two-hit wonders

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.

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.)