One Hit Wonders Trivia

1. In 1962 this group had "A Wonderful Dream" that their record made the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It did. Then they woke up and never made the Top 40 again. Who were they?

From Quiz Top 40 Radio VI - One-and-Done

Answer: The Majors

This Philadelphia quintet almost made the Top 20... but topped out at Number 22. This bouncy "feel good" song featured a falsetto lead vocal by Ricky Cordo. Just two weeks after this entered the charts another falsetto-led group, The Four Seasons, began their climb with the Number One hit "Sherry". They lasted much longer.

From Quiz Actors Who Were One-Hit Wonders as Singers

Answer: MacArthur Park

Although Harris recorded at least eight albums on his own, as well as appearing on several "original cast" albums from musicals, "MacArthur Park", written by Jimmy Webb for The Association (who turned it down), was his only Billboard Top 40 hit, reaching number two in the US and the top 10 in most of the world. Webb wrote two full albums of original songs for Harris to record, "A Tramp Shining" (including both "MacArthur Park" and its B-side, the almost-hit "Didn't We") and "The Yard Went On Forever", without generating another hit -- but no other producer could get him another hit either.

From Quiz More, Please?

Answer: Macarena

The original version of "Macarena" was released in 1993 on the album "A mí me gusta", but it was "Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)" from the album "Macarena Non Stop" that got the most attention and topped the charts. Antonio Romero Monge and Rafael Ruiz Perdigones formed Los del Río in 1962 in Spain. Their musical genre and style can be described as Flamenco pop and Rumba flamenca, but the duo also has some songs that are 'sevillanas', which is a traditional style of music and dance from Seville, in Spain's Andalucía region.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders in the USA

Answer: Get A Job

"Get A Job" written by Beal/Edwards/Lewis/Horton, was number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Silhouettes in 1958. It did not chart on the UK singles chart. The Silhouettes were formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, in 1956, as The Thunderbirds. They toured with Sam Cooke, Clyde McPhatter, Jackie Wilson and others but never hit the Billboard Hot 100 again. The Silhouettes disbanded in 1968 but the original four members reformed in the 1980s and performed until 1993.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders in the UK

Answer: The Overlanders

"Michelle" written by Lennon/McCartney was number one for three weeks on the UK singles chart for The Overlanders in 1966. It did not chart in the USA. The original group was a trio with Paul Arnold (lead guitar, vocals), Peter Bartholomew (guitar, vocals) and Laurie Mason (piano, percussion, vocals). They had a minor hit on the Billboard Hot 100 when "Yesterday's Gone" peaked at number 75 in 1964. Another version of "Michelle" by David & Jonathon and produced by George Martin peaked at number 11 on the UK singles chart and number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. "Michelle" was written for The Beatles' sixth UK album, "Rubber Soul", which was released in December 1965. The Beatles' version of "Michelle" was released in some countries and was number one in Belgium, France, Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway.

From Quiz Lyrics Of One-Hit Wonders That Made Number One

Answer: Game Of Love

In 1965, all four tunes made the top ten of Billboard's Hot 100, led by "Game Of Love" (Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders) at number one. "The Birds And The Bees" (Jewel Akens) reached number three, "Keep On Dancing" (The Gentrys) got to number four, and "The Jerk" (The Larks) made number seven.

From Quiz One-Hit Wonders of the 2000s

Answer: Ireland

Dublin-born Mumba had her biggest song chart number four in the US, while topping the charts in Ireland and New Zealand. Mumba never had another major US hit and went into acting before announcing a comeback to music in 2013.

From Quiz Don't Give Up The Day Jobs, Guys!

Answer: Let's Go (Pony)

"Let's Go (Pony)" was written by Lanny Duncan/Robert Duncan. It was a number 19 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Routers in 1962. It only made it to number 32 on the UK singles chart the same year. The Routers were formed in 1961 by Michael Z. Gordon who also formed another instrumental group, The Marketts, of "Out Of Limits" fame (a US number three hit in 1964). The Routers had one more minor hit with "Sting Ray" which peaked at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963.

From Quiz Bet You Can't Have Just One!

Answer: Touch of Grey

"Touch of Grey" was the only song of theirs that charted higher than #60. "Truckin'" hit #64, "Alabama Getaway" hit #68, and "Shakedown Street" didn't even chart.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders From the UK Charts

Answer: The Rembrandts

This is the theme From "Friends". They also sang the theme to "Thundercats" as an extra on the DVD "Thundercats-Season 2 Vol 1" boxset.

From Quiz Female Singer One-Hit Wonders

Answer: Joanie Sommers

Ten-year-old Joan Drost won a radio singing contest singing "Your Cheatin' Heart". After her family relocated to California she landed a role on television's "77 Sunset Strip" and sang a duet with one of the show's stars. Before long she was recording solo singles under the name Joanie Sommers and scored a hit with "Johnny Get Angry". The exposure of the single led to roles in movies such as "The Lively Set" in 1964. Soon she was a regular on many game shows and after singing a Pepsi commercial she became known as "The Pepsi Girl". After a decade of being in the spotlight Joannie decided to focus on raising a family. Shelly's Number One one-hit wonder was "Johnny Angel". Irma Thomas had her one hit with the number 17 "Wish Someone Would Care". Jean Knight's claim to the one-hit wonder list is "Mr. Big Stuff" from 1971.

From Quiz One Hit Wonder Song Covers

Answer: Fear Factory

Fear Factory's cover of Gary Neumann's "Cars" appeared as a bonus track on their 1999 re-release of the CD "Obsolete". Fear Factory has also covered U2's "I Will Follow", which appears on their 2005 release, "Transgression"

From Quiz One Hit Wonderfulness

Answer: It's All in the Game - Tommy Edwards

Charles Gates Dawes penned the music as a young man. Words were later added and recorded by Tommy Edwards who hit the top of the charts twice with the song.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders...I Wonder?

Answer: The Buggles

This was the very first video played on MTV, but it was a hit two years prior to August 1, 1981, by making the Billboard Top 40s chart, barely, at number 40.

From Quiz One Shot to the Top #1

Answer: Purple People Eater

Sheb Wooley took this ditty to #1 in 1958.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders (UK)

Answer: Wamdue Project

The song was called 'King of my Castle', and it was released in the United Kingdom on November 27, 1999, and remained at number one for one week only. It was the brainchild of an American dance artist and an Italian singer.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders

Answer: The Vapors

"Turning Japanese", had a lot to do with the bands success, of course, but without the support from the Jam, the Vapors might never have played a venue outside their native Surrey, might never have signed a major-label deal, and might not now be the subject of EMI's recent compilation: "Turning Japanese - The Best Of The Vapors".

From Quiz VH1's 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders

Answer: "Kung-Fu Fighting"

Carl Douglas had the 1974 classic that was #100 on VH1's special, not Blind Melon's "No Rain" (#99), Stacey Q's "Two of Hearts" (#98), or "Whoomp (There It Is) by Tag Team, which was number 97.

From Quiz One Hit or Two?

Answer: Two & 2

The Texas group had its first hit in 1998 with the #2 hit "Kiss Me." A cover of "There She Goes" went to #32 in 1999. The group broke up in 2004.

From Quiz VH1 One Hit Wonders: Goofy Greats

Answer: Pac Man

"Pac-Man Fever" was popular in 1982. The game is making a comeback.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders of the 1980s and 1990s

Answer: Will to Power

"Baby I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley (Free Baby)" (1988). The best slow jam of all time, without question. They took Frampton's and Skynnard's song and made a masterpiece. Kudos, Will to Power.

From Quiz VH1 One Hit Wonders :TV Themes

Answer: 1992

Walters has a new CD out called "Believed." The Fox show lasted only one season. Walters later was on "Beverly Hills 90210."

From Quiz British One Hit Wonders

Answer: A Lot

23 weeks on the chart in 1954, but nothing else on this side of the pond for the American songstress.

From Quiz Top 40 Radio VI - One-and-Done

Answer: The Nashville Teens

The group was formed in Surrey, England in 1962; the group's co-founders, Ramon Philips and Arthur Sharp were both past their teens. They also have no actual connection to Nashville; the group's name evolved from an Everly Brothers song "Nashville Blues".

From Quiz One, One and Done!

Answer: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

The nursery rhyme "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" was written in 1806 by English poet Jane Taylor. Sometime earlier, in the 1700s, Mozart had adapted a French melody, "Ah, Vous Dirai-je, Maman", and some anonymous person married the two into the nursery rhyme song that survives to this day. The Elegants were a Staten Island based doo-wop group and two members, Vito Picone and Arthur Venosa, further adapted that nursery rhyme song and turned it into the Number One hit "Little Star". Despite remaining active in the recording studio and in live performances, the group would never again have a Billboard charting hit of any sort, classic one hit wonders. As of 2020, Vito Picone continues to tour with The Elegants on the nostalgia circuit, he the only original member left in the group. In the department of odd curiosities, "Little Star" replaced "Volare" by Domenico Modugno at Number One for one week before "Volare" rebounded to reclaim top spot a week later. Were it not for a song entitled "Piove" released by Modugno in 1959 that charted for just one week at Number 97, he would have also been a true one hit wonder.

From Quiz Actors Who Were One-Hit Wonders as Singers

Answer: Anna Kendrick

Despite her singing talent, which enabled her to be cast at age 12 in the Broadway musical "High Society", as of 2020 Kendrick has never recorded a stand-alone album of music. Her 2013 hit "Cups (When I'm Gone)" was recorded for the soundtrack of "Pitch Perfect" and then re-recorded (and extended) for release as a single to promote the movie. The arrangement of the song used in the movie was developed by Luisa Gerstein of the band "Lulu and the Lampshades", and Kendrick said she learned it by watching a video of a remake of that version on Reddit.

From Quiz More, Please?

Answer: Soft Cell

"Tainted Love", "Bedsitter", and "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" all came from Soft Cell's 1981 album "Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret". While all three songs made it to the top five, "Tainted Love" was the only one to make the number one spot on the UK Official Charts. "Bedsitter" made it to number four, and "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" made it to number three. "Tainted Love", a cover of the 1964 Gloria Jones song, made it to number eight on the US Billboard Top 100. Since they only had one top ten hit in the US, they are often found on lists of one-hit wonders, but the group did have more success in the UK, with three top ten albums and five top ten hits. Additionally, their "Memorabilia"/"Persuasion" single did break the top 40 in the US in 1981, but it only made it to number 35. Soft Cell was a synthpop duo from England, with Marc Almond as the vocalist and David Ball as the instrumentalist. The duo stayed together from 1978 until 1984. The duo came back together for a few reunion releases in 2001-2002 and again in 2018.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders in the USA

Answer: Laurie London

"He's Got The Whole World (In His Hands)" written by Robert Lindon/William Henry was number one for four weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Laurie London in 1958. It peaked at number 12 on the UK singles chart in 1957. "He's Got The Whole World (In His Hands)" is a traditional American spiritual. It was first published in 1927 but was credited to British song writers Robert Lindon and William Henry. Laurie London was 13 years old when he recorded "He's Got The Whole World (In His Hands)". It was the biggest hit by a British male singer in the USA, in the '50s. It sold in excess of 1,000,000 copies and was awarded a Gold Disc.

From Quiz One Hit Wonders in the UK

Answer: Crazy World of Arthur Brown

"Fire", written by Brown/Crane/Finesilver/Ker, was number one for one week on the UK singles chart for the Crazy World of Arthur Brown in 1968. It peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 the same year. The first incarnation of the Crazy World of Arthur Brown included Arthur Brown (vocals), Vincent Crane (Hammond organ and piano), Nick Greenwood (bass) and Drachen Theaker (drums). The record was produced by The Who's manager Kit Lambert and lead guitarist Pete Townshend; it sold in excess of 1,000,000 copies. Arthur Brown was known for the flaming helmet that he wore on stage and which occasionally led to him being burned. He also had a penchant for stripping naked while performing.

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Last Updated Dec 21 2024 5:45 AM

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