I was looking up one hit wonders online and came across a video compilation that had 'Heaven is A Place on Earth' by Belinda Carlisle.  After slapping my forehead and questioned WTF, I decided the truth about one hit wonders must be discussed.  I hate the term one hit wonder because no one ever gets it right, but when it's an actual one hit wonder, there are some real good ones out there!

The true definition of a actual One Hit Wonder should involve two criteria:
> Only 1 song by an artist appears in the chart, even it is does not make the Top 40
> Country specific as the artist in question may have other hits in other countries

I made a video compliation of One Hit Wonders in Canada:  15 artists from the 80s who only had 1 song appear in the Canadian chart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMU7vAKrl2U

Nice!

I was looking up one hit wonders online and came across a video compilation that had 'Heaven is A Place on Earth' by Belinda Carlisle.  After slapping my forehead and questioned WTF, I decided the truth about one hit wonders must be discussed.  I hate the term one hit wonder because no one ever gets it right, but when it's an actual one hit wonder, there are some real good ones out there!

The true definition of a actual One Hit Wonder should involve two criteria:
> Only 1 song by an artist appears in the chart, even it is does not make the Top 40
> Country specific as the artist in question may have other hits in other countries

I made a video compliation of One Hit Wonders in Canada:  15 artists from the 80s who only had 1 song appear in the Canadian chart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMU7vAKrl2U


very nice compilation.

Very nice. I didn't recognize the songs for the most part, but they were definately 80's.

LANDSCAPE: EINSTEIN A GO-GO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZqUNEHYZgQ&feature=related

:D

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

has to be a one hit wonder maybe Whistledog can confirm this.^

Nolan Thomas: Yo' Little Brother

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L0H_w9kBx8

Nolan Thomas: Yo' Little Brother

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L0H_w9kBx8


Wow haven't heard that song in over 20 years. good choice.

One hit wonders who only had 1 hit in Billboard's top 40...

Steve Forbert ~ Romeo's Tune

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixTXmKauL8A


Teri Desario ~ Yes, I'm Ready

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZqRtMw0R-M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAv500Q6bfA

Frank Stallone-Far From Over (1983)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAv500Q6bfA

Frank Stallone-Far From Over (1983)


Frank Stallone had other hits

Frank Stallone had other hits


Fart from Over is the only one most people remember.

Frank Stallone had other hits


Yeah I understand that but Far From Over is the only one that I can remember from the radio.

Yeah I understand that but Far From Over is the only one that I can remember from the radio.


It's the only one anyone remembers.  His first hit was Case of You in 1980 that peaked at US #67 and his 3rd (and final) hit was Darlin' that reached US #81 in 1984
Some people may claim those songs are not hits, but there is a reason Billboard made a Hot 100 chart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_E24ccrEuE

Desi-I Just Wanna Be With You (1985)

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:)  Okay anybody who says that they didn't know what this song is about is a liar.  ;)  I knew what this song was about and I was probably about 10 or 11 when this song was released.  It was Paul's only hit.  :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL3fBooSTs0

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We Run was an only hit for Strange Advance.


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As was Angel In My Pocket by One To One.  :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vXs43MMzj8

Beggar And Company-Somebody Help Me Out (1981)

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We Run was an only hit for Strange Advance.


9uXIU6bn8Hk

As was Angel In My Pocket by One To One.  :)

2 good bands. Strange advance also had a hit with "World's away"...and do you remember One to One's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrCOWoYTdcI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnNHs61HYIY

Zest- Hot And Tasty Love (1983)

We Run was an only hit for Strange Advance.
As was Angel In My Pocket by One To One.  :)


Are you sure you are Canadian? :P


Strange Advance - She Controls Me (1983)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsjS2cbwwNM

Strange Advance - Kiss in the Dark (1983)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME0ixArBaLE

Strange Advance - Love Becomes Electric (1988)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWRmabX1KhA

Strange advance also had other hits with 'Worlds Awat' in 1983 and 'The Second That I Saw You' in 1985


One to One had 10 hits in Canada, and a few more under the name Artificial Joy Club.  You may remember these ...

One to One - Hold Me Now (1988)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbGdVyz-MTg

One to One - Do You Believe (1988)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4MZVnLnrqc

One to One - Peace of Mind (Love Goes On) (1992)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwTnrUjH-vo

Are you sure you are Canadian? :P


Strange Advance - She Controls Me (1983)

Strange Advance - Kiss in the Dark (1983)

Strange Advance - Love Becomes Electric (1988)

Strange advance also had other hits with 'Worlds Awat' in 1983 and 'The Second That I Saw You' in 1985


One to One had 10 hits in Canada, and a few more under the name Artificial Joy Club.  You may remember these ...

One to One - Hold Me Now (1988)

One to One - Do You Believe (1988)

One to One - Peace of Mind (Love Goes On) (1992)


Not really.  The only one of One To One's songs that I remember is Angel In My Pocket and Strange Advance I only remember We Run.  :P

Are you sure you are Canadian? :P


Strange Advance - She Controls Me (1983)


Strange Advance - Kiss in the Dark (1983)

Strange Advance - Love Becomes Electric (1988)

Strange advance also had other hits with 'Worlds Awat' in 1983 and 'The Second That I Saw You' in 1985


One to One had 10 hits in Canada, and a few more under the name Artificial Joy Club.  You may remember these ...

One to One - Hold Me Now (1988)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbGdVyz-MTg

One to One - Do You Believe (1988)

One to One - Peace of Mind (Love Goes On) (1992)


I do recognize most of these. Karma for "Hold me now" , we used to dance to that in clubs back then. One to One had some really nice songs during that time era.

Dream Academy: Life in a Northern Town (1985)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O17MA58P-QY

LIANT was there only top 40 hit anywhere.  It reached 15 in the UK, 7 in the U.S., and 2 in Australia.  It's had a lot of staying power.  Every song on that debut Dream Academy album was superb, and just the one album with just the one hit is good enough for me to cement Dream Academy as a chamber pop legend.

They continued to work together but never found that magic again.  Here are a couple of subsequent Dream Academy songs I liked:

Dream Academy: Power to Believe (1987)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FGvHOTe16I
(Song used in movie Planes, Trains, and Automobiles)

Dream Academy: Lucy September (1991)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8C5uXm2hrI

Kate St. John did session work with numerous artstists in the 1980s and 1990s.  She released two solo albums on the now-defunct All Saints label, and collaborated with Roger Eno on "The Familiar" in 1992, one of my favorite All Saints releases http://ring.cdandlp.com/mood/photo_grande/113808399.jpg

Roger Eno with Kate St. John: We Stay Still
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOjNJllddI8

One to One had 10 hits in Canada, and a few more under the name Artificial Joy Club.  You may remember these ...

never heard of the group One To One.  ???

LIANT was there only top 40 hit anywhere.  It reached 15 in the UK, 7 in the U.S., and 2 in Australia.  It's had a lot of staying power.  Every song on that debut Dream Academy album was superb, and just the one album with just the one hit is good enough for me to cement Dream Academy as a chamber pop legend.


The follow-up single 'The Love Parade' reached #36 in the US.  It's not as well known as Northern Town, but I always prefered it, but to me, their best was their Smiths cover of 'Please Please Please Let Me Get what I Want'.  The instrumental  version used in Ferris Bueller is quite memorable!

Original vocal version that reached #83 in the UK chart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-8ZJN1dSHI

Instrumental version in Ferris Bueller's Day Off
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1gEzv0FJNs

^ Oh yeah, how could I overlook Love Parade?  Great song, but I would have picked "Bound to Be" as the follow-up single to LIANT.  "In Places on the Run" is actually my favorite from that album, but not as Top 40-friendly as "Bound to Be."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq2qvV5IFDo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuJQ0PMPvYk

On "Power to Believe" you can hear they're kind of anemic without Kate St. John.  "Lucy September" is my favorite D.A. apart from the eponymous debut, but Nick and Gilbert needed to put a few more months work into it to make it a great pop song.

Their instrumental version of PPPLGWIW is, of course, marvelous!
:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLb9jPuDS9Y

remember this song in Ferris Bueller's Day Off? ^ Yello-Oh Yeah

remember this song in Ferris Bueller's Day Off? ^ Yello-Oh Yeah


Yello were not One hit wonders though.  You may also remember 'The Race'.  If not, then you don't watch enough movies and TV lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHGPJfY3Yao

This thread has insufficient cheese.  And if there's anything that says 80s cheese, it's the Keytar.

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BEHOLD: Australia's Pseudo Echo, covering Lipps, Inc.'s Funky Town, 1986.

Yello were not One hit wonders though.  You may also remember 'The Race'.  If not, then you don't watch enough movies and TV lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHGPJfY3Yao


I guess you're right.

Yello were not One hit wonders though.  You may also remember 'The Race'.  If not, then you don't watch enough movies and TV lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHGPJfY3Yao
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wKgXR8hbEA

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

B-BizR- Sucker For Love (1984)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLb9jPuDS9Y

remember this song in Ferris Bueller's Day Off? ^ Yello-Oh Yeah


I most certainly do.  :)

They also used it in a 1988 Twix cookie bar commercial.  :)

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Rocky Burnette: Tired of Toein' the Line

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

Rocky Burnette: Tired of Toein' the Line

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


I think he had another hit.

I think he had another hit.

Such as?

Such as?



gonna have to look that up.

gonna have to look that up.


I think you'll find none.

Rocky Burnette was a true 1 hit wonder.  In the US Hot 100, Canadian Top 100 and the UK Top 75, Toein the Line was his lone chart entry

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Forever Young: Alphaville  which was from Big In Japan.

Big In Japan was immensely popular all over Europe, in South Africa, and in the US.  Big in Japan hit the Billboard hot 100 charts but Forever Young was a flop in the American market.  :(

Rocky Burnette was a true 1 hit wonder.  In the US Hot 100, Canadian Top 100 and the UK Top 75, Toein the Line was his lone chart entry


"Tired of Toein' the Line" is a catchy tune and it brings back a lot of childhood memories for me because it got so much play at the time and disappeared so fast.  Rocky is the son of Johnny Burnette.  I remember Casey Kasem hyping Rocky Burnette's rock 'n roll heritage, but it didn't pack enough punch.  True, rockabilly was poised for a revival, but the rockabilly sound of the eighties was a slick, stripped-down style exemplified by the Stray Cats.  Rocky sported more of a country pop sound.  The Wikipedia entry for Rocky blames EMI America's financial problems for the followup album failing, but I think it's more the case that Toein' the Line was a fluke.  It seems like Rocky might have fared better as a country singer.

I think you'll find none.


Oh really?

"Fallin In Love"
"The Boogeyman"
"Perfect Crime"

Forever Young: Alphaville  which was from Big In Japan.

Big In Japan was immensely popular all over Europe, in South Africa, and in the US.  Big in Japan hit the Billboard hot 100 charts but Forever Young was a flop in the American market.  :(


In spite of its poor chart performance, I do remember "Forever Young" getting a lot of radio play at the time (not to be confused with Rod Stewart's "Forever Young").  Then the guys who made "Napoleon Dynamite" used it in the prom scene. 
:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcZ4GuaDty4

Nancy Martinez-For Tonight

Oh really?

"Fallin In Love"
"The Boogeyman"
"Perfect Crime"


These were hits?

These were hits?


I guess so.

I guess so.


Did these songs make the top 40? Close to the top 40?

(don't bother to look...)


Rocky Burnette was a true 1 hit wonder.  In the US Hot 100, Canadian Top 100 and the UK Top 75, Toein the Line was his lone chart entry

Forever Young: Alphaville  which was from Big In Japan.

Big In Japan was immensely popular all over Europe, in South Africa, and in the US.  Big in Japan hit the Billboard hot 100 charts but Forever Young was a flop in the American market.  :(


Forever Young charted twice in the United States:  First in 1984 at US #66, then again in 1988 where it peaked at #65.  The 1988 extended dance remix also reached the Top 40 in the US Dance/Club Play chart.  Big in Japan was a #1 hit on the US Dance Chart

'Dance With Me', the lead single from their 1986 2nd album 'Afternoons in Utopia' also made the Top 40 on the US dance chart




Nancy Martinez-For Tonight


She had a few others, but that one was her lone entry in the US Hot 100.

In her Canadian homeland, she had a very popular 12" club hit in 1984 called 'Sunshine Reggae / La Vie En Rose'.  It was performed as a medley with her then husband Allen Harris.  The idea was to cover a current hit (Sunshine Reggae by Laid Back) and blend it with a cover of a classic song (La Vie En Rose by Edith Piaf).  The 7" single version was 'Sunshine Reggae' by Allen Harris and reached #87 in Canada.  On the B-Side though was 'La Vie En Rose' by Martinez. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asYAlcR2Fcc

One 1 top 40 hit in Canada or USA for:

The Vapors - Turning Japanese

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEmJ-VWPDM4

Karla  Bonoff - Personally

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29oERnqNHz8

^ Personally never made the Top 40 in Canada actually.  In the early 1980s, the Canadian charts only went up to a Top 50, but had there been a Top 100 in that period, Personally would have definately been in there somewhere.  She had a bunch of minor hits in the US in the late 70s, her first one being 'I Can't Hold On' which reached #73 in Canada and #76 in the US

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1stGa0eWpOM

^ Personally never made the Top 40 in Canada actually.  In the early 1980s, the Canadian charts only went up to a Top 50, but had there been a Top 100 in that period, Personally would have definately been in there somewhere.  She had a bunch of minor hits in the US in the late 70s, her first one being 'I Can't Hold On' which reached #73 in Canada and #76 in the US

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1stGa0eWpOM

You are right, but "Personally" made #19 in the US 100, which is why I said "Canada" or "USA"  ;)

You can't have a OHW80s thread without Taco:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OG3PnQ3tgzY
Full version featuring minstrel show and the Ritz rap.
(original music and lyrics: Irving Berlin)
8)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9mwELXPGbA
Not OHW per se.  Murray Head is a famous actor not pursuing a pop singer career.
BUT with Taco comes Head. 
(original music: Andersson/Alvaeus; lyrics: Tim Rice)

Jump and the Saddle Band: The Curly Shuffle (1984)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKAfXdb5LsA

Peter Schilling: Major Tom (Coming Home) (1983)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1Zip8FjR6s

MARRS: Pump Up the Volume (1988)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B87snXgV7Pg
A collaboration between A.R. Kane and Colourbox.

Sly Fox: Let's Go All the Way (1986)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaryoE7NHTY

Say Say Say by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLEhh_XpJ-0

This is the only song that either Paul McCartney or Michael Jackson were ever involved with (solo or group/band) that ever reached the top 40 in any country.

Hope they didn't quit their day job.
:P

Did these songs make the top 40? Close to the top 40?

(don't bother to look...)


Hey, I was just checking youtube.

Say Say Say by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLEhh_XpJ-0

This is the only song that either Paul McCartney or Michael Jackson were ever involved with (solo or group/band) that ever reached the top 40 in any country.

Hope they didn't quit their day job.
:P


Did you forget about The Girl Is Mine?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAyrHgYB7VQ

Blondie And Pappa- I Like It

In spite of its poor chart performance, I do remember "Forever Young" getting a lot of radio play at the time (not to be confused with Rod Stewart's "Forever Young").  Then the guys who made "Napoleon Dynamite" used it in the prom scene. 
:)


Yeah.  I remember that.  :)

You can't have a OHW80s thread without Taco

I can lol.  The follow-up to Puttin' on the Ritz was a cover of Singin' in the Rain.  It never made the Top 40 anywhere (to my knowledge), but the closest it came was it's peak at #49 in Germany and #46 in Canada

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IlHq3n3hy0&feature=related

Great song! But those poses though... Hahaha. :P

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Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians: What I am.  Does that count?

I can lol.  The follow-up to Puttin' on the Ritz was a cover of Singin' in the Rain.  It never made the Top 40 anywhere (to my knowledge), but the closest it came was it's peak at #49 in Germany and #46 in Canada

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


Yeeesh!  Talk about your Clock Work Orange torture scene!  Truth be known, I liked "Puttin' on the Ritz" when it was popular.  I almost bought Taco "After Eight" with my allowance money, but that week I decided to buy Talking Heads "Speaking in Tongues" instead.  Taco never got reconsidered in my record-buying budget!

Furthermore, I did notice you never saw Taco and Frank-N-Furter in the same room!
http://www.technodisco.net/img/artists/big/t/taco.jpg http://images.wikia.com/rockyhorror/images/a/a4/Dr_Frank-N-Furter.jpg

And in the same fashion, let's not forget Tiny Tim from 1982!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N_jlF-sRqk

Say Say Say by Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLEhh_XpJ-0

This is the only song that either Paul McCartney or Michael Jackson were ever involved with (solo or group/band) that ever reached the top 40 in any country.

Hope they didn't quit their day job.
:P


Michael, we're not gonna fight about this, okay?
Paul, I think I told you, I'm a lover, not a fighter!

I can lol.  The follow-up to Puttin' on the Ritz was a cover of Singin' in the Rain.  It never made the Top 40 anywhere (to my knowledge), but the closest it came was it's peak at #49 in Germany and #46 in Canada

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


Wow 46 and 49? That's not so good.  :o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IlHq3n3hy0&feature=related

Great song! But those poses though... Hahaha. :P


He also had "Off On Your Own and "If I Was Your Lover".

Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians: What I am.  Does that count?


She had a few others, but these ones were the most notable:

Circle (1989) reached #48 in the US, #74 in the UK and #35 in Canada
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_GkjymuQ9U

Good Times (1994) reached #60 in the US, #40 in the UK and #17 in Canada
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqL1BLzn3qc

Wow 46 and 49? That's not so good.  :o


Not really, no, but sometimes a song doesn't have to be in the Top 40 to be a known hit. 



Furthermore, I did notice you never saw Taco and Frank-N-Furter in the same room!
http://www.technodisco.net/img/artists/big/t/taco.jpg http://images.wikia.com/rockyhorror/images/a/a4/Dr_Frank-N-Furter.jpg


;D

For my fellow Canadians:

On MuchMoreMusic, they are counting down the Top 100 One Hit Wonders, and so far in their list ...

#47 | Rough Trade - High School Confidential
#36 | Martha and the Muffins - Echo Beach
#19 | The Parachute Club - Rise Up

These artists were staples on Canadian radio, and they had more than what you see above.  'Echo Beach' wasn't even the mest M+M song.  I would give that honour to 'Song in My Head'

If Parachute Club are one hit wonders, then I (as well as the rest of Canada) must've imagined these songs ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OawT1I8n1Ms http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aotcHjc-rI4

For my fellow Canadians:

On MuchMoreMusic, they are counting down the Top 100 One Hit Wonders, and so far in their list ...

#47 | Rough Trade - High School Confidential
#36 | Martha and the Muffins - Echo Beach
#19 | The Parachute Club - Rise Up

These artists were staples on Canadian radio, and they had more than what you see above.  'Echo Beach' wasn't even the mest M+M song.  I would give that honour to 'Song in My Head'

If Parachute Club are one hit wonders, then I (as well as the rest of Canada) must've imagined these songs ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OawT1I8n1Ms http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aotcHjc-rI4


All three are far from 1 hit wonders. I prefer "All touch" from Roughtrade, I prefer "At the feet of the moon" from Parachute Club. I liked "Echo beach", "Song in my head" was good too.

What's next: Terry Jacks was a 1-hit wonder? Luba? Gordon Lightfoot (lol)

I always liked these songs, really wish these bands had more success... :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCRtHVEroQ0
^^^Recorded when he was 16.  Unreal talent...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi7eprMlXnU
^^^One of the most melancholic tunes I know of.  LOVE it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBlx1JffMQ4
^^^Good, mellow driving tune...

I always liked these songs, really wish these bands had more success... :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCRtHVEroQ0
^^^Recorded when he was 16.  Unreal talent...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi7eprMlXnU
^^^One of the most melancholic tunes I know of.  LOVE it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBlx1JffMQ4
^^^Good, mellow driving tune...


I always thought it was pronounced "Dub-bull" not "Doo-blay".

'Echo Beach' wasn't even the mest M+M song.  I would give that honour to 'Song in My Head'


It was in Britain...their only hit, but it's achieved legendary status for anyone over 40, who can sing it by heart...

Here's the only sizeable hit in Britain (and I presume anywhere else) by Orange Juice, featuring a very young Edwyn Collins...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESy-Z8vqMrE