4 Times a One-Hit Wonder Was Actually a Masterpiece

Few one-hit wonders have produced songs that would be considered objectively good. But every once in a while, a band or musician will release something that is quite impressive and ages well. Sometimes that single moment of success isn’t just a catchy one-hit wonder; it’s a masterpiece that stands the test of time. Let’s look at a few examples and why we think they’re amazing!

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1. “Stumblin’ In” by Chris Norman and Suzi Quatro

This one-hit wonder is a pretty surprising masterpiece. Both Chris Norman and Suzi Quatro failed to reach the Top 5 in the US charts in their respective careers. But together, they both made it to no. 4 on the US Hot 100 chart with the soft rock hit “Stumblin’ In” in 1978. 

In our opinion, this track is one of the greatest duets in mainstream music history. It’s really rare for two relatively subversive artists to make it big only once with a collaborative song. And “Stumblin’ In” is still a bop today.

2. “Spirit In The Sky” by Norman Greenbaum

Norman Greenbaum deserved better. He was in the music industry for a while, but only one song of his made it to the top of the charts: the psychedelic-gospel crossover rock anthem “Spirit In The Sky” from 1970.

This song is incredible. Greenbaum figured out how to marry psychedelic rock and gospel music in a way that hadn’t been done before. “Spirit In The Sky” is unapologetically garage rock, complete with a trippy solo and those iconic lyrics that everyone knows: “I got a friend in Jesus.”

3. “Sugar Sugar” by The Archies

When we say this one-hit wonder is a masterpiece, we don’t necessarily mean that its lyrics are dripping with wisdom. It’s a pretty basic-sounding song. However, “Sugar Sugar” by The Archies (a notably fictional band) is a masterclass in pop songwriting.

This 1969 pop tune is still stuck in the collective memory of listeners decades after it was released. For that reason, we think it’s a masterpiece in penning bubblegum pop that continues to draw in listeners of newer generations.

4. “The Promise” by When In Rome

We’d be bold enough to say that “The Promise” by When In Rome is a one-hit wonder masterpiece because of its almost alchemic ability to make listeners feel good. 

This song peaked at no. 11 on the Hot 100 chart in 1988 and for very good reason. It’s a well-written synth-pop jam that could have easily faded into obscurity amongst all the other British new wave outfits that were dishing out tunes at the time. “The Promise”, though, is so well-written that it stood the test of time.

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