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!
- 134Up 9Down 10
100 Proof (Aged in Soul)
“ 'Somebody's Been Sleeping': Peaked at #8 on November 14, 1970. „ - 277Up 2Down 7
5000 Volts
Disco“ 'I'm on Fire': Peaked at #26 on December 13, 1975. „ - 146Up 10Down 12Memphis soul“ 'I Can't Stand the Rain': Peaked at #38 on December 22, 1973. „
- 36Up 33Down 19Folk music, Blues“ 'The City of New Orleans': Peaked at #18 on October 28, 1972. „
- 318Up 4Down 11
Silvetti
Latin pop“ 'Spring Rain': Peaked at #39 on March 19, 1977. „ - 203Up 6Down 10
Bell and James
“ 'Livin' It Up (Friday Night)': Peaked at #15 on April 21, 1979. „ - 316Up 6Down 13
Benny Bell
“ 'Shaving Cream': Peaked at #30 on April 26, 1975. „ - 60Up 16Down 10Pop music, Country“ 'I Can Help': Peaked at #1 on November 23, 1974. „
- 53Up 27Down 19Film score, Disco“ 'Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky)': Peaked at #1 on July 2, 1977. „
- 72Up 19Down 15
Black Oak Arkansas
Rock music“ 'Jim Dandy': Peaked at #25 on February 16, 1974. „ - 132Up 11Down 12Rock music, Pop music, Calypso music“ 'Montego Bay': Peaked at #8 on November 28, 1970. „
- 97Up 13Down 12Pop rock, Blue-eyed soul, Smooth jazz More“ 'What You Won't Do for Love': Peaked at #9 on March 24, 1979. „
- 175Up 6Down 9
Brass Construction
Rhythm and blues“ 'Movin'': Peaked at #14 on June 26, 1976. „ - 30Up 25Down 10Folk rock“ 'One Toke Over the Line': Peaked at #10 on April 10, 1971. „
- 245Up 5Down 10Folk music, Rock music, Electronic music More“ 'Mister Can't You See': Peaked at #38 on April 1, 1972. „
- 27Up 35Down 18Reggae“ 'Kung Fu Fighting': Peaked at #1 on December 7, 1974. „
- 91Up 10Down 8
Carol Douglas
“ 'Doctor's Orders': Peaked at #11 on February 8, 1975. „ - 122Up 10Down 10Disco, Funk, Euro disco More“ 'Love in C Minor': Peaked at #36 on April 9, 1977. „
- 283Up 6Down 12“ 'Think It Over': Peaked at #34 on September 9, 1978. „
- 51Up 22Down 14Rhythm and blues, Soul music, Pop music More“ 'Got to Be Real': Peaked at #12 on February 17, 1979. „
- 104Up 9Down 8
Chi Coltrane
“ 'Thunder and Lightning': Peaked at #17 on November 18, 1972. „ - 350Up 1Down 10Rock music, Pop rock, Blues-rock More
- 227Up 3Down 7
City Boy
“ '5.7.0.5.': Peaked at #27 on September 16, 1978. „ - 285Up 5Down 11“ 'My Sweet Lady': Peaked at #17 on March 23, 1974. „
- 193Up 3Down 6
Cyndi Grecco
“ 'Making Our Dreams Come True': Peaked at #25 on July 4, 1976. „ - 77Up 12Down 8
Danny O'Keefe
Folk music“ 'Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues': Peaked at #9 on November 4, 1972. „ - 61Up 19Down 13
Dave Loggins
Pop music, Country“ 'Please Come to Boston': Peaked at #5 on August 10, 1974. „ - 52Up 24Down 16Pop music“ 'Don't Give Up on Us': Peaked at #1 on April 9, 1977. „
- 208Up 5Down 9Soul music, Disco, Contemporary R&B More“ 'Trapped By a Thing Called Love': Peaked at #13 on October 30, 1971. „
- 49Up 19Down 11Rhythm and blues, Soul music, Pop music More“ 'Hey There Lonely Girl': Peaked at #2 on February 21, 1970. „
- 289Up 4Down 10Rhythm and blues, Pop music, Disco More“ 'Armed and Extremely Dangerous': Peaked at #28 on May 26, 1973. „
- 191Up 4Down 7Dance music, Rhythm and blues, Soul music More“ 'Misdemeanor': Peaked at #22 on July 28, 1973. „
- 163Up 10Down 13
Francis Lai
Film score“ 'Theme from Love Story': Peaked at #31 on March 6, 1971. „ - 145Up 10Down 12Soul music, Disco, Contemporary R&B More“ 'Come to Me': Peaked at #15 on November 17, 1979. „
- 110Up 12Down 12
Frank Mills
“ 'Music Box Dancer': Peaked at #3 on May 5, 1979. „ - 286Up 5Down 11
Freddie Hart
Country, Gospel music“ 'Easy Loving': Peaked at #17 on November 20, 1971. „ - 218Up 4Down 8
Fred Wesley and the J.B.'s
“ 'Doing It to Death': Peaked at #22 on July 14, 1973. „ - 64Up 25Down 19Rock music, Hard rock, Progressive rock More“ 'The House of the Rising Sun': Peaked at #7 on April 4, 1970. „
- 207Up 6Down 10Film score, Rock music, Synthpop More“ 'Chase': Peaked at #33 on March 31, 1979. „
- 257Up 3Down 8
Glass Bottle
“ 'I Ain't Got Time Anymore': Peaked at #36 on September 25, 1971. „ - 149Up 7Down 9
Gonzalez
Rhythm and blues, Soul music, Funk“ 'Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet': Peaked at #26 on March 10, 1979. „ - 14Up 40Down 18Rock music, Country, Gospel music More“ 'Midnight Rider': Peaked at #19 on January 19, 1974. „
- 158Up 4Down 6
Gunhill Road
Rock music“ 'Back When My Hair Was Short': Peaked at #40 on June 2, 1973. „ - 109Up 12Down 12Rhythm and blues, Soul music, Disco More“ 'Rockin' Chair': Peaked at #9 on August 2, 1975. „
- 230Up 3Down 7
Henhouse Five Plus Two
- 313Up 2Down 8
High Inergy
Rhythm and blues, Soul music, Pop music More“ 'You Can't Turn Me Off (In the Middle of Turning Me On)': Peaked at #12 on December 24, 1977. „ - 256Up 4Down 9
Hotlegs
“ 'Neanderthal Man': Peaked at #22 on September 26, 1970. „ - 234Up 3Down 7Rock music“ 'Painted Ladies': Peaked at #34 on January 12, 1974. „
- 255Up 4Down 9Rhythm and blues, Soul music, Disco More“ 'I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)': Peaked at #20 on May 12, 1979. „
- 266Up 2Down 7
Ironhorse
“ 'Sweet Lui-Louise': Peaked at #36 on May 5, 1979. „
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Best One Hit Wonders of the 1970s at 8/06/2012 4:30 PM