One hit wonders

[davidatpreston]

Found an interesting compilation of one hit wonders, groups or artists that had a monster chart hit then nothing else, I notice that some of them are absolute classics (in my humble opinion).

Anyone think of any more, and which ones do you rate highest?

 

In order of my preference (best first)

 

Brilliant:

Belouis Some - Imagination

Thunderclap Newman - Something in the air

The Knack - My Sharona

Ace - How long

Cascades - Rhythm of the rain

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown - Fire -

 

 

Pretty good:

 

M - Pop muzik

Men without Hats - The safety dance

Norman Greenbaum - Spirit in the sky

Trio - Da da da

Shocking Blue - Venus

Toni Basil - Mickey -

 

 

OK:

 

The Weather Girls - It's raining men -

B. Bumble & The Stingers - Nut rocker

Bob & Earl - Harlem shuffle

Judy Clay & William Bell - Private number

Baltimora - Tarzan boy - 3.24

The Casuals - Jesamine

Bran Van 3000 - Drinking in LA

Nena - 99 red ballons

Barry Ryan - Eloise (better by the Damned)

Matthew Wilder - Break my stride

Minnie Riperton - Lovin' you (Do the RSPCA know about this one?)

 

Bit iffy:

 

Deep Blue Something - Breakfast at Tiffany's

Los del Mar - Macarena -

Cutting Crew - (I just) Died in your arms

The Rembrandts - I'll be there for you -

Charles & Eddie - Would I lie to you? -

Lou Bega - Mambo No.5 (A little bit of)

Edison Lighthouse - Love grows (where my Rosemary goes/ like the hairs on your nose)

Chesney Hawkes - The one and only

Crash Test Dummies - Mmm mmm mmm mmm

 

Help ! Let me out.....

 

Bobby McFerrin - Don't worry be happy - 3.52

Althia & Donna - Up town top ranking

Eric Carmen - All by myself

Deee-Lite - Groove is in the heart

Danny Wilson - Mary's prayer (one of the worst records ever made ?)

 

 

dont know these, so cant rate:-

 

John Farnham - You're the voice

Soul Asylum - Runaway train

The Mock Turtles - Can u dig it?

White Town - Your woman

Piero Umiliani - Mah na mah na - 2.09

Toto Coelo - I eat cannibals

The Congregation - Softly whispering I love you

[Phil.j.B]

Found an interesting compilation of one hit wonders, groups or artists that had a monster chart hit then nothing else, I notice that some of them are absolute classics (in my humble opinion).

Anyone think of any more, and which ones do you rate highest?

 

In order of my preference (best first)

 

Belouis Some - Imagination

Thunderclap Newman - Something in the air

The Knack - My Sharona

Ace - How long

Cascades - Rhythm of the rain

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown - Fire -

M - Pop muzik

Men without Hats - The safety dance

Norman Greenbaum - Spirit in the sky

Trio - Da da da

Shocking Blue - Venus

Toni Basil - Mickey -

The Weather Girls - It's raining men -

B. Bumble & The Stingers - Nut rocker

Bob & Earl - Harlem shuffle

Judy Clay & William Bell - Private number

Baltimora - Tarzan boy - 3.24

The Casuals - Jesamine

Bran Van 3000 - Drinking in LA

Nena - 99 red ballons

Barry Ryan - Eloise (better by the Damned)

Matthew Wilder - Break my stride

Minnie Riperton - Lovin' you (Do the RSPCA know about this one?)

Deep Blue Something - Breakfast at Tiffany's

Los del Mar - Macarena -

Cutting Crew - (I just) Died in your arms

The Rembrandts - I'll be there for you -

Charles & Eddie - Would I lie to you? -

Lou Bega - Mambo No.5 (A little bit of)

Edison Lighthouse - Love grows (where my Rosemary goes/ like the hairs on your nose)

Chesney Hawkes - The one and only

Crash Test Dummies - Mmm mmm mmm mmm

Bobby McFerrin - Don't worry be happy - 3.52

 

Althia & Donna - Up town top ranking

Eric Carmen - All by myself

Deee-Lite - Groove is in the heart (I detest this soooo much !)

Danny Wilson - Mary's prayer (one of the worst records ever made ?)

 

 

dont know these, so cant rate:-

 

John Farnham - You're the voice

Soul Asylum - Runaway train

The Mock Turtles - Can u dig it?

White Town - Your woman

Piero Umiliani - Mah na mah na - 2.09

Toto Coelo - I eat cannibals

The Congregation - Softly whispering I love you

 

The mock turtles were quite good around 1991, I think the singer was/is Steve Coogans brother.

[davidatpreston]

The mock turtles were quite good around 1991, I think the singer was/is Steve Coogans brother.

 

I will youtube the ones I dont know, just to see if I missed anything good. I always though Arthur Brown (the crazy world of) Arthur Brown were seriosly under-rated and remember seeing them live mid 70s when they were quite astonishing, a stage act that influenced many.

A few substance problems maybe didnt help (allegedly). There is an album called Joprney with a track called Time Captives on it by them (about 1974) that is scintillating, I believe it is the first ever use of a drum machine on vinyl.

[Howjy04]

I will youtube the ones I dont know, just to see if I missed anything good. I always though Arthur Brown (the crazy world of) Arthur Brown were seriosly under-rated and remember seeing them live mid 70s when they were quite astonishing, a stage act that influenced many.

A few substance problems maybe didnt help (allegedly). There is an album called Joprney with a track called Time Captives on it by them (about 1974) that is scintillating, I believe it is the first ever use of a drum machine on vinyl.

 

Arthur Brown was influenced by Jimi Hendrix in his early days and toured with him.Probably because they were both at Track records.I think Carl Palmer(ELP) played drums in his band.Not bad having those 2 musical giants around you?

[Yukon]

Dee- Lite is an absolute classic.

 

Charles & Eddie should be renamed Awesome & Awesome

[beechyvale]

First picture of you by the lotus eaters.feels like heaven by fiction factory and my very own guilty pleasure voyage voyage by desireless.

[For Us All]

The New Radicals - You get what you give.

[Tosh]

Dee- Lite is an absolute classic.

 

Charles & Eddie should be renamed Awesome & Awesome

One of them died quite young but can't remember which one!

 

Edit: It was Charles aged 37!

[Yukon]

One of them died quite young but can't remember which one!

 

Edit: It was Charles aged 37!

 

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[davidatpreston]

I wonder if any of those artists earned enough to live on from just the one hit ? Some of them had album success too, or went on to things with other bands (Ace had some good musicians) and others may have got tours and gigs for some years after on the back of their success.

I know that the Human League live realtively modestly in Sheffield still, not rich by any means and in fact half-joke that they still tour because they need to pay their bills. And they had a shedload of great single hits and the album Dare sold several million copies worldwide. They did have a new album out this year called Credo which is well worth a listen.

[Howjy04]

First picture of you by the lotus eaters.feels like heaven by fiction factory and my very own guilty pleasure voyage voyage by desireless.

 

Great call,Lotus Eaters.Still got that on 10 inch vinyl.1983.

[born_late58]

Found an interesting compilation of one hit wonders, groups or artists that had a monster chart hit then nothing else, I notice that some of them are absolute classics (in my humble opinion).

Anyone think of any more, and which ones do you rate highest?

 

In order of my preference (best first)

 

Brilliant:

Belouis Some - Imagination

Thunderclap Newman - Something in the air

The Knack - My Sharona

Ace - How long

Cascades - Rhythm of the rain

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown - Fire -

 

 

Pretty good:

 

M - Pop muzik

Men without Hats - The safety dance

Norman Greenbaum - Spirit in the sky

Trio - Da da da

Shocking Blue - Venus

Toni Basil - Mickey -

 

 

OK:

 

The Weather Girls - It's raining men -

B. Bumble & The Stingers - Nut rocker

Bob & Earl - Harlem shuffle

Judy Clay & William Bell - Private number

Baltimora - Tarzan boy - 3.24

The Casuals - Jesamine

Bran Van 3000 - Drinking in LA

Nena - 99 red ballons

Barry Ryan - Eloise (better by the Damned)

Matthew Wilder - Break my stride

Minnie Riperton - Lovin' you (Do the RSPCA know about this one?)

 

Bit iffy:

 

Deep Blue Something - Breakfast at Tiffany's

Los del Mar - Macarena -

Cutting Crew - (I just) Died in your arms

The Rembrandts - I'll be there for you -

Charles & Eddie - Would I lie to you? -

Lou Bega - Mambo No.5 (A little bit of)

Edison Lighthouse - Love grows (where my Rosemary goes/ like the hairs on your nose)

Chesney Hawkes - The one and only

Crash Test Dummies - Mmm mmm mmm mmm

 

Help ! Let me out.....

 

Bobby McFerrin - Don't worry be happy - 3.52

Althia & Donna - Up town top ranking

Eric Carmen - All by myself

Deee-Lite - Groove is in the heart

Danny Wilson - Mary's prayer (one of the worst records ever made ?)

 

 

dont know these, so cant rate:-

 

John Farnham - You're the voice

Soul Asylum - Runaway train

The Mock Turtles - Can u dig it?

White Town - Your woman

Piero Umiliani - Mah na mah na - 2.09

Toto Coelo - I eat cannibals

The Congregation - Softly whispering I love you

 

Little does she know- Kursaal Flyers?

[Burt]

Would Sparks - This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us count? I can't remember any other biggies from them in the commercial sector.

[born_late58]

Would Sparks - This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us count? I can't remember any other biggies from them in the commercial sector.

 

Amateur Hour was another hit of theirs.

[boomers_vet]

would crash test dummies be classed as one hit wonders ? they are still going and a pretty big band in the USA, I saw them support bon jovi in las vegas last year