Happy National One Hit Wonder Day

Did you know that today is National One Hit Wonder Day? The "holiday" has been around since 1990. A few years ago, VH1 Classic even did a big "One Hit Wonder" countdown. They put RATT on their list (with "Round and Round") but obviously you and I know they were wrong on that one. I suspect there are many Glam favorites that are really "one hit wonders" - no matter how great their actual catalog. I love lots of songs that were never singles, let alone chart hits. And it really is quite an accomplishment to have a hit on Billboard.

I wonder if Twisted Sister fits the "one hit wonder" classification? They've got a pretty great and decent-sized catalog, but no song of theirs is known more than "We're Not Gonna Take It." And Aldo Nova had "Fantasy." Then there's Vixen with "Edge of a Broken Heart" and Trixter with "Give It To Me Good." Now that I think about it, I guess Saigon Kick fits the "one hit wonder" category too thanks to "Love Is On the Way."

So who else from the glam metal heyday are "one hit wonders?"

Comments

[JT]

I think RATT fits the category more than Twisted Sister. TS also had "I Wanna Rock," and while it wasn't as big as "We're Not Gonna Take It," it was still a pretty big video on MTV. For non-fans of RATT, was there a second song that got that much attention?

[Him]

JT, you must be kidding. You're in Love? Dance? Slip of the Lip? Body Talk? I love both bands. But Ratt made it further into the mainstream than Twisted Sister.

To be clear, that isn't to suggest that they _should_ have made it bigger. Wake Up is an under-appreciated hit from TS. They were just shackled to a cartoon look and a really good 50s/60s sound and that didn't work for the big-wigs making decisions.

Love is for Suckers (the album) is much better than Way Cool Jr. (the song). But TS wasn't in the mood to promote it and the tide in music wasn't moving in their favor (Hot Love didn't help, but that is also a shout-out to their origins).

JT, you really need to develop some perspective. If you listened to the music, you know the music. But props for responding.

[Sidebar: I'd suggest that Metalboy [probably, MetalMiddleAgedGuy] agrees. But he seems to charm through digression and ingratiate through extension. I like him. But I can't really figure why he gets so possessive and is treated so protectively. Thus is the nature of the web.]

[KEVON]

Ratt had a ton of hits!!!! To even say one hit wonder is ridiculous. Not sure how your comparing Love is for suckers [The Album] to Way Cool Jr. the song! Anyone?????

[brian L]

Kix. Dont close your eyes

[MEWIZEMGIIC]

Bang Go the Bells by Babylon AD and how about Hang On Lucy by Wildside.

I think RATT by far would blow Twisted Sister away when it comes to hits. Be interesting to look at their gold records, total sales, etc. Seems to me if it wasn't for the self-publicity machine of Dee Snider, TS would be even more of an afterthought.

[Sean]

Fastway, "Say What You Will",
Rich Derringer, "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" (Does this song count? It is not from the glam heyday, but I think it belongs.)
Europe, "The Final Countdown",
Krokus, "Midnite Maniac",
Also, Rainbow are 3 hit wonders, "Stone Cold", "I Surrender", and "Street of Dreams".

[Sean]

Also: Y&T "Summertime Girls".

[JT]

OK, I went to the #1 source for facts on the internet: Wikipedia. RATT actually had two top-40 hits, Twisted Sister only one.

"Round and Round" made it to #12 on the charts, and is their only gold single. "Lay It Down" is the only other to get top-40 status, and that was at #40. Five other singles went top 100, but I don't really consider top 100 "hits," do you? (per Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratt_discography#Singles )

TS went gold with "We're Not Gonna Take It," which went to #21 on the charts (I expected it to be higher, actually). They did not have another top-40 hit; the only other topp 100 singlers were "Leader of the Pack" (#53) and "I Wanna Rock" (#68). (also per Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twisted_Sister#Singles )

So looking at the facts, TS does fit the "one-hit wonder" bill more than RATT, but just barely. But it seems that TS is more memorable today, even if it is because of Snider's personality more than the actual music.

[JT]

And I really need to proofread before I post. :)

[Shadow]

I was gonna say Lay it Down for RATT was a hit. Honestly many would consider Quiet Riot a one hit wonder but again looking into it They had more then come on feel the noise. Hell, A name I throw around is nirvana hit wise. anyone know any more on their hits? I know they got one and the whole genre shakeup but did they have another chart hit like that?

[JAT]

This may be getting away from the original question but many here seem to have strayed from the original post anyways but I must speak up a little. At least in the case of what JT is saying. TS more memorable? Not sure about that. All I know is that RATT was way bigger bak in the day. I'm from the Dallas area and as far as concert attendance...TS had only one "BIG" tour I can remember while RATT had numerous. I typucally measure it by shows and RATT was one of only a few that sold out multiple nights at the Reunion Arena (the big arena in Dallas at the time). Journey, Rush and Van Halen were other acts that did that as well...although in the case of Journey and Van Halen, they each had three nights. But RATT was HUGE during a 3 or 4 year period. I wasn't even a RATT fan back then. Everyone knows TS because of the attire but most can't tell you any songs past Not Gonna Take It. RATT had "Wanted Man", plus many, many more. Just my 2 cents.

[Metalboy!]

Note to HIM: No, I don't agree with anything you are saying, Fletch.

Statistics, Schmatistics:

The Theoretical One-Hit-Wonders of Hair Metal (In No Particular Order):

(based on the songs that got the most play on AM -- yep, I said "AM" -- and FM radio back in the day. To the average receptionist who had his/her boombox stashed under their desks and who did not buy any albums or watch MTV, these are the only songs, pretty much, they knew the bands by back in the day.)

Scorpions -- Rock You Like A Hurricane

Judas Priest -- Livin' After Midnight

Ratt -- Round And Round

Twisted Sister -- We're Not Gonna Take It

Quiet Riot -- Cum On Feel The Noise

Guns n' Roses -- Sweet Child O' Mine

Warrant -- Heaven

Kix -- Don't Close Your Eyes

Whitesnake -- Here I Go Again

L.A. Guns -- Ballad Of Jane

Faster Pussycat -- House Of Pain

Cinderella -- Don't Know What Ya Got

Def Leppard -- Photograph

Poison -- Every Rose Has It's Thorn

Europe -- Carrie

Enuff Z'Nuff -- Fly High Michelle

Winger -- Miles Away

Steelheart -- I'll Never Let You Go

Firehouse -- Love Of A Lifetime

Bon Jovi -- Livin' On A Prayer

Slaughter -- Fly To The Angels

Night Ranger -- Sister Christian

Damn Yankees -- Can You Take Me Higher*

Extreme -- More Than Words*

Mr. Big -- To Be With You*

Saigon Kick -- Love Is On The Way*

Trixter -- Give It To Me Good*

Skid Row -- I Remember You

The Cult -- Edie (Ciao Baby)

Van Halen -- Jump

Van Hagar -- Is This Love

Motley Crue -- Home Sweet Home

*Particularly Barfolacious

p.s. OTSK! And let me know what I forgot!

[fletch]

Note to Niki: I am not "him,",

[Shadow]

Metalboy!, the Van Hagar track your probably thinking is when its love, is this love is from whitesnake doiy! HAHAHA! Nice list but don't you think Priest would be out of thuis category thanks to You've got another thing coming? It was their highest charting single.

[RockyRhoads]

Metalboy, the "receptionist standard" you're referring too is not the relevant criterion in my humble opinion. There is no way in he'll you can refer to GN'R and Van Halen/Hagar as one hit wonders! One mustn't confuse a band's biggest hit with it being a one hit wonder. Panama, Hot For Teacher, Don't Cry, November Rain and other were major hits for these bands, and they definitely don't belong in the same category as Bands such as Saigon Kick or Enuff Z'Nuff. Same goes for Motley and Bon Jovi and a few others from your list. Just my point of view...

[fletch]

...and, niki, your double negative speaks volumes

[Gator]

We can always count on Metalboy to bring the lists! Overall decent job, MB, but (as noted above) there is no way you can classify Van Halen (or Van Hagar for that matter), Whitesnake, Bon Jovi, or Poison as anything close to a "One-hit wonder". Hell, even Firehouse's first hit was "Don't Treat Me Bad", if we are discussing actual songs that hit the Top 40. Also, "18 & Life" was a bigger hit than "I Remember You" for Skid Row, and Night Ranger had a plethora of other hits besides "Sister Christian" (You can Still Rock in America, Sentimental Street, Goodbye, and the underrated Don't Tell Me You Love Me all hit the charts).

When I think of hard rock/metal/glam One-hit wonders, I think of the LA Guns, Faster Pussycat, Steelheart, and Saigon Kick songs listed above from Metalboy. Plus, I would add "I'm Onto You" by Hurricane, "Summertime Girls" by Y&T, "Burning Heart" by Vandenburg, "Say What You Will" by Fastway, "Out With the Boys" by Lord Tracy, and the cover of "Chain of Fools" by Little Caesar. Plus we can't forget "Fantasy" by Aldo Nova. These are bands we didn't hear much from again, at least as far as hits go.

[Metalboy!]

OTSK!

I agree, except with Fletch (aka HIM)...

[Him]

That is what I like about Metalboy! (if you say it like he writes it you just have to feel excited, see?). He is dedicated to a cause and sees connections where no one else does. He writes history for himself. So who can complain if he agrees? The fact that I am someone who I am not, eh. That is cool too.

But he drops so many bombs in the list department: Cinderella, Slaughter, Skid Row, Winger, etc. You have to admire the gusto even if you question which receptionists he was/is talking to back in the day/now. So riddle me this: Metalboy!, am I right to enjoy your posts even if you don't enjoy mine?

I am sorry Fletch. I didn't mean to pull you into my (non-existent) orbit. I just felt like responding.

And I appreciate the history JT. It would have helped if I had defined what I meant by a "hit." Like Metalboy! I can tend toward the hedges of my own memory.

[Rockfighter]

bon jovi as a one hit wonder.. hahaha... now i shall not consider his posts as anything more than bs

i guess only the metal bands he listens to are multiple hit wonders