# What one-hit-wonder songs were actually really good, even GREAT, songs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 29, 2007, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148 "2007-11-29T05:33:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Tool\_of\_the\_Conspiracy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tool\_of\_the\_Conspiracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tool_of_the_Conspiracy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/141 "2007-11-30T05:26:02Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] They had one? But, no, they don’t, really. A band that sold a million or more copies of six _different_ albums can’t really be considered a one hit wonder. We’re looking for REAL one hit wonders here, not “well, I can technically say Jimi Hendrix is a one hit wonder” deals. [/QUOTE] Billboard says: “New Orleans is Sinking” (the song I was thinking of) reached #30 on the “Mainstream Rock” chart. I thought that “Blow at High Dough” might have made it too, but it didn’t. “Courage” reached #16 on both the “Mainstream Rock” and “Modern Rock” charts. That’s news to me, because I have the CD, and have never heard any of the songs from it anywhere else. (I would have picked “Locked in the Trunk of a Car” or “At the Hundredth Meridian” as a more likely hit.) “Poets” blipped onto the “Mainstream Rock” chart for one week at #39. I’ve never heard it. ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/142 "2007-11-30T05:32:00Z")
[QUOTE=NDP] “More, More, More” by the Andrea True Connection (fittingly, another one hit wonder). [/QUOTE] A year later this act got to #27 in the U.S. with “N.Y., You Got Me Dancing”, which I remember as being a reasonable good pop song. And, in response to the references to Tommy Tutone, a year-and-a-half before “867-5309/Jenny” they had a #38 hit, “Angel Say No”. Because of this earlier minor hit, I remember thinking, at the time “Jenny” started to be played, “Boy, I never thought I was going to ever hear something by this group again” due to their earlier, somewhat forgettable song. ---
**Author:** ![Old\_Goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/5daacb/32.png) [@Old\_Goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Old_Goat)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/143 "2007-11-30T06:07:27Z")
OK, geezer checking in: 60’s R&B Sallie Go Round The Roses – Jaynette The Love of My Man – Theola Kilgore When A Man Loves a Woman – Percy Sledge You Better Move On – Arthur Alexander Also Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler You Keep Me Hanging On – Mary McCaslin (cover) Never heard of any of these? Go ask your Grandparents. ---
**Author:** ![Pel2na](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Pel2na](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pel2na)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/144 "2007-11-30T06:55:55Z")
Hey **Old Goat** I’m a child of the 50’s/60’s myself. Every song you mentioned played in my head as I ran down the list. Here’s a song you may remember, with an organ-driven hook that could bang around in your head for days - **Green-Eyed Lady** by Sugarloaf, a band from Boulder, Colorado that nobody ever heard from again. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/145 "2007-11-30T07:03:44Z")
[QUOTE=Pel2na] Here’s a song you may remember, with an organ-driven hook that could bang around in your head for days - **Green-Eyed Lady** by Sugarloaf, a band from Boulder, Colorado that nobody ever heard from again. [/QUOTE] Sugarloaf also had “Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You.” The organ line from “Green Eyed Lady” was later sampled in the Eerie Splendor remix of “Doin’ Time” by Sublime. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/146 "2007-11-30T07:15:51Z")
[QUOTE=Old Goat] Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler Never heard of any of these? Go ask your Grandparents. [/QUOTE] I’m no grandparent, but I’m old enough to know that Bonnie Tyler also had some success with “It’s a Heartache,” so I don’t think she qualifies as a one-hit wonder. I think we can find a lot in those fluid bands that were created by producers to record one song, but whether or not they’re any good (as the OP wants) is open to debate. “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” by Edison Lighthouse is a good example. According to the band’s [Wikipedia page](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edison_Lighthouse), the lead singer was active in more than one band–indeed, he led other one-hit wonders: > [@](#): > > The British pop group Edison Lighthouse was primarily the vehicle of session vocalist Tony Burrows; the group’s lone top 40 hit “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)” from 1970, was one of four near contemporaneous UK Top Ten hit singles by Burrows under different names. The others were White Plains’ “My Baby Loves Lovin’,” the Pipkins’ “Gimme Dat Ding,” and the Brotherhood of Man’s “United We Stand”. In truth, Edison Lighthouse was merely the alias of songwriters and producers Tony Macaulay and Barry Mason, although members of the group Greenfield Hammer were eventually brought in to perpetuate the image of a real working band. As for “good, even great” one hit wonders, I’l toss out a few that I feel fit the criteria. They’re instrumentals, but the first two were Top Ten hits; the third hit #11: Joy, by Apollo 100 (hit # 4 in February 1972): A synthesized version of Bach’s “Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring.” Popcorn, by Hot Butter (hit #9 in October, 1972): More synthesizers. This was an original composition, and proof that they were here to stay. Amazing Grace, by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (hit #11 in July 1972): Yes, a military bagpipe band playing a church hymn hit the pop charts once. Never again, but whodathunkit? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/147 "2007-11-30T07:29:17Z")
[QUOTE=Pixilated] I really should make a mix of “one hit wonders” for my own collection. Who could forget: \ WE’RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT - Twisted Sister \ [/QUOTE] I WANNA ROCK! I WANNA ROCK! I WANNA ROCK! I WANT TO ROCK! ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/148 "2007-11-30T09:02:19Z")
[QUOTE=Old Goat] Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler [/QUOTE] “Holding out for a Hero” (from the Footloose soundtrack) made #34 in the US. #1 in the UK. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2007, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/149 "2007-11-30T13:23:03Z")
The best holiday one hit wonder: “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” by Patsy & Elmo. ---
**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:** [November 30, 2007, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/150 "2007-11-30T13:34:34Z")
[QUOTE=Terrifel] Alls I have to say is: it’s a good thing I don’t share the hate for “In the Year 2525,” because it’s been stuck in my head ever since I read the OP this morning. Seriously, what’s so all-fired unappealing about it? This one song is somehow worse than any of Olivia Newton-John’s hits? [/QUOTE] By that standard, almost anything is tolerable. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/151 "2007-11-30T13:56:53Z")
Mississippi Queen by Mountain ---
**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:** [November 30, 2007, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/152 "2007-11-30T14:12:40Z")
Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit in the Sky.” A huge hit for him and also for Doctor & The Medics. And a cool song. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/153 "2007-11-30T14:57:41Z")
[“Right Place, Wrong Time”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0F4jXhAca4&feature=related) (YouTube clip) - Dr. John ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/154 "2007-11-30T15:15:29Z")
[QUOTE=NDP] “More, More, More” by the Andrea True Connection (fittingly, another one hit wonder). [/QUOTE] Ahhh…a song about multiple orgasms by a former porn star. Good times, those. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/155 "2007-11-30T16:05:55Z")
[QUOTE=amarinth] “Holding out for a Hero” (from the Footloose soundtrack) made #34 in the US. #1 in the UK. [/QUOTE] Gad, I loved that song when I was a kid. As well as being in Footloose, it was also the opening music for short-lived 80s TV series “Cover Up”. (Short-lived because Jon-Erik Hexum accidentally killed himself with a blank-loaded gun on the set. Ouch.) ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/156 "2007-11-30T16:13:18Z")
[QUOTE=Sam Stone] As much as it pains me to say it, **Warren Zevon** qualifies as a one-hit wonder with **Werewolves of London** , which hit #21 on the Billboard singles chart. If there was any justice, he would have had 10 other songs in the top 40. But Werewolves is a fine song. [/QUOTE] I can’t believe this is his only song that charted. Yowza. But I agree with the OP that he is not a one-hit wonder by any non-technical definition of the phrase. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/157 "2007-11-30T16:16:48Z")
[QUOTE=DJ Motorbike] Some seem to hate it with a fiery passion but as far as I know Joan Osbourne qualifies as a one hit wonder with “One of Us”. I’ve always liked that song, and I’m not religious, noither. [/QUOTE] Not being religious helps. As a religious person, I hear “What if God was one of us?” and think “He **was** one of us, and we chose to torture and kill Him” and then switch the station. I admit this is an outlier reaction! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/158 "2007-11-30T17:24:04Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] Not being religious helps. As a religious person, I hear “What if God was one of us?” and think “He **was** one of us, and we chose to torture and kill Him” and then switch the station. I admit this is an outlier reaction! 😛 [/QUOTE] I’m also a hater of “One of Us.” Yet, I bought the album. Why? Because every other song on the album is better and a couple (“Ladder,” “St. Teresa”) are transcendent. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/159 "2007-11-30T17:32:51Z")
“Inna Godda Da Vida”- Iron Butterfly. “You Keep Me Hanging On”- Vanilla Fudge version. “Driver’s Seat”- Sniff and the Tears If any of these groups had any other “hits” I am not aware of them. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148/160 "2007-11-30T17:32:57Z")
[QUOTE=ShadowFacts] I can’t believe this is his only song that charted. Yowza. But I agree with the OP that he is not a one-hit wonder by any non-technical definition of the phrase. [/QUOTE] I tried to see Zevon in Seattle in the early 90s. Sadly his concert was cancelled for lack of interest, only 20 tickets were sold ☹ I was personally raving and recommending the concert to everyone I knew beforehand also, and everyone just said “who?”. I really regret never getting the chance to see him, he really didn’t get the respect or recognition he deserved. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonder-songs-were-actually-really-good-even-great-songs/428148.md?page=9)