I love a good one-hit wonder, don't you? I'm currently re-grooving to Judie Tzuke's 1979 love-in Stay With Me Til Dawn. I was looking on her website (tzuke.com) and was amazed to discover she's been releasing more or less an album a year since 79. Good for her, but where are the other hits?
There was a book out a few years ago about One Hit Wonders which was so off the mark as to be laughable. About 90 per cent of the artists featured had had follow up records, but just because they weren't major hits then they fell into the one-hit wonder category. Of course, as we all know, a true one hit wonder is defined as an artist who hit number one with their one and only single and was never heard from again.
However, I like the idea of a just a single foray into the charts being one-hit wonders. Here are some of my faves.
This House (Is Where Your Love Stands)/Big Sound Authority
Sky High/Jigsaw
Midnight Rider/Paul Davison
Nobody's Child/Karen Young
If I Only Had Time/John Rowles
Make Me An Island/Joe Dolan
I'm In Love With A German Filmstar/Passions (though I do have about three other singles)
Drowning In Berlin/Mobiles
Man In Motion (St Elmo's Fire)/John Parr
Hot Child In The City/Nick Gilder
No GDM/Gina X
A Walk IN The Park/Nick Straker Band
Cry Boy Cry/Blue Zoo
Passion Killer/One The Juggler
River/King Trigger
Kardomah Cafe/Cherry Boys (A particular fave of Clair's - are we having this at Savoy Truffle tomorrow night?)
My Sharona/The Knack
Echo Beach/Martha and the Muffins
And The Beat Goes On/The Whispers
O Superman/Laurie Anderson
Japanese Boy/Aneka
And The Birds Were Singing/Sweet People (the most relaxing song ever)
The Sparrow Song/The Ramblers
Matchstalk Men.../Brian and Michael
and many, many more.
What are your faves?
7 comments:
I actually don't own Kardomah Cafe - I've only got Shoot The Big Shot by The Cherry Boys - you can have that, and you can also have Uncertain Smile if I remember to jiggle the bit at the end of my 45 when it jumps.
You might just also hear one-hit wonders:
Turning Japanese - The Vapors
Back Of My Hand - The Jags
Beach Baby - First Class
Feels Like Heaven - Fiction Factory
Ah, but you mustn't forget the Vapors' follow up hit Jimmie Jones, which was a Top 50 hit!
I'm In Love With a German Film Star by The Passions is my fave.
Oh, and Since Yesterday by Strawberry Switchblade too. But I believe they had a minor follow-up hit with a cover of Jolene .
I've always hated the GBHS definition of One-Hit Wonders, which has very little to do with the public perception of a OHW.
There's a surprisingly good contribution on the Wikipedia talk page about OHWs, where someone contends a OHW is not something an alien with a copy of the GBHS can identify, which I think is true. If someone sells tons of records and gets to number 2 with their first single, then number 38 with their next, and nothing else ever, they are clearly a OHW. No matter what bloody Gambaccini and co think.
Sorry, just had to get that off my chest. As you were.
I forgot the Vapors had two hits...and hence the lead singer is now a music biz lawyer!
Honoured to have had you mention Kardomah cafe...
Here's some info on Exhibit B (the lastest newsletter, in fact), consisting of ex-Cherry Boys (Kardomah Cafe) Howie Minns and Jimmy Hughes...
EXHIBIT B ARE ON YOUTUBE!!!
Check out Exhibit B’s 1984 TV appearance at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-1Mcwsd8Lo
Exhibit B are ex-Cherry Boys (Kardomah Café) Jimmy Hughes and Howie Minns.
At last, the classic cult album from Exhibit B, Playing Dead, is available in the UK!
Highlighting the talents of ex Cherry Boys Jimmy Hughes and Howie Minns.
The album contains all thirteen tracks featured on the original vinyl release plus a further eight new songs.
The album is available from HMV Digital and all the usual download stores, see the attached links.
Also available on download only are three extra tracks meaning there are now twenty-four Exhibit B songs that you are able to listen to
The three exclusive tracks are
Take The Exit
If I were meant to fly
Feels Like Today.
We have some advance signed promos of the album available for £7.99
Also have some copies of Jimmy Hughes solo project "Me And Henry McGhee" which is absolutely brilliant and features an alternative version of "The Ballad Of Ron Grainer" that too is only £7.99.
As a special offer you can have both signed albums for £12.99 a perfect Christmas gift to yourself.
To order send a cheque made payable to
Graham Jones
Langley House
29 Langley Road
Chippenham
Wiltshire
SN15 1BP
Don't forget to spread the word about Exhibit B, thanks for your support, feel free to let us know what you think
E-mail us at exhibitb@talktalk.net
Check out our web site
www.exhibit-b.co.uk
iTunes: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=268114463&s=143444
HMV: http://ww.hmvdigital.com
eMusic: http://www.emusic.com/album/Exhibit-B-Playing-Dead-MP3-Download/11115339.html
Amazon.com Downloads: http://amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_dmusic/104-1034908-4644750?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=exhibit+b
Napster: http://www.napster.co.uk/search_music.html?op=search&country_code=GB&explicit=Y&artist_name=exhibit+b
Thanks
Graham Jones, Manager
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