Favorite one-hit wonders [Archive]

Astronuc

Dec23-05, 04:51 PM

I have a list of one hit wonders, but it will take me awhile to type it up.

How about:

God Spell - Day by Day
Jo Jo Gunne - Run, Run, Run
The Impressions - People Get Ready
Mountain - Mississippi Queen
Ides of March - Vehicle
Lighthouse - One Fine Morning (Fred Garvin knows this one)
Sweathog - Hallelujah
Mocedades - Eres Tu
Chambers Brothers - Time Has Come Today
Cliff Nobles & Co - Horse
Shocking Blue - Venus
Edwin Star - War
Vanity Faire - Hitchin' A Ride
Blues Magoos - We Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet
Mike Curb Congregation - Burning Bridges (remember Kelly's Heroes)
Armageddon - Silver Tightrope
Argent - Hold Your Head Up

and a really big one

Iron Butterfly - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vita (and the whole ablum is excellent)

if you want obscure - it probably wasn't a big hit but

Crawler - Stone Cold Sober

brewnog

Dec23-05, 05:58 PM

I am the one and only!
Doo duh, duh duh duh doo doo doo....

brewnog

Dec23-05, 05:59 PM

I have a list of one hit wonders, but it will take me awhile to type it up.
How about:
God Spell - Day by Day
Jo Jo Gunne - Run, Run, Run
The Impressions - People Get Ready
Mountain - Mississippi Queen
Ides of March - Vehicle
Lighthouse - One Fine Morning (Fred Garvin knows this one)
Sweathog - Hallelujah
Mocedades - Eres Tu
Chambers Brothers - Time Has Come Today
Cliff Nobles & Co - Horse
Shocking Blue - Venus
Edwin Star - War
Vanity Faire - Hitchin' A Ride
Blues Magoos - We Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet
Mike Curb Congregation - Burning Bridges (remember Kelly's Heroes)
Armageddon - Silver Tightrope
Argent - Hold Your Head Up
and a really big one
Iron Butterfly - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vita (and the whole ablum is excellent)
if you want obscure - it probably wasn't a big hit but
Crawler - Stone Cold Sober

Mate, were any of these actually any hit wonders, or was I born 20 years too late on the wrong continent?

Danger

Dec23-05, 08:16 PM

One Tin Soldier by The Original Caste (Coven's version for 'Billy Jack' was a remake)
Olive by Tokan

Astronuc

Dec23-05, 08:27 PM

Yeah brewnog, they were before your time.

Free (1968-1973) - All Right Now (1970)
Godspell - Day by Day (1972)
Jo Jo Gunne (1971-1975) - Run, Run, Run (1972)
The Impressions (1958-1983) - People Get Ready (1965)
Mountain (1969-1972) - Mississippi Queen (1970)
The Ides of March (1965-70's) - Vehicle (1970)
Lighthouse (1968-1974) - One Fine Morning (1971) (Fred Garvin knows this one)
Sweathog - Hallelujah (1972)
Mocedades (1967-1990's) - Eres Tu (1967)
Chambers Brothers (1954-1972) - Time Has Come Today (1968)
Cliff Nobles & Co - The Horse (1968)
Shocking Blue (1967-1974) - Venus (1969)
Edwin Starr - War (1970)
Vanity Faire - Hitchin' A Ride (1969)
Blues Magoos (1964-1969) - We Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet (1967)
Mike Curb Congregation - Burning Bridges (1970) (remember Kelly's Heroes)
Armageddon (1974-1976) - Silver Tightrope (1975)
Argent (1969-1976) - Hold Your Head Up (1973)

Golden Earring (1964-1982) - Radar Love (1974) - group comeback with Twighlight Zone (1982)

Iron Butterfly (1966-1971) - In-A-Gadda-Da-Vita (1968) (and the whole ablum is excellent)

Crawler (1977-1980) - Stone Cold Sober (1977)

and Coven's single "One Tin Soldier (The Legend of Billy Jack)" was in 1971.

Averagesupernova

Dec24-05, 12:22 AM

Flock of seagulls "and I ran", Dexy and the Midnight runners' "come on eileen", or Nena and "99 Red Balloons"

Flock of Seagulls also did the spaceage love song. So they don't count.

Many people think that Men Without Hats had only one hit which would be Safety Dance. But they had one other. I know what it was, does anyone else?

People also think The Other Ones had just one hit being Holiday. But once again, there is another that no one ever remembers.

Yet another is Dead or Alive, but I think most people who remember them at all can tell you both of their hits.

Does anyone remember Tim Buck 3? Sly Fox? When in Rome? The Underworld? Billie Meyers? How about Chumbawamba? They aren't very big here in the U.S., but do well in Europe and the U.K. if I recall correctly.

I can't believe Funkytown hasn't been mentioned!

fourier jr

Dec24-05, 09:48 AM

fourier jr's list:
kung fu fighting -- carl douglas
what's up -- 4 non blondes
barbie girl -- aqua
bust a move -- young mc
puttin on the ritz -- taco
maniac -- michael sembello
mambo #5 -- lou bega
i'm gonna be (500 miles) -- the proclaimers
rock & roll pt 2 -- gary glitter
don't worry be happy -- bobby mcferrin
lovefool -- the cardigans
big country -- big country
turning japanese -- the vapors
b!tch -- meredith brooks
whip it -- devo
tubthumping -- chumbawumba
play that funky music -- wild cherry
in-a-gadda-da-vida -- iron butterfly, already mentioned
i like big butts -- sir mixalot
99 luftballons -- nena/goldfinger
ice ice baby -- vanilla ice
mickey -- ton basil
i'm too sexy -- right said fred
the macarena -- los del rio

fourier jr

Dec24-05, 09:56 AM

a few more:
i want candy -- bow wow wow
whoomp there it is -- tag team
informer -- snow
born slippy -- underworld
harmour love -- syreeta (not really a hit i don't think)
mmm mmm mmm mmm -- crash test dummies
convoy -- cw mccall
a girl like you -- edwin collins
loving you -- minnie riperton
somebody's watching me -- rockwell
i touch myself -- the divinyls
bittersweet symphony -- the verve
i melt with you -- modern english

arildno

Dec24-05, 12:21 PM

Abracadabra-Steve Miller Band
In the Eye of the Tiger-The Survivors(?)

FredGarvin

Dec24-05, 12:46 PM

FredGarvin

Dec24-05, 12:56 PM

FredGarvin

Dec24-05, 01:05 PM

Flock of Seagulls also did the spaceage love song. So they don't count. I was going to call that one. Good catch.

Many people think that Men Without Hats had only one hit which would be Safety Dance. But they had one other. I know what it was, does anyone else?I couldn't make it through Safety Dance. I can't think of any others off the top of my head.

Yet another is Dead or Alive, but I think most people who remember them at all can tell you both of their hits.You spin me right round baby right round like a record baby right round round round....gack! Also Brand New Lover. Those are the only two I can think of.

Does anyone remember Tim Buck 3? Sly Fox? When in Rome? The Underworld? Billie Meyers? How about Chumbawamba? They aren't very big here in the U.S., but do well in Europe and the U.K. if I recall correctly.
Timbuck 3 and When in Rome were pretty big. The promise is a pretty well known tune.That Chumbawumba song needs to be obliterated from the planet. I put the Macarena ahead of that one.

Averagesupernova

Dec24-05, 01:18 PM

Abracadabra-Steve Miller Band
In the Eye of the Tiger-The Survivors(?)

Wow. How old are you? Steve Miller had LOTS of hits. Survivor didn't have lots but they certainly had more than one.

Averagesupernova

Dec24-05, 01:20 PM

Some from my era...
Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love (They were nothing without Byrne!)
Kajagoogoo - Too Shy
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come on Eileen
Juice Newton - Queen of Hearts (ugh)
Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians - What I Am
Baltimora - Tarzan Boy (That one always makes me laugh)

I'm not sure about this one, but my all time musical nemesis...
Starland Vocal Band - Afternoon Delight

I'm pretty sure Kajagoogoo had more than one. I can't think of it at the moment. It will come to me in a couple of hours. Juice Newton also did Loves Been a Little Bit Hard On Me.

DeadWolfe

Dec24-05, 01:39 PM

Because I Got High - Afroman

arildno

Dec24-05, 02:16 PM

Wow. How old are you? Steve Miller had LOTS of hits.
They never reached Norway. Hence, they weren't hits.

Astronuc

Dec24-05, 02:35 PM

They never reached Norway. Hence, they weren't hits. :rofl: That's often the case. A popular artist may have multiple hits in one country, while only one hit overseas.

Most of the music I really enjoy was produced 1975 and before. :cool:

I am not old - just experienced. :biggrin:

Probably another one hit wonder is John Butcher's "Holy War" (1987), which is a unique tune if you've ever heard it.

And another tune I really liked back in my early teens was "Tighter, Tighter" by Alive n' Kickin' (~1970).

Andre

Dec24-05, 02:55 PM

How about "Streets of London" of Ralph McTell?

Averagesupernova

Dec24-05, 03:46 PM

Ok. Now I remember the other song Kajagoogoo did. Neverending story.

Danger

Dec27-05, 06:38 PM

I am not old - just experienced. :biggrin:
You tell 'em, bro. Damned kids, anyhow. :grumpy:
Men Without Hats' other hit was 'Pop Goes the World'.
Eve of Destruction - Barry McGuire
The Pied Piper - Chrispian St. Peter
Ghostbusters theme - Carl Douglas Jr.
Be Happy - Bobby McFarren (sp?)

Homer Simpson

Dec27-05, 06:57 PM

What about Billy Horsehair Cyrus - Achy Breaky Heart?? That brings back tonnes of irritating memories.

For real though:

BLUES IMAGE - Ride Captain Ride (actually a great tune)

Astronuc

Dec27-05, 07:07 PM

That would be Bobby McFerrin. He has done some really cool music - way beyond "Be Happy". :cool:

I also thought of another, possibly obscure, song from 1970 - D. O. A. by Bloodrock (out of Ft. Worth) - and they had much better stuff than D. O. A. - e.g. 'Breach of Lease' and 'Fantastic Piece of Architecture'.

I should point out that D.O.A. does not put me on a 'rush' - it is a rather morbid song.

Spin_Network

Dec27-05, 07:20 PM

What songs played by groups topping the rock charts only once send you on a "natural" rush?

Two teasers from the 60's for everyone:

1)Grocer Jack

2)The Singing Nun

:!!)

tribdog

Dec27-05, 08:13 PM

Tag Team - Whoomp! There It Is
95 South - Whoop There It Is
apparently both of these were in the top 100 songs of 1993 don't know which is the irritating one, I"m guessing both

Milli Vanilli

Averagesupernova

Dec27-05, 08:52 PM

You tell 'em, bro. Damned kids, anyhow. :grumpy:
Men Without Hats' other hit was 'Pop Goes the World'.
Eve of Destruction - Barry McGuire
The Pied Piper - Chrispian St. Peter
Ghostbusters theme - Carl Douglas Jr.
Be Happy - Bobby McFarren (sp?)

Ghostbusters was done by Ray Parker Jr. Don't know anything about Carl Douglas Jr. Also, Ray Parker Jr. had at least on other hit. The one I'm thinking of was The Other Woman.

Loren Booda

Dec27-05, 08:54 PM

"White Bird" by It's a Beautiful Day. The affection it evokes from me seems linked to my perceived immortality of the hippie generation.

Danger

Dec28-05, 09:58 AM

Two teasers from the 60's for everyone:
1)Grocer Jack
2)The Singing Nun
:!!)
Never heard of Grocer Jack. The Singing Nun did 'Domenic' (sp?).

Ghostbusters was done by Ray Parker Jr. Don't know anything about Carl Douglas Jr.
Right. :redface: That 'Jr.' tag threw me off. Douglas did 'Kung Fu Fighting'. Never heard of the other Parker one.

arildno

Dec28-05, 10:00 AM

Did Terry Jacks have a lot of hits?
I know only of one..

Ratzinger

Dec28-05, 12:29 PM

"What you won't do for love" Bobby Caldwell
"Drinking in L.A." Bran Van
"Rock your baby" George McCrae
"Tainted Love" Soft Cell

Danger

Dec28-05, 12:34 PM

Did Terry Jacks have a lot of hits?
I know only of one..
Yes, he had a lot, but I don't know if they made it outside of Canada. There was, for example, 'Concrete Sea'. I assume that you were talking about 'Seasons in the Sun'. He and Susan Jacks also comprised The Poppy Family, which had a few.

marlon

Dec28-05, 12:38 PM

Soeur Sourire with Dominique.

This woman was a Belgian nun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Singing_Nun) who scored a one hit wonder with "Dominique". This song was a hughe success in the US. If you hear it, you will certainly recognize it.

Ohh, yes, she comitted suicide afterwards...

regards
marlon

arildno

Dec28-05, 12:40 PM

What's so romantic about a sea made out of concrete?
I don't get it.

arildno

Dec28-05, 12:42 PM

And, marlon: "J'aime, j'aime la vie" WAS a hit, the singer (if you can call her that) IS Belgian, however much you want to suppress those facts..:smile:

Danger

Dec28-05, 12:45 PM

What's so romantic about a sea made out of concrete?
I don't get it.
Nothing. It's a commentary on urban life.

(chorus)
No one was meant to be
Living here in this concrete sea
Everyone including me
Wishes that we could be set free

marlon

Dec28-05, 12:50 PM

And, marlon: "J'aime, j'aime la vie" WAS a hit, the singer (if you can call her that) IS Belgian, however much you want to suppress those facts..:smile:

Arrgh Sandra Kim...err what can i say ?...She is imaginary:blushing: :uhh:

regards
marlon, damned Eurovision Songfestival

marlon

Dec28-05, 12:52 PM

Nothing. It's a commentary on urban life.
(chorus)
No one was meant to be
Living here in this concrete sea
Everyone including me
Wishes that we could be set free

Pfff poor lines...

what about this :

Dominique, nique, nique
s'en allait tout simplement
routier simple (or was it pauvre)
et chantant...

The clue is, you have two combine two things here :
1) the singer was a nun
2) you have to know what the French word "nique" stands for. In English, i believe:rolleyes: , they call it the F-word

marlon

Danger

Dec28-05, 12:56 PM

I don't know what any French words stand for. I always thought that Dominique was just a name.

marlon

Dec28-05, 12:59 PM

I always thought that Dominique was just a name.
:rofl: yes it is.

The point is that our dear nun sings : Dominique, nique,nique

It's the "nique, nique" part that matters:rofl:

marlon

THIS SITE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominique) explains what i mean a bit better

arildno

Dec28-05, 01:16 PM

Nothing. It's a commentary on urban life.
(chorus)
No one was meant to be
Living here in this concrete sea
Everyone including me
Wishes that we could be set free
Concrete is dry (or dried, at least), and water is wet.
Hence:

BAD IMAGERY!!!!!!
:grumpy:

Danger

Dec28-05, 01:31 PM

Arildno, it's just a variation on the everyday expression 'concrete jungle', meaning a city.

Thanks for the link, Marlon. The funniest part of it, though, is the bit about the FBI trying to shut down 'Louie, Louie'. Old Mary Hoover was one serious nut case. :rofl:

Francis M

Dec28-05, 03:12 PM

What songs played by groups topping the rock charts only once send you on a "natural" rush?

Norman Greenbaum-"Spirit in The Sky" (and don't even counter with "THe Egg Plant That Ate Chicago":rofl: )

Soft Cell- "Tainted Love"
T Rex "Bang a Gong"
Dexy's Midnight Runners "Come on Eileen"
The Proclaimers "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)"
Nena "99 Luftballons"
Looking Glass "Brandy (you're a fine girl)"

I'm not sure all of these were one hit wonders but I like 'em. :biggrin:

Danger

Dec28-05, 04:09 PM

Nena "99 Luftballons"
That was released in German, then English. Does that count as 2 hits? :confused:

Ain't Got Time Anymore -- Glass Bottle
Want Ads -- Honeycone
Get It On -- Chase
One Toke Over the Line -- Brewer & Shipley
The Night Chicago Died -- Paper Lace
McArthur Park -- Richard Harris (I don't know if that counts or not)
Have I the Right? -- The Honeycombs
Smokin' in the Boys Room -- Brownsville Station
Cakewalk Into Town -- Taj Mahal (or not, if he's also the one who did "Ain't Nobody's Business But My Own"; I can't remember for sure)
Put Your Hand in the Hand -- Ocean
Jody -- Joel Gregorash
Painted Ladies -- Ian Thomas
It Never Rains in Southern California -- (damn! the name escapes me)
Escape (?) (The Pina Colada song) -- Rupert Holmes

zanazzi78

Dec28-05, 04:13 PM

This thread 3 pages long and no one`s mentioned Right said fred - "I`m too sexy":uhh:

Edit: ok i`ve made it 4 pages long ....

Loren Booda

Dec28-05, 05:29 PM

The Singing Nun also attempted to popularize the Lord's Prayer in song, I believe. Terrible that she would have commited suicide.

Chi Meson

Dec28-05, 06:23 PM

This thread 3 pages long and no one`s mentioned Right said fred - "I`m too sexy":uhh:
Edit: ok i`ve made it 4 pages long ....
Sorry guy, see post # 10

I'm almost ashamed to be moved by "The Way" I don't even know the band's name, but I'm not aware of any other hit of theirs.

Spin_Network

Dec29-05, 07:57 PM

Never heard of Grocer Jack. The Singing Nun did 'Domenic' (sp?).
Right. :redface: That 'Jr.' tag threw me off. Douglas did 'Kung Fu Fighting'. Never heard of the other Parker one.

Singing Nun sang :Dominique?

Grocer Jack!..Grocer Jack!..when are you coming back?
was the theme song from the film:A Teenage Opera

Danger

Dec29-05, 08:20 PM

Sorry... never heard of the movie either.

Janitor

Dec29-05, 10:28 PM

Everybody Plays the Fool by The Main Ingredient

In the Summertime by Mungo Jerry

Master Jack by Four Jacks and a Jill

Tom Mattson

Dec30-05, 02:03 AM

OK, I am totally ashamed to admit it but in college I liked these one hit wonders. In some cases I had to Google the lyrics to the chorus just to remind myself who did the song!

Groove is in the Heart by Deee-Lite
The Humpty Dance by Digital Underground
Kiss them for Me by Siouxsie and the Banshees
Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe by Whale
A Girl Like You by Edwyn Collins
No Rain by Blind Melon

Sometime during grad school I got out of my alterno-crap phase and went back to the music I loved in high school, namely that which I discovered by listening to my dad's record collection on the sneak when I was little. Happy to say I'm still sticking with the good stuff today.

Astronuc

Dec30-05, 10:01 AM

Groove is in the Heart by Deee-Lite
The Humpty Dance by Digital Underground
Kiss them for Me by Siouxsie and the Banshees
Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe by Whale
A Girl Like You by Edwyn Collins
No Rain by Blind Melon After my time. :biggrin:

Anttech

Dec30-05, 10:31 AM

Groove is in the Heart by Deee-Lite

Thats not a 1 hit wonder.. they had a few hits

Groove is in the Heart by Deee-Lite
The Humpty Dance by Digital Underground
Kiss them for Me by Siouxsie and the Banshees
Hobo Humpin' Slobo Babe by Whale
A Girl Like You by Edwyn Collins
No Rain by Blind Melon

Actually none of these are, I dont know Whale but the rest arent

Danger

Dec30-05, 05:14 PM

Zoot Suit Riot -- Cherry Poppin Daddies

Chi Meson

Dec30-05, 06:56 PM

Jeez! It just hit me. Without a doubt, my favorite "one-hit" song is:

"Da da da" by Trio.

They had other hits in most European countries, and I remember their follow-up "Boom-Boom" being played on MTV about 1984-ish, but I think this counts as a one-hit band. I had the 12-inch release with the extended "dub" version.

Averagesupernova

Dec30-05, 07:14 PM

Jeez! It just hit me. Without a doubt, my favorite "one-hit" song is:

"Da da da" by Trio.

LOL I remember that. I also remember thinking that it took about one brain cell to come up with it.

Danger

Dec30-05, 07:56 PM

I'm Easy -- Keith (?) Carradine

tribdog

Dec30-05, 08:17 PM

Here comes the Sun ~The Beatles(?sp)
Space Oddity~David Bowie
Every little thing she does is magic~The Police

Averagesupernova

Dec30-05, 08:25 PM

Here comes the Sun ~The Beatles(?sp)
Space Oddity~David Bowie
Every little thing she does is magic~The Police

Say what??????????

tribdog

Dec30-05, 08:42 PM

I know, I'd never heard of these bands before either. They are real bands though.

Averagesupernova

Dec30-05, 09:28 PM

I know, I'd never heard of these bands before either. They are real bands though.

They aren't even close to one hitters though. I know them all well. Oh and forgive me if I get a bit mouthy. I'm several beers on my way to being REALLY relaxed.

Tom Mattson

Dec30-05, 11:40 PM

Thats not a 1 hit wonder.. they had a few hits

Actually none of these are, I dont know Whale but the rest arent

Yeah, but arildno listed the Steve Miller Band as a one hit wonder. I figured we weren't being too picky!

Loren Booda

Dec31-05, 12:59 AM

"A Girl Like You" sends me. So do "Harden My Heart," "867-5309/Jenny" and "Don't You (Forget About Me)."

Chi Meson

Dec31-05, 08:04 AM

I know, I'd never heard of these bands before either. They are real bands though.
Oh yeah, and there was this band called "The U2's" that did this single called "11 o'clock, tick tock." That was great.

And I remember this pretty good song called "I'm so hot for her (and she's so cold)." I think the band was "The Rolling of the Stones" or something like that.

Does anyone remeber "The REM's" who had one song called "Radio Song"? It wasn't that good, but it got some play.

tribdog

Dec31-05, 09:58 AM

You must listen to some obscure "college" radio stations

Danger

Dec31-05, 01:22 PM

Thanks, Loren. I've been trying to remember Quarterflash ever since this thread started, and kept coming up blank.

Chi Meson

Dec31-05, 03:05 PM

Thanks, Loren. I've been trying to remember Quarterflash ever since this thread started, and kept coming up blank.
DAMMIT! I've been trying for the last twenty years to FORGET Quarterflash! THANKS A LOT!
:grumpy: :grumpy: :grumpy:

:tongue2:

Oh, two more from about 1979:
"Hey Saint Peter" and "Driver's Seat"

One is by "Flash in the Pan" the other is by "Sniff and the Tears." I could never remember which is which.

Danger

Dec31-05, 03:28 PM

:rofl: ....

Loren Booda

Dec31-05, 03:52 PM

Is "Danger" a derivative of "Derange?:wink:

Danger

Dec31-05, 04:02 PM

I've never thought of that, but I suppose it's possible. Certainly appropriate.

Math Is Hard

Dec31-05, 05:06 PM

The Humpty Dance by Digital Underground

oooh! I love Digital Underground. I thought they were brilliant. I still keep the Sex Packets CD in my car.

I searched forever to get an LP by a one-or-two-hit-wonder band called "Ta mara and the Seen" (from around 1980, I think). I finally found it on e-bay and bought it, but now I have nothing to play it on.:cry: I need to figure out how to make a CD out of it.