You’ve heard of one-hit wonders, two-hit wonders … but did you know there are three-hit wonder bands, too? Groups who released three hit tracks that have landed on the Billboard Hot 100? Well, it’s true. And these groups here below are examples of that phenomenon.
We wanted to explore three groups (and their three hit songs) to see what a three-hit wonder band is all about. A trio of acts that have written songs that have both stood the test of time and have found fans all over the world. Indeed, these are three three-hit wonder bands that remain fan favorites today.
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[RELATED: 3 Songs Neil Young Wrote About Other Artists]
Neil Young
Given his reputation as one of the greatest songwriters ever and known for his prowess throughout the decades, one might figure Neil Young had more than three songs to land in the Top 40 on the coveted Billboard Hot 100, but the fact of the matter is that he boasts three—”Heart of Gold,” “Only Love Can Break Your Heart,” and “Old Man,” which hit No. 1, No. 33, and No. 31, respectively. The acoustic-playing, falsetto-singing Canadian-born artist does have two others that landed on the Top 100—”Cinnamon Girl” and “Four Strong Winds,” which hit No. 55 and No. 61, respectively.
Canned Heat
The Los Angeles-born blues-rock band Canned Heat began in 1965 and released their self-titled debut LP two years later. And throughout their career, the rockers boasted three songs to land on the Billboard Top 40—”Going Up the Country,” “On the Road Again,” and “Let’s Work Together,” which hit No. 11, No. 16, and No. 26, respectively. With a knack for catchy rhythms and vocals that span the brusque to the falsetto, the group was a mainstay in the 1960s and ’70s and their music remains popular today, too.
Plain White T’s
The Lombard, Illinois-born rockers know how to write a track that seeps into your soul and catches your ear. Indeed, the band has released a trio of songs that have landed in the Top 40—”Hey There Delilah,” “Rhythm of Love,” and “1, 2, 3, 4.” Those have hit No. 1, No. 38, and No. 34, respectively. Known for their acoustic-driven songs, Plain White T’s will mellow your mind and get your tongue singing their groovy lyrics.
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