One Hit Wonders Of The 1980s
Lipps Inc, Nena and Baltimora Included in List of Once-Off Achievers
Aug 26, 2008
A One Hit Wonder is an artist or group that has only achieved major chart success once during their career, with the success of that one hit totally overshadowing anything else that they might have achieved during their time as a recording artist.
Some notable One Hit Wonders include Gorky Park with Bang, Re-Flex with The Politics of Dancing and After The Fire with the very popular Der Kommissar. Below is a list of other recognizable One Hit Wonders, beginning in1980 and continuing through to the end of the decade.
Lipps Inc.
Lipps Inc. possibly released the last disco song to make in impact on the world charts, and it was a smash hit. Funky Town reached no. 1 in the US and no. 2 in the UK in 1980. Although Lipps Inc. released 3 albums, Funky Town remained their only hit record.
Jim Steinman
Jim Steinman is a household name in the music industry, having penned and produced numerous hit records for artists like Meat Loaf, Celine Dion and Bonnie Tyler. As a solo artist however, his impact was less distinguished. He reached no. 11 in the UK and no. 13 in the US with his only notable single release, Rock ‘n’ Roll Dreams Come Through in 1981.
Toni Basil
Toni Basil released Mickey in 1982, reaching no. 1 in the US and no. 2 in the UK. The song was a cover of the track Kitty by British band Racey and had originally been recorded by Basil in 1979. She was initially loathe to release Mickey, believing it to be dated, but her record company’s insistence ensured she achieved her only success in the singles’ chart.
Frank Stallone
Frank Stallone is probably better known for being the brother of the actor Sylvester Stallone than for his musical talent, but he did achieve international success with his single Far From Over in 1983. The song, penned for the smash motion picture Staying Alive, reached no. 10 in the US and remains Stallone’s only musical success.
Nena
The German pop/rock outfit Nena released 99 Luftballons in 1984. It was a cold war-era protest song that reached no. 2 in the US and no. 1 in West Germany, whilst the English version 99 Red Balloons topped the chart in the UK. Nena continued well into the 90s but were never able to emulate the success of their only hit record.
Paul Hardcastle
Paul Hardcastle will always be remembered for his smash hit 19, which hit the no. 1 spot in 13 countries during 1985, including a 5 week stint at the top of the UK charts. Essentially a keyboardist, Hardcastle achieved minor acclaim before and after 19, which used the voice of television narrator Peter Thomas to recite horrific statistics about the Vietnam War. While Hardcastle also achieved fame for his piece The Wizard, which was used as an intro for Top Of The Pops in the UK, 19 remains his only true chart success.
Baltimora
Baltimora was an Italian New wave outfit fronted by Jimmy McShane, a Northern Irishman. In 1986 they released Tarzan Boy, which became a dance floor favorite whilst garnering notable chart success. It reached no. 3 in the UK and no. 13 in the US, staying on the Billboard Charts for over 6 months.
Patrick Swayze
Better known as an actor, Patrick Swayze had one moment of incredible success musically. In 1987, he recorded the song She’s Like the Wind for the soundtrack of the motion picture Dirty Dancing, in which he also played the lead role. The song hit no. 3 on the US charts and was also a no.1 hit on the US Adult Contemporary chart.
Bobby McFerrin
Jazz performer Bobby McFerrin will always be remembered for his only mainstream hit Don’t Worry, Be Happy. It became the 1st a cappella song to hit no. 1 in the US, whilst reaching no. 2 in the UK as well. McFerrin has achieved a great deal in his preferred jazz genre, but has never again reached the mainstream heights to which his 1988 classic took him.
Sybil
Sybil began recording in 1986, but it was only with her 1989 cover of the 1962 Dionne Warwick classic Don’t Make Me Over that she received any recognition. The song reached no. 20 on the US chart and no. 3 on the US R&B chart, whilst also reaching no.19 in the UK and no. 2 on the UK Dance charts. Sybil continues to make music, but has never scaled the same heights since.
One Hit Wonders did not die with the 80s, with many artists today still only scaling heights once during their musical careers. It is indeed difficult to capture the imagination of the World on a sustained basis these days, as the competition continues to increase with new trends and ideas. One Hit Wonders will thus remain integral parts of the music industry for years to come.
