One Hit Wonders

[Harry P.]

Ok, music lovers (and I know you're out there)...

I know there are tons of "one hit wonders"... bands or singers that made a big splash on the charts and/or the radio and then were never heard from again. Too many to mention. But just for fun (and for the memories), let's post up some of our favorite "one hit wonders,"

Where to even begin? Ok... here's a song I really, really like, by a band I never heard of before this song came out... and never heard from again after this song came out. But this one song remains one of my all time favorites.

"The noise from the tape deck was only drowned out by the buzz from the wine"... I don't know why, but I love that lyric!

 

[chunkypeanutbutter]

Paul Revere and The Raiders: they may have had some songs that nearly got on the charts again, but none as far up as Indian Reservation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ6RjP7MlXk

[Tom Geiger]

Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum

[Harry P.]

Paul Revere and The Raiders: they may have had some songs that nearly got on the charts again, but none as far up as Indian Reservation.

Are you kidding? They were huge!

They had tons of hits.

Just Like Me.  Kicks.  Good Thing.  Mr. Sun, Mr. Moon.  Hungry.  Let Me.

[RAT-T]

ONE OF MY FAVORITES

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blrHHRWKygw

[JollySipper]

You guys ever hear of a group called Hum? They had a couple of albums, the one that made it big was titled You'd Prefer an Astronaut.......

It had a couple good songs, my favorite being "The Pod"............

[slusher]

Always liked this one...

[slusher]

I think this is one also....

[Crazy Ed]

    One of my top one hit wonders was/is 4 Jacks and a Jill's Master Jack. A simple yet haunting tune I never get tired of.

[JTalmage]

 

Timothy by The Buoys. Always kinda thought it was a catchy tune.

 

[Matt Bacon]

One of my favorite songs ever. She's still working 35 years on, but never troubled the charts again...

bestest,

M.

[Petetrucker07]

How about Europe. They just recently had their one hit revived.

[unclescott58]

One hit wonders? Was that first one you posted Harry, or the Hazel O Conner song above ever hits? I've heard the rest of them and would agree. But, those two I just referred to?

[Harry P.]

One hit wonders? Was that first one you posted Harry, or the Hazel O Conner song above ever hits? I've heard the rest of them and would agree. But, those two I just referred to?

The one I posted was a hit. It got to #23 on the US Modern Rock chart. Probably was never a big "AM Radio" hit, but it got tons of airplay on the stations I listened to in those days.

[Harry P.]

Another good one. A huge hit when I was a kid, but never heard from them again...

[MrObsessive]

I have no idea why, but this song popped into my mind when I saw this thread.

DEFINITELY a one hit wonder, as I don't seem to remember any other hits from them.

 

Edited December 1, 2015 by MrObsessive

[ChrisBcritter]

In some cases these artists were big in other countries, but by some fluke managed to get over in the U.S. even if they weren't really trying - Kyu Sakamoto and "Sukiyaki" being a good example (Shocking Blue were Dutch, and Four Jacks and a Jill were South African and were more successful at home).

Back to the U.S., here's a favorite of mine (reached #6 in March 1959; their other releases that charted topped out at #76 and #96):

This song must have been a favorite of Jonathan Demme; he made good use of it in the movie Crazy Mama - although it rarely shows up on oldies stations.

[kitbash1]

Sugar Loaf , Don't call us, we'll call you...

[Crazy Ed]

I Love You by the People - They were a local band from San Jose that broke up after the first Album came out. Larry Norman went on to become a very popular Christian "Rocker". I maybe wrong but I think he was the First.

Incense and Peppermints by Strawberry Alarm Clock. These guys got an amazing amount of air play.

[Scott Colmer]

The nights the lights went out in Georgia by Vicki Lawrence.  Extra points if you can name each character and what they did. It took me and my wife an hour to figure it all out.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukhfhUHtD0g

 

Edited December 2, 2015 by Scott Colmer

[Scott Colmer]

I gotta do one more. This thread caused me to look for this song. Still a good play after I having not heard it for at least 20 years. Reminds me of a girl I knew at that time who looked good but had a hard time being happy. Let that one go.

Sorry about the people talking over the song in the video. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQb8UN1KMfY

Edited December 2, 2015 by Scott Colmer

[Harry P.]

Sugar Loaf , Don't call us, we'll call you...

They had an even bigger hit with "Green Eyed Lady."

[Harry P.]

Another huge hit from when I was a kid. One and done...

[Crazy Ed]

The nights the lights went out in Georgia by Vicki Lawrence.  Extra points if you can name each character and what they did. It took me and my wife an hour to figure it all out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukhfhUHtD0g

    Yep Scott I remember the Song but never cared for the Story. Imagine someone lettin' their Brother Hang for a Murder they Committed.

[RAT-T]

I'M LIKING THIS THREAD HARRY, THANKS FOR STARTING IT

I BELIEVE THIS IS A ONE HIT WONDER ALSO, I'VE HEARD IT IN A FEW MOVIES

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ekQ1RTmzBc