Top Ten’s One Hit Wonders

Top Ten’s One Hit Wonders

Cartoon Best One Hit Wonders
Cartoon Best One Hit Wonders

Are you aware that there have been songs released by an artist and that was their one and only record they recorded and reached the top ten on the charts? These songs are known as “One Hit Wonders”. This is where the top ten’s one hit wonders review will be able to help you out. Here you will discover the one hit wonders for this period and you will be surprised.

One hit wonders are just that, the artist made only one recording and it reached the top ten. The period of time that will be covered in this review is from 1955-2010. In that time span, there have been only 106 singles to reach the top ten and that was the artist’s only song to chart on the Hot 100. To make it to the top ten the song was popular across the nation.

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One Hit Wonder Definition

The rules are very simple; to make this list the artist must have had only one “Hot 100” (1958-2010) or earlier pop chart hit (1955-1958) and it must have peaked in the Top 10. The artist must be the lead artist and not a featured artist on the song. Duos that share equal billing are not counted in this list if either member has other charted hits. Songs that made the “Hot 100 Airplay” are included in this list.

The listing of the top ten one hit wonders will include the following:

  • Title
  • Artist
  • Peak Date
  • Peak Position #
  • Number of weeks at peak position in ()

Note: [I] denotes an instrumental hit

One Hit Wonders Across 45 RPM Record
One Hit Wonders Across 45 RPM Record

The songs are ranked by year from 1955 through 2010 by peak date. The list contains a total of fourteen #1 hits and three #2 hits. The number one songs will be in bold.

Top Ten’s One-Hit Wonders 1955-2010

  1. Let me Go Lover –  Joan Weber / January 1, 1955 #1 (4)
  2. Open Up Your Heart – The Cowboy Church Sunday School / April 2, 1955 #8 (1)
  3. Moonglow and Theme From Picnic – Morris Stoloff / June 2, 1956 #1 (3)
  4. Cindy, Oh Cindy – Vince Martin / December 22, 1956 #9 (1)
  5. Rainbow – Russ Hamilton / September 16, 1957 #4 (1)
  6. Happy, Happy Birthday Baby – The Tune Weavers / October 28, 1957 #5 (1)
  7. I’m Available – Margie Rayburn / December 16, 1957 #9 (1)
  8. Get A Job – The Silhouettes / February 24, 1958 #1 (2)
  9. Oh Julie – The Crescendos / March 3, 1958 #5 (3)
  10. Dinner With Drac – John Zacherie / March 31, 1958 #6 (1)
  11. He’s Got The Whole World (In His Hands) – Laurie London April 14, 1958 #1 (4)
  12. Book Of Love – The Monotones / April 21, 1958 #5 (1)
  13. Chanson D’ Amour – Art & Dotty todd / May 5, 1958 #6 (1)
  14. One Summer Night – The Danieers / July 28, 1958 #7 (1)
  15. Little Star – The Elegants / August 25, 1958 #1 (1)
  16. Susie Darlin’ – Robin Luke / October 13, 1958 #5 (1)
  17. Manhattan Spiritual [I] – Reg Owen / February 9, 1959 #10 (2)
  18. Petite Fleur (Little Flower) [I] – Chris Barbar’s Jazz Band / March 2, 1959 #5 (1)
  19. Forever – The Little Dippers / March 28, 1960 #9 (1)
  20. Alley-Oop – Hollywood Argyles / July 11, 1960 #1 (1)
  21. Yogi – The ivy Three / September 19, 1960 #8 (1)
  22. Asia Minor – Kokomo [I] / April 17, 1961 #8 (1)
  23. Percolator (Twist) [I] – Billy Joe & The Checkmates / March 17, 1962 #10 (1)
  24. Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out) – Ernie Maresca / May 19, 1962 #6 (1)
  25. Al Di La’ – Emilio Pericoli / July 7, 1962 #7 (1)
  26. Midnight Mary – Joey Powers / January 4, 1964 #10 (2)
  27. An Open Letter To My Teenage Son – Victor Lundberg / December 2, 1967 #10 (2)
  28. Gimme Dat Ding – The Pipkins / July 18, 1970 #9 (1)
  29. In The Summertime – Mungo Jerry / September 12, 1970 #3 (1)
  30. Sweet Mary – Wadsworth Mansion / February 27, 1971 #7 (1)
  31. Chick-A-Boom – Daddy Dewdrop / May 8, 1971 #9 (1)
  32. What The World Needs Now Is Love – Tom Clay / August 14, 1971 #8 (1)
  33. Desiderata – Les Crane / December 4, 1971 #8 (1)
  34. Jungle Fever [I] – The Chakachas / March 25, 1972 #8 (3)
  35. Convention ’72 – The Delegates / November 18, 1972 #8 (1)
  36. Dueling Banjos [I] – Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell / February 24, 1973 #2 (4)
  37. Eres Tu (Touch The Wind) – Mocedades / March 23, 1973 #9 (2)
  38. The Lord’s Prayer – Sister Janet Mead / April 13, 1974 #4 (1)
  39. Tubular Bells [I] – Mike Oldfield / March 11, 1974 #7 (1)
  40. The Entertainer [I] – Marvin Hamlisch / March 18, 1974 #3 (2)
  41. Dynomite [I] – Bazuka / August 2, 1975 #10 (1)
  42. Junk Food Junkie / Larry Groce / March 20, 1976 #9 (1)
  43. Do You Wanna Make Love – Peter McCann / August 6, 1977 #5 (2)
  44. Smoke From A Distant Fire – The Sanford Townsend Band / September 17, 1977 #9 (1)
  45. Makin’ It – David Naughton / July 21, 1979 #5 (2)
  46. Pop Musik – M / November 3, 1979 #1 (1)
  47. Hooked On Classics [I] – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra / January 30, 1982 #10 (2)
  48. Chariots of Fire – Titles [I] – Vangelis / May 8, 1982 #1 (1)
  49. Puttin’ On The Ritz – Taco / September 3, 1983 #4 (2)
  50. Breakin’…There’ s No Stopping Us – Ollie & Jerry / August 4, 1984 #9 (1)
  51. We Are The World – USA For Africa / April 13, 1985 #1 (4)
  52. Axel F [I] – Harold Faltermeyer / June 1, 1985 #3 (3)
  53. Miami Vice Theme [I] – Jan Hammer #1 (1)
  54. Rumors – Timex Social Club / August 16, 1986 #8 (2)
  55. Baby Love – Regina / September 13, 1986 #10 (2)
  56. The Rain – Oran “Juice” Jones / November 15, 1986 #9 (1)
  57. Heaven And Soul – T’ Pau / August 8, 1987 #4 (1)
  58. She’s Like The Wind – Patrick Swayze #3 (3)
  59. Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin / September 24, 1988 #1 (2)
  60. I Remember Holding You – Boys Club / January 14, 1989 #8 (1)
  61. Heaven Help Me – Deon Estus / April 29, 1989 #5 (1)
  62. Ooh La La – Perfect Gentlemen / June 2, 1990 #10 (1)
  63. Get Here – Oleta Adams / March 23, 1991 #5 (1)
  64. The One And Only – Chesney Hawkes / November 2, 1991 #10 (1)
  65. Please Don’t Go – K. W. S / October 17, 1992 #6 (1)
  66. How Do You Talk To An Angel – The Heights / November 14, 1992 #1 (2)
  67. I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers / August 21, 1993 #3 (1)
  68. Gangsta Lean – D. R. S. / November 20, 1993 #4 (2)
  69. Cantaloop – US3 / March 5, 1994 #9 (3)
  70. Total Eclipse Of The Heart – Nicki French / June 24, 1995 #2 (1)
  71. Back For Good – Take That / November 11, 1995 #7 (2)
  72. One Of Us – Joan Osborne / February 3, 1996 #4 (2)
  73. Theme From Mission: Impossible [I] – Adam Clayton & Larry Mullen / June 22, 1996 #7 (2)
  74. Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth – Primitive Radio Gods / September 14, 1996 #10 (1)
  75. Lovefool – The Cardigans / March 1, 1997 #2 (8)
  76. MyBabyDaddy – B-Rock & The Bizz / May 3, 1997 #10 (1)
  77. Butterfly Kisses – Bob Carlisle / June 21, 1997 #10 (1)
  78. How Bizarre – OMC / July 26, 1997 #4 (6)
  79. Sunny Came Home – Shawn Colvin / July 26, 1997 #7 (1)
  80. My Body – LSG / December 6, 1997 #4 (4)
  81. I Don’t Ever Want To See You Again / Uncle Sam / February 7, 1998 #6 (3)
  82. Swing My Way – K. P. & Envyl / March 14, 1998 #6 (1)
  83. Romeo & Juliet – Sylk-E. Fyne / April 18, 1998 #6 (2)
  84. Sex And Candy – Marcy Playground / April 18, 1988 #8 (1)
  85. Crush – Jennifer Paige / September 5, 1998 #3 (4)
  86. Lullaby – Shawn Mullins / January 16, 1999 #7 (2)
  87. Save Tonight – Eagle-Eye Cherry / January 23, 1999 #5 (1)
  88. Give It To You – Jordan Knight / May 15, 1999 #10 (1)
  89. Steal My Sunshine – Len / November 13, 1999 #9 (1)
  90. Blue (Da Ba Dee) – Eiffel 65 / January 29, 2000 #6 (1)
  91. If Feels So Good – Sonique / April 22, 2000 #8 (1)
  92. Butterfly – Crazy Town / March 24, 2001 #1 (2)
  93. Get Over Yourself – Eden’s Crush / March 31, 2001 #8 (3)
  94. Never Had A Dream Come True – S Club 7 / March 12, 2001 #10 (2)
  95. Addictive – Truth Hurts / June 8, 2002 #9 (4)
  96. Heaven – DJ Sammy & Yanou / August 10, 2002 #8 (1)
  97. Down 4 U – The Inc. (Irv Gotti) / August 17, 2002 #6 (1)
  98. Turn Me On – Kevin Lyttle / August 14, 2004 #4 (2)
  99. Listen To Your Heart – D.H.T. / August 20, 2005 #8 (2)
  100. Bad Day – Daniel Powter / April 28, 2006 #1 (5)
  101. Pop, Lock And Drop It – Huey / June 2, 2007 # 6 (1)
  102. Party Like A Rock Star – Shop Boyz / June 9, 2007 #2 (6)
  103. 1234 – Feist / October 13, 2007 #8 (1)
  104. New Soul – Yael Naim / February 23, 2008 # 7 (1)
  105. American Boy – Estelle / September 27, 2008 #9 (1)
  106. Bulletproof – La Roux / June 12, 2010 #8 (1)

Conclusion

There are some one hit wonders that are not included on this list. They are ones in which the song reached the top ten but are not included here because the artist did have some another charted songs that made the Hot 100 chart.

For example; the song “The Stripper” by David Rose when to #1 in 1962, his only top-ten hit, but he released “Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing” reaching #54 on the “Top 100 Chart” in November, 1955 and four others. So, this song is not included on this list. The songs on this list are truly top ten one hit wonders.

The source used to compile this list was “Top Pop Singles 1955-2010 13th Edition” by Joel Whitburn.

How to convert vinyl to the CD format.

If you are a fan of one-hit wonders, below are some wonderful CD’s and MP3 options to include in your collection.

One Hit Wonders: 60’s 1 12 TracksOne Hit Wonders: 60's 1 12 Tracks
One Hit Wonders of the 60’s, Vol. 2 12 TracksOne Hit Wonders of the 60's, Vol. 2 12 Tracks
Barry Williams Presents: One Hit Wonders of 70s 20 TracksBarry Williams Presents: One Hit Wonders of 70s 20 Tracks
Best One Hit Wonders in the World Ever 44 TracksBest One Hit Wonders in the World Ever 44 Tracks
One Hit Wonders: Glory Days of Rock ‘n’ Roll 14 TracksOne Hit Wonders: Glory Days of Rock 'n' Roll 14 Tracks
Even More One Hit Wonders
80s One Hit Wonders Vol.180s One Hit Wonders Vol.1
80s One Hit Wonders Vol.280s One Hit Wonders Vol.2
U.S. One-Hit Wonders of the 50’s & 60’sU.S. One-Hit Wonders of the 50's & 60's

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