What is a One-Hit Wonder?

Many artists might have had a Top 50 hit or an MTV staple, or a Rock Radio staple hit, but the songs and their artists had to have hit the Top 40 charts with only one song. Anything lower than that makes them a One-Hit Wonder.

There are a few arguments here, as in UB40 with Chrissie Hynde’s “I Got You Babe.” Chrissie Hynde is legitimately a One-Hit Wonder because her duet with UB40 is her only official Top 40 hit (of course as a solo artist), regardless of UB40 having more than one hit.

In such cases as that example, we’ve only listed Chrissie Hynde in the spot that would typically have read UB40 & Chrissie Hynde”.

The same goes for Kiki Dee. She was the leader of The Kiki Dee Band and had a hit with “I’ve Got The Music in Me.” However, she returned to have a hit with Elton John in 1976 (“Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart”). That constitutes her second entry as a One-Hit Wonder, only that time as a solo artist, and we’ve listed only Kiki Dee (without Elton John) in the entry where “Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart” is listed.

A great example of what constitutes as a One-hit Wonder is The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. They’ve had enough hits to exclude them as a One-Hit Wonder, however, as Steve Martin’s backing band on “King Tut”, they called themselves The Toot Uncommons. So, as it were, The Toot Uncommons are a One-Hit Wonder – as is Steve Martin.

Another argument heard is the likes of Benny Mardones, “Into The Night”. Technically he is a One-Hit Wonder with one song that represents him on the Top 40 twice, once in 1980 and again in 1989. Both versions of “Into The Night” are the same identical recording with the same catalog number and length of the single (and label). Note: Benny Mardones did re-record the song in 1989, but it failed to chart.

Devo is a One-Hit Wonder. “Whip It” is their only Top 40 hit. Many people bring up Devo in arguments about them being a “One-Hit Wonder”.

It’s sometimes surprising to see such known artists being listed as a One-Hit Wonder. But the artists listed below are listed based on their official chart appearances.

So with that, here are every One-Hit Wonder artist and their song that made them as such, presented in chronological order of their peak date.

1955 One-Hit Wonders

The Three Chuckles –•– Runaround — (Peaked: November 13 at # 20)
Teresa Brewer with The Lancers –•– Let Me Go, Lover! — (Peaked: December 18 at # 6)
Joan Weber –•– Let Me Go, Lover! — (Peaked: January 1 at # 1)
The Penguins –•– Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) — (Peaked: February 5 at # 8)
Peggy King –•– Make Yourself Comfortable — (Peaked: February 5 at # 30)
DeJohn Sisters –•– (My Baby Don’t Love Me) No More — (Peaked: February 12 at # 6)
Johnny Ace –•– Pledging My Love — (Peaked: March 19 at # 17)
The Voices of Walter Schumann –•– The Ballad of Davy Crockett — (Peaked: April 9 at # 29)
Laurie Sisters –•– Dixie Danny — (Peaked: April 16 at # 30)
Lenny Dee –•– Plantation Boogie — (Peaked: May 4 at # 19)
Nappy Brown –•– Don’t Be Angry — (Peaked: May 7 at # 25)
Caterina Valente –•– The Breeze and I (Andalucia) — (Peaked: May 14 at # 8)
Felicia Sanders –•– Blue Star (The Medic Theme) — (Peaked: May 28 at # 29)
Ferko String Band –•– Alabama Jubilee — (Peaked: June 18 at # 18)
Lena Horne –•– Love Me or Leave Me — (Peaked: July 9 at # 19)
Eddie Barclay and His Orchestra –•– The Bandit (O’Cangaceiro) — (Peaked: July 16 at # 18)
Marion Marlowe –•– The Man in the Raincoat — (Peaked: July 16 at # 14)
Priscilla Wright with Don Wright and The Septette –•– The Man in the Raincoat — (Peaked: August 6 at # 16)
Cliffie Stone and His Orchestra –•– The Popcorn Song — (Peaked: August 20 at # 14)
Chuck Miller –•– The House of Blue Lights — (Peaked: August 27 at # 9)
Lillian Briggs –•– I Want You to Be My Baby — (Peaked: October 1 at # 18)
The El Dorados –•– At My Front Door (Crazy Little Mama) — (Peaked: November 12 at # 17)
Bonnie Lou –•– Daddy-O — (Peaked: December 3 at # 14)
Snooky Lanson –•– It’s Almost Tomorrow — (Peaked: December 3 at # 20)
Steve Allen –•– Autumn Leaves — (Peaked: December 10 at # 35)
Julie London –•– Cry Me a River — (Peaked: December 17 at # 9)
The Singing Dogs –•– Oh! Susanna — (Peaked: December 17 at # 22)
Ricky Zahnd and the Blue Jeaners –•– (I’m Gettin’) Nuttin’ for Christmas — (Peaked: December 24 at # 21)
Barry Gordon –•– Nuttin’ for Christmas — (Peaked: December 31 at # 6)
Joe Ward –•– Nuttin’ for Xmas — (Peaked: December 31 at # 20)

1956 One-Hit Wonders

Kit Carson –•– Band of Gold — (Peaked: January 7 at # 11)
The Turbans –•– When You Dance — (Peaked: January 14 at # 33)
Count Basie –•– April in Paris — (Peaked: February 4 at # 28)
Richard Hayman and Jan August –•– (A Theme from) the Three Penny Opera (Moritat) — (Peaked: February 11 at # 12)
Bobby Scott –•– Chain Gang — (Peaked: February 18 at # 13)
Bonnie Sisters –•– Cry Baby — (Peaked: March 3 at # 18)
The Four Voices –•– Lovely One — (Peaked: March 17 at # 20)
Kay Thompson –•– Eloise — (Peaked: March 17 at # 39)
The Blue Stars –•– Lullaby of Birdland — (Peaked: March 24 at # 16)
Teddi King –•– Mr. Wonderful — (Peaked: March 24 at # 18)
Lou Busch and His Orchestra –•– 11th Hour Melody — (Peaked: March 24 at # 35)
The Teen Queens –•– Eddie My Love — (Peaked: March 31 at # 14)
Richard Maltby and His Orchestra –•– (Themes From) The Man with the Golden Arm — (Peaked: March 31 at # 32)
Elmer Bernstein –•– Main Theme from The Man with the Golden Arm — (Peaked: April 28 at # 32)
Carl Perkins –•– Blue Suede Shoes — (Peaked: May 19 at # 2)
Morris Stoloff Conducting the Columbia Pictures Orchestra –•– Moonglow and Theme from Picnic — (Peaked: June 2 at # 2)
Don Robertson –•– The Happy Whistler — (Peaked: June 2 at # 6)
Cathy Carr –•– Ivory Tower — (Peaked: June 16 at # 2)
Joe Fingers Carr –•– Portuguese Washerwomen — (Peaked: June 16 at # 25)
The Rover Boys –•– Graduation Day — (Peaked: June 23 at # 16)
Tommy Leonetti –•– Free — (Peaked: July 7 at # 23)
The Cadets –•– Stranded in the Jungle — (Peaked: July 28 at # 15)
The Jayhawks –•– Stranded in the Jungle — (Peaked: July 28 at # 18)
The Gadabouts –•– Stranded in the Jungle — (Peaked: August 4 at # 39)
Eddie Lawrence –•– The Old Philosopher — (Peaked: September 1 at # 34)
The Six Teens –•– A Casual Look — (Peaked: September 1 at # 25)
Sanford Clark –•– The Fool — (Peaked: September 22 at # 7)
Helmut Zacharias and His Magic Violins –•– When the White Lilacs Bloom Again — (Peaked: September 22 at # 12)
The Lennon Sisters –•– Tonight You Belong to Me — (Peaked: September 29 at # 16)
Grace Kelly –•– True Love — (Peaked: October 6 at # 3)
Little Joe and the Thrillers –•– Peanuts — (Peaked: October 13 at # 22)
Jane Powell –•– True Love — (Peaked: October 27 at # 15)
Eddie Cooley –•– Priscilla — (Peaked: November 24 at # 20)
The Highlights –•– City of Angels — (Peaked: November 24 at # 19)
Sonny Knight –•– Confidential — (Peaked: November 24 at # 17)
Joe Valino –•– Garden of Eden — (Peaked: December 8 at # 12)
Gordon Jenkins and His Orchestra and Chorus –•– Blueberry Hill — (Peaked: December 15 at # 29)
Sil Austin –•– Slow Walk — (Peaked: December 22 at # 17)
Vince Martin –•– Cindy, Oh Cindy — (Peaked: December 22 at # 9)
Jerry Lewis –•– Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody — (Peaked: December 29 at # 10)
Ivory Joe Hunter –•– Since I Met You Baby — (Peaked: December 29 at # 12)

1957 One-Hit Wonders

Joy Layne –•– Your Wild Heart — (Peaked: February 23 at # 20)
Russell Arms –•– Cinco Robles (Five Oaks) — (Peaked: February 23 at # 22)
Moe Koffman Quartette –•– The Swingin’ Shepherd Blues — (Peaked: February 23 at # 23)
Mickey & Sylvia –•– Love Is Strange — (Peaked: March 2 at # 11)
Jimmy McCracklin with his Band –•– The Walk — (Peaked: March 9 at # 7)
The Jive Bombers –•– Bad Boy — (Peaked: March 16 at # 36)
Johnny Dee –•– Sittin’ in the Balcony — (Peaked: March 16 at # 38)
Terry Gilkyson and the Easy Riders –•– Marianne — (Peaked: April 6 at # 4)
Lou Stein –•– Almost Paradise — (Peaked: April 6 at # 31)
Jimmy Bowen with The Rhythm Orchids –•– I’m Stickin’ with You — (Peaked: April 27 at # 14)
Ken Copeland –•– Pledge of Love — (Peaked: May 6 at # 12)
The Mello-Tones –•– Rosie Lee — (Peaked: May 13 at # 24)
Randy Starr –•– After School — (Peaked: May 13 at # 32)
Bonnie Guitar –•– Dark Moon — (Peaked: June 10 at # 6)
Marvin Rainwater –•– Gonna Find Me a Bluebird — (Peaked: June 10 at # 18)
Charles McDevitt Skiffle Group –•– Freight Train — (Peaked: June 10 at # 40)
Jimmy Newman –•– A Fallen Star — (Peaked: June 10 at # 23)
Jodie Sands –•– With All My Heart — (Peaked: June 24 at # 15)
Roy Brown –•– Let the Four Winds Blow — (Peaked: July 1 at # 29)
Victor Young and His Singing Strings –•– (Main Theme) Around the World — (Peaked: July 8 at # 26)
Johnnie & Joe –•– Over the Mountain; Across the Sea — (Peaked: July 22 at # 8)
Dave Gardner –•– White Silver Sands — (Peaked: July 29 at # 22)
Russ Hamilton –•– Rainbow — (Peaked: September 16 at # 7)
The Bobbettes –•– Mr. Lee — (Peaked: September 13 at # 6)
Tony Perkins –•– Moonlight Swim — (Peaked: October 7 at # 24)
Joe Bennett & the Sparkletones –•– Black Slacks — (Peaked: October 14 at # 17)
The Tune Weavers –•– Happy, Happy Birthday Baby — (Peaked: October 28 at # 5)
The Rays –•– Silhouettes/Daddy Cool — (Peaked: November 4 at # 3)
Thurston Harris –•– Little Bitty Pretty One — (Peaked: November 11 at # 6)
Shepherd Sisters –•– Alone (Why Must I Be Alone) — (Peaked: November 11 at # 18)
Will Glahe and His Orchestra –•– Liechtensteiner Polka — (Peaked: November 25 at # 16)
The Dubs –•– Could This Be Magic — (Peaked: December 2 at # 23)
Billy Myles –•– The Joker (That’s What They Call Me) — (Peaked: December 2 at # 25)
The Techniques –•– Hey Little Girl — (Peaked: December 9 at # 29)
Bill Justis –•– Raunchy — (Peaked: December 16 at # 2)
Ernie Freeman –•– Raunchy — (Peaked: December 30 at # 4)
Margie Rayburn –•– I’m Available — (Peaked: December 16 at # 9)

1958 One-Hit Wonders

The Hollywood Flames –•– Buzz-Buzz-Buzz — (Peaked: January 27 at # 11)
Nick Todd –•– At the Hop — (Peaked: February 10 at # 21)
Moe Koffman Quartette –•– The Swingin’ Shepherd Blues — (Peaked: February 10 at # 36)
The Silhouettes –•– Get a Job — (Peaked: February 24 at # 1)
Dale Wright with the Rock-Its –•– She’s Neat — (Peaked: February 24 at # 38)
The Crescendos –•– Oh Julie — (Peaked: March 3 at # 5)
Sammy Salvo –•– Oh Julie — (Peaked: March 3 at # 23)
The Gone All Stars –•– 7-11 — (Peaked: March 3 at # 30)
Robert & Johnny –•– We Belong Together — (Peaked: March 3 at # 32)
Gene Allison –•– You Can Make It If You Try — (Peaked: March 10 at # 36)
The Pastels –•– Been So Long — (Peaked: March 10 at # 24)
Eddie Platt –•– Tequila — (Peaked: March 31 at # 20)
John Zacherle The Cool Ghoul –•– Dinner with Drac–Part 1 — (Peaked: March 31 at # 6)
Laurie London –•– He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands — (Peaked: April 14 at # 1)
Ronald & Ruby –•– Lollipop — (Peaked: April 14 at # 20)
Huey Piano Smith and the Clowns –•– Don’t You Just Know It — (Peaked: April 14 at # 9)
The Monotones –•– Book of Love — (Peaked: April 21 at # 5)
Art and Dotty Todd –•– Chanson D’Amour (Song of Love) — (Peaked: May 5 at # 6)
The Voxpoppers –•– Wishing for Your Love — (Peaked: May 5 at # 18)
The Aquatones –•– You — (Peaked: May 26 at # 21)
Renato Carosone –•– Torero — (Peaked: June 2 at # 18)
Toni Arden –•– Padre — (Peaked: June 2 at # 18)
Sheb Wooley –•– Purple People Eater — (Peaked: June 9 at # 1)
Ed Townsend –•– For Your Love — (Peaked: June 9 at # 13)
Valerie Carr –•– When the Boys Talk About the Girls — (Peaked: June 9 at # 19)
The Pets –•– Cha-Hua-Hua — (Peaked: June 9 at # 34)
Gino and Gina –•– (It’s Been a Long Time) Pretty Baby — (Peaked: June 23 at # 20)
Jan and Arnie –•– Jennie Lee — (Peaked: June 30 at # 8)
Jody Reynolds –•– Endless Sleep — (Peaked: June 30 at # 5)
The Daddy O’s –•– Got a Match? — (Peaked: July 7 at # 39)
Jim Backus and Friend –•– Delicious — (Peaked: July 21 at # 40)
The Danleers –•– One Summer Night — (Peaked: July 28 at # 7)
Frankie Vaughan –•– Judy — (Peaked: July 28 at # 22)
Kirby Stone Four –•– Baubles, Bangles and Beads — (Peaked: July 28 at # 25)
Johnny Otis Show –•– Willie and the Hand Jive — (Peaked: August 4 at # 9)
Tony and Joe –•– The Freeze — (Peaked: August 4 at # 33)
Bobby Hamilton –•– Crazy Eyes for You — (Peaked: August 4 at # 40)
The Rinky Dinks –•– Early in the Morning — (Peaked: August 11 at # 24)
Domenico Modugno –•– Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare) — (Peaked: August 18 at # 1)
The Elegants –•– Little Star — (Peaked: August 25 at # 1)
The Poni-Tails –•– Born Too Late — (Peaked: September 15 at # 7)
The Quin-Tones –•– Down the Aisle of Love — (Peaked: September 15 at # 18)
The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and Warren Covington –•– Tea for Two Cha Cha — (Peaked: September 15 at # 7)
The Jamies –•– Summertime, Summertime — (Peaked: September 22 at # 26)
The Kingsmen –•– Weekend — (Peaked: September 22 at # 35)
Boots Brown –•– Cerveza — (Peaked: September 29 at # 23)
The Shields –•– You Cheated — (Peaked: October 6 at # 12)
Bobby Hendricks –•– Itchy Twitchy Feeling — (Peaked: October 6 at # 25)
Donnie Owens –•– Need You — (Peaked: October 6 at # 25)
Bobby Day –•– Rockin’ Robin — (Peaked: October 13 at # 2)
Earl Grant –•– The End — (Peaked: October 13 at # 7)
Robin Luke –•– Susie Darlin’ — (Peaked: October 13 at # 5)
The Five Blobs –•– The Blob — (Peaked: November 3 at # 33)
Timmie Oh Yeah Rogers –•– Back to School Again — (Peaked: November 18 at # 36)
The Royaltones –•– Poor Boy — (Peaked: December 1 at # 17)
The Teddy Bears –•– To Know Him Is to Love Him — (Peaked: December 15 at # 1)
The Nu-Tornados –•– Philadelphia, U.S.A. — (Peaked: December 22 at # 26)

1959 One-Hit Wonders

Billy Grammer –•– Gotta Travel On — (Peaked: January 12 at # 4)
Harry Simeone Chorale –•– The Little Drummer Boy — (Peaked: January 12 at # 13)
The Quaker City Boys –•– Teasin’ — (Peaked: January 26 at # 39)
Reg Owen –•– Manhattan Spiritual — (Peaked: February 9 at # 10)
Jesse Lee Turner –•– The Little Space Girl — (Peaked: February 9 at # 20)
Eugene Church and the Fellows –•– Pretty Girls Everywhere — (Peaked: February 23 at # 36)
Chris Barber’s Jazz Band –•– Petite Fleur (Little Flower) — (Peaked: March 2 at # 5)
The Bell Notes –•– I’ve Had It — (Peaked: March 9 at # 6)
Gene Allison –•– You Can Make It If You Try — (Peaked: March 9 at # 36)
The Mark IV –•– I Got a Wife — (Peaked: March 16 at # 24)
Thomas Wayne with the DeLons –•– Tragedy — (Peaked: March 23 at # 5)
Jesse Belvin –•– Guess Who — (Peaked: March 30 at # 31)
Frankie Ford –•– Sea Cruise — (Peaked: April 6 at # 14)
Dodie Stevens –•– Pink Shoe Laces — (Peaked: April 13 at # 3)
Rod Bernard –•– This Should Go on Forever — (Peaked: April 13 at # 20)
The Virtues –•– Guitar Boogie Shuffle — (Peaked: April 27 at # 5)
Travis and Bob –•– Tell Him No — (Peaked: April 27 at # 8)
Tommy Dee –•– Three Stars — (Peaked: May 4 at # 11)
The Impalas –•– Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home) — (Peaked: May 11 at # 2)
Edward Byrnes –•– Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb) — (Peaked: May 11 at # 4)
Franck Pourcel’s French Fiddles –•– Only You — (Peaked: June 1 at # 9)
Gary Stites –•– Lonely for You — (Peaked: June 1 at # 24)
Billy Storm –•– I’ve Come of Age — (Peaked: June 1 at # 28)
Gerry Granahan –•– No Chemise, Please — (Peaked: June 9 at # 23)
The Fiestas –•– So Fine — (Peaked: June 15 at # 11)
The Wailers –•– Tall Cool One — (Peaked: June 22 at # 36)
Preston Epps –•– Bongo Rock — (Peaked: June 29 at # 14)
The Mystics –•– Hushabye — (Peaked: June 29 at # 20)
Mickey Mozart Quintet –•– Little Dipper — (Peaked: July 6 at # 30)
Stonewall Jackson –•– Waterloo — (Peaked: July 13 at # 4)
The Falcons –•– You’re So Fine — (Peaked: July 13 at # 17)
Jacky Noguez and His Musette Orchestra –•– Ciao, Ciao Bambina — (Peaked: August 10 at # 24)
Carl Mann –•– Mona Lisa — (Peaked: August 10 at # 25)
Jerry Keller –•– Here Comes Summer — (Peaked: August 17 at # 14)
Tony Bellus –•– Robbin the Cradle — (Peaked: August 17 at # 25)
Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks –•– Mary Lou — (Peaked: August 17 at # 26)
Phil Phillips with the Twilights –•– Sea of Love — (Peaked: August 24 at # 2)
Bob McFadden and Dor –•– The Mummy — (Peaked: August 24 at # 39)
The Tempos –•– See You in September — (Peaked: September 7 at # 23)
Dick Flood –•– The Three Bells (The Jimmy Brown Story) — (Peaked: September 14 at # 23)
Ivo Robic and the Song-Masters –•– Morgen — (Peaked: September 21 at # 13)
Floyd Robinson –•– Makin’ Love — (Peaked: September 28 at # 20)
Nina Simone –•– I Loves You, Porgy — (Peaked: October 5 at # 18)
Bo Diddley –•– Say Man — (Peaked: October 26 at # 20)
Mormon Tabernacle Choir –•– Battle Hymn of the Republic — (Peaked: October 26 at # 13)
The Fireflies –•– You Were Mine — (Peaked: October 26 at # 21)
Wink Martindale –•– Deck of Cards — (Peaked: November 2 at # 7)
The Islanders –•– The Enchanted Sea — (Peaked: November 16 at # 15)
Tommy Facenda –•– High School U.S.A. (Area) — (Peaked: November 16 at # 28)
The Rock-A-Teens –•– Woo Hoo — (Peaked: November 23 at # 16)
The Revels –•– Midnight Stroll — (Peaked: November 30 at # 35)
Ernie Fields –•– In the Mood — (Peaked: December 14 at # 4)
Rocco Granata and the International Quintet –•– Marina — (Peaked: December 21 at # 31)
The Nutty Squirrels –•– Uh! Oh! Part 2 — (Peaked: December 28 at # 14)

Dancer, Prancer and Nervous –•– The Happy Reindeer — (Peaked: December 28 at # 34)