3 One-Hit Wonders From 1958 You Probably Have Memorized

It might be hard to believe, but your brain can teleport back to the 1950s. They say that there is no such thing as time travel, but we here at American Songwriter beg to differ. Even though the era is some 75 years in the past, you can instantly (with the snap of your fingers or the push of a button) dive right back into the 1950s, even if you weren’t alive to experience it the first time.

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Don’t believe us? Well, here below, we wanted to explore three one-hit wonders from the decade that we’re sure you simply know by heart. Here is a trio of tunes from the time period that are not only on your mind, but that are also on the tip of your tongue. Indeed, these are three one-hit wonders from the year 1958 that you probably have memorized.

“Rockin’ Robin” by Bobby Day from ‘Rockin’ With Robin’ (1958)

Even before you hear this song, as soon as you know it’s queued up in the playlist, you can hear the twee-lee-dees in your mind. Why? Because you know it so well, that’s why! Who doesn’t want to rock with the robins high up in the tree tops? Who doesn’t want to bask in the vibe of this 1950s early rock hit? The feeling, the groove, the innocence that the genre still had at the time. It’s all part of the tune’s charm, and they are all reasons why you know this track by heart.

“Short Shorts” by The Royal Teens (Single, 1958)

When your band is called The Royal Teens, you’d best come with something special. And this quartet of proto-rockers did just that with their 1958 hit single about revealing legwear. It’s a song we all know so well because, well, we just kind of can’t believe it exists. The track is both risque and goofy. The singers seem to have thick New Jersey accents, and that just makes the whole thing more hilarious. It’s a hilarity that sticks to your brain like bubblegum.

“Lollipop” by Ronald & Ruby (Single, 1958)

If you could wave a wand and have a fresh lollipop in your hand, would you do it? Of course you would! Lollipops are incredible. And it turns out that they make great subject matter for a pop-rock hit from the 1950s. While this tune was made even more famous by The Chordettes, it was first recorded by Ronald & Ruby. And thanks at least in part to them, the offering has become one of the most famous songs from its era. It was so famous, in fact, that you probably know it by heart. So, sing it like you mean it, and go ahead and use that magical lollipop you just conjured as a microphone!

Photo of The Royal Teens (1958) via YouTube screenshot