TOP 100 ONE-HIT WONDERS

The Top 100 One-Hit Wonders

This list was compiled by DeeJay Rich Appel as a Labor Day Weekend Countdown, 2012.

By Rich's kind permission, we are reprinting the results of his research here.

In Rich's own words, the rankings were compiled as follows:

To qualify, an artist had to have - or sing on - just one national Top 40 Hit.

The rank was based on a point system I devised several years ago, weighted along with whether a song it #1 on Billboard or Cash Box, weeks at #1, total weeks on the Top 100 and if the song still stands the test of time based on a rank of current airplay, 2012. Charts were surveyed from 1955 - 1999 (at the time, figuring that an artist having one hit after the year 2000 could potentially still have another one.)

1. MACARENA - Los Del Rio (1995-1996)

2. YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE - Debby Boone (1977)

3. PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC - Wild Cherry (1976)

4. LOVE IS BLUE - Paul Mauriat (1968)

5. FUNKYTOWN - Lipps, Inc. (1980)

6. IN THE YEAR 2525 - Zager and Evans (1969)

7. NEL BLU DIPINTO DI BLU (VOLARE) - Domenico Modugno (1958)

8. I LOVE YOU ALWAYS FOREVER - Donna Lewis (1996)

9. TO KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE HIM - The Teddy Bears (1958)

10. RING MY BELL - Anita Ward (1979)

11. Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor (1990)

12. The Purple People Eater - Sheb Wooley (1958)

13. Winchester Cathedral - The New Vaudeville Band (1966)

14. Dominique - The Singing Nun (1963)

15. Venus - Shocking Blue (1970)

16. Little Star - The Elegants (1958)

17. Disco Duck - Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots (1976)

18. Sukiyaki - Kyu Sakamoto (1963)

19. Moonglow and Theme from "Picnic" - Morris Stoloff (1956)

20. Missing - Everything But The Girl (1996)

21. Stranger On The Shore - Mr. Acker Bilk (1962)

22. Telstar - The Tornadoes (1962)

23. I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred (1992)

24. Chariots Of Fire - Vangelis (1982)

25. Na Na Hey Hey, Kiss Him Goodbye - Steam (1969)

26. Do You Love Me - The Contours (1962 and 1988)

27. Wipe Out - The Surfaris (1963 and 1966)

28. Come On Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners (1983)

29. Tubthumping - Chumbawamba (1997)

30. Teen Angel - Mark Dinning (1960)

31. Emotion - Samantha Sang (1978)

32. Judy In Disguise - John Fred and His Playboy Band (1968)

33. Believe It Or Not - Joey Scarbury (1981)

34. He's Got The Whole World In His Hands - Laurie London (1958)

35. Mickey - Toni Basil (1982)

36. Mother-In-Law - Ernie K-Doe (1961)

37. Undercover Angel - Alan O'Day (1977)

38. Get A Job - The Silhouettes (1958)

39. The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia - Vicki Lawrence (1973)

40. Shake You Down - Gregory Abbott (1987)

41. Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas (1974)

42. Harper Valley P.T.A. - Jeannie C. Riley (1968)

43. Pop Muzik - M (1979)

44. Mr. Big Stuff - Jean Knight (1971)

45. Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins (1956)

46. Gonna Fly Now - Bill Conti (1977)

47. Knock On Wood - Amii Stewart (1979)

48. Don't Worry, Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin (1988)

49. Lovin' You - Minnie Ripperton (1975)

50. 99 Luftballons - Nena (1984)

51. The Hustle - Van McCoy (1975)

52. Little Bit O'Soul - The Music Explosion (1967)

53. Miami Vice Theme - Jan Hammer (1985)

54. Last Kiss - J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers (1964)

55. Dueling Banjos - Eric Weissberg and Deliverance (1973)

56. Rock On - David Essex (1974)

57. Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega (1999)

58. Grazing In The Grass - Hugh Masekela (1968)

59. I Can Help - Billy Swan (1974)

60. Take Your Time - The S.O.S. Band (1980)

61. Don't Give Up On Us - David Soul (1977)

62. Smiling Faces Sometimes - Undisputed Truth (1971)

63. Rhythm of the Rain - The Cascades (1963)

64. The Entertainer - Marvin Hamlisch (1974)

65. In The Summertime - Mungo Jerry (1970)

66. Get Together - The Youngbloods (1967 and 1969)

67. The Night Chicago Died - Paper Lace (1974)

68. Tainted Love / Where Did Our Love Go - Soft Cell (1982)

69. Sunshine - Jonathan Edwards (1972)

70. Mr. Custer - Larry Verne (1960)

71. Classical Gas - Mason Williams (1968)

72. Short People - Randy Newman (1978)

73. Ringo - Lorne Greene (1964)

74. Ride Captain Ride - Blues Image (1970)

75. Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson (1971)

76. The Horse - Cliff Nobles and Company (1968)

77. Vehicle - The Ides Of March (1970)

78. Puttin' On The Ritz - Taco (1983)

79. Ooh Child - Five Stairsteps (1970)

80. The Birds And The Bees - Jewel Akens (1965)

81. Stay - Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs (1960)

82. MacArthur Park - Richard Harris (1968)

83. Indiana Wants Me - R. Dean Taylor (1970)

84. Oh Babe, What Would You Save - Hurricane Smith (1973)

85. Popsicles and Icicles - The Murmaids (1964)

86. Girl Watcher - The O'Kaysions (1968)

87. Tighter, Tighter - Alive 'n' Kicking (1970)

88. They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haa! - Napoleon XIV (1966 and 1973)

89. Magic - Pilot (1975)

90. Have I The Right - The Honeycombs (1964)

91. Americans - Byron MacGregor (1974)

92. Hold Your Head Up - Argent (1972)

93. Cool Jerk - The Capitols (1966)

94. California Sun - The Rivieras (1964)

95. Dancing In The Moonlight - King Harvest (1973)

96. Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye - The Casinos (1967)

97. Chick-A-Boom - Daddy Dewdrop (1971)

98. Into The Night - Benny Mardones (1980 and 1989)

99. (Just Like) Romeo And Juliet - The Reflections (1964)

100. Turn The Beat Around - Vicki Sue Robinson (1976)

(Note: This article was first published in Forgotten Hits in 2012)

Monday, March 10, 2025