# What one hit wonders should I put on my MP3 player? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 26, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840 "2008-07-26T14:47:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/1 "2008-07-26T14:47:37Z")
I just got an MP3 player, and I’m enjoying the process of downloading all the great songs I must have to complete my quintessential collection. At first, it was easy: I just loaded up on Beatles, Billy Joel, The Doors, Tool, et al. Now that I’ve covered the basics, I’m trying to round my collection out with singles that I love, even if the band is more obscure and the rest of their music I’d ordinarily take a pass on (an example is “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears). So, what do you recommend? Since you don’t really know my taste in music, I’m mainly interested in what you would consider a “one hit wonder” in your own music collection. What singles would you add, even though you’d never admit to being a fan of the band? ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/2 "2008-07-26T15:01:43Z")
“Spirit In The Sky” - Norman Greenbaum ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/3 "2008-07-26T15:07:22Z")
Thanks. In reviewing my own dowloads, I’ll add “Walking In Memphis” by Marc Cohn to my own list. Please give more! ---
**Author:** ![3acresandatruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e79b87/32.png) [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/4 "2008-07-26T15:20:24Z")
Some one-hit’s, some individual works I like. Some are good, some are fun, some are both. Andy Pratt - Avenging Annie B-52’s - Love Shack Bangles - Walk like an Egyptian Hugh Masekela - Grazing In The Grass Iron Butterfly - Scorching Beauty Joan Jett - I Love Rock n Roll John Hartford - Turn Your Radio On Nelson Riddle - Route 66 Theme Patti Smith - Horses - Land of a Thousand Dances - La mer (I \*think \*that’s the right name) Procol Harum - Whiter Shade of Pale Rickie Lee Jones - The Last Chance Texaco (actually, I love the whole album, if you don’t have it already) Robert Plant - 29 Palms Steppenwolf - Snowblind Friend UB40 & Chrissie Hind - Breakfast in Bed Vogues - Five O’Clock World Wang Chung - Dance Hall Days (there’s a 7:16 long remix that I like, yikes!) ---
**Author:** ![Subway\_Prophet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Subway\_Prophet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subway_Prophet)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/5 "2008-07-26T17:45:59Z")
Do you like indie rock? I’ve gotten some VERY good stuff from KEXP’s [Song of the Day podcast](http://kexp.org/podcasting/podcasting.asp), as well as other podcasts and websites. Some of my recent favorites were released as free MP3 singles, and are therefore probably still downloadable for free somewhere: “Bag of Hammers” by Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down “Bye Bye Bye” by Plants and Animals “Start A War” by The National “Overcome” by Amy LaVere “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” by She and Him (Zooey Deschanel’s band) “Kid On My Shoulders” by White Rabbit “The Punks Are Writing Love Songs” by Tullycraft “Does This Mean You’re Moving On” by Airborne Toxic Event “Heretics” by Andrew Bird “Kisses” by The Shivers “Time Is A Lion” by Joe Henry “The President’s Dead” by Okkervil River “White Winter Hymnal” by Fleet Foxes …Getting back to the “one hit wonder” aspect of the OP… In most cases, when I chase down other music from these bands, it’s nearly not as good as the single. There’s usually enough difference that you can’t even tell it’s the same band. Case in point is Zooey Deschanel’s tune: the song was produced by Steve Lilywhite, whereas most of the album was not. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/6 "2008-07-26T17:53:06Z")
Echo Beach - Martha and the Muffins ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/7 "2008-07-26T18:13:10Z")
Some one-offs from my own list: Ann Peebles - I Can’t Stand the Rain Billy Stewart - Summertime Charlie Rich - Mohair Sam Dave & Ansel Collins: Double Barrel Deodato - Also Sprach Zarathustra Desmond Dekker - Israelites Edgar Winter Group - Frankenstein Humble Pie - 30 Days in the Hole James Gang - Walk Away Les McCann & Eddie Harris - Compared to What Living Colour - Cult of Personality Loggins & Messina - Angry Eyes (far from one hit wonders, but only one song that I like) Major Lance - The Monkey Time Marci Lee & Johnny Otis - Castin’ My Spell Miriam Makeba - Pata Pata Shonen Knife - Daydream Believer Thin Lizzy - Whiskey in the Jar ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/8 "2008-07-26T18:27:29Z")
Cars - Gary Neuman Major Tom - Peter Schilling Play that Funky Music - Wild Cherry Pick Up the Pieces - Average White Band ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2008, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/9 "2008-07-26T18:45:45Z")
Wall of Voodoo - Mexican Radio ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/10 "2008-07-27T00:15:03Z")
I’ll list some songs that I have on the computer, but that I don’t own an album by the artist: Level 42 - Something About You Garth Brooks - Ireland Sade - Smooth Operator, The Sweetest Taboo ABC - Poison Arrow Bob and doug McKenzie - Take Off (featuring Geddy Lee) The Zombies - Time of the Season Friends of Lizzy - If It’s Wrong Beastie Boys - Sabotage Carbon Leaf - Life Less Ordinary Mr. Mister - Broken Wings John Parr - Saint Elmo’s Fire Some bands that I do have albums by, but that some would consider a one-hit wonder: A-Ha - Take On Me A Flock of Seagulls - I Ran, (Wishing) If I had a Photograph of You Men At Work - Down Under, Who Can it be Now Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue Burning Brides - Arctic Snow That’s all I can think of right now. ---
**Author:** ![Subway\_Prophet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Subway\_Prophet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subway_Prophet)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/11 "2008-07-27T01:36:44Z")
[QUOTE=Justin Credible] Bob and doug McKenzie - Take Off (featuring **Geddy Lee** ) [/QUOTE] (double-take) …Bwah? Seriously? This is making it more and more difficult for me to pretend that that EP was never made! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/12 "2008-07-27T02:04:45Z")
Couple of one-offs in my collection: “The Salt in My Tears” - [Martin Briley](http://www.martinbriley.com/) (site plays the song) “Drift Away” - [Dobie Gray](http://www.dobiegray.com/music.html) ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/13 "2008-07-28T16:52:55Z")
[QUOTE=Atomicktom] So, what do you recommend? Since you don’t really know my taste in music, I’m mainly interested in what you would consider a “one hit wonder” in your own music collection. What singles would you add, even though you’d never admit to being a fan of the band? [/QUOTE] These are the “one hit wonders” on my iPod that I would freely recommend (edited, of course, to remove the really embarrassing ones like Danzig’s “Mother”. Oy.). In most cases on this list, it’s not that I wouldn’t admit to being a fan of the band, but that I’ve heard the band’s other works and like only these individual songs. The Breeders – “No Aloha” Broken Social Scene – “Almost Crimes” The Chemical Brothers – “The Pills Won’t Help You Now” The Cranberries – “Zombie” Dr. Octagon/Kool Keith – “Earth People” The Doors – “The Crystal Ship” (the only Doors tune I can stomach) Four Tet – “My Angel Rocks Back and Forth” Front 242 – “Flag” Funkadelic – “I Bet You” Kings of Convenience – “Little Kids (Ladytron remix)” Leonard Cohen – “Everybody Knows” (this one’s a cheat, because I have a couple of his albums but this is his only song on my ipod) The Makers – “(Are You on the Inside or the Outside of Your) Pants” Panda Bear – “I’m Not” Peeping Tom – “Sucker” (Mike Patton with Norah Jones) Phantom Planet – “Our House” (Madness cover) Phil Collins – “Easy Lover” (I happen to think this is a great song. Don’t judge me, dude.) The Raconteurs – “Broken Boy Soldier” Robert Plant – “Ship of Fools” Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs – “Little Red Riding Hood” Sun Kil Moon – “Carry Me, Ohio” (solo project from Red House Painters’ Mark Kozelek) The The – “Dogs of Lust” The Yeah Yeah Yeahs – “Maps” [QUOTE=Subway Prophet] “Kisses” by The Shivers [/quote] If you like that one, you should look for their song “Beauty.” I’ve had that on repeat all morning. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/14 "2008-07-28T16:59:36Z")
Ooh, one more: Josh Ritter’s “Girl in the War”. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/15 "2008-07-28T17:08:21Z")
[The Descendents-_Weinerschnitzel_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpKRwIR-I6s) The most random 11 seconds you’ll ever listen to, but you’ll find yourself playing it over and over again. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/16 "2008-07-28T17:11:49Z")
No list of one hit wonders is complete without “Semi-Charmed Life” by Third Eye Blind. You also need “New Slang” by The Shins, of course. “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell. “She Blinded Me With Science” by Thomas Dolby. ---
**Author:** ![Shecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shecky)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/17 "2008-07-28T19:38:58Z")
The Verve Pipe - “Bittersweet Symphony” Lem - “Steal my Sunshine” The Breeders - “Last Crash” Buffalo Tom - “Sodajerk” Madder rose - “Panic On” Harvey Danger - “Pole sitta” and I’m proud to say The Vincent Black Shadow - “Metro” ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/18 "2008-07-28T20:14:12Z")
[QUOTE=Shecky] The Verve Pipe - “Bittersweet Symphony” [/QUOTE] That’s the Verve. 🙂 The Verve Pipe is a US band whose single was “The Freshman”. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/19 "2008-07-28T21:04:23Z")
> **[| Rhino](https://www.rhino.com/store/SeriesList.lasso?Series=havaniceday)** Rhino has a series that covers many from the 1970s. Some examples: Wildflower/Skylark [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAYvwemcR3Y) Beach Baby/The First Class [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XG8MQ8f4nF4/hqdefault.jpg "The First Class - Beach Baby") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG8MQ8f4nF4) Other songs that may not be one-hit wonders are included, such as: Cover of the Rolling Stone/Dr. Hook [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-Ux3-a9RE1Q/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgXihPMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCB6lAm_Bd7BwSFmHLeoR6Iy4us5w "Cover Of The Rolling Stone-Dr.Hook") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ux3-a9RE1Q) There was a tee shirt out there somewhere that says “The 70s are back and there’s nothing you can do about it!” I must find it. Some other random personal faves but not in that collection: Conquistador/Procol Harum [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUDgiuyLRA0) I’m Just a Singer in a Rock and Roll Band/Moody Blues [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-ZcBFeF1a0) Because the Night/Patti Smith [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0brHGJ6xqbk/hqdefault.jpg "Patti Smith's "Because the Night"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0brHGJ6xqbk) Roll Over Beethoven/ELO [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TfaYpa5BRM) (Don’t Fear) The Reaper/BOC [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5rW-YvYmUE) Fever/Eva Cassidy [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-eyS1uluuY) Here are a couple unusual covers from the Scream Soundtrack: (Don’t Fear) The Reaper/Gus [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZnrgQtxnm-k/hqdefault.jpg "Heroes (Sylar) Don't Fear the Reaper") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnrgQtxnm-k) School’s Out/Last Hard Men [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPqDqPDkcu8) ---
**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:** [July 28, 2008, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840/20 "2008-07-28T21:27:48Z")
Aphrodite’s Child: “Loud, loud, loud/The Four Horsemen” John & Vangelis: “The Friends of Mr Cairo” The Kings: “The Beat Goes On/Switch into Glide” Starcastle: “Lady of the Lake” Toy Matinee: “The Ballad of Jenny Ledge” JF Murphy & Salt: “The Last Illusion” Mountain: “Nantucket Sleigh Ride” Focus: “Hocus Pocus” Fairport Convention: “Matty Groves” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-hit-wonders-should-i-put-on-my-mp3-player/457840.md?page=2)