#OneHitWondered
@onehitwondered.bsky.social
Celebrating American One-Hit Wonders from the Billboard Hot 100 era... A US #OneHitWonder is a group/performer with just 1 hit single, as measured against the industry-standard US Billboard Top 40, which is #1 through #40 on their Hot 100 chart. 🇺🇦 🇨🇦
#Interestingly Hollywood sleeze merchant Kim Fowley, according to Patron Saint of #OneHitWonderland, Casey Kasem, found Steel Breeze’s demo in a stack of tapes at Madame Wong’s. He & music attorney David Chatfield recorded the band at Rusk Studios in Hollywood & landed them at RCA. #OneHitWondered
November 12, 2025 at 1:05 AM
#Interestingly Hollywood sleeze merchant Kim Fowley, according to Patron Saint of #OneHitWonderland, Casey Kasem, found Steel Breeze’s demo in a stack of tapes at Madame Wong’s. He & music attorney David Chatfield recorded the band at Rusk Studios in Hollywood & landed them at RCA. #OneHitWondered
#Interestingly “Missing” started as a subdued guitar-meets-beats track on their 1994 album... The Todd Terry remix flipped it into a club-ready anthem and their US breakthrough. He kept Tracey Thorn’s aching vocals and draped them over a four-on-the-floor beat with driving chords. #OneHitWondered
November 11, 2025 at 9:48 PM
#Interestingly “Missing” started as a subdued guitar-meets-beats track on their 1994 album... The Todd Terry remix flipped it into a club-ready anthem and their US breakthrough. He kept Tracey Thorn’s aching vocals and draped them over a four-on-the-floor beat with driving chords. #OneHitWondered
#Interestingly Jim Peterik was scheduled to make a guest appearance with Chase at a concert in Jackson, Minnesota, on August 9, 1974. He ended up not being on the chartered plane that crashed en route to the show, killing Bill Chase and some of his band members. #BillChase #OneHitWondered
November 11, 2025 at 3:03 PM
#Interestingly Jim Peterik was scheduled to make a guest appearance with Chase at a concert in Jackson, Minnesota, on August 9, 1974. He ended up not being on the chartered plane that crashed en route to the show, killing Bill Chase and some of his band members. #BillChase #OneHitWondered
#Interestingly The “Poor Boy” single credits guitarist David ‘Bob’ Sanderson as the composer, because he was the one in the group old enough to sign the Jubilee Records contract… it was written by sax player George Katsakis and the Popoff twins, Mike on piano & Greg on drums. #OneHitWondered
November 10, 2025 at 11:03 PM
#Interestingly The “Poor Boy” single credits guitarist David ‘Bob’ Sanderson as the composer, because he was the one in the group old enough to sign the Jubilee Records contract… it was written by sax player George Katsakis and the Popoff twins, Mike on piano & Greg on drums. #OneHitWondered
#QuickSidenote Radio HOF'er Scott Shannon, then the influential PD at LA’s KQLZ, heard the Phoenix buzz and added “Into The Night” to his playlist. It was a move that led to other programmers following…. & launching the single back into National prominence. #ScottShannon #OneHitWondered
November 10, 2025 at 5:43 AM
#QuickSidenote Radio HOF'er Scott Shannon, then the influential PD at LA’s KQLZ, heard the Phoenix buzz and added “Into The Night” to his playlist. It was a move that led to other programmers following…. & launching the single back into National prominence. #ScottShannon #OneHitWondered
#Interestingly The 1989 comeback started in Phoenix… “Into the Night” by Benny Mardones was featured on a ‘Where Are They Now?’ segment on the CHR station KZZP (104.7)… Listener calls spiked, and the song lit up local airplay. #KZZP #Phoenix #OneHitWondered
November 10, 2025 at 5:41 AM
#Interestingly The 1989 comeback started in Phoenix… “Into the Night” by Benny Mardones was featured on a ‘Where Are They Now?’ segment on the CHR station KZZP (104.7)… Listener calls spiked, and the song lit up local airplay. #KZZP #Phoenix #OneHitWondered
#OneHitHistory #BOTD in 1946, remembering American pop/rock singer/songwriter Benny Mardones on what would’ve been his 79th birthday. Benny was one of the rare performers who’ve earned US #OneHitWonder honors twice with the same song. Once in 1980, then again in 1989. #BennyMardones #OneHitWondered
November 10, 2025 at 5:34 AM
#OneHitHistory #BOTD in 1946, remembering American pop/rock singer/songwriter Benny Mardones on what would’ve been his 79th birthday. Benny was one of the rare performers who’ve earned US #OneHitWonder honors twice with the same song. Once in 1980, then again in 1989. #BennyMardones #OneHitWondered
#Interestingly Carl Douglas was in the studio to record "I Want to Give You My Everything" for Pye Records… The producer, Indian disco pioneer Biddu, needed a B-side. "Kung Fu Fighting" was recorded quickly in the last ten min. of a 3-hour studio session. Pye thought it was a hit. #OneHitWondered
November 10, 2025 at 4:12 AM
#Interestingly Carl Douglas was in the studio to record "I Want to Give You My Everything" for Pye Records… The producer, Indian disco pioneer Biddu, needed a B-side. "Kung Fu Fighting" was recorded quickly in the last ten min. of a 3-hour studio session. Pye thought it was a hit. #OneHitWondered
#QuickSidenote It was decided to bring in top session players like guitarist Big Jim Sullivan, organist Harry Stoneham, trumpet player Kenny Baker, and a young bass player named John Paul Jones to provide the instrumental support for “Crazy Feeling.” #LedZeppelin #JohnPaulJones #OneHitWondered
November 10, 2025 at 4:08 AM
#QuickSidenote It was decided to bring in top session players like guitarist Big Jim Sullivan, organist Harry Stoneham, trumpet player Kenny Baker, and a young bass player named John Paul Jones to provide the instrumental support for “Crazy Feeling.” #LedZeppelin #JohnPaulJones #OneHitWondered
#QuickSidenote Turning an ’85 art-pop single into a plot device that kids (and adults) felt in their bones… brilliant! The show pitched the idea to Kate Bush, and since Kate's a fan of the show, she agreed to let them use the single. #StrangerThings #KateBush #OneHitWondered
November 9, 2025 at 9:43 PM
#QuickSidenote Turning an ’85 art-pop single into a plot device that kids (and adults) felt in their bones… brilliant! The show pitched the idea to Kate Bush, and since Kate's a fan of the show, she agreed to let them use the single. #StrangerThings #KateBush #OneHitWondered
#QuickSidenote Stranger Things’ music director Nora Felder won the 2022 Emmy for Outstanding Music Supervision, underscoring how a perfectly placed song can become a ‘new’ hit decades later. #StrangerThings #KateBush #OneHitWondered
November 9, 2025 at 9:42 PM
#QuickSidenote Stranger Things’ music director Nora Felder won the 2022 Emmy for Outstanding Music Supervision, underscoring how a perfectly placed song can become a ‘new’ hit decades later. #StrangerThings #KateBush #OneHitWondered
#QuickSidenote Here’s a quick lil’ look at those 28 regional releases… borrowed from Wikipedia. #Wikipedia #TommyFacenda #OneHitWondered
November 9, 2025 at 2:08 PM
#QuickSidenote Here’s a quick lil’ look at those 28 regional releases… borrowed from Wikipedia. #Wikipedia #TommyFacenda #OneHitWondered
#QuickSidenote April 16, 1960, in Chippenham, Wiltshire, England, Gene Vincent was severely injured in the auto accident that took the life of Eddie Cochran. Broken ribs, a fractured collarbone, & he reinjured his left leg… which he’d previously hurt in the 1955 motorcycle accident. #OneHitWondered
November 9, 2025 at 2:03 PM
#QuickSidenote April 16, 1960, in Chippenham, Wiltshire, England, Gene Vincent was severely injured in the auto accident that took the life of Eddie Cochran. Broken ribs, a fractured collarbone, & he reinjured his left leg… which he’d previously hurt in the 1955 motorcycle accident. #OneHitWondered
#Interestingly Gregory Abbott’s Columbia debut album, Shake You Down, was released in 1986. He wrote & produced it, leaning into a smooth R&B. The Lead single “Shake You Down” was released that August and first took over R&B radio, hitting #1 on Billboard’s R&B chart in October. #OneHitWondered
November 9, 2025 at 4:17 AM
#Interestingly Gregory Abbott’s Columbia debut album, Shake You Down, was released in 1986. He wrote & produced it, leaning into a smooth R&B. The Lead single “Shake You Down” was released that August and first took over R&B radio, hitting #1 on Billboard’s R&B chart in October. #OneHitWondered
#Interestingly Gregory Abbott is a Harlem-born singer, writer, & producer. Before his chart success, Abbott studied psychology at UC Berkeley and creative writing at Stanford… While pursuing graduate studies and teaching at UC Berkeley, he decided to become a professional musician. #OneHitWondered
November 9, 2025 at 4:16 AM
#Interestingly Gregory Abbott is a Harlem-born singer, writer, & producer. Before his chart success, Abbott studied psychology at UC Berkeley and creative writing at Stanford… While pursuing graduate studies and teaching at UC Berkeley, he decided to become a professional musician. #OneHitWondered
#Interestingly Nashville’s countrypolitan sound, with lush arrangements & pop-oriented ballads, was emerging in the 1960s… Ray Price was one of the innovators of the sound. Love it or hate it, “For The Good Times” helped the pop crossover appeal of country music. #RayPrice #OneHitWondered
November 7, 2025 at 7:33 PM
#Interestingly Nashville’s countrypolitan sound, with lush arrangements & pop-oriented ballads, was emerging in the 1960s… Ray Price was one of the innovators of the sound. Love it or hate it, “For The Good Times” helped the pop crossover appeal of country music. #RayPrice #OneHitWondered
#QuickSidenote Despite the song’s title, “Ringo” by Lorne Greene wasn’t about Ringo Starr… 🤣 It’s a lawman-meets-outlaw story. #RingoStarr #LorneGreene #OneHitWondered
November 7, 2025 at 9:55 AM
#QuickSidenote Despite the song’s title, “Ringo” by Lorne Greene wasn’t about Ringo Starr… 🤣 It’s a lawman-meets-outlaw story. #RingoStarr #LorneGreene #OneHitWondered
#Interestingly First-call Motown bassist Michael Henderson wrote & provided vocals for “You Are My Starship.” He’d toured with Stevie Wonder, then Miles Davis poached him after seeing him with Stevie in 1970. In Detroit, he’d worked with Aretha Franklin & Marvin Gaye. #OneHitWondered
November 7, 2025 at 2:36 AM
#Interestingly First-call Motown bassist Michael Henderson wrote & provided vocals for “You Are My Starship.” He’d toured with Stevie Wonder, then Miles Davis poached him after seeing him with Stevie in 1970. In Detroit, he’d worked with Aretha Franklin & Marvin Gaye. #OneHitWondered
#Interestingly Norman Connors is a Philadelphia drummer, bandleader, & producer who bridged the jazz and R&B scenes… Connors had a knack for spotlighting singers, and building lush, romantic tracks to let great voices shine... #NormanConnors #OneHitWondered
November 7, 2025 at 2:34 AM
#Interestingly Norman Connors is a Philadelphia drummer, bandleader, & producer who bridged the jazz and R&B scenes… Connors had a knack for spotlighting singers, and building lush, romantic tracks to let great voices shine... #NormanConnors #OneHitWondered
#Interestingly The Silkie were a British folk quartet out of Hull University, formed in 1963… tight harmonies with a ‘60s campus coffeehouse vibe. In 1965, they played the Cavern in Liverpool… Beatles manager Brian Epstein liked what he heard and signed them… #BrianEpstein #TheSilkie #OneHitWondered
November 6, 2025 at 9:44 PM
#Interestingly The Silkie were a British folk quartet out of Hull University, formed in 1963… tight harmonies with a ‘60s campus coffeehouse vibe. In 1965, they played the Cavern in Liverpool… Beatles manager Brian Epstein liked what he heard and signed them… #BrianEpstein #TheSilkie #OneHitWondered
#QuickSidenote Sometimes, song credits matter… “Waterloo” was written by John D. Loudermilk & Music Row’s den mother, Marijohn Wilkin. Yeah, those two names could blow this rabbit hole wide open! We’re not gonna go spelunkin’, though. #JohnDLoudermilk #MarijohnWilkin #OneHitWondered
November 6, 2025 at 9:22 AM
#QuickSidenote Sometimes, song credits matter… “Waterloo” was written by John D. Loudermilk & Music Row’s den mother, Marijohn Wilkin. Yeah, those two names could blow this rabbit hole wide open! We’re not gonna go spelunkin’, though. #JohnDLoudermilk #MarijohnWilkin #OneHitWondered
#Interestingly Stonewall Jackson was the first country artist to join the Grand Ole Opry without a recording contract… He literally worked in the National Life Building basement, shipping Opry souvenir books, before his country career took off.... Not glamorous. But very Nashville. #OneHitWondered
November 6, 2025 at 9:17 AM
#Interestingly Stonewall Jackson was the first country artist to join the Grand Ole Opry without a recording contract… He literally worked in the National Life Building basement, shipping Opry souvenir books, before his country career took off.... Not glamorous. But very Nashville. #OneHitWondered
#Interestingly Yes, Stonewall Jackson was his legal name... The country singer was named for the Confederate general. Not a stage contrivance, not a label gimmick. It became an icebreaker and a running gag… ‘the singer, not the general.’ #StonewallJackson #OneHitWondered
November 6, 2025 at 9:15 AM
#Interestingly Yes, Stonewall Jackson was his legal name... The country singer was named for the Confederate general. Not a stage contrivance, not a label gimmick. It became an icebreaker and a running gag… ‘the singer, not the general.’ #StonewallJackson #OneHitWondered
#QuickSidenote The name isn’t random, Deadeye Dick is a 1982 Kurt Vonnegut novel... It’s classic Vonnegut: dark comedy, accident vs. fate, and moral whiplash. The name carries a sardonic, slightly bleak wink that matches ’90s humor. #KurtVonnegut #OneHitWondered
November 6, 2025 at 5:53 AM
#QuickSidenote The name isn’t random, Deadeye Dick is a 1982 Kurt Vonnegut novel... It’s classic Vonnegut: dark comedy, accident vs. fate, and moral whiplash. The name carries a sardonic, slightly bleak wink that matches ’90s humor. #KurtVonnegut #OneHitWondered
#Interestingly Deadeye Dick was an alt-rock trio from New Orleans formed in 1991. They built a regional following across the Southeast and self-produced their first recordings. “New Age Girl” started as a local radio favorite, which led to a deal with Ichiban Records. #DeadeyeDick #OneHitWondered
November 6, 2025 at 5:50 AM
#Interestingly Deadeye Dick was an alt-rock trio from New Orleans formed in 1991. They built a regional following across the Southeast and self-produced their first recordings. “New Age Girl” started as a local radio favorite, which led to a deal with Ichiban Records. #DeadeyeDick #OneHitWondered