"Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" by Steam
No one sets out to be a one-hit wonder, but even if that's the highest level of fame you reach, you're still doing a lot better than most people! These musicians and groups from the 60s might not have a massively memorable discography, but that doesn't mean they weren't important to the decade. Let's check out the most memorable one-hit wonders of the 1960s!
"Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" is one of the most endearing songs of the 1960s and a staple at sporting events, but the “band” Steam was just a collection of studio musicians with the help of a producer. They only ever made a handful of songs and weren't ever truly a real band.
"Teen Angel" by Mark Dinning
Although somewhat morbid, “Teen Angel” reached #1 on the U.S. charts, but Mark Dinning couldn’t duplicate the same success again.
His three sisters, however, had 4 Top 20 hits as the group The Dinning Sisters.
"Mother-In-Law" by Ernie K-Doe
Ernie K-Doe’s song hit #1 in 1961, but it almost didn’t happen.
A background singer implored him to keep trying after he wanted to give up on the song following several failed takes.
"Hey! Baby" by Bruce Channel
This Bruce Channel one-and-only topped the charts for three weeks in 1962.
It was also featured on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack in 1987.
"Stranger on the Shore" by Mr. Acker Bilk
“Stranger on the Shore” was the first British song to top the American charts.
Sadly, Mr. Acker Bilk couldn’t ever duplicate his success across the pond again.
"Wipe Out" by The Surfaris
“Wipe Out” is recognized around the world for symbolizing surfer culture and conjuring up images of Hawaii.
It's really too bad the Surfaris couldn’t conjure up another hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Sukiyaki" by Kyu Sakamoto
Known as “Ue o Muite Aruko” in its native Japan, the song was retitled “Sukiyaki” for American audiences, even though the term has nothing to do with the song.
The song title's actual translation is "I Look Up as I Walk."
"MacArthur Park" by Richard Harris
While he might have been a one-hit wonder in the world of music, Richard Harris also received 2 Oscar nominations for Best Actor and won a Golden Globe in 1968.
Now that's what we call multitalented.
"Ringo" by Lorne Greene
Perhaps more famous for his starring role on the original Bonanza, actor Lorne Greene also scored a #1 hit at the end of 1964.
A male chorus performs the lyrics that are sung, while other verses are spoken word and tell the story of a Western lawman and a gunfighter known as "Ringo."
"Stay" by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs
“Stay” is the shortest song to ever reach #1 on the American music chart, clocking in at only 1 minute and 34 seconds.
It found renewed popularity in the 1980s after being featured on the Dirty Dancing soundtrack.
"The Game of Love" by Wayne Fontana
Wayne Fontana was more popular in his native England than he was stateside.
That being said, he did manage to reach #1 on the Billboard charts with “Game of Love.”
"Eve of Destruction" by Barry McGuire
Barry McGuire reached #1 with this protest song in 1965.
Two more of his songs charted in the top 100, but nothing ever reached this level of success.
"Winchester Cathedral" by The New Vaudeville Band
Part of the reason the New Vaudeville Band were one-hit wonders was that they weren’t truly a real band.
Geoff Stephens hired session musicians to record the original song.
"I Like It Like That" by Chris Kenner
“I Like It Like That” was Chris Kenner’s biggest hit, reaching #2 on the Billboard charts.
Other songs of his also became hits, but they were covers by different artists, not original works.
"Last Kiss" by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers
None of the other songs by Wilson or the Cavaliers achieved the success of this #2 Billboard hit.
Pearl Jam covered the song and also reached the same position with it.
"Dominique" by The Singing Nun
Sung by Jeannine Deckers, a Dominican sister, the song became a worldwide hit in 11 countries.
It even spawned a fictionalized semi-biographical film starring Debbie Reynolds.
"Love is Blue" by Paul Mauriat and His Orchestra
This instrumental piece by French composer Paul Mauriat spent 5 weeks at #1.
The original Luxembourgish version actually has lyrics.
"In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus)" by Zager and Evans
This song topped that charts in both the U.S. and the U.K., but the pop-rock duo couldn’t ever replicate their success.
The song did stay at #1 for six weeks in the U.S., however.
"Apache" by Jørgen Ingmann and his Guitar
Ingmann’s version of “Apache” reached #2 in the U.S., and it was covered by multiple artists over the course of the years.
It is sampled heavily on Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Jump On It.”
"Little Bit O' Soul" by The Music Explosion
None of the other singles by The Music Explosion charted inside the top 100.
However, “Little Bit O’ Soul” remains notable for its bass riff.
"Daddy's Home" by Shep and the Limelites
“Daddy’s Home” remains James Sheppard’s most popular and was covered by Jermaine Jackson, Junior English, and Cliff Richardson.
It peaked at #2.
"Midnight in Moscow" by Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen
Kenny Ball was a highly popular artist in the UK.
Sadly, this rendition of “Midnight in Moscow” remains his only major hit in the United States.
"Sally Go Round the Roses" by The Jaynetts
The Jaynetts were one of the first girl groups to find success at the top of the charts.
But after this #2 hit, their successive releases never charted as highly.
"Green Tambourine" by The Lemon Pipers
Ohio-based band The Lemon Pipers had a couple other songs that rose to around #50 on the Billboard.
They remain most famous for this 1697 hit.
"Washington Square" by The Village Stompers
The Village Stompers created a unique folk-dixie style with #2 hit “Washington Square.”
Their follow up songs only ranked on the Billboard Bubbling Under charts, however.
"Mr. Custer" by Larry Verne
Larry Verne found a #1 hit with “Mr. Custer.”
His other “popular” 1960 song only reached a peak of 75 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)" by John Fred and His Play Band
The title is an obvious parody of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”
When it did reach #1 on the charts, it knocked another Beatles song (“Hello, Goodbye”) out of the top spot.
"Love (Can Make You Happy)" by Mercy
Mercy only had 2 songs chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
While this one was a #2 hit, the other peaked at #79, making them a qualified one-hit wonder.
"Rhythm of the Rain" by The Cascades
“Rhythm of the Rain” became an international hit for the Cascades in 1962.
However, none of their subsequent songs charted around the world.
"Alley Oop" by The Hollywood Argyles
"Alley Oop" was the Hollywood Argyles only major hit as performers.
Interestingly enough, member Gary S. Paxton went on to pen more notable songs, such as “Monster Mash.”