garnett – We’ll Sing in the Sunshine Flying Machine – Smile a Little Smile For Me Merrilee Rush – Angel of the Morning Hugh Masakela – Grazing in the Grass Desmond Dekker – Israelites Christie – Yellow River Jonathan Edwards – Sunshine (Go Away Today) ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/146 "2018-09-22T18:36:26Z")
Has anybody mentioned “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/147 "2018-09-22T18:39:41Z")
I won’t say it’s my _favourite_, but the first song to come to my mind was [Earthquake Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_mvejvEdKc) by The Little Girls. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/148 "2018-09-22T19:33:09Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > In the universe where they had only one hit in the top 40 charts. In other words, this one. They had a long career and sold a lot of albums, but had only one top 40 single in the U.S. Same with The Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin. But no, none of those were “one hit wonders”. They all had much music that charted, and were major contributors outside their signature song. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/149 "2018-09-22T19:33:27Z")
I’ll second the following: John Fred and his Playboy Band - Judy in Disguise (with glasses) Sammy Johns - Chevy Van The Knack - My Sharona The Surfaris - Wipe Out I’m avoiding the temptation to second songs that I’ve nominated. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/150 "2018-09-22T19:34:16Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > The Kingsmen – Louie, Louie Again, the Kingsmen were by no means a One hit wonder. Not even close. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/151 "2018-09-22T19:37:01Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > **The following tunes are in need of a second to make the poll:** > Blues Image - Ride Captain Ride > > Gerardo - Rico Suave > > Golden Earring - Radar Love > > Nena - 99 Luftballoons > > Procul Harem - A Whiter Shade of Pale > > Right Said Fred - I’m Too Sexy > > Soft Cell - Tainted Love > > Taco - Puttin’ on the Ritz > > The Surfaris - Wipe Out > > Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me with Science > > Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music > Zager & Evans - In the Year 2525 I will second these. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/152 "2018-09-22T19:39:38Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > For the record: > > Golden Earring, Ray Parker, Jr., and Thomas Dolby are NOT OHWs. I think Dolby qualifies: > **[Thomas Dolby | Discography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Dolby#Discography)** > > 1.The Golden Age of Wireless (1982) | > 2.The Flat Earth (1984) | > 3.Aliens Ate My Buick (1988) | > 4.Astronauts & Heretics (1992) | > 5.A Map of the Floating City (2011) Ray Parker is most definitely NOT a OHW. Nor is Golden Earring. ---
**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 22, 2018, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/153 "2018-09-22T21:52:43Z")
OK, we have 50 tunes. I like round numbers. We’re good to go. [Poll here](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=862665) ---
**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 23, 2018, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/154 "2018-09-23T00:06:27Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > OK, we have 50 tunes. I like round numbers. We’re good to go. > > [Poll here](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=862665) I’m guessing that you have me on ignore, then, right? ---
**Author:** ![actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@actualliberalnotoneofthose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/actualliberalnotoneofthose)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/155 "2018-09-23T00:55:27Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > **The Wallflowers** , who had multiple top 40 hits, don’t count as one hit wonders. Yep, I mentioned that previously. Every single released from their first album and the “Heroes” soundtrack cover, 5 songs total, were in heavy rotation on MTV and charted highly on every rock and pop airplay chart. Maybe some didn’t hit the Hot 100 because of the weird singles chart policy and record label album marketing decisions of the time, but they were hits. ---
**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 23, 2018, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/156 "2018-09-23T01:16:11Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I’m guessing that you have me on ignore, then, right? Of course not. What am I missing? mmm ETA: Oh, now I see it. Oversight. Apologies. ---
**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 23, 2018, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/157 "2018-09-23T03:01:35Z")
Nah. Apologies on my part. Not having a good day. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/158 "2018-09-23T23:58:57Z")
Some already mentioned: Looking Glass - Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl) Sniff ‘n’ the Tears - Driver’s Seat David Naughton - Makin’ It The Surfaris - Wipe Out Billy Paul – Me and Mrs. Jones Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting Soft Cell – Tainted Love Thomas Dolby – She Blinded Me with Science After the Fire – Der Kommisar The Weather Girls – It’s Raining Men Alan O’Day - Undercover Angel Benny Mardones - Into the Night Breathe Carolina - Blackout The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe Christina Perri - Jar of Hearts Cobra Starship - You Make Me Feel… Dan Hartman - I Can Dream About You Dirty Vegas - Days Go By Edwin McCain - I Could Not Ask for More Everything But the Girl - MIssing Jesse Cook - Cafe Mocha Missy Higgins - Where I Stood Moving Pictures - What About Me Naked Eyes - Promises, Promises Neon Trees - Everybody Talks O.A.R. - Shattered (Turn the Car Around) Saliva - Ladies and Gentlemen Teena Marie - Lead Me On Taco – Puttin’ On the Ritz Murray Head – One Night in Bangkok a-ha – Take On Me Baltimora – Tarzan Boy Right Said Fred – I’m Too Sexy The Proclaimers – I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) Natalie Imbruglia – Torn New Radicals – You Get What You Give Gnarls Barkley – Crazy ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/159 "2018-09-24T00:01:27Z")
D’oh! I missed the “only five” rule. So I’ll go with: Sniff ‘n’ the Tears - Driver’s Seat Benny Mardones - Into the Night Christina Perri - Jar of Hearts Cobra Starship - You Make Me Feel… Dan Hartman - I Can Dream About You ---
**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 24, 2018, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602/160 "2018-09-24T12:47:11Z")
I’m sorry, but I need to add “Emotion” by Samantha Sang. One of the best songs of the seventies, IMO. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-your-favorite-one-hit-wonders-gathering-nominations-for-a-possible-poll/821602.md?page=9)