Monday, November 12, 2018

'Official' list of MFD One-Hit Wonders 1976-85



To qualify as a MFD one hit wonder, the artist or group can have placed only one single in the Billboard Top 40 under his/her/their name, and that single must have entered the Top 40 during the years 1976-85. Here are all 280, according to Whitburn's The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 7th edition:

Artist SingleYearChart PeakWeeks in Top 40
After the Fire "Der Kommissar"1983514
Deborah Allen "Baby I Lied"1983267
Artists United Against Apartheid "Sun City"1985383
Patti Austin "Baby, Come to Me"1982118
Autograph "Turn Up the Radio"1985295
Philip Bailey "Easy Lover"1984216
Balance "Breaking Away"1981229
Band Aid "Do They Know It's Christmas?"1984134
Toni Basil "Mickey"1982118
William Bell "Tryin' to Love Two"1977109
Bell & James "Livin' It Up (Friday Night)"1979158







Big Country "In a Big Country"1983179
Elvin Bishop "Fooled Around and Fell in Love"1976312
Boney M "Rivers of Babylon"1978306
Karla Bonoff "Personally"19821912
Debby Boone "You Light Up My Life"1977121
Bram Tchaikovsky "Girl of My Dreams"1979373
Brass Construction "Movin'"1976149
Alicia Bridges "I Love the Nightlife (Disco 'Round)"1978519
Martin Briley "The Salt in My Tears"1983363
Herman Brood "Saturdaynight"1979353







Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers "Bustin' Loose Part 1"1979345
Buckner & Garcia "Pac-Man Fever"1982914
The Buggles "Video Killed the Radio Star"1979401
Rocky Burnette "Tired of Toein' the Line"1980812
Kate Bush "Running Up That Hill"1985304
Tané Cain "Holdin' On"1982373
Bobby Caldwell "What You Won't Do for Love"1979912
Jim Capaldi "That's Love"1983285
Keith Carradine "I'm Easy"19761712
Rosanne Cash "Seven Year Ache"1981227







Cate Bros. "Union Man"1976248
Felix Cavaliere "Only a Lonely Heart Sees"1980363
Celebration featuring Mike Love "Almost Summer"1978284
Cerrone "Love in C Minor, Pt. 1"1977363
Charlene "I've Never Been to Me"1982314
Charlie "It's Inevitable"1983382
Chéri "Murphy's Law"1982392
Chris Christian "I Want You, I Need You"1981373
City Boy "5.7.0.5."1978276
C.J. & Co. "Devil's Gun"1977362







Stanley Clarke/George Duke "Sweet Baby"1981199
Clarence Clemons "You're a Friend of Mine"19851812
Bruce Cockburn "Wondering Where the Lions Are"1980219
Cock Robin "When Your Heart is Weak"1985353
Norman Connors "You Are My Starship"19762710
Bill Conti "Gonna Fly Now"1977113
Marshall Crenshaw "Someday, Someway"1982364
Rodney Crowell "Ashes by Now"1980372
The Crusaders "Street Life"1979363
Roger Daltrey "Without Your Love"1980208


Artist SingleYearChart PeakWeeks in Top 40
Dazz Band "Let It Whip"1982516
Rick Dees "Disco Duck"1976116
Teri DeSario "Yes, I'm Ready"1979216
Devo "Whip It"19801415
Barry DeVorzon & Perry Botkin, Jr. "Nadia's Theme (The Young and The Restless)"1976816
Dexy's Midnight Runners "Come On Eileen"1983114
Dennis DeYoung "Desert Moon"19841012
Diesel "Sausalito Summer Night"1981256
Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band "Whispering/Cherchez La Femme/Se Si Bon"1976278
Thomas Dolby "She Blinded Me With Science"1983515







Charlie Dore "Pilot of the Airwaves"19801310
David Dundas "Jeans On"19761713
Walter Egan "Magnet and Steel"1978813
Larry Elgart and His Manhattan Swing Orchestra "Hooked on Swing"1982315
Eruption "I Can't Stand the Rain"1978186
Eye to Eye "Nice Girls"1982373
Face To Face "10-9-8"1984383
Facts of Life "Sometimes"1977314
Donald Fagen "I.G.Y. (What a Beautiful World)"1982267
Harold Faltermeyer "Axel F"1985312







Agnetha Fältskog "Can't Shake Loose"1983295
Maynard Ferguson "Gonna Fly Now (Theme from 'Rocky')"1977286
The Firm "Radioactive"1985286
Flash Cadillac & The Continental Kids "Did You Boogie (With Your Baby)"1976296
The Floaters "Float On"1977211
Steve Forbert "Romeo's Tune"19801112
David Foster "Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire"19851510
Frankie Goes to Hollywood "Relax"19851010
Ace Frehley "New York Groove"19781312
Frida "I Know There's Something Going On"19831312







Richie Furay "I Still Have Dreams"1979393
Get Wet "Just So Lonely"1981392
Terri Gibbs "Somebody's Knockin'"19811312
Nick Gilder "Hot Child in the City"1978118
Mickey Gilley "Stand by Me"1980229
Giuffria "Call to the Heart"1985157
Godley & Creme "Cry"19851610
Ian Gomm "Hold On"1979185
Gonzalez "Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet"1979265
Cyndi Grecco "Making Our Dreams Come True"1976255







Larry Groce "Junk Food Junkie"197699
Greg Guidry "Goin' Down"19821710
Haircut 100 "Love Plus One"1982374
Jimmy Hall "I'm Happy That Love Has Found You"1980274
Jan Hammer "Miami Vice Theme"1985113
Paul Hardcastle "19"1985158
Emmylou Harris "Mister Sandman"1981373
Sam Harris "Sugar Don't Bite"1984363
Patrick Hernandez "Born to be Alive"19791611
Bertie Higgins "Key Largo"1982817


Artist SingleYearChart PeakWeeks in Top 40
High Inergy "You Can't Turn Me Off (In the Middle of Turning Me On)"19771211
Amy Holland "How Do I Survive"1980226
Jennifer Holliday "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going"1982227
Jimmy "Bo" Horne "Dance Across the Floor"1978381
Hot "Angel in Your Arms"1977619
John Hunter "Tragedy"1985392
Icicle Works "Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly)"1984374
Instant Funk "I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)"1979208
Ironhorse "Sweet Lui-Louise"1979363
Rebbie Jackson "Centipede"1984248







JoBoxers "Just Got Lucky"1983364
Tom Johnston "Savannah Nights"1980342
France Joli "Come to Me"1979158
The Jones Girls "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else"1979381
Jump 'N The Saddle "The Curly Shuffle"1983157
Junior "Mama Used to Say"1982303
Kajagoogoo "Too Shy"1983512
The Korgis "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime"19801811
Cheryl Ladd "Think It Over"1978343
Lady Flash "Street Singin'"1976276







Laid Back "White Horse"1984264
Larsen-Feiten Band "Who'll Be the Fool Tonight"1980296
David Lasley "If I Had My Wish Tonight"1982363
James Last Band "The Seduction (Love Theme)"1980286
LeBlanc & Carr "Falling"19781310
Johnny Lee "Lookin' for Love"1980513
LeRoux "Nobody Said It Was Easy (Lookin' for the Lights)"1982186
Limahl "Never Ending Story"1985179
Lindisfarne "Run for Home"1978334
Lipps, Inc. "Funkytown"1980115







Love and Kisses "Thank God It's Friday"1978226
Nick Lowe "Cruel to be Kind"19791210
Cheryl Lynn "Got to be Real"19791212
M "Pop Muzik"1979120
Cledus Maggard and The Citizen's Band "White Knight"1976199
Barbara Mandrell "(If Loving You is Wrong) I Don't Want to be Right"1979315
Moon Martin "Rolene"1979304
Steve Martin "King Tut"1978177
Mary Jane Girls "In My House"1985712
Mac McAnally "It's a Crazy World"1977372







Peter McCann "Do You Wanna Make Love"1977516
Alton McClain & Destiny "It Must Be Love"1979324
Delbert McClinton "Giving It Up for Your Love"1980814
Ronnie McDowell "The King is Gone"1977139
McFadden & Whitehead "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now"19791311
McGuinn, Clark & Hillman "Don't You Write Her Off"1979334
Doug & Bob McKenzie "Take Off"1982169
Midnight Star "Operator"1985188
John Miles "Slowdown"1977345
Frank Mills "Music Box Dancer"1979312


Artist SingleYearChart PeakWeeks in Top 40
Giorgio Moroder "Chase"1979334
Moving Pictures "What About Me"19822913
Alison Moyet "Invisible"1985316
Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band "A Fifth of Beethoven"1976122
Musical Youth "Pass the Dutchie"19831010
David Naughton "Makin' It"1979516
Nazareth "Love Hurts"1976814
Nena "99 Luftballons"1984213
New England "Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya"1979401
Randy Newman "Short People"1977213







Paul Nicholas "Heaven on the 7th Floor"1977616
Nielsen/Pearson "If You Should Sail"1980382
Niteflyte "If You Want It"1979372
Aldo Nova "Fantasy"1982237
Ted Nugent "Cat Scratch Fever"1977306
Gary Numan "Cars"1980917
Rick Pinette and Oak "King of the Hill"1980363
John O'Banion "Love You like I Never Loved Before"1981247
Alan O'Day "Undercover Angel"1977117
Odyssey "Native New Yorker"19772112







Ollie & Jerry "Breakin'...There's No Stopping Us"1984911
Robert Ellis Orrall "I Couldn't Say No"1983323
OXO "Whirly Girl"1983286
Graham Parker "Wake Up (Next to You)"1985393
Robbie Patton "Don't Give It Up"1981262
Leslie Pearl "If the Love Fits Wear It"1982287
Bernadette Peters "Gee Whiz"1980315
Pink Lady "Kiss in the Dark"1979373
Point Blank "Nicole"1981392
Pratt & McClain "Happy Days"1976510







Prism "Don't Let Him Know"1982392
Q "Dancin' Man"1977237
Suzi Quatro "Stumblin' In"1979415
Rainbow "Stone Cold"1982401
Ram Jam "Black Betty"1977188
Chris Rea "Fool (If You think It's Over)"19781210
Re-Flex "The Politics of Dancing"1984245
Mike Reno & Ann Wilson "Almost Paradise...Love Theme from Footloose"1984713
Lee Ritenour "Is It You"1981159
Vicki Sue Robinson "Turn the Beat Around"19761013







Rockets "Oh Well"1979306
Romeo Void "A Girl in Trouble (Is a Temporary Thing)"1984352
Roxy Music "Love is the Drug"1976305
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra "Hooked on Classics"19811012
Rubicon "I'm Gonna Take Care of Everything"1978283
Rush "New World Man"1982216
Patrice Rushen "Forget Me Nots"1982237
Saga "On the Loose"1983268
Carole Bayer Sager "Stronger Than Before"1981307
The Sanford/Townsend Band "Smoke from a Distant Fire"1977912


Artist SingleYearChart PeakWeeks in Top 40
Samantha Sang "Emotion"1978317
Santa Esmeralda "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"19771512
Larry Santos "We Can't Hide It Anymore"1976362
Joey Scarbury "Theme from 'Greatest American Hero' (Believe It or Not")"1981218
Peter Schilling "Major Tom (Coming Home)"19831410
John Schneider "It's Now of Never"19811411
Eddie Schwartz "All Our Tomorrows"1982287
Scritti Politti "Perfect Way"19851113
John Sebastian "Welcome Back"1976111
Phil Seymour "Precious to Me"1981227







Shannon "Let the Music Play"1984812
Tommy Shaw "Girls with Guns"1984333
T.G. Sheppard "I Loved 'Em Every One"1981372
Silver "Wham Bam Shang-A-Lang"19761612
Silver Condor "You Could Take My Heart Away"1981324
Silvetti "Spring Rain"1977393
Patrick Simmons "So Wrong"1983305
Skyy "Call Me"1982264
Slave "Slide"1977326
Frankie Smith "Double Dutch Bus"1981307







Patti Smith Group "Because the Night"1978139
Smokie "Living Next Door to Alice"1977258
Sneaker "More Than Just the Two of Us"1981346
Sniff 'n' the Tears "Driver's Seat"1979159
Soft Cell "Tainted Love"1982815
The S.O.S. Band "Take Your Time (Do It Right) Part 1"1980314
David Soul "Don't Give Up on Us"1977113
Red Sovine "Teddy Bear"1976401
Spider "New Romance (It's a Mystery)"1980392
Spyro Gyra "Morning Dance"1979248







Stallion "Old Fashioned Boy (You're the One)"1977372
Frank Stallone "Far from Over"19831010
Stargard "Theme Song from 'Which Way is Up'"1978217
Starland Vocal Band "Afternoon Delight"1976114
Starpoint "Object of My Desire"1985259
Starz "Cherry Baby"1977332
Jim Steinman "Rock and Roll Dreams Come True"1981326
Van Stephenson "Modern Day Delilah"19842210
Amii Stewart "Knock on Wood"1979114
Stonebolt "I Will Still Love You"1978295







The Style Council "My Ever Changing Moods"1984296
Sugarhill Gang "Rapper's Delight"1980362
Switch "There'll Never Be"1978363
Sylvia "Nobody"1982159
Taco "Puttin' on the Ritz"1983414
Talk Talk "It's My Life"1984316
Ta Mara & The Seen "Everybody Dance"19852410
Thin Lizzy "The Boys are Back in Town"1976129
Ali Thompson "Take a Little Rhythm"1980159
Tierra "Together"19801815


Artist SingleYearChart PeakWeeks in Top 40
Toby Beau "My Angel Baby"19781312
Tom Tom Club "Genius of Love"1982314
Tuxedo Junction "Chattanooga Choo Choo"1978322
Twisted Sister "We're Not Gonna Take It"1984217
Tycoon "Such a Woman"1979265
Tracey Ullman "They Don't Know"1984811
USA for Africa "We are the World"1985112
Utopia "Set Me Free"1980275
John Valenti "Anything You Want"1976372
Vandenberg "Burning Heart"1983392







Vangelis "Chariots of Fire - Titles"1982115
Randy Vanwarmer "Just when I Needed You Most"1979414
The Vapors "Turning Japanese"1980363
Roger Voudouris "Get Used To It"19792110
Jack Wagner "All I Need"1984212
Anita Ward "Ring My Bell"1979115
Grover Washington, Jr. "Just the Two of Us"1981216
Dottie West "What Are We Doin' in Love?"19811412
Wild Cherry "Play That Funky Music"1976118
Don Williams "I Believe in You"1980249







Wilton Place Street Band "Disco Lucy (I Love Lucy Theme)"1977247
Jesse Winchester "Say What"1981325
Lauren Wood "Please Don't Leave"1979246
Yarbrough & Peoples "Don't Stop the Music"1981197
John Paul Young "Love is in the Air"1978715
Pia Zadora "The Clapping Song"1983363
Michael Zager Band "Let's All Chant"1978364
Frank Zappa "Valley Girl"1982323
Warren Zevon "Werewolves of London"1978216




Which artist appears on this list twice, once as a member of a group and again as a solo act? A two-time one-hit wonder!

Highlight to see answer: Limahl was first a one-hit wonder as lead singer of Kajagoogoo before hitting the Top 40 a second time as a solo act. Honorable mentions to Geddy Lee who appears with both Rush and Bob & Doug McKenzie and Chris Norman who was lead singer of Smokie and duetted with Suzi Quatro on her hit.

4 comments :

  1. Tack six more months on to your time frame, and Holly Knight would have been another answer to your trivia question, with membership in two one-hit wonder groups (Spider and Device).

    ReplyDelete
  2. And Geddy Lee! With Bob and Doug McKenzie

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lots of memories here! It's a real challenge to find many of these hits on CD. Where is "Baby Face" from 1976? It doesn't seem to be on CD at all either.

    ReplyDelete