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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  1. Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… Coolidge
    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo…
    @GumbyMark

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    The hits keep comin’!  Well, not exactly the hits.

    • #571
  2. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    The hits keep comin’! Well, not exactly the hits.

    Oh ye of little faith. For the record (no pun intended), “Chevy Van” was Billboard #5 in 1975 with backing by the Wrecking Crew.  

    • #572
  3. Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… Coolidge
    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo…
    @GumbyMark

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    The hits keep comin’! Well, not exactly the hits.

    Oh ye of little faith. For the record (no pun intended), “Chevy Van” was Billboard #5 in 1975 with backing by the Wrecking Crew.

    That I did not know.  This thread has considerably increased my stash of useless knowledge.  

    • #573
  4. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    The hits keep comin’! Well, not exactly the hits.

    Oh ye of little faith. For the record (no pun intended), “Chevy Van” was Billboard #5 in 1975 with backing by the Wrecking Crew.

    That I did not know. This thread has considerably increased my stash of useless knowledge.

    Useless knowledge is underrated.

     

    • #574
  5. OldPhil Coolidge
    OldPhil
    @OldPhil

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    The hits keep comin’! Well, not exactly the hits.

    Oh ye of little faith. For the record (no pun intended), “Chevy Van” was Billboard #5 in 1975 with backing by the Wrecking Crew.

    Hey, it was only 50 posts or so ago (#526) that I put Chevy Van on here. 

    • #575
  6. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    OldPhil (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    The hits keep comin’! Well, not exactly the hits.

    Oh ye of little faith. For the record (no pun intended), “Chevy Van” was Billboard #5 in 1975 with backing by the Wrecking Crew.

    Hey, it was only 50 posts or so ago (#526) that I put Chevy Van on here.

    My apologies for overlooking that.  Perhaps the difficulty in keeping up is an indication that the thread should be put to bed.

    But noooo . . .

    • #576
  7. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    BTW, I’m guessing that, for those of a certain age (i.e., mine) The Murmaids video above is pretty heavy with nostalgia.  Most of those kids could’ve stepped out of any graduating class in my day.

    • #577
  8. OldPhil Coolidge
    OldPhil
    @OldPhil

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    BTW, I’m guessing that, for those of a certain age (i.e., mine) The Murmaids video above is pretty heavy with nostalgia. Most of those kids could’ve stepped out of any graduating class in my day.

    There are even a few couples in that video who can really cut a rug!

    • #578
  9. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    OldPhil (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    BTW, I’m guessing that, for those of a certain age (i.e., mine) The Murmaids video above is pretty heavy with nostalgia. Most of those kids could’ve stepped out of any graduating class in my day.

    There are even a few couples in that video who can really cut a rug!

    I remember my girl friend ironing her hair and one can see that look throughout.  My thinking was that the blond guy and girl (he with the hair parted middle) were a “cool” couple.  Can’t help but wonder what happened to them. 

     

    • #579
  10. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    In times of national emergency and no sports (but I repeat myself), it’s time for the One Hit Wonder thread!

    #24 in ’69.

    • #580
  11. E. Kent Golding Moderator
    E. Kent Golding
    @EKentGolding

    • #581
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