(Forgive the Facebook-like announcement of what I'm engaged in, but:) I'm watching, on VH1, serial episodes of One-Hit Wonders of the '80s. I am horrified that they include XTC's Dear God—one of the least catchy XTC songs e.v.e.r.
Did XTC really only have that one song on the charts? Where is Making Plans for Nigel? Where is Mayor of Simpleton? Generals and Majors, or Respectable Street?
And just this second they previewed Madness. And Devo. Come on, these are not one-hit acts.
I have to agree about Tom Tom Club.
How about Senses Working Overtime? I guess I'm preaching to the choir, though ... VH1 is clearly insane.
ReplyDeleteI consulted my Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, copyright 1987. Madness has two hits listed (It Must Be Love, Our House). The tome isn't recent enough to include Dear God, but no earlier-than-87 hits are listed for XTC. I continue to believe that Mayor of Simpleton charted. Sadly, Devo did have only one hit, the non-talent-revealing Whip It.
ReplyDeleteBut I would never put Devo or XTC in the same class as a ... can't remember the names ... but 'flashes-in-the-pan' groups. What was the name of the group that beat out the Cars for best group at the Grammy's the first time?
ReplyDeleteThat would be A Taste of Honey. I think they had 2 hits as well. I was shocked that I had never heard of many of the bands on that show — evidence that they were indeed one-hit wonders. But I agree, any band like XTC that put out more than four well-received LPs should not have qualified! (And isn't it sad that =this= is a subject that got me all riled up? Showing my true stripes.)
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