David Essex may be a well-known English singer in the UK, but in the US, he only ever scored one major hit – “Rock On”. Recorded and released in 1973, the song reached number 5 on the music charts and even got a cover by American singer Michael Damian fifteen years later, in 1989.
“Rock On” was a very cool tune, with a particularly minimal sound that almost made it feel like ambient music, all the while sounding as heavy as any good rock song. Unfortunately, this Brit didn’t see another chart-topper in the U.S. ever again. But don’t feel bad for him; he’s a legend in the UK!
"In the Summertime" by Mungo Jerry
Inspired by the name of a fictional character in T. S. Eliot's poetry collection, which inspired the famous 'Cats' musical, Mungo Jerry was certainly an odd group of musicians. The British rock band was definitely a one-hit-wonder, but it was an extremely successful hit. Their 1070's single, "In the Summertime," remains one of the top singles in music chart history.
Not only that, but the song has also become a staple for films and TV commercials around the world. And why wouldn't it be? You'd be hard-pressed to find a more happy-go-lucky song. The frontman's hairdo aside, we love everything about this band!
"Layla" by Derek and the Dominos
OK, so Eric Clapton is definitely not a one-hit-wonder, but his band Derek and the Dominos kind of were. Their 1971 hit single "Layla" was released on an album titled 'Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs,' which pretty much says it all.
A fun little fact that many people probably don't know is that "Layla" was a song written by Clapton about his unrequited feelings of love for a woman that was the then-wife of The Beatles George Harrison! And Clapton was one of his best friends back then. Even though Clapton went on to have a massively successful career, this single was Derek and the Dominos' only claim to fame.
"Black Betty" by Ram Jam
You may remember the epic "Black Betty" from the soundtrack of 'Blow,' the famous film by Ted Demme. Ram Jam was a rock band formed around lead guitarist Bill Bartlett. He had over ten years of experience in the music industry since he had been playing with other '70s bands. One of them was Lemon Pipers, the band that topped the charts with 1968's 'Green Tambourine'.
Ram Jam was definitely a one-hit-wonder, but they still managed to cause a stir. Their hit "Black Betty" is a true rock 'n roll song that just makes your bones jump. It may have been a rework of a shorter song by master blues guitarist Lead Belly, but Ram Jam certainly made it special. Even though it became a worldwide hit, it caused a lot of problems. The NAACP wasn't happy with the bold lyrics and even tried to boycott the band!
"Seasons In The Sun" by Terry Jacks
Ironically, everybody remembers "Seasons in the Sun" for its happy guitar sounds, but it was actually an incredibly sad song. The 1974 chart-topper featured some very gloomy lyrics, but it was still the hit that made Terry Jacks famous. For about 15 minutes, but still.
The song was originally written by a Belgian jazz singer called Jacques Brel in 1961. Two years later, it was translated and somewhat rewritten by an American singer and finally sung and made famous by Canadian-born Terry Jacks.