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)

Sweden produced this entry in our special at #75:

#75:  Lovefool--Cardigans  

Peter Svensson and Magnus Sveningsson formed this group in October of 1992 in Jonkoping, Sweden with lead singer Nina Persson, drummer Bengt Lagerberg and keyboardist Lars-Olof Johansson.  The group began living together in a small apartment and recorded a demo tape.

Ola Hermanson heard the demo and signed the Cardigans to Trampolene Records.  In 1994, the group released their debut album Emmerdale, which was re-released internationally in 1997.  The album contained the single "Rise & Shine".  Emmerdale attracted a loyal base of fans in Sweden.

The Cardigans toured Europe, then recorded the album Life in 1995, which sold over one million copies worldwide.  Still, most people around the world had not heard of the Cardigans, but it did get the group the exposure they needed to sign a major recording contract with Mercury Records.

Armed with the Mercury deal, the Cardigans released the album First Band on the Moon in 1996.  "Lovefool", written by Svensson and Persson, was a worldwide hit (#2 in the U.K., #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Airplay chart and #1 in New Zealand), leading the album to Platinum status in just three weeks in Japan.  The song was featured in the movie Romeo + Juliet, which gave it great exposure, as did videos on MTV, which used to stand for Music Television.

Yet despite six albums and 17 singles, the Cardigans could never match "Lovefool" with mass audiences.  They did find success in the U.K., their native Sweden and Australia, and "My Favorite Game" reached #16 among the much smaller Alternative Rock audience.

One of the biggest worldwide hits of the 90's gave this group their only hit:

#74: What's Up--4 Non Blondes

Bassist Christa Hillhouse and guitarist Shaunna Hall, who were roommates, met drummer Wanda Day when they joined a group Day was already a part of. Soon the three left that band and began playing as a three-piece. Lead singer Linda Perry was invited to join the group shortly afterwards and the group became 4 Non Blondes.

The band signed with Interscope Records in 1991 after 4 Non Blondes opened for Primus.  As they prepared for their debut album, Day was fired and Richardson replaced her.  Producer David Tickle also didn't feel Hall's guitar playing was what the group needed and she was fired as well.  Other guitarists such as Cara Crash and Louis Metoyer were brought in to finish the album.  Roger Rocha eventually joined after the album was completed and stayed with the group until 1994.  

The album was called Bigger, Better, Faster, More!  "What's Up?", a song written by Perry, was released as the album's second single.  It was a worldwide smash, hitting #1 in Austria, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Switzerland and Sweden, #2 in the U.K. and Australia and reaching #14 and selling over one million copies in the United States.  "What's Up?" was the #1 song of the year in Austria and the Netherlands.

Despite the huge success, 4 Non Blondes broke up after just one album.

Perry went on to begin two record labels and has become a major songwriter and producer.  She has written and produced for several artists, including Pink ("Get the Party Started"), Christina Aguilera ("Beautiful") and Gwen Stefani "What You Waiting For?").  Perry won two ASCAP Awards and was nominated for a Grammy for Song of the Year for "Beautiful".  Perry also discovered and signed James Blunt to a recording contract and worked with Celine Dion, Alicia Keys, Cheap Trick, Faith Hill, Jewel, Melissa Etheridge, Enrique Iglesias, Vanessa Carlton and Joan Osbourne, among others.

Here we have a rock band that played this disco song and others only with reluctance:

#73:  Play That Funky Music--Wild Cherry

Rob Parissi (lead vocals and guitar) formed the band Wild Cherry in 1970 in Steubenville, Ohio.  The original lineup included Ben Difabbio (drums), Louie Osso (guitar, lead and background vocals), bassist Larry Brown and keyboardist Larry Mader.  Wild Cherry played clubs in the Ohio Valley region, West Virginia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  

Parissi's cousin, Coogie Stoddart (guitar) and bassists Joe Buchmelter and Buckie Lusk joined later, replacing Osso, Brown and Mader.  Wild Cherry released several songs in the early 1970's, including "You Can Be High (But Lay Low)" and "Something Special On Your Mind".   The group signed a recording contract with Brown Bag Records and released several more singles.

But Parissi became disillusioned and left the music business to become the manager of a local steakhouse, only to realize he wanted to give the band one more try.  Parissi re-formed the band with Bryan Bassett (guitar), drummer Ron Beitle and bassist Allen Wentz.  

The new quartet performed at a feverish pace and built a devoted following in the Pittsburgh area.  Their fans wanted them to play disco music, with one specific table of fans coming up to tease the group by asking "Are you gonna' play some funky music?".    

One night between sets, Beitle said the phrase "Play That Funky Music, White Boy".  Parissi was inspired to write a song around the phrase on a drink order pad.  It took a total of five minutes to write.  When the group went into the studio to record the song, engineer Ken Hamann was so impressed he brought the band to the attention of Epic subsidiary Sweet City Records, who immediately signed the band.

Keyboardist Mark Avsec, who was hired to play on two of the album's tracks, was asked to become a permanent member of the band on tour.  "Play That Funky Music" became a #1 smash for three weeks and a Platinum single.  Billboard named Wild Cherry Best Pop Group of the Year.  The group also won an American Music Award for Top R&B Single of the Year, and they also were nominated for Grammys for Best New Vocal Group and Best R&B Performance by a Group or Duo.

Wild Cherry released four albums and 11 singles, but "Baby Don't You Know" at #43 in 1977 was the next-best they could do.

Since hitting #1, this song has taken a life of its own, played repeatedly at sporting events by those with poor sportsmanship:

#72: (Na Na Hey Hey) Kiss Him Goodbye--Steam  

Garrett DeCarlo, Dale Frashuer and Paul Leka were in a Bridgeport, Connecticut band called the Chateaus.  The trio separated but kept in touch.  Leka took a job as a songwriter with Circle Five Productions and produced the #1 song "Green Tambourine" for the Lemon Pipers.  In 1969, Leka was working at Mercury Records and convinced the label to sign DeCarlo.  DeCarlo recorded four singles and to fill up the B-side of the first single, DeCarlo and Leka were asked to record a throwaway flip side.

Frashuer stopped by and inspired Leka to find a song "Kiss Him Goodbye" the three had written in 1961 but never recorded.  The trio recorded the song without any help from studio musicians.  Leka used the drum track from one of DeCarlo's singles and played the keyboard himself.  Since neither Leka or DeCarlo wanted to have their names on it, the song was attributed to a non-existent band named Steam.

What followed surprised everyone.  A Georgia disc jockey flipped the single over and played ("Na Na Hey Hey) Kiss Him Goodbye" on the radio.  Requests poured in and other stations soon picked it up.  Soon, the song appeared on the Billboard chart, sparking further interest, and popularity snowballed.  The single reached #1 for two weeks in 1969 and worldwide sales have now topped 6.5 million.

An album was recorded by studio musicians and released as Steam, but the "group" never released anything further.

We remember one of the greatest acts from Switzerland:

#71: Captain of Her Heart--Double

Kurt Maloo (vocals and guitar) and Felix Haug (drums and keyboards) were in the trio Ping Pong when they formed Double (pronounced Doo-blay) in 1983 in Zurich, Switzerland.  The duo enjoyed some success with singles and music festival dates around Europe.

In 1985, Double released their debut album Blue, which contained "The Captain of Her Heart".  The single, also produced by Maloo and Haug, hit #3 in Italy, #4 in Canada, #8 in the U.K., and was a #4 Adult Contemporary hit in the United States (the dominant musical format) and #16 overall.  Boz Scaggs is one of several artists to cover "The Captain of Her Heart".

Double released the album Dou3le in 1987, which failed to emulate the success of their debut and the duo split shortly afterwards.  Maloo released four solo albums before dying of a heart attack in 2004.

Other than that one hit in 1975, this group will be best known as the one that kick-started the career of Paul Carrack:

#70:  How Long--Ace 

The members of Ace were assembled from several other bands as Ace Flash and the Dynamos, but the name was quickly abbreviated to Ace.  Lead singer and keyboardist Paul Carrack and Terry "Tex" Comer were in the band Warm Dust while lead guitarist Alan "Bam" King played with Mighty Baby.  Drummer Steve Witherington and guitarist Phil Harris.  Ace became popular on the pub rock circuit.  Drummer Fran Byrne replaced Witherington on drums prior to recording.

Ace recorded their debut album Five-A-Side in 1975 and released the single "How Long".  The song hit #3 in the United States and Canada and the Top 20 in the U.K.  Ace moved to the United States and Jon Woodhead replaced Harris in 1976.  The group released the album No Strings in 1977 before disbanding.  "Rock & Roll Runaway" (#71) in 1975 was their next biggest song.

Carrack became one of The Top Vocalists of the Rock Era*, first joining Eric Clapton's band, then Roger Waters's the Bleeding Heart Band.  He became the lead singer for Squeeze in the early 1980s and was the frontman for Mike + the Mechanics as well as achieving moderate success as a solo artist.

This group was all too happy to record a song originally written for the Temptations:

#69:  Do You Love Me--Contours  

In 1959, Joe Billingslea and Billy Gordon founded the group the Blenders in Detroit, Michigan.  After adding Billy Hoggs, Leroy Fair and Hubert Johnson, the group changed their name to the Contours and in 1960, auditioned for Motown Records.  Motown turned them down, but after a visit from Jackie Wilson (Johnson's cousin), the group signed a recording contract with Motown.

The Contours' single "Whole Lotta' Woman" did not chart in 1961 and Fair was replaced by Benny Reeves, brother of Martha Reeves.  Reeves left to serve in the United States Navy and was replaced by Sylvester Potts.  In 1961, the single "The Stretch" did not chart, so the next year, the Contours recorded "Do You Love Me", a song originally meant for the Temptations, that was written by Motown CEO Berry Gordy, Jr.  

With Gordon singing lead, the song reached #1 on the R&B chart, was #2 overall in 1962 and sold over one million copies.  The group reached the chart with "Can You Do It" (#41), "Shake Sherry" and "Can You Jerk Like Me", although they paled in comparison with their big hit.  Despite several lineup changes and further recordings, the Contours could not match the magic of "Do You Love Me". 

"Do You Love Me" was featured on the "Dirty Dancing" Soundtrack in 1987 and became a #11 hit 26 years after its initial release.  The Hollies, the Dave Clark Five and the Tremeloes all recorded versions of the Contours hit. 

Garage Rock at its finest:

#68: Lies--Knickerbockers  

The Knickerbockers formed in 1962 in Bergenfield, New Jersey with brothers Beau (guitar) and John (bass) Charles.  The two brothers were joined by an ever-changing group of musicians  until 1964, when Buddy Randell (vocals and sax) joined the group.  Randell was with the Royal Teens, who had the hit "Short Shorts" in 1958.  Drummer Jimmy Walker completed the band.

Singer-songwriter Jerry Fuller spotted the group playing at the University Twist Palace and signed them to Challenge Records.  For the first three years, the Knickerbockers worked hard without much to show for it.  Finally in 1966, they released "Lies", which hit #20.  

The follow-up single was "One Track Mind" might have been a hit, but Challenge couldn't handle the distribution, and the single peaked at #45.  But the Knickerbockers continued to work hard, appearing in the movie Out of Sight and as regulars on Dick Clark's Where the Action Is on television.

The Knickerbockers were kept down by the problems of their label, and Walker left in 1967 and Randell soon after.  The Charles brothers continued to record under the group's name, then forming the group Lodi in 1971.   

This act gave us a worldwide smash in 1991:

#67:  Stay--Shakespeare's Sister

Siobhan Fahey left Bananarama in 1988 and conceived Shakespeare's Sister as a solo project. Marcella Detroit joined her, initially as another songwriter, then as a member of the group.  Shakespeare's Sister released their debut album Sacred Heart, which contained a Top 10 song in the U.K.--"You're History", but it was largely undiscovered by most of the world.  

In 1991, the duo released Hormonally Yours.  The second single from that album, was a worldwide smash, hitting #1 in the U.K. for eight weeks and #4 in the United States.  Further singles from the album continued to do well in the U.K., but they didn't share worldwide mass success with "Stay".

Detroit left the group in 1993, leaving Fahey as the sole member of the project until 1996.  The group has released five albums and 18 singles in their career.

Indeed one of the classical instrumentals of the Rock Era is next:

#66: Classical Gas--Mason Williams

Williams was born in Abilene, Texas, and graduated from Northwest Classen High School in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  Mason went to Oklahoma City University and North Texas State University before serving in the United States Navy.

In 1968, Williams released the single "Classical Gas", which rose to #1, sold over one million copies and won three Grammy Awards (Best Instrumental Composition, Best Instrumental Performance and Best Instrumental Orchestra Arrangement.  He also wrote "Cindarella Rockefella", a big hit in the U.K. for Esther and Abi Ofarim, and songs for the Kingston Trio.  Mason's "Concert for Bluegrass Band And Orchestra", also titled "Symphonic Bluegrass", has been performed by over 40 symphonies.  


Williams went on to record over a dozen albums, but never could match the success of "Classical Gas".  The song has now been played over six million times on radio stations. 

Williams was also a stand-up comedian.  He wrote over 175 hours of music and comedy for network television programming and was a key force behind The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.  Williams created the 1968 political satire "Pat Paulsen for President" campaign.  Williams won an Emmy Award in 1968 for his work as a comedy writer.

Williams also wrote material used on television for Andy Williams, Glen Campbell, Dinah Shore, Roger Miller and Petula Clark.  In 1980, Williams briefly worked as head writer for Saturday Night Live on NBC-TV.  

This 1967 smash places this One-Hit Wonder at #65*:

#65--(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:

#64:  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:

#63:  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:

#62: 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:

#61:  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:

#60:  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.

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

#59:  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:

 
#58: 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:

 
#57: 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:

#56:  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:

#55:  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:

#54: 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:

#53:  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:

#52: 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*:
#51:  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.  

That leaves us just one installment and 25 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!