One Hit Wonder Or Not?

[OldFogey]

OK -- so there are some great one hit wonders that didn't make it onto Sayburr's battle, so we're going to have a follow up.

It did get a little tiresome dealing with "so and so is not a one hit wonder" arguments, so I'm trying something a little different. I'm using the same wiki pages Sayburr did, but those pages italicize the name of some artists because they had success in other places if not on the Hot 100 again. As a rule I am excluding artists whose names are italicized, but there are some I'm torn about. So I thought I'd see what y'all think.

So here's a little poll to see whether you would consider these artists one hit wonders or not -- or another way to put it is whether you would like to see them in a battle of one hit wonders.

Emerson, Lake and Palmer, "In the Beginning."
Dr. John "Right Place, Wrong Time"
Beck, "Loser"
Blue Cheer, "Summertime Blues"
Roxy Music, "Love is the Drug"
Presidents of the USA, "Peaches"

Here are some I did not include because I think they clearly are not 1HW
Randy Newman, "Short People" -- doesn't need to be identified with this song
Nick Lowe, "Cruel to Be Kind" -- if the song were better, I'd be tempted but it's just nice
Rush, "New World Man" -- do I need to explain?
Donald Fagen, "IGY" -- one of the two leaders of Steely Dan, he doesn't need any more plugs

Here are some I have already decided to include even though it could be argued they are not 1HW

Mott the Hoople, "All the Young Dudes" -- to me they will always be known for this song.
Rick Derringer, "Rock and Roll Hootchiecoo" -- in the other bands he was involved with that had hits, he was not the leader
Richie Havens, "Here Comes the Rain" -- just too good to pass up
Ten Years After, "I'd Love to Change the World"
Elvin Bishop Band, "Fooled Around and Fell In Love" -- same as for Derringer
Kraftwerk, "Autobahn" -- just too epic

But feel free to argue with me about these exclusions and inclusions.

In the actual poll vote for everyone you think should be in the battle.

[sg327]

Yeah...I liked the one hit wonder battles.

[OldFogey]

Yeah...I liked the one hit wonder battles.

Sorry man -- I hit enter before I should have so the question wasn't clear.

Mind going back and voting for the artists you think should be in the follow up battle? Vote for as many as you like.

[sg327]

Sorry man -- I hit enter before I should have so the question wasn't clear.

Mind going back and voting for the artists you think should be in the follow up battle? Vote for as many as you like.

Sorry...didn't know there was a poll to go with it. Will do.

[a21schizoidman]

ELP isn't a one-hit wonder as in the definition of "a band known for only one song" but in Sayburr's definition yes, they are, but I will use the first one, saying no they are not b/c Lucky Man and Karn Evil 9 are much more well known, then Fanfare For the Common Man and Tank

[a21schizoidman]

Emerson, Lake and Palmer, "In the Beginning."
Dr. John "Right Place, Wrong Time"
Beck, "Loser"
Blue Cheer, "Summertime Blues"
Roxy Music, "Love is the Drug"
Presidents of the USA, "Peaches"
Randy Newman, "Short People" -- doesn't need to be identified with this song
Nick Lowe, "Cruel to Be Kind" -- if the song were better, I'd be tempted but it's just nice
Rush, "New World Man" -- do I need to explain?
Donald Fagen, "IGY" -- one of the two leaders of Steely Dan, he doesn't need any more plugs
Mott the Hoople, "All the Young Dudes" -- to me they will always be known for this song.
Rick Derringer, "Rock and Roll Hootchiecoo" -- in the other bands he was involved with that had hits, he was not the leader
Richie Havens, "Here Comes the Rain" -- just too good to pass up
Ten Years After, "I'd Love to Change the World"
Elvin Bishop Band, "Fooled Around and Fell In Love" -- same as for Derringer
Kraftwerk, "Autobahn" -- just too epic

i could include all those in bold, Richie Havens? What about Freedom and Handsom Johnny? Ten Years After is much more well known for "I'm Going Home" I already explained ELP, Beck I could say either way, but Devil's Haircut is the first song by him that comes to my mind

[Sayburr]

Lump was a pretty big hit for the Prez of USA... Weirld Al even did a pariody of it.

[Keebler]

I'm never even heard "Peaches." I would call Presidents of the USA a one-hit wonder on the merits of "Lump" alone.

Beck is not a one-hit wonder. "E-Pro"? "Where It's At"? "The New Pollution"? Even "Devils' Haircut."

[OldFogey]

ELP isn't a one-hit wonder as in the definition of "a band known for only one song" but in Sayburr's definition yes, they are, but I will use the first one, saying no they are not b/c Lucky Man and Karn Evil 9 are much more well known, then Fanfare For the Common Man and Tank

This is what I want -- your opinion.

And I think those are good reasons.

I contrast that for example with Dr. John who has had a great career but there's really only that one song that by far most people would be able to associate with him.

[OldFogey]

I'm never even heard "Peaches." I would call Presidents of the USA a one-hit wonder on the merits of "Lump" alone.

Beck is not a one-hit wonder. "E-Pro"? "Where It's At"? "The New Pollution"?

Yeah -- that's my reservation about Presidents -- are they really only known for one song, and is this the one?

But for those who need a refresher about the song Peaches, here's a vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvAnQqVJ3XQ

Beck, I'm not so sure about -- people who really know his work know he's had a lot of other great stuff, but for the vast majority I would think the one song they know is Loser. Plus it's so freakin' awesome.

[OldFogey]

i could include all those in bold, Richie Havens? What about Freedom and Handsom Johnny? Ten Years After is much more well known for "I'm Going Home" I already explained ELP, Beck I could say either way, but Devil's Haircut is the first song by him that comes to my mind

It's a good set of choices.

My feeling about Richie, TYA and Beck: bottom line, that version of Here Comes the Sun is so kick a55 I want it in. Beyond that, a performance that awesome that it breaks an artist like Richie into the mainstream deserves recognition. I think people only know Freedom from the movie, "Woodstock." It doesn't get airplay like Here Comes the Sun. And a similar argument goes for TYA.

On Beck -- I think in the world at large, Loser is the song people know.

But I asked because I wanted to see what all of you think and I'll take that into account.

[Keebler]

Well, I don't really like Beck at all, but I basically just named 4 or 5 singles that were pretty well played at their time. I would hope that other people that aren't necessarily fans or well versed in music could still recognize those songs.

[OldFogey]

Well, I don't really like Beck at all, but I basically just named 4 or 5 singles that were pretty well played at their time. I would hope that other people that aren't necessarily fans or well versed in music could still recognize those songs.

Fair enough. I'll take that into account.

[afterstasis]

yeah, i agree that beck and PUSA are not one-hit wonders.

[ShiningIdeal]

I honestly think its possible - at least locally - the radio favored Devil's Haircut a lot more than Loser and it was a lot more iconic as a case for one hit (Note - of course I don't really think he is but.. hell I often forget about the song Loser when thinking of him).

[OldFogey]

You know the more I'm looking the more I'm convinced Wiki just had Presidents of the USA wrong. The web page for PUSA says Lump reached #26 on the US chart -- which is vague, but could mean the Hot 100. But it says Peaches reached #29 on the same chart, so that's good enuff for me.

PUSA is out.

Beck had one other hit to make it on the "Mainstream Rock" chart -- E-Pro. Maybe that chart is a good cross check.

[OldFogey]

Well, I don't really like Beck at all, but I basically just named 4 or 5 singles that were pretty well played at their time. I would hope that other people that aren't necessarily fans or well versed in music could still recognize those songs.


yeah, i agree that beck and PUSA are not one-hit wonders.


I honestly think its possible - at least locally - the radio favored Devil's Haircut a lot more than Loser and it was a lot more iconic as a case for one hit (Note - of course I don't really think he is but.. hell I often forget about the song Loser when thinking of him).

Great feedback guys. Much as I love the song, I think it's best to leave it out.

[defenestrater]

Is Roxy Music really best known for Love is the Drug? What about More Than This? I hear that song all the time.

The Presidents are probably a better case for a two hit wonder than a one. :p

In terms of popularity Loser was easily the biggest thing Beck's done, but that doesn't mean he never had any other successful singles. Like others have said, Odelay had two or three big songs and E-Pro did pretty well for him too. I know you've already decided on Beck Fogey, I'm just throwing my two cents in.

[OldFogey]

Is Roxy Music really best known for Love is the Drug? What about More Than This? I hear that song all the time.

The Presidents are probably a better case for a two hit wonder than a one. :p

In terms of popularity Loser was easily the biggest thing Beck's done, but that doesn't mean he never had any other successful singles. Like others have said, Odelay had two or three big songs and E-Pro did pretty well for him too. I know you've already decided on Beck Fogey, I'm just throwing my two cents in.

Your $0.02 always welcome, Defenestrater.

I think you're right about PUSA -- and a 2HW thread could be awesome.

About Roxy Music. Avalon was an awesome album, and had several great tracks. But oddly enough none of them charted in the US. Oddly, Roxy's next biggest chart success was with "Dance Away" from Manifesto.

I'm still on the fence about Roxy, but let's see how the rest of this poll shakes out. Right now I'm leaning to putting them in.

[a21schizoidman]

Your $0.02 always welcome, Defenestrater.

I think you're right about PUSA -- and a 2HW thread could be awesome.

About Roxy Music. Avalon was an awesome album, and had several great tracks. But oddly enough none of them charted in the US. Oddly, Roxy's next biggest chart success was with "Dance Away" from Manifesto.

I'm still on the fence about Roxy, but let's see how the rest of this poll shakes out. Right now I'm leaning to putting them in.

lol, I've got manifesto on vinyl....

[bood-boy]

Presidents of the USA, "Peaches"

Lump got much more airplay than Peaches did.

[Soror_YZBL]

I think all of your choices are of really well established and respected artists. Presidents would be good, if people could decide whether their one hit was "lump" or "Peaches". Beck is bad, he's sold way too many records and is an icon. I wouldn't go so far as to call "love is a drug" a hit, it never even made it to the top 20 (and again - iconic). Same as ELP, they also never had a "hit song". And Blue Cheer? I had to google them, and I'm pretty old.

The idea of a one hit wonder is really someone that comes then goes. The Brand New Heavies, for example. Dee-Light is another great example, or Flock of Seagulls (although, I did hear their "other hit" on Psych the other day).

[OldFogey]

I think all of your choices are of really well established and respected artists. Presidents would be good, if people could decide whether their one hit was "lump" or "Peaches". Beck is bad, he's sold way too many records and is an icon. I wouldn't go so far as to call "love is a drug" a hit, it never even made it to the top 20 (and again - iconic). Same as ELP, they also never had a "hit song". And Blue Cheer? I had to google them, and I'm pretty old.

The idea of a one hit wonder is really someone that comes then goes. The Brand New Heavies, for example. Dee-Light is another great example, or Flock of Seagulls (although, I did hear their "other hit" on Psych the other day).

Well -- the idea of a one-hit wonder has never been precisely defined. However, the standard definition has usually been an act that has had only one single that reached the top 40 on what is now called the Billboard Hot 100. Now -- I am not completely comfortable with that, which is why I'm posing this question first. If you want more background on this, check out this thread:

http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78110

And for background on the battle of the one hit wonders before this you can start here:

http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56650

Hope that clarifies

[OldFogey]

Lump got much more airplay than Peaches did.

That's what I thought, too -- I'm pretty convinced Wiki got this one wrong.

[Soror_YZBL]

Oh that means that ANYONE can be a one hit wonder. It takes the fun out of it, especially since there are so many *actual* one hit wonders out there. There's no reason to pull Dr John, Roxy Music and Beck in to a list when you can have Jack Wagner, Bow Wow Wow and the Divinyls (to be fair, I have all of their 80's stuff, but they were only big in australia, I think). Oh, and Len! Love Len, great record, no idea how they only got one hit!

[OldFogey]

Oh that means that ANYONE can be a one hit wonder. It takes the fun out of it, especially since there are so many *actual* one hit wonders out there. There's no reason to pull Dr John, Roxy Music and Beck in to a list when you can have Jack Wagner, Bow Wow Wow and the Divinyls (to be fair, I have all of their 80's stuff, but they were only big in australia, I think). Oh, and Len! Love Len, great record, no idea how they only got one hit!

Opinion noted.

[OldFogey]

Bumping this to get feedback -- I'll be starting the best of the rest battle of 1HWs tonight after this poll closes.

The first battle up will cover roughly the 50's ('55-'59).

[OldFogey]

Thanks everyone for voting and discussing.

My takeaway from this list is to add Blue Cheer and Dr. John to the competition, but leave the others out. What it ultimately comes down to is how readily you could name another song associated with that act.

For the record, I don't buy the argument that a one hit wonder is a flash in the pan -- someone who lucked into that one magic song. One hit wonders are about mainstream commercial success. An artist can have a long, well-respected career out of the mainstream. Then they hit that one song that becomes their trademark in the popular culture. So I have no problem with including Dr. John here, for example.

Oh, also -- I'm still on the fence about Richie Havens and Ten Years After. They won't come up for a little while, so if anyone has an opinion, feel free to let it be known. I'm kind of leaning toward leaving them out, because I'm not sure these are the one songs those acts area associated with, like Schiz said. But I wonder how much of that is just due to the movie Woodstock. As for actual airplay, I think these are the songs you hear.

But man -- I'd really love to have that version of Here Comes the Sun in the battle!! I wonder how many people know it? Guess it just has to go on the greatest covers list.

[CheezerRox]

Sorry, I came in to early to vote in the poll, but I choose all of them, mostly Blue Cheer. :D

[flop404]

E, L & P sold around 30 Millions albums, and Roxy Music features Brian Eno, whose influence over about everything those last 35 years is huge.

That doesn't fit well in "One Hit Wonder" as I imagine them, ie a song everyone knows but nobody knows who performed it (typically, Roger Glover's "Love is All")

edit : well, a bit late there...