3 One-Hit Wonders From the 1960s That Make You Want More

It’s hard not to want to hear more and more music from the 1960s. The decade boasts some of the greatest songs known to the human race. From Bob Dylan to the Beatles, the era demonstrated that thoughtful lyrics, excellent musicianship, and popularity can all blend together. It doesn’t have to be one or the other. We can have it all! We wanted to examine three songs from that time period that showcase just that. More specifically, we wanted to look at three one-hit wonders from the 1960s. Indeed, these are three one-hit wonders from the decade that simply make you want to hear more!

Videos by American Songwriter

“Do You Love Me” by The Contours from ‘Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance)’ (1962)

Any band that can create such blissful harmonies while also being so compelling gets our attention. And those descriptors certainly resonate when it comes to the Contours and their timeless 1962 track, “Do You Love Me”. At the base of all art is a question: Will you accept me? Will you love me? So, the Contours just distilled that into the essence of their song, and they projected the question into the decades. Who doesn’t want to know whether or not they’re loved? Especially if they’ve spent the time to learn to dance! For that and more, we want to find out more about the band and their songs.

“Goldfinger” by Shirley Bassey from ‘Goldfinger’ (1964)

The giant-voiced singer Shirley Bassey made herself the star when she sang this theme from the James Bond movie of the same name. In a way, Bassey eclipsed the plot of the movie altogether by lending her powerful instrument to the soundtrack. The track, which hit No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, has become the signature offering from the successful UK artist. With style, grace, and force, Bassey remains someone to learn more about today, even if this was her sole entry into the Hot 100.

“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” by Iron Butterfly from ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’ (1968)

This lengthy, heavy rock song from the band Iron Butterfly hit No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it remains the band’s highest-charting single. Released in 1968, the original recording of the tune spans more than 17 minutes, making it one of the longest one-hit wonders in history. But beyond that, the song has lived on for its interesting chorus and its reference to the Garden of Eden, the famed fictional place mentioned in the Bible. Big beats, buzzy guitars, and vocals that thunder, the song makes us want to know more about the band and everything else surrounding it.

Photo by Dezo Hoffman/Shutterstock