Artists Whose First Hit Was Their Biggest--Part 12

Here are 10 more artists who enjoyed great success with their first hit, so much so that future releases fell short:

Escape Club

"Wild, Wild West"

When your first single release goes to #1 and sells over a million copies, it puts a lot of pressure on you.  The Escape Club was able to land another Top 10 in 1991, but nothing close to their first.

David Essex

"Rock On"

This London artist portrayed Jesus Christ in the West End production of Godspell.  His first single went Top 5, but his best effort after that was #71.

The Essex

"Easier Said Than Done"

This group of United States Marines at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina formed a vocal quartet and moved all the way to #1 in 1963 with their first release.  The Essex were able to get a Top 15 song after that but never came close to their first.

Eurythmics

"Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)"

This great duo reached #1 with their first worldwide single.  They enjoyed 14 hits after that, including two more Top 10's, but their biggest career hit is still their first.  David Stewart became an accomplished producer afterwards, working for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Stevie Nicks, Bon Jovi, Ringo Starr and Mick Jagger, among others.

Everything But the Girl

"Missing"

This duo from London enjoyed some success in Europe, but their first worldwide single didn't happen until 1995, when they released "Missing".  It not only went to #2 but set a record at the time for weeks on the chart with an incredible 55.  They've put out some solid music, but that first worldwide release set the standard for them.

Exciters
"Tell Him"

The Exciters hit #4 with this great song.  Unfortunately, they never landed inside the Top 40 again.

Extreme
"More Than Words"

This group from Boston achieved moderate success on Modern Rock stations for several years, but they didn't enjoy score their first hit until 1991, when they jumped up to #1.  A follow-up, "Hole Hearted", got to #4, but nothing came close to that first big hit.

Shelley Fabares
"Johnny Angel"

This artist played Donna Reed's daughter on The Donna Reed Show.  In 1962, her first big hit rocketed to #1 for two weeks.  Although she managed just #21 after that, Shelley began a film career, starring with Elvis Presley in three of his movies among her other roles.

Falco
"Rock Me Amadeus"

Our next featured artist is from Vienna, Austria, and his first hit, a tribute to Vienna's own Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, was a monster hit in 1986.  Falco was not a One-Hit Wonder; he reached #18 with "Vienna Calling", but he is another example of an artist who achieved his biggest hit with his first.

Harold Faltermeyer
"Axel F"

Harold Faltermeyer was successful in other ways before he recorded his own song--he arranged and played keyboards for the movie soundtracks of Midnight Express and American Gigolo.  In 1985, his instrumental rose to #3, yet it was Harold's only hit.