Country One Hit Wonders

[@jameshepburn4631]

Bing & The Andrews Sisters also had a big record with “Don’t Fence Me In”, the only country song credited to Cole Porter (& Robert Fletcher) (following a legal battle royal). Record sales and radio play were both diluted by it being recorded about the same time by Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, both of whom were more associated with Western or cowboy music.

[@tomwerner389]

Love Country Music Time Machine, all the way from Australia.

[@CountryMusicTimeMachine]

Love you great folks down in Australia as well! Lots of great country music in Australia and hope to have a future episode just covering Australian artists. Thanks for watching!

[@tomwerner389]

@@CountryMusicTimeMachine I'll be looking forward to that! Love all the old time Australian country artists. They were greatly inspired by American artists and the introduction of motion pictures in 1920s. Prior to that the Australian bush ballad was a different style of Celtic origin.

[@sandrahunter5749]

Terri Gibb Somebody's Knocking

[@CountryMusicTimeMachine]

That is a very good one.

[@davidwolfe7145]

Interesting choice of "Pistol Packin' Mama" by Bing Crosby. It was originally written and recorded by Al Dexter in March 1942; and used in a 1943 movie by the same title starring Ruth Terry and Robert Livingston. The musician's strike of August 1942 prevented anyone else from recording the song; and record companies were desperate to release songs. Okeh Records released Al Dexter's version in March, 1943 during the strike. Bing Crosby's label Decca Records was the first company to settle the musician's strike, so he was able to record it in September 1943. This helped revitalize sales and popularity into 1944. The movie, which came out in December 1943, helped boost sales, too. For a few weeks, both Bing Crosby's and Al Dexter's versions shared the #1 "American Folk Records" chart position. This was the precursor to the Hot Country Songs chart.

[@tracycarver5643]

Love this song

[@BradSivyer]

She also had a big hit with Meet me in Montana with Dan Seals

[@mickeymilam2014]

daddys money by ricochet. The night the lights went out in Georgia the vicki lawrence version,

[@davidwolfe7145]

Maybe a definition of "one-hit wonder" might be in order. "Daddy's Money" was the only #1 by Ricochet, but they had 5 Top 20 hits, with 4 of them on their debut album. Three of those were Top 10. For Vicki Lawrence, "The Night the Lights went out in Georgia" was her only song on the country charts, but it was hardly a hit, peaking at #36. It reached #1 on the Hot 100 and #6 on the Hot AC charts.

[@MrKaraokeCowboy]

My favorite one-hit-wonder would have to be "Sweet Country Music" by Atlanta.

[@annem8152]

Chart history included two Top 10 country hits in "Atlanta Burned Again Last Night" and "Sweet Country Music". The latter was also the band's highest-charting single, peaking at #2 on Cashbox.

[@jacklow9611]

Marie Osmond had hits on the pop charts, with brother Donny but her "Paper Roses" was her only hit on the country charts, as far as I can remember.

[@CountryMusicTimeMachine]

I remember that one on the radio as a kid.

[@benjaminchandler7919]

She also has “meet me in Montana” with Dan Seals

[@jacklow9611]

@@benjaminchandler7919 : That's a duet. "Paper Roses" was a solo act, and there is a difference.

[@benjaminchandler7919]

@@jacklow9611”meet me in Montana” was still a hit for her

[@annem8152]

"No Stopping your Heart" was a solo hit for Marie.

[@BODUKE3201]

For Flatt & Scruggs I was thinkin other than the Beverly hillbillies…couldn’t think and the pic of the show comes up lol

[@sherrie6492]

I don't see Seven Spanish Angels as a one hit wonder. If it is then To All The Girls' with Julio Iglesias would be one too. Willie sang with everyone. It was more like another Willie duet hit.

[@CountryMusicTimeMachine]

For Ray Charles and country music it is considered a 1 hit wonder. But not of course for Willie. But the Iglesias song could have been mentioned as well.

[@JoslinDarrelGene]

Big AL Downing "Mr. Jones" ❤ ❤

[@jameshepburn4631]

Somebody please explain what makes “Butterfly Kisses” country music. It’s about as country as Andrea Bocelli or Michael Buble. And is there supposed to be some connection the noise produced by that last group has to country music besides their name?

[@CountryMusicTimeMachine]

I think two things caused that song to be considered a country song. I remember when it came out, the country radio station I worked at was slammed with calls to play it. That caught on nationwide and it became a hit. Another thing is, it is by a Christian artist and sometimes with songs that have a twang but isn't a 100% worship song, and people like it, it gets airplay. And one more thing, it does fit the traditional country format lyrically as it talks about love, family, and in this case a father's love.

[@Turkeyinthehay]

James, I agree!

[@williamfowler8439]

You forgot Jessica Andrews number one, Who I Am

[@mrdaleowen1]

Ray Charles had one of the best country and western albums ever made.

[@CountryMusicTimeMachine]

I agree. Ray was great for multiple types of music!

[@47AndyT]

Ray was #1, PERIOD!

[@Joefuss2]

Hank Locklin - Please Help Me I'm Falling

[@theajsallen512]

Michelle Wright Take It Like A Man 1993, Michael Peterson Drink, Swear, Steal and Lie 1997, Judy Rodman Before I Met You 1986, Pake Mcentire Saving My Love For You 1987. Carolyn Dawn Johnson Complicated 2000, Kellee Coffee When You Lie Next To Me 2001

[@CountryMusicTimeMachine]

Those are GREAT choices. I love Judy Rodman!

[@theajsallen512]

@@CountryMusicTimeMachine There is one song of hers that I can't find here on KZbin that I had on a 45rpm side called Do You Make Love As Well As You Make Music. It was a flip side to Until I Met You. It is a pretty song and I can't find it.

[@CountryMusicTimeMachine]

Is it this one? At 7:14 kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGPXnJeBnMiigbc

[@David-yw2lv]

Goodtime Charlie's Got the Blues by Danny O'Keefe.

[@CountryMusicTimeMachine]

Great song

[@restionSerpentine]

Nobody, by Sylvia

[@CountryMusicTimeMachine]

That's a great one!

[@jacklow9611]

That wasn't a one-hit wonder because "I've Never Been To Me" was also a hit.

[@ernestcruz6316]

​@@jacklow9611Actually, a number of these weren't really one hit wonders, just an artist or group's only #1 hit. Someday maybe someone will codify what exactly makes one a one hit wonder, because it's so often left to someone's interpretation of the term.

[@jesseshinn6857]

Sylvia also did Snapshot and a couple of other songs. She had more than one hit

[@annem8152]

@@jacklow9611 that wasn't Sylvia. That was a lady named Charlene.

[@markthompson1529]

Get the late joel whitburn's hot country singles books. There are tons of one hit wonders in there.

[@gracielynn9623]

When I think of one hit wonder I think of Crystal Shawanda with you can let go now, daddy.

[@darrenlinville3120]

The Tractors. Were a 1 hit wonder

[@CountryMusicTimeMachine]

Yes they were. I could probably do another episode running down more one hit wonders.

[@annem8152]

1994 "Baby Likes to Rock It" 11 1995 "Tryin' to Get to New Orleans" 50 1998 "Shortenin' Bread" 57 "I Wouldn't Tell You No Lie" 72 They didn't get to #1, but they charted.

[@darrenlinville3120]

@@annem8152 I never heard of those other songs from the tractors

[@ernestcruz6316]

I'm wondering about your use of the term "one hit wonder". Do you mean a group or solo artist who had only one #1 hit, or a group or solo artist who only had one hit, period? Because you have C.W. McCall, who had multiple C&W hit singles ("Roses for Mama", "Wolf Creek Pass") but only one #1 C&W hit ("Convoy"). And Flatt & Scruggs had a number of other country hits over the years, going back to their original recording of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown", back in 1949. The Beverly Hillbillies theme song was merely their only #1 hit.

[@CountryMusicTimeMachine]

Yes, it is really confusing. Generally it is only one, let's say top 10 yet. CW did have "Roses for Mama" but Convoy was a cultural phenomenon and most folks don't know his other songs. But sometimes a 1 hit wonder is hard to define!

[@annem8152]

Pistol Packin' Mama sounds like Big Band. I like it, but it's not country. One hit wonder means that artist never had another hit. These don't qualify. :D

[@MamaDeb62]

I like Hoyt Axton’s true country version better.

[@Spitfirethedragon]

Bobbie Gentry's Ole To Billy Joe Elle King and Miranda Lambert's Drunk And I Don't Want To Go Home Nelly and Florida Georgia Line Lil Bit Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus with Old Town Road (Yes, I think of that song more of that sounded more like traditional country than songs of today.) Beyonce's Texas Hold Em Julie Roberts, The Wreckers, The Tractors, James Otto, Jessica Andrews, Aaron Lines, Billy Gilman, Kevin Sharp, Elvie Shane, Niko Moon, Blanco Brown, Bebe Rhexa, Lindsey Ell, Cam, A Thousand Horses, Zach Top, Drew Baldridge, Eric Heatherly, Kenny G, Anita Cochran, Perfect Stranger, Julio Iglesious, Bertie Higgings, Jim Stafford, Steven Tyler, Barry Sanders, Jimmy Boyd, Jamie Johnson, Cyndi Thomson, Oliver Anthony, Caroline Jones, Adele, The Pointer Sisters, Ty England, Lanco, Randy Rogers Band, Hot Apple Pie, Tucker Beathard, JT Hodges, and Vince Gill's Reason Why. Brian McComas now the lead singer for Desert City Ramblers who racked up 3 top 40 which 1 went top 25 on the Billboard small markets for radio airplay, Greg Bates, Sunny Sweeny, Lost Trailers, Steal Magnolias, and many others. Some people say Billy Ray Cyrus is a one hit wonder, but Ready Set Don't Go with Miley Cyrus and Old Town Road on Lil Nas X's hit made him more of a household name with the younger people.

[@CountryMusicTimeMachine]

Good info. We will see if Beyonce has another hit. I'm not sure how big of a hit it was but "Some Gave All" from Billy was a good one.

[@danieljackett4193]

Aaron Lines You Can't Hide Beautiful is an amazing song Jessica Andrews had at least 3 other songs that were hits Lindsay Ell should be getting MAJOR airplay on radio, and LONG before her duet with Brantley Gilbert

[@ernestcruz6316]

Billy Ray Cyrus actually had a couple of other hits from his debut album: "Where'm I Gonna Live (When I Get Home)" and "Some Gave All", plus one hit from his second album. Individual people have their own interpretations of just what makes groups or artists one hit wonders. For me it's if a group or artist has just one song that cracks the Top 40 on an individual singles chart.

[@benjaminchandler7919]

Whose that one guy that sounds like Johnny Cash and sings a song called “Country Bumpkin”

[@CountryMusicTimeMachine]

I think that's Cal Smith. Number 1 song in 1974!

[@TheBrooklynbodine]

Cal Smith.

[@TheBrooklynbodine]

@@CountryMusicTimeMachine You're right. He also hit #1 in late 1972 with "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking," which even reached #64 pop.

[@tracycarver5643]

Not sure if it was a one hit but "teddy bear"

[@terricunningham6810]

help is on it's way by the little river band is their only #1 hit.

[@tonybevill5274]

None, not one, of these artist were "one hit wonders". Each was a pretty sizeable star in their own right, a couple were megastars. What was this guy trying to spotlight afterall?

[@CountryMusicTimeMachine]

Based on having only one number one hit on the Billboard country chart they are considered one hit wonders. Some are very famous but in most cases they did not have multiple number one hits. Mostly disappeared from the chart after that.

[@paulsmith295]

You should have played the whole songs on all of them

[@CountryMusicTimeMachine]

Sorry. Due to copyright issues I can't always play the entire song. The CMTM was designed to tell the history of country music and the stories behind the music. Please support the artists by getting their full songs on KZbin, Spotify, etc. Thanks for watching.

[@paulsmith295]

@@CountryMusicTimeMachine ok thanks

[@mrbeaverstate]

Bings was more Western I think.

[@CountryMusicTimeMachine]

Yep. Back then it was hard to tell the difference.

[@louisjriversjr9093]

What about Lynn Anderson's "Rose Garden"..

[@jacklow9611]

That wasn't a one-hit wonder.

[@ernestcruz6316]

Only on the Pop chart. She had a bunch of other Country hits.

[@kimberlywiederhold627]

I think you missed the idea of what a one hit wonder is. You need to rename it.

[@CountryMusicTimeMachine]

Mainly I tried to focus on one big number one hit with no other numbers ones or other number ones few remember. Sometimes its hard because some songs never make it to number one but are actually bigger hits than some of the number ones.