two-hit wonders

Golden Earing
"Radar Love", "Twilight Zone"

(apologies to s. mclusky)

"I wonder if he also sang backing vocals on House of the rising sun" John Otway Bunsen Burner b.side (all listed on the insert...

No I was incorrect. Unless you are Jumbo Osbourne?

Please note for future reference the complete lack of a "U" in both my first name and surname....

I can only think it must have been my sadistic parents idea of joke: "Hey, I've got a great idea - you know how we've got a surname that everyone spells wrong because they assume it's got a "U" in it? Well let's give the little bastard a first name that everyone spells wrong because they assume it's got a "U" in it too!".

It's no wonder I was such an obnoxious, rebellious child and have developed into such a curmudgeonly old git!

1 Geno Mar 1980
7 There There My Dear Jul 1980
16 Show Me Jul 1981
1 Come On Eileen Jul 1982 Notes
5 Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile) Oct 1982
17 Let's Get This Straight (From The Start) / Old Dec 1982
20 The Celtic Soul Brothers (More Please Thank You) Apr 1983
13 Because Of You Nov 1986

Reel 2 Real feat. Mad Stuntman: "I Like to Move It" & "Can You Feel It?"

Rednex: "Cotton Eye Joe" & "Old Pop in an Oak"

Also, the new remixes of Snap's "The Power" and "Rhythm Is a Dancer" seem to have become moderate hits in their own right.

I'm tempted to say XTC too, but they might've had tons of other hits and I'm just being an ignorant-igor: Making Plans For Nigel, Senses Working Overtime.
Surely there must've been something off Skylarking too? OHhhh, Dear God. Duh!
This might be very screwed, as I try to steer clear of radios and such.

Hrmmm, what about Roxy Music? Most people tend to just think "oh, they did that schmaltzy Jealous guy cover, right?"
Surely they must've had a big hit from Avalon that I can't think of right now.

Hm. I would tend to think most people would recognize Roxy Music from the song "More Than This", off of Avalon. There's also the title track from the same album, which I would feel people would bring up more than the "Jealous Guy" cover, and going back to their Seventies Glam-Rock era I think more people would also name "Virginia Plain" or "Street Life". Hm.

Human League aren't that much far from qualifying. At least, "Don't You Want Me" and "Human" are the only major hits. But they had several smaller ones.

"(Keep Feeling) Fascination" was smaller? Really? And what about "Sound Of The Crowd"? Wasn't that the song that got them onto "Top Of The Pops" for the first time or something? Or is my memory totally playing tricks on me? Again, hm.

Oasis are two hit wonders, at least in terms of US pop radio - "Wonderwall" and "Champagne Supernova."

I do think it's fabulous that ILX is filling up with people with Scandinavian names who expand the stock of English phrases so fruitily. I shall go and call someone an ignorant igor on another thread right now!

< sigh > but Geir, we are specifically talking about "hits".

"punk classic" != "hit" (partly of course because "punk classic" + "independent label" = very low sales from chart return shops, but that's another story!)

Few things would make me happier than to be able to tell you that The Damned also had hits with Neat Neat Neat, Problem Child, Don't Cry Wolf, I Just Can't Be Happy Today, The History Of The World, There Ain't No Sanity Clause, The Friday 13th EP, Wait For The Blackout, Lively Arts, Lovely Money, Dozen Girls, Generals, Thanks For The Night, Grimly Fiendish, Shadow Of Love, Is It A Dream, Gigolo, Alone Again Or and In Dulce Decorum....

.... but the simple fact is, they didn't.

In fact the truth is that the only reason Love Song managed to claw it's way into the charts was because Chiswick released it in four different picture sleeves (with a different member of the band on each sleeve) and then released it agin a few weeks later in red vinyl!

really, though, I think Golden Earring is the classic example.

Daphne & Celeste!

I thought of Dexy's as a good example, at least for in the States, where "Come On Eileen" and "Geno" would be the only two songs any DJ would even think about playing. Most of those other songs that charted are only known by fans of the group, and are not played often on the radio.

Pink Floyd is not the best example either, as dozens of their songs are played on classic rock stations, although they most likely only have two songs that actually charted as singles. Radiohead might be a three-hit-wonder - I believe Creep, Karma Police and Paranoid Android, at least at this point, are the only two songs that get played often on modern rock stations (not including the current HTTT singles which will most likely be forgotten about by non-fans a year from now).

I agree. But so are:

Janis Ian "Society's Child" 1967, "At Seventeen" 1975

and

Dobie Gray "The 'In' Crowd" 1965, "Drift Away" 1973.

Though actually, Dobie had a #37 single called "You Can Do It," in 1979, but nobody I know of has ever heard the thing, so that shouldn't count, and neither should his remake of "Drift Away" with Uncle Kracker last year.

Anyway, the trick with Golden Earring/Janis/Dobie is that their two hits are SEVERAL YEARS APART, not to mention all six songs went TOP 15, AT LEAST. Which is necessity for REAL two-hit wonders. (i.e.: "Radar Love" #10 1974, "Twilight Zone #15 1983).

Those are the only three I can think of that fit those requirements.
(Men Without Hats, in contrast, had hits that were only FOUR years apart, and they STILL qualify more than most other nominations on this thread.)

After the Fire's second most famous song would be "One Rule for You," which got a speck of new wave airply in 1979. But I wouldn't really call it a HIT.

"Duke of Earl," '62
"Groovy Situation," '70

He had a few other hits ("Just Be True" being the biggest), but nothing that would be top of mind to many beyond the Chandler family.

You and I live in very different worlds.

"Green-Eyed Lady", 1970 - #3
"Don't Call Us, We'll Call You", 1975 - #9

1) At least eight years separating both hits.
2) Both hits must have gone at least top 15 in Billboard.
3) No other hits may have gone -- what, top 20? 25? 30? Let's say 20.
4) No more than three top 40 hits total.
5) But hitting with the same song twice does not count against you.

All of which Golden Earring, Janis Ian, and Dobie Gray do.

Anybody else??? (Sugarloaf, despite how excellent both of those songs are, only had five years of separation. Close, but no cigar.)

To be true two-hit wonder, one must a one-hit wonder TWICE. Okay?

17 (!!??) top 40 hits, including FIVE top 10s. Not even close.

Though there WERE nine years between his first two.

Johnny Cymbal ("Mr. Bass Man") reinvented himself as 'Derek' several years later for "Cinnamon" (as in, "Let me in").

Lenny Kravitz actually comes close: after "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over," he didn't chart Top 40 again until "Fly Away" (but then spoiled it with "Again")

Jimmy Cliff qualifies, though it's unfair to his stature: his only chart hits were "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" and "I Can See Clearly Now," separated by about 20 years. I hate citing him as an example, though; it's such a technicality.

That reminds me: Bob Marley never had ANY hits, right? And I was gonna deal with the Louis Armstrong question, but I changed my mind.

Oh wait, if Johnny Cymbal counts, why not Donnie Iris (ex of the Jaggerz)? Not big enough and too many I bet. Hmmm....Ides of March and Survivor BOTH had too many right? I gotta get back to work...

"Mr. Big Stuff", 1971 - #2
"My Toot Toot", 1985 - #50

Take a look at the original post, will you?

"Babooshka" was a major hit in 1980.

The Small Faces - Itchycoo Park and Lazy Sunday

They had several hits, out of which "All Of Nothing" was their only UK #1. Also "Tin Soldier" is considered a classic these days.

Bob Marley never charted Top 40, and I believe his only Hot 100 hit (astonishingly enough) was "Roots, Rap, Reggae" (or whatever that song was called - sorry, I'm not a big fan).

And I'm proud of myself for just thinking of this one: Tammy Wynette's only pop hit, 1968's "Stand By Your Man," was followed nigh 20 years later when she guested on the KLF's "Justified & Ancient." God I loved that song.

"Love is Strange", 1957 - #11
"Pillow Talk", 1973 - #3

Until Fatman Scoop, that is...

I am now kicking myself for not thinking of Sylvia (who ABSOLUTELY counts--unless you attribute "Rapper's Delight" to her as well, maybe.)

The OTHER Sylvia (of "Nobody" fame) needs another hit now, to catch up.

Gary "US" Bonds (who I just looked up) *definitely* doesn't qualify.

Mike Post, "Rockford Files" (#10 in '75), and
Mike Post, "Hill St. Blues" (#10 in '81)

He hit #25 with Magnum P.I. in '82.

Roger, "I Want To Be Your Man" #3, '87
2Pac featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman, "California Love" #6, '96

Nine year break, no other Top 40 pop hits, Troutman was included in the Billboard listing for "California Love"

I actually thought his solo version of "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" was a bigger hit, too, but I guess not.

1983 Ricky Pop Singles No. 63
1984 I Lost On Jeopardy The Billboard Hot 100 No. 81
1984 Eat It The Billboard Hot 100 No. 12
1984 King Of Suede The Billboard Hot 100 No. 62
1985 Like A Surgeon The Billboard Hot 100 No. 47
1988 Fat The Billboard Hot 100 No. 99
1992 Smells Like Nirvana The Billboard Hot 100 No. 35
1996 Amish Paradise The Billboard Hot 100 No. 53

And the Box Tops song "Neon Rainbow" was big enough for me to remember it many years later. I think they may have had one more fairly big single. Of course I'm not going by Chuck's rules.

1978 Short People Pop Singles No. 2
1983 The Blues Pop Singles No. 51
1988 It s Money That Matters The Billboard Hot 100 No. 60

the trick with Golden Earring/Janis/Dobie is that their two hits are SEVERAL YEARS APART, not to mention all six songs went TOP 15, AT LEAST. Which is necessity for REAL two-hit wonders. (i.e.: "Radar Love" #10 1974, "Twilight Zone #15 1983).

Those are the only three I can think of that fit those requirements

The Tymes come pretty close to pulling this off: Two top-15 hits (plus a #19) in 1963, then nothing above #39 til "You Little Trustmaker" in 1974, which went #12. (I was thinking "So Much In Love," #1 in 1963, was their only early hit, but I was wrong.)

The Moments came even closer. At least if you count when they changed their name to Ray Goodman and Brown. "Love On A Two Way Street" went #3 in 1970, then "Special Lady" went #5 in 1980. (They did have a #17 hit, "Sexy Mama," in 1974, but I've never heard it. Besides that, no hits higher than #39.)

Ian/Gray/Earring (and maybe a couple other artists mentioned earlier on the thread) all did it better, though. (NO Top 40 hits besides the two real ones, except Dobie had that one that went #37 in 1978, then maybe the Uncle Kracker revive if that counts.)

Icehouse - "Crazy" and "Electric Blue"
Crowded House - "Don't Dream It's Over" and "Something So Strong"

Alfred: See "Eight Years of Separation Between Two Hits" rule as defined upthread, five years ago.

In case of dutch charts, Iggy Pop applies: "Lust for Life" was #3 in 1977, "Candy" #4 in 1990. "Real Wild Child" only just reached the top 30 in '87.

I was also thinking that Robyn might potentially be able to pull this off, now that her new album has finally come out in the States, but apparently both "Do You Know (What It Takes)" (which I don't think I've ever heard) and "Show Me Love" went #7 in 1997. None of her new songs have hit the Hot 100 yet, though "With Every Heartbeat" went #5 on the dance chart, and "Be Mine" was a big hit in Europe.

Breathe - "Hands To Heaven" and "How Can I Fall?"

Has Kylie had any US hits aside from Locomotion and Can't Get You Out of My Head?

Maybe no huge ones. "I Should Be So Lucky" went #28 and "It's No Secret" #37 in 1988; nothing else through at least 1999. Not sure about since then, but yeah, she's a pretty good candidate for this.

Breathe (who I've never heard of) had another Top 10, "Don't Tell Me Lies," and two more Top 40s, all between 1988 and 1990. So nah, they don't qualify.

Pop rap 3 for 1: Tone Loc, Young MC, Kris Kross

"Wild Thing"/"Funky Cold Medina;" "Bust a Move"/"Principal's Office;" & "Jump"/"Warm it Up" respectively

Kris Kross: Actually had four Top 20 hits, 1992-1995 (also "Alright" and "Tonite's The Night"), fwiw

"The Humpty Dance" and "Doowatchalike"?

"Doowatchalike" didn't even hit the Top 100; two other DU songs ("Same Song" and "Kiss You Back") went #61 and 40, respectively.

time travelling and pedantic xpost for mr. osborne:

i always heard the line as "No the only thing a gambler needs is a suitcase OR a trunk"...

...which would make it one thing. why would a gambler need both things? especially when they're basically the same thing...

Brother Beyond: "The Harder I Try" and "He Ain't No Competition"
A-ha also qualify as a two-hit wonder in the case of the Billboard list, but had lots of other hits elsewhere.

Kris Kross: Actually had four Top 20 hits

Was "I Missed The Bus" a single in the US?

Nada Surf had "Popular" in 1996 and "Inside of Love" in 2002

Was "I Missed The Bus" a single in the US?

Maybe, but if so, it wasn't a Top 100 hit.

Nada Surf had..."Inside of Love" in 2002

In what country (or planet)?

Also, who are Brother Beyond? (Not being sarcastic; I'm actually curious.)

Oops...actually, "I Missed The Bus" was both a single and Hot 100 U.S. hit...It went to #63.

"Inside of Love" got a ton of rock radio play in my city, dunno about yours, xhuxk.

Also, who are Brother Beyond?

English late 80s band. Apparently won a recording deal after winning some kind of talent competition and were produced by Stock/Aitken/Waterman.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_Beyond

Mr. Mister: Kyrie, Broken Wings
Blue Oyster Cult: Don't Fear the Reaper, Burnin' For You

Rick Astley, "Never Gonna Give You Up", "Together Forever", at least in the USA.

re: Crowded House; Weather With You was probably the biggest chart success in the UK.
they had a pretty consistent chart life over here actually; generally a couple of well charting singles on each album.

what the hell, after actually checking on wiki; it seems that Weather was indeed their highest charter in UK, but only got to number 7?!?!?!

i thought it was number one for weeks?

Hrmmm, what about Roxy Music? Most people tend to just think "oh, they did that schmaltzy Jealous guy cover, right?"
Surely they must've had a big hit from Avalon that I can't think of right now.
Hm. I would tend to think most people would recognize Roxy Music from the song "More Than This", off of Avalon. There's also the title track from the same album, which I would feel people would bring up more than the "Jealous Guy" cover, and going back to their Seventies Glam-Rock era I think more people would also name "Virginia Plain" or "Street Life". Hm.

This exchange still strikes me as bizarre, since I've spent my life assuming "Love Is The Drug" was their biggest hit, then "Dance Away." (And Whitburn's Billboard book confirms that, at least in the U.S., I was right -- "Love Is The Drug" #30, "Dance Away" #44; third biggest "Over You," at #80. Still surprised "More Than This" didn't even make Top 100.)

People keep assuming that "two-hit wonders" means "in America."

Falco - "Rock Me, Amadeus" and "Vienna Calling."

xp No, only Americans assume it means "in America". (Britishers assume in means "in Britain." Europeans assume it means "in Europe." etc.)

Der Kommissar and Jeanny were also big hits (outside of Austria too).

Golden Earring's When The Lady Smiles was also a big hit although due to the banned video not in the US apparently.

To me, at least:
Slade - Cum Feel the Noize/Mama Weer All Crazee Now

I'm sure they had more 'hits' but doubt a=most twentysomethings could name sing of them aside from the above.

a= = that

Damn this shabby keyboard to Hell.

romantics -- "what i like about you" and "talking in your sleep." maybe more of their songs charted but those two are the only ones i've ever heard

Slade's biggest hit in the States by far (charted # 20) was "Run Runaway." "Gudbuy T'Jane" and the truly forgotten "My Oh My" also bigger hits than the two named above (which are mainly remembered in the States, if at all, because of Quiet Riot probably.)

Romantics' "One In A Million" actually a bigger hit chartwise than "What I Like About You" (which only went to #49), though obviously not as time went on.

Herbie Hancock, "Chameleon" (#42, 1974); "Rockit" (#71, 1983)

(Pop chart only - lotsa minor action on the black charts during that same stretch.)

A Flock of Seagulls - "I Ran (So Far Away)" and "Wishing"

Ugly Kid Joe - "Everything About You" & "Cat's in the Cradle"

So, turns out Wilbert Harrison actually had exactly two Top 40 singles, ten years apart -- "Kansas City" (#1 in 1959) and "Let's Work Together (Part 1)" (#32 in 1969.) Good for him!

Mr. Mister: Kyrie, Broken Wings

...and "Is It Love"

Two that I thought of immediately (from a North American perspective) are Chumbawamba and Right Said Fred. I'm technically wrong on one, accidentally right on the other. "Amnesia," the follow-up to "Tubthumping," only made it to #101 according to some site called "Lost in the '90s" (though to #19 on Billboard's Top 40 Mainstream Chart). Right Said Fred did have exactly two hits, but the second was "Don't Talk, Just Kiss," not "Deeply Dippy" as I had in mind. The reason I thought of them in the first place was that in both cases, I liked the famous hit but liked "Amnesia" and "Deeply Dippy" even more.

I haven't heard "Wishing" but I kinda love "Space age love song" which I assumed was their 2nd most popular song ...

Also BOC "Godzilla" still gets radio spins in 2010

Wallflowers - One Headlight, Heroes
Eagle Eye Cherry - Save Tonight, Falling In Love Again
Semisonic - Secret Smile, Closing Tome

fischer-z - so long, the perfect day

altho they were hits in australia only

dj unk

Pretty o_0 at anyone suggesting Kylie is a fucking 2 hit wonder.

2 many hit wonder more like it amirite.

in the US, she pretty much is!

She's had about 2 dozen hits everywhere else in the universe afaik

Panjabi MC is a bit of a two hit wonder SO FAR

― stevem (blueski), Friday, November 14, 2003 7:59 AM (6 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

looool

ha

two hits are SEVERAL YEARS APART, not to mention...TOP 15, AT LEAST. Which is necessity for REAL two-hit wonders.

Okay, but Dwight Twilley still belongs here, I just realized. Two hits, and two hits only, both peaking as close to Top 15 as you can get without getting there: "I'm On Fire" #16 pop in 1975, then "Girls" #16 pop in 1984. Amazed nobody's mentioned him here before.

http://www.onehitwondercenter.com/two/twohit_tz.htm

Rick Astley, "Never Gonna Give You Up", "Together Forever", at least in the USA.

Nope -- three other top tens! "It Would Take a Strong, Strong Man," "She Wants to Dance With Me" and the DOA "Cry For Help," which got a lot of airplay in spring '91. "Giving Up on Love" barely made the top 40.

Never realized til now that Janis Ian actually had a third Hot 100 hit, six years after "At Seventeen" -- "Under The Covers," which apparently got to #71 in 1981. Not quite a real hit (also not very good), but it's still cool how she hit the Hot 100 exactly once each in three different decades.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIEfjAHfV5c

I guess her Moroder collab wasn't a hit, but it should have been, as it's awesome!

Apparently Tiffany had two other Top 10 hits after "I Think We're Alone Now" and "Could've Been", which both went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Pretty sure most people only remember "I Think We're Alone Now" though.

I sure remember "I Saw Him Standing There"! That was her best.

Very close, at least, depending on the definition: The r&b band Skyy. Exactly two Hot 100 hits: "Call Me" #26 1982; "Real Love" #47 1990. Eight years apart.

If we're talking about world-wide hits, I think Evelyn "Champagne" King would qualify with "Shame" and "Love Come Down". Besides them, she had a couple of minor charting songs in the US ("I Don't Know If It's Right" reached #23 and "I'm in Love" #40), but I'm pretty sure the big two hits are the only ones people remember now.

Didn't Evelyn King do "I'm In Love" as well?

oh sorry, read that wrong.

although I'm In Love is the only song I recognise by her.

For right now, that "Good Time" song has a chance to generate 2 one hit wonders! Obviously, too early to tell for both Owl City and CRJ but that's the way it is to date.

er, 2 two hit wonders, of course.

Andrew W.K. - "Party Hard" and "She is Beautiful"
Dschingis Khan - "Moskau" and "Dschingis Khan"
Fatboy Slim - "The Rockefeller Skank" and "Praise You"; I know he's had other singles but they weren't big like those two were they?
Gary Numan - "Are Friends Electric?", "Cards"
The Presidents of the United States of America - "Lump" and "Peaches"
Soul Coughing - "Circles and "Super Bon Bon"

"Are Friends Electric?" was by Tubeway Army

"Cards" was by Snap

Tubeway Army and Numan were basically one and the same though. The same band played on TPP didn't they?

In popular memory, though not chart performance, Fine Young Cannibals qualify in the US. I see from Wikipedia that "Don't Look Back" hit #11, but I don't think I've ever heard it whereas "She Drives Me Crazy" and "Good Thing" are both pretty universal.

oh def. "Don't Look Back" is so awesome though. I'd trade "Good Thing" for it any day.

I thought Crazy Frog would be this, but he's had at least three hits.

Everyhit says five.

Does anyone remember "We are the Champions" ? I don't!

I think it went ring ding ding ding ring ding ding

five hit singles, one top ten album, another lower down and that difficult third album!

Fatboy Slim - "The Rockefeller Skank" and "Praise You"; I know he's had other singles but they weren't big like those two were they?

"Right Here, Right Now" was just as big a hit as the other two, and still gets played today. I think it's pretty popular in sports events, for example, because of the anthemic sound; it was one of the two songs he played in his London Olympics performance. ("Gangster Trippin'" was also a big hit after "Rockafeller Skank", but that one seems to get less play these days.)

Also, before Fatboy Slim Norman Cook had already had two hits under other pseudonyms: "Dub Be Good to Me" (#1 on the UK singles chart), and "Magic Carpet Ride" (#24).

Fatboy Slim has a lot more well-known songs in the UK than just those two.

In popular memory, though not chart performance, Fine Young Cannibals qualify in the US. I see from Wikipedia that "Don't Look Back" hit #11, but I don't think I've ever heard it whereas "She Drives Me Crazy" and "Good Thing" are both pretty universal.

― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Monday, 22 October 2012 16:24 (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

No Johnny Come Home?

Also, before Fatboy Slim Norman Cook had already had two hits under other pseudonyms: "Dub Be Good to Me" (#1 on the UK singles chart), and "Magic Carpet Ride" (#24).

he had another #1 in 1986 too yo

had no idea about "Right Here, Right Now", kinda thought that had become famous after the fact - as for "Gangster Trippin" I know the video played quite a bit here but I don't think anyone recognizes it now

No Johnny Come Home?

Not a hit in the US (#76).

in the UK, "Rockafeller Skank" was the lowest-charting single off of You've Come A Long Way, Baby (of those that made the charts; one didn't)

also because I am old, I always default to "Everybody Needs a 303" and "Going Out Of My Head" as the go-to FS singles even though they weren't as massive

Also, FBS remixes like Brimful Of Asha and Body Movin' charted on their own.

Yeah no way FBS is a 2 hit wonder.

his "Renegade Master" remix charted too, right?

I can't remember gangster tripping at all

maybe not in UK. in US I don't think anyone remembers much outside those two unless you count stuff like "Brimful of Asha".

I like "Gangster Trippin'" a LOT more than "Rockafeller Skank"

Which one did Walken dance in the video for? That was awesome.

"Weapon of Choice", a song very clearly outshined by its video

The Cardigans are another really clear example of this, at least in the US ("Lovefool" and "My Favorite Game").

the Walken vid was really FBS's only visible moment after 1998 around here. other than "oh my God Palookaville is awful"

Carnival, Ma Favourite Game, Burning Down The House?

Another Bad Creation

The Cardigans are another really clear example of this, at least in the US ("Lovefool" and "My Favorite Game").

― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Tuesday, 23 October 2012 15:38 (2 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

UK had Erase/Rewind and Rise & Shine.

Yeah, "Erase/Rewind" was pretty big in here too, I remember it much better than "My Favourite Game".

In fact, looking at the chart placements, looks like "Erase/Rewind" was as big a hit as "My Favourite Game" almost every else except in the US.

Wonder why?

I don't know why "Erase/Rewind" didn't hit in the US because it's a pretty awesome song. I think I voted for it in the Cardigans singles poll.

You know what should have been bigger than anything else off Gran Turismo? Hanging Around - always thought that was the highlight of that record.

Soul group The Ovations had exactly two Hot 100 hits in the U.S., eight years apart: "It's Wonderful To Be in Love" #61 1965; "Having A Party" (a medley) # 56 1973.

Thought Blind Melon would qualify, but only as an average of two charts: "No Rain" on the Top 100, that and "Tones of Home" and "Galaxie" on the Mainstream Rock chart. They felt like a two-hit wonder. (No, that's not true. They felt like a one-hit wonder.)

tone loc: "wild thing" (#2 US) and "funky cold medina" (#3 US)

(which someone already said upthread, oops. carry on.)

thread reading cuz is gonna bust yr chops this Thanksgiving

haha

The Left Banke -- "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina"

The Bloodhound Gang - "Fire Water Burn" and "The Bad Touch"

xp - odd how "Walk Away Renee" was an oldies radio staple yet I've never heard "Pretty Ballerina" on the radio, even though it was almost as big a hit.

psy

I heard "Pretty Ballerina" last night on Psychedelicized, which is why it jumped to mind when I saw this revived thread this morning.

eiffel 65, with "blue (da ba dee)" and "move your body"

"Boogie Fever" or "Hot Line"

Sister Sledge!

Village People

(though "Macho Man" seems to have had a bigger legacy than a lot of songs that peaked at # 25)

Rupert Holmes (follow-up single "Him" reached #6)

I still remember "Ready for the '80s." Even though they weren't.

I used to think Weezer were a one-hit wonder with that Happy Days song, but now I've learned from Wikipedia they had an even bigger hit in 2005 with a tune called "Beverly Hills". Those two were eleven years apart too.

even Weezer had disappeared after their first album they'd still have 3 songs in rock radio rotation forever and ever

They've only has two singles in the top 50, though. And "Buddy Holly" is probably the only tune by them someone who doesn't know anything about them (like me) recognizes.

Actually, for a while in 2000 I thought they were a two-hit wonder band, when "Teenage Dirtbag" was playing on MTV all the time. Then someone pointed out to me it wasn't by the "Buddy Holly" band, I'd just mixed up Wheatus and Weezer in my head.

Thought Blind Melon would qualify, but only as an average of two charts: "No Rain" on the Top 100, that and "Tones of Home" and "Galaxie" on the Mainstream Rock chart. They felt like a two-hit wonder. (No, that's not true. They felt like a one-hit wonder.)

Hmmm... Three Is A Magic Number would probably be their other "hit."

Tuomas - I hope you'll be delighted to know that several years back, Weezer started playing Teenage Dirtbag at festivals because it amused them that non-fan people made that mistake / they thought "what the hell, they want to hear it"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St0svOdrSR8

Haha, that's awesome!

Brenda Russell, exactly two hits, 9 years apart: "So Good So Right" #30 1979; "Piano In the Dark" #6 1988. Nothing else ever hit the Hot 100.

Non-humans win!!

Singing Dogs, exactly two hits, 16 years apart: "Oh! Susanna" #22 1955; "Jingle Bells" #1 1971. No other Hot 100 singles (and the same producer -- a guy in Copenhagen named Don Charles -- and even apparently the same dogs since "Jingle Bells" was a reissue.)