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One Hit Wonders

One Hit Wonders

One-Hit Wonders: Lipps, Inc.

Lipps, Inc. - "Funky Town" (Casablanca, 1980)Lipps, Inc. - "Funky Town" (Casablanca, 1980)

By | March 2, 2012
The brainchild of Minneapolis native Steve Greenberg, Lipps, Inc. was a One-Hit Wonder of epic proportions with "Funky Town" hitting #1 and selling more than 2 million copies. Let's Go Down... Read more »
One Hit Wonders

One-Hit Wonders: Gary Numan’s “Cars”

Gary Numan - "Cars" (Atco, 1980)Gary Numan - "Cars" (Atco, 1980)

By | February 29, 2012
Though he's been releasing hit records in the UK for the better part of 30 years, Gary Numan's lone stab at the US chart was his iconic '80 single, "Cars." Let's Go for a Ride With Gary Read more »
One Hit Wonders

One-Hit Wonders: Devo

"Whip It Good" (YouTube)"Whip It Good" (YouTube)

By | February 28, 2012
As much an art project as a musical group, Devo scored their lone Top 40 hit in 1980 with their iconic tune, "Whip It." Tell Me More, Play the Song Read more »
One Hit Wonders

One-Hit Wonders: Delbert McClinton

Delbert McClinton Banging Out His Hit At Austin City Limits (YouTube)Delbert McClinton Banging Out His Hit at Austin City Limits (YouTube)

By | February 27, 2012
From weekend warrior on the Texas jukejoint circuit to harmonica player on Bruce Chanel's "Hey Baby" (Number 1 With a Bullet) to recording partner with Glen Clark (Sal's Boutique), Delbert McClinton has plenty of job titles on his resume.… Read more »
One Hit Wonders

One-Hit Wonders: Bob And Doug McKenzie’s “Take Off”

Bob And Doug McKenzie - "Take Off" (Mercury, 1982)Bob And Doug McKenzie - "Take Off" (Mercury, 1982)

By | February 24, 2012
Eh, hosers! Not only were Bob and Doug McKenzie the The Best Canadian Band of the 80s, they were a One Hit Wonder. So, "Take Off," eh? I've Just Put On My Toque Read more »
One Hit Wonders

One-Hit Wonders: Vangelis’ “Chariots Of Fire”

Vangelis - "Chariots of Fire" (Polydor, 1982)Vangelis - "Chariots of Fire" (Polydor, 1982)

By | February 22, 2012
We've all done it: run in faux slo-mo down the driveway to the sounds of "duh-da-da-da-dah-dah" in our minds. (That would be the theme to "Chariots of Fire".) Play That Song for Me Read more »
One Hit Wonders

One-Hit Wonders: Charlene And “I’ve Never Been To Me”

Charlene's "never been to me." The bus doesn't make a stop there. (YouTube)Charlene's "never been to me." The bus doesn't make a stop there. (YouTube)

By | February 20, 2012
With the help of legendary DJ Scott Shannon, Charlene's "I've Never Been to Me" went from flop to famous, five years after it was first released. Let's Get Our Charlene On Read more »
One Hit Wonders

One-Hit Wonders: The Dazz Band’s “Let It Whip”

The Dazz Band - "Let It Whip" (Motown, 1982)The Dazz Band - "Let It Whip" (Motown, 1982)

By | February 17, 2012
The Dazz Band were the sum of two bands that played the clubs of Cleveland during the 1970s. By the early '80s, they were on Motown, hitting the R&B charts and warming up for their lone single to make the pop charts. Let's Hear It Read more »
One Hit Wonders

One-Hit Wonders: Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love”

Soft Cell - "Tainted Love" (Sire, 1982)Soft Cell - "Tainted Love" (Sire, 1982)

By | February 15, 2012
Born of a friendship formed at Leeds Art College, Soft Cell was a project for which Marc Almond and David ball had less-than-top-ten expectations. Imagine their surprise when "Tainted Love" hit the top of the US pops. Let's Hear It Read more »
One Hit Wonders

One Hit Wonders: Karla Bonoff’s “Personally”

Photo from Karla Bonoff's single, "Personally" (Columbia, 1982)Photo From Karla Bonoff's Single, "Personally" (Columbia, 1982)

By | February 9, 2012
One of the most respected songwriters to come out of the Los Angeles country rock scene of the '70s, Karla Bonoff scored one hit in 1982 with "Personally." Let's Get Personal Read more »
One Hit Wonders

One-Hit Wonders: Musical Youth’s “Pass The Dutchie”

Musical Youth, 1983 (YouTube)Musical Youth, 1983 (YouTube)

By | February 8, 2012
Way back in 2009, we touted Musical Youth's "Pass the Dutchie" as one of the Top 10 One-Hit Wonders of 1984. Let's pass the Dutchie around one more time and give the Youth their props. Pass It This Way Read more »
One Hit Wonders

One-Hit Wonders: Dexy’s Midnight Runners’ “Come On Eileen”

Dexy's Midnight Runners - "Come On Eileen" (Mercury, 1983)Dexy's Midnight Runners - "Come On Eileen" (Mercury, 1983)

By | February 3, 2012
A tumultuous band subject to the tumultuous whims of leader Kevin Rowland, Dexy's Midnight Runners were a hit many times over in the UK. In the US, however, they've never managed to break free from the category known as… Read more »
One Hit Wonders

One-Hit Wonders: Thomas Dolby’s “She Blinded Me With Science”

Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me With Science" (Capitol, 1983)Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me With Science" (Capitol, 1983)

By | February 1, 2012
"I think it's the most meaningless song I've ever written," Thomas Dolby is quoted as saying about his one tune to make the US Top 40, "She Blinded Me With Science." Science! Read more »