Old bands you didn't know existed/Looking more into one-hit-wonders

[Kaeldre]

Every time I go to the record store, I have to comb through the boxes of $1 records.  Those boxes are reserved for records that are a little worse for wear or records that aren't in really high demand and don't have a place on the divided shelves.  There are some great hidden gems in there!

My record collection is about 90% 80's music, but I've made exceptions for KISS, Meatloaf, Alice Cooper, and Elvis (I try to stay clear of stuff any older than the late 60's since I've found that older record sleeves get all moldy and I'm allergic to mold >.<).  The last time I was at the record store they were having a huge sale and I combed through all of the crates they had out looking for anything and everything that so much as LOOKED like it was from the 80's, whether I knew the band or not.  I came across this one album by a band named Glass Tiger.  Never heard of them, but the copyright date on the back of the sleeve said 1986 so I snatched it up.  I never got around to listening to it right away since, at the time, our big stereo speakers weren't working. 

I was looking for something to listen to while I made lunch this afternoon (dad got the speakers working over the weekend) and pulled Glass Tiger's 'Thin Red Line' off the shelf.  I only listened to side A but I was blown away by what I heard!  The title track, Thin Red Line, is your typical empowering 80's song but it made making lunch feel twice as epic.  And I could have sworn I'd heard 'Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone' before.  Looking forward to listening to side B later. :3

Another band, one that I'm sure everyone knows when it comes to 80's music, is A-Ha.  The only two songs of theirs I knew were 'Take On Me' (of course) and 'The Sun Always Shines On TV'.  I found a copy of 'Hunting High and Low' in one of the dollar bins and picked it up mainly because 'Take on Me' was on it.  I listened to the whole album and immediately fell in love.  I later ended up picking up a copy of 'Stay On These Roads' and it's just as good if not better, than 'Hunting High and Low'.

I'm actually shocked these two bands were one-hit-wonders (in America, that is!).  They're both phenomenal!

What about you guys?  Fallen in love with any old one-hit-wonders or bands you didn't know existed?

[StoryDreamer]

Ooh records!

I really like Erasure. I'm pretty sure they only had 3 hits.

You never know what you'll find at the $1.00 bin....

[Hervoyel]

This isn't exactly the same thing since I don't know the specific bands, but I sometimes like listening to the 40s and 50s channels on satellite radio - every now and then you hear something that's used in movies and advertising and get to think "Hey!  That's a full song!  And it's fun!"

I'm actually shocked these two bands were one-hit-wonders. 

Heh, I don't know about internationally, but in Canada Glass Tiger wasn't a one-hit wonder - they were popular for years!  And I think a-ha might have the same story in Europe, actually.

[MiRaja]

A-ha is not a one hit wonder.  They've released quite a few albums and are still immensely popular over in Norway/Europe/Overseas.  I cannot remember their exact reason for not continuing to release in the US after their first US release, but I have quite a bit of their later music and it's all really good. 

[elvenwine26]

I'm a fan of Shocking Blue and The Renaissance myself, which aren't necessarily one hit wonders so much as not super huge.   I also recommend Julie Brown's albums cuz their silly and fun in a somewhat trashy awesome way.

[Kaeldre]

Okay, I should have specified that they were one-hit-wonders in America! xD  I'm sure they were huge in their home countries.

[OLumeVaSti]

I'm a fan of Shocking Blue and The Renaissance myself, which aren't necessarily one hit wonders so much as not super huge.   I also recommend Julie Brown's albums cuz their silly and fun in a somewhat trashy awesome way.

I love Shocking Blue. "Never Marry A Railroad Man" is one of my favorites.

[kaoskat]

Can't think of any off hand.

[ashes]

I really like Erasure. I'm pretty sure they only had 3 hits.

I LOVE Erasure!  I've even seen them in concert.  And they are still making music, and I'm still buying their albums! 

[Rainbow Dash]

I love '80s music.  Glass Tiger is a favorite, and if you're liking what you've heard try the songs My Town (there are two versions - the main one features Rod Stewart), Diamond Sun, and My Song.

Here's a mix of one-hit wonders, no-hit wonders (bands that came close to success but just missed for one reason or another), and some songs by famous artists that were minor hits and have since been forgotten in favor of playing their bigger hits.

Alaska - Need You Tonight

Asia - Don't Cry

The Babys - Turn And Walk Away

Benjamin Orr (from The Cars) - Too Hot To Stop

Bricklin - Walk Away

Bruce Hornsby - The Valley Road

Clif Magness - Jenny's Still In Love

The Cure - A Letter To Elise

Dakota - Into The Night

David Bowie - Blue Jean

Daytona - Lonely Eyes

Dominoe - Angel Don't Cry

Fire Inc. - Tonight Is What It Means To Be Young

A Flock Of Seagulls - Space Age Love Song

Fortune - Dearborn Station

GTR - When the Heart Rules the Mind

Hooters - And We Danced

INXS - Kiss The Dirt (Falling Down The Mountain)

Jackson Browne - Lawyers In Love

Jimmy Harnen (With Synch) - Where Are You Now?

Joey Scarbury - Believe It Or Not

John Waite - Don't Lose Any Sleep

Journey - Just The Same Way

Journey - Suzanne

Journey - Why Can't This Night Go On Forever

Kansas - All I Wanted

Kix - Tear Down The Walls

Little River Band - The Night Owls

Lynx - Eyes of Love

McAuley-Schenker Group Take Me Back

McAuley-Schenker Group This Is My Heart

Mike + The Mechanics - Silent Running

The Moody Blues - I Know You're Out There Somewhere

Moving Pictures - What About Me?

Night Ranger - Four In The Morning

Orion (The Hunter) - So You Ran

Pangea - Maybe Tomorrow

Peter Cetera - Just Like Love

Poco - Call It Love

Pretty Boy Floyd - Summer Luv

Rio - I Don't Wanna Be The Fool

Robbie Dupree - Hot Rod Hearts

Rod Stewart - Lost In You

Russell Hitchcock - Never Say Never

Rush - Time Stand Still

The Sharks - Only Time Will Tell

Skid Row - 18 And Life

Slaughter - Days Gone By

Stan Bush - Total Surrender

Steelheart - Mama Don't You Cry

The Storm - Hero Of My Heart

Styx - Lights

Styx - Love At First Sight

Survivor - I Can't Hold Back

Trixter - One In A Million

Trixter - Only Young Once

Vixen - Cryin'

Wrabit - Tell me What To Do

ZZ Top - Rough Boy

[hathorcat]

I really like Erasure. I'm pretty sure they only had 3 hits.

I LOVE Erasure!  I've even seen them in concert.  And they are still making music, and I'm still buying their albums! 

LOL! One of the first groups I ever saw in concert!

[chzypoof2]

I love 80's music of all kinds. I am a HUGE Rick Springfield fan. Yes I am showing my age. I have been to MANY of his concerts.

But I loved ABC, Gary Numan, The Vapors, Bow Wow Wow, Tony Basil, Haircut 100....I can go on and on..


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[OLumeVaSti]

I love 80's music of all kinds. I am a HUGE Rick Springfield fan. Yes I am showing my age. I have been to MANY of his concerts.

But I loved ABC, Gary Numan, The Vapors, Bow Wow Wow, Tony Basil, Haircut 100....I can go on and on..


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I met Rick Springfield a few years ago while working. He was cool about taking a picture with us. But some guy that was traveling with him was cranky.

[GazeboMouse]

Remember a lot of British and European bands have been very successful outside America, and what you call one hit wonder bands have been famous for years and are  part of our cultural make up, it's funny!
I've been an A-ha fan since 'Take on Me' in the UK, got all their albums, they weren't one hit wonders in the rest of the world, even if they were for you in America! They've only just split up. The band members have also had solo albums, art exhibitions, film directing credits and influenced bands such as Coldplay.

[chzypoof2]

I love 80's music of all kinds. I am a HUGE Rick Springfield fan. Yes I am showing my age. I have been to MANY of his concerts.

But I loved ABC, Gary Numan, The Vapors, Bow Wow Wow, Tony Basil, Haircut 100....I can go on and on..

Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

I met Rick Springfield a few years ago while working. He was cool about taking a picture with us. But some guy that was traveling with him was cranky.

Awesome..you are sooo lucky...I have touched him many times..but have never officially met him...maybe one day...