One-hit wonders in the UK

From Free net encyclopedia

A one-hit wonder is a Top 40 phenomenon, the combination of artist and song that scores big in the music industry with one smash hit, but is unable to repeat the achievement with another hit. The term can refer to the artist, the song, or both together. The following were notable one-hit wonders in the United Kingdom:

It is important to note that this list contains artists who reached the top forty of the British singles chart with just one song. Additionally, an artist with two or more albums with a rank of one to forty inclusive on the British album sales chart may be taken off this chart.

Contents 1 1950s 2 1960s 3 1970s 4 1980s 5 1990s 6 See also

1950s

• "A Pub with No Beer" by Slim Dusty
• "Ballad of Davy Crockett" by Bill Hayes
• "Giddy-up-a-Ding-Dong" by Freddie Bell and The Bellboys
• "The Happy Wanderer (Der Frohliche Wanderer)" by Obernkirchen Children's Choir
• "Here Comes Summer" by Jerry Keller
• "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window" by Patti Page
• "It's Almost Tomorrow" by The Dreamweavers
• "Little Darlin"' by The Diamonds
• "Little Things Mean a Lot" by Kitty Kallen
• "This Ole House" by Billie Anthony with Eric Jupp and His Orchestra
• "Rockin' Robin" by Bobby Day
• "Tequila" by The Champs
• "Shifting Whispering Sands" by Eamonn Andrews with Ron Goodwin and his Orchestra and Chorus
• "To Know Him Is to Love Him" by The Teddy Bears
• "Tom Hark" by Elias and His Zigzag Jive Flutes
• "Unchained Melody" by Al Hibbler
• "Volare" by Domenico Modungo
• "When" by the Kalin Twins
• "When the Boys Talk About the Girls" by Valerie Carr

1960s

• "98.6" by Keith
• "Big Time Operator" by Zoot Money and The Big Roll Band
• "Blue Moon" by Marcels
• "Dominique" by The Singing Nun (Jeanine Deckers)
• "Can't You Hear My Heart" by Danny Rivers
• "Elusive Butterfly" by Bob Lind
• "Everything I Am" by Plastic Penny
• "Fire" by the Crazy World of Arthur Brown
• "Green Tambourine" by Lemon Pipers
• "I'm the Urban Spaceman" by Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
• "In the Mood" by Ernie Fields' Orchestra
• "In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus)" by Zager and Evans
• "Je T'Aime... Moi Non Plus" by Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg (issued three times, reached number two (July 1969), number one (October 1969), and thirty-one (December 1974))
• "Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)" by John Fred and The Playboy Band
• "Michelle" by The Overlanders
• "Mother-in-Law" by Ernie K-Doe
• "Nut Rocker" by B. Bumble And The Stingers
• "Only the Hearteaches" by Houston Wells
• "Peppermint Twist" by Danny Peppermint and The Jumping Jacks
• "Rhythm of the Rain" by Cascades
• "San Francisco (Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)" by Scott McKenzie (McKenzie had another hit in the U.S.)
• "Something in the Air" by Thunderclap Newman
• "Sugar Sugar" by The Archies (this manufactured band had several hits in the U.S.)
• "Sukiyaki" by Kyu Sakamoto
• "Tease Me" by Keith Kelly
• "Tell Laura I Love Her" by Ricky Valance
• "With a Little Help from My Friends" by the Young Idea
• "Zorba's Dance" by Marcello Minerbi

1970s

• "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" by McFadden and Whitehead
• "After the Goldrush" by Prelude
• "Afternoon Delight" by Starland Vocal Band
• "Alright Baby" by Stevenson's Rocket
• "Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)" by Deodato
• "Back of my Hand" by The Jags
• "Barbados" by Typically Tropical
• "Beach Baby" by First Class
• "Because the Night" by Patti Smith Group
• "Black Betty" by Ram Jam
• "Black Is Black" by La Belle Epoque
• "Born to Be Alive" by Patrick Hernandez
• "Car 67" by Driver 67
• "Convoy" by C.W. McCall (McCall had another hit in the U.S.)
• "Couldn't Get It Right" by Climax Blues Band
• "Desiderata" by Les Crane
• "Disco Duck (Part One)" by Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots
• "Don't Hold Back" by Chanson
• "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Thelma Houston
• "Drummer Man" by Tonight
• "Dynomite (Part 1)" by Tony Camilio's Bazuka
• "Eighteen with a Bullet" by Pete Wingfield
• "El Bimbo" by Bimbo Jet
• "Emotion" by Samantha Sang
• "The Entertainer" by Marvin Hamlisch
• "Every Night" by Phoebe Snow
• "Eye Level" by the Simon Park Orchestra
• "Feelings" by Morris Albert
• "A Fifth of Beethoven" by Walter Murphy and The Big Apple Band
• "Float On" by The Floaters
• "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" by Elvin Bishop
• "Funky Nassau" by The Beginning of the End
• "Groovin' with Mr Bloe" by Mr. Bloe
• "Gimme Dat Ding" by The Pipkins
• "Grandad" by Clive Dunn
• "Happy Days" by Pratt and McClain with Brotherlove
• "Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet" by Gonzalez
• "(Hey There) Lonely Girl" by Eddie Holman
• "Honky Tonk Train Blues" by Keith Emerson
• "House of the Rising Sun" by Frijid Pink
• "How Long" by Ace
• "I Can Help" by Billy Swan
• "I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper" by (Sarah Brightman and) Hot Gossip
• "I Love the Nightlife (Disco 'Round)" by Alicia Bridges
• "I Remember Elvis Presley (the King Is Dead)" by Danny Mirror
• "I See a Star" by Mouth and MacNeal
• "I'm Doin' Fine Now" by New York City
• "I've Been Lonely for So Long" by Frederick Knight
• "If" by Telly Savalas
• "If I Had Words" by Scott Fitzgerald and Yvonne Keeley (with The St Thomas More School Choir)
• "Jilted John" by Jilted John
• "Journey" by Duncan Browne
• "Jungle Fever" by Chakachas
• "Jungle Rock" by Hank Mizell
• "Just When I Needed You Most" by Randy Vanwarmer
• "Keep on Dancin"' by Gary's Gang
• "Let's All Chant" by Michael Zager Band
• "Life Is a Rock (but the Radio Rolled Me)" by Reunion
• "Little Does She Know" by The Kursaal Flyers
• "The Lone Ranger" by Quantum Jump
• "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" by Edison Lighthouse
• "Love Is in the Air" by John Paul Young
• "Love of the Common People" by Nicky Thomas
• "Lovin' You" by Minnie Riperton
• "Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs" by Brian and Michael
• "Morning Dance" by Spyro Gyra
• "Mother of Mine" by Neil Reid
• "Movie Star" by Harpo
• "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" by Steam
• "Neanderthal Man" by Hotlegs
• "No Charge" by J. J. Barrie
• "One Day at a Time" by Lena Martell
• "One Rule for You" by After the Fire (this band had a huge hit in the U.S. with "Der Kommisar")
• "Pinball" by Brian Protheroe
• "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry
• "Pop Muzik" by M
• "Popcorn" by Hot Butter
• "Resurrection Shuffle" by Ashton, Gardner and Dyke
• "Rio" by Michael Nesmith
• "Rose Garden" by Lynn Anderson
• "Seaside Shuffle" by Terry Dactyl and The Dinosaurs
• "Ring My Bell" by Anita Ward
• "Run Run Run" by Jo Jo Gunne
• "Shame, Shame, Shame" by Shirley and Company
• "Smokin' in the Boys' Room" by Brownsville Station (they had another hit in the U.S.)
• "Soul Dracula" by Hot Blood
• "Spirit in the Sky" by Norman Greenbaum
• "Standing in the Road" by Blackfoot Sue
• "Substitute" by Clout
• "Summertime City" by Mike Batt with The New Edition
• "Teddy Bear" by Red Sovine
• "Telephone Man" by Meri Wilson
• "Torn Between Two Lovers" by Mary MacGregor
• "Up Town Top Ranking" by Althia and Donna
• "Vehicle" by The Ides of March
• "Venus" by Shocking Blue
• "Wand'rin' Star" by Lee Marvin
• "The Witch Queen of New Orleans" by Redbone
• "Why Can't We Live Together" by Timmy Thomas
• "Woodstock" by Matthews' Southern Comfort
• "You're Gonna Get Next to Me" by Bo Kirkland and Ruth Davis

1980s

• "99 Luftballons" by Nena
• "A Walk in the Park" by Nick Straker Band
• "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going" by Jennifer Holliday
• "Anyone Can Fall in Love" by Anita Dobson
• "Axel F" by Harold Faltermeyer
• "Baby Come to Me" by Patti Austin (with James Ingram, who is not a one-hit wonder)
• "Big in Japan" by Alphaville (they had other hits in U.S and Europe)
• "Birdie Song (The Birdie Dance)" by The Tweets
• "Body Work" by Hot Streak
• "Brilliant Mind" by Furniture
• "Broken Land" by The Adventures
• "Brother Louie" by Modern Talking (who had other international hits)
• "Camouflage" by Stan Ridgway
• "Can't Take My Eyes off You" by Boystown Gang
• "The Captain of Her Heart" by Double
• "Casanova" by Coffee
• "Chalk Dust — the Umpire Strikes Back" by The Brat
• "Cry" by Waterfront
• "Da Da Da" by Trio (Trio had several other hits in their native Germany)
• "Dance Hall Days" by Wang Chung (they also had several hits in the U.S.)
• "Danger Games" by Pinkees
• "Dolce Vita" by Ryan Paris
• "Don't Push It Don't Force It" by Leon Haywood
• "Driving Away from Home (Jim's Tune)" by It's Immaterial
• "Drowning in Berlin" by The Mobiles
• "Echo Beach" by Martha and the Muffins
• "Ever So Lonely" by Monsoon
• "The First Picture of You" by The Lotus Eaters
• "First Time" by Robin Beck
• "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins (Loggins had several hits in the U.S.)
• "Funkytown" by Lipps, Inc.
• "Funky Town" by Pseudo Echo
• "Genie" by B, B and Q Band
• "Girlie Girlie" by Sophia George
• "The Groove" by Rodney Franklin
• "Heartache Avenue" by The Maisonettes
• "I Can't Wait" by Nu Shooz
• "I'd Rather Jack" by Reynolds Girls
• "I Eat Cannibals" by Toto Coelo
• "I Got You" by Split Enz
• "I'm in Love with a German Film Star" by The Passions
• "It's My Party" by (Dave Stewart with) Barbara Gaskin (Stewart isn't a one-hit wonder)
• "It's Raining Men" by the Weather Girls
• "I've Never Been to Me" by Charlene
• "I Won't Let You Down" by PhD
• "Is It a Dream" by Classix Nouveaux
• "Is Vic There?" by Department S
• "Jack Your Body" by Steve 'Silk' Hurley
• "Japanese Boy" by Aneka
• "Just Say No" by Grange Hill Cast
• "Keeping the Dream Alive" by Münchener Freiheit (they had other hits in their native Germany)
• "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life" by Indeep
• "Let It Be" by Ferry Aid
• "Lies" by Jonathan Butler
• "Life in a Northern Town" by The Dream Academy
• "Live is Life" by Opus
• "Living on Video" by Trans-X
• "Magic Smile" by Rosie Vela
• "Mickey" by Toni Basil
• "Move Closer" by Phyllis Nelson
• "My Favourite Waste of Time" by Owen Paul
• "A Night in New York" by Elbow Bones and The Racketeers
• "N-N-Nineteen Not Out" by The Commentators
• "(Nothin' Serious) Just Buggin"' by Whistle
• "O Superman" by Laurie Anderson
• "Obsession" by Animotion (they also had several hits in the U.S.)
• "Oldest Swinger in Town" by Fred Wedlock
• "Only Crying" by Keith Marshall
• "The Politics of Dancing" by Re-Flex
• "Pump up the Volume / Anitina (The First Time)" by MARRS
• "Radio Africa" by Latin Quarter
• "Real Fashion Reggae Style" by Carey Johnson
• "Rhythm of the Night" by DeBarge
• "Saddle Up" by David Christie
• "Save Your Love" by Renee and Renato
• "Shaddap You Face" by Joe Dolce Music Theatre
• "The Show" by Doug E. Fresh and The Get Fresh Crew
• "Since Yesterday" by Strawberry Switchblade
• "Solid" by Ashford and Simpson
• "Soul Train" by Swans Way
• "Spirit in the Sky" by Doctor and the Medics (this song was also a one-hit wonder when originally recorded by Norman Greenbaum)
• "St. Elmo's Fire (Man in Motion)" by John Parr (Parr had another U.S. hit)
• "Stairway to Heaven" by Far Corporation
• "Starting Together" by Su Pollard
• "Stutter Rap (No Sleep 'til Bedtime)" by Morris Minor and the Majors
• "Suddenly" by Angry Anderson
• "Theme From M*A*S*H (Suicide Is Painless)", by The Mash (This song was the theme song of the film, M*A*S*H)
• "Tarzan Boy" by Baltimora
• "There's No One Quite Like Grandma" by St Winifred's School Choir
• "Together We Are Beautiful" by Fern Kinney]
• "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors
• "Waiting for a Star to Fall" by Boy Meets Girl
• "Waiting for the Train" by Flash And The Pan
• "Words" by FR David
• "You're the Voice" by John Farnham

1990s

• "7:7 Expansion" by System 7
• "A London Thing" by Scott Garcia featuring MC Styles
• "A Whole New World (Aladdin's Theme)" by Regina Belle (and Peabo Bryson, who was not a one-hit wonder)
• "After All" by The Frank and Walters
• "All This Love I'm Giving" by Music and Mystery featuring Gwen McCrae
• "Angels Go Bald Too" by Howie B (he has produced and remixed many other hits)
• "Baby, I Love Your Way" by Big Mountain
• "Call Me" by Le Click
• "Can You Dig It?" by The Mock Turtles (this song was a hit twice; in 1991 and 2003)
• "Chocolate Salty Balls" by Chef
• "Coco Jamboo" by Mr. President
• "Doop" by Doop
• "Enjoy Yourself" by A Plus
• "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" by Baz Luhrmann
• "Flat Beat" by Mr. Oizo
• "Found Love (remix)" by Double Dee featuring Dany
• "Friends Forever" by Thunderbugs
• "Funk Dat" by Sagat
• "Gamemaster" by the Lost Tribe
• "I'll Be There for You (Theme from "Friends") by The Rembrandts
• "I Need to Know" by Marc Anthony (he had other hits in the U.S.)
• "If I Ever Fall in Love" by Shai(Shai had other hits in the U.S.)
• "The Impression That I Get" by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
• "In the Meantime" by Spacehog
• "It's a Fine Day" by Opus III
• "Informer" by Snow (Snow had another hit in the U.S.)
• "Lullaby" by Shawn Mullins
• "Macarena" by Los Del Rio
• "Mambo No 5 (A Little Bit of ...)" by Lou Bega (Bega had another hit in the U.S.)
• "Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo" by Mr. Hankey
• "Music Is the Answer (Dancin' and Prancin')" by Danny Tenaglia and Celeda
• "Music Sounds Better with You" by Stardust
• "Naked Eye" by Luscious Jackson
• "Night Fever" by Adam Garcia
• "No Tengo Dinero" by Los Umbrellos
• "On a Rope" by Rocket From the Crypt
• "Ooh La La" by the Wiseguys
• "People Are Still Having Sex" by LaTour
• "Puss" by The Jesus Lizard
• "Riverdance" by Bill Whelan featuring Anuna and RTE Concert Orchestra
• "Semi-Charmed Life" by Third Eye Blind (they had other hits in the U.S.)
• "Sex and Candy" by the Marcy Playground
• "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Abigail
• "Something Stupid" by Amanda Barrie and Johnny Briggs
• "Spend the Night" by Danny J. Lewis
• "Stay (I Missed You)" by Lisa Loeb and 9 Stories
• "That's the Way You Do It" by Purple Kings
• "The Bouncer" by Kicks Like a Mule
• "The Stonk" by Hale and Pace and the Stonkers
• "There She Goes" by The La's (their bass player John Power later fronted Cast, who had seven top-ten hits)
• "Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh!" by The Teletubbies
• "U Don't Have to Say U Love Me" by Mash!
• "Volume 1 (What You Want What You Need)" by Industry Standard
• "What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes
• "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" by Paula Cole (Cole had more hits in the U.S.)
• "You Get What You Give" by New Radicals
• "You Talk Too Much" by The Sultans Of Ping FC
• "Your Woman" by White Town

See also

• One-hit wonders in Canada
• One-hit wonders in the United States