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It’s surprising how many classic recordings were the one and only hit for the artist concerned. We’ve selected ten of the best one-hit wonders, spanning 1954 to 1979.

The definition used for “one-hit wonder” is an artist who only broke the US top 40 once. Most released additional music, but just couldn’t repeat their initial success.

Enjoy ten of the best one hit wonders.

The Chords – Sh-Boom (1954)

“Sh-Boom,” also known as “Life Could Be A Dream,” was released by both the Chords and the Crew Cuts in 1954 and was a top ten hit for both. The Crew Cuts had the bigger hit, reaching number one, but the song was written by members of the Chords.

The Chords formed in 1951 in the Bronx, New York and began recording for Atlantic Records three years later. “Sh-Boom” was their only hit, but also an important record as it was an early example of a single having significant crossover appeal from the R&B chart to the pop chart. The group soon changed their name to the Chordcats, after learning that a group called the Chords already existed. They then called themselves the Sh-Booms in an effort to capitalise on their hit record, but there was no more chart success for the group.

The Silhouettes – Get A Job (1958)

“Get A Job” hit number one on the Billboard pop and R&B charts in February 1958, selling more than one million copies. It became a doo-wop standard and has featured on the soundtracks of big movies such as Stand By Me and American Graffiti.

The Silhouettes were formed in 1956 in Philadelphia. They released several other records, inclding “Heading for the Poorhouse,” but only “Get A Job” made an impact on the charts. The group broke up in 1968, but did reform in the 1980s, before disbanding again in 1993.

The Monotones – The Book of Love (1958)

“The Book of Love” was a number five hit on the Billboard pop chart in 1958 and also a top five hit in Australia. The classic song is referenced in the lyrics of Don Maclean’s “American Pie” and Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll.”

The Monotones were together from 1955 to 1962. They begun by covering popular songs of the day, but “The Book of Love” was written by members of the band. They attempted to repeat the success of this single with several follow-ups, including “Zombi” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” but none were successful.

Bruce Channel – Hey Baby (1962)

“Hey Baby” was another number one on the Billboard pop charts, remaining there for three weeks in March 1962 and selling over one million copies. The song was memorably used on the Dirty Dancing movie soundtrack in 1987.

Bruce Channel had been around several years before releasing “Hey Baby” but that was his first and only top 40 hit. Four singles did break the top 100, but the most successful of those was “Number One Man” which peaked at number 52. Channel did tour on the strength of “Hey Baby,” which had also hit number two in the UK, and was supported by the still unknown Beatles at one show.

Thunderclap Newman – Something in the Air (1969)

This brilliant track was a UK number one in 1969 and hit number 25 in the US the following year, after appearing on the soundtracks of the movies “The Magic Christian” and “The Strawberry Statement.” The song continues to be used on soundtracks and for commercials to this day.

Thunderclap Newman was a band created by The Who’s guitarist, Pete Townshend, to showcase the songs of John Keen, who had been The Who’s chauffeur for a time. Townshend played bass on the single and he was joined by Andy Newman on piano, Jimmy MCCulloch on guitar and Keen on drums and vocals. For the small number of live appearances undertaken by the band, Townshend was replaced on bass by Jim Pitman-Avory. The follow-up single, “Accidents,” didn’t chart at all in the US, but made number 44 in the UK. Two further singles failed to chart and the band split up.

Zager and Evans – In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus) (1969)

“In the Year 2525” was another one hit wonder that hit the top of the charts. It achieved this feat in both the UK and US and had sold four million copies by 1970.

The Zager & Evans duo were Denny Zager and Rick Evans, who hailed from Nebraska and began performing together in the mid-1960s. They did have a number of follow up singles after “In the Year 2525,” including “Mr Turnkey,” but none broke the top 40.

Norman Greenbaum – Spirit in the Sky (1970)

“Spirit in the Sky” was number one in several countries in 1970 and reached number three in the US, selling two million copies. It has one of the most memorable guitar intros in pop history. The song has been covered several times and both Doctor and the Medics and Gareth Gates took their versions to number one in the UK (in 1986 and 2003, respectively).

Norman Greenbaum had performed in Dr West’s Medicine Show and Junk Band before the release of “Spirit in the Sky” and would release a few more songs following his big hit. None broke the US top 40, but “Canned Ham” came close at number 43.

Carl Douglas – Kung Fu Fighting (1974)

“Kung Fu Fighting” was a huge success for Carl Douglas, hitting number one in the US and the UK and winning a Grammy for Best Selling Single.

Jamaican-born Douglas has guested on tracks by other artists and released two other solo singles, “Blue Eyed Soul” and “Dance The Kung Fu”, but only “Kung Fu Fighting” was a hit.

Wild Cherry – Play that Funky Music (1976)

“Play that Funky Music” is one of the great funk rock records of the 1970s, notable for its opening riff, which carries through the song. The song was number one on the US pop and R&B charts. Wild Cherry received an American Music Award for top R&B single of the year for the song and there were also Grammy nominations for best new vocal group and best R&B performance by a group or duo. The single appeared on the band’s debut album, “Wild Cherry,” and both the single and album went platinum.

Wild Cherry was formed in 1970, but had broken up and reformed with a different line up by the time “Play that Funky Music” was recorded in 1976. All signs were that the band were going to do great things, but although they recorded a further three albums after “Wild Cherry,” none sold as well as the debut and they didn’t manage another top 40 hit.

The Buggles – Video Killed the Radio Star (1979)

“Video Killed the Radio Star” hit number one in the UK and a number of other countries in 1979, but peaked at number 40 in the US. The song has the distinction of being the first song played on MTV when it was launched on August 1, 1981.

The Buggles were a British new wave band who recorded between 1979 and 1981, releasing two albums – “The Age of Plastic” and “Adventures in Modern Recording.” They had moderate success with a couple of other singles in the UK and parts of Europe, but only “Video Killed the Radio Star” made the US top 40.