Greatest One-Hit-Wonder

[Taverner]

My submission:

Len "Steal My Sunshine"

1999

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOCRPrEAVxU&NR=1

Now this is Earworm material

[Richardo]

1. Desmond Dekker "The Israelites"

Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir,
so that every mouth can be fed...

[SoxFan]

2. My ears are alight

[terrya]

3. That is a terrific song

I agree. :-)

[nomorenomore08]

8. Desmond Dekker wasn't a one-hit wonder. What about "Shanty Town"?

And for the record, he had dozens of hits in his native Jamaica.

[Richardo]

25. Yes but I like 'The Israelites'

:P

[TreasonousBastard]

35. More than two here IIRC, and he would...

have been huge if us dumbasses could handle more than one reggae or ska group at a time. Personally, I liked him more than Marley, but after a while it was tough to find his albums.

(Except in the Jamaican neighborhoods-- and they loved me when I asked for The Mighty Sparrow)

[nomorenomore08]

39. The Mighty Sparrow!

I've never heard anyone else mention him, except V.S. Naipaul in 'The Middle Passage,' written in the 1950's. "Benwood Dick" must be one of the raunchiest songs ever recorded pre-1960.

[TreasonousBastard]

41. Sometime way back when, I saw "The Harder They Fall" and...

immediately went nuts over anything musical and West Indian-- I realized it was a lot bigger than Marley, and, incidentally, had some incredible hooks and earworms. Don't have anything I got back then any more, and don't remember too many of them, but Sparrow did stand out.

Apparently, he's still at it in Jamaica NY.

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. Maurice & The Cliches Hard Core 1983

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJlR-viNea0

Dull dull dull vid, but GREAT listening! :hi:

[EstimatedProphet]

5. Iron Butterfly - Ina-Godda-Da-Vida

[auntAgonist]

6. Sukiyak by Kyu Sakamoto

side note: Kyu Sakamoto (pronounced "cue") was one of the 520 people who died in the crash of Japan Airlines Flight 123 near Gunma on August 12, 1985. He was 43.

[greatauntoftriplets]

18. Showing my age, but how well I remember that song....

I didn't know that he had died in that plane crash.

[Blarch]

7. Here ya go.

What a great song.

Dee Lite, Groove is in the heart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKTCW4oxS6I

[psychmommy]

127. i loved that stupid song

and the stupid video. it'll be in my brain the rest of the night.

[psychmommy]

129. i forgot bootsy collins was on that song

can you say p-funk baby!!!!!

[WritingIsMyReligion]

9. Sanford-Townsend Band with "Smoke From a Distant Fire."

I love that song.

[NanceGreggs]

80. Amen!

After all these years, I still LOVE that song - and still listen to it often.

[ceile]

10. "Sex and Candy"

Marcy Playground 1997
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKl_7zK3fbI

"....like disco lemonade..."

[SteppingRazor]

89. Good one.

:thumbsup:

[nomorenomore08]

11. Simple Minds - "Don't You Forget About Me"

Big Country - "In A Big Country"
The Proclaimers - "500 Miles"
Art of Noise - "Moments in Love"

All from the 80's, incidentally... hmmm...

[Fire Walk With Me]

60. Simple Minds also had "Catwalk", and AON had mention with "Moments in Love", "Paranoimia", and "Legs

IIRC. Great stuff.

[Common Sense Party]

73. Don't forget "Alive and Kicking" from Simple Minds. Huge hit.

"Sanctify Yourself" was big, too. Simple Minds was no one-hit wonder.

[Diamond Dave]

79. Don't forget "Peter Gunn Theme"

Back in the day, when MTV was experiencing technical difficulties, it was PGT they turned to.

[loveangelc]

12. brings back 5th grade memories

LOVE that song

another song would be You Get What You Give by New Radicals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91WgM6dNLTE

[Taverner]

15. Awww you make me feel seriously old

I was 29 when both of these came out :cry:

[ceile]

16. That song makes me tear up.

It's used in a PBS advert and my fiance makes fun of me because I almost cry every time I see it. Reminds me of better days.

[Taverner]

17. Better days indeed...

Gays and Straights could be friends now...
Clinton was in the WH...
The Dow was soaring, and even in California we could afford housing...
Fundies had trouble filling seats...
The guy from Morphine was still alive...
MTV still played music...
Sex was a great passtime...
Hot pants were back in style, along with tube tops and hip hugger jeans...
Music was happy for the sake of being happy, not irony...
The future was bright...


Yes, I loved the 90's - such a refreshing alternative from the fascist 80's.

I want them back...

[ceile]

20. For you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP8QhblSkRI

And I miss my hiphuggers and tube tops, cut offs and white tees

*sigh*

[Taverner]

37. Why thank ya...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxOG2NE2gmU

Right backatchya!

[RFKHumphreyObama]

78. I share your wish for the '90s' back

And "Steal My Sunshine" reminds me of a time when my life was absolutely wonderful and never better

[GCP]

13. Norman Greenbaum - Spirit in the Sky

[EstimatedProphet]

19. Good one!

[Richardo]

23. Good call!

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

86. DQ'ed due to overuse in random movie trailers every year since 1993

Sorry. Not a bad song, just too much. Like "For What It's Worth".

[GCP]

112. Maybe it's 'over-used' precisely because it's great song

I didn't see any exceptions specified for 'over-used' songs

[ceile]

14. "Standing Outside a Broken Phonebooth w/ Money in My Hand"

Primitive Radio Gods
1996
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LKVZ4NTfUc&feature=related

[Orsino]

22. I loved that one. n/t

[Pale Blue Dot]

53. I bought the CD for that song.

The rest of the CD was completely different from that song; all sub-Journey crap-rock. It's no wonder we never heard from them again.

[KamaAina]

21. Who else but Dexys Midnight Runners?

with "Come On Eileen"?

And don't try to throw "The Celtic Soul Brothers" in my face, either. Not on this side of the Pond, anyway. :P

[harmonicon]

125. I think "Geno" was an even bigger hit for them in the UK

They're one of my all time favourite bands ever, but don't get a whole lot of respect, due to the "one hit wonder" label/fact... hell, they'd get more respect if they'd had no hits and now be cool and underground....

[Pendrench]

24. "Sunshine" by Jonathan Edwards n/t

[Lady Effingbroke]

26. Donnie Iris - "Ah Leah" - 1981.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwq0VbGlazw

[AwakeAtLast]

31. Loved, loved, LOVED that song!

:hi:

[Orrex]

50. It's a law in Pittsburgh that that song must be played at least twice daily

Thankfully, ClearChannel's WDVE is eager to step up and make sure to keep us legal.

They also go the extra mile and play his famed Love Will Rock You at least as often.

That song makes Ah, Leah seem like Beethoven's 9th by comparison.

[Pale Blue Dot]

55. Great song, but Donnie had 2 other hits.

Love is Like a Rock

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_DTX3eRpLo

and My Girl.

All three were top 40 hits.

[fudge stripe cookays]

115. Damn! Ya beat me!

But I just discovered "Love Is Like A Rock" the other day after I heard it on XM Radio. I'd COMPLETELY forgotten it!

[Tikki]

27. "Funky Poodle".....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UII7RA2rIm4
Wild Horses...

Tikki

[Lady Effingbroke]

28. Bow Wow Wow - "I Want Candy" - 1982.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNHcaIJETZo

[electricmonk]

109. It's a shame that...

they are only known by the general public for that song. It's a great song but they had tons of other great stuff too. When you watch their videos it's hard to believe how young Annabella was at the time, she is such a natural performer.

Baby Oh No http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Aox4T4AUk

Do You Wanna Hold Me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7BwRL2yhGQ (One of my faves.)

This one was a small hit. C30, C60, C90, Go http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73S8BypdlxU

[Archae]

29. Got all of you beat...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svJCgYE3PSA

:D

[Lady Effingbroke]

30. The Ides Of March - "Vehicle" - 1970.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1Fo7d1Qj0g

[S n o w b a l l]

32. Ok...I'm cheating...they did have a couple hits but not enough

General Public

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDcZnL2h8ys&feature=related

[NYCGirl]

96. Self-delete. Posted in the wrong place!

[matcom]

33. Celine Dion

[Lady Effingbroke]

34. LaBelle - "Lady Marmalade" - 1975.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFr49Mhlfxc

All Patti LaBelle has to do is open her mouth and she blows Christina Aguilera, Mya, Pink, and Lil' Kim out of the freakin' universe. Whatta set of pipes!!!

[Jack from Charlotte]

36. Bobby Fuller I Fought the Law (youtube)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my7WTG2OJUo&feature=related

[GOPisEvil]

38. "Stuck in the Middle With You" by Stealers Wheel

They mave had had another hit, but I sure don't know it.

[Steely_Dan]

76. Good One!

[begin_within]

118. Gerry Rafferty of Stealers Wheel had a hit in 1978 with "Baker Street"

[independentpiney]

40. 96 Tears- Question Mark and the Mysterions

http://youtube.com/watch?v=IrTnaPa9BaA

[bif]

48. I second this one

Absolutely one of the greatest hits by a band never to have another shot at fame. And they're still around. Maybe you haven't heard about the fire at Question Mark's house.

[hellbound-liberal]

42. Since you asked for the "Greatest" one-hit wonder, may I present Joey Scarbury

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9Q3orQhEcA

[AlCzervik]

43. Gary Numan "Cars".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLKFEq6Zu14&feature=related

[Lethe]

52. well he's not exactly a one hit wonder, he's released over 20 albums

spanning all the way up to 2007

he's still at it.....

[meegbear]

85. You can release as many albums as you want ...

and still be a one hit wonder, thank you very bloody much.

[FredScuttle]

44. "Timothy" by the Buoys (1971)

Not only a heartwarming tale of cannibalism in a mine collapse, but also written by the craptastic Rupert Holmes, author of another 1-hit wonder - "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGNdvKvbxYQ

[Doc_Technical]

45. "All you Zombies" by The Hooters.

"Eighteen with a bullet" by Pete Wingfield

"Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" by Middle of the Road.

[Orrex]

49. Beg your pardon, but The Hooters are a two-hit wonder

How on Earth could you forget And We Danced?


Oh, wait--it's crap. That's how...

[Pale Blue Dot]

56. 3 hits.

If you go by the Top 40.

All You Zombies did not make the top 40.

"And We Danced", "Day By Day" and "Where Did the Children Go".

[Orrex]

57. Yikes! Did you know those off the top of your head?

You must really be into Hooters!

:evilgrin:

[Pale Blue Dot]

61. They were HUGE in the Philadelphia area before they went national.

I remember when their first national CD "Nervous Night" was released, I stood in line at the Granite Run mall for HOURS to get an autographed copy.

In addition, if you could make money by knowing the peak positions of 80's top 40 pop songs, I'd be a millionaire. :eyes:

[Orrex]

66. CD? Guh?

I thought that they were dead and buried even before the big switch from vinyl to cassette! :evilgrin:

I hail from Allentown, and The Hooters cast their shadow well into my radio market, but I could never count myself as a fan.

[Giant Robot]

88. I thought there would be 4

Adding "Johnny B" to your list.

[Pale Blue Dot]

91. "Johnny B" didn't make the Top 40.

It Peaked around #66.

[Giant Robot]

94. That's a crime

One of my favorites there.

[psychmommy]

130. the hooters did time after Time

with cindy lauper.

[martymar64]

46. In the Year 2525 - Zager and Evans

My other vote is for Hocus Pocus by Focus

[snailly]

47. That's the most disappointing video in the history of the world

Horrible.

[Bennyboy]

51. The Correct Answer is STEAM!

Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye. Only song I ever heard of theirs yet, almost forty years later, I hear this one all the time. Standard for Football games and sporting events. My kids know this song and my grandkids know this song.

[begin_within]

117. For decades I thought it was a black woman singing the lead on that...

...until I saw this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=dwnqqj5Q1BU

I read that they pretty much threw the touring band together when the recording became a huge hit.

[Bennyboy]

122. na na na na Hey Hey Goodbye!

Man that vid is so bad....lip out of sync.....7th grade. Fottball games and Missy Levi. Holding hands.....

[Alexander]

54. Tommy Tutone - Jenny/867-5309

So great, it was referenced in Family Guy.

[KitchenWitch]

62. BAAAAH!

x(

[Alexander]

67. Are you saying you don't like the song, or Family Guy?

Or both?

[KitchenWitch]

69. All the Jennys of the world curse Tommy Tutone for that song.

x(

[Common Sense Party]

75. Not to mention all the folks with the number 867-5309.

In Minneapolis, some plumbing company actually CHOSE to have that phone number so they could advertise using that song as a jingle, and make people remember their number.

[TexasBushwhacker]

106. Yeah!!! Here's a funny cover ....

by the Goo Goo Dolls on a radio show, way back when:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMe7NQu1IrI

[yourout]

58. First Class - Beach Baby

Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting
Sammy Johns - Chevy Van
Morris Albert - Feelings
Starland Vocal - Band Afternoon Delight

[gmoney]

64. Beach Baby is an AMAZINGLY good "Beach Boys" song...

It's used to great effect in the movie Scotland, PA.

Reminds me of a couple other great one-hitters. Pilot with "Magic" and Sailcat with "Motorcycle Mama" -- the wimpiest motorcycle song ever written.

[Kat45]

59. "What I Like About You" by The Romantics

[Pale Blue Dot]

63. "Talking in my Sleep" went to number 3.

They were NOT a one-hit-wonder.

(I'm sorry. I'm obsessive.)

[Kat45]

70. Oh yeah, I forgot about that song.

But I didn't know it did that well. :shrug:

[speedoo]

65. The Kingsmen - Louie, Louie.

You are all obviously way too young.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx-8_GI4d2c

[SeattleGirl]

68. Not me! Louie, Louie gets my vote too.

:thumbsup:

[democracyindanger]

71. Hell yeah

THE ultimate cover of the ultimate cover song.

[Common Sense Party]

72. "Welcome to the Boomtown" -- David & David

This was a big part of the "soundtrack" from my senior year.

[Steely_Dan]

74. Ah Ha

"Take On Me"

[Steely_Dan]

77. Spandeau Ballet

"True"

Beautiful song.

[mtnester]

81. Sorry - it is STILL Tainted Love

AND, the bonus is the tone is in EVERYONE'S range.

[BulletproofLandshark]

82. Pseudo Echo "Funky Town"

A rare case of a one-hit wonder covering another one-hit wonder's only hit.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qoqi6ztZ-vU

[6000eliot]

83. "Mirror Star" by the Fabulous Poodles

and "Driver's Seat" by Sniff 'n' the Tears.

[pepperbear]

84. "the night chicago died" by Paper Lace and "how do you do" by Mouth &Macneal n/t

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

87. Ding!

That was a hot song.

[Corgigal]

90. In the House of Stone and Light

Martin Page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIa9UEXd98Q

[Strawman]

92. Whale- Hobo Humpin Slobo Babe

I doubt that's "the greatest," but I'm gonna put it out there anyway.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PTqCwlQODxo

[Maestro]

93. "Life in a Northern Town"

Dream Academy

http://youtube.com/watch?v=uSmYvuvaJDg

[youthere]

95. No Rain-Blind Melon.

[racaulk]

100. Ooooooohhh...good one!

:)

[NYCGirl]

97. MY SHARONA — The Knack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stzrFp90Kjk

[racaulk]

98. "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred

w00t!

[NYCGirl]

99. WALKING ON SUNSHINE — Katrina and the Waves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaQVMeeddYk

[Arger68]

101. Sniff'n The Tears

Driver's Seat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFwcmU6Ql0A

[fudge stripe cookays]

119. Yay! There's somebody else on my wavelength! n/t

[av8rdave]

102. Counting Blue Cars - Dishwalla. Also honorable mention for...

The Girl All the Bad Guys Want - Bowling for Soup

[bamademo]

103. Hot Smoke and Sassafras by Bubble Puppy

http://www.paperrad.org/animations/bubble.html

This video always cracks me up.

[datasuspect]

104. "chevy van" - sammy johns

[Submariner]

105. In the Year 2525

by Zager and Evans

Real wrist slashing music.

[Throd]

107. "Black Betty" by Ram Jam

[Arkansas Granny]

108. Five Man Electrical Band - "Signs"

I don't recall ever hearing anything else that they recorded.

[begin_within]

116. "Signs" is good, but "Absolutely Right" was a minor hit for them, and it Absolutely Rocks.

[Mendocino]

133. Do you remember "Werewolf"?

[Mendocino]

134. A Foot In Coldwater... about 1974

"Make Me Do Anything You Want"

[Tikki]

110. L 'Trimm's......."Cars With The Boom"....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaeNelsAOGo



Tikki

[WinkyDink]

111. "Take on Me"~~~a-ha. LINK:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P_TV-gierM

[querelle]

113. Close To You - Carpenters

I don't really care for the song but every time I hear it, it's stuck in my head for the day. I guess it could be worse......

Q

[begin_within]

114. I actually bought the Len CD just to get that song.

It has a couple of other pretty good songs "Cryptik Souls Crew" and "Man of the Year," but they are not quite in the same league as "Steal My Sunshine." Too bad they never came up with anything good after that...

[fudge stripe cookays]

120. The Kings- Switchin to Glide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2Wr8J8faGA&feature=related

I like this quote from the comments:
"These guys were cute...in an extremely CANADIAN sort of way..."
:rofl:

fsc, married to Canadian reprehensor

[Lady Effingbroke]

121. Argent - "Hold Your Head Up" - 1972.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXYiPPlXiM8

Which spun off another One-Hit-"Oneder":

Russ Ballard - "Voices" - 1984.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c5LsymCDZ8

[sarge43]

123. Raspberries: Go All The Way n/t

[Blue-Jay]

124. Radiohead.

Wait....They never had a hit.

[harmonicon]

128. huh? "creep" was a BIG hit, at least as I remember it. "Karma Police" may have been even bigger.

[Blue-Jay]

131. HA!

I knew I'd get one or two to take that juicy bait!

:rofl:

[qwertyMike]

126. Hippy-Hippy Shake

By the Swinging Blue Jeans

Written for them by their friend John Lennon

One hit.

Did the Beatles ever record that?

[psychmommy]

132. edie brickell & the new bohemians

what i am.

choke me in the shallow water before i get too deep!!!!!

[abq e streeter]

135. I could ( and may yet) name dozens , but Double Shot of My Baby's Love

by the Swingin' Medallions, if I absolutely, positively had to just name one.