Bands with one hit song and it wasn't even their song

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Of all the one-hit wonder bands, it would probably suck the worst to be in one whose only hit was a cover.

Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal
Save Ferris - Come on Eileen

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 06:43 (twenty-three years ago)

Great White - "Once Bitten Twice Shy"

― nickn (nickn), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 06:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Toploader - Dancing In The Moonlight

― man, Tuesday, 25 March 2003 07:08 (twenty-three years ago)

Well, in America anyway, Soft Cell.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 07:08 (twenty-three years ago)

(actually TWO songs that weren't theirs!)

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 07:09 (twenty-three years ago)

(I mean, one hit containing two songs I mean; you know what I mean)

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 07:09 (twenty-three years ago)

Quiet Riot - "Cum On Feel The Noize"

― Nick Mirov (nick), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 07:13 (twenty-three years ago)

They may have other hits, but ah, what the hell. Orgy - "Blue Monday" for certain.

― justin s., Tuesday, 25 March 2003 07:48 (twenty-three years ago)

Tracey Ullman - "They Don't Know"

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 07:51 (twenty-three years ago)

"Toploader - Dancing In The Moonlight"

oh, so acilles' heel and "just hold on" weren't hits now? once again i'm stunned at how you music geeks' well of knowledge dries up when it comes to toploader...

― andy paltridge (andy), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 09:18 (twenty-three years ago)

The Damned - Eloise

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 09:30 (twenty-three years ago)

Once again, I'm stunned at how long it took Toploader to break up after being DROPPED.

― kate, Tuesday, 25 March 2003 09:48 (twenty-three years ago)

Even Toploader's main hair cut was a cover of Sideshow Bob's.

― mei (mei), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 10:01 (twenty-three years ago)

Doctor & The Medics - Spirit In The Sky

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 10:04 (twenty-three years ago)

Hey, I just managed to make the first post of the dya. Cool.

― mei (mei), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 10:11 (twenty-three years ago)

Big Fun - Blame It On The Boogie

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 10:12 (twenty-three years ago)

Belle Stars - Iko Iko
Bow Wow Wow - I Want Candy
Richard Harris - MacArthur Park
Terry Jacks - Seasons In The Sun
Musical Youth - Pass The Dutchie (orig. Pass The Kutchie)
Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U
Buster Poindexter - Hot Hot Hot

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 10:18 (twenty-three years ago)

do i detect jealousy? i believe so...

― andy paltridge (andy), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 10:31 (twenty-three years ago)

Bow Wow Wow - I Want Candy
Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U

These artists had more than one hit.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 10:36 (twenty-three years ago)

Toploader will only be remembered for 'Dancing In The Moonlight' by the majority of music-loving folk - as many bands have one particular hit they are remembered for, cover or not

likewise, people remember Sinead's and Bow Wow Wow's aforementioned hits SIGNIFICANTLY more than anything else they released - that is the meaning behind this thread

carry on

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 11:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Big Mountain - Baby, I Love Your Way

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 11:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Tracey Ullman - "They Don't Know"

i remember her cover of 'Move Over Darling' more than that one i must admit

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 11:54 (twenty-three years ago)

I know Sinead O Conner has had other hits, I know she's got acclaimed albums, I've got the current ADF and MA albums and I still can't remember her doing anything but Nothing Compares 2 U.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 11:58 (twenty-three years ago)

'No Mandinka' is legendary in my circle

this is a lie.

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 12:21 (twenty-three years ago)

The Inmates - "Dirty Water" (originally by the Standells)

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 13:30 (twenty-three years ago)

"Bow Wow Wow - I Want Candy
Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U

These artists had more than one hit."

Hmmmm, I dunno what their criteria for "hit" are, but not according to http://www.onehitwondercentral.com/

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 13:43 (twenty-three years ago)

Nilsson kind of belongs here. He wrote a lot of excellent songs himself, yet his two biggest hits were both cover versions.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 13:44 (twenty-three years ago)

The Damned were so much more than simply a cover of "Eloise," conventional "hits" or not.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 13:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Beatles, "My Bonnie"

― dave q, Tuesday, 25 March 2003 13:54 (twenty-three years ago)

10,000 maniacs - because the night
camper van beethoven - pictures of matchstick men (not counting 'skinheads' which was an underground hit)

― j fail (cenotaph), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 14:18 (twenty-three years ago)

Taco - Puttin' on the Ritz
The Lemonheads - Mrs. Robinson

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 14:22 (twenty-three years ago)

10,000 maniacs - because the night

Oh, come on....the 10,000 Maniacs didn't record that until their swan song live album, after their hit-laden In My Tribe album.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 14:54 (twenty-three years ago)

I know Sinead O Conner has had other hits

In the U.S., her only other top 100 single was 'Emporer's New Clothes' (No. 60). Not really a hit. Charted higher than 'I Want Candy,' though (No. 62).

― scott pl. (scott pl.), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 15:24 (twenty-three years ago)

After the Fire - Der Kommissar
Club Nouveau - Lean on Me

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 15:28 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm gonna say The Bangles, 'cause I refuse to accept that "Walk Like An Egyptian" ever existed, and their other (or in my world ONLY) big hit was "Manic Monday", by that little purple sex fiend superfreak himself.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 15:31 (twenty-three years ago)

You can't deny that "Walk Like an Egyptian" existed, but the Bangles did that Simon & Garfunkle song.

In the States, Mott the Hoople's only Top 40 single was "All the Young Dudes" (although I think that was more the age of AOR, eh?).

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 15:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Elastica to thread!

― hstencil, Tuesday, 25 March 2003 15:33 (twenty-three years ago)

Not that it was their only hit, but people always seem to cite "I Fought the Law" when it comes to the Clash.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 15:34 (twenty-three years ago)

Insert "also" between "the Bangles" and "did" up there... me no make sense.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 15:35 (twenty-three years ago)

The Bangles also had "If She Knew What She Wants", "In Your Room" and "Eternal Flame".

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 15:35 (twenty-three years ago)

funky town - pseudo echo

― michie moi, Tuesday, 25 March 2003 15:39 (twenty-three years ago)

Shadows of the Knight - "Gloria"

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 15:40 (twenty-three years ago)

Bill Haley

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 15:40 (twenty-three years ago)

You can't deny that "Walk Like an Egyptian" existed, but the Bangles did that Simon & Garfunkle song.

Alongside "Hazy Shade Of Winter" they did a great cover of "Going Down To Liverpool" by Katrina and The Waves [I think itstheir song].

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 15:44 (twenty-three years ago)

"Because the night" was Patti Smith's only technical hit (as in -played on mainstream radio/chart hit)
Although PSG had a dozen hits to you and me

― girl scout heroin (iamamonkey), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 16:02 (twenty-three years ago)

Chubby Checker

― Evan (Evan), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 16:26 (twenty-three years ago)

i for one am absolutely delighted that 'Walk Like An Egyptian' does exist

― stevem (blueski), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 16:28 (twenty-three years ago)

Patti Smith wrote "Because the Night" with Bruce Springsteen, how is it a cover?

― Arthur (Arthur), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 16:47 (twenty-three years ago)

I thought Springsteen wrote if for her (in much the same way he wrote "Hungry Heart" for the Ramones, then decided to keep it for himself).

Ah, who cares....Patti Smith sucks.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 16:52 (twenty-three years ago)

Pigbag - Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag

― dog latin (dog latin), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 16:54 (twenty-three years ago)

"If She Knew What She Wants",

which is a Jules Shear song!

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 16:56 (twenty-three years ago)

Matthews' Southern Comfort - "Woodstock". Not their song twice over.

― briania, Tuesday, 25 March 2003 17:28 (twenty-three years ago)

Frente - 'Bizarre Love Triangle'

― tylero, Tuesday, 25 March 2003 17:48 (twenty-three years ago)

"I thought Springsteen wrote if for her"

He wrote it, THEN Patti RE-WROTE it. Bruce's version with the original lyrics is on his live box. I don't care what Dave Marsh says,the Bruce version sucks in comparison.

Adding to the thread:
Candyskins-"For What It's Worth"

― Charles McCain, Tuesday, 25 March 2003 18:39 (twenty-three years ago)

Candy Flip - "Strawberry Fields Forever"

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 18:43 (twenty-three years ago)

Jeff Beck - "Superstition"

...which Stevie originally wrote for Jeff, but then realized it was a kick-ass song, so he put it on Innervisions, which pissed Jeff Beck off something fierce. Good.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 18:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Simple Minds - "Don't You Forget About Me". They've had other hits, but Kerr has ranted over and over about how they didn't write the song.

― Chris Barrus (xibalba), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 18:46 (twenty-three years ago)

The Kingsmen - Louie, Louie

― Aimless, Tuesday, 25 March 2003 18:50 (twenty-three years ago)

Y'know, Avril Lavigne didn't write either "Complicated" or "Sk8er Boi".

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 18:53 (twenty-three years ago)

Ashton Lane - "Tinseltown in the Rain"

― Cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 18:55 (twenty-three years ago)

Tesla's "Signs"

― praying mantis, Tuesday, 25 March 2003 19:55 (twenty-three years ago)

Tesla's "Signs"

"Love Song" was also a hit

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 19:56 (twenty-three years ago)

Natalie Imbruglia - Torn

She had two or three minor hits afterwards, but who can remember them? Her real hit stays to be the one with the dire guitar solo. Which was originally, Swedish I think? Not sure.

― Tijn, Tuesday, 25 March 2003 20:54 (twenty-three years ago)

the Archies, obv.

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Tuesday, 25 March 2003 21:36 (twenty-three years ago)

what is meant by "not their song" anyway?

stuff like "manic monday" or "nothing compares 2 u" don't count for me 'coz even tho prince wrote 'em, nobody knew the dammn songs before then

― H (Heruy), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 22:26 (twenty-three years ago)

Not to pick nits, but "Superstition" is on Talking Book - not Innervisions.

― o. nate (onate), Tuesday, 25 March 2003 22:28 (twenty-three years ago)

I meant covers of already released songs when I made the thread, but whatever.

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 02:33 (twenty-three years ago)

Naked Eyes "Always Something There To Remind Me"

― donut bitch (donut), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 02:34 (twenty-three years ago)

Tesla's "Signs"

"Love Song" was also a hit

So were "Modern Day Cowboy" and "Heaven's Trail", if not of the same (Top Ten) order

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 04:54 (twenty-three years ago)

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