1970s musical artists who proved they’re more than one-hit wonders

Insular: “Ignorant of or uninterested in cultures, ideas, or peoples outside one’s own experience.”

In 2023, when Kate Bush was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I recalled a debate with a musically well-informed friend. He argued that Bush’s recognition was largely due to one of her songs being played in an episode of Stranger Things.

Although it’s accurate to say that the 2022 remake of “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” from Stranger Things contributed to Kate Bush’s first top 20 hit in the USA, I wanted to clarify that her original release in 1985 actually reached number three on the U.K. charts.

These one-hit wonders were highly successful, just not in the USA

Among more than a dozen chart-topping hits that Bush had in her native country, there were six songs that reached the top five and one song that became the number one hit.

Kate Bush is rarely categorized as a “one-hit wonder,” but her popularity in the U.S. might lead some to place her on such lists. This is mainly due to the belief that the Billboard pop chart is the definitive measure of success in music here.

In many instances during the rock music era, achieving success in the United States often resulted in significant financial gain. Given the size and wealth of the U.S., its promotional reach extends far beyond its borders, wrapping multiple times around the globe.

It’s absurd to disregard the significant influence of bands from outside the U.S., especially those from the U.K. and Ireland. This stance overlooks the groundbreaking contributions made by British and Irish musicians, as well as their deep-rooted cultural connections with Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

In the previous year, Forbes Magazine compiled a list ranking the most outstanding rock bands in history. It turned out that thirteen of the top twenty acts originated from countries other than the USA. The majority were from England, but there were also representatives from Ireland, Australia, and Canada. At the very top of the list, British bands held sway.

Among the initial group, four hailed from the United Kingdom. If we also include the Jimi Hendrix Experience, an English-originated band that gained popularity, the total would have been six top contenders.

Let me clarify that despite what you may find on Wikipedia or hear from your elder sibling, these particular bands should not be categorized as one-hit wonders. To do so would require a very limited perspective on their music.

And here at Audiophix, we pride ourselves on not even knowing the meaning of “parochial.”

Free – “All Right Now” (1970)

It makes sense that Free is regarded as an OHW (One-Hit Wonder) due to their relatively short lifespan which didn’t allow them to rack up many hits. Over a span of five years, they produced six albums, but only “All Right Now,” off the album Fire and Water, managed to make waves in the USA.

However, “Wishing Well” and “My Brother Jake,” two soulful blues ballads and piano-driven tracks respectively, soared to the top ten in the U.K., while “Little Bit of Love” reached the top 20. The band disbanded in 1972, leading Rodgers and Kirke to form Bad Company, who were later inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sadly, any potential reunion was ended by guitarist Kossoff’s untimely death in 1976 at just 25 years old.

Kraftwerk – “Autobahn” (1975)

The lean, electronic adaptation of “Autobahn” became unexpectedly popular as a club song during the initial days of disco. As pioneers of krautrock, the German band significantly impacted the development of electronic music, synth-pop, and EDM.

Despite “Autobahn” being their only top forty hit in the USA, Kraftwerk managed to secure five other top forty singles in Germany and several more in the U.K. One of their most successful tracks, “Computer Love,” released in 1981, even reached number one on British charts. This is impressive considering how unlike a typical “singles band” they were.

Thin Lizzy – “The Boys are Back in Town” (1976)

So far, my effort to induct one of the top Irish bands from the ’70s into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame hasn’t gained much traction. The public in America primarily associates them with the popular tune “The Boys Are Back in Town,” which peaked at number 12 in ’76 and was their biggest hit in the U.S. However, they enjoyed far more success elsewhere with a variety of other songs.

In the United Kingdom, they had 15 songs that charted within the top 40, with four of those making it to the top ten. In Ireland, six of their tracks even made it to the top five. If you’re only familiar with their pop rock hits like “Boys…”, or maybe “Jailbreak,” I encourage you to check out their harder-edged guitar songs such as “Waiting for an Alibi” and “Whiskey in the Jar.” These were big hits across the Atlantic Ocean.

Nick Lowe – “Cruel to Be Kind” (1979)

Despite not achieving significant success with singles in charts, Nick Lowe, particularly in his homeland England, managed only a handful of true hits. This isn’t due to his frequent changes between bands, as he has released a decent amount of solo albums. These albums consistently performed well and left an indelible mark on pop music, confirming his status as a notable producer.

However, we’re not discussing influence or praise in this context. To avoid being labeled a one-hit wonder, it’s essential to have multiple hits under your belt. Interestingly, Nick Lowe had more than one successful song in the U.K. “I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass” even surpassed “Cruel to be Kind” in popularity there, and “Cracking Up” managed to make it into the top forty as well.

That’s three hits by my reckoning. Which, if I’m remembering my math correctly, is more than one.

David Essex – “Rock On” (1973)

If you find my argument about Nick Lowe questionable, let me provide a clear example. In 1973, David Essex achieved significant success in the USA with “Rock On,” peaking at number five on the charts. (It’s worth noting that a lackluster cover version reached the top spot a decade later, which is one of the most unfortunate instances in Billboard chart history.)

However, those stray topics from Essex didn’t quite reach the heights of popularity; none managed to climb above position 70 on the charts.

In the United Kingdom, where David Essex was already considered a sex symbol and film star, “Rock On” marked only the start of his illustrious career. He managed to reach the top ten an impressive dozen times, with two of his songs even claiming the number one spot. Ranging from the glam rock sounds of “Gonna Make You a Star” to the classic bubblegum pop tunes like “Hold Me Close,” David Essex was undoubtedly a major star in the U.K.

Suzy Quatro – “Stumbin’ In” (1978)

Suzy Quatro might have become a major star in America if her time hadn’t come several decades too early. Had the Quatro sisters, known as the Pleasure Seekers, debuted in the 1960s instead of being ahead of their time, they could have been among the most influential precursor bands to punk rock. At that point in America, audiences weren’t ready for girls performing hard rock. Similar to Jimi Hendrix, Quatro found success when she moved to England.

Her style didn’t really gain popularity in America. However, she was well-recognized here for her role as Leather Tuscadero, a character based on herself from the popular sitcom “Happy Days“. This led to a soft rock success with Chris Norman, reaching the top ten on Billboard.

For the past five years, I’ve collaborated with style experts Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn, resulting in a series of international chart-toppers for Quatro. Some notable successes include “Can the Can” and “Devil Gate Drive,” which became number one hits not only in the UK but also globally.

Gary Glitter – “Rock and Roll Part 2” (1972)

It might be best not to discuss Gary Glitter much, given his history of heinous sexual crimes against minors. He’s spent significant time behind bars due to these offenses during the last 25 years.

Undeniably, his triumph as a musician is a well-established historical fact. During the years 1972 to 1974, Glitter managed an impressive feat by releasing nine consecutive top-five hits in the U.K., a remarkable achievement in the music industry. Despite eventually losing some of that initial momentum, his songs continued to chart for many more years, which only adds to the sadness of his eventual decline.

I’ve always admired how his music success opened doors for him, allowing him closer contact with unsuspecting fans like me. However, it’s important to acknowledge that Gary Glitter (real name: Paul Francis Gadd) was not just a one-hit wonder; he was also a man whose actions have tarnished his legacy.

Mott the Hoople – “All the Young Dudes” (1972)

David Bowie penned “All the Young Dudes” for Mott, propelling them towards glam stardom, albeit momentarily. This hit single reached the top 40 in the U.S., but Ian Hunter and Mick Ralphs were unable to sustain their success. Ralphs eventually departed to join forces with half of Free to form Bad Company.

Nevertheless, Hunter composed an additional four songs which propelled Mott back into the UK’s top 20 within subsequent years. However, after this, Hunter departed, and the band eventually lost momentum.

Roxy Music – “Love is the Drug” (1975)

In the United States, ‘Love is the Drug’ peaked at position 30. However, Roxy Music was generally associated more with the glamour of their album artworks rather than their musical content in America.

Contrary to some places, including the U.K., Bryan Ferry and his group didn’t have just a few hits. In fact, they managed an impressive 14 top-20 hits in the U.K., with half of them making it to the top five. This was achieved over a span of ten years, despite being a broken-up band.

T Rex – “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” (1971)

In one of the clearest demonstrations of localized music trends, we’re looking at an instance of this type of regionalism. The song “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” was simply titled “Get It On” in the UK, but it needed a change because another song with that name was becoming popular in the USA during 1971. Interestingly, “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” reached the top ten charts in the US.

In the U.K. and Ireland, they held the top spot, and their popularity spread throughout Europe. Unlike T Rex, it proved challenging for them to enter the top 40 in the United States after that point. However, from 1970 to 1972, they managed to have eight of their singles reach as high as number one or two on the U.K. charts; four of these songs peaked at number one, while four others reached number two. Essentially, T Rex was far more than a one-hit wonder during this era.

Many bands, such as Slade from the realm of glam rock and Iron Maiden in heavy metal, have achieved immense global success yet remain undervalued in the United States due to their relatively lower popularity there compared to other regions.

Iron Maiden made it clear they don’t wish to be considered for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame anymore. Given their global hit songs numbering in the dozens, a string of successful albums, and yet no recognition from an organization that claims to celebrate rock music regardless of origin, their displeasure seems justifiable.

At least the Hall finally got around to putting Kate Bush in.

2025-05-04 13:00