Which one-hit wonders got the most mileage out of their hits?

[Hot Pepsi]

The One Hit Wonder Regulatory Authority will rule that out of bounds.

On what basis?

[3 Colours Red]

The whole trans-Atlantic issue rearing its head again - they're certainly not one-hit wonders here.

In fact, before its 2007 Comic Relief charity re-release went to #1, I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) was only their THIRD biggest UK hit by chart position.

Even songs that failed to get into the top 20 (e.g. Sunshine On Leith, Let's Get Married) have endured.

[tee rex]

I suppose "Letter from America" was, ironically, too incomprehensible to be a hit in America.

[Gangster Octopus]

I suppose "Letter from America" was, ironically, too incomprehensible to be a hit in America.

Quite.

[Walt Flanagans Dog]

On what basis?

The One Hit Wonder Regulatory Authority does not need to explain itself.

[Flynnie]

I suppose "Letter from America" was, ironically, too incomprehensible to be a hit in America.

Needed to be used for a cutesy film soundtrack half a decade after it was released, I guess.

[ursus arctos]

Was a smash hit at Alistair Cooke gigs here for decades

[Jah Womble]

I suppose "Letter from America" was, ironically, too incomprehensible to be a hit in America.

Easily their best moment, IMO.

Altogether now: ’Lochaberrr no mooooorre!’

[Sporting]

Was a smash hit at Alistair Cooke gigs here for decades

Indeed. I used to listen to those chats with much joy.

[Sits]

We went to see the Proclaimers at the Opera House shortly before the ‘vid struck. Absolutely fantastic and rammed with hits - either chart or just popular.

[Satchmo Distel]

Robbie Coltrane selected Letter From America on "Desert Island Discs".

[Various Artist]

For Hot Pepsi's benefit, the Proclaimers' 'remembered' hits in the UK look roughly like this (with chart positions, which are bizarrely unrepresentative of their continuing impact):

Letter From America #3
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) #11
Sunshine On Leith #41
I'm On My Way #43
King Of The Road EP #9
Let's Get Married #21

[Various Artist]

Ralph McTell is certainly an act greatly revered within the folk world, regardless of his lack of chart hits other than Streets Of London. He was also pretty much the first musical artist I ever listened to an album by: when I was little in the '80s we used to regularly play a tape in the car of songs about different animals (Albatross – not the Fleetwood Mac one! – is the one I've always remembered) that he did for one of the TV series that Satchmo Distel mentions upthread.


Weirdly, one of the very few acts I've actually seen live is Chesney Hawkes, who in late 2001 (a mere decade after his brief burst of chart glory) was indeed playing The One And Only twice in his set in the Students' Union in Aberystwyth. That reminds me, I should really add my memories of that evening to the thread about tenuous brushes with fame.

[Nefertiti2]

The Authors of Happy Birthday Patty and Mildred Hill

[Hot Pepsi]

For Hot Pepsi's benefit, the Proclaimers' 'remembered' hits in the UK look roughly like this (with chart positions, which are bizarrely unrepresentative of their continuing impact):

Letter From America #3
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) #11
Sunshine On Leith #41
I'm On My Way #43
King Of The Road EP #9
Let's Get Married #21

That ruins the mild joke.

[Various Artist]

Ha, fair point! I'd forgotten about the original point of your comment by that stage, sorry HP...

[Gangster Octopus]

I too keep forgetting that Hot Pepsi has such a wonderfully dry sense of humour. I'd seriously recommend the film Sunshine On Leith.

[3 Colours Red]

Ha, fair point! I'd forgotten about the original point of your comment by that stage, sorry HP...

He got me first, if that helps spare your blushes slightly.

[Satchmo Distel]

For Hot Pepsi's benefit, the Proclaimers' 'remembered' hits in the UK look roughly like this (with chart positions, which are bizarrely unrepresentative of their continuing impact):

Letter From America #3
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) #11
Sunshine On Leith #41
I'm On My Way #43
King Of The Road EP #9
Let's Get Married #21

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) qualifies also for a subthread titled something like "songs that have achieved anthemic status but missed the Top 10."

King Of The Road - I can't say it has replaced the Roger Miller version for memorability but I wonder if any covers have done so (where the original was also a big hit, so, for example, The Beatles' Twist and Shout and Money are excluded.

[Lang Spoon]

I really wish the Proclaimers hadn't outed themselves as Gammon Sleepy Cuddles aligned Alba supporters, it's ruined Sunshine on Leith fer me and herself.

[Various Artist]

He got me first, if that helps spare your blushes slightly.

In my defence, too, HP's "On what basis?" in response to WFD's line about the 'One Hit Wonder Regulatory Authority' appeared to be a genuine query – as you said, it's easy to have completely differing transatlantic perspectives on what was and wasn't a 'hit'. My sharing of chart knowledge/nerdery was a reply to that in particular. I did get the original 'mileage' joke, I promise...!

[Various Artist]

King Of The Road - I can't say it has replaced the Roger Miller version for memorability but I wonder if any covers have done so (where the original was also a big hit, so, for example, The Beatles' Twist and Shout and Money are excluded.

"Memorability" is a moveable feast, of course, but this is an intriguing subthread. I'd nominate the Pet Shop Boys' inspired reworking of Always On My Mind, which despite the quality and popularity of the Elvis version is perhaps the more memorable.

[caja-dglh]

Climax Blues Band - one UK hit in 1976 with Couldn't Get It Right, still touring in the UK and Europe, next gig is at the Lichfield Blues & Jazz Festival in August.

Checked with my parents today and this festival is definitely still on.

[caja-dglh]

I know I will run into the 1-hit-wonder police, but Rick Astley has to be applauded for exactly *how* he has gone about getting mileage out of Never Gonna Give you Up.

[Various Artist]

*adjusts glasses*

"I'd like to draw the prosecution's attention to Mr Astley's eight consecutive Top Ten hits, your honour..."