Is it a musical act with only one hit, or one with only one big pop hit?

Both.

My definition of one hit wonder is a band or musician with only one top 40 hit.

My definition of one hit wonder is a band or musician with only one top 40 hit.


Agreed! There have been many many big hit songs by artists whom you never had heard from again. The first one that comes to my mind is 1976's "Afternoon Delight" by The Starland Vocal Band. That was a monster hit and the band even got a variety show series just from that song. As far as I know they never had another hit song.

My definition of one hit wonder is a band or musician with only one top 40 hit.

Agreed and it's how Casey Kasem described a one hit wonder many times on American Top 40.

I agree that it's an artist who had only one top 40 hit song. Although it's interesting to think about, there are a several well known songs that never made it into the top 40 on any (American) song chart.

Ed.

Agreed! There have been many many big hit songs by artists whom you never had heard from again. The first one that comes to my mind is 1976's "Afternoon Delight" by The Starland Vocal Band. That was a monster hit and the band even got a variety show series just from that song. As far as I know they never had another hit song.

Starland Vocal Band had a few tunes that made the hot 100, but Afternoon Delight was their big money maker.

The band Paper Lace is an interesting one, their only top 40 hit, The Night Chicago Died, was also a #1 hit. Then they followed it up with a song titled The Black Eyed Boys, which barely missed the top 40, stalling at #41.

Paper Lace also recorded the song Billy Don't Be A Hero, but their version barely made the hot 100, stalling at #96, while the Bo Donaldson version was the big #1 hit. Strange but true.

How many times has a one hit wonder been covered by another OHW? One immediately comes to mind and both versions made the top 10. I'll let someone else name the one I'm speaking of. If you can think of any others please add them, but only one per-turn.

By the way, for the longest time I thought that Dr. & the Medics version of "Spirit in the Sky" made top 40, but it only got to #69.

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In the summertime, when the weather is hot, we grow a big old 'fro, and giant muttonchops.

How many times has a one hit wonder been covered by another OHW? One immediately comes to mind and both versions made the top 10. I'll let someone else name the one I'm speaking of. If you can think of any others please add them, but only one per-turn.

By the way, for the longest time I thought that Dr. & the Medics version of "Spirit in the Sky" made top 40, but it only got to #69.


I can think of one, but I don't remember in either case how high the song charted. In 80 or 81 Lipps Inc. had their only top 40 hit with Funkytown. A couple of years later the remake of Funkytown by a band called Pseudo-Echo (seriously) was also as far as I know their only top 40 hit. I'm not really a fan of either version.

Ed. ETA: Not sure if that's the song you're thinking of Zoneboy but I think it might be. I looked it up on Wikipedia and I think I'm right. It was the only top 40 hit in the U.S. for Lipps Inc. and Pseudo Echo, and Lipps Inc's. original version of Funkytown got all the way to number one while Pseudo Echo's only made it into the top 10 but was number one in their native Australia.

Ed.

You're right, "Funkytown" is it.

Agreed! There have been many many big hit songs by artists whom you never had heard from again. The first one that comes to my mind is 1976's "Afternoon Delight" by The Starland Vocal Band. That was a monster hit and the band even got a variety show series just from that song. As far as I know they never had another hit song.


That's funny! I just posted that song on another thread!!;) I always loved it! :) It's such a cute, beautiful, fun romantic song!! :heart:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NUkhMq_iRo

That's funny! I just posted that song on another thread!!;) I always loved it! :) It's such a cute, beautiful, fun romantic song!! :heart:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NUkhMq_iRo

The members of The Starland Vocal Band were originally backup singers for John Denver.

Ed.

You're right, "Funkytown" is it.

Cool.:cool:

Ed.

You know that Todd can give it to you. And well, he does. Language warning.

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