One Hit Wonders: 1960-1969

There are probably as many definitions of "one hit wonder" as there are one hit wonders, and here's one more. For this list I'm selecting artists that had just one song in the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles charts, and no other entries anywhere in the top 100. This will account for some of the more popular one-hit wonders being omitted (Tommy Tutone had a top 40 single prior to the phone # song, for example).

One Hit Wonders: 1970-1979

  • 1970

  • "1900 Yesterday" - Liz Damon's Orient Express (33)
  • "Airport Love Theme (Gwen And Vern)" - Vincent Bell (31)
  • "As The Years Go By" - MashMakhan (31)
  • "Big Yellow Taxi" - The Neighborhood (29)
  • "Gimme Dat Ding" - The Pipkins (9)
  • "Go Back" - Crabby Appleton (36)
  • "In The Summertime" - Mungo Jerry (3)
  • "Long Lonesome Highway" - Michael Parks (20)
  • "Mississippi" - John Phillips (32) (member of The Mamas & The Papas)
  • "Neanderthal Man" - Hotlegs (22)
  • "The Sly, Slick, And Wicked" - The Lost Generation (30)
  • "A Song Of Joy (Himno A La Alegria)" - Miguel Rios (14)
  • "Sweet Mary" - Wadworth Mansion (7)

  • 1971

  • "Battle Hymn Of Lt. Calley" - C Company Featuring Terry Nelson (37)
  • "Chick-A-Boom (Don't Ya Jes' Love It)" - Daddy Dewdrop (9)
  • "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" - Mac And Katie Kissoon (20)
  • "Cool Aid" - Paul Humphrey & His Cool Aid Chemists (29)
  • "D.O.A." - Bloodrock (36)
  • "Desiderata" - Les Crane (8)
  • "Double Barrel" - Dave And Ansil Collins (22)
  • "Easy Loving" - Freddie Hart (17)
  • "Hallelujah" - Sweathog (33)
  • "Here Comes The Sun" - Richie Havens (16)
  • "Love Means (You Never Have To Say You're Sorry)" - Sounds Of Sunshine (39)
  • "Resurrection Shuffle" - Ashton, Gardner & Dyke (40)
  • "She's All I Got" - Freddie North (39)
  • "Sunshine" - Jonathan Edwards (4)
  • "Theme From "Summer Of '42"" - Peter Nero (21)
  • "Theme From Love Story" - Francis Lai And His Orchestra (31)
  • "Wedding Song (There Is Love)" - Paul Stookey (24)
  • "What The Worlds Needs Now Is Love/Abraham, Martin and John" - Tom Clay (8)

  • 1972

  • "Amazing Grace" - Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (11)
  • "Convention '72" - The Delegates (8)
  • "Day By Day" - Godspell (13)
  • "Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues" - Danny O'Keefe (9)
  • "Hold Your Head Up" - Argent (5)
  • "I've Been Lonely For So Long" - Frederick Knight (27)
  • "Jungle Fever" - The Chakachas (8)
  • "Love Jones" - Brighter Side Of Darkness (16)
  • "Motorcycle Mama" - Sailcat (12)
  • "Popcorn" - Hot Butter (9)
  • "Run Run Run" - Jo Jo Gunne (27)
  • "Small Beginnings" - Flash (29)
  • "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" - Blue Haze (27)
  • "Softly Whispering I Love You" - The English Congregation (29)
  • "Suavecito" - Malo (18)
  • "Thunder And Lightning" - Chi Coltrane (17)

  • 1973

  • "Back When My Hair Was Short" - Gunhill Road (40)
  • "Dead Skunk" - Loudon Wainwright III (16)
  • "Dueling Banjos" - Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell (2)
  • "Painted Ladies" - Ian Thomas (34)
  • "Playground In My Mind" - Clint Holmes (2)
  • "Satin Sheets" - Jeanne Pruett (28)
  • "Soul Song" - Joe Stampley (37)
  • "Super Fly Meets Shaft" - John & Ernest (31)
  • "Walk On The Wild Side" - Lou Reed (16)
  • "Wildflower" - Skylark (9)

  • 1974

  • "Americana" - Byron MacGregor (4)
  • "The Americans (A Canadian's Opinion)" - Gordon Sinclair (24)
  • "The Entertainer" - Marvin Hamlisch (3)
  • "Eres Tu (Touch The Wind)" - Mocedades (9)
  • "Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)" - Reunion (8)
  • "The Lord's Prayer" - Sister Janet Mead (4)
  • "My Sweet Lady" - Cliff DeYoung (17)
  • "No Charge" - Melba Montgomery (39)
  • "One Day At A Time" - Marilyn Sellars (37)
  • "Sugar Baby Love" - The Rubettes (37)
  • "This Heart" - Gene Redding (24)
  • "Tubular Bells" - Mike Oldfield (7)

  • 1975

  • "Baby Face" - The Wing And A Prayer Fife And Drum Corps (14)
  • "Black Superman - "Muhammad Ali"" - Johnny Wakelin & The Kinshasa Band (21)
  • "Dynomite - Part I" - Tony Camillo's Bazuka (10)
  • "Eighteen With A Bullet" - Pete Wingfield (15)
  • "I'm On Fire" - 5000 Volts (26)
  • "Judy Mae" - Boomer Castleman (33)
  • "The Last Farewell" - Roger Whittaker (19)
  • "Let's Live Together" - The Road Apples (35)
  • "Rockin' Chair" - Gwen McCrae (9)
  • "Sad Sweet Dreamer" - Sweet Sensation (14)
  • "Shaving Cream" - Benny Bell (30)
  • "Up In A Puff Of Smoke" - Polly Brown (16)

  • 1976

  • "Anything You Want" - John Valenti (37)
  • "I'm Easy" - Keith Carradine (17)
  • "Jeans On" - David Dundas (17)
  • "Junk Food Junkie" - Larry Groce (9)
  • "Street Singin'" - Lady Flash (27)
  • "We Can't Hide It Anymore" - Larry Santos (36)
  • "Wham Bam" - Silver (16)

  • 1977

  • "Ariel" - Dean Friedman (26)
  • "Black Betty" - Ram Jam (18)
  • "Dancin' Man" - Q (23)
  • "Disco Lucy (I Love Lucy Theme)" - Wilton Place Street Band (24)
  • "Do You Wanna Make Love" - Peter McCann (5)
  • "Float On" - The Floaters (2)
  • "Old Fashioned Boy (You're The One)" - Stallion (37)
  • "Smoke From A Distant Fire" - The Sanford/Townsend Band (9)
  • "Sometimes" - Facts Of Life (31)
  • "Spring Rain" - Silvetti (39)
  • "Telephone Man" - Meri Wilson (18)

  • 1978

  • "5.7.0.5." - City Boy (27)
  • "Almost Summer" - Celebration featuring Mike Love (28) (Mike Love is of the Beach Boys)
  • "Cattanooga Choo Choo" - Tuxedo Junction (32)
  • "Dance Across The Floor" - Jimmy "Bo" Horne (38)
  • "Don't Hold Back" - Chanson (21)
  • "I'm Gonna Take Care Of Everything" - Rubicon (28)
  • "Making Our Dreams Come True" - Cyndi Grecco (25)
  • "New York Groove" - Ace Frehley (13) (of KISS)
  • "Thank God It's Friday" - Love And Kisses (22)
  • "Think It Over" - Cheryl Ladd (34)

  • 1979

  • "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" - McFadden & Whitehead (13)
  • "Born To Be Alive" - Patrick Hernandez (16)
  • "Bustin' Loose Part 1" - Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers (34)
  • "Come To Me" - France Joli (15)
  • "Don't You Write Her Off" - McGuinn, Clark & Hillman (33) (all three were principle members of The Byrds)
  • "Driver's Seat" - Sniff 'n' The Tears (15)
  • "Get Used To It" - Roger Voudouris (21)
  • "Girl Of My Dreams" - Bram Tchaikovsky (37)
  • "Haven't I Stopped Dancing Yet" - Gonzalez (26)
  • "Hold On" - Iam Gomm (18)
  • "I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)" - Instant Funk (20)
  • "I Still Have Dreams" - Richie Furay (39) (Richie was in Buffalo Springfield)
  • "If You Want It" - Niteflyte (37)
  • "It Must Be Love" - Alton McClain & Destiny (32)
  • "Kiss In The Dark" - Pink Lady (37)
  • "Livin' It Up (Friday Night)" - Bell & James (15)
  • "Makin' It" - David Naughton (5)
  • "Please Don't Leave" - Lauren Wood (24)
  • "Pop Muzik" - M (1)
  • "Saturdaynight" - Herman Brood (35)
  • "Savannah Nights" - Tom Johnston (34) (singer/guitarist for The Doobie Brothers)
  • "Such A Woman" - Tycoon (26)
  • "Video Killed The Radio Star" - The Buggles (40)
  • "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else" - The Jones Girls (38)

One Hit Wonders: 1980-1989

  • 1980

  • "Ashes By Now" - Rodney Crowell (37)
  • "Cars" - Gary Numan (9)
  • "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime" - The Korgis (18)
  • "I Believe In You" - Don Williams (24)
  • "Only A Lonely Heart Sees" - Felix Cavaliere (36)
  • "Pilot Of The Airwaves" - Charlie Dore (13)
  • "Tired Of Toein' The Line" - Rocky Burnette (8)
  • "Turning Japanese" - The Vapors (36)
  • "Who'll Be The Fool Tonight" - Larsen-Feiten Band (29)

  • 1981

  • "Chariots Of Fire - Titles" - Vangelis (1) (previously charted as part of Jon & Vangelis, with Yes vocalist Jon Anderson)
  • "General Hospi-Tale" - The Afternoon Delights (33)
  • "Seven Year Ache" - Roseanne Cash (22)
  • "Sweet Baby" - Stanley Clarke/George Duke (19)
  • "Sausalito Summernight" - Diesel (25)
  • "Just So Lonely" - Get Wet (39)
  • "Love You Like I Never Loved Before" - John O'Banion (24)
  • "Nicole" - Point Blank (39)
  • "Hooked On Classics" - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (10)
  • "Precious To Me" - Phil Seymour (22)
  • "You Could Take My Heart Away" - Silver Connection (32)
  • "Double Dutch Bus" - Frankie Smith (30)
  • "Rock And Roll Dreams Come Through" - Jim Steinman (32)

  • 1982

  • "Genius Of Love" - Tom Tom Club (31)
  • "Holdin' On" - Tane Cain (37)
  • "Hooked On Swing" - Larry Elgart And His Manhattan Swing Orchestra (31)
  • "I Know There's Something Going On" - Frida (13) (member of ABBA)
  • "If I Had My Wish Tonight" - David Lasley (36)
  • "If The Love Fits Wear It" - Leslie Pearl (26)
  • "Love Plus One" - Haircut One Hundred (37)
  • "Mama Used To Say" - Junior (30)
  • "Murphy's Law" - Cheri (39)
  • "Nobody" - Sylvia (15)
  • "Someday, Someway" - Marshall Crenshaw (36)
  • "Take Off" - Bob & Doug McKenzie (16)

  • 1983

  • "99 Luftballoons" - Nena (2)
  • "Baby I Lied" - Deborah Allen (26)
  • "Burning Heart" - Vandenberg (39)
  • "The Curly Shuffle" - Jump 'N The Saddle Band (15)
  • "I Couldn't Say No" - Robert Ellis Orrall with Carlene Carter (32)
  • "Just Got Lucky" - JoBoxers (36)
  • "The Popcorn Song" - Cliffie Stone And His Orchestra (88)
  • "Puttin' On The Ritz" - Taco (4)
  • "The Salt In My Tears" - Martin Briley (36)
  • "Whirly Girl" - Oxo (28)

  • 1984

  • "10-9-8" - Face To Face (38)
  • "Breakin'…There's No Stopping Us" - Ollie & Jerry (9)
  • "Centipede" - Rebbie Jackson (24) (part of the Jackson 5)
  • "A Girl In Trouble (Is A Temporary Thing)" - Romeo Void (35)
  • "Tragedy" - John Hunter (39)
  • "Turn Up The Radio" - Autograph (29)
  • "Whisper To A Scream (Birds Fly)" - Icicle Works (37)
  • "White Horse" - Laid Back (25)

  • 1985

  • "Axel F" - Harold Faltemeyer (3)
  • "Beat's So Lonely" - Charlie Sexton (17)
  • "Cry" - Godley & Creme (16) (members of 10cc)
  • "Miami Vice Theme" - Jan Hammer (1)
  • "Sun City" - Artists United Against Apartheid (38)
  • "We Are The World" - USA For Africa (1)
  • "When Your Heart Is Weak" - Cock Robin (35)
  • "You're A Friend Of Mine" - Clarence Clemons (18)

  • 1986

  • "Baby Love" - Regina (10)
  • "The Captain Of Her Heart" - Double (16)
  • "Digging Your Scene" - The Blow Monkeys (14)
  • "Facts Of Love" - Jeff Lorber (27)
  • "For Tonight" - Nancy Martinez (32)
  • "Friends And Lovers" - Gloria Loring & Carl Anderson (2)
  • "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades" - Timbuk 3 (19)
  • "I Do What I Do…(Theme for 9½ Weeks)" - John Taylor (23) (member of Duran Duran)
  • "I Wanna Be A Cowboy" - Boys Don't Cry (12)
  • "Live Is Life" - Opus (32)
  • "One Step Closer To You" - Gavin Christopher (22)
  • "The Rain" - Oran "Juice" Jones (9)
  • "Rumors" - Timex Social Club (8)
  • "Stay The Night" - Benjamin Orr (24) (vocalist & bassist for The Cars)

  • 1987

  • "As We Lay" - Shirley Murdock (23)
  • "Fascinated" - Company B (21)
  • "Heart And Soul" - T'Pau (4)
  • "The Honeythief" - Hipsway (19)
  • "Lies" - Jonathan Butler (27)
  • "Mary's Prayer" - Danny Wilson (23)
  • "Pump Up The Volume" - M/A/R/R/S (13)
  • "Serious" - Donna Allen (21)
  • "She's Like The Wind" - Patrick Swayze (3)
  • "Ship Of Fools (Save Me From Tomorrow)" - World Party (27)
  • "Soul City" - Partland Brothers (27)

  • 1988

  • "Da'Butt" - E.U. (35)
  • "Don't Worry Be Happy" - Bobby McFerrin (1)
  • "I Remember Holding You" - Boys Club (8)
  • "Love Changes (Everything)" - Climie Fisher (23)
  • "My Girl Josephine" - Suave' (20)
  • "Ritual" - Dan Reed Network (38)
  • "Thanks For My Child" - Cheryl Pepsii Riley (32)
  • "Under The Milky Way" - The Church (24)
  • "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" - Judson Spence (32)
  • "You Don't Know" - Scarlett & Black (20)

  • 1989

  • "Cuddly Toy (Feel For Me)" - Roachford (25)
  • "Don't Close Your Eyes" - Kix (11)
  • "Downtown" - One 2 Many (37)
  • "Heaven Help Me" - Deon Estus (5)

One Hit Wonders: 1955-1959

  • 1955

  • "At My Front Door" - The El Dorados (17)
  • "The Ballad Of Davy Crockett" - The Voices of Walter Schumann (14)
  • "Band Of Gold" - Kit Carson (11)
  • "The Bandit (O'Cangaceiro)" - Eddie Barclay and His Orch. (18)
  • "Baubles, Bangles And Beads" - Kirby Stone Four (14)
  • "Black Denim Trousers" - The Cheers (6)
  • "Blue Star (The "Medic" Theme)" - Felicia Sanders (29)
  • "The Breeze And I (Andalucia)" - Caterina Valente (8)
  • "Cry Me A River" - Julie London (9)
  • "Daddy-O" - Bonnie Lou (14)
  • "Dixie Danny" - The Laurie Sisters (30)
  • "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" - The Penguins (8)
  • "Hey, Mr. Banjo" - The Sunnysiders (12)
  • "I Want You To Be My Baby" - Lillian Briggs (18)
  • "Lullaby Of Birdland" - Blue Stars (16)
  • "Make Yourself Comfortable" - Andy Griffith (26)
  • "The Man In The Raincoat" - Priscilla Wright (16)
  • "The Man In The Raincoat" - Marion Marlowe (14)
  • "Melody Of Love" - Leo Diamond (30)
  • "Nuttin For Xmas" - Joe Ward (20)
  • "(I'm Getting') Nuttin' For Christmas" - Ricky Zahnd & The Blue Jeaners (21)
  • "Open Up Your Heart (And Let The Sun Shine In)" - The Cowboy Church Sunday School (8)
  • "Plantation Boogie" - Lenny Dee (19)
  • "Pledging My Love" - Johnny Ace (17)
  • "When You Dance" - The Turbans (33)

  • 1956

  • "Chain Gang" - Bobby Scott (13)
  • "Cindy, Oh Cindy" - Vince Martin (9)
  • "Cry Baby" - Bonnie Sisters (18)
  • "Eddie My Love" - The Teen Queens (14)
  • "Eloise" - Kay Thompson (39)
  • "Garden Of Eden" - Joe Valino (1956, 12)
  • "The Happy Whistler" - Don Robertson (6)
  • "Main Title" From "The Man With The Golden Arm" - Elmer Bernstein and Orchestra (16)
  • "Moonglow and Theme From Picnic" - Morris Stoloff (1)
  • "The Old Philosopher" - Eddie Lawrence (34)
  • "Priscilla" - Eddie Cooley And The Dimples (20)
  • "Stranded In The Jungle" - The Jayhawks (18)
  • "Stranded In The Jungle" - The Gadabouts (39)
  • "Themes From The Man With The Golden Arm" - Richard Maltby and his Orchestra (14)
  • "True Love" - Jane Powell (15)
  • "When The White Lilacs Bloom Again" - Helmut Zacharias And His Magic Violins (12)

  • 1957

  • "After School" - Randy Starr (32)
  • "Almost Paradise" - Lou Stein (31)
  • "Back To School Again" - Timmie "Oh Yeah!"Rogers (36)
  • "Bad Boy" - The Jive Bombers (36)
  • "Cinco Robles (Five Oaks)" - Russell Arms (22)
  • "A Fallen Star" - Jimmy Newman (23)
  • "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby" - The Tune Weavers (5)
  • "Hey! Little Girl" - Techniques (29)
  • "I'm Available" - Margie Rayburn (9)
  • "The Joker (That's What They Call Me)" - Billy Myles (25)
  • "Moon-Light Swim" - Tony Perkins (24)
  • "Peanuts" - Little Joe & The Thrillers (22)
  • "Pledge Of Love" - Ken Copeland (12)
  • "Rainbow" - Russ Hamilton (4)
  • "Rosie Lee" - The Mello-Tones (24)
  • "White Silver Sands" - Dave Gardner (22)
  • "Your Wild Heart" - Joy Layne (20)

  • 1958

  • "7-11" - Gone All Stars (30)
  • "Been So Long" - The Pastels (24)
  • "The Blob" - The Five Blobs (33)
  • "Book Of Love" - The Monotones (5)
  • "Cerveza" - Boots Brown And His Blockbusters (23)
  • "Cha-Hua-Hua" - The Pets (34)
  • "Chanson D'Amour (Song Of Love)" - Art Todd And Dotty (6)
  • "Crazy Eyes For You" - Bobby Hamilton (40)
  • "Delicious!" - Jim Backus and Friend (40)
  • "Dinner With Drac Part 1" - John Zacherle "The Cool Ghoul" (6)
  • "Down The Aisle Of Love" - The Quin-Tones (18)
  • "The Freeze" - Tony And Joe (33)
  • "Get A Job" - The Silhouettes (1)
  • "Got A Match?" - The Daddy-O's (39)
  • "He's Got The Whole World (In His Hands)" - Laurie London (1)
  • "Judy" - Frankie Vaughan (22)
  • "Little Star" - The Elegants (1)
  • "Lollipop" - Ronald And Ruby (20)
  • "Manhattan Spiritual" - Reg Owen And His Orchestra (10)
  • "Need You" - Donnie Owen (25)
  • "No Chemise, Please" - Gerry Grahahan (23) (previously in Dicky Doo And The Don'ts, The Fireflies)
  • "Oh Julie" - Sammy Salvo (23)
  • "Oh Julie" - The Crescendos (5)
  • "One Summer Night" - The Danleers (7)
  • "Philadelphia U.S.A." - The Nu Tornados (26)
  • "(It's Been A Long Time) Pretty Baby" - Gino & Gina (20)
  • "Susie Darlin'" - Robin Luke (5)
  • "Teasin'" - Quaker City Boys (39)
  • "Torero" - Renato Carosone (18)
  • "Week End" - The Kingsmen (35)
  • "When The Boys Talk About The Girls" - Valerie Carr (19)
  • "Wishing For Your Love" - The Voxpoppers (18)
  • "You" - The Aquatones (21)
  • "You Cheated" - The Shields (12)

  • 1959

  • "Battle Hymn Of The Republic" - The Mormon Tabernacle Choir (13)
  • "The Battle Of Kookamonga" - Homer & Jethro (14)
  • "The Enchanted Sea" - The Islanders (15)
  • "The Happy Reindeer" - Dancer, Prancer And Nervous (34)
  • "Here Comes Summer" - Jerry Keller (14)
  • "I've Come Of Age" - Billy Storm (28)
  • "If I Had A Girl" - Rod Lauren (31)
  • "The Little Space Girl" - Jesse Lee Turner (20)
  • "Makin' Love" - Floyd Robinson (20)
  • "Marina" - Rocco Granata (31)
  • "Midnight Stroll" - The Revels (35)
  • "The Mummy" - Bob McFadden And Dor (39)
  • "Only You" - Franck Pourcel's French Fiddles (9)
  • "Petite Fleur (Little Flower)" - Chris Barber's Jazz Band (5)
  • "Robbin' The Cradle" - Tony Bellus (25)
  • "Sandy" - Larry Hall (15)
  • "Sea Of Love" - Phil Phillips With The Twilights (2)
  • "See You In September" - The Tempos (23)
  • "Tell Him No" - Travis & Bob (8)
  • "The Three Bells (The Jimmy Brown Story)" - Dick Flood (23)
  • "Three Stars" - Tommy Dee (11)
  • "Woo-Hoo" - Rock-A-Teens (16)