The Ultimate Two-Hit Wonder

[rowech]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Well I think Extreme is the best example with a #1, #4, and #95.

And if we get rid of doubling the score for the 2nd song, then they have the highest score.

Lot of people must have me on ignore. I'll give them again...

Ugly Kid Joe -- two top hits (6 and 9) and absolutely never charted again. It's not some weird music chart that this happened on. It is straight Billboard. If that's not a two-hit wonder then I'm not sure what the definition is.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by rowech

Lot of people must have me on ignore. I'll give them again...

Ugly Kid Joe -- two top hits (6 and 9) and absolutely never charted again. It's not some weird music chart that this happened on. It is straight Billboard. If that's not a two-hit wonder then I'm not sure what the definition is.

= 26 + 8 + 4 = 38... so what

oh and you forgot the last qualificaiton. They have to have talent

[rowech]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

= 26 + 8 + 4 = 38... so what

oh and you forgot the last qualificaiton. They have to have talent

Are we not subtracting points for the third song anymore?

I think the most surprising thing from this whole thing is how many songs that I've never heard of have reached the top 100 somehow.

[Jughead Spock]

Gonna be tough to beat Simply Red at this point.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by rowech

I think the most surprising thing from this whole thing is how many songs that I've never heard of have reached the top 100 somehow.

Shouldn't be all that surprising if you think about it a little bit.

100 songs is a pretty big number, and gets to be bigger & bigger as you move closer to the current day. In an average week today there are maybe 5-7 new singles "going for adds"; i.e. released to radio specifically with an eye toward getting airplay.

I started to go into more detail but found a Wiki that does a decent job of going over the changes that the Hot 100 has undergone during nearly 60 years of existence. There are some really odd things in there, including the lack of Hot 100 chart success (due to chart rules/methodology) for several songs in the mid 90s, including Will Smith's Men In Black, which dominated the airplay chart but was delayed release as an actual single, which disqualified it from consideration on the Hot 100 (which had become a combo airplay/sales chart by that point).

edit: With the genre charts & today's tighter than ever playlists, it's currently pretty extreme how little it takes to have a hit on, say, the Rock chart. Most weeks the song at #50 gets only 3-5 recorded plays nationally (across the stations used as the basis for the chart), i.e. a novelty song played on only a single station can easily crack the 40's, a half dozen stations playing a song lightly can get it into the 30's on the Rock chart.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

Thompson Twins
Hold Me Now 83 #3 (1)
Lay YOur Hands On Me 84 #6 (0)
King for a Day 85 #8 (0)

65 + 50 + 4 - 90 - 93 = 119 - 183 - -64

Not to mention Doctor! Doctor! coming in at #11 (#3 in UK). Love On Your Side reached top 10 in both UK and US Dance, In the Name of Love #1 US Dance, You Wake Me Up #2 UK.

The Gap (#69 US) - criminally underappreciated.


edit: I always seem to forget about Animotion's Room To Move too, but wind up singing along to it if it is played on the 80s station.

[Draft Dodger]

I think I've got a live one: Kylie Minogue

#3 in 87 with Locomotion, which was #1 in 2 other countries
#7 in '01 with Can't Get you Out of My head, #1 in at least 10 other countries
third best is #23 with Love at First Sight

by my math:
66 for the first song + 52 for the 2nd + 56 for the differential - 78

score: 96 (I think, if I'm following the Winston Curchill math here).

contender, but not a winner.

[Qwikshot]

Blue Oyster Cult

1976 "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" 14
1979 "In Thee" 74
1981 "Burnin' for You" 40

"Godzilla" didn't seem to chart.

I was thinking the Presidents of the United States of America with "Peaches" and "Lump" but "Lump" never charted on the main charts.

The Romantics have "What I like about you" and "Talking in your Sleep"

Kim Wilde maybe?

[CrimsonFox]

heh i always confuse Qwikshot and Quiksand.... always...

[Suburban Rhythm]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Simply Red looks like a winner...

If You Dont Know Me By Now #1 1989 (3 other countries)
Holding Back the Years #1 1986 (1 other country)
Something Got Me Started #23

103
+
2*101 = 202
+
4*3=12
-
10*0=0
-
101-23=78
=
239

Originally Posted by CrimsonFox

ugh that guy makes me vomit...

Really not all that funny, but I couldn't quit giggling that a guy named Crimson really dislikes Simply Red

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Suburban Rhythm

Really not all that funny, but I couldn't quit giggling that a guy named Crimson really dislikes Simply Red

ha! I must be jealous. Totally missed that actually

Aside from his music sucking, one thing that makes me hate him was something I saw on the Classic Albums epsidoe when they talked about the Stars album of his. (No idea why they wasted an episode on that album. he must have paid them to do it or something)

Anyway, the story went (as told by him and those involved). After they got megapopular as a band with their 2 #1 hits, the singer Mick Hucknall declared Simply Red was essentially a solo project. About that time when the next project was starting, he got excited by (barf) electronic drum machines and wanted to use one on a track. So this japanese guy comes in to demonstrate it so he decides to use it. Then Gota the japanese guy says "oh! I play drums too!" so Hucknall fires Simply Red's drummer of 6 years and hires this stranger as the drummer. Totally pathetic! Really pisses me off when I hear stories like that.

[Jughead Spock]

I come up with 189 for the B-52s. Stronger than I expected.

[CrimsonFox]

Tried Juice Newton and Eddie Rabbitt. Both were too popular and too many hits. I swear I don't remember all those.

[Qwikshot]

Apparently, UB40 had more hits than I remembered.

Mike + the Mechanics had three big hits.

Level 42 had two big hits in the U.S. but were big in UK and Europe though:

"Something about You" charted at 7th in U.S. in 1985
"Lessons in Love" charted at 12th in U.S. in 1986

The 3rd was "Running in the Family" at 83rd in 1986.

Back to Kim Wilde:

"Kids in America" charted at 25 in US in 1981
"You Keep Me Hanging On" charted at 1 in US in 1986

The 3rd was "Say you Really want me" charted at 44 in 1987

She's bigger in Europe.

I'll try to work the math later unless someone wants to...

[CrimsonFox]

Thought he'd be higher but

Peter Gabriel
"Sledgehammer" 86 (2) - 1
"Big Time" 86 - 8
"In YOur Eyes" 86 26

102 + 18 - 73 = forget about it

[CrimsonFox]

Time to get metal!

But no Black Sabbath, Metallica, and Twisted Sister all not even worth doing the math. Not high enough on the charts.

[CrimsonFox]

Jethro Tull and Steely Dan too many hits in the 4-15 range. Not really complaining.
I like both.

Interesting fact: Jethro Tull went to #11 TWICE with the same song . Living In The Past went hit the charts in 1969 and then again 16 years later in 1985

[Qwikshot]

Do the first two songs have to be in the top 11?

Does the third song have to be out of the top 11?

i.e.

Steppenwolf

"Born to be Wild" charted at 2 in US in 1968
"Magic Carpet Ride" charted at 3 in US in 1968 as well.

Neither charted #1 in any other country

"Rock Me" charted at 10 in US in 1969 (I've never heard the song), they had some other singles in the top 100 but nothing like their first two.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Qwikshot

Level 42 had two big hits in the U.S. but were big in UK and Europe though:

"Something about You" charted at 7th in U.S. in 1985
..

Holy shit! YOu only had to mention that title and the whole damn thing popped into my head and wouldn't leave!

So now I subject you to it!



Good ole new wave!

[CrimsonFox]

Had hopes for Howard Jones but

No One Is To Blame 4
Things Can Only Get Better 5
Everasting Love 12

[CrimsonFox]

Riding this new wave train...

Tears for Fears
Shout 1 (84) - (5 other)
Everybody Wants to Rule the WOrld 1 (85) - 2 other)
Sowing the Seeds of Love 2 (89) (1 other)

okay much too good.

[Qwikshot]

EMF but I can't tell if they were in the US 100...wiki notes US HOT 100

"Unbelievable" in 1990 at 1 in US Hot 100
"Lies" in 1991 at 18 in US Hot 100

Nothing else.

[Qwikshot]

What about Falco

"Rock Me Amedeus" in 1985 was #1 (and in 11 other countries at #1 based on Wiki)
"The Sound of Muzik" charted at #12 in 1986
"Vienna Calling" charted at #18 in 1986 (#1 in Austria)

Though I wish I could exclude one of those because "Der Kommisar" though it reached only 72 in US charts was a #1 in seven other countries in 1981.

[Qwikshot]

Last one I promise, but I know this band only for its two songs

Bloodhound Gang

"FireWaterBurn" charted 28th in 1997
"Bad Touch" charted 52nd in 1999 (with #1's in 4 other countries).

I'll stop now, I know too much crappy music.

[Maple Leafs]

Stunned that Tracy Chapman didn't dominate this.

Random trivia: She holds the record for longest amount of time between an artist's first two #1 hits in Canada.

[kcchief19]

Simply Red is exploiting a flaw in Quik's criteria, or our interpretation of the criteria. Simply Red simply can't fit the definition of a two-hit wonder. Too many minor hits and too many songs that were popular even if the didn't chart on the Hot 100. "Stars" was a ubiquitous song that has been virtually impossible to ignore, along with a bunch of dance hits.

Extreme is almost a perfect definition to me -- two top 4 hits, one song barely charted and nothing else. I take Quik's criteria to ignore secondary charts as a way of trying to qualify a marginal performer who had a top 10 country hit. But there are a lot of great bands with zero Hot 100 success. See Led Zeppelin.

I may have to break out my Billboard books to find the perfect candidate. I feel like there is someone obvious we're overlooking.

[CrimsonFox]

Kill Simply Red! He's an exploiter! Take away his account! BAN him BURN him!

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

Simply Red is exploiting a flaw in Quik's criteria, or our interpretation of the criteria. Simply Red simply can't fit the definition of a two-hit wonder. Too many minor hits and too many songs that were popular even if the didn't chart on the Hot 100. "Stars" was a ubiquitous song that has been virtually impossible to ignore, along with a bunch of dance hits.

Extreme is almost a perfect definition to me -- two top 4 hits, one song barely charted and nothing else. I take Quik's criteria to ignore secondary charts as a way of trying to qualify a marginal performer who had a top 10 country hit. But there are a lot of great bands with zero Hot 100 success. See Led Zeppelin.

I may have to break out my Billboard books to find the perfect candidate. I feel like there is someone obvious we're overlooking.

Someone else here has Billboard books? Awesome. Mine is totally packed in bxoes, though, since I just moved.

[cody8200]

Just learned that Radiohead is just a one hit wonder and finds itself without fewer hits than the likes of Level 42 and EMF. Haha.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

Extreme is almost a perfect definition to me -- two top 4 hits, one song barely charted and nothing else.

Except for another #1 on the Rock chart & an additional pair of top 10 Rock tracks.

That's where it gets tricky about looking at more than one chart I think, or not looking at more than one chart.

Garth Brooks had Hot 100 songs at 5,11 and 46 ... and 18 Country #1's

[Draft Dodger]

thought I had something there for a minute with Pink Floyd. #1 for Brick and their third best song was just #70. but Money only got to #13

[Swaggs]

Did anyone ever tabulate Tracy Chapman?

She does seem like a very strong candidate.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by cody8200

Just learned that Radiohead is just a one hit wonder and finds itself without fewer hits than the likes of Level 42 and EMF. Haha.

In terms of the Hot 100, they really aren't even a one hit wonder. Creep only got to #34. In fact, they've only had one top 10 on any US chart, with Creep peaking at #2 on the Alternative chart.

In fact, Canada appears to be the only country where they've had a #1 single, and those came ten years after Creep (in 2001/2003 with Knives Out and There There

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

Someone else here has Billboard books? Awesome. Mine is totally packed in bxoes, though, since I just moved.

I have several of Joel Whitburn and Fred Bronson's books. I was a chart dork for a long time. I lost interest in recent years as my taste for current pop music has faded, but I still love to pull out the old books.

There was a horrible disco act called the Silver Connection that had a #1 hit with Fly, Robin, Fly and a #2 hit with Get up and Boogie but didn't have another top 40 hit. I'm too lazy to get my top 100 book out and see if they had any other top 100 hits.

Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders had only two chart hits in the 60s, the #1 Game of Love and #2 hit A Groovy Kind of Love.

[kcchief19]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

In terms of the Hot 100, they really aren't even a one hit wonder. Creep only got to #34. In fact, they've only had one top 10 on any US chart, with Creep peaking at #2 on the Alternative chart.

In fact, Canada appears to be the only country where they've had a #1 single, and those came ten years after Creep (in 2001/2003 with Knives Out and There There

Exactly. There has to be a bit of an "eye test" with a debate like this because occasionally the numbers can lie. Radiohead is a terrible singles band but their last five albums have all gone top 5. Hardly a two-hit wonder.

I agree with your points on Extreme. They almost fit the mathematically perfect vision of a two-hit wonder, but they've had enough longevity and success on the rock charts that they are slightly more than that.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

There was a horrible disco act called the Silver Connection that had a #1 hit with Fly, Robin, Fly and a #2 hit with Get up and Boogie but didn't have another top 40 hit. I'm too lazy to get my top 100 book out and see if they had any other top 100 hits.

Wiki indicates that Silver Convention had the 1, the 2, and then their next release, "No No Joe," only scored #60 in September 1976.

[CrimsonFox]

Eurythmics

Sweet Dreams are made of This (83) - 1 (1)
Here Comes the Rain Again (84) - 4
Would I Lie To You (85) - 5

101 + 98 + 4 - 361 -96....

[CrimsonFox]

Rick Springfield

Jessie's Girl - 1
Don't Talk To Stranger - 2
Love Somebody - 5

[CrimsonFox]

Devo

Whip It - 14
Working in a Coal Mine -43
Theme from Doctor Detroit - 59

[CrimsonFox]

The Byrds

Mr. Tambourine Man (65) - 1 (1)
Turn Turn Turn (65) - 1
Eight Miles High (66) - 14

101 + 200 + 0 - 0 - 87 = 301 - 87 = 214 that's pretty good

[Jughead Spock]

Tracy Chapman actually doesn't come out that great -

Song1 = #3, #1 in one other country ((11-3)*(11-3)+1) = 65

Song2 = #6, #1 in one other country ((11-6)*(11-6)+1) = 26

Song3 = #48

65
+
(2*26) = 52
+
(4*7) = 28
-
53
----
92

[CrimsonFox]

Still no.

Toto

Africa 1 (82)
Rosanna 2 (82)
Hold the Line 5 (78)

100 + 81*2 - 360 - 96

Oh so close. I didn't think Hold the Line went so high. They are definitely a 3-hit wonder though. Probably the leader!

[CrimsonFox]

Looked for Sinead O Connor. She only had the 1 hit:
Nothing Compares 2 U. But it was #1 in 10 countries
Haven't seen better than that from a single song.

[Qwikshot]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

I have several of Joel Whitburn and Fred Bronson's books. I was a chart dork for a long time. I lost interest in recent years as my taste for current pop music has faded, but I still love to pull out the old books.

There was a horrible disco act called the Silver Connection that had a #1 hit with Fly, Robin, Fly and a #2 hit with Get up and Boogie but didn't have another top 40 hit. I'm too lazy to get my top 100 book out and see if they had any other top 100 hits.

Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders had only two chart hits in the 60s, the #1 Game of Love and #2 hit A Groovy Kind of Love.

Sadly, Fly Robin Fly was the #1 hit the day I was born. I did the facebook app and everyone else was getting cool songs...and I got /this/? I was mortified.

[CrimsonFox]

Originally Posted by Qwikshot

Sadly, Fly Robin Fly was the #1 hit the day I was born. I did the facebook app and everyone else was getting cool songs...and I got /this/? I was mortified.

[CrimsonFox]

Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam

Head to Toe 87 1 (2)
Lost in Emotion 87 1 (1)
All Cried Out 86 8

102 + 202 -90 - 93
304 - 183 = 121

[CrimsonFox]

Berlin
Take My Breath Away 1
No More Words 23
Metro 58

[GreenMonster]

Snow

Informer #1 US (plus 4 other countries)
Girl I've been hurt #19

And like that, he was gone.

[Autumn]

Yeah I think it should be just two top 5 hits followed by no top 100s. Or maybe top 80 or something. Extreme is a great example of what a top contender should look like.

[Autumn]

Also, I think we have to except that a Two Hit Wonder could be a fabulous enduring band. I'm sure most of us recognizing that charting is not some proof of artistic greatness, or even enduring popularity. And probably you could find someone somewhere who thinks every single band mentioned here is a fantastic band with a real career.