1954: Elvis Presley made his first and only appearance on the "Grand Ole Opry" in Nashville, Tennessee. Jim Denny, the Opry manager, infamously told Elvis to stick to his truck driving. (Note: Numerous sources report the date of Elvis' Opry performance as September 2. This is incorrect, according to the book 'Elvis Presley, Reluctant Rebel: His Life and Our Times', by Glen Jeansonne, David Luhrssen, and Dan Sokolovic and Elvis Presley fan sites.) 1957: Connie Francis recorded "Who's Sorry Now".
We continue with our look into those artists who jumped out of the gate to score big debut hits and nothing else they ever recorded could match it:
Joan Osborne
"One Of Us"
This artist is one of the top One-Hit Wonders*, although she did a worthy follow-up, "St. Teresa". In 1996, her song written by Eric Bazilian of the Hooters went to #4.
Osmonds
"One Bad Apple"
This family act from Ogden, Utah were regulars on The Andy Williams Show on television from 1962 to 1967. In 1971, their debut release was a huge #1 hit of five weeks and sold over one million copies. The Osmonds posted 13 career hits, including the Top 10's "Yo-Yo" and "Down By The Lazy River", and Donny went on to score big hits, both solo and with sister Marie, but this song was the best the family ever did.
Gilbert O'Sullivan
"Alone Again (Naturally)"
Here's another Irish singer in our feature. His 1972 hit was one of the biggest of that year and is still solidly a member of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*. It held off some pretty great songs to remain at #1 for six weeks and sold over one million copies. O'Sullivan hit #2 with "Clair" and #7 with "Get Down", but the aforementioned achievements of his first hit represent a pretty tough bar to clear.
Outsiders
"Time Won't Let Me"
Here's a great song from 1966 that went Top 5. The Outsiders never got higher than #15 after that. Lead singer Sonny Geraci later led the group Climax, although "Precious And Few" sounds markedly different than this one.
Partridge Family
"I Think I Love You"
This group that starred in their own television series from 1970 to 1974 rose to #1 with this smash in 1970. They collected two other Top 10 hits and a career total of nine, but never matched their first. David Cassidy was also a solo artist and real-life stepmother Shirley Jones starred in many movies, including the great musicals Oklahoma and The Music Man.
Paul & Paula
"Hey Paula"
While attending Howard Payne College in Texas, this couple started a duo and released this song in late 1962. It was a big hit, going to #1 for three weeks. A follow-up, "Young Lovers", got to #7 but nothing afterwards came close.
Freda Payne
"Band Of Gold"
This feature combines the great music of the One-Hit Wonders* with other artists who scored their biggest career hit with their first. This artist performed with Duke Ellington, Pearl Bailey and Quincy Jones. Her 1970 hit jumped to #3 and sold over one million copies in 1970. Her next-biggest hit was another Gold record, "Bring The Boys Home" in 1971. Freda Payne is the sister of Scherrie Payne, a later member of the Supremes.
Penguins
"Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)"
This great song from 1955 sold over a million copies, the Penguins' one and only hit.
Ce Ce Peniston
"Finally"
In 1989, this singer was crowned Miss Black Arizona. Her talent was singing, as evidenced by this #5 hit in 1991. She went on to score nine hits, include two more in the Top 20.
Carl Perkins
"Blue Suede Shoes"
Carl Perkins scored one of The Top #2 Songs of the Rock Era* with this Rock standard in 1956, which has since been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It was the only time Carl would reach the Top 40. Perkins later was a member of Johnny Cash's touring group.
Inside The Rock Era is featuring artists who scored a big hit initially, and that song wound up being the biggest hit of their career. Here are 10 more:
Cliff Nobles & Co.
"The Horse"
This great instrumental was a #2 smash for three weeks in 1968. Nobles could not get higher than #68 after that.
Kenny Nolan
"I Like Dreamin'"
This singer-songwriter enjoyed a #3 hit in 1977 with a song that sold over one million copies. He isn't a One-Hit Wonder*, as his next song, "Love's Grown Deep", reached #20. Nolan never recorded a song to match his first hit, but he did write the songs "Lady Marmalade" for Labelle and "My Eyes Adored You" for Frankie Valli.
No Mercy
"Where Do You Go"
This techno-dance trio reached #5 in 1996 with this great song. It is their only entry into the Top 100.
Nu Shooz
"I Can't Wait"
This group from Portland, Oregon went to #3 with this song in 1986. They were unable to get past #28 in the rest of their career.
Ocean
"Put Your Hand In The Hand"
This Canadian group was one of several that had success in the period with great spiritual songs, reaching #2 in 1971 with by far their biggest hit. Artists today are incapable of such deep reflection.
Sinead O'Connor
"Nothing Compares 2 (sic) U (sic)"
Ireland's Sinead O'Connor turned this Prince composition into one of the biggest hits of 1990. It presided at #1 for four weeks and sold over two million copies. She was unable to build on that momentum, with #60 being her next-best effort.
Alan O'Day
"Undercover Angel"
The songwriter of the #1 song "Angie Baby" by Helen Reddy as well as "Rock And Roll Heaven" by the Righteous Brothers, Alan O'Day entered the Top 40 for the only time in his career with this #1 smash from 1977.
O'Kaysions
"Girl Watcher"
In 1968, this North Carolina group hit #5 with this song, a Gold record for them. It was the last time they scored a Top 40 hit.
Mike Oldfield
"Tubular Bells"
This talented multi-instrumentalist gave us the theme to the great movie The Exorcist. It's one of The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era*, but Mike's only Top 100 hit.
Orlons
"The Wah Watusi"
This R&B act got to #2 in 1962 with this song. Although they came close with the songs "Don't Hang Up" and "South Street", the Orlons are still best known for their first big hit.
1955: A new group with an awesome sound and great lead singer debuted on the chart. On this date, we first heard from the Platters with their first single "Only You (And You Alone)".
1956: After test audiences reacted unfavorably to Elvis Presley dying in the movie Love Me Tender, Elvis was called back to the set to reshoot the scene in which he lived. 1962: A new talent on the scene, Barbra Streisand, signed a recording contract with Columbia Records. Although it was for a modest sum, Streisand had creative control of her music.
Enjoy these 10 more artists who sprinted out of the gate to land a big first hit, the best they would ever record:
Music Explosion
"Little Bit O' Soul"
We've heard from Ohio before in our feature and here's another group. The Music Explosion enjoyed one of the biggest hits of 1967, this Gold record that went to #2 for two weeks. But the group would not hit the Top 40 again.
Alannah Myles
"Black Velvet"
The phenomenon of scoring your biggest career hit with your first one knows no boundaries. Here's Canada's Allannah Myles, who enjoyed this monster #1 hit in 1990. Her follow-up stalled at #36 and she never charted after that.
Natural Selection
"Do Anything"
This group introduced themselves to us with this #2 smash from 1991. They hit #28 the next year but were never heard from again.
Nazareth
"Love Hurts"
Here's a Scottish group who first hit with the Roy Orbison song "Love Hurts" in 1976, which peaked at #8. But their next-best effort was only #87.
Nelson
"(Can't Live Without Your) Love And Affection"
The identical twin sons of the great Ricky Nelson, Gunnar and Matthew, formed this group and rose to #1 in 1990 with this song. They were able to get as high as #6 with "After The Rain", but were never able to match their first big hit.
Sandy Nelson
"Teen Beat"
This drummer from Santa Monica, California became a prominent studio musician, playing on "To Know Him Is To Love Him" by the Teddy Bears, "Alley Oop" by the Hollywood Argyles and "A Thousand Stars" by Kathy Young, to name a few. In 1959, Sandy scored a great instrumental that reached #4. He came close to that with the #7 hit "Let There Be Drums" and enjoyed a total of nine career hits.
Nena
"99 Luftballons"
Here's one of the mysteries that make up One-Hit Wonders. In 1984, with bombs pointed at them from all directions, this German act made a plea for peace with this incredible song that sold over one million copies and reached #2. With all of the talent displayed within the song, most people expected to hear more from them. But Nena never charted again.
Robbie Nevil
"C'est La Vie"
This L.A. singer-songwriter rose to #2 in 1986 with this song. He scored six other hits, including the #10 "Wot's It To Ya" and the #14 "Dominoes", but was unable to match the strength of his first big hit.
Newbeats
"Bread And Butter'
This trio enjoyed this #2 smash in 1964. Although they got as high as #12 with six other hits, nothing could compare to their first. Lead singer Larry Henley went on to co-write "Wind Beneath My Wings" for Bette Midler.
Randy Newman
"Short People"
This talented songwriter scored a big hit in 1978 with his satire of the problems faced by short people, which reached #2 for three weeks. Glenn Frey and Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles and J.D. Souther sang backing vocals on the song. Newman may have never been able to come close to that, but he has gone on to win three Grammy Awards (among 16 nominations for his soundtrack work in the movies Monsters, Inc., Seabiscuit, The Natural, Cars, A Bug's Life and Toy Story 2 and many others), two Academy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards.
The former lead singer of the Raspberries put together solid albums in his first two attempts, especially Boats Against the Current. "Nowhere To Hide" is the best song on the album, but this isn't far behind:
"Boats Against The Current"
Eric Carmen
Music and Lyrics by Eric Carmen
I know it's over You know it's over We're just going through the motions But we're sailing separate oceans, world's apart And you know it's breaking my heart
I was a dreamer You were a dreamer But perfection is consuming And it seems we're only human after all And we've both been taking the fall
But tomorrow, we'll run a little bit faster Tomorrow, we're going to find what we're after at last Feelings that we left in the past There's romance in the sunset We're boats against the current to the end
Maybe we're older Maybe we're colder So we disregard solutions While we cling to our illusions once again And we keep remembering when
Seasons are changing Oh, reasons are changing But the story isn't ending So we find ourselves pretending one more day Oh, while the years keep slipping away
Oh, but tomorrow, we'll run a little bit faster Tomorrow, we're going to find what we're after at last Feelings that we left in the past There's romance in the sunset We're boats against the current to the end
Oh yeah, tomorrow, we'll run a little bit faster Tomorrow, we're going to find what we're after at last Feelings that we left in the past There's romance in the sunset We're boats against the current to the end There's romance in the sunset We're boats against the current to the end
There's romance in the sunset We're boats against the current to the end
We're going to feature the Proclaimers in our special in a few days, but I came across a video made for a high school video production class from Oconto Falls, Wisconsin late in 2015 and have to share it. It may look simple, but the production is tight and the video is very creative--plus, the girls look like they had a blast doing it. I don't know the school or city where it was made, but great job girls!
This group isn't a One-Hit Wonder*, as they also had a #16 hit in their career. But their first hit catapulted to #1 in 1992 and remained there three weeks.
Mocedades "Eres Tu (Touch The Wind)" This group from Spain enjoyed a Top 10 hit in 1974 with this, their only entry into the Top 100.
Domenico Modugno "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blue (Volare)" There were several versions of this song that charted in the '50s, but this #1 song of five weeks was the biggest of those. Modugno's next-best song peaked at #97.
Monotones "Book Of Love" This New Jersey group reached #5 with this song in 1958. Unfortunately, it was their only Top 100 hit.
Hugo Montenegro, His Orchestra and Chorus "The Good, The Bad And The ugly" Huge instrumental hit here from the movie of the same name. Montenegro went to #2 with this song, but could never hit the Top 40 again.
Chris Montez "Let's Dance" Chris Montez studied music composition at El Camino College in California. His first hit went to #4 in 1962. Chris was able to reach #16 four years later, but nothing came close to his first hit.
Dorothy Moore "Misty Blue" Dorothy Moore was nominated for a Grammy Award for her performance of this #3 song in 1976. She was unable to do better than #27 after that.
Mungo Jerry "In The Summertime" One of the top summer songs comes from this British quartet. They reached #3 with this one in 1970, their only entry into the Top 100.
Murmaids "Popsicles And Icicles" This group's only hit came from a song written by David Gates of Bread. They rose to #3 in 1964 with it.
Walter Murphy "A Fifth Of Beethoven" New Yorker Walter Murphy was an arranger for Doc Severinsen and The Tonight Show orchestra. He collected this #1 hit from 1976. Walter could never reach the Top 40 afterward.
1961: After hearing 20-year-old Bob Dylan play harmonica in the studio for Carolyn Hester, producer John Hammond signed Dylan to a recording contract with Columbia Records and scheduled a recording session in October.
1963: Sid Bernstein contacted Beatles manager Brian Epstein to inquire about arranging a U.S. tour for the group, which eventually led to Bernstein promoting the famous Beatles concert at Shea Stadium in New York City. 1964: The Who were in concert at the Town Hall in Greenwich, Southeast London.
There are some great songs in this group by artists who landed their biggest career hit with their first one:
Gene McDaniels
"A Hundred Pounds Of Clay
This artist sang in choirs and went to the Omaha Conservatory of Music in Nebraska. His first hit rose to #3 in 1961. Later in the year, he also scored the #5 song "Tower Of Strength" and had a Top 10 hit the next year. But he is known for this gem, his first.
Bobby McFerrin
"Don't Worry Be Happy"
This artist vaulted to #1 in 1988 with one of the year's biggest hits. But he never could reach the Top 100 again.
Maureen McGovern
"The Morning After"
Although this version doesn't appear in the classic movie The Poseidon Adventure", Maureen McGovern's voice is the one you hear (the actress in the movie lip-syncs the vocal sung by McGovern). She recorded a different version for the single release and it is that one which went to #1 in 1973 and sold over one million copies. Here next-best song is a worthy song in its own right, the #1 Easy Listening hit "Different Worlds".
Barry McGuire
"Eve Of Destruction"
This former member of the New Christy Minstrels came up with one of the top anti-war songs of all-time with this one in 1965. He was backed by the original members of the Grass Roots on "Eve Of Destruction". But Barry never found the Top 40 again.
Scott McKenzie
"San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)"
Scott McKenzie once sang with John Phillips of the Mamas & the Papas fame in the group Journey man. After that, Scott released this solo effort, not only a #4 smash but one of the anthems of his generation. He only made it to #24 afterward, but he did co-write "Kokomo" for the Beach Boys in 1988.
Don McLean
"American Pie"
The introspective singer-songwriter Don McLean also set an impossible standard with his first hit. There is no denying it is one of The Top 20 Songs of the Rock Era*; some say it is the best song ever. McLean reached #5 with Crying and a very underrated #12 with "Vincent" and had several other worthy songs, but nothing could ever come close to that.
Meco
"Star Wars"
The Star Wars franchise has become one of the tops of our lifetimes, but Disco producer Meco Monardo came up with his version of the theme to the first movie in 1977. It went to #1 and sold over two million copies. He wasn't a One-Hit Wonder* as he reached #18 with the medley to the second Star Wars movie, The Empire Strikes Back. But Meco's first one set the pace.
Men Without Hats
"The Safety Dance"
Montreal, Canada gave us the nucleus of this techno-rock group that scored a #3 smash in 1983. Their next-best shot was #20, leaving this one by far as their career-best.
MFSB
"TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)"
In 1974, this group of over 30 musicians combined for another of Rock's great instrumentals. It was the theme to the popular television show Soul Train and went to #1 for two weeks. But MFSB could never hit the Top 40 again.
Mindbenders
"Game Of Love"
This group from Mancester, England went to the top with this #1 in 1965. They scored another big hit the next year with the #2 "A Groovy Kind Of Love", but this one still is ranked as their biggest and most popular song.
We're nearly halfway through of our feature of artists who enjoyed their biggest hit with their first:
Marcels
"Blue Moon"
This group scored a huge hit in 1961 with this #1 song of three weeks. They were able to get to #7 later in the year with "Heartaches", but they are best known for this great song.
Little Peggy March
"I Will Follow Him"
This artist from Lansdale, Pennsylvania took a song adapted from the French tune "Chariot" to go to #1 in 1963 with this monster hit. When it reached the top, Peggy became the youngest female artist to have a #1 song on the Popular charts--she had just turned 15 two weeks before.
Mar-Keys
"Last Night"
This band formed in Memphis in 1958 from studio musicians at Stax Records. Guitarist Steve Cropper and bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn later joined Booker T. & the MG's; Cropper became an accomplished producer. In 1961, the Mar-Keys released this song, which is still one of The Top 100 Instrumentals of the Rock Era*.
Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch
"Good Vibrations"
Marky Mark is actor Mark Wahlberg, who is best known for his role in the great movie Broken City, tried his hand at recording for two years, and went to #1 in 1991 with this song. His follow-up, "Wildside" got to #10, but Wahlberg was never able to reach the Top 40 after that.
Marvelettes
"Please Mr. Postman"
If you went to Inkster High School in Inkster, Michigan in the '50s, you may have been classmates with this famous trio. Their first release in 1961 went to #1 and also was the first song on the Motown label to reach the top.
Barbara Mason "Yes, I'm Ready" This artist hit #5 with this song in 1965. She had 10 other hits, but the best she could do after her initial hit was #27.
Paul Mauriat and His Orchestra "Love Is Blue" The artists in this feature set the bar high with their first release. This artist set it super high, recording one of the all-time classics and The #1 Instrumental of the Rock Era*. We heard back from him two other times, but neither of them made the Top 40.
Van McCoy "The Hustle" Van McCoy was active behind the mixing board, producing the Stylistics, the Shirelles and Gladys Knight. In 1975, he hit #1 with one of the first Disco songs to go that high. It sold over one million copies, but didn't help him reach the Top 40 again.
the McCoys "Hang On Sloopy" Guitarist Rick Derringer was a part of this group from Union City, Indiana. They too reached #1 on their first effort. Their follow-up, "Fever" made it to #7, but nothing else the McCoys did was in the same ballpark as "Hang On Sloopy".
George McCrae "Rock Your Baby" Gwen McCrae was the singer in this family, but husband George released this solo effort in 1974 and took the world by storm. It sold over 11 million copies and is the top-selling single of that decade. But George wasn't able to translate that into another big hit.
As Inside The Rock Era approaches one and a quarter million page views, here are the Top 10 countries who enjoy all the music, the specials, the daily features and the music news: 1. United States 627,749 2. Germany 68,941 3. United Kingdom 68,669 4. Russia 48,566 5. France 47,970 6. Canada 41,011 7. Australia 15,539 8. Brazil 12,886 9. Japan 9,152 10. Spain 4,170
1956: The Oh, Susanna Show, a strange name for what actually was The Gale Storm Show, debuted on CBS-TV and would air for five seasons.
1956: Bill Haley owned five of the top songs in the U.K.--"Rockin' Through The Rye", "Saints Rock n' Roll", "Rock Around The Clock", "Razzle Dazzle"and "See You Later, Alligator". 1956: Elvis Presley's double-sided smash "Hound Dog"/"Don't Be Cruel" resumed the #1 position on the R&B chart.
We're looking into and featuring artists who did so well on their first hit that they were unable to match it:
Looking Glass
"Brand (You're A Fine Girl)"
As this is one of The Top One-Hit Wonders of the Rock Era*, you knew it would be featured here as well. For those of you who are alumni of Rutgers University in New Jersey, here are some fellow Scarlet Knights. They scored a huge #1 in 1972, but their next-best was #33.
Trini Lopez
"If I Had A Hammer"
This artist used to perform at PJs nightclub in Los Angeles. Just as Peter, Paul & Mary did, Lopez took this song by Pete Seeger and made it into a big hit. Lopez charted a total of 13 times, but nothing came close to this one. Trini was asked by Gibson Guitars to design a guitar for them--he designed two, the Trini Lopez Standard and the Lopez deluxe.
Los Bravos
"Black Is Black"
Four musicians from Spain joined one from Germany to form this band. They reached #4 with this great song, but were unable to land in the Top 40 again.
Los Del Rio
"Macarena"
One of the biggest hits of all-time, this song was recorded by Antonio Romero Monge and Rafel Ruiz Perdigones, a flamenco guitar duo from Spain. After a production team in Miami, Florida, the Bayside Boys, mixed it, "Macarena" vaulted to #1, where it stayed for an amazing 14 weeks. Los Deo Rio couldn't muster another Top 20 hit--perhaps they should have hired the Bayside Boys permanently.
"Love and Rockets"
"So Alive"
This trio recorded their first album in 1985, but it wasn't until 1989 that they enjoyed their first hit. It soared to #3 on the Popular chart and #1 on the Modern Rock chart, but the group never did better than #82 after that.
Love Unlimited Orchestra
"Love's Theme"
Barry White organized, conducted and arranged this 40-piece studio orchestra. In 1974, the Love Unlimited Orchestra reached #1 with this song, but after four more hits, the best they could do after that was #22.
Nick Lowe
"Cruel To Be Kind"
This artist was in a group called Rockpile in the early 70's, but his solo effort in 1979 caught on. Yet Nick never found the Top 40 again.
M
"Pop Muzik"
This song essentially contains the resume of Robin Scott, who had been in the music industry for 25 years prior to landing this #1 song. Scott named his musical project "M", but this song was the only one he ever managed to chart with.
Johnny Maddox
"The Crazy Otto"
Just prior to the beginning of the Rock Era, this Tennessee artist got as high as #2 with "The Crazy Otto". Never climbing any further, the song spent seven weeks in the backup spot and sold over one million copies. Maddix scored two more minor hits in the years to follow, but nothing matched his debut hit.
Barry Mann
"Who Put The Bomp (In The Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)"
If you're a teenager today, you'll note that the songs in the '50s sounded like kids had more fun back then. It was a great time to be alive--they definitely knew how to have fun. Barry Mann teamed with wife Cynthia Weil to write some great songs, including "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" and "(You're My) Soul And Inspiration" for the Righteous Brothers, "Kicks" and "Hungry" for Paul Revere & the Raiders and "We Gotta' Get Out Of This Place" for the Animals. But this #7 song is by far the best he ever recorded himself.
What these 10 artists have in common is that they all enjoyed popular first hits that set the standard for them. They were never able to match them again.
Gary Lewis and the Playboys
"This Diamond Ring"
The son of classic comedian Jerry Lewis formed a rock group in 1964, and they played often at Disneyland that year. Their first release went to #1 in 1965 and sold over one million records. Gary Lewis and the Playboys were one of the most successful artists you'll see among these 500 or so artists. They had 15 hits in their career, and their first seven all landed in the Top 10. Though they were close to their #1 with several, including "Count Me In", "Save Your Heart For Me" and "She's Just My Style", their first hit was their biggest.
Lighthouse "One Fine Morning" Here's a Toronto, Canada group who scored this highly underrated #24 hit in 1971. It was the best of five charting songs for Lighthouse, whose saxophonist, Howard Shore, went on to become the first musical director of the television show Saturday Night Live.
Bob Lind "Elusive Butterfly" Another great song here is from 1966, the first hit for Bob Lind. Lind is another artist who never reached the Top 40 afterwards.
Lipps, Inc. "Funkytown" producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Steven Greenberg organized this funk project in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Lipps, Inc. (pronounced lip-synch) had a monster hit with this one, reaching #1 for four weeks in 1980 and selling two million copies.
Little Eva "The Loco-Motion" In 1962, this young woman was babysitting for legendary songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin. The couple realized that their babysitter had some vocal ability and they wrote this song for her, in which Carole sings backing vocals on. Little Eva took the song to #1, her only Top 10 hit.
Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories "Stay (I Missed You)" Actor Ethan Hawke discovered this band, helping them secure a recording contract. The group climbed to #1 for three weeks in 1994 with this great song. Their next-best song was a #18 hit.
Dave Loggins "Please Come To Boston" Talent runs in the family--here's the cousin of superstar Kenny Loggins, who scored a #1 Adult and a #5 Popular smash in 1974 with his first hit. Dave was never able to reach the Top 40 again.
Julie London "Cry Me A River" Julie London, who starred in the television series Emergency, landed a #9 hit in 1956 with her only charting song.
Laurie London "He's Got The Whole World (In His Hands)" In 1958, Laurie London enjoyed a huge hit with her recording of the traditional Afro-American Gospel song. It rose to #4 for four weeks for him, but Laurie was never able to translate that success into another hit.
Londonbeat "I've Been Thinking About You" One of the great Dance songs in this feature is this one from Londonbeat. They weren't a group from London, but rather a trio of Americans who scored a #1 smash in 1991. They were able to reach #18 with a follow-up but nothing close after that.