Artists Whose First Hit Was Their Biggest--Part 10

William DeVaughn

"Be Thankful For What You Got"

He held a job working for the United States government when he released his first single.  William DeVaughn climbed to #4 with it, but was never able to reach the Top 40 again.

Devo

"Whip It"

This group from Akron, Ohio was named for the theory of "de-evolution", or the regression of mankind.  Their first release sold over one million copies.  Although they recorded other good songs, they were strangers to the Top 40 after that.  Jerry Mothersbaugh of the group went on to become a director for music videos, including "Big Me" for the Foo Fighters.

Dexys Midnight Runners
"Come On Eileen"

Here's one of the great One-Hit Wonders of the Rock Era, a Birmingham, England group that raced to #1 with their debut, but were unable to get higher than #86 with future releases.

Dick and DeeDee
"The Mountain's High"

This couple formed a duo when they were high school students in Santa Monica, California.  Their first release stopped one position shy of the top  in 1961.  They did reach #13 three years later with "Thou Shalt Not Steal".

Mark Dinning
"Teen Angel"

Here's another artist whose only appearance in the Top 40 was his first hit, a #1 smash in 1960.

Dixie Cups
"Chapel Of Love"

This New Orleans trio generated a #1 classic right in the thick of Beatlemania in 1964.  The Dixie Cups got to #12 with their follow-up, but nothing in their career came close to "Chapel Of Love".

Carl Dobkins, Jr.
"My Heart Is An Open Book"

This artist landed at #3 with his debut in 1959, but was never able to approach that.

Bill Doggett
"Honky Tonk"

Here's one of the great pianists, who formed his own band in 1938.  He recorded with the Ink Spots, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and many others.  In 1956, his first release went to #2 for three weeks, one of The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era*.  The best Doggett could do after that was #26.

Thomas Dolby
"She Blinded Me With Science"

Here's another great first song, released in 1983.  It hit #5, but that was pretty much the last we heard from the talented Thomas Dolby.

Doors
"Light My Fire"

When an artist releases a song as monumental as this one, pretty tough to match that.  The Doors were a supergroup with 17 hits and two other Top 10 songs, including another #1, "Hello, I Love You".  But when you own The #17 Song for the last 60 years*, that's a high bar to set with your first single.