# What artist made the biggest career out of one song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 17, 2007, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079 "2007-07-17T02:17:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/41 "2007-07-17T12:36:58Z")
Jimmy Buffet and “Margaritaville” Don McLean had “Starry Starry Night” ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/42 "2007-07-17T12:43:37Z")
[QUOTE=MGibson] If we can include musical groups how about the Greatful Dead? How many top 40 hits have they had because I can only think of “Touch of Grey.” I think they were one of the most profitable touring bands ever. [/QUOTE] Except they’d been one of the most profitable touring bands ever for the better part of two decades before ‘Touch of Grey’ came out. Also, while ‘Touch of Grey’ may have been their only Top 40 hit, they were a staple of FM radio so plenty of people were familiar with signature songs like ‘Truckin,’ ‘Friend of the Devil’ and ‘Casey Jones.’ ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/43 "2007-07-17T12:50:25Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Lendervedder] Don McLean? I know he’s released other stuff, but shit on a Pringle, he has truly drained the teat with “American Pie.” And I’m sure someone will come along and name two dozen other songs he’s done, but to most people born in the 70s or later, the only reason they even know this guy’s name is because of “American Pie.” A phenominal song, indeed, but I wager he wouldn’t have one tenth of the career he’s had, nor would he be asked to perform anywhere today, had he not written it. [/QUOTE] McLean played here in Austin a few months ago, and what he told the audience was, “I’ve only had 3 big hits in my career, and a lot of people think I’m a commercial artist who’s been in a long slump. Truth is, I’m an UNcommercial artist who got lucky a few times. People always ask me, 'What does American Pie mean, and I always tell them, it means I’ll never have to work again if I don’t want to. I’m lucky- I made enough money early on that I can do and play whatever I want without worrying where my next meal is coming from.” So, in concert, he plays his 3 hits to keep everyone happy… and the rest of his show is whatever he feels like playing. Not the worst of fates for a musician. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/44 "2007-07-17T12:59:58Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] Don McLean had “Starry Starry Night” [/QUOTE] “Vincent.” ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/45 "2007-07-17T13:01:27Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] Jimmy Buffet and “Margaritaville” Don McLean had “Starry Starry Night” [/QUOTE] Also “Dreidel” (sp?), a moderate hit. Jimmy Buffett has had other, low grade hits as well and recorded lots of albums. Don Ho of “Tiny Bubbles” infamy is arguably the best example of parlaying one song into a big career yet mentioned. It probably helped that he was based in Hawaii where touristy crowds kept coming to his shows to hear that stuff ad nauseam. A number of the one-hit wonders listed here did gain notoriety for their songs, but I don’t recall them hanging around endlessly performing them (when’s the last time Zager and Evans played a venue in your town?). ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/46 "2007-07-17T13:05:38Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] Don McLean had “Starry Starry Night” [/QUOTE] No. 1 in the UK, No. 12 in the USA. Hardly a one hit wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/47 "2007-07-17T13:11:01Z")
McLean also wrote [“Empty Chairs”](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/d/don+mclean/empty+chairs_10087420.html) one of the best songs ever. Empty rooms that echo as I climb the stairs And empty clothes that drape and fall on empty chairs ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/48 "2007-07-17T13:12:02Z")
[QUOTE=Yookeroo] How about Don Ho? [/QUOTE] In a similar vein, **Wayne Newton** has built an entire Las Vegas empire on the foundation of **“Danke Schön”** ---
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/49 "2007-07-17T13:18:34Z")
When I saw the title, my first thought was, “That yawn of a Holiday Inn lounge singer, Norah Jones, has got to be near the top of the list”. …but since the OP mentioned her, I suppose I should hold my insults back. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/50 "2007-07-17T13:29:27Z")
I would think it has to be some of those 50’s singers who are still touring. That’s a good 50 years of milking. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/51 "2007-07-17T13:40:05Z")
While I’m sure the band has many other good songs, I would say 90% of the country can only name one Blues Traveler song at most (“Run Around”)- from the early to mid 90’s, and they still seem to tour regularly. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/52 "2007-07-17T13:44:29Z")
Chris de Burgh with “Lady in Red”. The last decade has consisted of him appearing as a special guest in the finales of “Stars in their Eyes”, surprising his impersonators. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/53 "2007-07-17T13:46:51Z")
[QUOTE=SmackFu] I would think it has to be some of those 50’s singers who are still touring. That’s a good 50 years of milking. [/QUOTE] Totally. Those big package tours where groups like the Penguins and the Chordettes come out and sing their ONE BIG SONG. That’s a lot of mileage to get out of one cutesy doo-wop song from 1956. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/54 "2007-07-17T13:59:24Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] … That’s a lot of mileage to get out of one cutesy doo-wop song from 1956. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Actually there are tons of horror stories about unfavorable contract terms and being basically forced to sell the rights to songs. Very few groups were working during the 70’s and 80’s. Doo-wop concerts are really a “work your elderly ass off” retirement plan, sad really. CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/55 "2007-07-17T14:02:26Z")
Johnny Paycheck had “Take This Job and Shove it” ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/56 "2007-07-17T15:11:24Z")
[QUOTE=Manatee] The all-time champ for this sort of thing has to be Chubby Checker. Note how many times he dipped back into the “The Twist” well by recording variations on the same theme. [/QUOTE] I came into this thread specifically to mention Chubby Checker. He recorded at leat 5 versions of the song (including a country version), plus the classics _Let’s Twist Again_ and _Slow Twistin’_. And it’s on the **Spiderman 3** soundtrack. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/57 "2007-07-17T15:13:47Z")
[QUOTE=crowmanyclouds] Actually there are tons of horror stories about unfavorable contract terms and being basically forced to sell the rights to songs. Very few groups were working during the 70’s and 80’s. Doo-wop concerts are really a “work your elderly ass off” retirement plan, sad really. CMC fnord! [/QUOTE] That’s kind of sad. Like a traveling sweatshop for septuagenarian harmony singers. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/58 "2007-07-17T15:24:20Z")
[QUOTE=Dominic Mulligan] Chris de Burgh with “Lady in Red”. The last decade has consisted of him appearing as a special guest in the finales of “Stars in their Eyes”, surprising his impersonators. [/QUOTE] He’s had hits, but his stuff hasn’t aged too well, apart perhaps from “Spanish Train”. For example, [“Crusader”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fLi1i4rOh0) (warning, YouTube, long) is a brilliant ballad, IMHO, but it would go over like a lead balloon with today’s policies and politics. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/59 "2007-07-17T15:57:48Z")
I have to second Bobby “Boris” Pickett with “Monster Mash.” That thing is dragged out every year for Halloween and force it upon us for commercials and on the radio. It’s not just a one hit wonder, it’s a _mandatory_ one hit wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Full\_Metal\_Lotus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Full_Metal_Lotus)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2007, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-artist-made-the-biggest-career-out-of-one-song/412079/60 "2007-07-17T16:22:18Z")
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