Not really One Hit Wonders

the_pants · 03-09-2014, 07:49 PM

Recently I was feeling a bit of late 90s nostalgia so I bought the following albums based on the fact that they'd all had a hit song but I knew nothing else about these them:

Harvey Danger - where have all the merrymakers gone? (song: Flagpole Sitta)
Barenaked Ladies - stunt (song: One Week)
Fastball - all the pain money can buy (song: The Way)
Wheatus - wheatus (released in 2000, close enough...) (song: Teenage Dirtbag)

Turns out all these albums are great from start to finish.

What other bands/artists do you think may be unfairly known as one hit wonders even though they've been around a long time and/or had lots of good songs?

(I realize all those bands have dedicated fans so I'm not saying they're not good, just interest in how some bands have a brief mainstream success and may or may not embrace that success, whether intentionally or unintentionally.)

bob. · 03-09-2014, 07:53 PM

devo

djchameleon · 03-10-2014, 06:16 AM

Barenaked Ladies had four or five hits though.

You know who gets lumped into this category very well and they put out so much more material since their one hit.

Chumbawumba.

People only know Tubthumping but they continued to pump out music like crazy after their 97 album.

misspoptart · 03-10-2014, 08:19 AM

Smashmouth & Nina Gordon produced great albums from start to finish, as well.

Nina is known for "Tonight" and although "When the Morning Comes" was pretty popular, Smashmouth will always be known for "All Star."

Another is Len with "Steal My Sunshine." The album is actually awesome, I love You Can't Stop the Bum Rush.

djchameleon · 03-10-2014, 08:30 AM

I always associate Smashmouth with "Walking on the sun".

That was their hit before "Allstar".

misspoptart · 03-10-2014, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

I always associate Smashmouth with "Walking on the sun".

That was their hit before "Allstar".

Omg I completely forgot about that song AND the fact that it was done by them. <3 all over again.

Burning Down · 03-10-2014, 08:57 AM

Barenaked Ladies have soooo many great hit songs though, hardly one hit wonders. I'm not sure what it's like around the world, but they have a huge audience in Canada and the US.

Rjinn · 03-10-2014, 09:50 AM

I remember One Week being a hit. I don't recall any of their other songs being on the charts, or on TV Hits down here afterwards.

Plankton · 03-10-2014, 09:54 AM

Blind Melon easily fits into this thread. If you were alive in the early 90's you've heard "No Rain" (the Bumble Bee kid), but it took a weekend of camping and a friend with a passion for making sure everybody heard Blind Melon's other songs for me to appreciate just how good they are. Here's a small sample platter:

Spoiler for Vids:

Black Francis · 03-10-2014, 12:09 PM

How bout, Orgy? they had a hit with Blue monday and a minor hit Stitches.

Oh, and Lit with my own worst enemy.

03-09-2014, 07:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
the_pants Groupie Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Brisbane Posts: 16	Not really One Hit Wonders Recently I was feeling a bit of late 90s nostalgia so I bought the following albums based on the fact that they'd all had a hit song but I knew nothing else about these them: Harvey Danger - where have all the merrymakers gone? (song: Flagpole Sitta) Barenaked Ladies - stunt (song: One Week) Fastball - all the pain money can buy (song: The Way) Wheatus - wheatus (released in 2000, close enough...) (song: Teenage Dirtbag) Turns out all these albums are great from start to finish. What other bands/artists do you think may be unfairly known as one hit wonders even though they've been around a long time and/or had lots of good songs? (I realize all those bands have dedicated fans so I'm not saying they're not good, just interest in how some bands have a brief mainstream success and may or may not embrace that success, whether intentionally or unintentionally.)

03-09-2014, 07:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
bob. Still sends his reguards. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Trying to get out of the cat town.... Posts: 5,039	devo __________________ A kiss is the beginning of cannibalism. Reach out, pierce the fine fabric of the sheltering sky, take repose.

03-10-2014, 09:50 AM	#8 (permalink)
Rjinn The Aerosol in your Soul Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New South Wales, Australia Posts: 1,546	I remember One Week being a hit. I don't recall any of their other songs being on the charts, or on TV Hits down here afterwards. __________________ last.fm

03-10-2014, 09:54 AM	#9 (permalink)
Plankton Just Keep Swimming... Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: See signature... Posts: 7,765	Blind Melon easily fits into this thread. If you were alive in the early 90's you've heard "No Rain" (the Bumble Bee kid), but it took a weekend of camping and a friend with a passion for making sure everybody heard Blind Melon's other songs for me to appreciate just how good they are. Here's a small sample platter: Spoiler for Vids: __________________ See location...

03-10-2014, 12:09 PM	#10 (permalink)
Black Francis Out of Place Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: in an abstract house Posts: 4,111	How bout, Orgy? they had a hit with Blue monday and a minor hit Stitches. Oh, and Lit with my own worst enemy. __________________ "Hey Kids you got to meet the MIGHTY PIXIES!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbRbCtIgW3A

03-10-2014, 08:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
misspoptart gimme gimme Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: istanbul Posts: 897	Smashmouth & Nina Gordon produced great albums from start to finish, as well. Nina is known for "Tonight" and although "When the Morning Comes" was pretty popular, Smashmouth will always be known for "All Star." Another is Len with "Steal My Sunshine." The album is actually awesome, I love You Can't Stop the Bum Rush.

03-10-2014, 08:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
Burning Down The Music Guru. Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Beyond the Wall Posts: 4,858	Barenaked Ladies have soooo many great hit songs though, hardly one hit wonders. I'm not sure what it's like around the world, but they have a huge audience in Canada and the US.