20 Two-Hit Wonders of the '60s

1. The Bobby Fuller Four - I Fought the Law (1965, US No.9) & Love's Made a Fool of You (1966, US No.26), no other US top 40 hit
2. Crispian St. Peters - You Were on My Mind (1966, UK No.2) & The Pied Piper (1966, UK No.5), no other UK top 40 hit
3. Cuff Links - Tracy (1969, UK No.4) & When Julie Comes Around (1969, UK No.10), no other UK top 40 hit
4. The Cyrkle - Red Rubber Ball (1966, US No.2) & Turn-Down Day (1966, US No.16), no other US top 40 hit
5. Esther & Abi Ofarim - Cinderella Rockefella (1968, UK No.1) & One More Dance (1968, UK No.13), no other UK top 40 hit
6. The Highwaymen - Michael, Row the Boat Ashore (1960, US No.1) & Cotton Fields (1960, US No.13), no other US top 40 hit
7. Janis Ian - Society's Child (Baby I've Been Thinking) (1967, US No.13) & At Seventeen (1975, US No.3), no other US top 40 hit
8. Joe South - Games People Play (1969, US No.12) & Walk a Mile in My Shoes (1970, US No.12), no other US top 40 hit
9. The Left Banke - Walk Away Renée (1966, US No.5) & Pretty Ballerina (1966, US No.15), no other US top 40 hit
10. Los Bravos - Black Is Black (1966, UK No.2) & I Don't Care (1966, UK No.16), no other UK top 40 hit
11. The Marbles - Only One Woman (1968, UK No.5) & The Walls Fell Down (1969, UK No.28), no other UK top 40 hit
12. The Marcels - Blue Moon (1961, US No.1) & Heartaches (1961, US No.7), no other US top 40 hit
13. Oliver - Good Morning Starshine (1969, US No.3) & Jean (1969, US No.2), no other US top 30 hit
14. Paul & Paula - Hey Paula (1962, UK No.8) & Young Lovers (1963, UK No.9), no other UK top 40 hit
15. Peter Sarstedt - Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)? (1969, UK No.1) & Frozen Orange Juice (1969, UK No.10), no other UK top 40 hit
16. Rooftop Singers - Walk Right In (1963, US No.1) & Tom Cat (1963, US No.20), no other US top 40 hit
17. SSgt Barry Sadler - The Ballad of the Green Berets (1966, US No.1) & The A Team (1966, US No.28), no other US top 40 hit
18. Them - Baby, Please Don't Go (1964, UK No.10) & Here Comes the Night (1965, UK No.2), no other UK top 40 hit
19. Unit Four Plus Two - Concrete and Clay (1965, UK No.1) & (You've) Never Been in Love Like This Before (1965, UK No.14), no other UK top 40 hit
20. Vanity Fare - Early in the Morning (1969, US No.12) & Hitchin' a Ride (1969, US No.5), no other US top 40 hit

[@somerandomguy_music]

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[@pauladautremont1728]

Two hit wonders are better than some of the crap that passes for music these days.

[@dallisb1047]

Preach!!

[@brianwilson6403]

No Doubt!!!

[@donaldduck7461]

The Left Banke, very underrated & Renee was their song before the four tops.

[@rpc717]

I was just listening to that song yesterday and wondering if they'd done anything else. It's a great song but their sound is a bit odd.

[@drjoshuamc]

Yes, but Levi Stubbs made it sound so great!

[@brianwilson6403]

@@drjoshuamc Nope, The Left Banke has this one hands down.

[@jackwoodhouse9041]

Renee was frankie valli's song before anyone's I'm sure, he talked about it as being taken by the four tops

[@brianwilson6403]

@Jack Woodhouse Frankie's must've been a different song. The Left Banke wrote it, and released it in July 1966. The bass player wrote it for the lead singers girlfriend who he was in love with, or vice versa.

[@tylercrockett2619]

The lead singer for The Cuff Links, Ron Dante, had a hit of his own, Tracy, and he also provided the lead singing voice for The Archies.

[@tats7859]

I remember getting the cardboard recording of the Archie's on the back of cereal like frosted flakes or some others...

[@terryherrera9054]

Nice , I always wondered who sang for Archie . They forgot to and his big one hit wonder Sugar , Sugar by The Archie's

[@brianwilson6403]

@@terryherrera9054 Co written by Andy Kim.

[@keythdanielsen5533]

@@tats7859How many plays did you get from it

[@keythdanielsen5533]

Tracy may have been bubblegum but it was a great song

[@fjcrod]

Some of these songs are so catchy it's amazing that many of these groups managed only two hits.

[@anitaschuloff2557]

There will never be another era like this.

[@jennyhaines1104]

The era where you can hear the words and no swear words...come back

[@seed_drill7135]

There's an F-bomb buried in Louie, Louie when the drummer lost the beat.

[@admiralb2848]

Jeez; born in 1950. These bring it all back. Couldn’t have picked a better era to come of age. Thanks to whoever put this together.

[@dout0rm942]

Poor Bobby Fuller had such a tragic and gruesome death.

[@keythdanielsen5533]

Wasn’t he part of the Twenty Seven Club and also stayed at a hotel where several acts died under bad circumstances?

[@tommccallan8802]

They said they found him in his car with an open can of gasoline that he drank. Still unsolved

[@keythdanielsen5533]

@@tommccallan8802 That’s awful

[@brian70Cuda]

Thank you Random, I loved "Them" They had great songs, I might have a record or two of theirs. Great stuff as always:)

[@abushenob]

I agree. "Here Comes the Night" is one of the greatest songs of the 60s

[@augthedog55]

A lot of their songs are really good. Such as: Baby Please Don't Go, Bright Lights, Big City, and It's All Over Now Baby Blue.

[@phastinemoon]

Hoo boy, I have some news for you… Namely, “Them” might have been the band… but the singer is well known for… more. A lot more. …a LOT more.

[@widndn]

Even the ones I didn't care for as much then, are great today.

[@gogoyubari366]

Pretty good songs!

[@Michaelthekiwi]

This sounds like the playlist for the oldies radio station I listen to when I'm driving. Great to learn more about the bands.

[@mrss4328]

The only station around here starts in 1980. I sell them here any songs between 50 and 79.

[@mrss4328]

Several of these are some of my favorite songs of the 60s.

[@keythdanielsen5533]

Mine, too. Especially You Were On My Mind and I Fought the Law.

[@eileenryan2248]

16:02 My Main Man Elton. I'm a 51years longtime fan and counting. He's my ROCKETMAN.

[@chloemoore4199]

DAMN! I Missed The Oldies But Goodies 1.Blue Moon 2.Gloria

[@stevenmccart709]

When I think of what would be considered oldies today I feel kinda bad. The music I still listen to would be considered ancient. Thinking about what I still listen to...it would be like. When listening to what I was in the 70s and 80s and even 90s compared to Al Jolson , Cole Porter and Irving Berlin.

[@701CPD]

Memories of hearing these songs on my white plastic box radio in my room in the '60s.

[@donnahardy3582]

I loved Oliver’s songs. I still play them now & again, also Joe South. ❤

[@johnzeszut3170]

I remember most of these tunes on the radio - I did not have a transistor but my sister did and she listened all the time. Pretty good songs all around!

[@RickinBaltimore]

Janis Ian was also the first musical guest on Saturday Night Live

[@mrnekokittycatsaki1419]

I'm in my 20s and I like the 1960s and 70s songs especially forgen

[@OldMod]

Interesting fact: in Italy "You Were on My Mind" became "Io ho in mente te" by Equipe 84 and "The Pied Piper" became "Bandiera Gialla" by Gianni Pettenati. Another great video.

[@GaryAa56]

I love the cyrcles. Turn Down Day. The left Banks had two albums but both albums were great!

[@hermanator74301]

It was ' The Cyrcle ' not " the cyrcles ". Also, it was ' The Left Banke ' not " the left Banks "

[@alpha-omega2362]

@@hermanator74301 hmmm ....was he drinking or something? maybe English is a second language

[@keythdanielsen5533]

@@hermanator74301Why pay attention to what is clearly before him?

[@augthedog55]

One artist that came to mind was the Box Tops with The Letter and Cry Like A Baby.

[@brianwilson6403]

Don't forget Soul Deep!!!

[@larryfreda5208]

I would include The Beau Brummels with Laugh Laugh and Just a Little

[@alexanderboche7867]

In the spanish spoken World Los Bravos was famous and in Spain they are Superstars! The Leadsinger Comes from Berlin in Germany! I Love that Music from Spain!!!

[@keythdanielsen5533]

Mocedades?

[@ghostownaproach]

Zombies "Time Of The Season" and "She's Not There. Archies "Sugar Sugar" and "Jingle Jangle". New Colony Six "Things I'd Like To Say" and "I Will Always Think About You". Sir Douglas Quintet "She's About A Mover" and "Mendocino".

[@AlligatorArms]

The Zombies also had “Tell Her No”; three hits-all top tens in the US!

[@ghostownaproach]

@@AlligatorArms you're right!

[@MsMamabear67]

Janis Ian a another hit in the 70 call fly to high

[@benji274]

Yes, in 1979

[@alancooper5386]

very nice, very good, something i rarely give but i had to give a thumbs up for this, am sure i will be listening to this a few more times.

[@davidmarshall5596]

Another excellent compilation from you again 👍 there were some great followers ups to the 1st hit.👌

[@DLROWOLL3H]

Some great classics from the 60's and I never knew "Black is Black" was from this decade sung by Los Bravos. I only know the 70's version by sung by Belle Epoque.

[@jonathanj.7344]

Fascinating stuff thanks. I remember alot of them.

[@julianaylor4351]

Them was the band, Van Morrison was in before his solo career, and he's definitely not a two hit wonder. ❤️🎶

[@ANDROLOMA]

Van had his day, and was a great artist in his time.

[@moebetta4224]

​@@ANDROLOMA Still is.

[@ANDROLOMA]

@@moebetta4224 When was his last hit?

[@moebetta4224]

@@ANDROLOMA A musician of Vans' legacy is not measured by "hits", but of course this makes no sense to the musically illiterate.

[@ANDROLOMA]

@@moebetta4224 How is it musically illiterate to gauge any performer's contemporary appeal? Van had his day. He came and went, as do all. As will you, and your nasty little backhanded insult.

[@Skedawg88]

Damn, there are some great songs here.

[@kingalexander2704]

Joe South also had a hit with "Don't It Make You Wanna Go Home?"

[@brianwilson6403]

Joe South wrote several big hits for various artists. Hush was originally for Billy Joe Royal, but was a much bigger hit for my favorite band....Deep Purple!!!

[@juliusnepos6013]

1:12 Beautiful Song, I really like the song Morning of My life. Also the one after that

[@carlc5748]

Wow!! Thanks so much for posting this, I learned so much, and I heard songs that I have not heard of in quite a while. What a great idea of yours, of the Two-Hit Wonders. I was impressed with the graphics, as well. I have to stay tuned as to what other brilliant, and creative things that you may come up with!

[@alanvallazza9781]

Bobby Fuller is one of my favorites. I believe though he had a tragic death. If I recall correct he was found murdered in a vehicle when he was taking a break from touring. The one thing I did growing up was to hear oldies and classic rock. It didn't hurt that the light rock station I was listening to in the '80s and '90s mixed 60s songs with 70s '80s and '90s. As the years went on they faded out 60s music. By 2000 the station was having financial difficulties and would end. The equivalent these days is a station that plays pop rock and is music between 1985 and today. It's not the same but three stations died that used to play light rock, soft rock and oldies in my area. What replaced the oldies station was classic hits which is mostly '70s and '80s and maybe some '90s.

[@tstockel]

Man, I never heard half these songs. Just goes to show outside of the more popular acts I barely know 60s music.

[@alpha-omega2362]

my condolences to you....

[@thevox1075]

Sad. Nobody ever has a tv show featuring two hit wonders. That one more hit than one hit wonders, but nobody seems to care.

[@randysvynil9502]

The Marbles with Graham Bonnet formerly of Rainbow, MSG, Alcatrazz, etc.

[@arturoromero951]

This is an awesome list! Honestly never heard of some of these acts but I’m glad I got to listen to them. Looks like the two-hit wonder series is complete for now but I can’t wait to see what other stuff will happen in the future! Keep it up, SRG. :)

[@johanna5688]

You have BAD taste. There were a million far better songs in the 60s than these. Most of these were crap!

[@tonycollazorappo]

I was born in 1961, all the groups back then were all very well dressed, not so today. I miss that, plus I could hear the words back then, lol.

[@alpha-omega2362]

never knew the Rooftop Singers had two hits.....nice.....but "Walk Right In" was huge...

[@stevenmccart709]

My mom played that song a lot when I was a kid. She listened to a lot of those 60s folk music groups. When I visited pops it was all about Blues music. My tastes were broadened at an early age. I also had two older sisters (5&6 yrs) so I graduated to Beatles , Stones , Velvet Underground , MC5 , Cream , Savoy Brown and an entirely new world quickly

[@keythdanielsen5533]

Always in my Top Twenty

[@jkdm7653]

Looks as though this was put together by someone born about 1990. Way off on some of these, but I enjoyed hearing a few of these again. I was very much "into" Top 40 radio in the 1960s.

[@keythdanielsen5533]

Our local station in KCMO was WHB, dial 71. FM was the weird world where drug addicts and hippies listened.

[@algeborusas2775]

Heard of number one but not two. Heard of two but not one. Finally, never heard of them at all.

[@zero_bs_tolerance8646]

Thanks.

[@padstowphantom]

Had to laugh regarding Janis Ian, considering she had most of her hits in the 70s.

[@terryherrera9054]

WOW, that's a very young Van Morrison singing lead for the group Them . From the days of the British invasion in the 60s.

[@nicktaylor2657]

Them was known for Gloria but The Shadows of Knight actually had a top 40 with their cover 🤔

[@davidjackson2524]

The lead singer of Them , Van Morrison had a load of solo hits.

[@jcameronferguson]

Los Bravos absolutely rule

[@keythdanielsen5533]

I was unaware many of these acts had a second hit.

[@johnoconnor6356]

You missed the Shadows of Knight, who had Gloria, and Oh Yeah.

[@user-sm2ql7nq4l]

It's funny (well) that Bobby Fuller's two hits are related to Buddy Holly. Sonny Curtis ( Buddy's old friend) wrote "I Fought the Law" with Buddy in mind, but that never happened for obvious reasons. Sonny did the first recorded version with the surviving members of Buddy's band The Crickets. The sencond hit "Loves Made A Foo Of You" was a Buddy song that he did record. So, Bobby ( at the time) owed his career to Buddy Holly and that circle.

[@juliemcarthur3004]

I love i fought the law and the law won

[@keythdanielsen5533]

A great song.

[@carywiesner769]

Los Bravos had another single here in the U.S. "Bring a Little Water, Bring a Little Wine" that I think was only a minor hit nationally, but got a pretty fair amount of airplay in my home town. And IMHO is a much better song than their big hit here, "Black is Black." Another candidate for this list may be We Five, who had the big hit version of "You Were On My Mind" here. Their follow up was "Get Together," which made the lower regions of the Top Forty several years before the Youngbloods' big hit version. We Five recorded that song about the time their manager and producer bought the rights to it from writer Chet Powers, aka Dino Valenti, for a flat fee with no subsequent royalties. Powers did that because he needed money fast for lawyers after getting busted for drugs, and in the end lost probably millions because of it.

[@nileswright8915]

sooooo sad......... :(

[@davidjackson2524]

I think The Rooftop Singers have a song on the Forrest Gump soundtrack

[@drjoshuamc]

Don’t forget that Van Morrison sang for Them.

[@davidjackson2524]

I thought The Clash were the first to record I fought The Law.

[@halfbloodprince7840]

Hope you had a great Day. 💞 Love your Videos. 💕 Greetings from Germany. ❣️ ❤️🧡💙💜💛💚🖤 What Song blocked the first Video?

[@somerandomguy_music]

No song was blocked, I decided to include the information that 'Gloria' is nowadays the most famous song by Them (it was only released a B-side in the 60s).

[@kentaccordionist]

Peter Sarstedt had a lot more than 2 hits. He was a great folk/pop singer. What about I am a cathedral, or Beirut, to name just a couple.

[@PaulinaAngel]

I think you are wrong about both Bobby Fuller Four and Los Bravos. Bobby Fuller Four had a third hit, Let Her Dance. Los Bravos had a third hit as well with Bring A Little Lovin'.

[@PaulinaAngel]

An argument can also be made for The Left Banke with the song, She May Call You Up Tonight.

[@arturoromero951]

@@PaulinaAngel 1. _Let Her Dance_ only managed to reach #133 in the main US charts, or #33 in the Bubbling Under charts. However, what constitutes as a commercial hit in the US is that the singles have to reach the top 40. And that single did not. Thus, Bobby Fuller Four are a two-hit wonder. 2. Los Bravos were mostly popular in Continental Europe, which is why SRG put that description in the video. At the same time, SRG is mostly basing his charts around the US, the UK and Germany, since those charts are really huge in determining a lot of main hits. So in that regard, _Bring a Little Lovin’_ only managed to reach #51 on the main Billboard chart, and didn’t reach the top 40. Also, this song didn’t hit the UK or Germany. However, it hit other continental European countries, which is where SRG’s description fits that category. Thus, this argument is debunked. 3. The argument for the Left Banke is the same as the Bobby Fuller Four one. _She May Call You Up Tonight_ only reached #120 on the Hot 100 and #118 on the Cash Box, and never reached the Top 40. So thus, The Left Banke are a two-hit wonder.

[@seed_drill7135]

A few additions: ? & The Mysterians: 96 Tears & I Need Somebody Dino, Desi & Billy: I'm a Fool & Not The Lovin' Kind The New Colony Six: I Will Always Think About You & Things I'd Like To Say The Irish Rovers: The Unicorn & Wasn't That a Party (1981) Also, if you consider Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship and Starship to be separate entities (and there is an argument that they were, as Starship and Jefferson Airplane released competing albums in 1989), then Jefferson Airplane is a two hitter.

[@martinusgroninger1875]

Esther and Abi Ofarim had a Smash Nr.1 hi5 in England and the rest of Europe with the BeeGees penbed song " Morning of my life " " Walk away Renée " became a Super Hit in the USA by the Four Tops. One of the Marbles became a very good Heavy Metal Singer Peter Sarstedt had 2 Very succesfull Brothers: Amory Kane and Chris Montez ( "Lets dance") In former East Germany they made a lot of Paul and Paula Films as sex Education, a sort of " Soft Porno"

[@keythdanielsen5533]

And Ray Hildebrand (Paul) became a fervent born-again Christian and performer. His Welcome Warrior is a good example of the genre.

[@greglegakis4177]

Not all songs based on Billboard's Top Pop 100 in the US

[@fabb4i2]

1:50 Oh, so this is the original of Inner Circle's 90s song? ^^

[@georgescharf6684]

Joe South, Had more than 2 HITS

[@nztrekker]

Los Bravos had another US hit, in 1969 I think, "Bring a Little Lovin'."

[@Motacilla191]

I thought Them were known for "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"?

[@andersdottir1111]

My favourite cover of this song - I’m still looking for the record.

[@ANDROLOMA]

Saved the best for last, I see.

[@robertgoulet7886]

Some of these are on the "Rushmore" soundtrack.

[@jameshorton7496]

I believe The Cyrkle had a third hit, Please Don't Ever Leave Me, and a fourth possible, I Wish You Could Be Here, though I don't really know how high it charted.

[@Imprison45]

Side note : “Red Rubber Ball “ was written by Paul Simon

[@DoIGetTube]

It's a shame that Simon's and Garfunkel's version of "Red Rubber Ball" is known strictly to KZbinrs who deliberately seek it out; were Paul and Arthur to record and release a version of it in more MODERN times, it could blow a lot of CONTEMPORARY music out of the water!

[@shortyramone4376]

The Marbles with Graham Bonnet who would take over from the great RJ Dio who was sacked from Rainbow by Ritchie B. in 1979 when the band started recording shitty FM sound albums

[@tdyerwestfield]

People slate modern pop but surely even that is better than most of this?

[@keythdanielsen5533]

Not really

[@davidjackson2524]

I'm not sure Janis Ian should be on this countdown. Her 2nd hit is in the mid 70s

[@stevenmccart709]

I take THEM with a grain of salt considering what Thier lead singer went on to accomplish.

[@fabb4i2]

0:00 Sorry, but without any context or anything, this is hilarious.

[@fabb4i2]

3:58 That's such a good song. If only it weren't pro-military etc.

[@arturoromero951]

I mean it’s a good song, musically, but lyrically not so much, as this was during the Vietnam War and many people opposed the war. Fed to a good amount of the war hawks and right wing people.

[@fabb4i2]

@@arturoromero951 Yeah, sadly ...

[@hermanator74301]

@@fabb4i2 Eat sh*t.

[@alpha-omega2362]

@@arturoromero951 I remember the controversy....it is quite a sad song really.... men who jump and die and then their family puts the wings on a surviving child who can repeat the circle and jump and die..... juxtapose that with "Where have all the flowers gone"... when will they ever learn?

[@keythdanielsen5533]

Oh God, say it isn’t so. A pro-military song? Time to curl up into your fetal ball.

[@mehitabelgill6711]

The Cyrkle vculd have been a three hit wonder, but they rejected Paul Simon's "59th Street Bridge Song" because it "sounded too much like their previois two hits" Isn't that why people buy pop records by specific groups, becaiuse they like that groups sound. Anyway, Harpers Bizarre recorded it, inmstead, and had a hit

[@bartvanos1466]

Janis Ian had more than 2 hits, for example run too fast fly too high etc!

[@wmbeam211]

In the U.S. some of these weren't even 1 hit wonders

[@greglegakis4177]

You Were On My Mind was a hit for the We Five not Crispin

[@somerandomguy_music]

In the US, it was a hit for We Five, but in the UK for Crispin St. Peters.

[@greglegakis4177]

@@somerandomguy_music fair enough. I just think the publisher of these videos should be more specific. Many of us in the US never heard of The Marbles et. al. because they didn't have any hits here.

[@greglegakis4177]

The Marbles? Seriously?

[@garryhall9519]

Them were a 3 hit wonder, you missed their biggest hit Gloria.

[@ANDROLOMA]

4:24 Please view again. Nothing got missed.

[@alpha-omega2362]

it was the "B" side of their hit.... so it didn't count....

[@keythdanielsen5533]

@@alpha-omega2362Neither does your ignorant misspelling of their (why is that so hard for people to get).

[@moebetta4224]

Some seriously goofy stuff.

[@fabb4i2]

0:07 and 3:58

[@fabb4i2]

3:33 Idk why, but I absolutely dislike this song ...

[@Lovuschka]

I love it. It says a lot about how outward impressions count but they are all just a shine, a wall built around yourself. One example: "You go to the embassy parties where you talk in Russian and Greek and the young men who move in your circles, they hang on every word you speak. Yes, they do!"

[@arturoromero951]

I like this song. Just isn’t your taste, that’s all.

[@richvitale8405]

janis ian is nor a 2 hit wonder

[@fabb4i2]

4:10 Sounds very hectic and messy.

[@SPOngeBoB8177]

Wrong

[@arturoromero951]

Wrong

[@donklesa6040]

There is some seriously bad stuff here.

[@vassa1972]

Good stuff

[@scottelkin562]

The Cuff Links, not a real band. Ron Dante and some of Don Kirshners studio musicians. Ron was also the vocalist of The Archies. Sugar Sugar and Tracy charted at the same time in 1969.

[@chrisnemec5644]

A very nice list. If you're going by US chart criteria, you could have also included the George Baker Selection, who hit #25 with "Little Green Bag" in 1969 and then hit #26 in 1976 with "Paloma Blanca." However, in their native Holland, they had quite a number of hits.