80s "omg I loved that one" one hit wonders mix tape thread

Another classic that incredibly didn't make the US Top 40, but was a huge hit everywhere elses: Bronski Beat - "Small Town Boy".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xuz94ZIPfJk

<3 Jimmy Sommerville

speaking of Jimmy Somerville:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifAtvI48R_0

Can't say that I loved it, but it's pretty funny now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsTH3w4oeMk&feature=related

I'm surprised these two haven't been mentioned yet:

Lipps Inc. - "Funky Town"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izWRKl06XEY&feature=fvsr

The Vapors - "Turning Japanese"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWAwrMFtSvM

Cameo only had one big hit, but what a song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZjAantupsA

Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five - The Message
Chris Isaak - Wicked Game
Q Lazzarus - Goodbye Horses

xp:

"Candy" hit 21 (but yeah, not as massive as "Word Up")

I never include them on these lists because I was introduced to them circa Alligator Woman and always think they had more mainstream hits than they actually did.

Another great one: Ashford & Simpson - "Solid"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3PoTnkLfxE

The Sugarcubes - Birthday

Womack & Womack - "Teardrops"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8AOAap6_k4&feature=related

I love and adore The Sugarcubes but "Birthday" didn't chart anywhere except for the UK indie chart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSNWeXGZMcU

^ Colonel Abrams was a one hit wonder in the UK iirc, awesome song this

Kon Kan - "I Beg Your Pardon"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se-QYEgAU8E

I love and adore The Sugarcubes but "Birthday" didn't chart anywhere except for the UK indie chart

― Dreaded Burrito Gang (DJP)

Just checked and you're right... have no idea why I thought it was big in the day. I remember the video got played on Mtv frequently but that was certainly in the post-80s era.

Also Chris Isaak is surely a 1 hit wonder and "wicked game" was technically released in 1989 but it became a hit until 1990/1991 so I guess we can count that one out too...

aw, boo

Kon Kan - "I Beg Your Pardon"

oh yes -- the best New Order rip ever.

will powers : kissing with confidence

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp-4o0IodsE

or did they have another hit ?

Sa-Fire-"Thinking of You"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd5XgFvKfnk&feature=related
Not a fave, but def induces some memory waves

Londonbeat - "I've Been Thinking About You"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y-suQWFOfg

I don't think it charted as high as Say it Say it, but IMO Mind over Matter (From the "Summer School" movie soundtrack) was EG Daily's best single. Might have been a decent hit here in Canada as I do remember hearing it quite a lot. Song is a freakin' time machine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cN7AS40CLg&feature=related

Q Feel's Orbital Bebop didn't chart much either I guess, though I really want to post it

Boris Badenough-"Hey Rocky"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ3-5aoyoh8
Would only realize years later that it was my first exposure to Trax.

Londonbeat charted in early '91 in the states.

;_;

Dead Milkmen-"Punk Rock Girl"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJYjr-vUKZM
Surely many folks' only exposure to Philly's faves

Regina-"Baby Love"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4IwsyBFoS0

bah I can't add "No More Lies" either

Noel-"Silent Morning"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzA6yO7BO10

Is this only for pop and r & b hits or are alternative and club hits welcome? Mix tape lists would be appreciated.

Feels like I always post the same four predictable songs to these threads:

Lotus Eaters - First Picture of You
Swans Way - Soul Train
Furniture - Brilliant Mind
The Mighty Wah! - The Story of the Blues

Liz, I remember "Mind Over Matter" and love it too (and saw the movie in the theatre at the time)! But I don't think it was that much of a hit though.

Alfred, I was going to write the same thing about the Kon Kan song!

Brenda Russell-"Piano in the Dark"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNeyF1khFA8

Good call on "Piano in the Dark."

Will to Power-"Baby I Love Your Way/Freebird"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5bludP3TVU

That one is GROTESQUE.

To their credit, Will to Power recorded several awesome freestyle hits before and after "Baby I Loved Your Way." Remember "Dreamin'," "Say It's Gonna Rain," and "Fading Away"?

Jump 'N the Saddle Band-"The Curly Shuffle"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuTzsi6WT6Q

Re Will to Power, I recall there being an even more grotesque version that tacked "I'm Not in Love" to the front of the medley. Maybe I'm mis-remembering though.

xp: I don't think I like this path we are on

I recall there being an even more grotesque version that tacked "I'm Not in Love" to the front of the medley

Nope -- that was another hit, and a top ten in '90!

I found a large number of these songs on 12" for $1-$3 dollars yesterday. Seattle peeps desperate for One Hit Wonders and the unsuccessful records that followed, hit me up. I'll tell you where they are stashed.

Ugh Will To Power late 80s jamz please go away

I really, really hate Londonbeat

I thought I hated Londonbeat too, but then I just relistened to it and those guitars are pretty delirious and basically I could listen to them all day.

Matos is absolutely right in arguing that those guitars are pure Congolese rumba/soukous.

I can totally hear that now. Also it's not entirely unlike some of the stuff Fine Young Cannibals were doing. Obviously there are the vocal similarities but also those bright fluid guitar sounds over that machine-like backing track.

they were the FYC's backup singers, I think.

Oh really? That would obviously explain a few things!

I dunno...theyre too smooth-sounding. Like if there is a smooth jazz equivalent for pop, that is Londonbeat. and that damn song is an earworm of the highest order

I want every single one of these songs on my iPod and I want to listen to them non-stop for the next six months.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rbMt2-U7TU