Dexy's Midnight Runners is the best example I can think of right now. Most know "Come On Eileen." Many less will know "Geno." Even fewer will know "Burn It Down," and it's likely that those who do own an album or two.
So these are bands who have 2 (or maybe 3) songs that are somewhat easily recognizable by non-fans.
I also just thought of the Knickerbockers, "Lies" and "One Track Mind."
― billstevejim, Friday, 14 November 2003 08:02 (twenty years ago) link
Golden Earing"Radar Love", "Twilight Zone"
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 14 November 2003 08:07 (twenty years ago) link
(apologies to s. mclusky)
― Broheems (diamond), Friday, 14 November 2003 08:30 (twenty years ago) link
― Schwingung (Damian), Friday, 14 November 2003 08:45 (twenty years ago) link
― Jeremy (Jeremy), Friday, 14 November 2003 08:58 (twenty years ago) link
― Siegbran (eofor), Friday, 14 November 2003 09:37 (twenty years ago) link
― Tuomas (Tuomas), Friday, 14 November 2003 09:43 (twenty years ago) link
― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 14 November 2003 09:50 (twenty years ago) link
― daarkbee, Friday, 14 November 2003 09:55 (twenty years ago) link
"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?
― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 14 November 2003 10:13 (twenty years ago) link
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!
― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 14 November 2003 11:22 (twenty years ago) link
― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 14 November 2003 11:30 (twenty years ago) link
― the surface noise (electricsound), Friday, 14 November 2003 11:30 (twenty years ago) link
― dave q, Friday, 14 November 2003 11:33 (twenty years ago) link
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
― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 14 November 2003 11:39 (twenty years ago) link
― dog latin (dog latin), Friday, 14 November 2003 12:20 (twenty years ago) link
― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 14 November 2003 12:42 (twenty years ago) link
― stevem (blueski), Friday, 14 November 2003 12:50 (twenty years ago) link
― stevem (blueski), Friday, 14 November 2003 12:51 (twenty years ago) link
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.
― Tuomas (Tuomas), Friday, 14 November 2003 12:58 (twenty years ago) link
― stevem (blueski), Friday, 14 November 2003 12:59 (twenty years ago) link
― stevem (blueski), Friday, 14 November 2003 13:00 (twenty years ago) link
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 14 November 2003 13:35 (twenty years ago) link
― stevem (blueski), Friday, 14 November 2003 13:47 (twenty years ago) link
― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 14 November 2003 13:53 (twenty years ago) link
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 14 November 2003 14:03 (twenty years ago) link
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 14 November 2003 14:09 (twenty years ago) link
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 14 November 2003 14:14 (twenty years ago) link
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.
― Øystein H-O (Øystein H-O), Friday, 14 November 2003 14:33 (twenty years ago) link
― stevem (blueski), Friday, 14 November 2003 14:34 (twenty years ago) link
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 14 November 2003 14:35 (twenty years ago) link
― Chris B. Sure (Chris V), Friday, 14 November 2003 14:40 (twenty years ago) link
― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Friday, 14 November 2003 14:40 (twenty years ago) link
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.
― Pancakes For Breakfast! (Dee the Lurker), Friday, 14 November 2003 14:46 (twenty years ago) link
― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 14 November 2003 14:52 (twenty years ago) link
Oasis are two hit wonders, at least in terms of US pop radio - "Wonderwall" and "Champagne Supernova."
― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Friday, 14 November 2003 15:02 (twenty years ago) link
― NickB (NickB), Friday, 14 November 2003 15:14 (twenty years ago) link
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!
― Momus (Momus), Friday, 14 November 2003 15:23 (twenty years ago) link
< 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!
― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 14 November 2003 15:36 (twenty years ago) link
― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 14 November 2003 15:38 (twenty years ago) link
― dlp9001, Friday, 14 November 2003 15:44 (twenty years ago) link
really, though, I think Golden Earring is the classic example.
― d.w., Friday, 14 November 2003 16:03 (twenty years ago) link
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Friday, 14 November 2003 16:05 (twenty years ago) link
― rw, Friday, 14 November 2003 16:21 (twenty years ago) link
Daphne & Celeste!
― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 14 November 2003 16:41 (twenty years ago) link
― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 14 November 2003 16:57 (twenty years ago) link
― NickB (NickB), Friday, 14 November 2003 17:16 (twenty years ago) link
― Vinnie (vprabhu), Friday, 14 November 2003 17:22 (twenty years ago) link
― Vinnie (vprabhu), Friday, 14 November 2003 17:26 (twenty years ago) link
― Charles McCain (Charles McCain), Friday, 14 November 2003 17:34 (twenty years ago) link
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
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Monday, 22 October 2012 16:24 (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
No Johnny Come Home?
― make like a steak and beef (dog latin), Tuesday, 23 October 2012 11:01 (eleven years ago) link
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
― set the controls for the arse of your mum (sic), Tuesday, 23 October 2012 13:37 (eleven years ago) link
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
― frogbs, Tuesday, 23 October 2012 13:44 (eleven years ago) link
Not a hit in the US (#76).
― 5-Hour Enmity (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Tuesday, 23 October 2012 13:57 (eleven years ago) link
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
― The Owls of Ja Rule (DJP), Tuesday, 23 October 2012 14:18 (eleven years ago) link
Also, FBS remixes like Brimful Of Asha and Body Movin' charted on their own.
― Siegbran, Tuesday, 23 October 2012 14:24 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah no way FBS is a 2 hit wonder.
― ENBB, Tuesday, 23 October 2012 14:28 (eleven years ago) link
his "Renegade Master" remix charted too, right?
― The Owls of Ja Rule (DJP), Tuesday, 23 October 2012 14:28 (eleven years ago) link
I can't remember gangster tripping at all
― make like a steak and beef (dog latin), Tuesday, 23 October 2012 14:30 (eleven years ago) link
maybe not in UK. in US I don't think anyone remembers much outside those two unless you count stuff like "Brimful of Asha".
― frogbs, Tuesday, 23 October 2012 14:32 (eleven years ago) link
I like "Gangster Trippin'" a LOT more than "Rockafeller Skank"
― The Owls of Ja Rule (DJP), Tuesday, 23 October 2012 14:33 (eleven years ago) link
Which one did Walken dance in the video for? That was awesome.
― ENBB, Tuesday, 23 October 2012 14:35 (eleven years ago) link
"Weapon of Choice", a song very clearly outshined by its video
― The Owls of Ja Rule (DJP), Tuesday, 23 October 2012 14:37 (eleven years ago) link
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 14:38 (eleven years ago) link
the Walken vid was really FBS's only visible moment after 1998 around here. other than "oh my God Palookaville is awful"
― frogbs, Tuesday, 23 October 2012 14:39 (eleven years ago) link
Carnival, Ma Favourite Game, Burning Down The House?
― Siegbran, Thursday, 25 October 2012 06:23 (eleven years ago) link
Another Bad Creation
― suggest butt (Pillbox), Thursday, 25 October 2012 09:31 (eleven years ago) link
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
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Tuesday, 23 October 2012 15:38 (2 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
UK had Erase/Rewind and Rise & Shine.
― make like a steak and beef (dog latin), Thursday, 25 October 2012 09:36 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah, "Erase/Rewind" was pretty big in here too, I remember it much better than "My Favourite Game".
― Tuomas, Thursday, 25 October 2012 09:40 (eleven years ago) link
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.
― Tuomas, Thursday, 25 October 2012 09:42 (eleven years ago) link
Wonder why?
― Tuomas, Thursday, 25 October 2012 09:43 (eleven years ago) link
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.
― justfanoe (Greg Fanoe), Thursday, 25 October 2012 10:56 (eleven years ago) link
You know what should have been bigger than anything else off Gran Turismo? Hanging Around - always thought that was the highlight of that record.
― make like a steak and beef (dog latin), Thursday, 25 October 2012 11:00 (eleven years ago) link
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.
― xhuxk, Monday, 21 October 2013 18:13 (ten years ago) link
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.)
― clemenza, Monday, 21 October 2013 18:44 (ten years ago) link
tone loc: "wild thing" (#2 US) and "funky cold medina" (#3 US)
― open letter to an open letter to a fanzine (fact checking cuz), Monday, 21 October 2013 18:49 (ten years ago) link
(which someone already said upthread, oops. carry on.)
― open letter to an open letter to a fanzine (fact checking cuz), Monday, 21 October 2013 18:53 (ten years ago) link
thread reading cuz is gonna bust yr chops this Thanksgiving
― Bitch Fantastic (DJP), Monday, 21 October 2013 18:55 (ten years ago) link
haha
― open letter to an open letter to a fanzine (fact checking cuz), Monday, 21 October 2013 18:56 (ten years ago) link
The Left Banke -- "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina"
― Victor Immature (WilliamC), Monday, 21 October 2013 18:59 (ten years ago) link
The Bloodhound Gang - "Fire Water Burn" and "The Bad Touch"
― MarkoP, Monday, 21 October 2013 20:37 (ten years ago) link
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.
― Lee626, Monday, 21 October 2013 22:52 (ten years ago) link
psy
― monotony, Monday, 21 October 2013 22:57 (ten years ago) link
I heard "Pretty Ballerina" last night on Psychedelicized, which is why it jumped to mind when I saw this revived thread this morning.
― Victor Immature (WilliamC), Monday, 21 October 2013 23:47 (ten years ago) link
eiffel 65, with "blue (da ba dee)" and "move your body"
― dyl, Tuesday, 22 October 2013 02:42 (ten years ago) link
"Boogie Fever" or "Hot Line"
― timellison, Tuesday, 22 October 2013 03:02 (ten years ago) link
Sister Sledge!
― timellison, Tuesday, 22 October 2013 03:23 (ten years ago) link
Village People
― timellison, Tuesday, 22 October 2013 03:30 (ten years ago) link
(though "Macho Man" seems to have had a bigger legacy than a lot of songs that peaked at # 25)
― timellison, Tuesday, 22 October 2013 03:32 (ten years ago) link
Rupert Holmes (follow-up single "Him" reached #6)
― timellison, Tuesday, 22 October 2013 03:37 (ten years ago) link
I still remember "Ready for the '80s." Even though they weren't.
― clemenza, Tuesday, 22 October 2013 03:49 (ten years ago) link
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.
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 22 October 2013 09:53 (ten years ago) link
even Weezer had disappeared after their first album they'd still have 3 songs in rock radio rotation forever and ever
― deez so unusual (some dude), Tuesday, 22 October 2013 11:55 (ten years ago) link
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.
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 22 October 2013 12:06 (ten years ago) link
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.
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 22 October 2013 12:08 (ten years ago) link
Hmmm... Three Is A Magic Number would probably be their other "hit."
― MikoMcha, Tuesday, 22 October 2013 12:17 (ten years ago) link
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
― ͼѾͽ (sic), Tuesday, 22 October 2013 15:04 (ten years ago) link
Haha, that's awesome!
― Tuomas, Tuesday, 22 October 2013 17:04 (ten years ago) link
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.
― xhuxk, Friday, 25 July 2014 16:51 (nine years ago) link
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.)
― xhuxk, Monday, 22 September 2014 17:43 (nine years ago) link