VegasGeoff
May 17, 2009 / 09:43

I posted a comment here last night, but for whatever reason, it's not here.

Missing from the list, and should be included:

Tarzan Boy - Baltimora

Walk The Dinosaur - Was (Not Was)

Forever Young - Alphaville

LEW
May 17, 2009 / 11:37

Devo did a great Satisfaction version, so are they still considered one hits?
There was a great "one hit" in the 80's and for the life of me I can't remember the band.... the song was Perfect Skin???

Tedman
May 17, 2009 / 13:01

Perfect Skin was by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. One hit wonders on this side of the pond, but Lloyd Cole is still producing intelligent music and has a group of loyal listeners.

Sammi
May 17, 2009 / 16:38

Typical list for you.

Toronto Mike
May 17, 2009 / 17:11

Sammi, let's hear your list...

LEW
May 17, 2009 / 17:16

Thanks Tedman!

Freddie P.
May 17, 2009 / 18:40

How about this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwTV8vAzkAY

Toronto Mike
May 17, 2009 / 18:59

Alphaville beats Icehouse. Hands down.

Toronto Mike
May 17, 2009 / 19:01

Actually, Freddie, Icehouse is ineligible because "Electric Blue" was a hit.

CQ
May 17, 2009 / 23:10

I like this list, except for Dolby. Here is a few (IMO) remaining widely heard picks:

Boomtown Rats, I don't like Mondays
Eurogliders, Heaven (must be there)
Flying Lizards, Money
Haircut One Hundred, Love Plus One
Katrina & the Waves, Walking on Sunshine
Nik Kershaw, Wouldn't it be Good
Ready for the World, Oh Sheila
Timbuk3, The Future's so Bright...
Trio, Da Da Da
World Party, Ship of Fools

CQ
May 17, 2009 / 23:29

Two others:
Bananarama, Cruel Summer
Freeez, I.O.U.

Ajax Mike
May 18, 2009 / 00:40

Bananarama is definitely disqualified as a one-hit wonder. They had their cover of 'Venus' for one, and I think they had at least one other successful song.

Toronto Mike
May 18, 2009 / 09:39

That Boomtown Rats hit was in the 70s.

Ajax Mike is right, Bananarama weren't one hit wonders.

Good suggestions: Katrina and the Waves, Timbuk3 and Trio.

Anonymous
May 18, 2009 / 10:07

Devo, Soft Cell and Thomas Dolby have had more than one hit.

jason | getyouroj.com
May 18, 2009 / 11:02

Oh man, where do I even begin. Soft Cell are not a one hit wonder, let's begin there. They had other hits, and one was even covered by NIN.

I challenge your Modern English and Big Country and A-Ha claims as well.

Big Country actually has a greatest Hits compilation that reached #2 on the UK charts.

Hardly a One Hit Wonder. One Hit Wonder's do not have Greatest Hits albums.

I have Soft Cells greatest Hits on cassette.. because they were not a One Hit Wonder either.

A-ha might have been a One Hit Wonder, but I lean towards no, no they weren't. They had numerous singles that did well.

It's hard to find true One Hit Wonders, better luck next time.

jason | getyouroj.com
May 18, 2009 / 11:05

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions are not one hit wonders on either side of any pond.

They too have a greatest hits collection.

You guys need to study harder, you're failing basic Music Trivia 101.

Toronto Mike
May 18, 2009 / 13:08

OJ Boy, this is a throwdown.

As mentioned in the entry, "one-hit" diagnosis is from a Canadian perspective. I don't care if Soft Cell had several hits in the UK, I'm labelling them a one-hit wonder for producing a single hit on this side of the ocean.

Remember, Americans think Tom Cochrane is a one-hit wonder and from their perspective they're right, despite the fact Tom Cochrane has several big hits here in Canada.

And to suggest the existence of a greatest hits record is proof of multiple hits is ludicrous. I've got several "greatest hits" albums by one-hit wonders. Off the top of my head I'm thinking of Faith No More and Dexys Midnight Runners. Sure, you and I probably love Faith No More, but they've got one hit to their credit and we both know it.

You're going to have to do a much better selling job with Soft Cell, Modern English and a-ha. I might give you Big Country, b/c "Look Away" was a minor hit over here, but that's it.

Get yourself out of the UK and read the rules. Candi & The Backbeat had multiple hits here in Toronto, but I'll bet your UK buddies will claim they were hitless.

Think local.

Sammi
May 18, 2009 / 14:13

You're wrong again Mike. Soft Cell, Devo, Thomas Dolby and Big Country all had other hits in Canada. But I wouldn't expect any more or less from you.

Toronto Mike
May 18, 2009 / 14:16

Sammi, do you live in Toronto?

If you guys are going to claim additional hits, you're going to have to name the songs.

jason | getyouroj.com
May 18, 2009 / 17:39

Sammi, you're great.

This so-called Inter-web genious is telling me to "think local" but that's just plain stupid when it comes to music and hits.

I understand you're doing this from a "Canadian perspective" but what's the point? Further, I stand by my statement that even within Canada, many of your so-called One Hit Wonders on this list aren't.

Mike, you suggest I get out of the UK, I suggest that you get out of the 90's and out of your own backyard.

When it comes to music, why think only local? Yes, support your local artists, but hey sometimes the grass is greener on the other side and furthermore the Internet you know and love makes it more possible for me to satisfy my more eclectic tastes in music.

If you want to stick to The Edge and Toronto, that's your problem.

You're saying that some old dusty record books says so and so only had a hit on one side of the border blah blah blah, well that's become irrelevant, and like Sammi said, many of those bands DID have more than one single hit right here in CANADA. But I've already covered that.

Go take a look in a bookstore and see how many UK music magazines there are imported and for sale.

I wonder why?..........

Furthermore, for every UK band The Edge, for instance misses, the situation is not the same on UK stations who will even play Tokyo Police Club, Crystal Castles, etc. in their rotations.

It's because not everyone is afriad to leave their neighbourhood, their comfort zone, and do some exploring.

I hear the Danforth is nice this time of year ;-)

Toronto Mike
May 18, 2009 / 17:43

Local is everything when it comes to "hits". Has CanCon taught you nothing?

The game revolves around hits and, since that's a local setting, I'll write what I know.

I'm starting to think you are Sammi.

jason | getyouroj.com
May 18, 2009 / 17:49

I'm not Sammi and CanCon gave me nickelback.

CanCon is B*******, I'll like what I want to like, and many bands that I like are Canadian but they aren't Canadian because they are Canadian

And Mike, unlike that other Mike I sign my name to what I write and stand by it so don't taser me, aight?

jason | getyouroj.com
May 18, 2009 / 17:52

Sorry, I meant to write "I don't like bands simply BECAUSE they are Canadian" but a cat distracted me. I like bands that I like because they appeal to me for whatever reason. I dno;t need some patheitc filering law to over-expose me to Nickelback and Sum 41.

Irvine
May 18, 2009 / 18:20

What does anyone expect from a guy watching VH1 ?

If he was a brother, he'd still have a flat-top.

Toronto Mike
May 18, 2009 / 18:32

I accidentally caught a bit of VH1 simulcast on the station formerly known as MuchMoreMusic and now known as MuchMore.

CanCon gave us Lowest of the Low and Rusty!

Roshan
May 20, 2009 / 13:03

It seems to be getting personal in here. Among these bands/artists you have here Mike, I only care for a-ha. Love that band and they are by no means a one-hit wonder. Maybe they didn't have any more hits in Canada....but not even Hunting High & Low, Living Daylights, Summer Moved On or The Sun Always Shines On Tv?

dtradio
May 20, 2009 / 13:26

The One-Hit-Wonder moniker is thrown around quite a bit.

If only I saved those old issues of The Record magazine (Canada's Billboard). If I recall:
Devo - Working In A Coalmine Top 20 in '81
Thomas Dolby - Hyperactive Top 30 up north in '84 (better than US)
Big Country's "Fields Of Fire" had huge CHR airplay
but I can't remember the chart position.

Were there any "true" Canadian one-hit wonders in the 80s?
Sherry Kean's "I Want You Back" comes to mind.
Add Eight Seconds' "Kiss You When It's Dangerous" and Idle Eyes' "Tokyo Rose" to the mix.
Idle Eyes' "Tokyo Rose".

My fave CanCon One-hitter: Coney Hatch's "Hey Operator"

Ron
July 31, 2009 / 05:49

Don't mean to be a smartass but:

The Sun Always Shines on TV was a song with a lot of airplay in Toronto. A-ha. Also Thomas Dolby's "Hyperactive". A true one hit wonder is never heard from again, think "Tarzan Boy" by Baltimora.

Sherry Kean had another song with airplay called "Would You Miss Me".

CanCon's still the best, especially from the 70's.

carlos yanez
September 8, 2009 / 14:34

hi, speaking of one hit wonders, im trying desperately to know the name from the band and the song of a video with scenes and photos of usa (colorado canyon, washington memorial, statue of liberty, etc.) with a great sound of sax (something something TO AMERICA...) thanks

steve
September 22, 2010 / 20:56

I actually like the 1980's. That takes me back as far as my childhood memories & if I could bring back the 1980's that would be so cool.

TJ Stevens
February 13, 2011 / 11:18

For one hit wonders of the 80's I'd add:
Diesel - Sausilito Summernight
Greg Kihn Band - Breakup Song
....and yes - dtradio
Devo's 'Working In a Coal Mine' made it to #17 in RPM magazine on Nov. 14, but all the way to #10 that week on the ChumCharts.
http://www.webfitz.com/lyrics/Chartlst.html
You can click the link to view ChumCharts (1957-86)
You can find RPM Music Charts in http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/index-e.html