Songs: One Hit Wonders

Nodak said:
Unfortunately that's not the original version. The line "making love in the green grass behind the stadium" has been removed. I don't know when or why that happened since it originally played on AM radio with the line in it. At least it did on Canadian AM radio maybe it was just American Am where the line was removed.
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I remember that line distinctly from hearing it on AM radio in the U.S., wherever I was at that time. St. Louis, maybe. I was a teenager and thought it was soooo romantic.
 
One of my all time favorites.

 
A high-power song:
The Sunrays - Andrea - YouTube

A classic, cue that organ!!!
Question Mark & the Mysterians - 96 Tears - YouTube

Some comments... never thought of Van Morrison as "a one-hit wonder" :)

*** And any mention of the song by Tommy Tutone should be proceeded with a WARNING that if you play or think of the song, you will be humming it or singing it for days afterwards, maybe in inopportune places or times :D
 
Telly said:
Some comments... never thought of Van Morrison as "a one-hit wonder" :)
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Or Randy Newman! That guy is a music icon!

I looked at wiki, and there are many definitions. Gets pretty specific, something like an artist with only a single 'hit' that makes the top 100. Other defs say top 40, but then the artists could have another song(s) in the 100-60 range.

And then... it is the song by a specific artist? Or does the same song count if done by different artists?

It boggles the mind! :LOL:

I always thought of it as an artist known for a big hit (loose definition), and then they never are 'known by the general music loving public' (another loose definition) for anything but that one song. So I wouldn't include artists that went on to have a bunch of minor hits, or other successful careers in the music biz (composer, arranger, etc). But that's just me, we should let the ISO board have the last word on this. :rolleyes:

-ERD50
 
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These guys had some measure of success back in the day. Yet, they appear on VH1's list of one hit wonders. DH and I saw them perform many years ago. Crazy, fun concert!

Devo - Whip It (Video) - YouTube
 
Purron said:
These guys had some measure of success back in the day. Yet, they appear on VH1's list of one hit wonders. DH and I saw them perform many years ago. Crazy, fun concert!

Devo - Whip It (Video) - YouTube
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I would never have thought of them as one-hit wonders. Big fan here. They recently did a mini-tour with Blondie and we went to see them when they came to SF. They're still really good live!
 
Purron said:
Good version for sure and Jimmy sure does this song proud too. DH and I saw Jimmy for the first time in concert this past summer and he performed it very well. Just feel a need to say the best version was done by the man who wrote this song. I'm sure he's not a one hit wonder but it's good to listen to this song again anyway.

Intersting factoid about this song. It was originally titled "Brown-Skinned Girl" but Morrison changed it to "Brown Eyed Girl" when he recorded it.

Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl (Original Version) - YouTube
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I got to tell you, this Van Morrison guy probably has more than one hit out there. He might even be famous some day.

Brown Eyed Girl is the 4th most DJ requested song (who keeps track of these things anyway).
 
Free To Canoe said:
I got to tell you, this Van Morrison guy probably has more than one hit out there. He might even be famous some day.

Brown Eyed Girl is the 4th most DJ requested song (who keeps track of these things anyway).
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Hear ya free 2. I think the person who posted this in the first place was saying a cover of Van's iconic song was this group's one hit wonder. See the orginial post here.
 
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Okay, here are some really obscure ones, but I recall every one (almost like it was yesterday). Just can't recall what I had for lunch.



Bob Luman - Let's Think About Living - YouTube

Joanie Sommers Johnny get angry. - YouTube (the Pepsi Girl from early 60's)

The Jarmels - "A Little Bit Of Soap" - YouTube

Party Lights Claudine Clark - YouTube

Lolita - Sailor, Your Home Is The Sea (U.S. hit version 1960) - YouTube

Larry Finnegan Dear One - YouTube

Bruce Channel - Hey! Baby - YouTube


I could go on - but I'll stop, for now.
 
Laurie Anderson. Not sure this was even a "hit" but it was her best known work. She was amazing. Saw her in concert twice and she had a way of connecting. It was more of a conversation than a concert - in a very good way. BTW, she's married to Lou Reed. Bet they're an interesting couple!


Laurie Anderson - O Superman - YouTube
 
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Maria Muldaur '70's

1974-Maria Muldaur- Midnight At The Oasis-MIDNIGHT SPECIAL.AVI - YouTube

In 1969... weighs 3 times that now...
img_1255070_0_ed74883dffd9f8d05d60e3eb84847475.jpg


Sigh! Some things are better, left in memory, and imagination...

img_1255070_1_3bd4e7b7d6ccf99d8ea45015cacf3e7b.jpg
 
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ERD50 said:
Or Randy Newman! That guy is a music icon!

I looked at wiki, and there are many definitions. Gets pretty specific, something like an artist with only a single 'hit' that makes the top 100. Other defs say top 40, but then the artists could have another song(s) in the 100-60 range.

And then... it is the song by a specific artist? Or does the same song count if done by different artists?

It boggles the mind! :LOL:

I always thought of it as an artist known for a big hit (loose definition), and then they never are 'known by the general music loving public' (another loose definition) for anything but that one song. So I wouldn't include artists that went on to have a bunch of minor hits, or other successful careers in the music biz (composer, arranger, etc). But that's just me, we should let the ISO board have the last word on this. :rolleyes:

-ERD50
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Useless trivia- the ultimate one hit wonder has to be Benny Mardones. He is the only one hit wonder to chart his only hit single twice. "Into the Night" was a top 20 in 1980 and then a top 20 again in 1989. Talk about maximizing your one and only hit!
 
This cheesy Toni Basil song (Mickey) always finds it way to the top of any one-hit wonder list. I did not realize until I just looked it up.....Basil was 39 years old when she did this song (in 1982) so she will turn 70, yes SEVENTY next year!

Toni Basil Show Mickey - YouTube
 
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At the very end of the 1966 - 1967 school year, this song burst onto the AM radio scene, just in time for summer. Whenever the phrase "One Hit Wonder" is mentioned, I always think of this song. I thought someone had posted it already, but I see not.

"but she's tied to the dock and she can't get free"

COME ON DOWN TO MY BOAT - EVERY MOTHERS SON 1967.wmv - YouTube
 
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