Let’s take a trip back to the 1980’s and revisit twenty songs that “SMASHED” the UK Charts!
When you initially think of a ‘one-hit wonder’ you might be inclined to think of it as nothing more than that single moment of success, an artist’s moment in the sun. For some, that was the case, but for others, it was just part of a long musical journey. Nowadays, the ‘one-hit-wonder’ is looked upon as a badge of honour, a favourite-search on the internet, and without a doubt – always remembered with fondness.
During the 1980s there were more than 300 one-hit wonders, here we look at twenty of the biggest and the best. Songs we most definitely danced the night away to. Enjoy!
20. Double – The Captain Of Her Heart
The Captain of Her Heart was a song by the Swiss duo, Kurt Maloo and Felix Haug. Double, released as a single from their debut studio album, Blue (1985). The single was an international success, reaching No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. Follow-ups had little effect and they split after their second album due to musical differences, though they remained friends. Sadly, Haug died of a heart attack in 2004.
19. Furniture – Brilliant Mind
Brilliant Mind was a song by British, Electronic New Wave band Furniture. Released as a single in 1986, it reached No. 21 on the UK Singles Chart in July of that year and remains as the band’s only hit song to chart.
18. The Rainmakers – Let My People Go-Go
The Rainmakers are a Kansas City, Missouri-based rock band, fronted by Bob Walkenhorst. In 1987, Let My People Go-Go, a tongue-in-cheek, semi-satirical record reached No. 18 on the UK Singles Chart.
17. Yarbrough & Peoples – Don’t Stop The Music
Don’t Stop the Music was taken from the duo’s 1980 debut album, The Two of Us. The song reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 7 in the UK. It fared even better on the US R&B chart, where it hit the No 1 spot.
16. Bobby McFerrin – Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Don’t Worry, Be Happy is a song by American musician Bobby McFerrin. Released in September 1988, it was the first Acappella song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Originally released as part of the film Cocktail, it originally peaked at No. 88 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was then re-released the same year and peaked at No. 1. McFerrin also won Song of the Year and Record of the Year at the 1989 Grammy Awards.
15. Breathe – Hands To Heaven
Hands to Heaven was the English band Breathe’s international breakthrough hit. Their jazz-pop ballad peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart in August 1988. The band also enjoyed some chart success in the late 80s but parted ways in 1992 due to their frustration with the lack of promotion from their record label.
14. Will Powers – Kissing With Confidence
Kissing with Confidence is a song by Will Powers (the stage name of photographer Lynn Goldsmith) from her 1983 album Dancing for Mental Health. Goldsmith used a voice recorder to sound like a man for the track as well as having Carly Simon as an uncredited singer on the hit. Released as a single in the UK, it peaked at No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart
13. The Safety Dance – Men Without Hats
The Safety Dance is a song by Canadian new wave band Men Without Hats, it was the second single from their debut album “Rhythm of Youth”. It was written by lead singer Ivan Doroschuk after he had been kicked out of a club for doing the pogo dance. The song peaked at No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
12. The Adventures – Broken Land
Broken Land was a song by Northern Irish band The Adventures, released in 1988 from the Belfast band’s album The Sea of Love. The track depicted the effects of the Troubles on The Adventures’ homeland. It was their biggest hit in the UK, spending 10 weeks on the chart. The song peaked at No. 20 on the UK Singles Chart and was the most-played song on BBC Radio 1 during 1988.
11. Timbuk 3 – The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades
The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades was a song by American rock band Timbuk 3. Formed in 1984 by husband and wife, Pat and Barbara McDonald, it was the opening track from their debut album, Greetings from Timbuk3. Released as the album’s first single in 1986, it was the band’s only notable mainstream hit, reaching No. 19 in the US and No. 21 in the UK charts.
10. Martha And The Muffins – Echo Beach
Echo Beach was a super-catchy song by the Canadian New-Wavers Martha and the Muffins. The track with its distinctive hook was released as a single from their album Metro Music in 1980 and won the Juno Award for Single of the Year. The album Metro Music achieved gold status but Echo Beach remained the band’s only significant international hit.
9. Rosie Vela – Magic Smile
Roseanne Vela is an American music graduate turned model and actress. After building a home recording studio, she turned her attention back to music in her 30s to record one album. The album Zazu was released on A&M Records in 1986. Though the album was critically acclaimed, it went largely unnoticed in the U.S. It fared better in Europe and a single from the album Magic Smile was a Top 30 hit in the UK Singles Chart. Vela ditched the follow-up LP to go into acting.
8. It Bites – Calling All The Heroes
It Bites are a Cumbrian prog-pop band, formed in 1982.
They are best known for their 1986 single “Calling All the Heroes”, which gained them a No. 6 spot in the UK Singles Chart. This track should have been the catalyst to bigger things for Francis Dunnery and co, but follow-up singles didn’t quite hit the same dizzy heights.
7. Owen Paul – My Favourite Waste Of Time
Owen Paul is a Scottish singer best known for his 1986 hit, “My Favourite Waste of Time”, that reached No. 3 in the UK charts. The track was originally the B-side of American singer Marshall Crenshaw’s 1982 hit “Someday, Someway”. Glaswegian, Paul nearly chose football over singing, but after hearing the Sex Pistols he decided to pursue a career in music. Paul still tours to this day.
6. Boy Meets Girl – Waiting For A Star To Fall
Waiting for a Star to Fall, is a song released by the pop duo Boy Meets Girl in 1988. It was an international hit and became their signature song. Inclusion on the “Three Men And A Little Lady” soundtrack helped it to No. 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 9 in the UK Singles Chart. Since its release, it has been remixed and covered by numerous artists, including Cabin Crew and Sunset Strippers.
5. Kim Carnes – Bette Davis Eyes
The song was originally a honky-tonk tune written and composed by Donna Weiss and Jackie DeShannon in 1974, but made popular by American singer Kim Carnes in 1981. Carnes’s 1981 version spent nine non-consecutive weeks at No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song won her Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The song was also a number one hit in 21 countries and peaked at No. 10 in the UK.
4. Orange Juice – Rip It Up
Rip It Up, was a 1983 single by Scottish indie-pop band Orange Juice. It was the second single from Edwyn Collins and co’s 1982 album of the same name. The much-loved song became the band’s only UK top 40 success, reaching No. 8 in the charts. In February 2005, Collins was hospitalised following two cerebral haemorrhages which resulted in aphasia. After many months of rehabilitation, Collins resumed his musical career during 2007. A documentary film on his recovery, titled “The Possibilities Are Endless”, was released in 2014.
3. Alphaville – Big In Japan
Big in Japan is the debut single of the German synth-pop band Alphaville. It was taken from their 1984 debut album Forever Young. The single was a huge success in the European mainland. It was also the group’s only UK hit, reaching No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart. Singer, Marian Gold developed the lyrics while going to a dentist. The idea was based on two friends who were heavily involved in the drug scene of Berlin’s Zoo station. The song tells of lovers who fantasize about being drug-free. The lyric “big in Japan” symbolises this idea of being successful in another world.
2. Fiction Factory – (Feels Like) Heaven
“(Feels Like) Heaven” was a song by the Scottish new wavers Fiction Factory. Written by Eddie Jordan and Kevin Patterson, it was released as a single in 1983 from their debut album Throw the Warped Wheel Out. This wonderful pop song, with its stick-in-the-head chorus, was a hit in mainland Europe plus reached No. 6 in the UK charts. The band from Perthshire recorded no notable chart positions with their next four singles.
1. The Lotus Eaters – The First Picture Of You
The First Picture of You, is an instantly recognisable song by Liverpudlian new wave band The Lotus Eaters. It was released as the group’s debut single in July 1983. It was included on Peter Coyle and co’s debut album ” No Sense of Sin”, which was released the following year. The song with its poetic, positive, heartwarming lyrics and video received more UK radio plays in 1983 than any other song. Over the years The First Picture of You has grown into that ultimate, lovable, one-hit-wonder.
Don’t forget to share the list with someone who loved ‘1980s music!
