3 One-Hit Wonder Novelty Songs From the 50s and 60s That You Know by Heart

In the world of popular music, there are a lot of sub-genres. There’s grunge, hip-hop, electronic—just to name a few. But there are also stranger, more unique subsections like one-hit wonders and novelty songs. The former includes those songs by artists that raced up the charts but were never quite followed by the same success. The latter are songs built on gimmick concepts. But what happens when those two wild worlds combine? Well, here below, we wanted to dive into that very question and find out the answer. Indeed, these are three one-hit wonder novelty songs from the 50s and 60s that you probably know by heart.

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“The Purple People Eater” by Sheb Wooley (Single, 1958)

When Sheb Wooley wrote his musical story about a purple alien coming from the sky that would eat people and just wanted to join a rock band, little did he know he had an enteral hit on his hands. But the rockin’ Purple People Eater creature was a smash sensation. Sure, some might find it annoying. Even Wooley didn’t think it was all that amazing. But that’s the thing—sometimes a one-hit wonder or a novelty song can just stick in your mind and last forever. Fans of the new X-Men animated show, X-Men ’97 will even recognize this song from a pivotal scene. It’s still very much in the zeitgeist.

“Monster Mash” by Bobby Pickett from ‘The Original Monster Mash’ (1962)

There’s something to be said about creating a work of art that is tied to an important holiday. While the song itself might not have stood the test of time on its own, the fact that it’s connected to an event like Halloween gives it all the legs it needs. Such is the case for certain movies and certain songs, including the beloved “Monster Mash” by Bobby Pickett. Listening to it, we are all transported to the “lab late one night” when monsters start to come out of the woodwork to party! Get ready to hear this song again and gain as soon as the month of October hits!

“Surfin’ Bird” by The Trashmen from ‘Surfin’ Bird’ (1963)

Fans of the animated show Family Guy likely heard this song during one of the show’s early season gags. The song is relentless, but that’s what gives it its charm. It’s silly and strange, and The Trashmen’s lead vocalist (and drummer) Steve Wahrer turned his voice into a unique instrument as he repeated the same lyrics over and over about the bird being the word. It sounds like a child’s tantrum put to a speedy beat. But somehow it’s become a classic as a result. Who could have guessed?

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