# Where did THAT come from? - Artists who put out one awesome work **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 15, 2013, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317 "2013-01-15T19:19:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/41 "2013-01-17T02:02:11Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > On that note, have you listened to _Hang Cool Teddy Bear_ by Meat Loaf? It is by the same producer as The Black Parade and has a similar theme. So if you like Meat Loaf and The Black Parade you might like it. (Note: I have _not_ listened to that album: if you have, let me know how it is!) Well no, but I absolutely will now. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/42 "2013-01-17T02:21:23Z")
> [@Satchmo](#): > > Farther back, “In the year 2525” by Zager & Evans. Quite a mega hit and they never did anything else of worth. More in the realm of one-hit wonders than what the OP was after. I think that if we bring sports into this, we’d get overwhelmed in no time flat. Examples just pile on top of one another. Tim Tebow in 2011, Brady Anderson’s 50-homer year, Vida Blue’s rookie season, Mark Fidrych’s one big year, Mark Rypien in 1991, tons of them. It’s not my thread, but IMHO we should keep the Game Room stuff out of it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/43 "2013-01-17T02:28:58Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > M. Night Shyamalan’s **The Sixth Sense** , anyone? Dunno about that. **Unbreakable** was pretty slick too. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/44 "2013-01-17T04:16:02Z")
\*\*King Crimson \*\*never managed to come close to topping their debut, _In the Court of the Crimson King_. Ian McDonald and Michael Giles left the band around their sophomore effort, and the loss of McDonald’s fantastic woodwinds and Michael Giles’ incredibly tasteful drums meant that they could never replicate that ethereal magic in my view. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/45 "2013-01-17T16:10:08Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I don’t think these qualify under the “decent amount of output” rule the OP mentioned. The Alice books were Carroll’s only two novels. Well, there was _Sylvie and Bruno_, but yeah – still not enough output. (I was kind of thinking that when I posted, but figured I’d try to sneak it in anyway.) ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/46 "2013-01-17T16:14:12Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > \*\*King Crimson \*\*never managed to come close to topping their debut, _In the Court of the Crimson King_. Ian McDonald and Michael Giles left the band around their sophomore effort, and the loss of McDonald’s fantastic woodwinds and Michael Giles’ incredibly tasteful drums meant that they could never replicate that ethereal magic in my view. Yes and no. I’d say they never did anything similar that matched that debut LP (although there are people who prefer _In the Wake of Poseidon_ to _ItCotCK_), but many people would rate their later stuff (e.g., _Larks’ Tongues in Aspic_) as superior… it’s just so different (both the music and personnel) that it’s really comparing apples and oranges. A bit like the Syd Barrett Pink Floyd (debut LP only) vs. post-Barrett. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/47 "2013-01-17T16:16:33Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > it’s really comparing apples and oranges. A bit like the Syd Barrett Pink Floyd (debut LP only) vs. post-Barrett. Actually, the Syd-era song Apples and Oranges wasn’t on Piper at the Gates of Dawn 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/48 "2013-01-17T16:24:02Z")
> [@DragonAsh](#): > > David & David published one very good album in the late 80s, and weren’t ever really heard from again. They split up and David Baerwald (one of the Davids) put out a bunch of really good albums and has done a lot of songwriting/producing too. Check out his first solo release “Bedtime Stories” especially the following songs: “The Best Inside You”, “Liberties, Lies, and Refugees” and “Stranger”. Some of his co-writing credits you’ve probably heard of like Sheryl Crow’s “Strong Enough” and “All I Wanna Do”. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/49 "2013-01-17T16:39:38Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > Well, there was _Sylvie and Bruno_, but yeah – still not enough output. (I was kind of thinking that when I posted, but figured I’d try to sneak it in anyway.) You’re right. I forgot about _Sylvie and Bruno_. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/50 "2013-01-17T17:04:59Z")
> [@DragonAsh](#): > > David & David published one very good album in the late 80s, and weren’t ever really heard from again. I really like _Boomtown_. When I worked at the radio station in college, someone had retitled it [“what’s that on the floor.”](http://rgcred.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/david-and-david.jpg?w=470) ---
**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:** [January 17, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/51 "2013-01-17T17:12:28Z")
I guess it could be argued that Marcel Proust would fall into this category, with his one monumental work, _In Search of Lost Time_ receiving far more notice, fame and notoriety than anything else he wrote. It also took him fourteen years to write and had to be finished posthumously by his brother. Also, Margaret Mitchell only wrote one novel, _Gone With the Wind_. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/52 "2013-01-17T17:15:56Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Herman Melville. I love _ **Typee** _. Better than _ **Moby Dick** _. James Fennimore Cooper with _ **Last of the Mohicans** _, which does suffer from typical James Fennimore Cooperness, but still rocks righteously. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/53 "2013-01-17T19:05:47Z")
The band It’s A Beautiful Day put out four studio albums. The first, eponymous album is gorgeous; the others just don’t have the same spark. ---
**Author:** ![Sarabellum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarabellum/32/3492_2.png) [@Sarabellum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarabellum)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/54 "2013-01-17T19:36:23Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I guess it could be argued that Marcel Proust would fall into this category, with his one monumental work, _In Search of Lost Time_ receiving far more notice, fame and notoriety than anything else he wrote. It also took him fourteen years to write and had to be finished posthumously by his brother. > > Also, Margaret Mitchell only wrote one novel, _Gone With the Wind_. Margaret Mitchell also wrote another novel/novella called Lost Laysen. It wasn’t published until many years after her death, however. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/55 "2013-01-17T19:48:43Z")
> [@bup](#): > > I love _ **Typee** _. Better than _ **Moby Dick** _. Really? Couldn’t stand it. Please don’t tell me you also liked “Billy Budd,” or else we can’t be friends anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/56 "2013-01-17T20:14:21Z")
> [@Satchmo](#): > > Farther back, “In the year 2525” by Zager & Evans. Quite a mega hit and they never did anything else of worth. Big hit all right, but it sorta sucked, when you got right down to it. More of a one-hit wonder than a single awesome work, in my estimation. ---
**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:** [January 17, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/57 "2013-01-17T20:26:22Z")
All of Madeline Engel’s many works are good reads. Then there’s A Wrinkle in Time… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/58 "2013-01-17T21:22:31Z")
> [@denquixote](#): > > Ray Charles - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume One This is a joke, right? If serious, please explain. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/59 "2013-01-17T21:45:56Z")
Meat Loaf, already mentioned in this thread in a 2ndary way, I think fits this. Bat Out Of Hell is just miles better than anything else he ever did. And I love Mr. Loaf quite a bit. But yeah, the first album is a timeless, huge, wondrous success. Everything else had a hit here or there but never compared to Bat Out Of Hell. And the titular track from the album is perhaps my favorite classic rock anthem of all time, and should be yours too! ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317/60 "2013-01-17T21:46:30Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > My example of a great album my a moderate band is My Chemical Romance’s “The Black Parade”. I am forever _ **BAFFLED** _ at how good _The Black Parade_ is. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-did-that-come-from-artists-who-put-out-one-awesome-work/647317.md?page=4)