September 2019 – What Was Left In

Each week charts come out that list the top hits of the week. There are numerous charts, but I usually only consider the Billboard Hot 100. Other charts have listed Country hits, R&B hits, Easy Listening hits, and Mainstream Rock hits.

To qualify as a one-hit-wonder, a group should only have one record that hits the charts. Most radio stations only listed or did countdowns for the Top Forty records. The most popular countdown was Casey Kasem and his American Top Forty, which continues to this day (although without Casey). Wikipedia has a list of of all the one-hit wonders that meet that criteria.

A few notable wonders were even more amazing because the groups hit number one and never again hit the Hot 100. This list covers 1955-1989, my usual era of interest. I’ve excluded records where two or three artists with other solo hits sang together and hit the charts only once as well as records like At This Moment by Billy Vera and the Beaters since Billy had several other solo hits as well.

Let Me Go Lover – Joan Weber in 1955
Moonglow and Theme From “Picnic” – Morris Stoloff in 1956
He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands – Laurie London in 1958
Get a Job – The Silhouettes in 1958
Little Star – The Elegants in 1958
Alley Oop – Hollywood Argyles in 1960
Dominique – The Singing Nun in 1963
In The Year 2525 – Zager & Evans in 1969
Pop Musik – M in 1979
Funkytown – Lipps Inc. in 1980
Chariots of Fire – Titles – Vangelis in 1982
We Are The World – USA For Africa in 1985
Miami Vice Theme – Jan Hammer in 1985
Don’t Worry, Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin in 1988
When I’m With You – Sherriff 1989 (the same record reached #61 in 1983

Most people would expect songs like Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye by Steam (1969 again) to be on that list, but they followed that number one single with I’ve Gotta Make You Love Me, which reached #46 a year later. There are a lot more records like that if you only look at artists that only hit the top forty once.

While this list of one-hit wonders is interesting, all of these records regularly get airplay (with the possible exception of the early fifties records since most stations ignore those years now).

I continue to be more interested in one-hit wonders like Ariel by Dean Friedman. The record was his only visit to the top 100, reaching #26 in 1977. If you’ve never heard the record, you’re in for a treat! Shucks, you can even watch him sing the song live.

Useful book for searching for one-hit wonders: Billboard Hot 100 Annual – Joel Whitburn (2006)