Eventual One-Hit Wonders

Scott Hardie | October 13, 2006
At lunch today, after KISS's "Rock and Roll All Nite" came on the radio, we began to catalogue musical acts who scored numerous hits in their day but you only ever hear one song from any more. Put on the list Blue Oyster Cult with "Don't Fear the Reaper," Guns 'N Roses with "Paradise City," John Cougar Mellencamp with "Jack & Diane," Michael Jackson with "Thriller," Judas Priest with "Living After Midnight," Nazareth with "Love Hurts," and the Eagles with "Hotel California." What other performers belong on the list?

Erik Bates | October 13, 2006
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John E Gunter | October 13, 2006
Queen, "We are the Champions," and occasionally "Pressure." Course after the death of Freddy Mercury, the band hasn't done anything big. The members never disolved the band publicly, that I remember, but they all started doing their own thing after that.

Aaron Shurtleff | October 13, 2006
With the exception of "Manditory Metallica" hour, where they try to play different Metallica songs, the only one I ever hear is "Nothing Else Matters" :(

Does AC/DC have songs other than "Highway to Hell"? I haven't heard one lately! Bring back "Big Balls"!!!

Jackie Mason | October 13, 2006
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Kris Weberg | October 14, 2006
There are a ton of 1980s and 1990s acts like this.

The Human League, for instance, are remembered now only for "Don't You Want Me." However, they had another #1 hit with "Human" in 1986 and were a strong chart presence throughout the decade. Likewise, INXS only seem to have the song "I Need You Tonight" based on radio airplay despite years of high-charting singles.

Glam rockers of the 1970s also seem quite susceptible. So it is that Mott the Hoople are only recalled now for the David Bowie-penned "All the Young Dudes" and T-Rex is represented mainly by "Cosmic Dancer."

But I think the even stronger category might be "Eventual No-Hit Wonders." Despite their tremendous success in the 70s, for instance, you'd be damned lucky to run across Grand Funk Railroad getting any airplay. Likewise Air Supply. Christopher Cross, and their ilk.

Of course, in those cases, it's not hard to see why: they sucked, and in retrospect no one is even willing to admit having liked them. As such, they're relegated to Easy LIstening and the occasional campy cover song.

Amy Austin | October 15, 2006
Heeyyy... I like Air Supply -- and as the epitome of "Soft Rock", Russell & Russell are now the official spokesguys in an infomercial for the Time Life collection of/by the same name (...and if I had the money when I saw it recently, I might have actually ordered it, too -- not ashamed to admit it!!!)

On Human League: don't forget "Fascination" -- that one was a hit, too (at least, it was on MTV) and can still be heard from time to time as well.

Most of these I disagree with, but then I guess I have a knack for finding decent radio stations, too. I was going to point out the same as Jackie about Sweet Child from GnR... it's definitely between those two. I don't know... every now and again you get to hear the November Rain -- probably moreso next month -- and if you're *really* lucky, the long version!

Blue Oyster Cult: check. Nazareth: check. GFR & Mott the Hoople: check.

How about the infernally annoying Friday song by Todd Rundgren: Bang on My Drums (All Day) -- ugh. I don't wanna' work, either... but would happily do so to never hear the song again, quite honestly.

Jackie Mason | October 15, 2006
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Kris Weberg | October 15, 2006
See, I hear three Talking heads songs on radio around here: the two you mention, and "Life During Wartime." Once in awhile, you also hear "She Was."

Tony Peters | October 15, 2006
The Talking Heads are definatly not one hit wonders...especially here in New England.
Y'all forgot GnR's Welcome to the Jungle
BOC for some reason I hear "Veteran Of The Psychic Wars" from the Heavy Metal Soundtrack more than I hear the Reaper
Air Supply? GAG
AC/DC I hear a lot of different songs off the Back in Black album
Siouxie and the Banshees had many hits but all most remember is "Dear Prudence" which was a cover

Amy Austin | October 15, 2006
Not true: Peekaboo, Kiss Them For Me, and (to a lesser degree) Spellbound -- Kiss Them is my own fave, and I think Peekaboo is best remembered.

Yes, I meant to include the jungle on GnR.

Air Supply -- to each his/her own.

And finally: Talking Heads -- FOR SURE no one-hit... though Once in a Lifetime was always a fave of mine, personally. I have Sand in the Vaseline and love the fact that they didn't limit the "greatest hits" collection to just one disc... and many still get air play, especially off the 2nd disc (where She Was and others mentioned can be found). Lifetime Piling Up is another personal fave and the source of my yahoo screen name... furpajamas was taken. ;-)

Aaron Shurtleff | October 16, 2006
Amy- Oh my GOD! I have that same collection! It was one of the first cds I got when I joined one of those music clubs (I think it was BMG). Ah, good memories! :)

T-Rex...all I ever hear is that Get It On(Bang a Gong) song.

And, please, anyone who doesn't love Air Supply is lying! All Out of Love? Aw, yeah!

John E Gunter | October 16, 2006
T-Rex...all I ever hear is that Get It On(Bang a Gong) song.

You make it sound like that's a bad T-Rex song!

Aaron Shurtleff | October 16, 2006
It's better than the Power Station re-make, I'll give you that much! ;)

John E Gunter | October 16, 2006
I was thinking of using it for the theme music of another Star Voyager teaser video! LOL!

Tony Peters | October 16, 2006
best remakes recently

Alien Ant Farm: Smooth Criminal
Reel Big Fish: Take on me
and pretty much everything by "Me First and the Gimme Gimmes"

Jackie Mason | October 17, 2006
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Amy Austin | October 17, 2006
And, please, anyone who doesn't love Air Supply is lying! All Out of Love? Aw, yeah!

I second your righteous opinion there, bro -- and how can I not, with credentials like yours?!?! ;-D

Love Alien Ant Farm.

Kris Weberg | October 17, 2006
Trust me when I say that I hate Air Supply more than Anthony hates the Yankees, more than Dave hates Yankee-haters. I hate them more than Bush hates the French. I hate Air Supply more than the Sex Pistols hated chord structure, more than Valerie Solanas hated men, more than Lou Reed hated Valerie Solanas. I hate them more than Tom Cruise hates psychiatrists.

Amy Austin | October 17, 2006
Well, I think you're holding back a bit, Kris -- tell us how you *really* feel, and don't deny it. ;-D

Steve West | October 18, 2006
I hate Air Supply more than Kris hates...well...Air Supply.

Amy Austin | October 18, 2006
Th'all dost protest too much, methinks...

Kerry Odell | October 19, 2006
Matt the Who???? Alien What??? Hmmmmm... Different folks come to mind for me:

Eagles: Hotel California
Don Henley: Foregiveness
Elton John 70s: Crocodile Rock
Elton John 80s: Candle in the Wind - original
Elton John 90s: toss up between Circle of Life and Candle in the Wind 97

My personal favorite singer/songwriter is Joel by far, but they've also limited him in play.

Billy Joel 70s: toss up - Piano Man and Just the Way You Are
Billy Joel 80s: toss up - Uptown Girl and Still Rock & Roll to me
Billy Joel 90s: toss up - River of Dreams and All About Soul
Stone Temple Pilots: Interstate Lovesong
Pearl Jam: Jeremy
Bruce Springsteen: Glory Days
ABBA: Dancing Queen (Why???>...who knows! /:))
Marvin Gaye: Sexual Healing
Dire Straits: Money for Nothing
Madonna early: Like a Virgin
Madonna current: American Pie
Don McLean: American Pie
The Cars: Drive
Eric Clapton Plugged: I Shot the Sheriff
Eric Clapton Unplugged: Tears in Heaven
Billy Idol: Mony, Mony
REM: Losing My Religion
Bob Seger: Old Time Rock & Roll (the number 2 juke box hit of all time, which he doesn't get any royalties on because he never claimed rewriting the lyrics...number 1 belongs to Patsy Cline - Crazy)
Night Moves tossed in once in a while.

CCR: Fortunate Son (I think it's in every Vietnam flick ever made)
Fleetwood Mac: Don't Stop (every Democratic campaign??)
George Michael: Father Figure
Phil Collins: In the Air Tonight & I Can't Dance (excluding Disney)
Peter Gabriel: In Your Eyes
Paul Simon: You Can Call Me Al
Peter Cetera: Glory of Love
Seal: Kiss From a Rose



My 2cents - :o)

Aaron Shurtleff | October 20, 2006
The only Pearl Jam song I hear around here is "Black", but I can agree with most of the rest!.

If you're hearing ABBA, you might be on the wrong radio station! :P

Scott Hardie | October 22, 2006
George Thorogood, "Bad to the Bone"