50 Great One-Hit Wonders of the Second Half of the 80s

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since the board loves to be continually bumping those Johnny Hates Jazz and Swing Out Sister threads, let's see if we can't make it to 50 for this underrated era of pop music. Don't be too anal about whether or not a band had an extremely minor second hit or whatever, if they're primarily remembered for just the one song, that's good enough for here (though feel free to mention if they happened to have exemplary follow-ups, a good LP, etc.)

1. Johnny Hates Jazz - "Shattered Dreams"
2. Swing Out Sister - "Break Out"
3. Boy Meets Girl - "Waiting for a Star to Fall"
4. Boys Don't Cry - "I Wanna Be a Cowboy"
5. Blow Monkeys - "Diggin' Your Scene"
6. Force MDs - "Tender Love" (bunch of R&B hits, but aside from the guest shot on that Lisa Lisa single, their only pop top 40)

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Friday, 21 July 2006 11:40 (nineteen years ago)

whoops, was that Full Force on "All Cried Out"? I always get them mixed up.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Friday, 21 July 2006 11:42 (nineteen years ago)

7. Wax - "Bridge To Your Heart"
8. Narada - "Divine Emotions"
9. Jane Wieldin - "Rush Hour"

can't be bothered to mention the same old UK dance hits (M/A/R/R/S, Krush etc.)

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Friday, 21 July 2006 11:49 (nineteen years ago)

10. Kon Kan - I Beg Your Pardon

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Friday, 21 July 2006 11:54 (nineteen years ago)

but Johnny Hates Jazz and Swing Out Sister had two Top 40 hits each, my good doctor!

10. Living in a Box, "Living in a Box"
11. Bryan Ferry, "Kiss & Tell"
12. Sly Fox, "Let's Go All The Way"
13. Baltimora, "Tarzan Boy"

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Friday, 21 July 2006 11:54 (nineteen years ago)

see my original post again, Alfred.

15. M/A/R/R/S - "Pump Up the Volume"
16. Murray Head - "One Night in Bangkok"
17. Paul Hardcastle - "Nineteen"
18. Timbuk 3 - "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades"
19. Company B - "Fascinated"
20. Pretty Poison - "Catch Me, I'm Falling"

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Friday, 21 July 2006 11:55 (nineteen years ago)

14. Primitives - Crash
15. Furniture - Brilliant Mind
16. It's Immaterial - Driving Away From Home

Xpost Bryan Ferry hardly counts as a one hit wonder.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Friday, 21 July 2006 11:56 (nineteen years ago)

.. and even if he did, that wouldn't be it.

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:00 (nineteen years ago)

24. Brenda Russell - "Piano in the Dark"

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:01 (nineteen years ago)

25. Ziggy Marley & the Melody Maekrs - "Tomorrow People"
26. The Church - "Under the Milky Way"
27. Harold Faltermeyer - "Axel F"

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:02 (nineteen years ago)

28. Colonel Abrams - Trapped
29. Assembly - Never Never
30. Animotion - Obsession

― ledge (ledge), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:04 (nineteen years ago)

Oops, Never Never was '83 - too early.

― ledge (ledge), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:05 (nineteen years ago)

30. Cutting Crew - (I Just) Died In Your Arms Tonight

― ledge (ledge), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:06 (nineteen years ago)

31. Taffy - I Love My Radio

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:09 (nineteen years ago)

32. Dream Academy - Life in a Northern Town
33. Jan Hammer - Crockett's Theme
34. Freiheit - Keeping the Dream Alive

― ledge (ledge), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:11 (nineteen years ago)

35. Jermaine Stewart - "We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off"
36. T'Pau - "Heart & Soul"
37. Stacey Q - "Two of Hearts"
38. Belle Stars - "Iko Iko"

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:13 (nineteen years ago)

39. Rosie Vela - Magic Smile
40. Eighth Wonder - I'm Not Scared

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:14 (nineteen years ago)

xpost Showing up transatlantic differences, the follow up to T'Pau's Heart and Soul was #1 in the UK for 5 weeks in November 87.

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:16 (nineteen years ago)

yeah, and I've never even herad of a great number of the songs you're posting. Main dilemma with ILM.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:17 (nineteen years ago)

Dilemma? It's a wonderful opportunity for learning and sharing!

41 Then Jericho - Big Area

― ledge (ledge), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:20 (nineteen years ago)

42. Glass Tiger - Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone
43. Michelle Shocked - Anchorage

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:28 (nineteen years ago)

1st half of decade were much better for 1 hit wonders.

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:31 (nineteen years ago)

44. Furniture - Brilliant Mind

― Venga (Venga), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:45 (nineteen years ago)

Oops. Sorry Billy.

― Venga (Venga), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:45 (nineteen years ago)

so I guess this is still 44. Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait

― avery keen-gardner (avery keen-gardner), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:48 (nineteen years ago)

45. Big Audio Dynamite - E=MC2
46. Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians - What I Am (I prefer Circle of Friends but it weren't a hit, over here at least)

― ledge (ledge), Friday, 21 July 2006 13:04 (nineteen years ago)

47. Regina - "Baby Love"

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Friday, 21 July 2006 13:07 (nineteen years ago)

Xpost Bryan Ferry hardly counts as a one hit wonder

But he does! It's his only Top 40 hit.

42. Glass Tiger - Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone

They scored one other American top 10 hit and two other Top 40 hits.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Friday, 21 July 2006 13:10 (nineteen years ago)

48. Prefab Sprout - When Love Breaks Down

― vacasmagras (vacasmagras), Friday, 21 July 2006 13:29 (nineteen years ago)

49. Sydney Youngblood - If Only I Could

― musicjohn73 (musicjohn73), Friday, 21 July 2006 13:49 (nineteen years ago)

In what sick sad world are Prefab Sprout one-hit wonders? Was The King of Rock 'n' Roll not even a hit in said world?

― ledge (ledge), Friday, 21 July 2006 13:51 (nineteen years ago)

34. Freiheit - Keeping the Dream Alive

Well, what about the bigger hit Play It Cool?

― Siegbran (eofor), Friday, 21 July 2006 13:51 (nineteen years ago)

50. hollywood beyond - whats the colour of money 51. belouis some - imagination or are these 1st half 80's ?

― mark e (mark e), Friday, 21 July 2006 13:55 (nineteen years ago)

Both '86

― ledge (ledge), Friday, 21 July 2006 13:57 (nineteen years ago)

51. Double--The Captain of Her Heart
52. John Eddie--Jungle Boy

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Friday, 21 July 2006 14:10 (nineteen years ago)

53. Opus - Live Is Life

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Friday, 21 July 2006 14:49 (nineteen years ago)

Hmm...seems that all FOUR of my initial picks (Mary Jane Girls, Martika, 'til Tuesday, Katrina and The Waves) all had a second (or third) smallish hit that I was barely exposed to.

― M. Agony Von Bontee (M. Agony Von Bontee), Friday, 21 July 2006 14:50 (nineteen years ago)

10 Bryan Ferry A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall Sep 1973 Notes
13 Bryan Ferry The In Crowd May 1974 Notes
17 Bryan Ferry Smoke Gets In Your Eyes Aug 1974 Notes
33 Bryan Ferry You Go To My Head Jul 1975
4 Bryan Ferry Let's Stick Together (Let's Work Together) Jun 1976 Notes
7 Bryan Ferry Extended Play EP Aug 1976 Notes
9 Bryan Ferry This Is Tomorrow Feb 1977
15 Bryan Ferry Tokyo Joe May 1977
37 Bryan Ferry Sign Of The Times Aug 1978
10 Bryan Ferry Slave To Love May 1985
21 Bryan Ferry Don't Stop The Dance Aug 1985
22 Bryan Ferry Is Your Love Strong Enough Mar 1986
37 Bryan Ferry The Right Stuff Oct 1987
12 Bryan Ferry Let's Stick Together (remix) Oct 1988 Notes
18 Bryan Ferry I Put A Spell On You Mar 1993
23 Bryan Ferry Will You Love Me Tomorrow May 1993

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 21 July 2006 14:53 (nineteen years ago)

21 Brownstone Kiss And Tell Sep 1997

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 21 July 2006 14:53 (nineteen years ago)

On a related note - how the hell is one meant to remember which Bryan Ferry songs are Bryan Ferry and which are Roxy Music? They're all released over the same period, there isn't a great difference in style... what's it all about?

― ledge (ledge), Friday, 21 July 2006 15:01 (nineteen years ago)

I think the Good Doctor meant American one-hit wonders, Mark. Splitting hairs, perhaps, but there it is.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Friday, 21 July 2006 15:07 (nineteen years ago)

54. Endgames - First, Last, for Everything
55. Morris Minor and The Majors - Stutter Rap

― Rufus 3000 (Mr Noodles), Friday, 21 July 2006 15:13 (nineteen years ago)

56. Deon Estos - Heaven Help Me

― John Fredland (jfredland), Saturday, 22 July 2006 02:21 (nineteen years ago)

57. David & David - Welcome To The Boomtown

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Saturday, 22 July 2006 02:29 (nineteen years ago)

54. Endgames - First, Last, for Everything

Ooh, I've been listening to them a lot recently. Did you know they have a MySpace page? Though I thought they were from the early '80s. Eh, I'd be willing to let that slide.

58. Timex Social Club, "Rumors" (this has to have been ubiquitous throughout '86)
59. Pseudo Echo, "Funkytown" (this counts as an AMERICAN one-hit wonder)
60. Breakfast Club, "Right On Track" (the same group pre-fame Madonna drummed for)

I know a lot more '80s one hit wonders, but they're from the first half of the decade so I can't name them. Also, would Scritti Politti be considered a U.S. one-hit wonder? I know they hit big with "Perfect Way", but were any of the other singles off Cupid & Psyche '85 hits Stateside as well?

― Phoenix Dancing (krushsister), Saturday, 22 July 2006 03:12 (nineteen years ago)

man, fuck me for forgetting Pseudo Echo and Opus. And yeah, I think Scritti Politti counts.

And yeah, obviously a lot of great OHWs came from the first part of the decade, but those are the ones that everyone already knows and loves ("Safety Dance," "Tainted Love," "99 Luftballoons," "Come on Eileen," "Mickey"--the canonical OHWs, if you will). These are far lesser known and lesser celebrated, I think, but not entirely deservedly so.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Saturday, 22 July 2006 04:16 (nineteen years ago)

"tainted love"?

"come on eileen"?

one-hit wonders?

am i missing something here?

― grimly fiendish (grimlord), Saturday, 22 July 2006 08:46 (nineteen years ago)

Yes. You're not American.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 22 July 2006 09:10 (nineteen years ago)

61. Mai Tai - History
62. Taja Sevelle - Love is Contagious

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 22 July 2006 09:26 (nineteen years ago)

Yes, it's true -- we Americans by and large only know Soft Cell for "Tainted Love" (but oh man was that a huge hit) and Dexy's Midnight Runners for "Come On Eileen" (I myself couldn't name another Dexy's song if my life depended on it). It's only because of my interest in Soft Cell that I'm much more aware of their other singles/songs.

Thanks for telling me Scritti Politti counts, Dr. Bill:

63. Scritti Politti, "Perfect Way" (one of those rare songs I could never tire of)

― Phoenix Dancing (krushsister), Saturday, 22 July 2006 12:35 (nineteen years ago)

Skipping 27 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I heard that TPoH song on a retro radio show about a month ago for the first time in years. SO AWFUL!

Maybe you just had to be there on the couch watching MM. Serious pre-youtube type of moment.

82. Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet - Having An Average Weekend

― Rufus 3000 (Mr Noodles), Monday, 24 July 2006 12:36 (nineteen years ago)

Sheriff and the Medics are good calls. I'd say no on Club Nouveau because "Why You Treat Me So Bad?" has been sampled by so many hits.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Monday, 24 July 2006 12:46 (nineteen years ago)

83. Love and Rockets, "So Alive"

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 24 July 2006 12:51 (nineteen years ago)

84. Young MC, "Bust a Move"

― jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 24 July 2006 12:53 (nineteen years ago)

Love and Rockets one hit wonders?

― Rufus 3000 (Mr Noodles), Monday, 24 July 2006 12:56 (nineteen years ago)

In the UK: Love and Rockets had zero top 40 hits.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Monday, 24 July 2006 13:16 (nineteen years ago)

No New Tale To Tell or Ball Of Confusion did nothing?

― Rufus 3000 (Mr Noodles), Monday, 24 July 2006 13:18 (nineteen years ago)

84. Young MC, "Bust a Move

"Principal's Office," yo!

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Monday, 24 July 2006 13:46 (nineteen years ago)

can i lock this ridiculous thread yet?

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Monday, 24 July 2006 13:51 (nineteen years ago)

75. Sheriff - "When I'm With You"

B-b-b this one was originally a Canadian hit in '82! Then again in '88. (In the tradition of "Red Red Wine" etc.)

― M. Agony Von Bontee (M. Agony Von Bontee), Monday, 24 July 2006 14:04 (nineteen years ago)

(Which means I had two separate occasions to hate it)

― M. Agony Von Bontee (M. Agony Von Bontee), Monday, 24 July 2006 14:08 (nineteen years ago)

All scored more than one hit; Metallica several.

The Metallica thing was a joke. But Robbie Nevil's other hit Wot's It To Ya is by no means the song he's remembered for, and Escape Club's Shake For the Shiek hovered somewhere in the 20s or 30s iirc.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 24 July 2006 19:41 (nineteen years ago)

85. RJ's Latest Arrival - "Shackles On My Feet"
86. Al B. Sure - "Nite And Day"
87. Surface - "Happy"
88. The Family - "Screams Of Passion"
89. Madhouse - "Six"

― hank (hank s), Monday, 24 July 2006 19:58 (nineteen years ago)

Escape Club's Shake For the Shiek hovered somewhere in the 20s or 30s iirc.

How about the 1991 Top 10 hit "I'll Be There"? I heard at the market the other day.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Monday, 24 July 2006 20:07 (nineteen years ago)

Okay, you got me there. But to be honest, I didn't remember that song until just this moment.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 24 July 2006 20:12 (nineteen years ago)

90. Expose - "Point Of No Return"
91. Ta Mara And The Seen - "Everybody Dance"

― hank (hank s), Monday, 24 July 2006 20:14 (nineteen years ago)

92. Information Society - What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)

Club Nouveau also had a hit with "Jealousy," the response to or the impetus for TSC's "Rumors."

I don't know how they charted but I thought Expose had a few more hits like "Seasons Change" and maybe one or two others I can't think of.

― slugbuggy (slugbuggy), Monday, 24 July 2006 20:18 (nineteen years ago)

Expose scored four consecutive Top 10's.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Monday, 24 July 2006 20:21 (nineteen years ago)

oopsy!

what I meant to say was:

90. Miche'le - "No More Lies"

― hank (hank s), Monday, 24 July 2006 20:44 (nineteen years ago)

Expose were fantabulous, too!

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 24 July 2006 20:51 (nineteen years ago)

Am I the only one who remembers Robbie Nevil's "Just Like You" from about 1991? It was a fairly big hit in Australia, though I guess not elsewhere. And it's great!

― edward o (edwardo), Monday, 24 July 2006 20:54 (nineteen years ago)

I remember that Robbie Nevil song -- it did get some US airplay in the summer of '91.

91. The Deele - "Two Occasions"
92. Georgia Satellites - "Keep Your Hands To Yourself" (a certified conservative anthem, no less...)
93. Oran "Juice" Jones - "The Rain"
94. Levert - "Casanova"

― John Fredland (jfredland), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 00:14 (nineteen years ago)

i was gonna say "i go crazy" by flesh for lulu, but then i remembered "postcards from paradise." and then i realized i wasn't sure if either were actual hits. so. anyway.

― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 00:28 (nineteen years ago)

95. Baltimora, "Tarzan Boy"
96. Roachford, "Feel for Me (Cuddly Toy)"

(in the U.S. charts, of course)

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 00:35 (nineteen years ago)

Come on, "I'm An Adult Now" can't count for Canadians. "Hard to Laugh" still gets occasional airplay in Toronto. "Beautiful White!" Just going by memories, both were better than "I'm an Adult Now." Um, another one that was pretty good? "Cigarette Dangles" sucked but it charted, didn't it?

And Glass Tiger were serious career artists in Canada. Off the top of my head, "Thin Red Line," "Diamond Sun," "Watching Worlds Falling," (?) "I'm Still Looking For Something." I will now shudder and hang my head in shame.

Did Warrior Soul have a hit with "Losers?"

― Sundar (sundar), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 00:55 (nineteen years ago)

how the fuck did I miss The Juice.

You listed Baltimora already, Alfred.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 01:41 (nineteen years ago)

Sorry! Got carried away by Jimmy McShane in blue facepaint.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 02:07 (nineteen years ago)

Battleship Chains was a (deservedly) bigger hit for the Georgia Satetlites than Keep Your Hands To Yourself.

― everything (everything), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 02:29 (nineteen years ago)

woah, definitely not in this country it wasn't

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 02:35 (nineteen years ago)

"She's So Young" is my pick off of Love Junk, FWIW.
oh, and my Glass Tiger pick is Someday.

― derrick (derrick), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 06:44 (nineteen years ago)

According to Wikipedia, "Battleship Chains" was #86 and "Hippy Hippy Shake" was #45.

― John Fredland (jfredland), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 09:22 (nineteen years ago)

97. It Bites - Calling all the Heroes

― JohnFoxxsJuno (JohnFoxxsJuno), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 10:34 (nineteen years ago)

98. Starlight - Numero Uno

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 11:27 (nineteen years ago)

Benny Mardones's "Into the Night" made him a one-hit-wonder for a second time in '88.

Can't believe I forgot the Roachford, one of my all-time favorite songs.

― Joseph McCombs (Joseph McCombs), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 13:05 (nineteen years ago)

99. Device, "Hanging by a Heart Attack."
100. Romeo Void, "A Girl in Trouble (Is a Temporary Thing)"

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 13:11 (nineteen years ago)

why do these threads never end at 50?

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 13:12 (nineteen years ago)

While Jane Wiedlin might have been a one-hit wonder in her own right, shouldn't some sort of special concession be made for those OHWs who were once in a not-OHW band (in this case, The Go-Gos)?

― the doaple gonger (nickalicious), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 13:15 (nineteen years ago)

101. Faith No More "Epic"!

― the doaple gonger (nickalicious), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 13:16 (nineteen years ago)

xpost cuz the Go-Gos never had a hit over here?

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 13:17 (nineteen years ago)

Romeo Void broke up by 85.

― Rufus 3000 (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 13:19 (nineteen years ago)

and I would argue that "Never Say Never" is the song they're chiefly remembered by, chart or no...

― hank (hank s), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 13:39 (nineteen years ago)

shouldn't some sort of special concession be made for those OHWs who were once in a not-OHW band (in this case, The Go-Gos)?

i don't see why.

this One Hit Wonders thread is even worse than the previous 36!

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 13:49 (nineteen years ago)

and I would argue that "Never Say Never" is the song they're chiefly remembered by, chart or no...

Funny how endless 80s comps distort some bands.

― Rufus 3000 (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 14:40 (nineteen years ago)

You forget that dance scene in Reckless!

― slugbuggy (slugbuggy), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 17:11 (nineteen years ago)

http://snakemasterproductions.com/beta_movie_pics3/reckless.jpg

― slugbuggy (slugbuggy), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 18:20 (nineteen years ago)

yeah, "Never Say Never" is def. the song people remember RV by. I'm not even sure I've heard that other one.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 19:50 (nineteen years ago)

fifteen years pass...

i wanted to listen to Hipsway’s “Honeythief” this morning and let the album play through for the first time…ever? Pretty good INXS-lite imo. Had no idea!

― j.o.h.n. in evanston (john. a resident of chicago.), Saturday, 18 September 2021 16:12 (four years ago)

All I remember is that they called themselves "Hup Swee", even when they were trying to pronounce the words "hip sway".

― Halfway there but for you, Sunday, 19 September 2021 04:58 (four years ago)

Based on that post I correctly guessed that they were from Glasgow.

― ledge, Sunday, 19 September 2021 06:37 (four years ago)

LOL @ regional accents. God, how we hated all those Glasgow bands.

― Are You Still in Love With Me, Klas-Göran? (Tom D.), Sunday, 19 September 2021 08:51 (four years ago)

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