One Hit Wonders

[Aidan]

Zoom ( Fat Larry's Band ) ?

[Popsicle]

How does everybody define a "One Hit Wonder"?

Is it one top 50 hit and nothing else or one top 20 or 30 hit?

The reason I ask is that sometimes bands have one big hit and maybe a couple of smaller ones before vanishing.

Fat Larry's Band for example, had three top 50 hits before charting higher with "Zoom", which of course is the song we all remember.

I was thinking today of a song called "No memory" by Scarlet Fantastic, which was a #24 hit in 1987, and a song I really like. When I looked them up however, I noticed that they reached a paltry #67 with a follow up. Should we count that or have a cut off point at say, 40?

What does everyone else think makes up a "One Hit Wonder"?

[Pootle]

I helped someone out with lyrics the other day and it brought this one back to me (and you also nudged my memory there Popsicle) Scarlet, Independent Love Song, back in 1995 when I was an even smaller flump and my bobble hat didn't fit as well. Quite a good song....

[Pootle]

Oh and another one....Star Trekking by The Firm.

Pure evil.

[Aidan]

Substitute ( Clout , 1978 )

[Popsicle]

Oh and another one....Star Trekking by The Firm.

Pure evil.

And it was #1 as well! Not as bad as their first hit though, "Arthur Daley (E's Alright)". Both pure evil really.

[Popsicle]

Anyone remember "Little Does She Know" by the Kursaal Flyers?

[Aidan]

I knew that she'd seen me
'Cos she dropped her bikini
The one ...
That I got her..
In Ro-ome

or You're Moving out Today by Carol Bayer-Sager ?

[Popsicle]

Ooooh, that was as irritating song!


Here's an obscure-ish one - "Life is a Rock(But the Radio Rolled me)", a paltry #33 UK hit in the 70s. I think it went a bit higher in the US for the band Reunion.

[Aidan]

Making Up Again ( Goldie, 77 maybe 78 )

[Popsicle]

I was rifling through a couple of boxes of old singles today, and amongst the hits (and quite a few flops!) I found some interesting 80s one hit wonders. Remember any of these?

"Tantalise" - Jimmy the Hoover
"Where's Romeo?" - Cava Cava
"Murphy's Law" - Cheri (Complete with silly voices)
"Waiting for a Train"- Flash and the Pan (Although they did have many hits in other countries)
"Drivers Seat" - Sniff n the Tears
I also thought "Is Vic There?" by Department S was a one hit wonder, but they did follow it up with a lowly #55 hit.

Must have a look through a few more boxes and find some more lost hits!

[Aidan]

All except CavaCava, Popsicle - Flash & the Pan had another in the late 70s called The Band Played On, about the Titanic. Let us know what else you unearth !

[Popsicle]

Speaking of Flash and the Pan, I recently spotted that a "Best of" compilation has been issued on CD. I must get a copy, as I only have a battered vinyl album of their stuff.

Some other (UK) 1HW:

"Substitute" by Clout
"Keeping the Dream Alive" - Freiheit
"Too Busy Thinking About My baby" - Mardi Gras
"New Orleans" - Harley Quinne
"Move in a Little Closer Baby" - Harmony Grass
"Movie Star"- Harpo
"Undercover Angel" - Alan O'Day
"The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades" - Timbuk 3

[Aidan]

or Teddybear by Red Sovine.
After how long can a chart act be classed as a 1HW, i.e. when can you be sure they won't have a follow-up ?

[80s gail]

one hit wonders

the first picture of you - Lotus Eaters
Midnight at the oasis - Maria Muldaur
Casanova - Coffee
The first time - Robin Beck
I could go on but i won't!