Best One Hit Wonders of the 1970s
One hit wonders from the 1970s, listed by performer. This is a list of popular 70s songs from bands or artists who only had one single reach the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. Many of these bands and artists had extensive careers, either in the US or other countries, they just didn't ever have another single reach the Top 40 after the songs on this list.Vote up and down your faves!
Many of the bands and artists listed had popular hits in their native countries. For example, Shocking Blue's only breakthrough song in America was the now-iconic "Venus," but they had a number of successful hits in their native Netherlands. Additionally, many of the artists on the list had massive success with other groups or projects. Lou Reed's only major single as a solo artist in the '70s was "Walk on the Wild Side," but of course he's more famous for his work with The Velvet Underground. Ace Frehley makes the list for his single "New York Groove," but had other singles as the lead guitarist for KISS. Finally, some artists on the list just had lengthy careers but a niche audience, such as Warren Zevon (whose "Werewolves in London" proved to be his only Top 40 single.) Other acts were simply flash-in-the-pans who had a big moment in the spotlight, then faded into obscurity.
This is an attempt to list every one hit wonder artist of the '70s. Think you have an example of a 1970s hit that was the only Top 40 US single for a band or artist? Let me know in the comments!
Many of the bands and artists listed had popular hits in their native countries. For example, Shocking Blue's only breakthrough song in America was the now-iconic "Venus," but they had a number of successful hits in their native Netherlands. Additionally, many of the artists on the list had massive success with other groups or projects. Lou Reed's only major single as a solo artist in the '70s was "Walk on the Wild Side," but of course he's more famous for his work with The Velvet Underground. Ace Frehley makes the list for his single "New York Groove," but had other singles as the lead guitarist for KISS. Finally, some artists on the list just had lengthy careers but a niche audience, such as Warren Zevon (whose "Werewolves in London" proved to be his only Top 40 single.) Other acts were simply flash-in-the-pans who had a big moment in the spotlight, then faded into obscurity.
This is an attempt to list every one hit wonder artist of the '70s. Think you have an example of a 1970s hit that was the only Top 40 US single for a band or artist? Let me know in the comments!
- 1Up 74Down 16Blues-rock“ 'Layla': Peaked at #10 on August 5, 1972. „
- 2Up 63Down 23Rock music, Hard rock, Pop rock More“ 'Love Hurts': Peaked at #8 on March 13, 1976. „
- 3Up 56Down 19Rock music, Hard rock, Blues-rock More“ 'All Right Now': Peaked at #4 on October 17, 1970. „
- 4Up 49Down 17Hard rock, Jazz fusion, Blues-rock More“ 'I'd Love to Change the World': Peaked at #40 on November 20, 1971. „
- 5Up 49Down 17Rock music“ 'Spirit in the Sky': Peaked at #3 on April 18, 1970. „
- 6Up 47Down 16Folk music, Alternative rock, Rock music More“ 'Werewolves of London': Peaked at #21 on May 13, 1978. „
- 7Up 59Down 25Rock music, Hard rock, Heavy metal More“ 'The Boys Are Back in Town': Peaked at #12 on July 24, 1976. „
- 8Up 32Down 6
Blues Image
“ 'Ride Captain Ride': Peaked at #4 on July 11, 1970. „ - 9Up 48Down 18
Ram Jam
Rock music“ 'Black Betty': Peaked at #18 on September 3, 1977. „ - 10Up 50Down 20Hard rock, Folk rock, Glam rock More“ 'Bang a Gong (Get It On)': Peaked at #10 on March 4, 1972. „
- 11Up 50Down 20Rock music, Hard rock, Folk rock More“ 'Walk on the Wild Side': Peaked at #16 on April 28, 1973. „
- 12Up 42Down 16Folk music, Rock music, Pop rock More“ 'In the Summertime': Peaked at #3 on September 12, 1970. „
- 13Up 47Down 21Folk music, Rock music, Hard rock More“ 'Me and Bobby McGee': Peaked at #1 on March 20, 1971. „
- 14Up 40Down 18Rock music, Country, Gospel music More“ 'Midnight Rider': Peaked at #19 on January 19, 1974. „
- 15Up 36Down 15Rock music, Rock and roll, Blues“ 'Fooled Around and Fell in Love': Peaked at #3 on May 22, 1976. „
- 16Up 36Down 15Rock music, Blues-rock, Drum and bass More“ 'Venus': Peaked at #1 on February 7, 1970. „
- 17Up 32Down 12
King Harvest
Rock music, Pop rock“ 'Dancin' in the Moonlight': Peaked at #13 on February 24, 1973. „ - 18Up 38Down 18Rock music, New Wave, Power pop More“ 'Cruel to Be Kind': Peaked at #12 on September 29, 1979. „
- 19Up 34Down 15Rock music, Hard rock, Rhythm and blues More“ 'Play That Funky Music': Peaked at #1 on September 18, 1976. „
- 20Up 39Down 20Pop music, Disco, Contemporary R&B“ 'The Hustle': Peaked at #1 on July 26, 1975. „
- 21Up 40Down 21Hard rock, Jazz fusion, Blues-rock More“ 'Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo': Peaked at #23 on March 23, 1974. „
- 22Up 40Down 21
The Buggles
“ 'Video Killed the Radio Star': Peaked at #40 on December 15, 1979. „ - 23Up 35Down 17
Patti Smith Group
“ 'Because the Night': Peaked at #13 on June 24, 1978. „ - 24Up 37Down 19Hard rock, Progressive rock, Pop music“ 'Hold Your Head Up': Peaked at #5 on August 26, 1972. „
- 25Up 38Down 20Rock music, Hard rock, Glam rock More“ 'All the Young Dudes': Peaked at #37 on September 23, 1972. „
- 26Up 32Down 15“ 'The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia': Peaked at #1 on April 7, 1973. „
- 27Up 35Down 18Reggae“ 'Kung Fu Fighting': Peaked at #1 on December 7, 1974. „
- 28Up 35Down 18Rock music, Hard rock, Pop rock More“ 'Mississippi Queen': Peaked at #21 on April 18, 1970. „
- 29Up 29Down 13Pop music, Middle of the road“ 'Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)': Peaked at #5 on March 28, 1970. „
- 30Up 25Down 10Folk rock“ 'One Toke Over the Line': Peaked at #10 on April 10, 1971. „
- 31Up 30Down 15Rock music, Psychedelic rock, Blues More“ 'Right Place Wrong Time': Peaked at #9 on June 30, 1973. „
- 32Up 24Down 10Rock music, Glam rock“ 'Hot Child in the City': Peaked at #1 on October 28, 1978. „
- 33Up 26Down 12Rock music, Jazz fusion“ 'Vehicle': Peaked at #2 on May 23, 1970. „
- 34Up 27Down 13Rhythm and blues, Disco“ 'Ring My Bell': Peaked at #1 on June 30, 1979. „
- 35Up 32Down 18Rock music, Pop music“ 'Seasons in the Sun': Peaked at #1 on March 2, 1974. „
- 36Up 33Down 19Folk music, Blues“ 'The City of New Orleans': Peaked at #18 on October 28, 1972. „
- 37Up 28Down 15Rhythm and blues, Pop music, Disco“ 'Turn the Beat Around': Peaked at #10 on August 14, 1976. „
- 38Up 36Down 23Pop music, Musical theatre“ 'Rock On': Peaked at #5 on March 9, 1974. „
- 39Up 31Down 19Rock music, Rhythm and blues, Soul music More“ 'Lovin' You': Peaked at #1 on April 5, 1975. „
- 40Up 23Down 12
Walter Egan
Rock music“ 'Magnet and Steel': Peaked at #8 on August 26, 1978. „ - 41Up 24Down 13
M
Synthpop, New Wave, Pop music“ 'Pop Muzik': Peaked at #1 on November 3, 1979. „ - 42Up 27Down 16Pop music“ 'Afternoon Delight': Peaked at #1 on July 10, 1976. „
- 43Up 15Down 6
Sanford/Townsend Band
“ 'Smoke from a Distant Fire': Peaked at #9 on September 17, 1977. „ - 44Up 31Down 21Folk music, Rock music, Pop music“ 'Welcome Back': Peaked at #1 on May 8, 1976. „
- 45Up 31Down 21Nashville sound, Country, Country pop“ '(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden': Peaked at #3 on February 13, 1971. „
- 46Up 22Down 13Folk rock, Funk“ 'Here Comes the Sun': Peaked at #16 on May 22, 1971. „
- 47Up 30Down 21Progressive rock, Pop rock, New Wave More“ 'Love Is the Drug': Peaked at #30 on March 20, 1976. „
- 48Up 16Down 8
Pilot
Pop rock“ 'Magic': Peaked at #5 on July 12, 1975. „ - 49Up 19Down 11Rhythm and blues, Soul music, Pop music More“ 'Hey There Lonely Girl': Peaked at #2 on February 21, 1970. „
- 50Up 22Down 14Rhythm and blues, Soul music, Pop music More“ 'Got to Be Real': Peaked at #12 on February 17, 1979. „
items 1 - 50 of 350
rerank this list your way embed list
what's a rerank? -
LOADING HISTORY
today on Ranker
start a list with results
close sorting window
Rank Name
use the search box to filter your list
leave a comment
Best One Hit Wonders of the 1970s at 8/06/2012 4:30 PM