Ebkesq,
That's funny. I've been truely surprised at some of the Muzak remakes. It makes me wonder who is doing the selection process.
Enjoy,
TIC |
Wow! There are some great responses in this thread.
My vote goes to the first music video played on MTV: "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles. |
I have heard the Muzak version of "I'll be Coming Around" playing in a Taco Bell (ha!), and I saw the video on VH-1, so although the song may not have made the top of the Billboard Charts, it got SOME recognition! |
"spirit in the sky" by norman greenbaum |
Reubent,
Your probably right about the Bottle Rockets. I first saw them perform as a opening act for John Fogerty. They were really rockin.
From that concert , I have bought every one of there CD releases.
24 Hours a day is the best in my opinion.
A great group with a classic rock sound that never got heard. |
Where do you guys live that anything by The Bottle Rockets is considered a "hit". I like both of the songs your guys mentioned and I bought that CD based on airplay on my local public radio station, but it was far from a hit.
I seriously doubt that any of the Bottle Rockets stuff even broke into the Billboards top 100.
TIC |
Bottle Rockets also had the (big) hit "I'll Be Coming Around." They are big around my town, so I can't count them as a one hit wonder. |
"Radar Gun" by the Bottle Rockets. |
|
Okay, If they're a two hit wonder,
I'll have to go with
Driver's Seat by Sniff & the Tears |
Spencer: I think the Foundations also did "Now That I've Found You" (Alison Krause does a nice cover of that one), so they probably don't count. Heard them years ago at the Filmore East, the poor lead singer's monitor wasn't working well and he sang flat the whole set. Build Me Up Buttercup enjoyed a revival a few years back when it was featured in There's Something About Mary, that brought it back into my head.. |
"Build Me Up Buttercup" - The Foundations
I've had that tune stuck in my head for years. Cheers,
Spencer |
"Electric Avenue" by Eddie Grant
"Afternoon Delight" by Starland Vocal Band |
'you were on my mind'- we five
honourable mention :
'timothy'- the buoys
'sit down i think i love you'- mojo men
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"I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night" was by The Electric Prunes. |
"I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night" 13th Floor Elevators. |
A band called lieutenant pigeon came out with a song called 'Mouldy old Dough' in the 70's that sat at the top of the UK top 40 for a while, never heard from them after that....a fun record!
Rooze |
was just listening to Jeff Healy's cover of ," stuck in the middle with you", great! |
wasn't that Norman Greenbaum who also did Spirit In The Sky>>>>???? |
Surfgod, Sonny and Cher had a lot of hits, starting with I Got You Babe. They don't count, I'm afraid.
How about David Ruffin's "What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted"? A great song, but I don't think he ever had another hit. |
"They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha Ha" by Napoleon XIV (Jerry Samuels) |
Benny Mardones - " Into the night " I use to play this song over and over . Anyone remember this song ?
Here are the lyrics...
She's just sixteen years old
Leave her alone, they say
Separated by fools
Who don't know what love is yet
But I want you to know -
CHORUS:
If I could fly
I'd pick you up
I'd take you into the night
And show you a love
Like you've never seen - ever seen.
It's like having a dream
Where nobody has a heart
It's like having it all
And watching it fall apart
And I would wait till the end of time for you
And do it again, it's true
I can't measure my love
There's nothing to compare it to
But I want you to know -
CHORUS
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don't worry be happy- bobby mcferrin, lets dance- chris montez,itchycoo park- small faces, we've got to get it on again- the addrisi brothers, pied piper- chrispian st. peters- answer to Sean's question [from march]- johnny are you queer is on the soundtrack "valley girl" which also has my all time fav one hit wonder- melt with you- modern english |
The Beat Goes On, Sonny and Cher |
'Funky Gibbon' by The Goodies. |
Born to be alive by Patrick Hernandez |
Donny Iris, a song called "Ah Leah" back in the early 80's |
I have to agree - '64 through '73 were the best 10 yrs in rock/pop. Beatles, Stones, Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Hendrix, Procul Harum, CCR, CSN&Y, Grateful Dead, Clapton, all the Motown stuff, James Brown, Aretha, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, hundreds others from a dozen styles of pop, rock, soul, R&B, etc. Never a time like it before (even though the genre had only been around 10-12 yrs) and none since. |
Tomryan,
I'm not old-just way advanced!! No, I've been listening to music since 1955. The best years were 64-73. I can't forget the Singing Nun, but unfortunately Dominique was not one of my favorites.
Mike |
Not my all time favorite one hit wonder,but pretty close - Mary MacGregor "Torn between two lovers" |
Mwilson: If you hate Sam-the-Sham, you were NEVER a Chicago greaser in the 60's.
Long hair, black leather coats, baggy greys, combat boots and, oh my, "sweet little 16 on Friday nights"!
Sold-my-soul for rock 'n roll -Ahooooooooooooooooooo |
Believe it or not, when I play "Wooly Bully" at a party people love it. Of course, this is in a set with "The Twist", "Mony, Mony", "Gimmie Some Lovin", "Nobody But Me", etc.
Hey, "Nobody But Me" by the Human Beinz...one hit wonder!
Mwilson, thanks for the turn on to allmusic.com. |
Yeah, Mr. Big Stuff was Jean Knight - just looked it up on allmusic.com. It was her only top-ten hit, according to the bio. Sam the Sham - the DJ announced that name after the song, but had played "Little Red Riding Hood" just before. Another "almost" one-hit wonder, Sam the Sham also did Wooly Bully". Man, I hate both of those songs! |
Not that I know of. Song was done by Betty Something-or-other about 1971. |
Did Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs also do a version of "Mr. Big Stuff"? (am I thinking right, it's the Motown soul song with the "Whod'ya-whod'ya-whod'ya think you are?" refrain) There could be several versions... it's before my time. I heard it on the radio the other day and listened past the refrain for the first time, and realized what a cool tune it was. |
Hey Mike! How old are ya? Sad thing is, I remember all those songs. Don't forget the Singing Nun!! |
Not having read all the posts, I offer the following one hit wonders:
The biggest seller--You Light Up my life--Debbie Boone
No 1s--
Telstar-Tornados first of the Brit invasion?
Sukiyaki-Kyo Sakamoto only no. 1 by Japanese artist
I Will Follow Him-Little Peggy March
Apache-Jorgen Ingmann
Mr Big Stuff-Jean Knight
Do You Know What I mean--Lee Michaels not a no. 1
To name a few. Thjere are many other good ones not mentioned.
Mike |
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Ben - you're absolutely right. The B-Side of "Turning Japanese" in the US was a SONG called "Talk Talk". Talk about a mixup!!! My mind is not what it used to be, must have been those Vapors.
So maybe the Vapors qualify ; ) LOL |
Mwilson that band who did Turning Japanese were actually called The Vapors and sound nothing like Talk Talk.
I'm baffled how you could get the enigmatic mood driven pieces of Talk Talk mixed up with a pop punk classic.
The Vapors hit was also around '79. |
Amandarae + Iseekheils - Talk Talk also had a minor hit in "Turning Japanese". You can't POSSIBLY call these guys a one-hit wonder ; )
"Turning Japanese, I Think I'm Turning Japanese, I Really Think SO!" On a few '80s comps, I'm sure.
That's gotta be splitting hairs! |
I, too, remember well the Cryin' Shames and Shadows of Knight. Actually heard their version of 'Gloria' far more often back then than Them (Van Morrison, who wrote it). My "music mind" in the 60s was filled with James Brown (who rarely made it into the top 20), Hendrix (I don't think Purple Haze or Foxy Lady made it into the top 20), The Underdogs, The Rationals, etc. I think a one hit wonder is that song which most people will remember 10-40 yrs later. Everyone who had a hit did more songs which, just by name recognition alone, would make it into the top 100. They usually died on the vine quite quickly and I don't think these qualify for second or third hits.
? and the Mysterians are a perfect example as are The Looking Glass which had a hit in 1972 with 'Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)'. And let's not forget my boys from here in Detroit, The Amboy Dukes - 'Journey to the Center of Your Mind'. What a great song!! |
considering the fact that in the 60's over 300 records(45's) where released through distribution channels and given to radio stations each week in the u.s. alone, a billboard or cashbox top 100 title was indeed impressive at the time. a top 100 song in billboard was based on radio airplay as well as sales. sometimes songs were quite popular at the time of their release, but were undermined by poor distribution to retail. this doesn't mean they were not hits. the cryan shames barely cracked the top 100 5 times, yet in certain midwest cities(like chicago) were no. 1 with hits like 'sugar and spice'and 'it could be we're in love'and were receiving heavy rotation on radio. the shadows of knight are another example...'gloria' 'oh yeah' and 'shake'. god i love this thread. |
"A Million Miles Away" by The Plimsouls |
I stand corrected on Dr.Hook. Forgot about that sappy cover of "Only Sixteen." |
IMO, making the top ONE HUNDRED doesn't make a song a HIT. Some of these bands may have had other songs that were enjoyable, may have even gotten a little airplay, but that doesn't make the other songs HITS.
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Yes, Moby Grape's album did have it all, especially if you got one of the copies distributed before they airbrushed the band member's finger off! |
meant no offense....its just that the popularity of LOVE(the band) was at the time was considered an LA thing. by the by, that first moby grape album had it all! |
Ha! Ha! "even in the midwest..."! We got to hear all the good bands back then...even the Beatles and Moby Grape! |
it was on the billbord and cashbox top 100....but it got lots of airplay...even in the midwest |
