Im doing a presentation at college on one hit wonders. Which artists do you remeber as a one hit wonder, need to get the best 5 together. We are then going on to say what they are doing now. Thanks
Did Lonnie Donnegan do anythin else apart from "Rock Island Line"? He probably did actually, but it stands out much more for me than anythin else that springs to mind. Good luck with the project!
Lonnie Donegan had 17 top 10 hits, 3 of them no.1s (cumberland gap, gamblin' man and my old man's a dustman)....
contenders for 1 hit wonders could include nena (99 red balloons), the archies (sugar sugar), white town (your woman), karel fialka (hey matthew), marrs (pump up the volume) doctor & the medics (spirit in the sky), edison lighthouse (love grows, etc)..........
My own particular favourite is Nut Rocker by a group called B. Bumble and the Stingers (almost certainly a group of session musicians put together for this one disc).
The number was a rocked-up version of the March from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite and it charted in May 1962.
I'm sure there other similar records made by session musicians put together by record labels (possibly to use up vacant studio time). One other such example is Groovin' with Mr Bloe by Mr Bloe (who else) in 1970.
mr mister-broken wings
jigsaw-sky high
rockwell-somebodys watching me
anita ward-ring my bell
toni basil-mickey
the floaters-float on
nena-99red balloons
4 non blondes-whats going on
the tokens-lion sleeps tonight
boby pickett-monster mash
the foundations-build me up buttercup
dixie cups-chapel of love
archies-sugar sugar
freda payne-band of gold
clout-substitute
marshall hains-dancing in the city
nick kamen-each time you break my heart
to name but a few..x x
ANITA WARD- RING MY BELL....its one that you always hear on compilation albums and everyone seems to have heard
ROBIN BECK- THE FIRST TIME (from a Pepsi advert if my memory serves me correctly)
STILTSKIN - INSIDE (from a Levis Advert)
WILD CHERRY -PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC (always a classic!)
NORMAN GREENBAUM (does it count if it was a one hit wonder that got covered and became a one hit wonder again......and again...?.
THE REMBRANDTS -I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU (Friends theme tune)
WHITE TOWN- YOUR WOMAN (hated this song at the time. Age has dulled its effect over the last few years!!)
just realised i didn't put the song that Norman Greenbaum sang! It should've said 'SPIRIT IN THE SKY' which was also a one hit wonder for Dr & the Medics..... and then Gareth Gates & The Kumars (comic relief)
ultimate one hit wonders top 5. the archies-sugar,sugar 1969 26 weeks on charts, 8wks at no 1. the kalin twins-when 1958, 18 wks on chart, 5 at no 1. the simon park orchestra-eye level(theme for tv's van der valk), 1972, 24 wks on chart, 4 at no 1. partners in kryme-turtle power 1990. 10 wks on chart, 4 at no 1. clive dunn-grandad 1970. 28 wks on chart, 3 at no 1. biggest seller first through to last. info from guinness hit singles. good luck.