One-hit wonders and some history
Mark Dinning • “Teen Angel” - February 1960
The song that began the teen dying craze in the 1960s. Written by Dinning’s sister and her husband.
Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs - “Stay” • November 1960
The shortest No. 1 ever, at 1m38s. The Four Seasons had a minor hit with it in 1964.
Bruce Channel - “Hey! Baby” • March 1962
Delbert McClinton plays harmonica on this, and when Bruce was touring with the Beatles, Delbert taught John Lennon to also play the harmonica.
Mr. Acker Bilk - “Stranger on the Shore” • May 1962
The first clarinet instrumental that reached number 1.
David Rose - “The Stripper” • July 1962
Band leader David Rose proposed to Judy Garland on her 18th birthday, although he was already married to Martha Raye.
The Tornados - “Telstar” • December 1962
Another one-hit wonder instrumental. The first American No. 1 hit for any British group.
The Singing Nun • “Dominique” • December 1963
Debbie Reynolds portayed her in the 1965 movie. The nun, Jeanne Deckers left the convent in 1966.
The New Vaudeville Band - “Winchester Cathedral” • December 1966
The leader of the New Vaudeville Band, Geoff Stephens, also wrote “There’s a Kind of Hush”, sung by Herman's Hermits and “The Crying Game”, sung by Dave Berry
John Fred and His Playboy Band - “Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)” • January 1968
The Beatles had been topping the charts for a while, but lost the plot when they were in India. This sneaked into the number 1 spot.
Paul Mauriat - “Love Is Blue” • February 1968
Another instrumental number 1.
Zager & Evans - “In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)” • July 1969
Number 1 in the U.K. and the U.S. Zager & Evans was the only group to have a one-hit wonder in both countries.
Terry Jacks - “Seasons in the Sun” • March 1974
The biggest-selling single ever by a Canadian artist. Married to Susan Jacks, who had a hit with "Evergreen"
Billy Swan • “I Can Help” • November 1974
Billy Swan has a big reputation in the world of music and was a member of Ringo’s All-Starr Band.
Carl Douglas - “Kung Fu Fighting” • December 1974
Carl was the first Jamaican-born artist to have a No. 1 hit in the U.S.A.
Van McCoy - “The Hustle” • July 1975
Sadly died early of a heart attack in 1979, 39 years old.
Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band - “A Fifth of Beethoven” • October 1976
Walter played nearly everything on the record, but his record label thought it would sell better if it was credited to a band.
David Soul - “Don’t Give Up on Us” • April 1977
Famous detective from Starsky and Hutch.
Anita Ward - “Ring My Bell” • June 1979
A teacher before this song became a hit.
Dexy’s Midnight Runners - “Come On Eileen” • April 1983
Kevin Rowland fired the drummer in the middle of shooting the video. You only see the drummer in the first part.
Bobby McFerrin - “Don’t Worry Be Happy” • September 1988
Bobby removed this song from his concert repertoire when George Bush started using it in his presidential campaign. Song was adopted by the Alamo car rental company.
Right Said Fred - “I’m Too Sexy” • February 1992
Includes a sample from the Jimi Hendrix Experience song “Third Stone From the Sun”.
The Teletubbies - “Teletubbies say Eh Oh” • December 1997
The theme song of the popular BBC children's television series sold over one million copies
Las Ketchup - “The Ketchup Song” • October 2002
A group consisting of three Spanish sisters, Las Ketchup had a number 1 hit in more than 20 countries, with "The Ketchup Song". None of their follow-up singles reached the UK charts.