You said “The point is that all these songs ultimately defined the artists' careers behind them for better (and, occasionally, for worse).” That is absolutely not the case for The Verve. Mickey for Toni Basil as a music artist? Yes. But the Verve no way. If we’re focusing on the American chart data then the Grateful Dead are a one hit wonder. So is Phish. So is Jimi Hendrix. Poor Black Sabbath, Alice In Chains & the Flaming Lips never had a hit at all.
Yes! I agree. I have been following a-Ha since 1985. The Sun Always Shines on TV and Cry Wolf. Memorial Beach flopped, but East of the Sun, West of the Moon had some hits. Don't forget I've Been Losing You from Scoundrel Days.
Sure, that’s reasonable. But if you post multi hit, plus multi international hit acts from Britain and Scandinavia on an international platform and call them one hit wonders because you assume everyone is thinking in America you’re asking to be put straight, aren’t you? Plus if you call your list one hit wonders - and even you, here, concede A-ha had 2 US hits, again, at least get the simple fact right. 2 hits being more than 1 for example!!
Same goes with Soft Cell- Torch, What, Bedsitter, Say Hello Wave Goodbye, all incredible songs. Marc Almond also wrote My Former Self, one of the most underrated songs in history.
Dexy’s first two albums were hugely influential. Rowland would have a heart attack if he heard himself described as part of the ‘nostalgia scene’. He continues to cut his own way with original work - sometimes superb, sometimes bizarre - rarely looking back.
I loved the album too. ‘What’s she like’ is a tour de force. I saw them tour the album at Southampton Gaumont (as it was then). A huge theatre. Only around 300 people were stood around to watch them in their pinstripe suits. A lot of disgruntled shouting for Come On and Geno. Rowland said ‘Geno doesn’t live here anymore’ and that was that. Fantastic and tragic.
One hit wonders are like GOATS in sports, everyone has an opinion and are always ready to passionately defend their position. I am a baby boomer so Brandy is my #1 one hit wonder. I enjoyed the list and the comments.
So many great songs on this list! I wonder if The Knack and a-ha really count though as they did have follow-up Top 20 hits. I've also loved a lot of a-ha's music that never made a dent here in the U.S. Here are a few others I'd add:
Thanks Dan! Yeah the Knack was a borderline pick, but I wanted an excuse to write about “My Sharona.” Sometimes, bending the rules is good. Great tracks you shared as well, I should’ve made room for Natalie’s song.
When I saw “Spirit in the Sky” I immediately thought of the Doctor and the Medics cover. They were probably a one hit wonder too lol
I just recently picked up a used copy of A-Ha’s Hunting High and Low on vinyl (there was a demos version released on Record Store Day this year). I had that and Scoundrel Days on cassette and they were both pretty great.
I also had some of Marc Almond’s solo stuff- Soft Cell was pretty great too!
I got to see both Live and Blind Melon in Chicago (with PIL and Big Audio Dynamite) just before “No Rain” hit.
I can't believe Dancing in the Moonlight by King Harvest and Brandy by Looking Glass were both excluded from the list . Perhaps they are both a little too 70's AM radio'ish but at least one should be on the list
Great list Matt!! You just about soundtracked my entire life in this post!
One of my favorite one hit wonders from my childhood was Indeep’s “Last Night a DJ Saved My Life”. A classic dance and disco song that the band was never able to replicate.
While they did end up with a second top 40 hit in 1987 with “Pop Goes the World”, I always considered “Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats to be a one hit wonder.
Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” is another that comes to mind.
Part 2 one hit wonders: “Ticket to Ride” (the Beatles); “Ice Baby” (Vanilla Ice); “Vanilla Fudge” (Hot Chocolate); “Where did Our Love Go?” (Supremes ft Peter Wolf), “Satisfaction” (the Rolling Stones); “I Will Always Love You” (Whitney Parton), “Hit Me Baby One More Time” (Britney Spears)……. You need more? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?
Dexy’s and Verve are multi hit bands. I mean literally, numerous big hits. Come on Matt, do your homework.
Calling The Verve a “one-hit
wonder” is really ridiculous.
Not if you’re focused on American chart data, it isn’t.
You said “The point is that all these songs ultimately defined the artists' careers behind them for better (and, occasionally, for worse).” That is absolutely not the case for The Verve. Mickey for Toni Basil as a music artist? Yes. But the Verve no way. If we’re focusing on the American chart data then the Grateful Dead are a one hit wonder. So is Phish. So is Jimi Hendrix. Poor Black Sabbath, Alice In Chains & the Flaming Lips never had a hit at all.
Point being? Doug, go stuff it in ur cd playuh.
If you can't understand the point I probably can't help you playuh.
Even A-Ha managed a second (#20 on Billboard)
Yes! I agree. I have been following a-Ha since 1985. The Sun Always Shines on TV and Cry Wolf. Memorial Beach flopped, but East of the Sun, West of the Moon had some hits. Don't forget I've Been Losing You from Scoundrel Days.
Same goes for Marc Almond.
Haha yes, when I saw The Verve, I was like what?!
U.K.? Or U.S.? The Verve had four top-10 hits in the U.K., but just the one in the States.
Ask 100 Americans how many hits Dexy's and A-Ha had, and 99 of those hundred will name the one song, even if they had other top-40 hits.
I don't think it's Matt not doing his homework; I think it's specifying hits in the U.S.
Sure, that’s reasonable. But if you post multi hit, plus multi international hit acts from Britain and Scandinavia on an international platform and call them one hit wonders because you assume everyone is thinking in America you’re asking to be put straight, aren’t you? Plus if you call your list one hit wonders - and even you, here, concede A-ha had 2 US hits, again, at least get the simple fact right. 2 hits being more than 1 for example!!
Woooooah Geno! And Jocky Wilson! Dexy’s were fantastic, full of surprises.
You failed to mention Soft Cell’s Sex Dwarf
A-ha was more than a one hit wonder!
Same goes with Soft Cell- Torch, What, Bedsitter, Say Hello Wave Goodbye, all incredible songs. Marc Almond also wrote My Former Self, one of the most underrated songs in history.
Yeah, I was thinking about that too. Never thought of the Verve as one hit wonders. Great band.
What’s she like is brilliant. Knowledge of Beauty, also. I saw them a lot back then, truly exceptional band.
Dexy’s first two albums were hugely influential. Rowland would have a heart attack if he heard himself described as part of the ‘nostalgia scene’. He continues to cut his own way with original work - sometimes superb, sometimes bizarre - rarely looking back.
Agree completely. And I’m one of those Dexys fans who thinks the third album a bit of a masterpiece on the quiet.
I loved the album too. ‘What’s she like’ is a tour de force. I saw them tour the album at Southampton Gaumont (as it was then). A huge theatre. Only around 300 people were stood around to watch them in their pinstripe suits. A lot of disgruntled shouting for Come On and Geno. Rowland said ‘Geno doesn’t live here anymore’ and that was that. Fantastic and tragic.
The La's "There she goes" perfect pop from a great album.
Came here to post this one. It’s infectious.
This was fun. I like that there’s not any pure novelty songs on here like “I’m Too Sexy.”
The best part of the music video is the tank top tear-off. Incredible stuff.
Or “I Wanna Be a Cowboy”
One hit wonders are like GOATS in sports, everyone has an opinion and are always ready to passionately defend their position. I am a baby boomer so Brandy is my #1 one hit wonder. I enjoyed the list and the comments.
Right there with you! Brandy is the champion to me as well.
Love that comparison, thanks Frank!
So many great songs on this list! I wonder if The Knack and a-ha really count though as they did have follow-up Top 20 hits. I've also loved a lot of a-ha's music that never made a dent here in the U.S. Here are a few others I'd add:
Let It Whip - Dazz Band
Der Kommissar - After the Fire
Torn - Natalie Imbruglia
One of Us - Joan Osborne
Thanks Dan! Yeah the Knack was a borderline pick, but I wanted an excuse to write about “My Sharona.” Sometimes, bending the rules is good. Great tracks you shared as well, I should’ve made room for Natalie’s song.
There's a lot to say about "My Sharona." I always think of it as the song that changed the tide from disco to to new wave on the charts.
That would be a fascinating topic to explore.
Has anyone else seen rendition she did with a comedian who mimed her song? One of my favorite funny musical bits of all time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6VXVkqd02M
Don’t turn around uh-oh-oh!
Love that song!
Love this!! So many great songs!
When I saw “Spirit in the Sky” I immediately thought of the Doctor and the Medics cover. They were probably a one hit wonder too lol
I just recently picked up a used copy of A-Ha’s Hunting High and Low on vinyl (there was a demos version released on Record Store Day this year). I had that and Scoundrel Days on cassette and they were both pretty great.
I also had some of Marc Almond’s solo stuff- Soft Cell was pretty great too!
I got to see both Live and Blind Melon in Chicago (with PIL and Big Audio Dynamite) just before “No Rain” hit.
We can all debate the list’s merits, I just want to say I enjoyed the WRITING in your piece.
Thanks Omar! 🙏🙏
Totally agree with you Omar! Great writing about a fun topic. Thanks Matt! Thoroughly enjoyed the trip down musical memory lane.
Radar Love - Golden Earring
They were more like a two-hit wonder.
Twilight Zone
I can't believe Dancing in the Moonlight by King Harvest and Brandy by Looking Glass were both excluded from the list . Perhaps they are both a little too 70's AM radio'ish but at least one should be on the list
I don’t understand this list. Many of these artists had many hits. Soft Cell, for example, had loads.
Then there's the ultimate one-hit wonder: "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)."
The Pope likes the Macarena, confirmed 😉😁
How many hundred Chicago weddings must he have attended in one capacity or another? Yeah, he knows that song well.
Many of the artists in this list continue(d) to have long careers and many successful songs. Classing them as one-hit wonders is frankly bizarre.
Calling Soft Cell a one-hit wonder lol
Take on me, will forever be the quintessential one hit wonder to me. Love that song.
Great list Matt!! You just about soundtracked my entire life in this post!
One of my favorite one hit wonders from my childhood was Indeep’s “Last Night a DJ Saved My Life”. A classic dance and disco song that the band was never able to replicate.
While they did end up with a second top 40 hit in 1987 with “Pop Goes the World”, I always considered “Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats to be a one hit wonder.
Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” is another that comes to mind.
Looking forward to part 2!!
Loved Safety Dance!
“Come on Eileen” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners is timeless (which def ages me, IKYKW). 😬
Part 2 one hit wonders: “Ticket to Ride” (the Beatles); “Ice Baby” (Vanilla Ice); “Vanilla Fudge” (Hot Chocolate); “Where did Our Love Go?” (Supremes ft Peter Wolf), “Satisfaction” (the Rolling Stones); “I Will Always Love You” (Whitney Parton), “Hit Me Baby One More Time” (Britney Spears)……. You need more? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?