The world of country music is full of “one-hit wonders” who left a larger mark on the genre than they did on the charts. Some only went to No. 1 once as a recording artist but had successful careers as songwriters. Others topped the country chart a single time but released a wealth of music that inspired future artists. These country artists from the 1970s are sometimes called one-hit wonders, but in truth, they’re just underrated.
Videos by American Songwriter
The list below contains country artists who earned their “one hit wonder” status in the 1970s. This means that they either had only one No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart or that people believe they had only a single chart-topping single. In reality, these artists are criminally underrated and have catalogs packed with hidden gems.
[RELATED: 4 One-Hit Wonders Who Left a Lasting Mark on Country Music]
Lynn Anderson–“Rose Garden” (1970)
Lynn Anderson is a staple of lists of country one-hit wonders from the 1970s. She started the decade with her most memorable track, “Rose Garden.” Written by Joe South, Anderson released her cover of the song as the title track and sole single from her 1970 album. It topped the Hot Country Songs and Hot 100 charts and became a massive hit in multiple countries. “Rose Garden” also brought Lynn a Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female in 1971.
“Rose Garden” was far from the only thing Lynn released. In fact, it wasn’t her only No. 1. Instead, it was the beginning of a string of top 10 hits that spanned three years and included nine hit singles with four of them topping the charts. Between 1970 and 1974, she notched five No. 1 hits with songs like “What a Man My Man Is,” “Keep Me in Mind,” “How Can I Unlove You,” and “You’re My Man.”
Bobby Bare–“Marie Laveau” (1974)
Bobby Bare proves that two things can be true. He’s a country legend who rose to fame in the 1970s and a one-hit wonder. He found his sole No. 1 single in 1974 with the Shel Silverstein and Baxter Taylor co-write “Marie Laveau.” The novelty song about a witch who made men disappear in the swamps of Louisiana is far from Bare’s best work.
Bare was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013 alongside Cowboy Jack Clement and Kenny Rogers. His catalog includes great songs like “Detroit City,” “Four Strong Winds,” and “Dropkick Me, Jesus (Through the Goalposts of Life),” to name a few. He also wrote classics like “Motel Time Again,” “Life of a Fool,” and “Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends,” among others.
C.W. McCall–“Convoy” (1975)
William Fries Jr. was an award-winning commercial artist before he created his truck-driving outlaw country singer persona C.W. McCall. He’d use the pseudonym to release several albums and a long line of singles throughout the 1970s. However, he only hit the top of the charts once with the classic trucker song “Convoy.”
To say that McCall’s output is underrated would be an understatement. Songs like “Roses for Mama,” “Outlaws and Lone Star Beer,” “Wolf Creek Pass,” and “Black Bear Road” may not have been as successful as “Convoy,” but shouldn’t be overlooked.
Jessi Colter–“I’m Not Lisa” (1975)
Jessi Colter is often noted as the wife of Waylon Jennings, which is true. Some would also call this staple of the 1970s outlaw country movement a one-hit wonder, which is also true. However, neither of those things really encapsulates Colter’s talent or her output. Yes, she was married to Waylon and they had some great duets together. She unfortunately only took one solo single to No. 1 but some would argue that her 1975 hit “I’m Not Lisa” is far from her best work.
“Ain’t Makin’ No Headlines,” “Ridin’ Shotgun,” “I Thought I Heard You Calling My Name,” and “What’s Happened to Blue Eyes” are all fantastic throwback songs. Colter is also still making killer country music. She released Edge of Forever in 2023, and it’s full of top-notch songs. People have been selling Colter short for decades, and it’s a crying shame.
Featured Image by Rick Diamond/Getty Images
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.