Biggest One-Hit-Wonder in Rock Music

[kgdjpubs]

When I'm With You - Sheriff

The funniest part about this one is that the band had disbanded several years before. Album was released about '83, and the song didn't catch on in the US until 1989-90. Worked out pretty well in the end, as the new band Alias (2 of the main Sheriff members) got a bit of a bump for their upcoming debut album and became another one-hit wonder.

just another strange piece of musical trivia...

[SF-Dano]

Not sure if these would be considered Big one hit wonders or if these artists had other hits, but what comes to mind:

Walkin' on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves
Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty
867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone
In the Meantime - Spacehog
Everything About You - Ugly Kid Joe

[The Sushi Hunter]

What is the criteria for a one hit wonder? Album or single? I've not looked up any one hit wonder lists that are on the internet anywhere. Basically what I've been doing is thinking about songs I've liked in the past 30 or so years, doing a little research to see how the band did.

How about:
Cutting Crew
OMD
Bananarama
Martika
Tone Loc (Not rock)
Biz Markie (Not rock)

The ones that came pretty close was:
Mike & The Mechanics
Human League
Paul Hardcastle
Dead or Alive
Shaun Cassidy
Men At Work
Talking Heads
Oingo Boingo
Crowded House

The ones I looked up that I was surprised never even had a #1 hit:
Steelheart
Stray Cats
The Outfield
Power Station
Arabesque (very popular in Japan)
Sinitta
White Lion

[The Sushi Hunter]

No one remembered "Hocus Pokus" by Focus?

Dude was freaking. Thought he was sitting on a porta potty or something at first trying to push one out. Now I know what someones face looks like when shitting out broken glass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFDW9b_ejfI

Obviously they were airing this in Japan as I can read the Katakana and Hiragana.

[The Sushi Hunter]

I've been reading all the posts and one artist/song listed is Sinead O'Connor - Nothing compars to you. I remember this tune all the way back when living in Japan and at that time it was only through the grape vine that word was Prince actually wrote that tune. I'll do some research on that now and see how true...or false that was.

[verslibre]

Prince indeed wrote "Nothing Compares 2 U." (As if the "2 U" isn't a giveaway.) Prince wrote it with one of his other bands and Sinead covered it.

[JRNYMAN]

Driver's Seat - Sniff and the Tears
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blrHHRWKygw

Hooked on a feeling - blue swede
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo-qweh7nbQ

Night Chicago Died - Paper Lace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-L0NpaErkk

Cruel To Be Kind - Nick Lowe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0l3QWUXVho

Nick Lowe's not really a 1hw but this is the only thing I remember from him

Great list! I'd forgotten about a few of them and I just ehard Cruel to be Kind not 10 mins. ago on my way home from Home Depot!

[JRNYMAN]

Taco - Puttin on the ritz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eubhg1gTyj8

There are only 2 songs I can say I literally HATE:
Anything by R.E.M.
Puttin' on the Ritz

One song can make a career..


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-KN-dQc-4Y

May not be the "biggest" but definitely the rockin-est one-hit-wonder for sure!

[Everett]

Don't Stop Believing- Journey

[The Sushi Hunter]

Don't Stop Believing- Journey

LOL.

How about:
Glass Tiger

[doggy]

Night- Hot Summer Night
The frontwoman was married to Mutt Lange at the time
Quaterflash -Harden My Heart

[scarab]

Many, if not most of the above bands charted more than once. (Top 100) almost all, (Top 40) many.
Quarterflash, for example charted 4+ times in to top 40.

[StoneCold]

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Why Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svl1t4b1RD4

[pinkfloyd1973]

Not sure if these would be considered Big one hit wonders or if these artists had other hits, but what comes to mind:

Walkin' on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves
Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty
867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone
In the Meantime - Spacehog
Everything About You - Ugly Kid Joe

Ugly Kid Joe had a hit with the remake of "Cat's In the Cradle"

[JRNYMAN]

.
.
.

Why Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svl1t4b1RD4

Love Tony Carey's voice and always thought he was super underrated and sort of unnoticed for his abilities. Really like "Fine Fine Day".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9jb8xWhbxU

IF it hadn't been for that sappy ballad he sang titled "Lady in Red" Chris DeBurgh would have been a contender with Don't Pay the Ferryman". That's a kickass song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kNwvIEQsg0


Midnight Oil - Beds are Burning
Terry Jacks - Seasons in the Sun
Dan Hill - Sometimes When we Touch
Henry Gross - Shannon
Andrew Gold - Lonely Boy
Starland Vocal Band - Afternoon Delight
Gary Wright - Dream Weaver
Coven - One Tin Soldier

[Triple S]

IF it hadn't been for that sappy ballad he sang titled "Lady in Red" Chris DeBurgh would have been a contender with Don't Pay the Ferryman". That's a kickass song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kNwvIEQsg0

Love that song, despise Lady in Red. Chris has some really great songs - one of my favorites is Patricia the Stripper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHmL1eQHC3Y

[Boomchild]

I think you could include Men Without Hats, "Safety Dance".

[JRNYMAN]

Chris has some really great songs - one of my favorites is Patricia the Stripper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHmL1eQHC3Y

Man... I forgot all baout that one. Killer tune!

[JRNYMAN]

Chris has some really great songs - one of my favorites is Patricia the Stripper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHmL1eQHC3Y

Man... I forgot all baout that one. Killer tune!

A couple more to add to this growing list...

Tora Tora - Wild America
Hardline - Hot Cherie
Lynch Mob - Wicked Sensation
Bullet Boys - Smooth Up In Ya
Kix - Don't Close your Eyes

[StoneCold]

Hardline - Hot Cherie

Considering the revolving door of singers since Perry, I guess this could be considered the closest Journey came to metal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_pFJR-2qqE

This whole cd was great.

One of my favorites from it,

Can't Find My Way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YXR28ifaa8

[JRNYMAN]

Considering the revolving door of singers since Perry, I guess this could be considered the closest Journey came to metal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_pFJR-2qqE

Either that one or Takin' Me Down.

This whole cd was great.

One of my favorites from it,

Can't Find My Way
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YXR28ifaa8

Yup... it's one of the albums I have in a folder reserved solely for the albums I listen to in their entirety, like...
Leftoverture
Moving Pictures & 2112
Dark Side of the Moon
Escape
You Can tune a Piano...
Led Zep IV
Grand Illusion
Hotel California
etc....

Brings back memories....
And, i fully agree with Can't Find My Way... Love that one!

[StoneCold]

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Definitely a 1hw - great song:

Henry Lee Summer - I Wish I Had A Girl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnPZeVFJ9e8

[pinkfloyd1973]

My sister reminded me of this one yesterday, a little obscure I know




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

[yulog]

My sister reminded me of this one yesterday, a little obscure I know




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

NO good , Chilliwack had several hits........My Girl..gone gone gone was a bigger hit compared to this one

[No Surprize]

Why Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svl1t4b1RD4[/quote]
Love Tony Carey's voice and always thought he was super underrated and sort of unnoticed for his abilities. Really like "Fine Fine Day".


IF it hadn't been for that sappy ballad he sang titled "Lady in Red" Chris DeBurgh would have been a contender with Don't Pay the Ferryman". That's a kickass song!


You know, I remember Lady in Red but couldn't remember "Don't pay the fairyman" until I heard the first stanza of the song and then remember why I never gave it another listen. Then lo & behold I clicked on the link to "Patricia the Stripper" for more fucking punishment. MY God I hate that shit. Hell, you might as well had put Tiny Tim's "Tip toe thru the tulips" Or Liam's two lips, whichever you choose) or Gomer Pyle singing "The impossible dream"! Fuck, that shit should go down in the annals of music shitola!

Now, Tony Carey is one awesome motherfucker. Great, great musician and good guy. Met him once in a club in amsterdam before his show. With Planet P I believe he had 3 top 40 singles off their first album.

"Fine, Fine day" is a kick-ass tune!

[verslibre]

Another Tony Carey fan here. He doesn't get anywhere near the level of recognition in the US that he deserves. He kicked ass on Rainbow's Rising before he launched dual solo careers (triple, if you count his instrumental stuff) as Planet P Project and under his own name. PPP, Pink World, Blue Highway, Some Tough City, I Won't Be Home Tonight...that's some kickass music.

[JRNYMAN]

MY God I hate that shit. Hell, you might as well had put Tiny Tim's "Tip toe thru the tulips" Or Liam's two lips, whichever you choose)...

LMFAO! Sorry, Liam... that's just funny shit right there!

"Fine, Fine day" is a kick-ass tune!

I remember the first time I saw the video for it... it definitely makes you sit up and take notice. I saw it on VH1 Classic some years ago (back when they did that annoying pop-up video shit) and remember one of the factoids was that Carey wrote and directed that particular video. Good stuff!

Still adding...

Donnie Iris - Ah Leah
Red Rider - Lunatic Fringe
Billy Thorpe - Children of the Sun
Autograph - Turn Up the radio
Saga - On the Loose
T-Rex - Get it On
Dexie's Midnight Runners - C'mon Eileen
Free - All Right Now
Argent - Hold Your Head Up

Ya know, it's amazing how large of a percentage OHW's play in the grand scheme of things with regard to rock music.

[pinkfloyd1973]

My sister reminded me of this one yesterday, a little obscure I know




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

NO good , Chilliwack had several hits........My Girl..gone gone gone was a bigger hit compared to this one

My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone), I vaguely remember, I know they were big in Canada

[Andrew]

Take on me-Aha

I hear it made number one in 36 different countries and is one of the worlds best selling singles.......ever UGH!!!!!

They had a bunch of hits.

Red Rider had a few also for the record...

[StoneCold]

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Journey fans'll remember these guys but this was pretty much their only hit. Got quite a bit of radio play a few months before grunge started taking over.

The Storm - I've Got A Lot To Learn ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyYsqtoCQUk

Chalfant/Rolie on vox