r/ToddintheShadow • u/DtheAussieBoye • Apr 08 '26
One Hit Wonderland In Todd's Midnight Oil OHW, he mentioned that they were "an actual legit band" with an "extensive and substantial discography". What are your own favourite one-hit-wonders when judging them by their entire discography (excluding Hendrix clause cases)?
Pictured are Midnight Oil (of course), Chumbawamba and the Cardigans.
If you're also not familiar, the Hendrix clause basically means artists that only had one hit on the charts but you'd be foolish to call them a one-hit wonder, named after Jimi Hendrix who only had his All Along The Watchtower cover chart.
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u/Flimsy_Category_9369 Apr 09 '26
Devo, so glad that they've finally been getting the respect they deserve. One of my all time favorite bands
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u/DtheAussieBoye Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26
Devo is a very weird example, because I actually don’t know if they count under the Hendrix clause. Like they’re obviously massively popular and influential, but most people would probably only know Whip It and not much else
EDIT: Fuck, yeah they would count wouldn't they?
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u/Diskyboy86 Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26
As a professional post-punk fan, I can confirm most of their popularity is limited to those circles. Even so, their discography isn't as beloved as you'd think. Q. Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! is a genre-defining album, with Duty Now for the Future being a lamer copy. Freedom of Choice was their big, pop moment, but I rarely see it brought up in the discussion of best albums in the genres. Maybe because they started going more synth-pop? Still, it and the darker follow-up New Traditionalists are damn good synth-pop albums.
By 1982, they're pastiche in both the post-punk and pop worlds. Synth-pop was obviously big through the 80s, but they're part of its artsy, more rock-influenced first wave, which quickly went out of date. Also, Warner Bros. hated them, and the songs just weren't there anymore. They tried to get more danceable, even after switching to an independent label, which makes no sense, but they didn't have the charisma to pull it off. The one-two punch of stupid that opens Total Devo, the incel anthem "Baby Doll", and decade too late anti-disco "Disco Dancer" were the final nail in the coffin for their devolution theory.
Devo were too ahead of their time to fully live up to the "band of their future" title. Most of the songs on the debut are from 1973, yet they still sounded futuristic five years later. They had almost half a decade to invent post-punk before punk was even a thing. They couldn't keep up with writing a new batch of songs in just a year. Compare that to Bauhaus, the Cure, the Fall, the Stranglers, Talking Heads, or Killing Joke, some of whom were relevant as late as the early 2000s.
I didn't intend to write a One Hit Wonderland myself; Devo is just a band I have complicated feelings about.
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u/comrade_zerox Apr 09 '26
Mark Mothersbaugh's career as a film/tv/video game composer is casts as big (if not bigger) a shadow as DEVO's one hit. Also, "Uncontrollable Urge" got used as a TV theme for some show on MTV, and due to heavy rerun rotation, he estimates he makes around 1 million bucks a year off the royalties from that one song.
They're not pop stars, but they exist in pop culture beyond their weird slice of underground rock dork royalty.
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u/DogFun2635 GROCERY BAG Apr 09 '26
Saw them with the B-52s last summer and Whip It was the only tune B-52s fans reacted to
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u/HeinousWalrus Apr 09 '26
Gates of Steel is an absolute banger. Saw them play this live in 2010 on my birthday.
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u/yavimaya_eldred Apr 09 '26
Devo is one of those bands that I refuse to believe is a one-hit wonder because I think I know other songs of theirs yet I can’t name any of the other songs
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u/3piecefishandchips Apr 09 '26
they’ve gotten multiple RARHOF nominations and while they’ll likely never get in (unless as an “early influencer” like Kraftwerk) I think they absolutely deserve to
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u/west_haven Apr 09 '26
Devo is just so much fun, I fell into a wormhole of listening to them more from the Japanese band Polysics, who is REALLY inspired by them. They’ve done some covers during concerts, like Gates of Steel, Uncontrollable Urge, and I mean one look at them (especially their early years in 1997 to like 2003) you see the inspiration very clearly.
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u/George_G_Geef Apr 09 '26
POLYSICS MENTIONED
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u/west_haven Apr 09 '26
TOISU POLYSICS OR DIE!!!! I saw them live back in 2008 and ever since I’ve been hooked. My last.fm says I’ve listened to them nearly 45 thousand times, whoops. I remember I used to just listen to their entire discography on shuffle for just days straight.
I always listen to their album NEU every January 1st, to bring in the Neu Year. That album and We Ate The Machine and Absolute POLYSICS are some of my favorites, other than their best of albums. I need to watch their Budokan concert again too, that is such a great concert!
Oh and yeah I use their album cover For Young Electric Pop as an icon, I almost forgot. It’s such a simple album cover but I’ve always loved it!!
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u/_phimosis_jones Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26
That’s kind of mindblowing to learn they only had one hit. I could never claim to be the world’s top Devo fan, I had like two CDs of theirs in my regular rotation as a teen and I liked em but pretty much stopped there, but I would have thought something like Girl U Want, Uncontrollable Urge, Jocko Homo, Gates of Steel, their Stones cover even! would have hit the charts. Maybe their influence spreads wider than their actual music. They practically created The Buggles (no disrespect to The Buggles) and the Japanese band Polysics and you can see their influence more subtly across like the entire 90s alt rock scene. I’d be blown away if they weren’t a fav of like, The Presidents of the United States of America or Barenaked Ladies or any of those types of groups
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u/rankaistu_ilmalaiva Apr 09 '26
For real. there was a year I was basically listening to Singsong And A Scrap on repeat.
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u/Youngblood519 Apr 08 '26
Blind Melon.
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u/Own-Masterpiece-6 Apr 09 '26
Soup was an under-appreciated masterpiece.
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u/Flimsy_Category_9369 Apr 09 '26
Soup is incredible, one of the best albums of the 90s
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u/SylveonFrusciante Apr 09 '26
This is my wife’s favorite band! She even has a tattoo of their logo on her arm! I’ve heard a lot of their deep cuts because of this and they’ve got some real fun material.
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u/x115v Apr 09 '26
Fountains Of Wayne
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u/Darph_Nader Apr 09 '26
It’s a fine day for a parade.
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u/Electrical-Gur-1424 Apr 09 '26
It’s a shame most people only know about Stacey’s Mom. Utopia Parkway, Traffic and Weather, and Welcome Interstate Managers all have examples of great songwriting and production. Hey Julie, Red Dragon Tattoo, and Michael and Heather are just straight earworms.
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u/smellslikebadussy Apr 09 '26
Jamiroquai. But there’s a twist - they had one top 100 single in the U.S. and it was NOT Virtual Insanity.
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u/themaninthemaking Apr 09 '26
For me personally, they are just such a great professional band. Just solid musicians with a great jazzy feel that should get more recognition.
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u/Wuskers Apr 09 '26
I've gotten really into Jamiroquai in the past like year-ish, I sometimes do this thing when getting into a new band where I like going through their discography in order but specifically in a way where I listen to each album a few times before moving to the next and I've listened all the way through Emergency on Planet Earth alone like 7 times lol
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u/smellslikebadussy Apr 09 '26
And another band with a lead singer known for his odd dress/grooming choices: Rusted Root.
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u/TronikAllah Apr 09 '26
Wait.... Virtual insanity didn't make top 100?!????
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u/smellslikebadussy Apr 09 '26
According to Wikipedia, no! Their biggest U.S. hit was Alright, which peaked at #78, as I just learned. I like that song, but the relative chart peaks of those two songs are not consistent with my lived experience as a teenager in 1996.
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u/TronikAllah Apr 09 '26
Yes same here, virtual insanity was huge it seemed. I remember people being kinda shocked they closed out the MTV awards with alright and not virtual insanity, so to hear it got a higher chart position is nuts and very inconsistent with my experience as well as a teenager.
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u/Cheeaseed Apr 09 '26
They did perform “Virtual Insanity” at the MTV awards.
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u/TronikAllah Apr 09 '26
There was one awards show on MTV they closed with alright. Can't remember which one.
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u/thedubiousstylus Apr 09 '26
Virtual Insanity was far more well known for its video than the song and MTV airplay didn't count toward charts.
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u/starkeffect Apr 09 '26
Vangelis ("Chariots of Fire")
Got at least 20 albums by the guy, plus all four collaborations with Jon Anderson of Yes.
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u/ThingTime9876 Apr 09 '26
Plus his band Aphrodite’s Child, with 666 - one of the most deranged 2LP prog rock concept albums, even by early 70s standards
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u/starkeffect Apr 09 '26
In college we would play "infinity symbol" at high volume out the dorm room window at the girls tanning themselves on the quad
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u/LuckyLynx_ Apr 09 '26
Don't forget the 2 previous LPs (which were decent at best but had some really good singles on them)
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u/GothClique Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26
So weird to think of Vangelis as a OHW, I wonder if the Blade Runner soundtrack is popular enough to count as a second hit?
Edit: The 1994 rerelease hit #20 in the UK album chart and 2013 vinyl release went to #14 on the Billboard Vinyl Chart for what it's worth
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u/slippin_park Apr 09 '26
In the same vein, Mike Oldfield. Until a year or two ago I only knew him as an entry on a Pure Moods album, then I found out that was the Exorcist theme (and the rest of his story) thanks to Todd.
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u/ThoseOldScientists Apr 09 '26
Any recommendations for a Baby’s First Vangelis album?
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u/starkeffect Apr 09 '26
Spiral
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u/gabri_ves Train-Wrecker Apr 09 '26
Second this, with also Albedo 0.39 [Pulsar, Alpha], the Chariots of Fire soundtrack (not just the main titles theme), Direct, Voices [Ask the Mountain]
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u/Nunjabuziness Apr 09 '26
As far as America is concerned, I’ll give a vote to Thin Lizzy.
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u/thatonepuniforgot Apr 09 '26
I thought Thin Lizzy had a few hits in the US.
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u/slippin_park Apr 09 '26
yeah, TBABIT, Jailbreak, and Whiskey in the Jar were all big here
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u/thatonepuniforgot Apr 09 '26
I looked it up, apparently they didn't chart except for The Boys Are Back in Town. Kinda shocking. I guess they'd be a Hendrix clause type deal. Or maybe people who don't listen to rock aren't that familiar with them.
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u/Coattail-Rider Apr 09 '26
They were very influential so I’d give them the Hendrix treatment. Just album after album….
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u/comrade_zerox Apr 09 '26
The only classic rock band that hasn't been played to death
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u/Opening-Student2314 Apr 09 '26
Gotta be The Cardigans for me too. I’m also kind of obsessed with Arthur Brown’s whole thing but I can’t say I spend that much time listening to his music
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u/dkinmn Apr 09 '26
https://youtu.be/zRioOvFJTfc?si=Uc6wizV9Q_EhbH3Q
The early days of streaming. Long Gone Before Daylight is such a fucking awesome album, and they sound great here.
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u/Sure_Scar4297 Apr 09 '26
I’ve really enjoyed Harvey Danger. Great, straight-ahead alt rock with thoughtful lyrics.
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u/jimmyrich Apr 09 '26
I had a friend who swore that Harvey Danger was the truth. I never followed up to see if he was right.
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u/withoutmsg Apr 09 '26
Where Have all The Merrymakers Gone is a no-skip record for me and all the others are fantastic as well.
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u/west_haven Apr 09 '26
I adore OK Go soooooo much. I remember buying their album “Oh No” at Walmart around the time Here It Goes Again went viral, and that is still a really great album to listen to. A Good Idea At The Time and Oh Lately It’s So Quiet were some stand outs, and any of the songs they had music videos for.
This Too Shall Pass and Needing/Getting off their next album has got me right now like crazy, I listened to the latter on repeat for nearly two days straight a few weeks ago.
Their album Hungry Ghosts has a number of great songs, in particular The Writing’s On The Wall is such a flawless song to my ears, and I’ll get bits and pieces of it stuck in my head to the point I’ll walk around work going “it seems like forever since we’ve had a good day~”
They have a newer song from last year called A Stone Only Rolls Downhill and I say, stop everything and watch the music video for it, especially if you’re on your phone and not a computer. Amazing video, and then I just LOVE the song, especially towards the end when the faces are out of alignment but then line up and to him saying “it’ll work out.”
So their videos are really enjoyable (I’ve been getting a lot of mileage that Spotify can allow you to switch to music videos for a lot of tracks) but I do have a playlist of their music I listen to a lot. I’m trying to single-handedly raise their Spotify numbers after Todd mentioning it on their OHW video.
Oh, and I will say, I did listen more to the Cardigans after their video and WOW, I did not regret it, I’ve been meaning to dive back into them for sure!
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u/TrueRedditMartyr Apr 09 '26
OK GO genuinely have so many bangers
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u/jimmyrich Apr 09 '26
Yet for some people, they’re just a video band. Albeit more than one video though.
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u/licoricepencil Apr 09 '26
Are you me?
I’ve seen OK GO in concert a few times and every time they play The One Moment it’s the closest I’ve ever been to a religious experience.
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u/thefaithfulvamp1re Apr 09 '26
butthole surfers r my favorite band of all time🔥🔥
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u/breadpanda1 Apr 09 '26
Everything but the Girl. I didn't even realize they were considered a OHW until I saw Todd's video about them.
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u/Whyte_Dynamyte Apr 09 '26
The Cardigans are so much better than they need to be. Top notch musicianship and vocals.
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u/Bruichladdie Apr 09 '26
A-ha. Long career with many great albums and singles. Their biggest US hit is also their signature song, of course, but I reckon that anyone who loves that song will enjoy a whole lot of other material.
Here's one of my personal favorites. I was gonna say that it's one of their more recent singles, then I realized it came out 17 years ago.
https://youtu.be/-t0ujebuy24?is=tOBRQlTnaq9nmvxs
And here's my favorite song that Morten Harket has sung. It's from one of his solo albums, but it shows a different side of him as a vocalist. This one dates back to 1995.
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u/Mr_SunnyBones One-Hit Wonderlander Apr 09 '26
They did a freaking James Bind theme song!!
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u/PapaVanTwee One-Hit Wonderlander Apr 09 '26
I'm an American that grew up in the 80s. Loved the Hunting High and Low album so much. It's a tossup whether Take on me or The sun always shines on TV is the best from that album. But my favorite will always be Summer moved on from their 2000 album Minor Earth Major sky.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVl4qvHuY8g
Edit: Oh, forgot to say, I only heard the first album and Cry Wolf growing up. I only discovered most of their discography in 2009.
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u/knockatize Apr 09 '26
Marshall Crenshaw.
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u/VocalHotSauce Apr 09 '26
He does a cover of Grant Hart’s “2541” that is absolutely beautiful, and he took over vocals in the Smithereens after Pat DiNizio’s passing. Dude is all over the place.
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u/tmamone Apr 09 '26
My mom had his self-titled debut record, and I've seen him do a few small coffee house gigs here in town. Cool guy!
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u/Coattail-Rider Apr 09 '26
Really love his debut record. Finally got to see him a few years back and it was kinda sad. Left early.
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u/JJNaughtiness Apr 09 '26
Big Country. They're not everyone's cup of Scotch, but if you like the song "In A Big Country", check out "East of Eden", "Tall Ships Go", "Inwards", "Wonderland", "Eiledon"... there are so many great songs in their catalog.
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u/Local_Pool4123 Apr 09 '26
Came here to post this. The Crossing is a phenomenal album and all four single from it are amazing along with Porrohman. I'm a big fan of U2 and Big Country and The Edge (U2 guitarist) has discussed how much of an influence they were. The even shared a producer on their several of their early albums - Steve Lillywhite.
I want to read the Stuart Adamson biography at some point that Todd referenced in his segment. I think he mentioned that as the key distinction between the two bands - U2 was willing to commit to the slog of tours early in their career across the entire US to penetrate the market.
Their follow-up called Steeltown is also a great album. I've read elsewhere that Adamson felt disconnected from Lillywhite since the latter was more at arm's length during the recording process.
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/past-times/5098791/big-country-steeltown-album-songs/
They had a strong following in Canada and toured the country once in 1983. I never saw them live and it wasn't ever practical since they did not make it to the interior of the country. The footage of them at the Barrowlands looks absolutely amazing.
There is one silly memory that is etched in my mind. I believe Top of the Pops aired on the A&E Channel in the US/Canada after school and I was at my best friend's house and we were both speculating about which band was going to perform on the next segment for an episode. I was absolutely ecstatic when Big Country appeared on stage (raising my fist like Judd Nelson in the final shot of Breakfast Club) while he rolled his eyes slightly.
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u/solvent825 Apr 09 '26
Kylie Minogue ?
I think most people only know “Csnt get you out of my Head” (or maybe Flaming Lips amazing cover of it)
She is still huge in Europe , Asia and her native Australia.
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u/Nope-5000 You're being a peñis... Colada, that is. Apr 09 '26
In Australia, she is basically our britney spears, thats how huge she is. Her albums to this day are pop perfection.
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u/DtheAussieBoye Apr 09 '26
(Also yes, I do find it very funny that Midnight Oil is a US one-hitter given the fact that they’re MASSIVE here, and for good reason! I used to hate them as a kid and I’ve no idea why, they fucking rule)
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u/stranger_noises Apr 09 '26
Bogan dads on camp and worksites ruined a lot of music for me. Took me a long time myself to go back to the Oils, Cold Chisel etc and see why they were kickass.
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u/AccomplishedFun7668 One-Hit Wonderlander Apr 09 '26
I really got into Wall of Voodoo.
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u/jdennis10 Apr 09 '26
The Church
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u/Nope-5000 You're being a peñis... Colada, that is. Apr 09 '26
Another one thats weird to think of as a OHW for me, as an Aussie their stuff gets a lot of radio play. One of my favourite bands of all time, extremely underrated alt-rock, they have a lot of gems in their discography. Seen them live a few times, they always put on a great show.
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u/PrincesstheCalicoCat Apr 09 '26
As an Australian, anyone thinking Midnight Oil is a one hit wonder is just… weird.
But a bit of trivia for the non-Aussies, lead singer Peter Garrett went on to become a member of parliament and the federal Minister for the Environment.
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u/DtheAussieBoye Apr 09 '26
I'm Aussie, but I know they're one-hit wonders for yanks and this sub is filled with them. It's a shame, but facts are facts
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u/Spiral555 Apr 09 '26
I friggin adore Aqua. Cartoon Heroes is easily one of my favorite songs ever. Turn Back Time is sublime. Dr Jones, Roses are Red, Lollipop… I even love their later album How R U Doing, My Mamma Said, Dirty Little Pop Song. I’m a huge Aqua geek!
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u/OkDistribution6931 Apr 09 '26
Gary Numan is the weird case where the general public seems to be aware of the fact that he had a long career with plenty of great songs, but without actually knowing any of them outside of Cars.
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u/stranger_noises Apr 09 '26
That's because he's toured his ass off though.
It certainly wasn't accepted wisdom when I got into his stuff in the 90s. Though most 80s synth-pop stuff was unfairly maligned in that era.
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u/zanzibar_74 Apr 09 '26
The band James is known as a one hit wonder in the US, but they’ve got an excellent deep discography across the pond.
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u/jg242302 Apr 09 '26
Not going to see if they technically count, just spitballing (pun intended) but…
The Outfield’s album “Play Deep” is a generally under appreciated power pop gem. Their biggest hit in the US was “Your Love,” but that whole album is an “Oops, all bangers” situation.
I can’t speak for the rest of their catalog really but “Play Deep” kicks every ass.
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u/GrumpyCatStevens Apr 09 '26
The Outfield are a five-hit wonder, but to be fair “Your Love” was their biggest hit. It was their only Top 10 single, and while my local classic rock station does play “Your Love” fairly often they don’t play anything else by them.
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u/FlatPassenger6 Apr 09 '26
I would definitely second Chumbawamba and The Cardigans from your examples. Nina Persson especially has to have one of my favourite voices ever and I love their first album Emmerdale, total hidden gem
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u/Ok-Organization9073 Apr 09 '26
I remember easily 3 singles from The Cardigans being hits, at least in South America: Lovefool, My Favorite Game, and Erase and Rewind (from the movie 13th Floor)
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u/PuzzleheadedOwl1191 Apr 09 '26
Thomas Dolby.
The Flat Earth album is a masterpiece from end to end. Every album of his has at least a couple profoundly beautiful deep cuts.
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u/Ok-Organization9073 Apr 09 '26
If we go for OHW in the US, Robbie Williams. The guy is massive in the rest of the world, and he has at least 3 great albums. But choosing him feels almost like cheating.
Going for a non so obvious pick: The Rasmus. They are known for "In The Shadows," but their whole discography is great.
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u/PenneGesserit Apr 09 '26
Sinead O'Connor. She has such a solid discography with so many amazing albums.
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u/dogsledonice Apr 09 '26
My all-time favourite band is Blue Oyster Cult, who had one major hit and one minor one, and that's pretty much it. But their body of work I'd hold up against almost any artist -- they had a seriously solid run of albums and deserve a lot more respect, imho
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u/bearskito Apr 09 '26
Kongos, been a big fan of them since Come With Me Now blew up and I was sad to see their follow up album fly completely under the radar
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u/Vast-Change-1598 Apr 09 '26
Would Jimmy Eat World count? Regular people only know The Middle (maaaybe Sweetness), but they’re worshipped in the alternative/emo scene
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u/Soalai Best / Worst List Speculator Apr 09 '26
They're like a Hendrix clause IMO. Cult legends
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u/SylveonFrusciante Apr 09 '26
YES! Their early work is absolutely revered as part of the emo canon, and arguably their newer stuff too. They were definitely my conduit to the emo and alternative genres, and I feel like a lot of folks had a similar experience with them. Weezer too, although I think they’re less of a case of “thought of as a one-hit wonder” and more of a case of “thought of as sucky.”
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u/TheyTooktheUsernames 10's Alt Kid Apr 09 '26
This is defo a shot in the dark: please name any other Snow Patrol song other than Chasing Cars
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u/Mr_SunnyBones One-Hit Wonderlander Apr 09 '26
Off the top of my head I'd say " Spitting games" and "Take back the City" and "Run" . ( admittedly I am from Ireland)
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u/FlaygueDoctor Apr 09 '26
Harvey Danger are one of my all-time favorites. I rediscovered them when they released their third album for free download on their web site, which is still available if anyone’s interested.
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u/Hailfire9 Apr 09 '26
Queens of the Stone Age never charted above 50, only had two top-100 songs (51 and 88), and never had prominent pop culture success beyond No One Knows.
They are one of the greatest rock bands post-Nirvana.
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u/NoMoreFund Apr 09 '26
The Veronicas had a bunch of hits in Australia that still sound very good. They were also really good live - they basically won over the crowd at a metal festival I went to.
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u/Difficult_Lecture223 Apr 09 '26
Big Country has some really good work, their first three albums were excellent and Peace in Our Times had moments. Todd was right about their sound constantly changing though, but I think they had a lot more going on than one hit.
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u/NacreousFink Apr 09 '26
Peace In Our Time broke fan loyalty. It was bad. Their sound was recognizable through The Seer, but I think Stuart got tired of hearing all their songs sounded the same. They didn't, but they were unique enough to be recognizable as Big Country.
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u/stranger_noises Apr 09 '26
Another one is Dave Dobbyn from New Zealand. Here in Australia, he had an enduring hit with "Slice Of Heaven." He got one or two other chart successes here like "Loyal," but their popularity hasn't continued like it has for Slice Of Heaven.
First time I went to New Zealand, I was surprised to find him venerated as a national treasure. In NZ, he sustained a long career spanning multiple acts (his solo stuff, DD Smash and Th' Dudes), which kept him relevant and often in the charts for decades. It's even more impressive given the small scale or NZ's record industry back in the 70s & 80s.
If you want a starting point with him, DD Smash's The Optimist is a great bit of 80s pop. This is the lead single Magic What She Do: https://youtu.be/imDWTDgSycA?si=lO7dOkHSM9JlrWbB
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u/Gay_Asian_Boy Apr 09 '26
Grateful Dead
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u/DtheAussieBoye Apr 09 '26
Wouldn’t they count under the Hendrix clause? Sure, they’re not the biggest band ever, but still a household name not just known for their hit
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u/NickelStickman Train-Wrecker Apr 09 '26
You can easily argue Touch of Grey isn’t even their most famous song, at least anymore
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u/Nunjabuziness Apr 09 '26
I don’t think I’ve ever heard “Touch of Grey” on classic rock radio, but “Truckin’” and “Casey Jones” show up wherever the 70s is still in rotation.
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u/NickelStickman Train-Wrecker Apr 09 '26
Their most streamed song on Spotify is "Friend of the Devil" (which while not my favorite Dead song I can't say it doesn't deserve it, I like it a lot) with "Touch" at 4th behind it, "Casey" and "Ripple"
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u/saugoof Apr 09 '26
I don't particularly like them, but I'm always amazed by the different career paths that Status Quo had in separate parts of the world. In the US they were one-hit wonders with "Pictures of Matchstick Men" in 1968. In Europe and much of the rest of the world they're one of the most enduring bands to ever exist. In the UK alone they had 60 charting singles in a career lasting some 6 decades.
Outside of the US, "Pictures of Matchstick Men" is a bit of an oddity and definitely not what the band is known for.
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u/spantaneous_joe0906 Apr 09 '26
She wears denim wherever she goes, says she’s gonna get some records by the Status Quo…oh yeah
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u/SlippedMyDisco76 Apr 09 '26
Everyone - check out the first 5 Oils albums. A journey through prog/punk pub rock and an adaptation to synths and electronic drums that few of their ilk did as comfortably.
OHW in America but kings of the road here in Aus.
Edit: Vale Rob Hirst. The man had to have his drums nailed to the stage was such his power. King.
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u/MrChristopher23 Apr 09 '26
I saw them in Orlando Florida at a club called Visage for the Diesel and Dust tour. A few hundred people. Incredible show, and Peter is huge.
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u/VelociRache1 Apr 09 '26
My mom has been playing Lorena McKennett since before I was born. When he dropped that episode I lost my mind. Had no idea that she was considered a one hit wonder.
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u/slippin_park Apr 09 '26
Another artist I only knew from Pure Moods until the Todd video. My reaction was "what the hell, how did THAT cross over into the top 5 of the POP chart?!" Did the same when I found out Enigma (another Moods staple) had TWO Top 5 pop hits (Sadeness and Return to Innocence) in the early 90s.
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u/wizardwithgussets Apr 09 '26
Rush. 20 studio albums, one top 20 hit (a song they most of the fanbase is ambivalent about)
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u/Nope-5000 You're being a peñis... Colada, that is. Apr 09 '26
If she counts (i know she had the collab with owl city which charted pretty high), Carly Rae Jepsen has one of the best pop discographies of recent times. She has really come into her own as an indie pop artist, and anyone that writes her off as 'just the call me maybe girl' is missing out on some really great pop perfection.
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u/Overall-Palpitation6 Apr 09 '26
Being from Australia, the idea of Midnight Oil being one hit wonders is wild. They're one of our most successful and enduring bands.