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One-Hit Wonders of the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s
I don’t think we’ve had enough arguing recently on Ricochet. So here are my picks for best one-hit wonders for three decades. I’m sure you will all agree. Or not.
1960s
Talk Talk by The Music Machine. One minute and fifty-six seconds of attitude. This was a very competitive decade (see, for instance, Gloria by The Shadows of Knight, Hey Little Girl by The Syndicate of Sound, Tighten Up by Archie Bell & The Drells, Rescue Me by Fontella Bass, Dirty Water by The Standells, 96 Tears by ? & The Mysterians and, of course, I Had Too Much To Dream by The Electric Prunes).
My social life’s a dud/My name is really mud
1970s
Patti Smith has a long and successful career but only one hit single, Because The Night, and it is magnificent. She took a song originally written by Bruce Springsteen and rewrote the verse lyrics while waiting for a call from her boyfriend. Admittedly, my choice raises serious metaphysical issues – can someone be a one-hit wonder if they’ve had a long and successful career? Some may dispute whether my choice is correct but since I believe we can all self-identify with our own truth and declare our pronouns, I’m saying it is.
1980s
Jenny/867-5309 by Tommy Tutone. Perhaps the greatest one-hit wonder of them all.
I tried to call you before, but I lost my nerve/I tried my imagination, but I was disturbed
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Published in General
That’s why I threw the challenge flag in #533 above. Anyone who has had a long, very successful career shouldn’t be considered a one-hit wonder. Once again, if you can say “I wonder whatever happened to…”, then yeah, he/she’s a one-hit wonder.
Problem is what’s a “long and successful career” is kind of in the eye of the beholder. “One hit” is much closer to objective.
What about this guy?
Never heard of him, but looked him up and would not call him a one-hit wonder. Long, productive career.
Yes, that’s my point. Maybe not so much from the perspective of others. But that was his one “hit.”
I just took a quick look through the earlier posts and there are a lot of artists/bands that had successful careers. And one hit.
We’re talking past each other, I guess. Like the politicians arguing about aid to Ukraine.
Okay, I admit it, you got me – I called Rudy a couple of days ago and asked him to check into your background!
Maybe, but I don’t disagree with your basic premise. I just think it makes the designation of who is and who isn’t more difficult.
And besides, our esteemed thread-starter predicted a few disputes.
The Bells
Stay Awhile
Kind of a guilty pleasure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PR_tloBamVA
DC’s own.
I am increasingly fascinated to see how long you can keep this going. I thank you for your dedication or perhaps it has become your obsession!
If it were harder and less enjoyable, it would be an obsession.
But thanks for the encouragement. :)
They did the best Kumbaya ever.
OK, so she was in the Go Gos
Anyone mention “The Lion Sleeps Tonight ” by the Tokens?
Wasn’t that on the first or second page?
https://youtu.be/YcBOcwgb4OA
Am I doubling up on this one?
Isn’t it amazing what you learn on Ricochet?
I don’t think anyone has mentioned Popsicle Toes yet. I hadn’t heard it in many years but it was on the radio yesterday:
Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) reached No. 1 in the UK. Only No. 12 in the US, but I think that still counts as a hit.
Good hair.
More hair comin’ up–at the risk of making you regret you started this:
Oh no!