3 Classic Rock Artists From the 1970s Who Are Surprisingly One-Hit Wonders

In the 1970s, rock and roll music blossomed. Well, it was more than that. It was like a nuclear bomb mushroom cloud of music. Big, buzzing guitars mixed with giant drum sounds and lead singers who seemed to be trying to blow the roofs off any and every arena they found themselves in. It was a great era for rock, and it boasted many big names. Surprisingly, though, some of those big classic rock names from the 1970s were actually one-hit wonders.

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It’s nothing pejorative. Some make music for the charts, others for their fans. And of course, it can always be both. But there were artists who you’d think were multi-time chart-toppers who only achieved the feat once. Indeed, these are three classic rock artists from the 1970s who are surprisingly one-hit wonders.

“Right Place, Wrong Time” by Dr. John from ‘In The Right Place’ (1973)

The king of the New Orleans sound, Dr. John was as raucous and revelrous as any who has walked this Earth and played the keyboards. Amazingly, though, for all his talent and all the adoration he received, Dr. John only had one song crack the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40. And that was “Right Place, Wrong Time”, which peaked at no. 9.

It’s not like that fact kept him up at night, though. It was the sense of the party and the people that kept him up at night, in the best of ways possible. Indeed, you want to feel the power of song? Put this track on and bask in the beauty.

“Autobahn” by Kraftwerk from ‘Autobahn’ (1975)

Where would electronic music be without the German quartet known as Kraftwerk? The group, which is remarkably still touring these days, was groundbreaking in its sonic production as far back as five-plus decades ago. And their song “Autobahn”, which is dedicated to the German highway without a speed limit, rose up the Billboard Hot 100 chart and peaked at no. 25.

Kraftwerk is a cerebral band. Inspiring and full of life, they’re also not quite as pop as others, which explains the lack of chart-topping hits. Nevertheless, though, the band, which has been sampled by artists like Jay-Z, is as influential as just about any in history.

“Layla” by Derek & The Dominos from ‘Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs’ (1970)

Of course, most music fans know the name Eric Clapton. He was a major part of the band Derek & The Dominos. Clapton wrote the famous track “Layla” with bandmate Jim Gordon. The rockers released the tune on their 1970 LP, Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs.

It has since become a classic rock standard. And while Clapton has other hits under his belt as a solo artist, this is the one track that rocketed up the charts for Derek & The Dominos. It peaked at no. 10.

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