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One hit wonders

30 Apr 01 - 12:22 PM (#452160)
Subject: One hit wonders
From: GUEST,Rana

OK, this isn't (necessarily) folk, but Peter T's "obscure thread" and a film clip featuring Thunderclap Newman classic caused me to wonder about other one hit marvels.

So there is (as mentioned) Thunderclap Newman (remember seeing them on the Beeb's TOTP (Top of the Pops). Also Mungo Jerry, and Norman Greenbaum. Greenbaum has a web page marketing Spirit in the Sky - a whole industry arising from one song.

So any other nominations out there?

Rana


30 Apr 01 - 12:27 PM (#452168)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

Anybody remember Mashmakhan? I had a 45 of their one hit -- "As the Years Go By". lyrics here. Reached #31 in the USA in 1970.

Alex


30 Apr 01 - 12:33 PM (#452175)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Bagpuss

"Gordon is a Moron" by John Shuttleworth, though I'm sure he was called something else at the time. Refresh my memory someone?

Bagpuss


30 Apr 01 - 12:34 PM (#452178)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Will Bakker

There is a TV programme in Holland, called "Single Luck". One of the programs was about Steeleye Span's "All around my hat". I will dig in my memory to think about other one hit wonders.


30 Apr 01 - 12:35 PM (#452180)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: GUEST,Matt_R

Steeleye Span is a one-hit wonder??? Um....


30 Apr 01 - 12:37 PM (#452183)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

Clint Holmes, "Playground in my Mind," 1973, #2.

Alex


30 Apr 01 - 12:37 PM (#452184)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: GUEST,JohnB

Have I the right :- Applejacks Come outside :- Mike Sarne Had another but it's gone now. JohnB


30 Apr 01 - 12:41 PM (#452185)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

The Stories, Brother Louie, 1973, #1

Alex


30 Apr 01 - 12:42 PM (#452186)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Bagpuss

"Wonderful Life" - Black

"Star Trekkin'" - The Firm


30 Apr 01 - 12:43 PM (#452188)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Will Bakker

Streets of London- Ralph Mc Tell Where do you go to my lovely- Peter Sarstedt Eve of Destruction- Barry McGuire


30 Apr 01 - 12:43 PM (#452189)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

Gary Numan, Cars, 1980, #3

Alex


30 Apr 01 - 12:46 PM (#452191)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Will Bakker

This thread promises to be a many-hit wonder!


30 Apr 01 - 12:47 PM (#452192)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Les from Hull

Jilted John you mean Bagpuss? I'm sure there's a Hull connection with him as well. Maggie had suggested that I did that song in singarounds until I pointed out that the rhythm and the words are a bit hard to do at the same time. Still who knows, one day?

Les


30 Apr 01 - 12:51 PM (#452196)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Bagpuss

For uk one hit wonders that were at number 1 http://www.hart87.freeserve.co.uk/onehitwonders.html

click here


30 Apr 01 - 12:59 PM (#452200)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Bagpuss

And if you click onto the homepage, you can get all sorts of chart facts and figs.

Bagpuss


30 Apr 01 - 01:13 PM (#452211)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

That's too easy, Bagpuss!


30 Apr 01 - 01:14 PM (#452213)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: John Hardly

Danny O'Keefe- "Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues"
Dave Loggins- "Please Come To Boston"

These two have written for others and If you've never heard a full album of their's I HIGHLY redommend them, but they never repeated the level of the above mentioned "hits"


30 Apr 01 - 01:14 PM (#452214)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Lonesome EJ

Judy in Disguise John Fred and his Playboy Band.

Actually, Norman Greenbaum had a followup to Spirit in the Sky called "Canned Ham". Sounded exactly like the first one. Come to think of it, that's also a phenomenon. So many groups who came out with a monster hit, followed with a sound-alike which flopped,ie Procol Harum Whiter Shade of Pale followed by Homberg...."You'd better take off your Homberg, you're overcoat's too long" is a sample line.


30 Apr 01 - 01:18 PM (#452217)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

Procol Harum also had a gen-u-wine hit with "Conquistador" (1972, #16).

Alex


30 Apr 01 - 01:23 PM (#452218)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Lonesome EJ

Barry Maguire's Eve of Destruction would qualify. He claims that he ticked off the record industry with his no-compromise stance.


30 Apr 01 - 01:33 PM (#452227)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: MARINER

Tell Laura I Love Her by Ricky Valence (U.K.) Elusive Butterfly by Bob Lind, When by The Kalen Twins, Sugar , Sugar by The Archies, Nut Rocker by BBumble and the Stingers, It's almost to morrow by The Dreamwaevers, Here comes Summer by Jerry Keller, In the year 2525 by Zager and Evans. I can go on but I fear the titles are disclosing my age.


30 Apr 01 - 01:33 PM (#452228)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: John Hardly

Best Norman Greenbaum song--"Good Lookin' Woman"

Gonna take money to keep you around, baby
Gonna take money to keep you around, Baby
Worried 'bout the future? babe you can end it,
I got the money, I'm willin' to spend it

On a good lookin' woman...Like You.


30 Apr 01 - 01:34 PM (#452229)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Noreen

Considering how much sense A Whiter Shade Of Pale made, LeeJ...... :0)


30 Apr 01 - 02:02 PM (#452251)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

I used to have a 45 of "In the year 2525"! Boy, what a stinker!

Some others:

Starland Vocal Band, Afternoon Delight, 1976, #1 (can you believe it?!)
Georgia Satellites, Keep Your Hands to Yourself, 1987, #2
Double, The Captain of Her Heart, 1986, #16
Timbuk 3, The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades, 1986, #19

Alex


30 Apr 01 - 02:23 PM (#452267)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: M.Ted

There is a problem we'll hit on soon (actually, it will be now, since I am bringing it up) Gary Numan, who had only one hit in the US, actually had about 25 hits in the UK--including his other #1-"Are Friends Electric" and five or so other top ten hits (my 18 year old daughter is a big fan of his), Mungo Jerry had a number of UK hits as well ("Baby Jump" was one)--Those of us in the US don't think of the Archies as one hit wonders, although "Sugar,Sugar". "Jingle, Jangle" and "Bang Shangalang" did sound a lot alike--The biggest discrepency though is "Status Quo" who had one top 40 hit in the US, with "Pictures of Matchstick Men" but had 42 charted hits in the UK (more than the Beatles, though the Beatles spent a bit more time on the charts than they did)-


30 Apr 01 - 02:29 PM (#452271)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: lady penelope

Geprgia Sattelites also had a hit in the UK with "Battle ship chains" off the same album as "hands to yourself"

John Shuttleworth was THE Gordon of THE Morons, if I remember rightly ( Parker isn't here to provide me with his wealth of obscure references for this particular era ) With the classic 'b" side" Two pints of lager and a packet of crisps, please"

My favourite "I think I'm Turning Japanese" by the Vapours


30 Apr 01 - 02:33 PM (#452274)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

Yes, similarly, and amazingly, Bruce Cockburn only had one top 40 hit in the US, although he was all over the charts in the 1970's in Canada.

Alex


30 Apr 01 - 02:42 PM (#452281)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Lonesome EJ

And that was one of his worst songs, MT. If I had a Rocket Launcher was inferior to the rest of the material on the Stealing Fire album.

One of my all time favorites was a one-hit wonder...Dancing in the Moonlight by King Harvest.


30 Apr 01 - 02:46 PM (#452286)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

According to my sources, Rocket Launcher didn't break 40; whereas Lions hit #21 in 1980.

Unfortunately I don't have access to numbers less than 40 so I can't verify that they didn't just leave RL out.

Alex


30 Apr 01 - 02:47 PM (#452287)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: catspaw49

One has been mentioned, but I think there are four where the VERY FIRST release went to #1 and they never had another crack the top 100.

Zager and Evans......"2525"
Gary Paxton (Hollywood Argyles-He multitracked the whole thing)..."Alley Oop"
The Singing Nun.............."Dominique"

..........so does anybody know the 4th one?

Spaw


30 Apr 01 - 02:48 PM (#452288)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

Any of you Canadians remember Trooper? Did they have any other hits in Canada besides "Two for the Show"? Loved that song; was sorry it never got airplay in the US.

Alex


30 Apr 01 - 02:54 PM (#452295)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Jim the Bart

How about "Reach Out In the Darkness" (I think it's so groovy now, that people are finally getting together. . .) by Friend and Lover? The "Friend" half of this duo was Jim Post.


30 Apr 01 - 03:03 PM (#452301)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Gary T

"Brandy" by (The?) Looking Glass. Well-crafted song, nicely told story, good arrangement and performance--it's a shame they didn't get another hit, but I guess that's show biz.


30 Apr 01 - 03:21 PM (#452310)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: LR Mole

"Yellow Balloon" by the Yellow Balloon: the b side was the same song backwards: "Noollab Wolley" And how about "Hot Smoke and Sassafrass" by Bubble Puppy?


30 Apr 01 - 03:35 PM (#452318)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: vindelis

Bernie Flint (from 'Opportunity Knocks') trouble is I can't remember the song title, but I can still see him singing it!


30 Apr 01 - 03:45 PM (#452324)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Benjamin

Would you consider M.C. Hammer a one hit wonder? How about Extreme, Trixter, War Babies?
Ahh, precious memories of the 80's (and early 90's)!!

BMW


30 Apr 01 - 04:03 PM (#452332)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: GUEST,Rana

I never realised that this thread would generate so much rapid interest!

Did Peter and Gordon have more than one hit? (If they did I missed it).

Forgot about 2525 - which was probably fortunate! (Now what were the other years?).

Rana (who should get back to work)


30 Apr 01 - 04:07 PM (#452334)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: GUEST

I know i'm young but how comes no1's mention the master chesney hawkes with the #1 single the 1 and only or is that just me


30 Apr 01 - 04:18 PM (#452339)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: gnu

LonesomeEJ.... did you catch Bruce's recent CBC rendition of Rocket Launcher ? I will never erase the video tape I made of this program just for that one tune. The guitar work was beyond excellent.

Alex.... didn't Trooper do (don't know the actual title) We're Here for a Good Time, Not a Long Time... This still gets airplay on the "classic" rock stations around here.


30 Apr 01 - 04:20 PM (#452342)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: GUEST

Just gotta pipe in with these two:

A good one, by two guys (twins?) whose nutsy
li' ditty was the theme for the movie "Benny & June".
Submitted with hope that someone might supply a title
and perhaps a bit of news concerning their quick powder.

And that god awful Vicky Lawrence classic: "The Night
The Lights Went Out In Georgia".


30 Apr 01 - 04:30 PM (#452346)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

Anybody remember "Popcorn" by "Hot Butter"? It was a completely synthesizer thing. Early 1970's.

Alex


30 Apr 01 - 04:50 PM (#452360)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Gary T

I remember Peter and Gordon for "I Go to Peices," "A World Without Love," "Woman," and "Lady Godiva."


30 Apr 01 - 04:59 PM (#452366)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Peter T.

"Duke of Earl" by the guy who was called blank "Duke of Earl" blank, about whom I have blanked.

"You Don't Have To Be a Baby to Cry", The Caravelles.

"Big John", Jimmy Dean

"Classical Gas", John Hartford.

and my all-time favourite (be still my beating heart):
"Johnny Angel", Shelley Fabares.

yours, Peter T. P.S. I am not sure that I like being referred to as a one hit wonder, given that I haven't even had one hit, nor am I particularly wonderful. Still, people will talk.


30 Apr 01 - 05:02 PM (#452371)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Lonesome EJ

Peter...Classical Gas was Mason Williams


30 Apr 01 - 05:02 PM (#452372)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

The only version of "Classical Gas" I know of is the one by Mason Williams (the author of the piece). He was the music guru (whatever the exact title was, I don't know) for the Smothers Brothers TV show.

ALex


30 Apr 01 - 05:13 PM (#452381)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: GUEST,Rana

Peter,

I badly phrased my first sentence - did not mean to imply that you were a one hit wonder - just that one hit wonders probably ended up as obscurities and hence your thread helped pose the question. But then there is no smoke without ... (:-))

Rana


30 Apr 01 - 05:20 PM (#452387)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Allan C.

Few people will remember this:

I really don't know how far up the charts it got but David Nelson, (Rick's brother,) made it onto the charts with "Wonderful! Wonderful!" which, I believe, he was the first to introduce. It was his first and only attempt. Later, in '57 Johnny Mathis covered it (#14) and then the finger-snapping Tymes scored a hit with it (#7) in '63. It is still among my favorites.

Sometimes we walk hand in hand by the sea And we breathe in the cool salty air...


30 Apr 01 - 05:39 PM (#452400)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Peter T.

Sorry, stupid mistake. Gene Chandler, Duke of Earl.

yours, Peter T.


30 Apr 01 - 05:42 PM (#452403)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: MARINER

Then there was;Althea and Donna "Up Town TopRankin'", JJ.Barrie's "No Charge"Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg"Je T'aime" (pant pant), The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, "Fire", Floaters "Float On", Matthew's Southern Comfort, "Woodstock", Overlanders ,"Michelle", Simon Park Orch. "Eye Level", all U.K. one hit wonders. And speaking of one hit brothers, didn't Pat Boone's brother Nick Todd dent the charts with his version of Fabian's "Tiger"??.And there's more!!.


30 Apr 01 - 07:30 PM (#452500)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Benjamin

She Drives Me Crazy by Fine Young Cannibals
King of Wishful Thinking by Go West
Steel Heart's Angel Eyes (I think that was their hit).

BMW


30 Apr 01 - 08:35 PM (#452534)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: kendall

The Wayward Wind, Gogi Grant
Dark Moon, Bonnie Guitar.
Itsy bitsy yellow polka dot bikini, Renato Carasoni?
The Witch Doctor, I think it was Sheb Wooley
Purple People eater? that may have been Sheb Wooley.


30 Apr 01 - 09:58 PM (#452553)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: John Hardly

Gary,

Looking glass also cracked the charts with "Jimmy Loves Maryanne", though they probably should have left well enough alone.

Catspaw,

Is the answer to your quiz Sgt. Barry? Sadler? "Green Berets"?


30 Apr 01 - 10:14 PM (#452557)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Pseudolus

How about J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers original version of "Last Kiss"?? Not sure what Pearl Jam was thinkin when they tried that one.....

Frank


30 Apr 01 - 10:51 PM (#452574)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Bugsy

Napoleon XIV(real name: Jerry Samuels) - "They're Coming to Taken Me Away"
Laurie London - "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands".

CHeers

Bugsy


30 Apr 01 - 10:54 PM (#452576)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: rangeroger

Then there is Willis Alan Ramsey,who put out his one and only album in 1972,and every song on it became a hit.

For someone else.

IE; Jimmy Buffet "Ballad of Spider John",Lyle Lovett "Sleepwalker", Shawn Colvin "Satin Sheets", and the timeless "Muskrat Love" by the Captain and Tenille.

rr


30 Apr 01 - 11:09 PM (#452584)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

Witch Doctor was David Seville -- same guy who later went on to invent the Chipmunks. He also had a hit with "I'm Just Sitting in a Vacant Lot with a Bird Sitting on my Head." So he's not a 1-hit wonder.

I love "Wayward Wind"! Shows what an old fart I am!

Alex
The Only Real Mousethief
anything less is just a rodent stealer!


30 Apr 01 - 11:14 PM (#452587)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Amergin

Uh, Jimmy Buffet isn't exactly a one hit wonder....

What about that one hilarious song....the one about how this guy and his girl got stuck on the tracks and they escaped the car...but then she went back for the class ring and got killed?


30 Apr 01 - 11:17 PM (#452589)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

That's Teen Angel. Not sure who did it.


30 Apr 01 - 11:19 PM (#452592)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Amergin

That's the one...it's one of the funniest things I have heard...gets me rolling everytime I hear it...


30 Apr 01 - 11:26 PM (#452597)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

Amergin, I think it's supposed to bring a lump to your throat and all that.

Have you ever heard the one with the refrain, "Strange things happen in this world"? The guy goes to the football game and meets this pretty girl and she's cold so he gives her his letterman's sweater to wear. He drives her home. Before he gets home he realizes she has his sweater so he goes back to her house to get it. Her father says is this some kind of sick joke? My daughter died a year ago tonight. He goes to the graveyard and his sweater is on her gravestone. Amazing song for a rock/pop hit. Very ghost-folky, really.

Alex


30 Apr 01 - 11:34 PM (#452602)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Matt_R

Um, "Muskrat Love" is America, not Captain and Tenille. Peter and Gordon one hit wonders? NEVER! I have their greatest hits!


30 Apr 01 - 11:41 PM (#452604)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Matt_R

Also, I think their cover of "True Love Ways" is better than the orginal. Peter & Gordon got me through some tough times...especially them doing TLW. Still makes me cry when I hear it.


30 Apr 01 - 11:43 PM (#452606)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Bugsy

Trouble is, Matt R, just because someone has a "Greatest Hits" album doesn't necessarily mean they had more than one hit. I remember our record company used to sell a "Rocking Berries - Greatest Hits". Trouble was they only had the one. "He's In Town". Though I will concede that Peter and Gordon may have had maybe 3 hits.

CHeers

Bugsy


30 Apr 01 - 11:49 PM (#452609)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: rangeroger

Matt,I beg to differ with you, "Muskrat love" was Captain and Tenille,written by Willis Alan Ramsey.I'm holding the 45 in my hand.

Nathan, there was a parody on Teen Angel called "Tame Eagle" done by a British singer(Billy Barty?) that was very funny.

rr


30 Apr 01 - 11:51 PM (#452610)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Amergin

Uh, Matt....Muskrat Love was Captain and Tenille.....

alex, i think I have heard that one...though i can't be sure...it does sound vaguely familiar....


30 Apr 01 - 11:52 PM (#452612)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Matt_R

Peter & Gordon:

A World Without Love--1964: # 1.
Nobody I Know--1964: # 12
I Don't Want To See You Again--1964: # 16
I Go To Pieces--1965: # 9
True Love Ways--1965: # 14
To Know You Is To Love You--1965: # 24
Don't Pity Me--1965: # 83 in November
Woman--1966: # 14
There's No Living Without Your Loving--1966: # 50
To Show I Love You--1966: # 98
Lady Godiva--1966: # 6
Knight In Rusty Armour--1967: # 15
Sunday For Tea--1967: # 31
The Jokers--1967: # 47


01 May 01 - 12:02 AM (#452617)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Matt_R

Muskrat Love (The Captain & Tennille)

The Captain & Tennille burst on to the pop music scene in a hurry with their 1975 smash hit, "Love Will Keep Us Together," which ultimately knocked America's "Sister Golden Hair" out of the Number One position in June 1975. They made amends the next year by taking an old America hit, "Muskrat Love," all the way to the Number Four position. Most people not familiar with America's work assume that The Captain & Tennille wrote "Muskrat Love." The Captain & Tennille themselves assumed that it had been written by America. Poor Willis Alan Ramsey -- no one ever remembers him. Old America cohort Hal Blaine contributes percussion on the track.


01 May 01 - 12:03 AM (#452618)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Bugsy

Three Major Hits. In those days a Major Hit was in the top 10.

A World Without Love--1964: # 1.
Lady Godiva--1966: # 6 I Go To Pieces--1965: # 9

5 Minor Hits. (Bottom Half of Top 20)

Nobody I Know--1964: # 12
I Don't Want To See You Again--1964: # 16
True Love Ways--1965: # 14
Woman--1966: # 14
Knight In Rusty Armour--1967: # 15

6 Also Rans

To Know You Is To Love You--1965: # 24
Sunday For Tea--1967: # 31
The Jokers--1967: # 47
Don't Pity Me--1965: # 83 in November
There's No Living Without Your Loving--1966: # 50
To Show I Love You--1966: # 98

Don't get me wrong, I liked them. But they would not really fall into the catagory of Chart Busting Artists of the time.

CHeeers

Bugsy


01 May 01 - 12:10 AM (#452621)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

Anything in the top 40 deserves to be called at least a minor hit. The fact is, many groups that put out a "greatest hits" album don't have more than 3 songs that even charted in the top 100. I'd say Peter and Gordon, for a relatively minor recording act, did pretty well for themselves.

Alex


01 May 01 - 12:13 AM (#452622)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Tom D.

Here are some nuggets that probably reveal my age, but I don't care:

"Mother in Law" by Ernie K. Dough (pronounced "Doe") "Money" by Barrett Srong "96 Tears" by Question Mark and the Mysterions. "Mule Skinner Blues" by the Fendermen "The Happy Organ" by Dave 'Baby' Cortez

Let's hear it for those of us who grew up on AM Radio!!

Tom D.


01 May 01 - 12:13 AM (#452623)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: ddw

Nobody's mentioned "Music Box Dancer" by (?) Frank Mills.

Or one called "Endless Sleep" by somebody I can't remember — late '50s.


01 May 01 - 12:21 AM (#452633)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Matt_R

Someone on Paltalk asked me a question, since I pomposed about knowing everything about pop music (lol). He said that a problem that had been plaguing him for years was what was the B-side to "96 Tears" by Question Mark & The Mysterians. After 2 days of searching, I found it was "Midnight Hour" (nor the Wilson Pickett one). "Midnight Hour" was originally going to be the A-side (since it was more upbeat), but the band went with leader Question Mark on a whim to release the B-side instead. It worked. "96 Tears" is the one everyone knows, while "Midnight Hour" took 2 days to even locate....


01 May 01 - 12:28 AM (#452641)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

Also, "96 tears" was recorded in a garage on a really low-fi tape recorder and sent in as the demo for the band. The record company simply released the demo. Whether or not "Midnight Hour" was recorded under better circumstances, I do not know. But I do know that "96 tears" was a demo, home-recorded, on low-budget equipment.

Alex


01 May 01 - 12:39 AM (#452644)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Noreen

I like it, Matt...

v.i. pompose: to pose and posture pompously.

(Not you, of course!) :0)


01 May 01 - 12:47 AM (#452652)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: MARINER

Endless Sleep was by Jody Reynolds (U.S.)and Marty Wild (U.K.). Teen Angel was Mark Dinning, a brother of the Dinning Sisters (whoever they were) Mariner.


01 May 01 - 01:02 AM (#452658)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Amergin

RR, that does sound very funny! I'll have to keep an eye out for it!


01 May 01 - 01:31 AM (#452667)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Bugsy

Terry - by Twinkle.

".......he waits at the gates fo heaven for me - TERRY"

CHeers

Bugsy


01 May 01 - 04:21 AM (#452692)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: GMT

Some UK comedy hits that occur to me to be one hit wonders

Jasper Carrot - Funky Moped
Goodies - Funky Gibbon
Mike Harding - Rochdale Cowboy

Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Chile (did he have anymore over here ?)
Fiddlers Dram - Day trip to Bangor

I may be wrong on all of these. I am trusting to memory

Cheers Gary


01 May 01 - 05:08 AM (#452706)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Lyndi-loo

Bugsy, you beat me to it with Twinkle. Also what about "Little Arrows" by Leapy Lee, "A walk in the Black Forest" by Horst somebody, "I was Kaiser Bill's Batman" by Whistling Jack somebody. As you can see the memory isn't what it used to be. Wasn't there another one called "Leader of the PAck" about motorbikes, but I don't know if that was a one hit wonder


01 May 01 - 05:55 AM (#452714)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: CRANKY YANKEE

Hi Kendall, Sheb Wooley copied my record of "Good Morning Captain" note for note, yodel for yodel./ (Muleskinner Blues) Mine was only distributed in New England, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It sold 400,000./ Was played on the AM pop and Rock and Roll stations because my EX Manager, who also owned TETRA records, was Alan Freed's son in law.

I was a T/sgt Air traffic controller in the USAF at the time (1957) I was transferred to England shortly after it was released. My EX Manager held me to a 3year exclusive contract so that took care of any recording until 1959 when Wally Whyton of the Vipers Skiffle Group arranged an audition with George Martin who was with the Parlophone Co at the time.We recorded a bunch of good stuff. Two 45's were released before I was transferred back to the States, Kissin' Time-Man on my Trail and So You Think You've Got Troubles-If you Don't Know.

There were 4 dead copies of Bobby Ridell's "Kissin' Time" and mine released at the same time. The public lost interest. Mine was entirely different with a guitar lead and instrumental done by the Parlophone Studio Musician, and he was some gopod [picker, I'll tell you. Anyway, we4 didn't sell very many of these. Then we Released, So You Think You've got Troubles. One line was, "My doctor told me not to smoke, drink nothing stronger than a COKE." and it got by everyone, including Mr Martin, so the BBC couldn't play it. Surprisingly enough, it sold qu ite a few in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. When I was transferred back to the USA, Mr Martin suggested that I contact "Capitol Records", Palophone's USA affiliate, and I did. They told me that they never talk to artists, only to professional representatives, because singers and musicians were too "flighty and undependable and unintelligent". (Truthfully) Mind you, I was Chief Air Traffic Controller of the USAF Base mostl;y responsible for the Air Defence of New York City.

I decided that American recording Co. people were too flighty, unintelligent and undependable (not to mention dishonest) and that I could find other pastimes equally exiting and fulfilling. Which indeed I have.

I've only just recently started recording again. The CD I'm producing, recording and, so far, distributing containes some of the Parlophoe recordings. The rest were done here in Newport. I do all the singing and all the instruments on these, including guitar, 5-string banjo, steel guitar bass and fiddle. Good Morning Captain is also on it (Sinsull found a copy for me) I've already sold some of the preliminary "burns", the final edition, "Spanning the Decades, 1957 ---2001" will be ready to go within the week.

Oh Yes, it's me singing on "Captain Kangaroo's" "Working on the Sea"
Let's see if I get out of the "one hit wonder" category.

I'm still looking forward to meeting you. Maybe at the "Chantey Sing" coming up in Maine.

Regards

Jody


01 May 01 - 06:52 AM (#452731)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Firecat

Bagpuss, the song about Gordon is a Moron is actually called "Jilted John" and it was performed by Jilted John!


01 May 01 - 06:58 AM (#452735)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Firecat

BTW I've just had a look at the UK one hit wonders site, and they're WRONG!! Modjo had a top 20 hit earlier this year with "Chilling" and Rui Da Silva got to No 8 in March with "Touch Me". If you're wanting a UK No 1 one hit wonder, there's always Lou Bega with "Mambo No. 5". He lasted at No1 for 3 weeks, but his second single "I Got A Girl" didn't even make the top 40!! Does anyone even remember this "A little bit of Monica in my life,
A little bit of Erica by my side..."
No? Neither do I!!


01 May 01 - 07:21 AM (#452739)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Bagpuss

Firecat, I can only presume that the site hasn't been updated recently enough - so the more recent one hit woders will be out of date - but correct at the time of posting.

Here's something to annoy you, as the tune goes through your head all day:

Save Your Love : Rene and Renato


01 May 01 - 07:48 AM (#452746)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Tom D.

Does anyone recall "Quiet Village" by, I believe, Martin Denny? Corrections welcome.

Tom D


01 May 01 - 07:55 AM (#452752)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Orac

Guest JohnB has mixed his one hit wonders a bit I think.
The Applejacks recorded "Tell me when" whilst "Have I the right" was recorded by The Honeycombs who had a female drummer called Honey Lantree. But they were not one hit wonder as the Applejacks had a follow up with "Like dreamers do" written by Lennon and McCartney and the Honeycombs had a follow up hit with "Thats the way"


01 May 01 - 07:55 AM (#452753)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: GUEST,Dita (at work)

Guest John B. way back at the begining,

Have I the Right- Honeycombs (female drummer)

I'll offer "Transfusion - Nervous Norvous

love, john


01 May 01 - 09:37 AM (#452810)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: kendall

Alex, Wayward Wind was one of the few "Pop" songs that I really liked. The first time I heard Muleskinner Blues it was done by Jimmy Rodgers. The original singing brakeman back in the 30's. It was on record of course, he died the year before I was born. Cranky, I'm looking forward to meeting you too.


01 May 01 - 09:38 AM (#452813)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: voyager

My vote goes out to

The One-ders - "That Thing You Do"

in the Tom Hanks movie (same name as song). I thought the film nailed the 'one-hit wonder' theme quite well.

http://movie-reviews.colossus.net/movies/t/that_thing.html

How about a second thread on 'one-hit folk wonders'. I'd start with Barry McGuire - Eve of Destruction.

voyager FSGW Ghetto


01 May 01 - 09:46 AM (#452817)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler

Jody, George Martin should have stuck with you instead of wasting his time with those four Liverpool guys, what ever happened to them?
More stories, please!
RtS (who was the Parlophone session guitarist? Diz Disley. Ike Isaacs?)


01 May 01 - 10:03 AM (#452827)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: LR Mole

"I was Kaiser Bill's Batman" was Whistling Jack Smith. The motorcycle song thing was the Shangri-La's, who also hit with "Remember (Walking In the Sand)" and "Give Us Your Blessing (Please Don't Make Us Run Away)". But who did "Swinging Safari", later theme song to "The match Game"? Billy Vaughan, perhaps? And how about "Thank U Very Much" by The Scaffold, said to have a McCartney in it?


01 May 01 - 10:24 AM (#452848)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Lyndi-loo

Thank u very much was by Scaffold, one of whom was Paul McCartney's brother although they didn't have the same surname. Anyway they weren't one hit wonders cos they also did Lily the Pink and one of their number (Roger McGough) became a famous poet


01 May 01 - 10:25 AM (#452849)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler

Mike McGear (Paul MacCartney's "our kid") was in Scaffold with poet Roger McGough and John (TISWAS) Gorman. Yes Billy Vaughan (and later Bert Kaempfert) did Swinging Safari
RtS (remembering more awful songs than I want to though this thread!)


01 May 01 - 10:35 AM (#452854)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: GUEST,Matt_R

Lol, I absolutely ADORE "Have I The Right" by The Honeycombs! It never fails to get my blood pumping!

Interesting someone mentioned "Funky Moped" by Jasper Carrot. The song was actually written by Jeff Lynne of ELO. (ELO, I might add, is coming out with a new album in June, the first in 15 years. The songs are awesome ;-))


01 May 01 - 10:41 AM (#452860)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Geoff the Duck

Toe Knee Black Burn, by Binky Baker and the Pit Orchestra. (UK) early '80's
Binky Baker was, I believe, married to DJ Anne Nightingale.
Both John Shuttleworth and the pop star Jilted John are alter egos of Graham Fellows. Try this link Shuttleworths it's worth a look! It also give tour dates for the current show "One foot in the gravy".


01 May 01 - 10:58 AM (#452872)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

How about that mid-70's thing, "How do you do?" by Mouth and McNeil?


01 May 01 - 12:16 PM (#452960)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Lonesome EJ

Peter and Gordon. I always had them mixed up with Chad and Jeremy. Anyone remember any Chad and Jeremy tunes?

Great one hit wonder- Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs with Wooly Bully..."Let there be L7, come and learn to Dance!"

Redbone, Native American band with their hit Come and Get Your Love

and who did Winchester Cathedral?

"A Little Bit of Monica" is an instance of a song you just KNEW was going to be a one-hit wonder even when it was hot. It had that novelty thing, like The Macarena.


01 May 01 - 12:18 PM (#452962)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Lonesome EJ

What One Hit Wonder was the first Reggae song to become a top 40 hit? And who performed it?


01 May 01 - 12:27 PM (#452970)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: GUEST,Dita (at work)

Winchester Cathedral by New Vaudiville Band, who also had UK hits with "Peek a boo" and "Finchley Central".

First Reggie hit ? "My Boy Lollipop" - Millie. Very early "Island Records" release licenced to Fontana?


01 May 01 - 12:48 PM (#452981)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: LR Mole

Sam the Sham a one-hit wonder? "Hey,There, Little Red Riding Hood"!"My Boy Lollipop" was, I think, Millie Small,and some would argue for "The Israelites" by Desmond Dekker and the Aces as first reggae hit.


01 May 01 - 12:52 PM (#452983)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: M.Ted

The Dinning Sisters were one of many (and mostly forgotten) sister vocal groups from around the 40's. They are really great, and had a number of hits ("Buttons and Bows" being the biggest), but you can only find their stuff on nostalgia anthologies--

Jimi Hendrix had a bunch of top ten hits in the UK, but only grazed the top 20 once (with All Along the Watertower") in the US--

Martin Denny, with Quiet Village wasn't a one-hit wonder--he had several others, but his albums were really successful, and were typically played to show off the new HI-FI--

Kendall--Gogi Grant had a couple other hits, I remember "Suddenly, there's a Valley"--I have always liked (and liked to play) "Wayward Wind", too--


01 May 01 - 12:52 PM (#452984)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Lonesome EJ

OK, LR, I forgot about Little Red Riding Hood. Sam was a Two-Hit wonder. Both were great songs.

I never thought of Lollipop as Reggae, Dita, but yeah the beat is there. I was thinking of The Israelites.


01 May 01 - 12:56 PM (#452987)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: John Hardly

Amergin and Mousethief,

Did you two actually have this "conversation" with neither of you aware that Steve Goodman used to string these together in an hilarious medley?!

Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Amergin
Date: 30-Apr-01 - 11:14 PM

Uh, Jimmy Buffet isn't exactly a one hit wonder....

What about that one hilarious song....the one about how this guy and his girl got stuck on the tracks and they escaped the car...but then she went back for the class ring and got killed?

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Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief
Date: 30-Apr-01 - 11:17 PM

That's Teen Angel. Not sure who did it.

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Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Amergin
Date: 30-Apr-01 - 11:19 PM

That's the one...it's one of the funniest things I have heard...gets me rolling everytime I hear it...

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Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief
Date: 30-Apr-01 - 11:26 PM

Amergin, I think it's supposed to bring a lump to your throat and all that.

Have you ever heard the one with the refrain, "Strange things happen in this world"? The guy goes to the football game and meets this pretty girl and she's cold so he gives her his letterman's sweater to wear. He drives her home. Before he gets home he realizes she has his sweater so he goes back to her house to get it. Her father says is this some kind of sick joke? My daughter died a year ago tonight. He goes to the graveyard and his sweater is on her gravestone. Amazing song for a rock/pop hit. Very ghost-folky, really.

Alex


01 May 01 - 12:59 PM (#452990)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Lonesome EJ

M Ted...you mean Hendrix didn't chart with Purple Haze? I think you're wrong about that. And I think Fire was also a top 40 hit.


01 May 01 - 01:38 PM (#453042)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Matt_R

Chad and Jeremy had some great songs as well,

Willow Weep For Me
A Summer Song
From A Window
Yesterday's Gone


01 May 01 - 01:56 PM (#453062)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

I always wanted to do a faux commercial, a la late night television, for a compilation/collection of "dead lover" songs from the 1950's. ("K-Tel Records proudly presents....")

While the names of songs scroll up the screen, and pathetic strains of "Teen Angel" and "Last Kiss" (and so forth) play, the background video would show cars skidding off the road and bursting into flames, and people standing around looking somber at funerals.

It always struck me as bizarre how many "dead lover" songs attained such great popularity in the 1950's. Was this a working through of the shock of war? Or just a morbid glitch on the societal radar?

Alex


01 May 01 - 01:57 PM (#453063)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Little Hawk

I hope I didn't miss it if someone else posted this, but there was this guy who did a song called "Shut-Uppa-You-Face!"

I thought it was pretty funny. Anybody remember who he was?

I think it might have been Joe Dolce.

-LH


01 May 01 - 02:01 PM (#453068)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Matt_R

Lol, LH. It is Joe Dolce. I have the 45! In fact I have lots of 45's from one-hit-wonder bands. Did Mocedades ever have anything else besides "Eres Tu"? (Beautiful song, if I make so opine)


01 May 01 - 02:08 PM (#453077)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Little Hawk

"Eres Tu" is a beautiful song. I had an Ojibway girlfriend once, and she always referred to it as "Irish Stew"! It means "You're The One", loosely translated from Spanish. A literal translation would be: "It is you".

- LH


01 May 01 - 02:17 PM (#453089)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Matt_R

Yep, I have the 45 that has the English version on the B-side.


01 May 01 - 02:34 PM (#453111)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Jim the Bart

Horst Jankowski did A Walk in the Black Forest

One of my favorites was "The Monkey Time" by Major Lance, later redone by Fee Waybill of the Tubes.


01 May 01 - 02:47 PM (#453134)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Metchosin

Bound to Fly by We Five?
"My stumblin" fumblin' fingers can't keep time
With the drivin' power pistons of my mind
And tho' the silver lace of reason
Wets my skin, keeps me in
I'm bound to fly-i..I'm bound to fly"
...from my "I want to be a seagull" era...way before Jonathan Livingston...gee, are we really joined on some cosmically concious level? ...I thought of that story before it was written.*BG*

kendal, I loved Bonnie Guitar's version of Dark Moon, I think Gail Storm? did a version too, but Bonnie's was supreme.

LEJ didn't Redbone's Maggie Played the Hookin' Game and Chant make it on to the charts? great stuff!


01 May 01 - 02:57 PM (#453141)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

Golden Earring, "Radar Love"

Alex


01 May 01 - 02:58 PM (#453143)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Matt_R

I think Golden Earring had one other hit...but I'm not sure...


01 May 01 - 03:00 PM (#453145)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Matt_R

They did...it was "Twilight Zone"! How could I forget!


01 May 01 - 03:04 PM (#453147)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

Never heard it. They'll always be a one-hit wonder in my heart.

And what a hit!

Alex


01 May 01 - 03:05 PM (#453149)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: mousethief

Well this has gotten largish, so I've created a NEW THREAD to continue this discussion.

Alex


01 May 01 - 03:25 PM (#453156)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: Jim Krause

Alex, I kinda liked Afternoon Delight. The harmony was great, and I have always had a (ahem) soft spot in my heart for semi-pornographic songs.
Jim


01 May 01 - 05:15 PM (#453230)
Subject: RE: One hit wonders
From: GUEST,Rana

For those half way up the list - sorry about the Peter and Gordon - I was pretty young and only ever recalled one.

Now to add another one hit song from way back when (this time I'm fairly sure)

My Boy Lollipop by Millie.

Cheers Rana