The 17 Greatest One-Hit Wonders in Classic Rock

[Vistalite Black]

Snappy's post on David Essex inspired this awesome list of the Greatest One-Hit Wonders in Classic Rock brought to you by Society of Rock (so you know it's legit). For easy reference, the band name is followed by the year of release and peak chart position on the U.S. Top 100.

17. Black Betty - Ram Jam, 1972, 18. (I have a friend who saw this band get in a physical fight onstage, perhaps explaining why there weren't more hits).

16. The Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy, 1976, 12. (My favorite band, and this is a bit unfair as they had more chart success in Europe).

15. Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks 1974, 1. (As a sensitive kid, this actually made me cry once).

14. Rock On - David Essex - 1974, 5.

13. Blinded By the Light - Manfred Man, 1977, 1.

12. Dancing in the Moonlight - King Harvest, 1972, 13.

11. Evil Woman Don't Play Your Games With Me, 1969, 19.

10. Layla - Derek and the Dominos, 1972, 10. (Jim Gordon!)

9. Easy Livin' - Uriah Heap, 1972, 39.

8. Come On Eileen, Dexy's Midnight Runners, 1982, 1.

7. Tainted Love - Soft Cell, 1981, 8.

6. Spirit in the Sky - Norman Greenbaum, 1970, 3. (I saw Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers play this).

5. Rock and Roll Hootchie Coo - Rick Derringer, 1973, 23.

4. Love Hurts - Nazareth, 1976, 8. (Didn't know this was an Everly Brothers cover).

3. We're Not Gonna Take It - Twisted Sister, 1984, 21.

2. Brother Louie - Stories, 1973, 1. (They left it off the album!).

1. Mississippi Queen - Mountain, 1970, 21.

17 Greatest One Hit Wonders in Classic Rock

Hit today, miss tomorrow. These songs may have been gracing your classic rock FM radio station a number of times in a week but you just can't seem to name the artist who made it popular, and any idea of who they might be doesn't even reach the the tip of your tongue. Or it can be the band that you

societyofrock.com

 

[Houndog]

A few of these had more than one hit .

And Seasons In The Sun was my favorite song when it came out .....

 

[Houndog]

My Sharona -The Knack
One of my favorite guitar solos ever .

 

[Matched Gripper]

A few of these had more than one hit .

And Seasons In The Sun was my favorite song when it came out .....

Yup! And a few might more appropriately be on a list of worst 1 hit wonders.

 

[Matched Gripper]

“Baby it’s You” by Smith

 

[CC Cirillo]

Africa by Toto.
...Sorry Wrong list.

 

[Matched Gripper]

“Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum

PS: Oops! Already on your list.

 

[Matched Gripper]

“Green Eyed Lady” by Sugarloaf

 

[Matched Gripper]

“Cool Jerk” by the Capitaols

 

[thejohnlec]

My Sharona -The Knack
One of my favorite guitar solos ever .

I’ve always really liked that solo as well. Underrated album overall - the drums literally leap off this album.

 

[Matched Gripper]

“Green Tambourine” by The Lemon Pipers

 

[Matched Gripper]

“Get Together” by The Youngbloods

 

[Rich K.]

I’ve always really liked that solo as well. Underrated album overall - the drums literally leap off this album.

They LITERALLY leap off the album.

 

[blikum]

What? No Brandy?

 

[Matched Gripper]

“Life in a Northern Town” by Dream Academy

 

[bpaluzzi]

There are some wide interpretations of "Classic Rock" here

 

[Matched Gripper]

What? No Brandy?

I was getting there.

 

[Matched Gripper]

There are some wide interpretations of "Classic Rock" here

Classic enough? Did he have another hit? Might be list worthy.

 

[Vistalite Black]

Classic enough? Did he have another hit? Might be list worthy.

See You Later Alligator reached No. 6

 

[richardh253]

A tie for me....if you are OK with classic rock starting in the mid-60s:
Psychotic Reaction & Little Girl - both videos are "classics" of production of that era...and remarkably, all the guitarists had wireless connections to their amps decades before they were available. But the drums are cool on both.