Best One Hit Wonders of the 1970s Bands/Musicians

Best One Hit Wonders of the 1970s

rockboy rockboy 33,885 views 350 items 205 voters
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!
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Rank     Name
  1. 1
    Up 73
    Down 16
    Blues-rock
    “'Layla': Peaked at #10 on August 5, 1972.”
  2. 2
    Up 63
    Down 22
    Rock music, Hard rock, Pop rock More
    “'Love Hurts': Peaked at #8 on March 13, 1976.”
  3. 3
    Up 54
    Down 18
    Rock music, Hard rock, Blues-rock More
    “'All Right Now': Peaked at #4 on October 17, 1970.”
  4. 4
    Up 49
    Down 16
    Rock music
    'Spirit in the Sky': Peaked at #3 on April 18, 1970.
  5. 5
    Up 58
    Down 24
    Rock music, Hard rock, Heavy metal More
    “'The Boys Are Back in Town': Peaked at #12 on July 24, 1976.”
  6. 6
    Up 48
    Down 17

    Ram Jam

    Rock music
    “'Black Betty': Peaked at #18 on September 3, 1977.”
  7. 7
    Up 48
    Down 17
    Hard rock, Jazz fusion, Blues-rock More
    “'I'd Love to Change the World': Peaked at #40 on November 20, 1971.”
  8. 8
    Up 46
    Down 16
    Folk music, Alternative rock, Rock music More
    “'Werewolves of London': Peaked at #21 on May 13, 1978.”
  9. 9
    Up 49
    Down 19
    Rock music, Hard rock, Folk rock More
    “'Walk on the Wild Side': Peaked at #16 on April 28, 1973.”
  10. 10
    Up 49
    Down 19
    Hard rock, Folk rock, Glam rock More
    “'Bang a Gong (Get It On)': Peaked at #10 on March 4, 1972.”
  11. 11
    Up 31
    Down 6

    Blues Image

    'Ride Captain Ride': Peaked at #4 on July 11, 1970.
  12. 12
    Up 41
    Down 16
    Folk music, Rock music, Pop rock More
    “'In the Summertime': Peaked at #3 on September 12, 1970.”
  13. 13
    Up 46
    Down 21
    Folk music, Rock music, Hard rock More
    “'Me and Bobby McGee': Peaked at #1 on March 20, 1971.”
  14. 14
    Up 36
    Down 14
    Rock music, Blues-rock, Drum and bass More
    'Venus': Peaked at #1 on February 7, 1970.
  15. 15
    Up 39
    Down 18
    Rock music, Country, Gospel music More
    “'Midnight Rider': Peaked at #19 on January 19, 1974.”
  16. 16
    Up 34
    Down 14
    Rock music, Hard rock, Rhythm and blues More
    “'Play That Funky Music': Peaked at #1 on September 18, 1976.”
  17. 17
    Up 35
    Down 15
    Rock music, Rock and roll, Blues
    “'Fooled Around and Fell in Love': Peaked at #3 on May 22, 1976.”
  18. 18
    Up 31
    Down 12

    King Harvest

    Rock music, Pop rock
    “'Dancin' in the Moonlight': Peaked at #13 on February 24, 1973.”
  19. 19
    Up 37
    Down 17
    Rock music, New Wave, Power pop More
    “'Cruel to Be Kind': Peaked at #12 on September 29, 1979.”
  20. 20
    Up 39
    Down 19
    Pop music, Disco, Contemporary R&B
    “'The Hustle': Peaked at #1 on July 26, 1975.”
  21. 21
    Up 40
    Down 20
    Hard rock, Jazz fusion, Blues-rock More
    “'Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo': Peaked at #23 on March 23, 1974.”
  22. 22
    Up 40
    Down 20

    The Buggles

    “'Video Killed the Radio Star': Peaked at #40 on December 15, 1979.”
  23. 23
    Up 37
    Down 18
    Hard rock, Progressive rock, Pop music
    “'Hold Your Head Up': Peaked at #5 on August 26, 1972.”
  24. 24
    Up 38
    Down 19
    Rock music, Hard rock, Glam rock More
    “'All the Young Dudes': Peaked at #37 on September 23, 1972.”
  25. 25
    Up 35
    Down 17
    Rock music, Hard rock, Pop rock More
    'Mississippi Queen': Peaked at #21 on April 18, 1970.
  26. 26
    Up 35
    Down 17
    Reggae
    “'Kung Fu Fighting': Peaked at #1 on December 7, 1974.”
  27. 27
    Up 29
    Down 12
    Pop music, Middle of the road
    'Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)': Peaked at #5 on March 28, 1970.
  28. 28
    Up 34
    Down 17

    Patti Smith Group

    “'Because the Night': Peaked at #13 on June 24, 1978.”
  29. 29
    Up 31
    Down 15
    “'The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia': Peaked at #1 on April 7, 1973.”
  30. 30
    Up 24
    Down 9
    Rock music, Glam rock
    “'Hot Child in the City': Peaked at #1 on October 28, 1978.”
  31. 31
    Up 26
    Down 11
    Rock music, Jazz fusion
    'Vehicle': Peaked at #2 on May 23, 1970.
  32. 32
    Up 27
    Down 12
    Rhythm and blues, Disco
    “'Ring My Bell': Peaked at #1 on June 30, 1979.”
  33. 33
    Up 24
    Down 10
    Folk rock
    “'One Toke Over the Line': Peaked at #10 on April 10, 1971.”
  34. 34
    Up 32
    Down 17
    Rock music, Pop music
    “'Seasons in the Sun': Peaked at #1 on March 2, 1974.”
  35. 35
    Up 29
    Down 15
    Rock music, Psychedelic rock, Blues More
    “'Right Place Wrong Time': Peaked at #9 on June 30, 1973.”
  36. 36
    Up 36
    Down 22
    Pop music, Musical theatre
    “'Rock On': Peaked at #5 on March 9, 1974.”
  37. 37
    Up 32
    Down 19
    Folk music, Blues
    “'The City of New Orleans': Peaked at #18 on October 28, 1972.”
  38. 38
    Up 23
    Down 11

    Walter Egan

    Rock music
    “'Magnet and Steel': Peaked at #8 on August 26, 1978.”
  39. 39
    Up 24
    Down 12

    M

    Synthpop, New Wave, Pop music
    “'Pop Muzik': Peaked at #1 on November 3, 1979.”
  40. 40
    Up 27
    Down 15
    Rhythm and blues, Pop music, Disco
    “'Turn the Beat Around': Peaked at #10 on August 14, 1976.”
  41. 41
    Up 31
    Down 19
    Rock music, Rhythm and blues, Soul music More
    “'Lovin' You': Peaked at #1 on April 5, 1975.”
  42. 42
    Up 27
    Down 16
    Pop music
    “'Afternoon Delight': Peaked at #1 on July 10, 1976.”
  43. 43
    Up 16
    Down 7

    Pilot

    Pop rock
    “'Magic': Peaked at #5 on July 12, 1975.”
  44. 44
    Up 22
    Down 13

    Paper Lace

    Rock music, Pop music
    “'The Night Chicago Died': Peaked at #1 on August 17, 1974.”
  45. 45
    Up 24
    Down 15
    Pop music
    “'Don't Give Up on Us': Peaked at #1 on April 9, 1977.”
  46. 46
    Up 30
    Down 21
    Folk music, Rock music, Pop music
    “'Welcome Back': Peaked at #1 on May 8, 1976.”
  47. 47
    Up 30
    Down 21
    Nashville sound, Country, Country pop
    “'(I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden': Peaked at #3 on February 13, 1971.”
  48. 48
    Up 14
    Down 6

    Sanford/Townsend Band

    “'Smoke from a Distant Fire': Peaked at #9 on September 17, 1977.”
  49. 49
    Up 21
    Down 13
    Folk rock, Funk
    “'Here Comes the Sun': Peaked at #16 on May 22, 1971.”
  50. 50
    Up 25
    Down 17
    Rock music, Pop rock, Soft rock More
    “'Fool (If You Think It's Over)': Peaked at #12 on September 16, 1978.”

items 1 - 50 of 350

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  1. Georgeann Novinger
    Best One Hit Wonders of the 1970s at 8/06/2012 4:30 PM
    You either get one hit wonders or you don't

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