Do you have a "One Hit Wonder" that is your favorite?
Dexys Midnight Runners were popular in the UK in the 80s. This was the only song that hit here in the states.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc-P8oDuS0Q
GMTA. (https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsmileys.on-my-web.com%2Frepository%2FAnimals%2Fferret-3.gif&hash=f49e2f86761323f2abd9c33941920389dbb3b10f)
There are no one hit wonders. One hit - one that people know and can sing - that's more than 99% of the musicians who ever lived will ever have, and it's something that if you really asked what they would be willing to trade for that, it would be pretty amazing. They would sell their friends, their lovers, their family, their limbs, hell the American legend of the crossroads is that they would trade their soul, not even for a hit, but just to play on that level for a little while. It just seems like a radical trivialization of what in fact is a most fantastic and rare accomplishment. The Clash - for one - only had one song ever break the top 10 in the US, and despite that, (or maybe because of that) they are considered one of the most seminal bands in rock history. And poor Rush, who have had more platinum records than everyone else except the Beatles and the Rolling Stones can't buy their way into the R&R Hall of Fame so perhaps sales aren't everything.
But sure, Patti Smith. She only had one song break the top 20, and it couldn't even break the top 10. But pretty much any 20 hit parade bands, combined, can't match her performances and wouldn't be worthy to carry her used guitar strings.
Or, how about Janis Joplin, "Me and Bobby McGee" was her only Top 40 hit.
Of course my favorite is that Bruce Springsteen managed to record 4 - count 'em FOUR - records (Greetings from Asbury Park NJ, The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle, Born to Run and Darkness at the Edge of Town) without breaking a top 20 single. That's 1973-1980 without a 'hit song' - somehow he survived. Matter of fact, if you really wanted to see the "Best Bruce" you'd want a time machine to go back to '76 or so, hits or not.
Anybody can be a one hit wonder, but it takes professionals to do it twice. Golden Earring put out "Radar Love" in 1973 and "Twilight Zone" in 1982. Hugs, Devlyn
I think Crash Test Dummies qualify as a one hit wonder. I really like their non-hits though.
I don't know if it counts as a hit but I heard Banditos on the radio a few times by The Refreshments. They did the King of the Hill theme too. Roger, the lead singer, then went on to form Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers. And "Let me tell you what," that man gateway to some great music and some awesome live shows. :)
I could so use a good rock show about now.
Spiral Staircase, "I Love You More Today Than Yesterday."
Atlanta Rhythm Section, "I'm So Into You"
Bob the Builder had more British number ones then Bob Marley.
My favourite One Hit Wonder (and it was their only ever single) is Jilted John by Jilted John.
ARS also had "Imaginary Lover" which made it to #7, same as "Part Time Lover" - and two of those guys had been in the Classics IV - who had huge hits with "Spooky", "Stormy", and "Traces".
Quote from: Devlyn on April 01, 2012, 07:11:06 PM
Anybody can be a one hit wonder, but it takes professionals to do it twice. Golden Earring put out "Radar Love" in 1973 and "Twilight Zone" in 1982. Hugs, Devlyn
Radar Love is one of my top-10 "driving songs"
The Starland Vocal Band had one big hit, that got them a summer replacement show on t.v..
The song was the insipid (and somewhat dirty) Afternoon Delight (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpGRdX5sUAs)
#1 single in 1976
Grammy award winner in 1977 (Best New Artist; Best Arrangement)
Quote from: tekla on April 01, 2012, 06:54:23 PM
There are no one hit wonders. One hit - one that people know and can sing - that's more than 99% of the musicians who ever lived will ever have, and it's something that if you really asked what they would be willing to trade for that, it would be pretty amazing. They would sell their friends, their lovers, their family, their limbs, hell the American legend of the crossroads is that they would trade their soul, not even for a hit, but just to play on that level for a little while. It just seems like a radical trivialization of what in fact is a most fantastic and rare accomplishment. The Clash - for one - only had one song ever break the top 10 in the US, and despite that, (or maybe because of that) they are considered one of the most seminal bands in rock history. And poor Rush, who have had more platinum records than everyone else except the Beatles and the Rolling Stones can't buy their way into the R&R Hall of Fame so perhaps sales aren't everything.
But sure, Patti Smith. She only had one song break the top 20, and it couldn't even break the top 10. But pretty much any 20 hit parade bands, combined, can't match her performances and wouldn't be worthy to carry her used guitar strings.
Or, how about Janis Joplin, "Me and Bobby McGee" was her only Top 40 hit.
Of course my favorite is that Bruce Springsteen managed to record 4 - count 'em FOUR - records (Greetings from Asbury Park NJ, The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle, Born to Run and Darkness at the Edge of Town) without breaking a top 20 single. That's 1973-1980 without a 'hit song' - somehow he survived. Matter of fact, if you really wanted to see the "Best Bruce" you'd want a time machine to go back to '76 or so, hits or not.
Except for Rush (I loathe Rush) I love everybody you mentioned and none of them are one hit wonders to me. But I think people can be. I've purchased albums by EMF, Primitive Radio Gods, Flobots, and I'm sure quite a few others (don't want to get up and dig) that I couldn't come to care for but still loved the one song that prompted me to get the album.
On the Dark Side of the Moon DVD (Pink Floyd), Roger Waters explains that when the album was going platinum in the USA he was told to write a single hit. it took him a few minutes to write 'Money'. A one hit wonder band?
The one hit wonders you truly hate?
Anyone remember " In the year 2055, if man can survive etc " Vomit bag and so catchy.
Nice topic Janet,
Hugs Sis
Cindy
This one?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqcolorLyww
Thanks Sis
I was going to eat dinner. :laugh:
The rhyming is so bad, the premise the ........ Ahhhh
But Money was on the record to start with, perhaps that was left over from before - like 'Gee it would be nice if you put a 45 on the next record" - but they had already had a hit in England with See Emily Play.