Trivia: Artists only known for one song

[PTR 444]

Billy Ray Cyrus - achy breaky heart.He seems to now be remembered as Miley’s father.

Not to forget Old Town Road which peaked in the UK at No.1 in 2019.

 

[Barnsley]

Another one that’s playing in the pub now
Black - Wonderful Life

 

[londonbridge]

Chris Spedding-Motor Biking
John Kongos-Tokoloshe Man

And, whilst obviously well known in other fields, I don’t recall Jasper Carrott having any hit singles other than Funky Moped.

 

[70014IronDuke]

Has anyone mentioned The Tornadoes and "Telstar"?

I'm pretty sure they had a follow up that got to about number 3, then a second follow up (maybe top 20), neither of which anyone bar a fan remembers. Then, oblivion?

 

[Lloyds siding]

What about Neil Young - Only love can break your heart?

Whatever happened to the guy? You'd have thought he had enough talent to make it somehow?

I guess some people just fade away.

'Heart of Gold' reached no. 10 in the UK charts...but, yeah, he's not made much impression since....

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Feb 2023 ==

Unusual for an instrumental to be a hit:
'Groovin' with Mr. Bloe' by Mr. Bloe.

 

[scarby]

Has anyone mentioned The Tornadoes and "Telstar"?

I'm pretty sure they had a follow up that got to about number 3, then a second follow up (maybe top 20), neither of which anyone bar a fan remembers. Then, oblivion?

You are absolutely right - 'Globetrotter' reached number 5 and 'Robot' number 17.

They did, with various line-ups, continue on and off as a backing band, notably for Billy Fury.

Of course, 'Telstar' is by far and away the song they are remembered for, so they fit the bill here.

 

[AY1975]

Surprised no-one has mentioned Blue Oyster Cult - (Don't Fear) the Reaper

A couple of others that I am surprised no-one has mentioned, from 1979 and 1981 respectively:

Gary Numan - Cars

Toni Basil - Mickey

Los Del Rio - Macarena

Which I think deserves special honourable mention for being possibly THE most popular dance craze of the '90s and because the lyrics are in Spanish. They did also later do an English language remix, and most people probably know it without knowing that it's a Spanish song or even that it's in a language other than English. There's also a German language version called Makkaroni (the German spelling of macaroni, as in the pasta) by the Deutschmacher, a German duo who translate songs into German - some of them word for word translations and some of them more of a play on words. It's in this clip:

 

[PTR 444]

Gary Numan - Cars

Also had a hit with Are Friends Electric, amongst others.

 

[dgl]

Also had a hit with Are Friends Electric, amongst others.

That wasn't Gary Numan on his own was it, it was as part of the band Tubeway Army if I've got the hits the right way round.

 

[Harvester]

I don’t think Lee Marvin has been mentioned - (Wandering Star).

 

[Richardr]

Nilsson's cover version of "Without You"? That made number one, he didn't have any other top 20's in the UK.

 

[McRhu]

Nilsson's cover version of "Without You"? That made number one, he didn't have any other top 20's in the UK.

I was astonished that his "Everybody's Talkin'" only got to No. 23 in the UK charts. If that Jolly Boys' Outing had only happened in 1969 the song would have made No. 1.

 

[johnnychips]

John Parr with St Elmo’s Fire, if nobody has mentioned it before? I think he had a minor hit with other artists afterwards.

 

[trebor79]

That wasn't Gary Numan on his own was it, it was as part of the band Tubeway Army if I've got the hits the right way round.

Numan did have quite a few hits in the early part of his career. Definitely not a one hit wonder. And he's still making music and touring today.

 

[Lloyds siding]

Chris Spedding-Motor Biking
John Kongos-Tokoloshe Man

And, whilst obviously well known in other fields, I don’t recall Jasper Carrott having any hit singles other than Funky Moped.

Shouldn't think that the millionaire Jasper Carrott is particularly concerned that he only had one hit!

Chris Spedding is still on tour: playing guitar in 'Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds'.

 

[dgl]

John Farnham - You're The Voice
I Monster - Daydream In Blue
Mel and Kim - Respectable
Joe Jackson - Steppin' Out
Men Without Hats - The Safety Dance

 

[DaleCooper]

Python Lee Jackson - In a Broken Dream

 

[adrock1976]

The Automatic - Monster
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy (the first single to reach No1 in the UK on downloads alone)
Orson - No Tomorrow

 

[61653 HTAFC]

John Farnham - You're The Voice
I Monster - Daydream In Blue
Mel and Kim - Respectable
Joe Jackson - Steppin' Out
Men Without Hats - The Safety Dance

Could have sworn Mel and Kim had multiple hits, but then realised I couldn't think of another one!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Feb 2023 ==

Python Lee Jackson - In a Broken Dream

Probably Rod Stewart's best song.

 

[Essan]

A few more US bands (which I don't think have been mentioned yet) who have plenty of well known songs over there but are really only known for one big hit in the UK (even if they had other chart singles):

Steppenwolf - Born to be Wild
Journey - Don't Stop Believing
Alice Cooper - School's Out
Van Halen - Jump

And, I wonder if you asked a random sample of the general public, how many could name a Pink Floyd hit single other than Another Brick in the Wall?

 

[Lloyds siding]

A few more US bands (which I don't think have been mentioned yet) who have plenty of well known songs over there but are really only known for one big hit in the UK (even if they had other chart singles):

Steppenwolf - Born to be Wild
Journey - Don't Stop Believing
Alice Cooper - School's Out
Van Halen - Jump

And, I wonder if you asked a random sample of the general public, how many could name a Pink Floyd hit single other than Another Brick in the Wall?

I'm so old I remember them (Pink Floyd) playing 'See Emily Play' on Top of the Pops!

 

[AJM580]

Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene Part IV

 

[JD2168]

Darude - Sandstorm.

 

[McRhu]

Sorry to stir horrible memories (if you’re Scottish and follow the national team) but…

Andy Cameron- Ally’s Tartan Army

(Pride cometh before a fall).

 

[dgl]

Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene Part IV

Though well known for his large "city" concerts, especially as the Docklands one was not without it's issues
"As you know I have had one or two difficulties in the last few weeks, but actually frogs like rain!"

 

[AJM580]

Though well known for his large "city" concerts, especially as the Docklands one was not without it's issues
"As you know I have had one or two difficulties in the last few weeks, but actually frogs like rain!"

Houston,Lyon, Moscow & La Defence come to mind. Wembley stadium in 1993 was drier than Docklands for sure

 

[AY1975]

Could have sworn Mel and Kim had multiple hits, but then realised I couldn't think of another one!

Yes, according to Wikipedia they had three other UK top ten hits: Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend), FLM, and That's The Way It Is. Of those, I'd say Showing Out was their best known one.

John Farnham - You're The Voice

Again "You're the Voice" was probably his best known song but he did have others such as Going Going Gone.

Here are a few more from the '80s:

Jona Lewie - Stop the Cavalry

Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?

Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone

Sinitta - He's Gotta Be So Macho

Kylie Minogue - I Should Be So Lucky

 

[yorksrob]

Yes, according to Wikipedia they had three other UK top ten hits: Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend), FLM, and That's The Way It Is. Of those, I'd say Showing Out was their best known one.

Again "You're the Voice" was probably his best known song but he did have others such as Going Going Gone.

Here are a few more from the '80s:

Jona Lewie - Stop the Cavalry

Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas?

Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone

Sinitta - He's Gotta Be So Macho

Kylie Minogue - I Should Be So Lucky

Ah, but Jona Lewie had the classic "In the Kitchen at parties" as well !

 

[Jimini]

Ah, but Jona Lewie had the classic "In the Kitchen at parties" as well !

Argh, don't throw that earworm at me at this time of night!

 

[DynamicSpirit]

This thread is providing great inspiration for tunes I haven't heard for ages to bring up on Youtube while I'm working