The Top 500 One-Hit Wonders of the Rock Era: #75-#51

Here are 25 more artists who should have had at least one more hit...(Recommended to play at Maximum Volume)

This 1967 smash places this One-Hit Wonder at #75*:

 

  #75--(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet--Blues Magoos  

The group formed in The Bronx, New York in 1964 as the Trenchcoats.  They played at various clubs in Greenwich Village and by 1966, the band changed its name to Bloos Magoos and then Blues Magoos.  They were at the forefront of the psychedelic music trend sweeping popular culture.  

They released two singles on Verve Records but did not get anywhere.  Mercury Records then signed Blues Magoos to a contract and their debut album, Psychedelic Lollipop was released.  The group toured the United States in 1967, opening for the Who and Herman's Hermits.  "(We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet" was released in 1967 and reached #5 in the United States.  It was included in the movie Easy Rider in 1968. 

The follow-up single, "There's a Chance We Can Make It" did not make the Top 40 and subsequent singles were ignored by most music fans.  By 1968, after six albums, the group became discouraged and broke up. 

We go back to the 90's for this next act:

 

  #74:  The Freshmen--Verve Pipe  

Brian and Brad Vander Ark, Brian Stout and Donny Brown formed this group in East Lansing, Michigan in 1992.  The Verve Pipe released their first album I've Suffered a Head Injury later that year.  In 1993, A.J. Dunning replaced Stout on guitar and the group released the album Pop Smear, which led to a recording contract with RCA Records in 1995.

The Verve Pipe's first single on RCA was "Photograph", with "The Freshmen" next.  There had been an acoustic version of the latter on their 1992 album, and the new version became their one and only hit, reaching #6.  The group's self-titled album was released in 1999, but failed to continue the momentum.

The Verve Pipe released five albums and five singles in their career.

Legendary words put to music by this Canadian group:

#73:  One Tin Soldier--Original Caste  

Songwriter and guitarist Bruce Innes formed this group in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 1966 under the name the North Country Singers.  Innes, Graham Bruce and Bliss Mackie started out as a trio before Dixie Lee (Stone) Innes joined the band in 1967.  In 1968, Peter Brown became the first drummer in the group.

The group changed their name to Original Caste and moved to Los Angeles.  They recorded the single "I Can't Make It Anymore" for Dot Records but it got nowhere.  In 1969, the band signed with TA Records, a division of Bell Records.  Although the group wrote much of their own material, Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter wrote "One Tin Soldier" for the band's self-titled debut album.  

"One Tin Soldier" was a big hit in their native Canada and reached #34 in the United States.  The follow-up, "Mr. Monday", was a hit in Japan and Canada but success was limited there.  The Original Caste toured in Canada, the United States and Japan and appeared on television shows. The opened for B.B. King and Glen Campbell in concert and recorded live albums in Japan, where they were very popular.

The members of the group broke up in 1972 after releasing two albums and seven singles, but Bruce and Dixie Innes continued to perform as the Original Caste for several years.  A cover version of "One Tin Soldier" by Coven was featured on the "Billy Jack" Soundtrack in 1971.  

The artist who recorded one of the all-time biggest sellers of the Rock Era is next:

#72: In the Summertime--Mungo Jerry

Mungo Jerry got their name from the poem Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer, from T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats.  The group made their debut at the Hollywood Festival at Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England the week that "In the Summertime" was released in 1970.  

The song topped the U.K. charts for seven weeks and reached #1 in 26 countries; it peaked at #3 in the United States.  The trade publication Melody Maker named Mungo Jerry the Best New Band in 1970 and group member Ray Dorset, who wrote the song, received three Ivor Novello Awards for his songwriting.

The song has now sold over 30 million copies worldwide. "In the Summertime" has been covered several times, including a 1995 version by Shaggy. 

Mungo Jerry has released 19 albums and 21 singles. They followed up "In the Summertime" with success in their native England and have had spot success in other countries, but never did anything close to their smash of 1971.

This group took an Ann Peebles song and remade it into a classic:

#71:  I Can't Stand the Rain--Eruption  

This disco group began as Silent Eruption in 1974 in Great Britain.  The following year, they won the RCA Soul Search Contest and released their debut single "Let Me Take You Back in Time".  

But as further success eluded them, lead singer Lindel Leslie left the group, and backing singer Precious Wilson became the new lead vocalist.  Eruption began touring in Germany, where they were discovered by Frank Farian, the producer of Boney M.  Eruption signed with Hansa Records and opened for Boney M. on tour.

"Party Party" became a minor hit, leading to the release of Eruption's remake of the Ann Peebles song "I Can't Stand the Rain" from the group's debut album.  "I Can't Stand the Rain" was a worldwide smash, reaching #1 in Australia and Belgium, #2 in Norway, #3 in Italy, #4 in New Zealand, Austria and the Netherlands, #5 in France and the U.K., #6 in Ireland, #7 in Germany, #18 in the United States, and becoming one of the biggest hits of the year in many areas.

Eruption followed with the album Leave a Light in 1978.  "One Way Ticket" became a #9 song in the U.K. but Eruption was not able to generate further worldwide interest.  Wilson left the band in 1979 to begin a solo career and was replaced by Kim Davis.  Eruption scored a Top 10 song in Germany with "Go Johnnie Go" from the album Fight Fight Fight.  

Tragedy struck when Davis suffered a fatal brain hemorrhage.  She was replaced by Jane Jochen, and Eruption signed with Jupiter Records in 1981.  However, the group had not been the same since the departure of Wilson, and Eruption's fourth album Our Way received little attention.  In 1985, the group broke up.

The group that gave us this worldwide hit in 1968 is next:

#70:  Judy in Disguise--John Fred and the Playboys

This group formed in 1956 with lead singer John Fred, guitarist Jimmy O'Rourke, bassist Harold Cowart, Joe Miceli on percussion, Tommy Degeneres on organ, trumpet players Ronnie Goodson and Charlie Spinosa and bari-sax player Andrew Bernard.  The group released their first single "Shirley" in 1958.   In 1967, Fred, poet Jack Royerton and  Bernard co-wrote "Judy in Disguise", a play on the title of the Beatles' hit "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds".  

John Fred & His Playboy Band released "Judy in Disguise (with Glasses)" on Paula Records.  The song hit #1 in the United States, Germany and Switzerland and #3 in Great Britain.early 1968 and sold over one million copies.  Although the group was a talented road act, they suffered the fate of being branded a novelty act and were never able to enjoy further success.  

John Fred and His Playboy Band released four albums and 10 singles.

#69:  (I Just) Died In Your Arms--Cutting Crew

Here's another of a handful of #1 songs that One-Hit Wonders have collected in the Rock Era:

#68:  The Rapper--Jaggerz  

While at Slippery Rock University, Donnie Iris started a band called the Trivells, which became Donnie and the Donnelles.  Iris left college when he joined Jimmie Ross in a band called Gary and the Jewel Tones.  This band resulted in the Jaggers, which formed in 1965 and began playing night clubs.

In 1968, the Jaggers signed a recording contract with Gamble Records and began recording their debut album.  As their was another band with their name, manager Joe Rock suggested the group alter their name slightly to the Jaggerz.  In 1969, the group released the album Introducing the Jaggerz with moderate success.

In 1970, the group switched to Kama Sutra Records and released the album We Went to Different Schools Together. "The Rapper", written by Iris, was released as a single.  It became a smash hit, reaching #2 and selling over one million copies.

The group would never again come close to the success achieved by "The Rapper".  They released four albums and 11 singles through 1973, when they were dropped from the label.  Iris, however, enjoyed two Top 30 hits with "Ah!  Leah!" in 1981 and "My Girl" in 1982.

The number 13 was lucky for this unique English group:

 
#67: Tubthumping--Chumbawamba

Allan Whalley, Danbert Nobacon, Midge and Tomi were in the band Chimp Eats Banana, and formed this group in Burnley, England in 1982.  Lou Watts joined shortly afterwards.  Chumbawamba recorded the song "Three Years Later" on Crass Records.  Alice Nutter, Dunstan Bruce, Harry Hamer and Dave Dillon soon joined.  The group released the cassettes Be Happy Despite It All and Raising Heck With Chumbawamba and were featured on many compilations.  The group had released several songs to only moderate success.

Then in 1997, the group released their 13th single "Tubthumping" on Universal Records and EMI Electrola.  The song reached #1 in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Italy, #2 in the U.K. and Norway and was #1 on the Modern Rock chart and #6 overall in the United States.  "Tubthumping" was played as a wake-up call on the final Space Shuttle mission and was used in the series premiere of the television show Dawson's Creek.

Chumbawamba has released 19 albums and 22 singles in their career, with "Tubthumping" being their only popular song.

A talented act that gave us a million seller in 1967 is at #56:

 
#66: Little Bit O' Soul--Music Explosion

James Lyons (singer and percussion), guitarists Donald Atkins and Richard Nesta, bassist Burton Stahl and drummer Robert Avery formed this group in Galion, Ohio.  Ronald Bretone later replaced Stahl.  Producers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeff Katz discovered the group and signed them to a recording contract.

The group released the single "Little Bit O' Soul" in 1967, which reached #2 and sold over one million copies.  The song, written by John Carter and Ken Lewis, became the group's only big hit.

Music Explosion released one album and 13 singles in their career, with "Sunshine Games" being their next biggest hit at #63.  

Sound straight out of the psychedelic 60's is next:

#64:  I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)--Electric Prunes  

This group was formed in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles by guitarist Ken Williams, lead singer James Lowe, Michael Weakley on drums and bassist Mark Tulin.  They first called themselves the Sanctions and then Jim and the Lords.  Joe Dooley replaced Weakley on drums; in fact, their lineup changed several times, and at one time included Kenny Loggins.  

Lowe, Tulin, Williams and Weakley met RCA engineer David Hassinger, who arranged for the group to record demos at Leon Russell's home recording studio.  Hassinger suggested that the band change their name, and they settled on the Electric Prunes.  The group released the single "Ain't It Hard" from these sessions, but it was not successful.  

The Electric Prunes' follow-up was "I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)" in 1966, written by Annette Tucker and Nancie Mantz.  The song climbed to #11 in the United States and #49 in the U.K.  The group's lineup included Lowe, Williams and James Spagnola on guitar and drummer Preston Ritter.

The band released "Get Me to the World on Time", which only reached #27 in the United States and #42 in the U.K.  That was the next-best song in the group's catalog that included eight albums and 16 singles.  

Looking back, it's shocking that this band didn't become big stars:

#63:  Baby It's You--Smith  

This group formed from the band the Smiths, which featured two of the same members, Rich Cliburn and Jerry Carter.  Gayle McCormick, who began her career singing songs by Tina Turner and others, was added as the lead singer.  They were performing in a Los Angeles nightclub when Del Shannon discovered them. 

Shannon got Smith a recording contract with ABC-Dunhill Records and also arranged their first single "Baby It's You".  The song was written by Burt Bacharach, Luther Dixon and Mack David.  The Shirelles and Beatles had originally recorded the song, but Smith had the biggest hit with it at #5.  Smith released the album A Group Called Smith.  The group released their second album Minus-Plus, which was not as successful.  The were able to include their cover of "The Weight" on the "Easy Rider" Soundtrack.  

Smith broke up after just two albums and two singles, "What Am I Gonna' Do" and "Take a Look Around", which only made the middle of the chart.

The Carpenters remade the song just a few years later.  Numerous other artists, including Cliff Richard, Ace Frehley, Chrissie Hynde and Shakespear's Sister have covered "Baby It's You".

The group that recorded one of the biggest hits of the Rock Era is next:

 

  #62: Macarena--Los del Rio

Antonio Romero Monge and Rafael Ruíz Perdigones formed Los del Rio in 1992.  The duo became a popular live act and  was invited to tour South America.  While attending a private party held by Venezuelan impresario Gustavo Cisneros, the duo witnessed a performance by a local flamenco teacher, Diana Patricia Cubillán Herrera.  The members of Los del Rio were quite surprised by her dance skills.  Antonio Romero Monge recited the chorus of what would become an international sensation on the spot, as an accolade to Cubillán, but naming her Ma'dalena.   Dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Ma'dalena, que tu cuerpo e' pa' darle alegría y cosa' güena'" ("Give your body some joy, Magdalene, 'cause your body is for giving joy and good things to").

After the night was over, Monge finished the song, and Los del Rio recorded it in 1992 as a rumba, the first of six versions of the song attributed to the duo.  Another version, a new flamenco rumba pop fusion with Spanish lyrics, became successful in Spain and Mexico.  That version was also used as the unofficial campaign theme song for the reelection campaign of then-governor Pedro Rosselló in Puerto Rico.  As Puerto Rico was a base for many cruise ships, visitors to the island were constantly exposed to the song while staying there.  Thus, the song spread to, and became a hit in, cities with significant Latino communities in the United States, such as Miami and New York City.

After the Bayside Boys remixed the song and English lyrics were written and added by producers Carlos de Yarza and Mike Triay, Los del Rio recorded the album A mi me gusta. On that album is one of the surprise hits of the Rock Era. "Macarena" was released as a single in 1995, and it became a huge international hit. The song reached was #1 for 14 weeks in the United States.  It reached #1 in Australia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Finland, Denmark, Spain and Belgium and was #2 in the U.K., New Zealand, Sweden and Norway.  By 1997, the single had sold 11 million copies.  

"Macarena" includes the laughter of Yazoo vocalist Alison Moyet.  The female singer on the remix was hired by the Bayside Boys, and at her request was uncredited.  A dance was designed around the song, and it got to be where you weren't "hip" if you didn't know the dance.  A crowd of over 50,000 people danced the Macarena in Yankee Stadium in New York City in 1996.  The song stayed on the chart for 60 weeks, the longest reign among number one songs.  

You will read and hear some people call "Macarena" one of "the greatest songs of all-time".  While it was a huge #1 hit, to be sure, the song had little competition when judged against other songs of the Rock Era.  #1 for 14 weeks in 1996 is not automatically better than #1 for 7 weeks in 1964.  You see, competition is the key.  And it is one of the key components used in my exclusive formula which is able to calculate The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*.  When you consider the competition vying for #1 in the days of "Macarena", the song gets knocked down considerably.  We will update The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era* at some point, and you will see where the song truly ranks.

Los del Rio released six albums and five singles in their career--five of the albums contained different styles and remixes of "Macarena".  "Macarena Christmas" at #57 was their highest-ranking single after "Macarena".  The duo may not have been able to capitalize on their One-Hit Wonder, but they certainly gave us an international success at the time.

A song about a river in Boston gave this group its one big hit:

 

  #60:  Dirty Water--Standells  

In 1961, bass guitarist Jody Rich and guitarist Tony Valentino were in a band called the Starlights, who recorded a demo of "Let's Go (Pony)".  Vocalist and keyboardist Larry Tamblyn joined the group, followed shortly afterwards by drummer Benny King, and the group changed their name to the Standells.  

The group gave their first major performance at the Oasis Club in Honolulu, Hawai'i.  Rich and King left the group, eventually replaced by Gary Lane and Gary Leeds (later known as Gary Walker of the Walker Brothers).  The Standells signed a recording contract with Liberty Records in 1964.  Leeds then left the band, replaced by vocalist and drummer Dick Dodd.   

The group released the album The Standells In Person At P.J.'s, which was later re-issued as The Standells Live and Out of Sight.  The group appeared on The Munsters television show performing "I Want to Hold Your Hand".  They released two singles on Vee-Jay Records before signing with MGM.   

Producer Ed Cobb wrote "Dirty Water", which the Standells recorded in 1965 on Tower Records, a subsidiary of Capitol Records.  The song peaked at #8 and is considered a staple of garage rock.  The group released an album of the same name in 1966.   

In 1997, the Boston Red Sox adopted "Dirty Water" as their official victory anthem, played after every home victory.  The Standells played "Dirty Water" before the second game of the 2004 World Series at Fenway Park.  Also that year, two Boston area music stores assembled over 1,500 guitarists to perform "Dirty Water" for over 76 minutes adjacent to the Charles River. 

"Dirty Water" is listed in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll."  The Inmates remade the song in the 1980's and reached #51.  The Standells released five albums and four singles, with their next-best song being "Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White", which peaked at #43.

Tamblyn's niece is Amber Tamblyn, star of the movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

You may be surprised at the list of songs this talented artist has written:

#59: In the House of Stone and Light--Martin Page 

Page was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England and moved from military base to military base as his father was an aviation engineer.  Page was an apprentice to the Southampton Saints, a professional soccer team.  While playing, Martin devoted a good deal of time to learning how to play the bass guitar.  Eventually, Page's love of soccer gave way to his desire to become a professional musician.

Page toured with several British bands as a session musician before forming the group Q-Feel with Brian Fairweather, who eventually became his songwriting partner.    The pair moved to Los Angeles, where they met Diane Poncher, who became their manager.  Page was soon working with superstars such as Earth, Wind, and Fire and the Commodores, and co-wrote songs with famous songwriter Bernie Taupin such as "We Built This City" for Starship and "These Dreams" for Heart.  Page also wrote the hits "King of Wishful Thinking" and "Faithful" for Go West, as well as songs for Josh Groban, Tom Jones and Robbie Robertson.  Martin also played keyboards on the Ray Parker, Jr. smash "Ghostbusters".

In 1994, Page recorded his debut album In the House of Stone and Light.  The title track, which Page wrote while visiting the Grand Canyon in Arizona.  "In the House of Stone and Light" showcased Page's amazing songwriting ability and although Billboard only ranked the song at #14, it is without question one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*.

After that success, Page suffered huge blows when both his parents and some dear friends died.  Martin took some time off for mourning and reflection, and didn't return to the studio until 2008 for the album In the Temple of the Muse.  The album was released on the independent label Ironing Board Records, which Page and Poncher started to give Page greater control of his music.  Page released his third album A Tempter of Peace in 2012.  

Here's one of the newest entries in The One Hit Wonders*:
 

  #58:  A Thousand Miles--Vanessa Carlton

Carlton was born in Milford, Pennsylvania.  She became interested in music and one day after returning from Disneyland at the age of two, she sat down and played "It's a Small World" on the piano.  Vanessa began playing classical music, but by the age of 9, she became passionate about ballet.  After graduating from the School of American Ballet, however, Carlton decided to pursue a singing career instead, performing in bars and clubs in New York City.  Three months after recording a demo tape, Vanessa signed a recording contract with A&M Records.

Carlton released the single "A Thousand Miles" in 2002.  The song became a worldwide smash, reaching #1 in Australia, #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart and #5 overall in the United States, #4 in New Zealand, #6 in the U.K. and #8 in Switzerland and France.  "A Thousand Miles" finished the year as the sixth-most-played song of 2002, and it was nominated for Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist, and received nominations for the Billboard Music Award for New Artist of the Year and for an American Music Award for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist.  Clearly, the potential for Carlton was limitless.

The album Be Not Nobody followed and achieved Platinum status.  Carlton released the singles "Ordinary Day" (#30) and "Pretty Baby", and opened for the Goo Goo Dolls and Third Eye Blind on tour.  She provided backing vocals for the Counting Crows and played piano for Italian singer Zucchero.  Vanessa was doing all the things necessary for success.  However, the albums Harmonium in 2004 and Heroes & Thieves in 2007 did not continue the momentum. Carlton released the album Rabbits on the Run.  

"A Thousand Miles" is one of the newest entries into the One Hit Wonders*, having just passed the minimum ten years without another mass appeal Top 20 song.  Carlton has released four albums and nine singles in her career.  Vanessa's uncle is the jazz artist Larry Carlton.  

Up next, the Record of the Year in 2012 from an artist we never heard of again.

 

 #57:  "Somebody That I Used To Know

Gotye

The story of Gotye is another oddity.  Gotye (real name Wouter "Wally" DeBeacker) graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne in Australia and then pursued a music career.  He released two albums prior to his breakthrough, the 2011 release Making Mirrors.

The first single, "Eyes Wide Open", got some airplay in Australia but little anywhere else.  Then Gotye released a song he'd recorded with Kimbra, a singer from New Zealand.  This one spread like wildfire, first topping the U.K. charts for five weeks.  After an appearance on Saturday Night Live, "Somebody That I Used To Know" springboarded up the U.S. charts, latching onto the #1 position for 8 weeks.  It was either #1 or #2 in 27 countries and finished 2012 as the top-selling song in the world.  The single also broke a 47-year-old record by becoming the biggest hit of all-time in the Netherlands. It has sold over 14 million copies in the United States and over 21 million worldwide.  The song earned Grammys for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Vocal Performance.

Gotye then took a hiatus, performing with his band the Basics and starting an independent record label.  But he released no new material until 2024, when he tried to recreate the magic of 13 years before with Kimbra with the single "Somebody".  But that went nowhere, leaving Gotye as one of the only artists in history to reach #1 and never score another Hot 100 song again!

#56:  Ah!  Leah!--Donnie Iris

#55:  Signs--Five Man Electrical Band

The #54 artist wrote down these prophetic words in 1967:

 #54:  Eve of Destruction--Barry McGuire

McGuire was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, but moved to California soon afterwards.  He joined the United States Navy, but was discharged ten months later after it was discovered that he was only 16 years old. Barry became a commercial fisherman, then was a journeyman pipe fitter.  At age 25, McGuire got a job singing in a bar.

In 1961, Barry released the single "The Tree", then formed a duo with Barry Kane called Barry & Barry.  The pair performed folk songs at The Ice House in Pasadena, California, then got a boost when the famous Troubadour in Hollywood signed them in 1962.  Barry & Barry joined the New Christy Minstrels, which were performing at the club, but also maintained their separate act, releasing the album Here and Now.

McGuire co-wrote and sang lead vocal on the Christy's hit "Green, Green", but left the group in 1965 after the group recorded the album Cowboys and Indians.

Barry began a solo career with a bang with the single "Eve of Destruction", written by P.F. Sloan.  The song was originally written for the Byrds, but that great group rejected it.  Sloan was also an accomplished guitarist, and top session men Hal Blaine on drums and Larry Knechtel on bass accompanied Barry on the recording.  The song went all the way to #1 and became one of The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era*.  "Eve of Destruction" was also recorded by the Turtles and the Grass Roots, among others, and was referenced in the Temptations' smash "Ball of Confusion".   

McGuire released the album This Precious Time in 1966, which included a version of "California Dream'" with the Mamas & the Papas singing backing vocals.  McGuire was mentioned several times in the Mamas & the Papas hit "Creeque Alley".  McGuire appeared in the movie The President's Analyst with James Coburn in 1967 and also starred for a year in the Broadway production of the musical Hair.  

McGuire became a born-again Christian in 1971 and has released several albums of Christian music.  In 1978, Barry toured England, Scotland and Wales with the musical The Witness, in which he played the part of the apostle Peter.

McGuire has released 23 albums in his career, but was never able to match the brilliance of "Eve of Destruction".  The next-best song he did was "Cloudy Summer Afternoon (Raindrops)" in 1966, which reached #62.

Our #53 artist turned in a performance for the ages on her #1 song:

 

#53: Don't Leave Me This Way--Thelma Houston

Houston grew up in Long Beach, California and joined the Art Reynolds Singers gospel group.  Thelma signed a recording contract with Dunhill Records and released her debut album Sunshower in 1969.  She switched to Motown in 1971 but did not enjoy much initial success.  In all, Houston had released 13 singles at this point in her career.

Then in 1977, a song that Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff and Cary Gilbert wrote was given to Houston.  She recorded "Don't Leave Me This Way" and released it as a single.  It became a massive worldwide hit, topping the chart in the United States and South Africa and reaching #4 in Canada, Sweden and the Netherlands, #5 in Germany, #6 in Australia, #11 in Spain, #13 in the U.K. and France, #15 in Italy, #17 in New Zealand and #18 in Austria  The song earned Houston a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.  Later in the year, the song was included on the soundtrack album for the movie Looking for Mr. Goodbar.  It is widely regarded as one of the top disco songs of all-time as well as one of the top dance songs of all-time and one of the top vocal performances of the Rock Era.

"Don't Leave Me This Way" was also recorded by the Temptations, Sheena Easton, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes and the Communards. 

Houston has released 17 albums and 49 singles in her career.   She has enjoyed some success on the Dance chart, but could never come close to her amazing performance on "Don't Leave Me This Way".

At #52, The Top One-Hit Wonder of the 90's*:

 

#52:  Wherever You Will Go--the Calling      

Vocalist Alex Band and guitarist Aaron Kamin began jamming and writing songs in 1996 and began performing under the name Generation Gap with a drummer that was twice their age. They began recording demo tapes and finally in 1999, the group switched their name to the Calling and signed a recording contract with RCA Records.

The Calling recorded their debut album Camino Palmero in 2001 largely with studio musicians.  Later in the year, guitarist Sean Woolstenhulme, bassist Billy Mohler and drummer Nate Wood joined the group.  The Calling released the single "Wherever You Will Go", which was featured in the television show Smallville and the movie Coyote Ugly.  The song reached #5, helping the album sell over five million copies.

But the next year, Woolstenhulme left the group, replaced by Dino Meneghin.  Mohler and Wood left in the fall and legal problems resulted.  In 2004, the group returned with new musicians and the album Two.  Three singles were released but none did well.  In 2005, the Calling split for good.

#51:  Crazy--Gnarls Barkley

That leaves us just two installments and 50 artists away from the conclusion of this special.  Be sure to look for our "checklists" that help you enjoy the One-Hit Wonders* in their entirety!